11/5/2005 - Posted by:
The Parkerson Law Firm
Phone: (337) 478-6126
Alt. Phone: Home 478-4370
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Losing the Big Ones
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Most lawyers brag about the big cases they have won. I brag about the big ones I have lost. I hold the world's indoor record for losing the big ones. I have been beaten many times before a jury, but never by a bad lawyer. Always by the best. Shall I name a few of them? Ed Rundell, of Alexandria, LA, who not only has a law degree, but a Ph.D. from Texas University in Austin. How about Andy Plauche, now of New Orleans, and Stephen Berniard, still of Lake Charles? And Reid Hebert, now deceased? Reid beat me many times, but I always kept coming back. I swore I'd beat him, but he died before I could. One day after I had lost a hard-fought civil jury trial to the great insurance defense lawyer Stephen Barniard of Lake Charles, one that I did not think could be lost; I was defeated, dejected, down and depressed; and I returned to my office on a Thursday afternoon after the verdict had come in against me and my client. I wondered why I had even entered the law, and I am sure I thought about just quitting it. Just a few minutes after I had arrived back at my office, the phone rang. It was Stephen Berniard on the phone. "Hardy," he said, "Pull out old So-And-So's file, and let's see if we can settle it!" I said, "Steve, why do you want to settle a case with me? You beat me every time we go to court." "Yes, yes," he said, "I know! I know! But your luck's gotta change. I don't want to be on the other side when it does." There is something to be said for trying civil and criminal jury cases, even if you lose. The word gets around that you are not afraid to go to trial and that you are not afraid of a jury. This will ultimately result in more and better settlement offers. Also, there is no better place to learn law and evidence and trial procedure and practice than by preparing for and trying jury cases to verdict. EXPERIENTIA STULTOS DOCET (Experience teaches even fools.) There is more to it all than this, but this is something for an aspiring trial lawyer to think about. Sincerely, Hardy Parkerson, Attorney; Lake Charles, LA
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