A project came my way that was outside my usual scope but very interesting nonetheless. Jim Golden, an attorney in Chattanooga, TN, asked me to produce two short role-play videos to demonstrate his signature negotiation method for early, humane, and reasonable settlement of accident and commercial disputes.
Jim calls his method the Negotiation Counsel Model®, and it involves in part opening up a second track of negotiation alongside the conventional litigation track. The hope is that the party that has been injured or offended can come to an agreement with the company early in the process – helping them save legal costs and move on with their lives, and helping the company avoid potentially years of depositions, document production, meetings, and/or a jury trial. When real empathy is involved – rather than threats, escalation, and manipulation – both sides’ humanity can be preserved and a mutually beneficial resolution reached.
Playing opposite Jim, as Claimant’s Counsel, was Tom Babson. When he introduced himself, I was sure he was an actual lawyer. Then I realized he was just a good actor, and fit the part – not to mention he played Sam Malone’s lawyer for six years on Cheers.