Barbara Hillmer

In jury selection, it is not uncommon to hear an attorney or client make a comment that reflects their long-held belief that certain stereotypes will cause a person to naturally lean in one direction or another.

The layperson’s expectation is that products work as designed, safely, and without putting the public at risk. But while that may sound perfectly reasonable in a vacuum, when applied to the legal arena, these expectations put defendants at risk right out of the gate. In particular, these prevailing mindsets are exploited all too easily.