Brutal Honesty
Tune in to Brutal Honesty for inspiring stories of resilience and triumph. Join host Nick Rowley, a self-made trial lawyer, veteran, activist, author, and devoted husband and father, as he shares his remarkable journey from poverty and homelessness to success. Overcoming childhood trauma, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and a turbulent academic history, Nick's determination led him to join the military at 17, supported by the G.I. Bill through college and law school. As a trial lawyer, Nick has secured record-setting verdicts nationwide, championing justice for those facing generational devastation and advocating for human and civil rights. Brutal Honesty delves into the raw realities of life with guests who courageously share their experiences, offering profound insights on perseverance and personal growth. Don't miss out on the opportunity to be motivated and inspired by the best in the business.
Brutal Honesty
Phoenix Rising: From Defense Verdict to Record $81 Million Justice
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In this episode of Brutal Honesty, Nick Rowley sits down with legendary trial lawyer Sean Claggett to break down the Utah crosswalk death case that came back with a record-setting $81 million retrial verdict after the first trial ended in a defense verdict. The jury found the driver responsible for the 2018 death of 11-year-old Michael Madsen, rejecting the defense position that Michael ran in front of the truck.
Nick and Sean get into what really changed at the retrial - jury selection, owning the hardest fact in the case, and refusing to let the defense turn a child with the walk signal into the one to blame. Sean shares why he believed jurors would reject that argument and how he used the defense’s own expert to neutralize the “running into the crosswalk” issue.
They also delve into trial strategy, bystander trauma, child cases, loss, PTSD, healing, and the emotional weight that comes with fighting for justice at the highest level.
For plaintiff lawyers, this episode is a masterclass in trial courage and what it takes to try a case when the defense is betting everything on blame-shifting.
Tune in for one of the rawest conversations we’ve had.
Connect with Sean Claggett HERE
Connect with Claggett & Sykes HERE
Watch the trial on CVN.com Madsen v. Beacon, et al. HERE
Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Brutal Honesty. We hope you found today's discussion insightful and empowering.
Have a case you think myself or the team would be able to help you with? Click Here or email cases@tl4j.com
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