What Your SDL Learned in Summer Jury Duty

Written By Christopher Fusco

Yes, your SDL had jury duty in Essex County (Newark), NJ this summer and no I wasn't selected. Sometimes lose we focus on the operational "nuts and bolts" of the jury system. First, Essex County has somewhat improved the juror waiting room set-up. There are conformable seats and places to work. The WI-FI signal wasn't bad but the coffee situation was not a thing. My caffeine headache kicked in about 10:30 am.

We all know what no one wants to get jury duty. Let me re-emphasize that jurors are REALLY, REALLY unhappy to be there. Being told what your civic duty is, from a clerk's script, does not suffice when there are child and elder care issues at stake. Work and pay concerns are palpable. There are also language and cultural barriers that will arise. Either way, time matters to every prospective juror.

Sometimes under the pressure and consuming details of a trial, a lawyer may overlook the necessity to move a case a long as promptly as possible. Don't make that mistake. Choreograph your case the best you can and don't have gaps in witnesses or proof (this is self-advice too). Let your adversary test the jurors' patience. 

Keep in mind that focus group jurors choose to attend a mock and they get paid more than $5 a day.

Christopher Fusco

Mr. Fusco has been a founding partner of the Firm since 2001.  Mr. Fusco is also the Firm’s Managing Partner. Mr. Fusco's practice concentrates on the defense of the Firm's clients in commercial, construction, insurance, transportation, general liability, public entity, constitutional law, and high-profile tort litigation.  He has completed major jury trials including negligence cases, NY Labor Law lawsuits, and alleged police misconduct constitutional law claims.

Prior to being the Firm’s Managing Partner, from 1992 through 1996, Mr. Fusco was an Assistant District Attorney with the Kings County District Attorneys Office in Brooklyn, New York.  As a Senior Trial Attorney, he was responsible for managing major felony cases.  He completed over fifty jury trials including cases involving murder, armed robbery, and undercover investigations.  He was assigned high-profile cases with special victims.  Mr. Fusco also drafted and successfully argued People's Appeals before the Appellate Division.

From December 1996 to September 1998, Mr. Fusco was an associate in the New York City firm of Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker where he specialized in complex construction, commercial, labor, insurance coverage, professional liability, employment, civil rights and personal injury litigation in both federal and state courts.  Mr. Fusco completed jury trials involving negligence and construction cases. Mr. Fusco was also responsible for handling corporate and construction-related contractual and lien law disputes.

From September 1998 to October 2001, Mr. Fusco was a partner in the firm of Wright & Fusco, LLC where he successfully defended mass toxic tort actions filed against major chemical and asbestos manufacturers.  In addition, Mr. Fusco was responsible for managing the firm's insurance defense and transportation clients.

https://www.callahanfusco.com/christopher-g-fusco
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