Our Team
The Litigation Group’s research team is composed of highly trained and credentialed individuals. Each member brings unique qualities and perspectives to the research effort.
Mark T. Gerard, M.A.
President and Founder
California State University, M.A., Communication Theory
University of Southern California, B.S., Business
Mark Gerard has more than four decades of experience in the jury communications field and has consulted on more than 1,500 cases in Federal and State venues across the United States, including Puerto Rico. He founded The Litigation Group in 1990 to serve high-profile plaintiff and defense legal teams in a diverse array of legal issues, and he is committed to developing highly effective relationships with trial teams to assist them in
maximizing their case presentation to the jury.
Mark works with attorneys and expert witnesses on high-risk and complex cases to develop themes and trial strategies; he has conducted extensive pre-trial research, including jury deliberation groups, mock trials, witness preparation, voir dire, jury selection, and post-trial juror interviews. By combining his strong research background with his extensive experience in communications and many years of investigating how jurors and juries make decisions, Mark provides significant quantitative and qualitative analysis assessments to improve his clients’ success at trial.
Mark has trial consulting experience in a wide range of high-stakes and high-profile cases, with major large firms representing most leading corporations in their industries, and with dollar amounts in the billions at stake. He has provided jury communicationsresearch for Amgen, Anheuser-Busch, Apple, Applied Medical, BAE Systems, Beats Electronics, Broadcom, Celanese, Comcast, Costco, CR Bard, Disney, Edwards Lifesciences, ESPN, Expedia, Fairchild, Fox Sports, 20th Century Fox, Fox News, General Electric, Gillette, HTC, INTEL, Masimo Medical, Medtronic, Micron, Monster Energy, News Corp, Orbitz, Priceline, Proctor & Gamble, Samsung, Seagate, Smith & Nephew, Travelocity, Time Warner, and Warner Brothers.
Jerri Ann Fullmer, J.D.
Vice President and Senior Trial Consultant
Certified Professional Coach
Hudson Institute of Coaching
Loyola Law School, J.D.
University of California, Irvine, B.A., English
Jerri Fullmer is Vice President and Senior Jury Consultant with more than 15 years of experience in all aspects of jury communication and research, including focus group facilitation, pre-trial strategy research, witness preparation, voir dire, and jury selection. With law practice experience, Jerri is uniquely equipped to understand and respond to the challenges her clients face. She utilizes an interdisciplinary approach, grounded in both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, to develop trial recommendations and strategies in collaboration with her clients. She also has expertise in witness evaluation and preparation, assisting witnesses to communicate effectively and persuasively.
Jerri is a Certified Professional Coach; she specializes in working with women attorneys and other professionals who are navigating personal or professional transitions. As a consultant, she coaches lawyers to prepare for and respond to the unique challenges of the legal profession, improve their leadership presence, find a better work-life balance, or navigate career or life challenges and transitions. Her unique experience as an attorney, trial consultant, and coach, has deepened her understanding of career and life transition cycles, the importance of aligning work with one’s core values, and the need to develop strategies for navigating change.
Prior to joining The Litigation Group, Jerri was a litigation associate at Meserve, Mumper & Hughes, Irvine, CA.
Mark W. Linder, Ph.D.
Senior Jury Consultant
Fuller Seminary, Ph.D., Theology
University of Illinois, B.S., Education, Social Studies
Mark Linder is a Senior Jury Consultant with extensive experience in all aspects of jury research and persuasive communication. Mark provides quantitative and qualitative analysis through focus groups, mock trials, damages assessments, and venue analysis. Mark utilizes his diverse and extensive background in the preparation of research instruments and in producing the research protocol. His detailed and extensive analysis of data collected at the research is particularly helpful in gaining a clear understanding of how jurors evaluate the merits of the case. Mark works with all members of the trial team to develop case themes and strategies to put forth the most persuasive case at trial.
Michael D. Cozzens, Ph.D.
Senior Research Consultant and Methodologist
Ph.D., Communication Theory and Research
M.A., Rhetoric
B.A., Psychology
Michael Cozzens is an expert in qualitative and quantitative research design and analysis. He has more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of applied jury communication and research including focus group facilitation. Dr. Cozzens also has 15 years of experience working in public opinion research, media effects, and persuasion as a researcher.
Emily Anderson
Director of Research Operations
Vanguard University, B.A., Interpersonal Communication Studies
Emily Anderson is a Research Analyst with experience conducting and managing research projects for a variety of cases. Emily performs demographic venue analysis in both state and federal venues. She has expertise in designing questionnaires and screening protocol for research participants and conducts analysis of quantitative data. Utilizing her academic background in Communication Studies, Emily assists the trial team in preparing for the jury research project. Additionally, her detail-oriented skillset equips her to look critically at the data collected and determine statistically significant trends in juror profiling, as well as the overall persuasiveness of the case.
Jury research analysts involved include:
Jaclyn Baccaro
Jury Research Analyst
B.A., Sociology ~ University of California, Irvine
Chance Beauchamp
Jury Research Analyst
B.A., Political Science, University of Arizona
Colette Byers
Jury Research Analyst
B.A., Business Administration ~ George Washington University
Ashley Collins
Jury Research Analyst
B.A, English and Creative Writing, Vanguard University of Southern California
Bryan Fiamengo
Jury Research Analyst
B.A., Biology ~ California State University Long Beach
M.A., Chemistry ~ California State University Long Beach
Melinda Fischer
Jury Research Analyst
B.A., Biology ~ University of Wisconsin
Taylor Scarcella
Jury Research Analyst
B.A., Business Administration and Psychology, California State University, Fullerton
Kimberly Watanabe
Jury Research Analyst
B.A., Biology ~ University of Wisconsin
Melissa Zeid
Jury Research Analyst
B.A., English Literature and Creative Writing, Vanguard University of Southern California