WEST PALM BEACH CAR ACCIDENT PLAINTIFF ’S MOTION TO INCREASE CHALLENGES

Now comes the West Palm Beach car accident Plaintiff and hereby requests that this Court grant his motion to increase the number of peremptory challenges for each side from 4 to 6. West Palm Beach car accident Plaintiff , on grounds for his motion, states that this action is one based on theories of negligence, strict liability, and failure to warn. There has been a substantial amount of pretrial publicity concerning this case including newspaper reports, television commentary and the like, as the West Palm Beach car accident Plaintiff was severely and permanently injured, having been rendered a quadriplegic as a result of an automobile accident. A prominent person in the community has been sued, as well as the manufacturer of the vehicle.

In addition, according to the juror questionnaire, which this Court allowed to be submitted to prospective jurors, more than 15 members of the prospective veneer panel have some degree of medical, engineering or other specialized training. Although this fact alone would not necessarily suffice to challenge these jurors for cause, each side could conceivably exhaust its peremptory challenges and still have members of the jury who are knowledgeable in the fields of medicine, engineering and science. Because of the unique and important medical and engineering principles that are at issue in this case, it would be unfortunate if someone with specialized training or expertise were, in effect, “to take control of deliberations.” As stated by one commentator, “having such a person on the jury means that you will essentially be trying the case to one person and to someone who will have a closed mind about most of the evidence.” Pearlman, “Jury Selection,” 12 The Docket at 17 (1982).

Based on the above, West Palm Beach car accident Plaintiff requests that each side be given a full and fair opportunity to select a fair and impartial jury to hear what as to both sides in an extremely important case. In order to give the parties that opportunity, each side should be entitled to three additional peremptory challenges. West Palm Beach car accident Plaintiff , therefore, respectfully requests that this Court grant his motion and allow each side three additional peremptory challenges.

WEST PALM BEACH CAR ACCIDENT PLAINTIFF
By his attorneys,