About Us
years of
Experience
As trial lawyers with decades of experience, we have learned that juror-based research is essential to success in trial or settlement. Over the years, we have designed quantitative and qualitative systems to elicit the data and feedback necessary for your case.
Our proprietary approach has been used by hundreds of trial lawyers throughout the United States and is available to you.
The value proposition Jury Impressions offers is the ability to leverage juror-based data surveys, focus groups, and mock trials that allow you to gain otherwise unavailable insights regarding vital questions such as:
- What do jurors think about my case?
- What resonates with the jury?
- What may cause the jury to take the other side?
- What are the key points to emphasize in my case?
- Which types of jurors do I want?
- Where should I file my case?
- Which witnesses will the jury believe?
- What is my case worth?
The Jury Impressions Process
Juror Surveys, MOCK TRIALS, FOCUS GROUPS, AND JURY SIMULATIONS
We believe the best way to meaningfully test issues in a case to be decided by a jury is to obtain quantitative and qualitative data from jurors just like the ones who will hear the actual case.
Our focus groups and mock trials simulate group dynamics and are invaluable in providing feedback for a trial lawyer to use to better present his or her case at trial.
The typical format for our focus groups includes the following:
- Jurors are selected from the forum jurisdiction where the case is pending or will be filed, demographically matched to the forum jurisdiction.
- 2 – 3 panels of jurors.
- Neutral presentation of case with selected videos, photographs, demonstratives and other evidence.
- Individual juror reaction questionnaires.
- Deliberation as a jury with real group dynamics.
- Real-time video monitoring of jury deliberations, with recording of the deliberations.
- Post-deliberation debriefing and issue discussion.
- Video recording of all focus group proceedings and deliberations.
- Link to all juror demographic sheets and questionnaires.
Meet The Team
Irv is an active trial lawyer, whose law practice is limited to the representation of plaintiffs in catastrophic injury and medical malpractice cases. He is President of the Richmond, Virginia law firm, Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci, PLLC. Irv graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1978, served as a law clerk for the Supreme Court of Virginia the next year, and has been in active trial practice since 1979. He is a Past President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the American Board of Trial Advocates – Va., and the Brain Injury Association of Virginia. In 2016 and 2014, Irv was voted by his peers as “Richmond Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year” in Best Lawyers in America. In 2018, he was one of only 33 members inducted into the inaugural class of the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame. Irv has also been voted by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America in both personal injury and medical malpractice law (since 2007), Virginia Super Lawyers (Top 10 in Virginia – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), and the Virginia Legal Elite. He has obtained over 50 verdicts or settlements exceeding one million dollars for his clients. Irv was featured on the cover of the 2015 Super Lawyers Magazine for Virginia and West Virginia. The feature article on Irv is entitled, The Brain Behind Brain Injuries, and discusses Irv’s experience and expertise in the field of brain injury litigation. Irv has co-authored The Art and Science of Mastering the Jury Trial with Judge Samuel Johnston. Irv began using mock trials and focus groups in the preparation of his cases in the early 1980s. Since then, he and his trial team have used mock trials and focus groups in virtually every major case – testing trial themes, case values, venue choices, witnesses, evidence and arguments. Irv and his multimedia engineer, Alan Michaelis, developed over the years an effective and cost-efficient system for conducting mock trials and focus groups. Jury Impressions was started in 2005 to make this mock trial system and consulting services available to trial lawyers. Irv has conducted hundreds of focus groups in his career.
Stephanie is a veteran trial lawyer who has handled numerous high-profile and high-stakes cases. Stephanie, a partner in the law firm of Cantor, Grana, Buckner & Bucci, is past Virginia State Bar President and Past President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. She is consistently recognized by her peers as one of the top lawyers in Virginia, including in Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.
Stephanie has designed and conducted countless focus groups in her career. She is adept at juror research and selection. Stephanie’s experience and detail-oriented approach is invaluable for the lawyers who collaborate with her.
Elliott has earned a reputation as a tireless advocate and trial attorney for individuals and families dealing with the aftermath of traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, defective products, wrongful death, tractor-trailer accidents, and motor vehicle accidents. He has achieved over 45 recoveries exceeding $1,000,000. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation, has been named to Virginia’s “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business magazine and has been included in the Top 100 Virginia Super Lawyers for several years. Elliott is the past President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
Elliott previously defended cases involving almost every type of accident, personal injury, wrongful death, and insurance coverage dispute. Having made the career move to representing injured persons, Elliott’s prior experience gives him a unique and strategic perspective which is invaluable to the clients he passionately represents.
Elliott has designed and conducted numerous focus groups and mock trials in his career. He has become quite skilled at developing innovative strategies to maximize the information obtained from jurors.
Joseph, a partner at the law firm of Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci, has extensive experience in focus groups, mock trials, juror questionnaires, and juror surveys. Joseph has worked with Jury Impressions since 2010, involved in all aspects of the company.
Joseph is an active trial lawyer, handling cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, and tractor-trailer collisions. Joseph has achieved numerous recoveries exceeding $1,000,000 and has been recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers. Joseph is on the board of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Brain Injury Association of Virginia.
Joseph has conducted over 100 focus groups in his career and has mastered very effective techniques for jury debriefing and discussion and consultations with trial lawyers.
Lisa O’Donnell is a veteran trial lawyer, having tried dozens of jury cases for more than 20 years acquiring millions of dollars in verdicts for her clients. She tried cases in both criminal and civil matters.
Lisa is a past president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and a past president of the Tidewater chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
She was named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and was listed in Best Lawyers in America from 2006 to 2012, including being selected as the Best Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Norfolk, Virginia in 2011. Lisa was named to Virginia Super Lawyers and served on the Virginia College of Trial Advocacy for many years.
Lisa was a frequent lecturer and presenter at numerous continuing legal education seminars in Virginia and many other states. She was a member of the faculty with the American Trial Lawyers Association’s Trial Advocacy College and was an adjunct professor at William and Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia. In addition to her extensive experience as a trial lawyer, Lisa also represented high-profile professional athletes for many years.
Lisa suffered a stroke in 2012 that left her unable to practice law. Now, after 12 years of rehabilitation and recovery, she is thrilled to be able to offer her vast experience and knowledge as a legal consultant to the clients of Jury Impressions. Lisa has monitored and conducted multiple focus groups, in which she has provided detailed analyses and insightful trial strategies for the trial lawyers and law firms with whom she has worked. Lisa’s passion for justice and the jury system is palpable and infectious and serves not only as the foundation for her consultation, but often as a motivation and inspiration for Jury Impressions’ clients.
Janie is an experienced paralegal, with many years of experience in complex litigation cases involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice. Janie has a degree in paralegal studies–litigation, graduating summa cum laude.
In addition to her role as Director of Operations for Jury Impressions, Janie also provides consulting services for law firms, including Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci.
Janie has participated in numerous focus groups and mock trials since 2005. Her extensive, varied legal background and her years of experience with focus groups and mock trials provide Janie with a rich foundation as a focus group specialist. She is a valuable member of the Jury Impressions team.
As the Director of Operations, Janie oversees the coordination of focus groups and mock trials and provides on-site support, including case presentation and jury panel debriefing.
Meet Janie Devers of Jury Impressions
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client’s
Testimonials
"Jury Impressions has been invaluable to the success of my cases, and are often the most important "discovery" you will do. ..."
Charles F. Purcell
Purcell & Purcell
"Jury Impressions is an affordable, extremely professional jury consulting company that is indispensable to testing damages, lay and expert witnesses, venue, and audio–visuals, among innumerable other trial variables. ..."
Mahlon "Bud" Funk, Jr.
Hirschler
"... The bottom line is that this worked out tremendously well for my client, for which I give a large measure of credit to the focus group conducted by Irv and Jury Impressions."
Frank Hilton
Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver
"I wholeheartedly recommend the services of Jury Impressions. ... I highly recommend Mr. Cantor and Jury Impressions to you for Focus Group Services."
Leonard C. Heath Jr.
Heath, Overbey, Verser & Old