Litigation & Appeals

MO Specific

Litigating Civil Cases in Missouri From Start to Finish

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Iowa CLE Approved 6 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 50 minutes
Eric Playter
Marc Middleton
James Wyrsch
John Lynch
With Eric S. Playter from Playter Trial Lawyers + 4 others
Recorded June 11, 2025
Product ID 100137

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Overview

Apply the Rules and Maneuver Through the Litigation Process With Confidence

Don't miss this opportunity to develop practical skills in civil litigation! In this online seminar, veteran attorney faculty will provide you with real-world insights and concrete instruction. From initial filings to trial, uncover best practices that will help you work your way to a favorable case resolution. Learn how to be an effective advocate for your clients in civil proceedings - register today!

  • Hear top words of advice on motions, discovery, jury selection, and other select issues.
  • Discover how to spruce up your motion practice skills.
  • Get the evidence you need during discovery and learn how to get it admitted.
  • Learn how to prove the authenticity of social media posts, text messages, and more.
  • Ask the right questions in voir dire to effectively ferret out juror biases and attitudes.
  • Develop your case presentation skills for trial, from opening statements to closing arguments.
  • Examine key ethics traps and receive practical guidance for complying with the rules.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Top Civil Litigation Dos and Don'ts
  2. Motion Practice and Pleadings: Getting What You Want
  3. Voir Dire and Jury Selection
  4. Building Your Civil Trial Skills
  5. Discovery, Depositions, and Evidence Rules: Real-World Applications
  6. How to Authenticate Social Media, Email, and Text Evidence
  7. Legal Ethics: Avoiding Key Dangers

Related Topics

Product ID 100137

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Iowa CLE Approved 6 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Top Civil Litigation Dos and Don'ts

    1. Court Procedure
    2. Motions
    3. Discovery
    4. Voir Dire and Jury Selection
    5. Trial Practice and Presentation

  2. Motion Practice and Pleadings: Getting What You Want

    1. Applying the Rules of Civil Procedure
    2. Pleadings Standards and Sufficiency
    3. Motion to Dismiss
    4. Summary Judgment Motions
    5. Motions in Limine
    6. Tips for Effective Brief Writing

  3. Voir Dire and Jury Selection

    1. Preparing for Voir Dire
    2. Investigating Jurors
    3. Reading Personality Types and Non-Verbals
    4. Building Rapport
    5. Introducing Case Information
    6. Asking the Right Questions
    7. Eliciting Bias and Obtaining Cause Challenges
    8. Getting Quiet Jurors Talking
    9. Effective Use of Peremptory Challenges

  4. Building Your Civil Trial Skills

    1. Opening Statements: Telling a Persuasive Story
    2. Conducting Direct Examination
    3. Cross-Examining and Impeaching Witnesses
    4. Using Objections
    5. Arguing Damages at Trial
    6. Delivering Summations and Jury Instructions

  5. Discovery, Depositions, and Evidence Rules: Real-World Applications

    1. Effective Use of Discovery Tools (Interrogatories; Requests for Production; Requests for Admissions; Subpoenas)
    2. Obtaining Evidence From Electronic Devices
    3. Taking Depositions
    4. Defending Depositions (and Properly Using Objections)
    5. Evaluating Admissibility
    6. Laying a Foundation to Get Your Evidence Introduced
    7. Witness Testimony and Reports
    8. Applying the Hearsay Rule and Exceptions
    9. Keeping Evidence Out

  6. How to Authenticate Social Media, Email, and Text Evidence

    1. Proactively Ensuring Authenticity
    2. Proving Electronic Documents Have Not Been Modified
    3. Identifying Who Made the Post and Linking to the Purported Author
    4. Authenticating Through Witness Testimony
    5. Authenticating via Distinctive Characteristics and Circumstantial Evidence
    6. Self-Authentication Methods

  7. Legal Ethics: Avoiding Key Dangers

    1. Handling Prejudicial Evidence
    2. Social Media and Legal Ethics
    3. Communicating with Jurors
    4. Preparing vs. Coaching Witnesses
    5. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

Who Should Attend

This basic-to-intermediate level online seminar is designed for attorneys. It may also benefit paralegals.

Speakers

Eric S Playter
Eric S.
Playter
Playter Trial Lawyers
Marc N Middleton
Marc N.
Middleton
Evans & Dixon LLC
James R Wyrsch
James R.
Wyrsch
Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian, P.C.
John M Lynch
John M.
Lynch
The Law Offices of John M. Lynch
ML
Michael J.
Lach
Boggs, Avellino, Lach & Boggs, LLC
Speaker bio
Eric S Playter

Eric S. Playter

Playter Trial Lawyers
Eric Playter

is an attorney with Playter Trial Lawyers, where he practices in all areas of civil litigation, with a focus on serious personal injury, wrongful death and employment discrimination. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia and his J.D. degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Following law school, Mr. Playter began working at a large downtown Kansas City defense firm where he honed his talents and skills representing individuals, businesses and insurance companies in various matters, including contract disputes, professional negligence, employment discrimination, defamation, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, bad faith and other liability claims. His practice is now dedicated almost exclusively to representing individuals who have been injured, or experienced other catastrophic loss and damage, as a result of others' negligence. Mr. Playter is a member of The Missouri Bar and Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.

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Speaker bio
Marc N Middleton

Marc N. Middleton

Evans & Dixon LLC
Marc Middleton

is a member with Evans & Dixon LLC in the firm's Kansas City office. He brings with him 15+ years of experience as a trial attorney. Mr. Middleton's career has been focused on civil litigation; construction defect and workers' compensation matters; defending small and large businesses, individuals and municipalities against claims involving personal injuries (premises liability, auto collisions, etc.); labor and employment disputes (brought pursuant to the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA); Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA); Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); Americans with Disabilities Act (ADAAA); Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); and Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA). He has handled every aspect of litigation from case inception through appeal. Mr. Middleton earned his B.A. degree in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his J.D. degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He is admitted to practice in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Western District of Missouri, District of Kansas, District of Nebraska, Eastern District of Michigan and the U.S. Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit.

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Speaker bio
James R Wyrsch

James R. Wyrsch

Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian, P.C.
James Wyrsch

is president and shareholder of Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian, P.C. He specializes in white collar crime and complex civil litigation matters. Mr. Wyrsch has litigated cases both at the trial and appellate level throughout the United States. He has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards throughout his extensive career. Mr. Wyrsch is an adjunct professor, teaching a criminal trial techniques course at University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School. He has lectured on various topics (1979-present) including discovery in criminal cases, updates on case law, grand jury representation, Missouri's Wiretap law, and defenses under the New Missouri Criminal Code for the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Mr. Wyrsch earned his B.A. degree from Notre Dame, his J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center and his LL.M. degree in trial practice from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

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Speaker bio
John M Lynch

John M. Lynch

The Law Offices of John M. Lynch
John Lynch

is an attorney at The Law Offices of John M. Lynch, where his practice includes federal criminal defense, DUI/DWI defense, drug possession defense, white-collar crime defense, personal injury, gun law and general trial litigation. Mr. Lynch is a member of The Missouri Bar, American Bar Association, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, American Association for Justice, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, International Homicide Investigators Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, as well as a member of the board of directors for the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Mr. Lynch has a strong law enforcement background with a decade of experience as a police investigator and federal drug task force agent. He earned his B.S. degree from Columbia College and his J.D. degree from Saint Louis University School of Law.

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Speaker bio
ML

Michael J. Lach

Boggs, Avellino, Lach & Boggs, LLC
Michael Lach

is an attorney at Boggs, Avellino, Lach & Boggs, LL,C where he focuses on civil litigation. He earned his B.A. degree from Illinois State University and his J.D. degree from Suther Illinois University School of Law.

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