Well, another year has come and gone. In 2010 we saw Oracle win a 1.3 billion dollar jury verdict against rival SAP AG. We also saw the largest jury verdict ever in a Hollywood accounting case, which had Disney losing to "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" producer Celador Intl. to the tune of 319 million dollars. And, finally, Walmart was tagged in Colorado for what may be the largest slip-and-fall verdict in US history —$15M! What do all three of these HUGE verdicts have in common? None of them retained Magna Legal Services' litigation graphics or jury research team. I'm not saying we could have changed history, but who knows…

So, what's in store for 2011? Will JuryScout help us realize our dreams of batting 100 with our trials? Will my partner Ron Kurzman outdo himself and change the game of jury research again? Can Mark Calzaretta recreate an entire Baltimore County city in digital format for a large environmental matter like he did last year? Is Bob Ackerman going to expand the Magna vision with new business opportunities? Will litigators remain on the cutting edge of technology and keep pace with today's jurors? Will you get sick of my self-promoting editorial?

Only time will tell. However, one thing is for sure - whatever happens in the new year, Magna will be there as it has for the past 4 years to help law firms, corporate counsel, and insurance professionals utilize the latest and greatest in new litigation technology to achieve success.

With that, here's the latest from Magna Legal Services, The Legal Intelligencer's "Best of 2010":

• Magna continues to reduce travel costs for clients with remote deposition viewing. Watch your deposition from any computer and instant chat with your counsel or colleague.


• Magna remains on the forefront of cyber surveillance. ClaimScout, our recently released aggregate search program that carefully monitors the Internet, reviews hundreds of websites, and tracks jurors' and plaintiffs' online activities on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, blogs, message boards, various social news sites, personal Web sites, etc.


• Magna has perfected the art of live mock trials over the Internet. Check out our low cost online focus group program called www.juryconfirm.com


• I am posting on Facebook and Ron is Tweeting, providing the latest news on Magna and expounding upon our most recent ideas and views on litigation consulting and support.

That's what's happening at Magna Legal Services. Feliz Año Nuevo!

Peter Hecht
Vice President, Sales & Business Development
Magna Legal Services