LTC assists in wrongful death defense verdict for Maricopa County and Sheriff Joe Arapio and Tent City

Monday May 14, 2007

Last Friday, a Phoenix jury came back with a total defense verdict in the case of Pearl Wilson vs Maricopa County., et al. The case, which was followed heavily by the local newspapers, was tried in the United States Federal District Court for the District of Arizona in front of Judge David G. Campbell. The case revolved around the death of an inmate who was in Maricopa County’s tent city. Phillip Wilson, 36, was being held in Tent City on a probation violation when he was beaten into a coma by inmates in July 2003. He died four months later in a Phoenix area hospital. Wilson reportedly owed money to a drug dealer whose associates also were inmates in Tent City, and the beating may have been a planned hit. Attorney Dan Struck (Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, PLC. 602-263-7323), representing Maricopa County and Sherriff Joe Arpaio, said Wilson had been advised of a possible assault in the days before his attack but didn't tell jail officials that he needed to be protected. "If Mr. Wilson advised us of any danger, we would have moved him," said County Shettif Joe Arpaio. The Plaintiffs were represented by attorney Michael Manning of Stinson Morrison and Hecker. Prior to the trial the Phoenix firm of Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, retained Legal Technology Consulting to assist in the strategy and creation of hi-end graphics for Attorney Dan Struck’s opening statement and closing argument.

“LTC was very helpful in developing the strategy for the graphics for our opening and closing” said Dan Struck. "The visuals prepared by LTC were effective in showing the jury the layout of the Tents Facility and the numerous security enhancements that had been implemented by the MCSO prior to the assault on inmate Phillip Wilson. "Tim Piganelli and Chris Lakso made themselves available to assist us at all hours and at a moment's notice throughout the trial."

The graphics were conceived by LTC to help contradict Plaintiff’s attorney Mike Manning’s allegations that changes were not made after a similar incident in 1993. “It was important to our client that we demonstrated to this jury clear, concise graphics of the layout of the facility and the changes that occurred” said LTC CEO Tim Piganelli.

Our job is to create visual aids that not only show a jury the issues at hand but do it in a way that survives any evidentiary rules the court imposes as well as make it easy for a presenting attorney to keep on track with their opening statement or closing argument.

Legal Technology Consulting, Inc., is a full service litigation support firm that concentrates on assisting attorneys with the strategy and implementation of a sound and persuasive plan for presenting graphics and animations at trial. They also offer Litigation Support Consulting, EDD, Jury Consulting, and Litigation Software Training.

For more information please call (480) 753-4365