Jury Trials

Intimate Partner Violence: Giving Power Back to the Victims

January 28, 2019 | The Law Office of Michael F. Pezzulli, PLLC

domestic violence victim stands up to attacker in landmark Dallas civil trial victory

by Michael F. Pezzulli

Recently I represented and tried a case on behalf of a young woman who had been the victim of a horrific attack by her ex-boyfriend. The facts of the case revealed that over the course of an attack that lasted hours, the ex-boyfriend violently raped her, inflicting knife wounds requiring nearly 500 stitches. The attack was so brutal that the blows to her face left many of the bones in her face broken. When the paramedics arrived, they believed she was dead.

The problem is not isolated. It is so pervasive that the CDC, (Centers for Disease Control), actually has a division of Violence Prevention, and has studied the problem extensively. The CDC monitors the problem closely and recently updated its findings in its National Intimate Partner and Sexual violence Survey.

Where Have All the Gunslingers Gone?

June 19, 2016 | The Law Office of Michael F. Pezzulli, PLLC

cowboy hat and gun
by Michael Pezzulli¹

In the United States, one of the great defining aspects of this country is the constitutional right to a jury trial. Nearly all-civil jury trials and ninety percent of criminal jury trials on the planet take place in the United States.²

The most stunning and successful experiment in direct popular sovereignty in all history is the American jury. Properly constrained by its duty to follow the law, the requirement of jury unanimity, and evidentiary rules, the American jury has served the republic well for over two hundred years. It is the New England town meeting writ large. It is as American as rock ‘n’ roll.

Patent Trolls and The Innovation Act

June 30, 2015 | The Law Office of Michael F. Pezzulli, PLLC

Patent Trolls and the U.S. Innovation Act
by Michael Pezzulli¹

In an earlier article, I discussed why Patent Trolling has been problematic for so many in the patent ecosystem. Fortunately, help may be on the horizon. Currently there is a bill in the U.S. Congress called the “Innovation Act.”²

The Innovation Act is significant in that it directs a party alleging patent infringement in a civil action to include in the court pleadings, if the information is reasonably accessible. It specifies details concerning:

A Practical Guide to Presenting and Defending a Spoliation of Evidence Case

July 1, 1998 | The Law Office of Michael F. Pezzulli, PLLC

By Michael F. Pezzulli and Charles J. Fortunato Spoliation of Evidence

2016 American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Tort & Insurance Section

Spoliation of evidence seems to be on the rise. But the emergence of case law on the subject has made it easier to identify and address the problem.

Criminal Law and Civil Litigators: A Review of Three Little Known Federal Statutes and Parallel Prosecution

September 1, 1996 | The Law Office of Michael F. Pezzulli, PLLC

Parallel Prosecution
By Michael Pezzulli and Charles J. Fortunado

State Bar of Texas: Advanced Creditors’ Rights presentation – September, 1996

In the past ten years, the gulf between criminal practice and civil practice has narrowed considerably.There are several causes for this. One is the explosion of white collar criminal litigation. More pervasive use of forfeiture statutes in the pursuit of attorney’s fees has also served to bring civil litigators under the purview of criminal law. The savings and loan and drug crises have also done their part to bring civil litigators’ conduct under scrutiny of criminal statutes.

Personal Property and Real Estate Foreclosure Laws in Texas

May 16, 1990 | The Law Office of Michael F. Pezzulli, PLLC

man holding house keys
By Michael Pezzulli

Business and Consumer Litigation Practice Skills Course presented to The State Bar of Texas, June 2016

Texas is extraordinarily lender-friendly when compared to other states. The ease with which a lender can gain title to a borrower’s real estate through nonjudicial foreclosure in Texas is unrivaled.

An Ill Wind Blows Into Town: U.S. Supreme Court Rules State Courts Have Concurrent Jurisdiction Over RICO Claims

April 10, 1990 | The Law Office of Michael F. Pezzulli, PLLC

dark shadows on wall
By Michael F. Pezzulli

Discussion of the U.S. Supreme Court decision relating to concurrent jurisdiction in Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) claims. Presented to Dallas Bar Association, Business Litigation Section.

Federal courts are turning increasing attention to the continuity of the pattern of racketeering activity. The United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled in a 1990 case that state courts have concurrent jurisdiction over RICO claims.

Presenting Evidence in Texas Litigation: Tactical Use of Discovery and Claims of Privilege As a Sword and a Shield

January 1, 1990 | The Law Office of Michael F. Pezzulli, PLLC

holding a burning match next to photograph
By Michael Pezzulli and Charles J. Fortunado

Advanced Evidence and Discovery: Presented to the State Bar of Texas

An uncritical reading of the various opinions dealing with the use of discovery in litigation as “a sword and a shield” might conclude that it cannot be done. Notwithstanding the substantial body of case law to the contrary, discovery and claims of privilege can be used as both a sword and a shield. Indeed, it is often in the client’s best interest to use – or attempt to use – discovery and claims of privilege as both a sword and a shield.

We’ll Know It When We See It: Good Cause for Failure to Supplement Discovery Texas Rules of Civil Procedure

November 9, 1989 | The Law Office of Michael F. Pezzulli, PLLC

pen and paper
By Michael Pezzulli and Charles J. Fortunado

How to admit or exclude evidence in Texas litigation when not disclosed to the client in a timely manner: Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course presented to The State Bar of Texas.

An uncritical reading of the various opinions dealing with the use of discovery in litigation as “a sword and a shield” might conclude that it cannot be done. Notwithstanding the substantial body of case law to the contrary, discovery and claims of privilege can be used as both a sword and a shield. Indeed, it is often in the client’s best interest to use or attempt to use discovery and claims of privilege as both a sword and a shield.

Real Property Deficiency Judgments

April 5, 1989 | The Law Office of Michael F. Pezzulli, PLLC

judge's gavel
by Michael Pezzulli

How to defend against and prosecute foreclosures of real property in the State of Texas: 4th Annual Advanced Creditors’ Rights Course presented to The State Bar of Texas

This paper will address real property foreclosures and deficiencies under Texas law as compared to other states. Mention is made of the developing trends in this area as well as the current rules concerning non-judicial foreclosures and resulting deficiencies. Judicial foreclosures on real property are not discussed inasmuch as few lenders invoke the assistance of the Court when they can recover the property by trustee’s sale on the courthouse steps without so much as filing a petition in court.