Stephen Burg – From Columbine to the Courtroom, Overcoming Hurdles in the Pursuit of Justice

"By getting the first impression on a topic—whether good or bad—you create something that sticks, making it much harder for the defense to change it later," explains Stephen Burg in conversation with host Dan Ambrose. From surviving the Columbine tragedy to overcoming a rugby injury that left him with a traumatic brain injury, Stephen shares the moments of personal adversity that shaped his advocacy for clients. He discusses his strategic "First to Frame" approach for defusing problematic facts in jury selection, resulting in multiple seven-figure verdicts including an $18.1 million award for a client with addiction issues. Stephen and his father, Michael, will teach these framing techniques at TLU Beach (June 4-7), where they will coach trial lawyers on how to seize control of case narratives from the start.

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Episode Snapshot

• Stephen was a student at Columbine High School during the 1999 school shooting, a pivotal moment that shaped his desire to help people who have experienced trauma.
• During a University of Wyoming alumni rugby game, Stephen suffered a brain injury that required two and a half years of cognitive therapy, giving him unique insight into his clients' experiences.
• In 2022, Stephen shattered his leg in a skiing accident that left him in a wheelchair for months, further deepening his understanding of loss of freedom and mobility that many clients face.
• Stephen has tried about 14 cases to verdict at Burg Simpson, the firm co-founded by his father, renowned trial attorney Michael Burg.
• His "First to Frame" method focuses on getting ahead of defense tactics by addressing problematic facts early in jury selection.
• Stephen recently secured a $5.3 million verdict in a case where the defense blamed his client for not looking both ways before entering an intersection on a green light.
• He effectively neutralized a client's history of drug use and addiction in jury selection, helping secure an $18.1 million verdict.
• Stephen emphasizes the importance of entertaining and educating jurors, including using demonstrative evidence like his electrical circuit demonstration that disproved defense theories in a recent case.
• At TLU Beach, Stephen and Michael Burg will present their "First to Frame" approach in both lecture and workshop formats.

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