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FABULOUS FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE Inspired by EasyDessertRecipes.com
TURNING SETBACKS INTO STRENGTHS
Ingredients
• 1 cup chopped dark chocolate • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted • 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 1/2 cup almond flour
The Power of Owning Bad Facts in Court
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts • 4 large eggs, separated • 2 tbsp cocoa powder
In civil cases, opening statements are your first opportunity to set the stage and establish credibility with the jury. While it’s tempting to focus solely on the strengths of your case, ignoring the bad facts is a risky move. If you don’t address them upfront, the defense team can potentially seize the opportunity to use them against you and leave jurors feeling like you’ve been hiding something. Why Owning the Bad Facts Matters Juries are made up of real people, and like all of us, they value honesty. If they sense you’re avoiding uncomfortable truths, they may start to distrust your entire narrative. By addressing the bad facts early, you control the story and show the jury you’re transparent and confident in your case. It’s about turning those bad facts into manageable ones and framing them in a way that supports your overall argument. Turning Negative Facts Into Positive Facts Owning bad facts means admitting them and then reframing them. For example, if your client missed a deadline or made a questionable decision, you can explain the context or the challenges they faced. Instead of making excuses, it’s important to provide a complete picture that humanizes your client and builds empathy. This approach allows you to steer the narrative. Instead of letting the defense blindside the jury with a “gotcha” moment, you demonstrate control and preparedness. The Role of Mock Trials and Focus Groups Developing this skill doesn’t happen overnight. At our firm, we invest significant time in mock trials and focus groups to fine-tune how we address bad facts. These sessions give us invaluable feedback on how jurors perceive challenging aspects of our case and help us craft responses that resonate. We test different ways of presenting the bad facts and asking ourselves: "How do we explain this? How do we respond?" By the time we’re in the courtroom, we’ve rehearsed our strategy to ensure the jury remains engaged and open to our narrative, even when confronted with difficult truths. Opening statements aren’t just a summary of the case. In fact, they’re an opportunity to build credibility and trust. By owning the bad facts and presenting them with transparency and confidence, you maintain control over the narrative and set the tone for a compelling case. In the end, honesty isn’t just the best policy — it’s the winning strategy.
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a
springform pan with butter or nonstick spray. 2. Place chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour warm, melted butter over it, wait for 2 minutes, then stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. 3. Add sugar, almond flour, and walnuts and stir to incorporate. Stir in the egg yolks and set mixture aside. 4. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites on medium until stiff peaks form. 5. Fold 1/4 of the whipped egg whites into the chocolate batter. Repeat, 1/4 at a time, until egg whites are incorporated. 6. Pour batter into springform pan and bake for 30–35 minutes. 7. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before removing from the pan. Dust with cocoa powder before serving.
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