About the Course
Introduction
This CLE course will guide litigators on combating the trial strategy commonly known as the "reptile theory." The panel will educate counsel about identifying and creating effective responses that cause "reptile" tactics to fizzle at every stage of a matter, from discovery through closing argument.
Description
Plaintiff attorneys use the familiar reptile theory to get astronomical plaintiff verdicts by appealing to the primal region of jurors' brains focused on safety, self-preservation, and now rage. To overcome reptile tactics, it is necessary to understand how they work and why they are effective at getting a jury to believe that the defendant put all of society in danger and that a plaintiff's verdict is the only way to keep the world safe for themselves and others.
Its proponents credit reptile theory for billions in jury verdicts, including single verdicts in the tens and more frequently hundreds of millions of dollars.
To be most effective, reptilian theory tactics are deployed pervasively throughout every phase of a case, including discovery, opening statement, direct and cross-examination, and closing argument. Defense attorneys must recognize from the start when reptilian tactics are being used and implement strategies for nullifying them.
Listen as our authoritative panel of litigators shares how to defend against these tactics and create the best opportunity for success at trial.
Presented By
Mr. Bennett is the founder and lead trial attorney of Bennett Legal, a nationally recognized personal injury law firm known for securing landmark verdicts, major arbitration awards, and high-value settlements. As one of the nation's top civil trial lawyers, he is trusted to win complex cases involving 18-wheeler and commercial truck accidents, wrongful death, traumatic brain injury, motor vehicle collisions, workplace injuries, and residential solar panel fraud. In the growing field of solar contract and financing fraud, Mr. Bennett is widely regarded as a leading solar panel fraud attorney, helping families expose deceptive practices and recover significant compensation including families who were targeted specifically because of their language, age, or limited access to legal resources. He represents injured individuals, defrauded consumers, and businesses facing powerful insurance companies, corporations, and negligent property owners.
Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Family Law and Child Welfare Law, Ms. Reiter offers clients the depth and breadth of experience few attorneys can match. Known as a “powerhouse in the courthouse,” she has decades of experience protecting clients’ interests in complex family law litigation. Both scholarly and popular publications regularly call on Ms. Reiter to share her knowledge with readers—her vast list of publications includes articles in Texas Lawyer, New York Law Journal, Daily Business Review, The Imprint, The Recorder, and National Law Journal.
-
This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
-
Date + Time
- event
Thursday, September 10, 2026
- schedule
1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT
I. Reptilian tactics in litigation: How to see them coming
II. Defense strategies: From discovery through closing argument
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- What is the underlying basis for reptilian theory trial tactics?
- How are plaintiffs' attorneys leveraging reptile tactics to influence jurors?
- How can defense attorneys counter plaintiffs' use of reptilian tactics?
Related Courses
Combating Plaintiff Reptilian Tactics in Complex Litigation: Discovery, Voir Dire, Direct and Cross-Examination
Thursday, September 10, 2026
1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT
Geopolitical Risks to Litigators and Law Firms: Protecting Attorneys, Clients, and Operations in an Unstable World
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT
Recommended Resources
