… Part 1
( From Jurisdictionary® “How to Win in Court” course. )
Want to drive your opponents nuts?
Tie them down with word-power!
I’ve been a lawyer since 1986, and what I tell you here (and with more details in my “How to Win in Court” step-by-step self-help course) will empower you to stuff your opponents in a neatly-packaged word-box and win your case hands-down!
Many lawyers never understand this … so they lose, needlessly.
Most pro se people never understand this, either … so they lose, needlessly.
The key is nothing harder than writing simple sentences.
Short sentences.
Powerful sentences.
Sentences with ONE VERB.
Sentences with ONE SUBJECT.
Sentences that EACH HAVE THEIR OWN PARAGRAPH NUMBER! That’s right. Every sentence gets its own paragraph, and each of those paragraphs has a separate number. (The course gives sample forms to show you how.)
One sentence per numbered paragraph. One subject. One verb. And only the absolutely necessary adjectives and adverbs.
If it’s important to note that your opponent’s nose was gigantic, say so. Otherwise, leave it out! Too many adjectives and adverbs just complicate your case unnecessarily, give the other side more things to argue about … things that ultimately have nothing to do with what it takes to win!
A sentence is a complete thought. Mrs. Edgerton taught me that in Second Grade. It’s helped me win countless court battles.
Every simple sentence starts with a capital letter, ends with a period, and contains just one verb, and just one subject. No commas or semi-colons unless absolutely, positively necessary and for a purpose that promotes your cause!
Consider these two sets of numbered paragraphs:
- Defendant was very forceful and convincing when he said he would spray my strawberry plants every week during the four months I was away on business in Europe shopping for priceless art treasures for my adorable wife, however he did not at any time while I was gone spray my strawberries, because he was off playing poker in Las Vegas and losing his shirt, so I lost most of my strawberry crop this year to tiny green bugs that ate the beautiful white strawberry blossoms before my plants could bear their luscious fruit.
- I paid defendant $2,000 before leaving for Europe, and he didn’t ask for any more money, so I assumed he would do what he said he would do, but he didn’t, so I lost a great deal of money.
- This is why I have sued him.
– – – – – – –
- Plaintiff and defendant entered a written agreement.
- Copy of agreement attached as Exhibit A.
- Defendant promised to spray plaintiff’s strawberries with insecticide from 5 December 2009 through 15 April 2010.
- Defendant agreed to do the job for $2,000.
- Plaintiff paid Defendant $2,000 on 1 December 2009.
- Defendant failed to spray plaintiff’s strawberries.
- Plaintiff suffered money damages exceeding $15,000.
Each sentence has it’s own paragraph number.
Each sentence has one verb, one subject.
Each sentence has minimal adjectives or adverbs.
Each sentence is a complete thought.
There can be no doubt what your words mean!
Winning in court is all about effective communication.
Communicate effectively with simple sentences.
