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The Runaway Jury Essay Example

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The Runaway Jury Essay Example
THE RUNAWAY JURY By John Grisham

Takes place in Biloxi, Mississippi. MAIN CHARACTERS Nicholas Easter – (real name is Jeff Kerr) Juror that was a plant on the jury. He and his girlfriend Marlee had money motives. Nicholas molded the jury from day one to vote his way. Marlee – (aka Claire Clement - real name is Gabrielle Brant) Nicholas Easter’s accomplice on the outside of the courtroom. Rankin Fitch - Ran the show of high-priced lawyers and consultants for the defendant, Pynex (tobacco co.). Directed all the illegal proceedings going on outside the courtroom for the defendant. Durwood Cable - Head lawyer for the defendant team. Wendal Rohr – Plaintiff’s, Mrs. Jacob Wood, head lawyer. Judge Frederick Harkin - the presiding justice for this case. This story was about how two very smart and focused individuals who could manipulate a jury and the defense team in a multi-million dollar legal battle to receive a very large cash payment. The defense was Pynex, a tobacco company, and they had very deep pockets and were willing to pay for the correct verdict. A verdict for not guilty. The story starts with the very laborious job of jury selection. The tobacco industry has on their payroll a man by the name of Rankin Fitch. Fitch foresees the selection of the lawyers and consultants. Fitch and the consultants foresee the selection of the jurors. Each perspective juror is investigated and watched. The defense as well as the plaintiffs want to secure a verdict so they only want jurors sympathetic to their side. Fitch along with Rohr, the plaintiff’s lawyer, also had high priced detectives tailing perspective jurors. Anyone who was the least bit wrong for their cause had to be eliminated from the process. One person both sides couldn’t find any information on was Nicholas Easter. He seemed rather neutral which is good for both sides but not being able to find

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