Using Google Earth Plus to Show a Jury the Scene

The week before last TechnoEsq was asked to prepare a video for the jury in a civil trial in Federal Court. The attorneys, Robert Mattingly and Steve Romines, wanted a video which would capture the ‘quiet and kid-friendly’ feeling of the neighborhood where their client, Maria DeCamillis Raque, was falsely arrested.

The case involved an officer who was responding to complaints of children playing hide and seek. The officer’s claim was that Ms. Raque hindered his ‘investigation’ by telling the children to go inside the home before he was done ‘talking to them’. The officer subsequently pepper sprayed Ms. Raque, threw her to the ground, knocked her against his cruiser and then falsely charged her with resisting arrest. Another officer who arrived on the scene did not support the arrest.

Though we have not supplied online the audio portion which contained a slight background of crickets chirping and lawn mowers far off in the distance, the video portion still gives the jury a clear picture of where this incident occurred as well as conveys the small, peaceful, and child-friendly feeling of the neighborhood.

The jury awarded Ms. Raque $1 million dollars in punitive damages.

Click on image to watch movie

Robert Mattingly

Finis:

Thanks again for putting together a great presentation. The location of the incident and the overall “fell of the neighborhood” was an important factor for the jury. The presentation really helped us to obtain a great jury verdict.

Robert Mattingly
Robert Mattingly

Finis:

Thanks again for putting together a great presentation. The location of the incident and the overall “fell of the neighborhood” was an important factor for the jury. The presentation really helped us to obtain a great jury verdict.

Robert Mattingly
Brock

How was the video used? Direct, closing? I like it.
Brock

How was the video used? Direct, closing? I like it.
Robert Mattingly

Opening and Closing. In fact, the jury had a question during deliberations and asked to watch it again. Of course, the Judge did not allow this. I spoke to the jury afterwords and several commented that it helped them figure out where things happened (the location of the incident, street or front yard, was highly disputed). Needless to say, they were impressed with the presentation.
Robert Mattingly

Opening and Closing. In fact, the jury had a question during deliberations and asked to watch it again. Of course, the Judge did not allow this. I spoke to the jury afterwords and several commented that it helped them figure out where things happened (the location of the incident, street or front yard, was highly disputed). Needless to say, they were impressed with the presentation.
Brock

Thanks.
Brock

Thanks.
Brock

Thanks.