When we imagine justice, often pictured is the iconic figure of Lady Justice. From ancient Greece to the U.S. Supreme Court, there she is—blindfolded, holding a scale in one hand and a sword in the other. Ever wondered what those symbols mean? Or what they are intended to instill, even as the fate of cases are decided today, at...
Every day, we wake up to a world that feels more chaotic, more divided, and—too often—more unjust. The headlines bombard us with stories of pain and suffering, voices silenced, rights trampled. Injustice, when left unchallenged, does not fade. It grows. As a trial lawyer, I confront these harsh realities head-on. I've been in this fight for awhile. Behind every case,...
This is a story about our client—a story I wish never had to be told. Last fall, Paul Weber's life changed forever when he was hit while working on the side of the road just north of Spokane. First responders saved his life, but the injuries were catastrophic. Both of Paul's legs had to be amputated. Today, Paul is fighting his...
Pain, especially pain that doesn't quit, changes a person. And rarely for the better. The consequences of persistent pain extend well beyond the agonizing sensations of pain itself. Unremitting pain robs a person of the ability to enjoy life, maintain important relationships, fulfill spousal and parental responsibilities, perform well at a job or work at all. Pain may be invisible but,...
No one dreams of needing a trial lawyer. No one wakes up thinking an injury will change life forever, just like we do not expect to bury a child, because of someone else’s neglect. Odds are, if we meet, I am very sorry we had to. I wish we never had to meet. Most all of my battles representing injured families...
The first time I stood in front of a jury, in a large superior courtroom in Spokane County, I was a younger lawyer with more energy than eloquence, more ambition than experience. I'll never forget the feeling as if my legs might give out and collapse as easily as the accordion files in my briefcase. My mouth...
My father and I, and everyone at Sweetser Law Office, are excited to announce the founding of the Sweetser Law Closing Argument Competition, in coordination with Gonzaga Law School. Sweetser Law's endowed gift will establish an annual skills-based oral advocacy competition for Gonzaga Law students that focuses on monetary damages in the civil justice system. Each year three participants are awarded...
A big part of my decision to become a trial lawyer was to be part of something bigger than myself. I believe that trial lawyers have an obligation to make their communities a better place – both through litigation and community service. There is perhaps no circumstances I find this commitment more important than when it comes...
You are citizens. Called together to render judgment. On a conflict which you are not involved in. For people whom you do not know. You have been taken away. From your businesses. From your families. Your lives have been disrupted. For a conflict which you are not involved in. And this case may only involve an injured hip. That might sound like the least glamorous...
In legal terms, “emotional distress” or “mental anguish” has four identifiable aspects for a jury to consider: 1. grief and sorrow 2. worry, anxiety, and fear 3. loss of enjoyment of life 4. loss of self-identify or an inability to obtain self-satisfaction Many people, many jurors in fact, will ask rhetorically: Are these really damages we should compensate for in a personal injury case? This same juror...
