Trial Bible EP 3 Peter Kolp – WORKING EDIT

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[00:00:32] Gennady Voldz: Welcome back everyone to the trial [00:00:35] Bible where we crack open the law, drop some legal knowledge, and have a little bit of fun along [00:00:40] the way. I’m your host, Gennadi Volz, and today we’ve got a true legal [00:00:45] powerhouse on the show. Someone who can get a verdict faster than you can say, [00:00:50] summary jury trial. He’s a litigator with lightning speed, a courtroom closer, [00:00:55] and the master of the one day trial.

[00:00:57] Gennady Voldz: Peter Culp, welcome How, how [00:01:00] are you? 

[00:01:00] Peter Kolp: I, I can’t wait to

[00:01:02] Peter Kolp: meet this guy you just introduced.

[00:01:04] Gennady Voldz: so [00:01:05] excited to have you on the show personally, because I know you as a good friend, but [00:01:10] also because I love these summary jury trials and you are the [00:01:15] guy that needs to tell our audience all about them. And there’s a very [00:01:20] specific reason why I have you on this show.

[00:01:22] Gennady Voldz: You’ve built quite the reputation for [00:01:25] being a speedster in the courtroom, especially when it comes to these one day trials. [00:01:30] And I’m gonna be the one that says it right off the bat. You have [00:01:35] won three trials in one week each [00:01:40] six figure awards, and that was just a few months ago. So we’re gonna [00:01:45] coin the term threepeat on officially,

[00:01:49] Peter Kolp: Yeah, [00:01:50] I mean, you have to get the right judges who are willing to do ’em in

[00:01:53] Peter Kolp: a day. Most are, some [00:01:55] want to do it for two days, but, uh, judge Barbado up

[00:01:58] Peter Kolp: in the Bronx will do it [00:02:00] before, uh, lunchtime. So it’s just a matter of keeping the facts straight. 

[00:02:04] Gennady Voldz: I’ve been in [00:02:05] front of, uh, judge Barbado. You’re, you’re getting a verdict before 12 o’clock with him. [00:02:10] when you’re starting in the morning.

[00:02:12] Peter Kolp: he was actually very disappointed that mine went [00:02:15] after, uh, after one o’clock. So we had to take a lunch [00:02:20] break. Um, but I, it was because the jury didn’t come in in time. He usually starts right at nine [00:02:25] 30. You got a jury ready to go and, um, he does some of the jury selection, and then you, [00:02:30] you jump in. 

[00:02:31] Gennady Voldz: So today we’re gonna dive into what makes a summary jury trial so [00:02:35] unique in New York, how you’ve been able to ace them the way you’ve been doing, [00:02:40] you’ve been very successful with them. Uh, and we’d like to look at the three [00:02:45] trials that you handled in that one week and kind of break down the how and why of each of [00:02:50] those victories.

[00:02:51] Gennady Voldz: So, buckle up folks. We’re gonna be speeding through this one. [00:02:55] so before we even get to it, Pete, I want you to explain to someone [00:03:00] most of our listeners are attorneys, but some aren’t. What is a summary jury [00:03:05] trial? 

[00:03:05] Peter Kolp: Yeah, so a summary jury trial, if there liability and damages, [00:03:10] is just taking

[00:03:11] Peter Kolp: all the experts in doctors that you have and putting it [00:03:15] into packet. It’s a numbered packet, so your typically, your [00:03:20] police reports going in there, all your medicals, your operative report. You put it in [00:03:25] one packet and the defense has another packet.

[00:03:27] Peter Kolp: And before the trial, you have an [00:03:30] evidentiary hearing to either stipulate or hammer out all the packets. [00:03:35] and so. They, they are set usually one to 12 exhibits, [00:03:40] and then when you go in for a summary jury trial, you’re, you’re picking a [00:03:45] jury and you have your exhibits. Plaintiff and, and defendant typically testify.

[00:03:49] Peter Kolp: And that’s [00:03:50] it. 

[00:03:50] Gennady Voldz: So for those of you listening in New York. Summary jury trial, you’re going to [00:03:55] agree with the other side to parameters. This is a binding trial. This not [00:04:00] like mediation. It’s a binding trial where you agree to a high low, [00:04:05] and that’s, uh, what the, the verdict will be limited to what that high low [00:04:10] is. Um, in addition to that, there’s time restraints here, right?

[00:04:14] Gennady Voldz: Uh, [00:04:15] typically almost all the judges will hold you to these time restraints, which is 10 [00:04:20] minutes for opening for each side, an hour to present your [00:04:25] case, and 10 minutes for closing. Does that sound 

[00:04:27] Gennady Voldz: about right? Pete, 

[00:04:28] Peter Kolp: Yeah, that’s 

[00:04:29] Peter Kolp: dead [00:04:30] on. 

[00:04:30] Gennady Voldz: what about jury selection? Is there a time period for 

[00:04:33] Gennady Voldz: that?

[00:04:34] Peter Kolp: Yeah, you [00:04:35] got an hour. So, and that includes def defense and plaintiff [00:04:40] and certain, uh, jurisdictions that really hold you to the hour. [00:04:45] Barbado, he does most of it himself and gives you maybe 10 minutes. Um, so it depends on the [00:04:50] judge. I knew they’re doing it across the country now. I know Arizona’s starting to do ’em.[00:04:55] 

[00:04:55] Peter Kolp: Um, I’m not sure any other jurisdictions, but that’s, them’s the [00:05:00] rules, them’s the rules of the game summary jury trial game. 

[00:05:03] Gennady Voldz: 10 [00:05:05] minutes for jury Sounds insane. So [00:05:10] Pete, you have about an hour to select your jury. What kinds of things are you [00:05:15] going through with them and how are you doing it quickly enough to [00:05:20] figure out who’s going to be on your side and who isn’t?

[00:05:23] Peter Kolp: I always do, [00:05:25] there’s about three or four things I always do and I part [00:05:30] of me hesitates. ’cause like when you talk about these things, they sound gimmicky, but they are [00:05:35] always my intro just ’cause I believe it sets this stage and [00:05:40] I. We’ll pull out this [00:05:45] Their jury cards. and I’ll say, you all went to [00:05:50] your mailbox at some point in the last few months and you said, [00:05:55] yes, the golden ticket I have won. I’m in jury [00:06:00] And I feel like the jurors realized right away, okay, this is not your [00:06:05] typical like boring attorney. And I say, listen, I know that’s not what you did. ’cause when I got it [00:06:10] during COVID, I wasn’t excited that you got, you have [00:06:15] lives, you have work. This is not something you wanna do. You don’t wanna call in work for this. So [00:06:20] I get it. And I asked them, [00:06:25] can you tell me or anybody have a guess what the number one thing that uS [00:06:30] attorneys get asked, and I’ll ask you gdi, what’s the number one thing you get [00:06:35] asked as an attorney just in 

[00:06:36] Gennady Voldz: How do I get off jury duty? 

[00:06:38] Peter Kolp: [00:06:40] Yes. And, and frankly, nobody, I, I think maybe of [00:06:45] all the times a hundred plus trials I’ve had, I think one person gets that. Usually [00:06:50] they say, can you help me with wills? Can you help me with state? But I tell ’em that’s [00:06:55] what, that’s what we get asked as attorneys, how do I get off jury duty? What do I say? What can I [00:07:00] tell ’em? Can I tell them that I know you can, I can I tell ’em I hate all personal [00:07:05] injury cases. Can I tell? And I genuinely, I, I mean [00:07:10] I tell everybody, don’t, because [00:07:15] I know people say next to voting, this is the most important thing. But let me tell [00:07:20] the, the story is back when we came over from Britain, [00:07:25] we had a king and he had his three judges or [00:07:30] whatever in the courtyard, and, and you’re smiling, so maybe you’ve heard this story, but [00:07:35] I always say. The king said, okay, judges, this is how I wanted the case to [00:07:40] go. And on Friday you get your gold. So the case is gonna go the way [00:07:45] I want it to go. Isn’t it judges? Yes. King. We like our gold, we want it to go this way. [00:07:50] So I tell friends and family and people that ask, so don’t, the [00:07:55] reason we came over here and we fought for this, is we’re the only country in the [00:08:00] world that has juries for civil cases. So, um, [00:08:05] and the reason we do that is because we don’t want a king deciding how our cases are gonna go. [00:08:10] And so we have six jurors decide our cases and it’s [00:08:15] important. And I know you weren’t excited when you got this little, you know, golden ticket, [00:08:20] but that’s why we have it. Is everybody okay with that concept and I think that’s 

[00:08:24] Gennady Voldz: [00:08:25] the beauty of what you just said and did is one, you’re becoming [00:08:30] very relatable very quickly with that. Here’s the ballot, and this [00:08:35] is the golden take. They immediately understand that you understand. They [00:08:40] don’t wanna be here. That makes relatable to 

[00:08:42] Gennady Voldz: them, but then you also follow up with the [00:08:45] significance of what it is that they’re doing there.

[00:08:47] Gennady Voldz: now do you mention to them [00:08:50] that this is a one day trial? Do you, do you talk about, uh, anything [00:08:55] to do with this will be a limited scope? 

[00:08:57] Gennady Voldz: see in here. 

[00:08:58] Peter Kolp: yeah, it’s important ’cause [00:09:00] you also see ’em light up and I’ll say, um, listen, if you’re gonna [00:09:05] be on jury duty, this is the case to be on because my, my client has agreed to [00:09:10] this pilot program. That’s a summary jury trial, and you’re gonna be outta [00:09:15] here by four 30. The only reason you would not be done by four [00:09:20] 30 is if you’re still deliberating, the judge is not gonna cut you off. [00:09:25] So most of the time they’ll have the case by 2, [00:09:30] 2 30 or uh, in the Bronx by like 12 o’clock. But I’ll tell them, if you’re [00:09:35] gonna be on jury duty, this is the case you wanna be on. And then I have to talk to about them, [00:09:40] about in jury selection. I’ll show ’em a packet and I’ll say, [00:09:45] there are some people who say, I need to see each of these [00:09:50] witnesses. You have seven doctors there. I want to see them on the stand and [00:09:55] look at them. There are other people who say I, if they’re gonna just say what’s in the [00:10:00] reports and those exhibits, and they, if they took the sand, they would say, what’s in those [00:10:05] reports? Then I’m okay with that. I’d rather not waste the time of somebody coming in [00:10:10] testifying and spending several hours. So I, I tell ’em right up front that this is [00:10:15] the type of case and that they want to be on this case. 

[00:10:17] Gennady Voldz: I like to ask them, is it okay with [00:10:20] you if I bring this case to you as quickly as I can? Is it with you if [00:10:25] I make you a promise that if I call any witness it won’t be more than 20 minutes? [00:10:30] Is that okay with you? and gets them 

[00:10:33] Gennady Voldz: excited [00:10:35] to wanna be there. 

[00:10:36] Gennady Voldz: Are you ever mentioning how [00:10:40] making sure that just because this is a one day trial doesn’t mean it’s not a significant case? [00:10:45] It doesn’t mean that we’re not gonna be asking for a lot of money.

[00:10:48] Peter Kolp: Yeah. Yeah. I think [00:10:50] you have to say, you know, just because the, essentially what you [00:10:55] just said with the, with the caveat that just because it lasts a day, it’s just as [00:11:00] serious, uh, case as anybo any other case in the courtroom, but they’ve agreed to this pilot [00:11:05] program to expedite the case.

[00:11:07] Gennady Voldz: 10 minutes for opening an hour to [00:11:10] present, including putting on any witnesses going through your packet, [00:11:15] 10 minutes to close. It’s like the speed dating version of a full blown [00:11:20] trial. 

[00:11:20] Peter Kolp: It really is. Right. I, and listen, I guess we should say is [00:11:25] I’m sure there’s people listening to this and they’re like, well, why would, why would anybody agree to [00:11:30] this? And I guess it’s important to say the, on both sides, you’re [00:11:35] eliminating paying an expert. Five to 12, 14, [00:11:40] $16,000. So both sides are cutting out that aspect of the case. [00:11:45] The insurance companies, because of the high low that you mentioned, they’re [00:11:50] capping their, capping the case that their policy, so [00:11:55] they’re happy. The client, I’m telling, listen, you’re gonna save 10 [00:12:00] grand on an expert coming in to try and you’re gonna case is gonna be done in a day as opposed [00:12:05] to what could be a week, two weeks trial. So both [00:12:10] sides have, a benefit of agreeing to these s [00:12:15] jts. I know also a lot of firms will say, ah, but I don’t want to do this. I want the [00:12:20] sky as the limit. But, and maybe, you know, listen, we you we’re both smiling. [00:12:25] There are cases where it’s not right. Right. If you have a huge policy, but [00:12:30] even then you may wanna put a decent low. And a high and, and bracket it off. But [00:12:35] most people want their doctors in those huge cases.

[00:12:37] Gennady Voldz: So this is one of the [00:12:40] most talked about conversations that I have with firms that I work [00:12:45] with, and I’m sure you do too, is ultimately deciding is this the right [00:12:50] case for an SJT? And kind of figuring out do we do this as an [00:12:55] SJT or not? And what I’ve been experiencing is most, uh, a lot of [00:13:00] firms are skeptical of the SJT one day trial.

[00:13:03] Gennady Voldz: They’re skeptical when there’s [00:13:05] a large policy, a million plus policy, and they say, I [00:13:10] don’t really see a jury awarding that kind of money on a one 

[00:13:14] Peter Kolp: Yeah, [00:13:15] 

[00:13:16] Gennady Voldz: And the way I have been talking to. These [00:13:20] attorneys is, this is if the matter is simple enough. If the issue [00:13:25] here is simple enough, there is no need for a full [00:13:30] blown trial if this is a simple liability case or a [00:13:35] simple damages where you just know what the injury is and you know what we’ve gotten very good [00:13:40] at isolating what it is.

[00:13:41] Gennady Voldz: The issue is in these cases, [00:13:45] um, that the jury needs, are both living proof and others as [00:13:50] well that you could hit big on these s jts. We are now doing [00:13:55] parameters of two 50 on the bottom and a million on the [00:14:00] top, and that is now the new norm. That’s why I am so this for us [00:14:05] episode 

[00:14:06] Gennady Voldz: to talk about.

[00:14:08] Gennady Voldz: We are easily [00:14:10] getting six figures on these one day trials now that we’ve kind of figured out, you know, our way [00:14:15] and how to present the injuries in a very quick and to the point. Uh, [00:14:20] way to this jury. Would you agree? 

[00:14:22] Peter Kolp: a hundred percent in even more so [00:14:25] Kanati. Look, look at the way the world’s going. Right. the attention span of [00:14:30] people is small. Like they don’t wanna spend two weeks in a jury box, [00:14:35] right? 

[00:14:35] Peter Kolp: I have an 11 and an 8-year-old. You think he’s paying attention in a [00:14:40] two, three week trial. When he’s eligible in seven years from now, he’s gonna be [00:14:45] crawling the walls. This is, I think s jts are the future of, [00:14:50] of cases. I think people that think otherwise are, are not [00:14:55] appreciating what’s going on in our world in terms of the attention spans and whatnot. [00:15:00] But I get, listen, there’s hesitation.

[00:15:02] Peter Kolp: I want my expert explaining [00:15:05] to a jury. You and I both know that, both that. That [00:15:10] every juror that we’ve talked to will either say, will say, three things. [00:15:15] I heard both experts and they both canceled each other. Right. How many [00:15:20] times have you heard that? Like, and you’re like, how could you say that we spent so much time?

[00:15:24] Peter Kolp: That’s how they [00:15:25] see it.

[00:15:25] Gennady Voldz: By the way, I’ve heard of that one So much that now it’s a mandatory question for me in [00:15:30] my jury selection. Do you that just because experts are gonna come before you [00:15:35] and say to give two very different opinions, does that cancel each [00:15:40] other out? Or are you able to use your common sense [00:15:45] and focus on the evidence that’s being presented and judge each [00:15:50] expert like you do the witnesses and judge their credibility and judge their opinion?

[00:15:54] Gennady Voldz: How do you [00:15:55] feel about that? And I started doing that now on all my cases because I’ve heard that one so much. 

[00:15:59] Peter Kolp: [00:16:00] no, that’s a good one. I’ve heard, uh, that, or I’ll say in [00:16:05] think take the stand, swear to tell the truth, nothing but the truth, but [00:16:10] because what’s, you know, and, uh, I gesture to make it very clear because of [00:16:15] what’s going in their pocket, that they may have a, a, a skewed view. I want you to pay [00:16:20] really close attention to the defense doctor in this case. But, [00:16:25] but I think that’s the biggest hesitation. Looping back to what you were talking about. It’s the hesitation with [00:16:30] firms. No, we want him to hear our doctor ’cause he’s good. And the reality, I think is [00:16:35] it really comes down to our cross-examination of the defense doctor [00:16:40] or the plaintiff doctor.

[00:16:42] Peter Kolp: You put it on paper, most jurors cancel it out. [00:16:45] So that’s why I think these S jts are really cut to the chase. It’s the, i, I [00:16:50] really believe this is future. Um, and more and more [00:16:55] states are starting to adopt it. And, and I just talked to folks from Arizona and they’re like, yeah, we have [00:17:00] it on the books, but we don’t use it. So I’m going out there to do a talk with them and it’s like [00:17:05] to tell ’em this, this is the way things are gonna go.

[00:17:08] Gennady Voldz: I’ll add to your point, [00:17:10] you know, the firms are saying we want our experts to talk about it. If you’re a [00:17:15] really good trial lawyer, you know the medicine inside and out.

[00:17:19] Gennady Voldz: it’s a beautiful [00:17:20] thing to be able to have full control in what it is the jury’s hearing. And [00:17:25] because such a short period of time, they’re tuned in, they’re listening to you. We are, you know, [00:17:30] I like the fact that you said the kids have, you know, less and less attention. S [00:17:35] jts are the TikTok world of trials. 

[00:17:39] Peter Kolp: yeah, [00:17:40] yeah. Oh gosh. Now that’s terrible, right? But, but listen, it’s just our [00:17:45] reality. You think like 10 years from now, people just aren’t gonna have their attention span, right? [00:17:50] So I feel like if you’re an attorney out there, get on board with the S jts. I know [00:17:55] Joe Free and a couple other guys call them speed trials. So they don’t do s [00:18:00] jts, but they try to condense things even though they don’t have summary jury trials, [00:18:05] they try to condense them into the smallest, tightest package. Like you said,I’m gonna do [00:18:10] a direct in 20 minutes, 

[00:18:11] Peter Kolp: to those attorneys listening that don’t have s jts in their, in [00:18:15] their states or territories. You have to understand that the packets that Pete is [00:18:20] talking about, it’s not just the medical records, but there are exhibits that [00:18:25] you exchange with the other side. These are agreed on packets that include medical [00:18:30] definitions, that include medical diagrams.

[00:18:33] Gennady Voldz: and we’re gonna go through some of those [00:18:35] diagrams that you’ve used in the cases that, that you’ve just recently won. But it’s really a [00:18:40] beautiful thing if you know your issues, you know how to get to your points and you [00:18:45] know what you need to win. So I do wanna turn to the [00:18:50] three-peat, uh, that you to able to achieve and kind of go [00:18:55] through these cases to give people a really good idea of how it is that you get [00:19:00] six figures on these one day trials. 

[00:19:02] Peter Kolp: [00:19:05] Yeah, listen, it’s, and I’ve had people ask like, why would you set that up? [00:19:10] It’s just, it’s too much and you’re not giving it time and attention [00:19:15] with, as we’ve come outta COVID courts are pushing these cases so much [00:19:20] that. You, you know, you’re having it too. So it’s, it’s not that unusual, but they line [00:19:25] these up and I had the judges say, we’re not moving it just because you have a trial on wednesday. [00:19:30] We’re not moving it ’cause you have a trial on Thursday. So they were like, you’re doing [00:19:35] these. And, and I had one other where it, I tried to threepeat and I won the first two and I [00:19:40] lost the third one so it didn’t count. So, So, that’s, that’s a [00:19:45] little bit of the context. I know people would say, well that’s not fair to your clients or were you doing this just to get the [00:19:50] threepeat?

[00:19:50] Peter Kolp: And yeah, I thought, I did think it was fun. I did, [00:19:55] but 

[00:19:55] Gennady Voldz: me a law firm owner that would say no. To [00:20:00] three six figure trial verdict wins in one [00:20:05] week.

[00:20:05] Peter Kolp: In hindsight though, ti like it, they might say on that Tuesday [00:20:10] before I started, like, how are you gonna get these straight? You’re not gonna be able to win these all, you’re not gonna be able to [00:20:15] prep three one day trials and times. So the took like three weeks to [00:20:20] really meet with the clients multiple times so that they had it. 

[00:20:23] Gennady Voldz: Well look. Winning a regular [00:20:25] trial is hard enough. With, with preparation, winning these s [00:20:30] jts, you really have to be prepared. There is no ifs, ands, or buts [00:20:35] about it. If you are not prepared, if you don’t know these cases in and out, if you don’t know the [00:20:40] issues, if you don’t know what these reports and medical documents say ahead of time, [00:20:45] then don’t do it. That then this is not for you. and, [00:20:50] 

[00:20:50] Gennady Voldz: and I think the reason you’ve been so successful, why I’ve been successful is because we really [00:20:55] spend a good amount of time preparing these packets and knowing these packets in and [00:21:00] out. Some of these packets are, you know, anywhere between a hundred pages to 800 [00:21:05] pages.

[00:21:05] Gennady Voldz: One of the cases that we’re gonna talk about today, uh, you sent me an 800 page [00:21:10] packet of, of medical records. So let’s get to it. I wanna talk about the first [00:21:15] case with you. Um, and all this happened in March of this year. So the [00:21:20] first case is C Chonda, uh, versus Singh. Tell me a little bit [00:21:25] about. Just how the accident occurred and set up the [00:21:30] SJT for us.

[00:21:31] Peter Kolp: With all these cases, they start to, the defensive [00:21:35] issues and the plaintiff issues all, there’s probably 10 things, right? You and I know [00:21:40] it’s like these are the 10 things and after you do so many of, of these s jts, you’re like, okay, I [00:21:45] have to prepare for these 10 things. So you’ll see, I think in these three C Chanda, [00:21:50] um, it was c Chonda was driving and [00:21:55] his car, his story was that he’s hit in the rear.

[00:21:59] Peter Kolp: The [00:22:00] defendant’s story was he had changed lanes and then [00:22:05] Chanda went in front of him and hit him like that. So sort of a stop [00:22:10] short, you changed lanes in front of me 

[00:22:11] Gennady Voldz: So s jts can also be broken up into either [00:22:15] liability only, damages only, or both.

[00:22:18] Gennady Voldz: this first one that you had was [00:22:20] liability and damages on a motor vehicle accident. Alright. What were the [00:22:25] injuries, uh, for Mr. 

[00:22:27] Peter Kolp: So Chand had a left shoulder, [00:22:30] slap tear, and he had ortho surgery on his left 

[00:22:32] Peter Kolp: shoulder. 

[00:22:33] Peter Kolp: he had some [00:22:35] herniations and bulges, but the main focus was the shoulder. And [00:22:40] usually when you get hit in the rear right, you have your seatbelt across, so you’re getting that left [00:22:45] shoulder is like slamming up against the seatbelt and causing 

[00:22:47] Gennady Voldz: and

[00:22:49] Gennady Voldz: the [00:22:50] defense would’ve argued that one, this isn’t a true rear end, so there [00:22:55] be some apportionment of liability on the, on the plaintiff himself for cutting in [00:23:00] front of him. And the damages argument would’ve been what? [00:23:05] Not related.

[00:23:06] Peter Kolp: Correct. Well, right. That’s why I say these five things, and I [00:23:10] mean, like this, this is, we should write down these five things for people listening, [00:23:15] but rear ends are the damage is not [00:23:20] that Look at, there’s barely a scratch on that fender, but you’re talking about 2 2500 [00:23:25] pound cars slamming. And it’s what’s happening, what’s happening to your [00:23:30] neck? It’s going forward and it’s crushing, right? that’s [00:23:35] whiplash.

[00:23:35] Peter Kolp: Um, and there may be no damage from that, just the fenders smashing [00:23:40] together. I’ll literally push a chair, right? You, you know, this one where push a [00:23:45] chair and say, there could be a 5-year-old kid and I could slam this chair. The kid would go [00:23:50] flying and there’s no damage to the chair.

[00:23:52] Peter Kolp: But if I had a 50-year-old in [00:23:55] there, or, or you and I in and you hit the chair, we could go

[00:23:59] Peter Kolp: flying and get [00:24:00] hurt. And you could say, but you can’t be hurt Kanati. Look at this chair. [00:24:05] It’s, it’s barely broken. It’s barely scratched. Same thing with the bumpers [00:24:10] of cars. Um, so the defense is always, there’s no damage, there’s little [00:24:15] damage.

[00:24:15] Peter Kolp: You had degeneration, right? How many times have we read degeneration [00:24:20] in a 18-year-old, a 20-year-old, a 40-year-old, and then you have to look into the [00:24:25] medicals, whereas there’s trauma, a fusion, ectomies, [00:24:30] all that stuff. 

[00:24:31] Gennady Voldz: So what do you do here on this one? You know, you [00:24:35] have your client testifying on both liability and damages. [00:24:40] How long are you letting your client testify for?

[00:24:43] Peter Kolp: This guy was tough. [00:24:45] There was a real language barrier, but it wasn’t enough to do a [00:24:50] translator. And I don’t know about you, but when I can get away with not using a translator, I feel [00:24:55] like juries get frustrated. You’re doubling the time. But if they understand enough, but [00:25:00] his accent was pretty thick, but he could speak. Um, but i’m a big [00:25:05] fan of one, if they’re a tough client or if they’re just [00:25:10] not a very, if they’re like, I like to say, if they’re just a simple [00:25:15] client, get ’em on, get ’em off 20 minutes. 30 minutes if I can. 

[00:25:19] Peter Kolp: [00:25:20] 20 minutes is my maximum with a client. I want the jury hearing more from me [00:25:25] than from them. I’d rather save a little bit of time on cross if I need to [00:25:30] cross, you know, the defendant. And I think 20 minutes is that perfect sweet spot. If all you have [00:25:35] is an hour, I’d to spend as much of that hour talking about the [00:25:40] medicine, talking about the injury, and talking about how the [00:25:45] injury is absolutely caused from this accident. 

[00:25:48] Peter Kolp: Yeah, 

[00:25:49] Gennady Voldz: How did you end up [00:25:50] doing on liability in this case?

[00:25:51] Peter Kolp: We won a hundred percent.

[00:25:53] Peter Kolp: I don’t think they [00:25:55] believed. Um, how the defendant explained the story and [00:26:00] when he said they switched, he got tripped up on, on when he switched [00:26:05] lanes and whatnot. And the impact, right? So you look at the police report and [00:26:10] you notice the impact is directly in the

[00:26:11] Peter Kolp: middle. You would expect if my guy switched [00:26:15] lanes that he would’ve like clipped him or it would’ve been more on the driver’s side.

[00:26:19] Peter Kolp: But [00:26:20] I would tell folks out there, really look at the police report, where the impacts are [00:26:25] and the photos, um, because that, that’ll tell the tale of what [00:26:30] really happened. But he got tripped up. 

[00:26:32] Gennady Voldz: The police report is an exhibit part of this [00:26:35] packet that you’re pulling up for them, correct. 

[00:26:37] Peter Kolp: I don’t know if this helps, but your police report, [00:26:40] here’s where your, this. The car and it tells you [00:26:45] usually where the impacts are. And, and over

[00:26:47] Peter Kolp: here,

[00:26:48] Peter Kolp: um, it’ll say number [00:26:50] one, and that’s a rear end. They’ll oftentimes say, no toe or tow, [00:26:55] here’s where you have the rear end and 

[00:26:58] Gennady Voldz: So [00:27:00] 

[00:27:00] Peter Kolp: then you have

[00:27:00] Gennady Voldz: I wanna get into the damage portion. How are [00:27:05] you, let’s talk about this case in particular. It’s a left shoulder labral tear, slap, [00:27:10] tear, arthroscopic surgery. Give us a little taste for [00:27:15] how you’re just diving into, explaining to a jury, um, the left [00:27:20] shoulder anatomy and kind of what you’re talking about to them. 

[00:27:23] Peter Kolp: [00:27:25] in, in terms of like in closing, I guess 

[00:27:29] Gennady Voldz: do you [00:27:30] do it at closing? So that’s a, that’s a great point. You have the hour. How do [00:27:35] you typically use that hour, I guess is a better question for me when it [00:27:40] comes to going over the packet or talking about the injury. 

[00:27:43] Peter Kolp: I think you have to set it up [00:27:45] in voir dire in terms of soft tissue and heart tissue and [00:27:50] x-rays. I always, always, always, always, and jury selection will tell [00:27:55] a jury, listen,

[00:27:56] Peter Kolp: this is a soft tissue injury, a hard tissue injury. You’re gonna [00:28:00] see an x-ray and you’re gonna see broken bones and they, when you have a broken bone or [00:28:05] bleeding right away, you have to go immediately to the hospital. Soft [00:28:10] tissue injuries, you can wait and I’ll use two analogies. One, I’ll talk to [00:28:15] them. If I see a couple people on their jury selection have go to the gym or [00:28:20] workout, I’ll say, Hey, have you ever gone to the gym and you have your best workout ever and you [00:28:25] lift the most weight you ever lifted and you feel great? And if, if I [00:28:30] stopped you right after the gym, you’d say, ah, I feel great. And then that night [00:28:35] you say, oh, that was not a good idea. I should not have tried to bench [00:28:40] 250 pounds today. ’cause I think I heard something that’s soft tissue. [00:28:45] That’s when you don’t know right away. And I’ll s I’ll say that ’cause I think it’s really important. [00:28:50] All our clients with soft tissue injuries, they’re gonna walk into the courtroom and it’s five [00:28:55] years later and they have a herniated disc. I

[00:28:57] Peter Kolp: can’t look at you and say gdi, it looks like you have [00:29:00] two herniated discs in your neck and you have a shoulder tear. But I’m sitting [00:29:05] here right now and I had an ACL replacement, um, you know, [00:29:10] an April. And you can’t, other than a minor limp, you can’t really tell with [00:29:15] me. And a jury’s gonna say, how am I gonna give a lot of money to a person that I look at?

[00:29:19] Peter Kolp: And they look [00:29:20] fine.

[00:29:20] Peter Kolp: So I’m happy you mentioned that because we have to refer back to the PJI in these [00:29:25] episodes. Um, I think the two that we talk about the most in these motor [00:29:30] vehicle s jts are PJI 2 88 E, which is the [00:29:35] no-fault loss, serious injury, permanent consequential limitation of use of body, organ [00:29:40] or member, and 2 88 f.

[00:29:43] Gennady Voldz: Which is the no-fault loss, [00:29:45] serious injury, significant limitation of use of body function or system. Those are the [00:29:50] two questions that most of these jurors get that they have to say yes [00:29:55] to, and then they get to the money question. So what do you do, Pete, [00:30:00] specifically, let’s talk about this left shoulder tear and scope [00:30:05] to prove to a jury that you’ve met that burden [00:30:10] of showing them a significant limitation to this [00:30:15] person’s, left shoulder.

[00:30:16] Gennady Voldz: What are you saying to them?

[00:30:18] Peter Kolp: I just boil it down to the [00:30:20] simplest and it’s not. Just for the jury, it’s ’cause I don’t think I’m that smart [00:30:25] to be honest. That I just like, if I understand it in its most basic sense, [00:30:30] then I can convey it to them. These two charges I just [00:30:35] boil down to permanent. One is about permanent and the other is [00:30:40] about limitations. Right. And the law goes into great detail and they muck it up and they say, [00:30:45] you know, I don’t know about you, but when they read, when the judge reads these two charges, [00:30:50] every time I cringe. ’cause I’m like, it’s so convoluted and, and I’m [00:30:55] not sure any jury understands it.

[00:30:56] Peter Kolp: I’m not even sure that most attorneys understand it. But I break it down [00:31:00] into permanent and limitations. And I say, this case is about, [00:31:05] the defense is gonna say two things. He was already [00:31:10] broken. Or they’re gonna say he’s not that broken. [00:31:15] Right. And I use the broken window example. Something can, can, can be cracked.

[00:31:19] Peter Kolp: And I say [00:31:20] they broke it. They gotta fix it all the time. I used it yesterday in the case I [00:31:25] won yesterday. It says, broken window in defense.

[00:31:27] Peter Kolp: Came back and he said, I’m gonna prove to you that it was [00:31:30] already broken. Which was crazy, right? Where’s the MRIs from [00:31:35] before this accident? already

[00:31:36] Peter Kolp: broken, right? So, but [00:31:40] I say that, uh, to answer your question, sorry, it sounded long-winded, but [00:31:45] I will say to the them, look at what the defense is saying. The defense is [00:31:50] saying in their MRIs that everything was degenerative and [00:31:55] everything was passed and

[00:31:56] Peter Kolp: it happened. But I’ll, there’s no trauma [00:32:00] indicated in their records.

[00:32:01] Peter Kolp: In our records, you will see [00:32:05] synovitis, edemas, you’ll see tearing, newly tearing. And the [00:32:10] final narrative always tells the story of permanent. Often, I’ll say [00:32:15] their defense doctors does not use the goniometer. I’ve told you this one, I’m sure, [00:32:20] but they never use the goniometer. I always ask. That’s [00:32:25] if, if you take away one thing, people listen to this, the [00:32:30] defense doctors never use a goniometer, and they don’t because they eyeball [00:32:35] it and they don’t because they know that what they’re gonna report is that Simone Biles, [00:32:40] the Olympic gold medalist, was in that room with them and she had perfect range of [00:32:45] motion.

[00:32:45] Peter Kolp: And our doctors in the final narrative actually do the range of [00:32:50] motion. And they say that this is permanent, and the final narrative is usually multiple years. So [00:32:55] most of these final narratives were 3, 4, 5 years down the road, and they [00:33:00] give us the permanent limitations. So I just break ’em up into permanent [00:33:05] and limitations. 

[00:33:07] Gennady Voldz: And you find that to be successful when you break it [00:33:10] down, when you simplify it like that for a jury, they just, they start to get it.

[00:33:14] Peter Kolp: [00:33:15] Yeah, I, I think you have to, right? they just have to see those questions as [00:33:20] permanent from the final narrative or limitations. And I’ll tell them like with the shoulder [00:33:25] art though, your, i’m hammering away at limitations. Limitations [00:33:30] equals range of motion, what the range of motion is. So it could be 40 degrees, 50 degrees, [00:33:35] and I boil it down into, because they’ll give what the normal range of motion [00:33:40] is and they’ll tell what it is.

[00:33:41] Peter Kolp: So I try to break it down to he’s 35% loss [00:33:45] range of motion. 

[00:33:45] Gennady Voldz: I’m gonna pull up here an image. Is this something [00:33:50] similar to what you would be showing them when you’re talking about the anatomy of the shoulder [00:33:55] and explaining what the injury is and how it’s affecting his everyday [00:34:00] use?

[00:34:00] Peter Kolp: Yeah, or I’ll actually bring in like our, hernia disc. [00:34:05] I bring in an actual shoulder and say, here’s the rotator cuff, it was ripped, and then I’ll go through [00:34:10] the motion. It’s like if you’re hitting the rear, your left shoulder is going [00:34:15] forward. 

[00:34:15] Gennady Voldz: Awesome. So how much did you end up winning on this, uh, on this one?

[00:34:19] Peter Kolp: [00:34:20] Shonda was 300,000. 

[00:34:21] Not Not bad for a day’s work.

[00:34:24] Gennady Voldz: wanna move [00:34:25] on to the second case, which was the following day you were picking. [00:34:30] So the first one you were picking in the Bronx. The second one was, The Abbott case, [00:34:35] which you were picking in Queens, 

[00:34:37] Peter Kolp: correct. 

[00:34:38] Gennady Voldz: in Long Island City. 

[00:34:39] Gennady Voldz: So my [00:34:40] understanding that this was damages only. It makes your life a little bit easier to not have [00:34:45] to waste time on liability. Uh, this is the damages only motor vehicle [00:34:50] accident where he, the, uh, I believe the injury was [00:34:55] thickness tear, full thickness tear to his right shoulder tendon tear to [00:35:00] the left shoulder.

[00:35:01] Gennady Voldz: He underwent arthroscopic surgery on the left [00:35:05] shoulder, and he had some bulging and herniations in the lumbar spine. What [00:35:10] what do you remember about this one? That was, that was key for you? 

[00:35:13] Peter Kolp: he was a [00:35:15] carpenter, right? And he was a hardworking guy and an older guy, but he could tell he, [00:35:20] he really told the story about how his life changed as a carpenter because his [00:35:25] left, shoulder was torn up. So he was, um. This sad story of [00:35:30] these, how many times we had clients where their, their life changes. ‘Cause their [00:35:35] work is basically, if not eliminated, um, really [00:35:40] altered,

[00:35:40] Gennady Voldz: know on this one you did have an issue, and I’m sure the defense brought it [00:35:45] up where, uh, Mr. Abbott started treating two weeks [00:35:50] post-accident. what are you doing in that scenario? What are you talking aboutto the jury and, and when are you [00:35:55] bringing that up?

[00:35:56] Peter Kolp: if there’s a secret to my success, I’ll, I would say [00:36:00] it’s, I always meet with a client three times, no matter, [00:36:05] you know, actually this la um, this last case, I could only meet with them twice. [00:36:10] I’ll always meet with them three times on three different days because I feel like it really [00:36:15] sinks into the client what they did. And sometimes these cases, like look at the Abbott case is [00:36:20] a 2020, his accident was 2019. Here we are in [00:36:25] 2025. They can’t remember this client. He, he called for [00:36:30] an appointment and they didn’t get ’em in right away. But he was sort of sitting around the house. [00:36:35] A lot of these guys, I don’t know if you found this, but there’s some tough guys that get into [00:36:40] accidents. I know we’re not just saying that. And they think that they can just sort of tough it [00:36:45] out and they don’t. So this guy tried to tough it out for a week, then he realizes it’s not [00:36:50] working, then he calls to make an appointment and it takes another week. So that’s the [00:36:55] two week time period that you’re getting jammed up with. And as long as you explain to a jury that [00:37:00] I’ll use the gym analogy where they’re working outta the gym, or I’ll say, and I’ll [00:37:05] kid that, that’s probably a guy thing. You ever run to the [00:37:10] subway or whoever’s running where and you trip and you fall and it’s just [00:37:15] an ugly fall and you just look stupid and you get up and people are like, are you [00:37:20] okay?

[00:37:20] Peter Kolp: Are you okay? And you’re we’re guys. So we’re like, yeah, I’m fine. I’m And then that night

[00:37:24] Peter Kolp: [00:37:25] you’re like limping and. I know it’s kind of a guy thing, but it’s like [00:37:30] we, we like to think that we’re okay, that we’re tough, you know, and we’re [00:37:35] embarrassed. So I think that’s what happened is, and I tell juries, have you ever had that [00:37:40] and either the gym or the stairs, and in this case it [00:37:45] was two weeks and he tried to tough it out and then he tried to get an appointment and it took a week. That’s the [00:37:50] two week explanation. 

[00:37:51] Gennady Voldz: Getting to know your client is a big part of these s [00:37:55] jts. You can’t represent someone that you don’t understand and you don’t really know. [00:38:00] The game changer that I’ve experienced probably in the last year and a half for [00:38:05] me is I, I, I did what you did. I, I met with them multiple times, two to three times [00:38:10] before trial. I started taking walks with them. I would ask them to come to [00:38:15] my office and I could get, you know, as much as I could get from them. And I said, you know what? Let’s [00:38:20] go downstairs. Let’s go for a cup of coffee or tea, whatever it is that they drink, [00:38:25] and we’d leave the office. And I have found that I am getting more [00:38:30] information about who these people are in this. Five minute walk [00:38:35] than in the hour we’re sitting with each other in the office. There is [00:38:40] something about they feel nervous walking into a lawyer’s office. They feel nervous, they’re not [00:38:45] sure what to say, they’re not sure what the right thing to say is. And as soon as you take them out of that [00:38:50] environment, everything kind of changes.

[00:38:52] Gennady Voldz: I have the benefit of, I mean, you do too. Your [00:38:55] office is right across the street from, from the Brooklyn Courthouse. My office is right a street right [00:39:00] across the street from the Manhattan Courthouse. I say, let’s go take a walk. And then we [00:39:05] start taking a walk and I show them the courthouse, or I grab, I’m grabbing coffee and I’m still kind of [00:39:10] inquiring about who they are and what they do.

[00:39:12] Gennady Voldz: And that has [00:39:15] been a game changer for me in being able to truly represent them and who they [00:39:20] are and how these injuries have affected them. So I encourage any lawyer, [00:39:25] just try it. Meet with your client in the office and then go take a walk and [00:39:30] see how much you’re about to gain from that walk. It’s really powerful, [00:39:35] powerful stuff.

[00:39:35] Gennady Voldz: I highly recommend it.

[00:39:36] Peter Kolp: I, I like to think we really, [00:39:40] if we say falling in love with our clients is a strong, it sounds too [00:39:45] strong. And listen, there’s clients that some are, are rough, right? It’s just, that’s a [00:39:50] reality of what we do. Some are rough. They, they may be simple folks or they may, [00:39:55] um, they just had a tough life or whatever it is.

[00:39:57] Peter Kolp: But the, the ones where you sit [00:40:00] down and, and learn and listen, sometimes you’re like, I just don’t have time or [00:40:05] this, that, or the other.

[00:40:06] Peter Kolp: But I I had a Vietnam vet. Who [00:40:10] blew up his knee from a bouncing Betty in Vietnam. He got in a car accident [00:40:15] and needed a knee replacement. So you can imagine the defense was like, you know, [00:40:20] you, this guy blew his knee up and now he’s getting a knee repair ’cause of an accident.

[00:40:24] Peter Kolp: [00:40:25] But I he, ’cause he couldn’t walk that well, he just sit with him in his home [00:40:30] with all the craziness that was going on in his house. And I just like fell in love with this [00:40:35] guy. And if you think there’s a, a better way to do [00:40:40] a great summation than sitting with your client and really feeling like you like him.

[00:40:44] Peter Kolp: And I [00:40:45] know people talk about it and seems cliched, but man, getting to know [00:40:50] them and their story inspires you to do a summation on Right. [00:40:55] That’s why, that’s why we do what

[00:40:56] Peter Kolp: we do. And that’s I think why we robotic [00:41:00] defense attorneys lose 

[00:41:01] Gennady Voldz: we’re making it human. Nick Rowley, you know, has a whole [00:41:05] group called Trials by Human. Um, that’s what it’s all about. Getting to the [00:41:10] basic, uh, EQ levels with your client of really understanding [00:41:15] their story. 

[00:41:15] Peter Kolp: yeah. I think

[00:41:16] Peter Kolp: there’s no shortcuts and, and honestly, it’s the [00:41:20] one thing that makes me happy. ’cause I’m like, I am not smarter than most of these attorneys. I don’t [00:41:25] write briefs better than, I don’t do better motions. Thank, you know, thankfully we have AI now, [00:41:30] but it’s, we do connect with our clients and I think a jury [00:41:35] senses that and they can get angry and fight and be mad.

[00:41:38] Peter Kolp: Or they can, they [00:41:40] can, it’s not sympathy. I know. It’s like, don’t use sympathy. It’s, it’s more, [00:41:45] man that is not right. 

[00:41:47] Gennady Voldz: Sympathy is, sympathy is, you’re feeling bad for [00:41:50] someone. Empathy is you’re understanding what that person is going through. That’s the, [00:41:55] that’s the 

[00:41:55] Gennady Voldz: difference.

[00:41:55] Peter Kolp: Yeah, look at you. look at you. You’re just a regular [00:42:00] Webster’s dictionary 

[00:42:00] Gennady Voldz: I use that at trial and I say to them, you know, ’cause the defendant says up and [00:42:05] down, there’s no place for sympathy. That’s true. But empathy, there is a [00:42:10] place for. to understand what they went through. through. We’re not asking for [00:42:15] sympathy. Um, 

[00:42:18] Peter Kolp: I I,

[00:42:18] Peter Kolp: know

[00:42:19] Peter Kolp: it sounds [00:42:20] like you may do this too, but it’s like, I know a bunch of attorneys come right out with it and said, I don’t want your [00:42:25] sympathy, and my client doesn’t want your sympathy. We want justice and stuff, but I’ve, [00:42:30] I haven’t quite found what rings true for me, but I like 

[00:42:33] Gennady Voldz: this is why we do these [00:42:35] talks so that 

[00:42:35] Gennady Voldz: we learn from each other. It, it, one needs to reinvent the wheel. [00:42:40] Um, it’s all about just doing right by our client. So on Abbott, uh, the two [00:42:45] shoulders torn one surgery, how much did you get on that one, [00:42:50] the, the next day?

[00:42:51] Peter Kolp: 213,000.

[00:42:53] Gennady Voldz: bad, [00:42:55] not

[00:42:55] Gennady Voldz: bad 

[00:42:55] Peter Kolp: know. I really, really lowered the bar after the 

[00:42:59] Peter Kolp: first day

[00:42:59] Gennady Voldz: [00:43:00] So you have a third one the following day. Oh 

[00:43:03] Gennady Voldz: my God, I can’t even imagine what this [00:43:05] week was 

[00:43:05] Peter Kolp: like for you. which is the John Case where, I’m just gonna [00:43:10] summarize it just a bit. 31-year-old male involved in a rear end. This is a [00:43:15] damages only case. Complains about his back and his left knee and ends up [00:43:20] getting an arthroscopic surgery on the left knee.

[00:43:23] Gennady Voldz: tell us a little bit about that [00:43:25] one.

[00:43:25] Peter Kolp: Yeah. Um, young guy who was 31 years [00:43:30] old at the time of the accident hit from behind.[00:43:35] 

[00:43:35] Peter Kolp: he was just really, he was a good kid and ice kid. Was [00:43:40] really smart too. He remembered all the facts. So I was glad. ’cause you know, that night [00:43:45] after the second trial, I was can’t mess this up. ’cause I had won before. I had won [00:43:50] two and then lost the third one. And the, the one in that case, the defendant was like, yeah, I’ve [00:43:55] never seen that So he gets up on the stand, he’s like, I’ve never seen that plane [00:44:00] before. He wasn’t the guy driving the car, the other guy was or something. I mean, uh, we [00:44:05] never have Perry Mason movement, but that was a Perry Mason moment. And I was like, what just [00:44:10] So I was so pissed. I lost the last year. It’s a threepeat. So this one, I’m, you know, I can’t give [00:44:15] up, you know, stick cut the, cut the, I eick, he stated, pull it together. Turns out the, [00:44:20] the last one, the guy smart. he good kid. He was [00:44:25] young. He gets hit in the rear.

[00:44:26] Peter Kolp: And, that one’s Brandon John. It’s a quarter [00:44:30] million dollar verdict, two 50 verdict. 

[00:44:31] Gennady Voldz: incredible. I wanna talk about the knee for a moment because the [00:44:35] knee injury is one that I really like. It’s one that I’ve been extremely [00:44:40] successful on. I’ve gotten juries to award over $700,000 on a, [00:44:45] on a knee tear, no surgery. Um, just by explaining the meniscus, [00:44:50] the function of it, the um, the appreciation.

[00:44:53] Gennady Voldz: You know, I even do the [00:44:55] bouncing up and down in core, just shifting weight from one knee to the other and [00:45:00] how painful that might be when you see that tear. And, and, and showing them, [00:45:05] uh, you know, the visual models of the knee anatomy. How much do you [00:45:10] spend on the anatomy when you’re talking about these injuries in, in these [00:45:15] trials?

[00:45:16] Peter Kolp: it’s key to point out that once you get a meniscal [00:45:20] tear.

[00:45:20] Peter Kolp: Once you get even an ortho surgery on a, on a meniscus, [00:45:25] you’re on the path to a full knee replacement. And I, I know [00:45:30] some defense attorneys will object to that, but that’s, that’s a fact. The [00:45:35] knee is, you’re putting all your weight. It’s, it’s a key part of your body.

[00:45:38] Peter Kolp: So, I’m with you. [00:45:40] I, I think it’s, it’s one that deserves attention and that it gets, it [00:45:45] gets a lot of money as it should, because you are, you’re looking at a full knee replacement.

[00:45:48] Peter Kolp: This guy had it in, [00:45:50] he’s 31 years old. In 20 years he’s gonna have a knee replacement. 

[00:45:53] Gennady Voldz: For those [00:45:55] attorneys listening that are. On the fence about whether or not some of their [00:46:00] cases should go to, they should sign them up as a summary jury trial or not. [00:46:05] What are your, you know, take some takeaway advice for [00:46:10] those guys that are kind of thinking, do I or don’t I?

[00:46:12] Peter Kolp: Yeah, I mean, listen, do it, [00:46:15] right? Who wants to pay these doctors? Who wants not only to pay ’em, but the [00:46:20] headaches of arrange schedules? How many times have we seen, I [00:46:25] can’t get the doctor, doctors and surgery. I can’t get ’em these, anybody [00:46:30] who’s hesitating I, this is what I’d say. If you get a hundred k policy case, you get a [00:46:35] taxi case, try it with that.

[00:46:37] Peter Kolp: Try it with that and, and you’ll be [00:46:40] surprised. I mean, I don’t think we’re tooting our own horns, honestly. I [00:46:45] think if I had to look at the numbers, 80%, [00:46:50] 90%, and it’s been a hundred percent in 12 trials this year. we win more than [00:46:55] we don’t because it’s such a fast trial and you get the last word that, um. [00:47:00] I, just don’t see a downside, um, [00:47:05] of people trying it on, on the a hundred K cases. And then once you test the [00:47:10] water, 

[00:47:10] Gennady Voldz: if you are a lawyer that’s going to consider it and do it, don’t [00:47:15] bend on the parameters either hire someone like us that’s been doing [00:47:20] it, and the insurance companies know us pretty well by now and let [00:47:25] us set up the parameters for you, but don’t bend so much. A lot of times you’ll [00:47:30] hear from the defense attorneys, oh, well if I take 10 off the bottom, then I need to take 10 [00:47:35] off the top.

[00:47:35] Gennady Voldz: You know, let’s do 10 90 on those a hundred policy cases or whatnot [00:47:40] if they think they have such a great case. This is a line I use time and [00:47:45] time again. If you are so confident that you are going to get a defense [00:47:50] verdict here, then give me some upside to share with my client. Then [00:47:55] give, give, give me the a hundred on top.

[00:47:57] Gennady Voldz: Give me a little bit on the low, but my client has to [00:48:00] sign up for this and let’s do 10 to 100. And you would be surprised how [00:48:05] many say, okay, fine. They also don’t wanna spend, uh, money on [00:48:10] their doctors. They also have more cases that they can chew and they are very [00:48:15] interested in these summary jury trials.

[00:48:16] Gennady Voldz: So be bold and, uh, really [00:48:20] get the parameters that, that are satisfactory to you and to your [00:48:25] client to make sure that ’cause this, there’s no appeal here. You do this and you’re stuck with [00:48:30] what the verdict is. So the parameters have to be right. Would you agree with that? 

[00:48:34] Peter Kolp: [00:48:35] Yeah. I minute it right. It’s the wild west in some ways that, that you have no [00:48:40] court reporter, you have no motions, no headaches after trial. [00:48:45] It’s, you get what you get. 

[00:48:46] Gennady Voldz: Pete, you’ve shown us that. [00:48:50] Hi. To keep it fast and furious, no pit stops. I wanna thank you for [00:48:55] sharing your legal wisdom today, your proof that sometimes in the law it’s all about [00:49:00] getting to the point and quickly, and, uh, to everyone listening, [00:49:05] remember that in the courtroom, it’s not about the length of the trial, it’s about making every moment [00:49:10] count.

[00:49:10] Gennady Voldz: So Pete, thank you so much for being here.

[00:49:13] Peter Kolp: Ani, thank you. [00:49:15] This is awesome. I can’t wait to come back in a year from now. When you have, you know, [00:49:20] you’re, you’re famous and I get to say that I third guest your show. 

[00:49:24] Gennady Voldz: I [00:49:25] love that. All right, folks. Until next time, keep your argument short, your strategy sharp, [00:49:30] and your verdict’s fast. We’ll see you soon.