Trial Preparation Summary
Synthesizes case materials into a single courtroom-ready reference organized for rapid access during examination, argument, and tactical decisions.
Required Inputs
- Pleadings — complaint, answer, counterclaims, amended pleadings
- Discovery — interrogatory responses, RFP productions, RFA responses
- Depositions — transcripts with page:line citations
- Expert reports — opinions, methodology, bases
- Motions & orders — dispositive motions, MILs, rulings
- Exhibit list — pre-marked exhibits with Bates ranges
- Witness list — anticipated witnesses for both sides
Quick Start
- Collect all inputs above
- Build sections 1–9 below in order
- Cite every assertion to exhibit #, depo page:line, or Bates range
- Mark uncertain legal citations
[VERIFY]
- Use tables over prose throughout
Output Sections
1. Case Overview
| Field |
Content |
| Caption |
Full case caption |
| Court / Judge |
Court, department, judge |
| Trial date |
Date(s), estimated duration |
| Causes of action |
Claims/counterclaims with statutory or common-law basis |
| Burden of proof |
Party bearing burden per claim/defense |
| Relief sought |
Damages figures, equitable relief, fees |
2. Procedural History
Reverse-chronological table of significant docket entries:
| Date |
Event |
Order/Ruling |
Impact on Trial |
Flag pending motions, unresolved discovery disputes, deferred evidentiary rulings, and approaching deadlines (pretrial conference, exhibit exchange, witness disclosure).
3. Factual Narrative
- Chronology table — date, event, source (exhibit #, depo cite), disputed/undisputed
- Undisputed facts — stipulated or established by RFA admissions
- Disputed facts — competing versions with supporting evidence for each side
4. Element Mapping
One table per claim/defense (repeat for multi-count cases):
| Element |
Governing Law |
Our Evidence |
Their Evidence |
Strength (1–5) |
Per claim, also note: jury instruction references, standard of proof, key distinguishing case law.
5. Evidence Inventory
| Exhibit # |
Description |
Auth. Witness |
Foundation Issues |
Anticipated Objections |
MIL Status |
Flag exhibits needing business-records foundation (FRE 803(6)), expert authentication, or chain-of-custody proof.
6. Witness Summaries
Per witness:
| Field |
Content |
| Name / Role |
|
| Calling party |
Plaintiff / Defendant / Both |
| Key topics |
|
| Favorable depo cites |
Page:line |
| Impeachment material |
Prior inconsistent statements, bias, interest |
| Availability |
Voluntary / subpoenaed / issues |
Separate fact witnesses from experts. For experts add: opinions offered, methodology, Daubert challenge status.
7. Motions in Limine Tracker
| Motion |
Filed By |
Subject |
Status |
Impact if Granted |
Impact if Denied |
8. Damages / Relief Analysis
- Damages model — methodology, supporting docs, expert basis
- Damages table — category, amount claimed, evidence, vulnerabilities
- Equitable relief — terms sought, legal standard, factual predicates
- Fees/costs — contractual or statutory basis, documented amounts
9. Strategic Assessment
- Case theory — one-paragraph narrative for the fact-finder
- Strongest arguments — ranked with supporting evidence
- Key vulnerabilities — candid weaknesses with mitigation strategies
- Anticipated opposing themes — their narrative and rebuttal points
- Trial flow — suggested witness order, examination priorities
- Contingencies — if-then scenarios for adverse rulings or unexpected testimony
Pitfalls
- Unsourced assertions — every fact must cite exhibit #, depo page:line, or Bates range
- Stale citations — mark all legal citations
[VERIFY] unless confirmed current and jurisdictionally on-point
- Advocacy creep — maintain neutral analytical tone; flag weaknesses candidly
- General legal summaries — skip principles the attorney already knows; focus on case-specific application
- Missing Daubert flags — always note whether a reliability challenge is pending or viable for expert testimony
1---2name: trial-prep-summary3description: Generates a structured courtroom-ready trial preparation summary synthesizing procedural history, facts, legal issues, evidence, witnesses, and strategy into a quick-reference document. Trigger when preparing trial binders, pre-trial review documents, courtroom reference materials, or trial strategy memos in commercial litigation.4---5
6# Trial Preparation Summary
7
8Synthesizes case materials into a single courtroom-ready reference organized for rapid access during examination, argument, and tactical decisions.
9
10## Required Inputs
11
121. **Pleadings** — complaint, answer, counterclaims, amended pleadings
132. **Discovery** — interrogatory responses, RFP productions, RFA responses
143. **Depositions** — transcripts with page:line citations
154. **Expert reports** — opinions, methodology, bases
165. **Motions & orders** — dispositive motions, MILs, rulings
176. **Exhibit list** — pre-marked exhibits with Bates ranges
187. **Witness list** — anticipated witnesses for both sides
19
20## Quick Start
21
221. Collect all inputs above
232. Build sections 1–9 below in order
243. Cite every assertion to exhibit #, depo page:line, or Bates range
254. Mark uncertain legal citations `[VERIFY]`
265. Use tables over prose throughout
27
28## Output Sections
29
30### 1. Case Overview
31
32| Field | Content |
33|-------|---------|
34| Caption | Full case caption |
35| Court / Judge | Court, department, judge |
36| Trial date | Date(s), estimated duration |
37| Causes of action | Claims/counterclaims with statutory or common-law basis |
38| Burden of proof | Party bearing burden per claim/defense |
39| Relief sought | Damages figures, equitable relief, fees |
40
41### 2. Procedural History
42
43Reverse-chronological table of significant docket entries:
44
45| Date | Event | Order/Ruling | Impact on Trial |
46|------|-------|--------------|-----------------|
47
48Flag pending motions, unresolved discovery disputes, deferred evidentiary rulings, and approaching deadlines (pretrial conference, exhibit exchange, witness disclosure).
49
50### 3. Factual Narrative
51
52- **Chronology table** — date, event, source (exhibit #, depo cite), disputed/undisputed
53- **Undisputed facts** — stipulated or established by RFA admissions
54- **Disputed facts** — competing versions with supporting evidence for each side
55
56### 4. Element Mapping
57
58One table per claim/defense (repeat for multi-count cases):
59
60| Element | Governing Law | Our Evidence | Their Evidence | Strength (1–5) |
61|---------|--------------|--------------|----------------|-----------------|
62
63Per claim, also note: jury instruction references, standard of proof, key distinguishing case law.
64
65### 5. Evidence Inventory
66
67| Exhibit # | Description | Auth. Witness | Foundation Issues | Anticipated Objections | MIL Status |
68|-----------|-------------|---------------|-------------------|----------------------|------------|
69
70Flag exhibits needing business-records foundation (FRE 803(6)), expert authentication, or chain-of-custody proof.
71
72### 6. Witness Summaries
73
74Per witness:
75
76| Field | Content |
77|-------|---------|
78| Name / Role | |
79| Calling party | Plaintiff / Defendant / Both |
80| Key topics | |
81| Favorable depo cites | Page:line |
82| Impeachment material | Prior inconsistent statements, bias, interest |
83| Availability | Voluntary / subpoenaed / issues |
84
85Separate fact witnesses from experts. For experts add: opinions offered, methodology, Daubert challenge status.
86
87### 7. Motions in Limine Tracker
88
89| Motion | Filed By | Subject | Status | Impact if Granted | Impact if Denied |
90|--------|----------|---------|--------|-------------------|-----------------|
91
92### 8. Damages / Relief Analysis
93
94- **Damages model** — methodology, supporting docs, expert basis
95- **Damages table** — category, amount claimed, evidence, vulnerabilities
96- **Equitable relief** — terms sought, legal standard, factual predicates
97- **Fees/costs** — contractual or statutory basis, documented amounts
98
99### 9. Strategic Assessment
100
101- **Case theory** — one-paragraph narrative for the fact-finder
102- **Strongest arguments** — ranked with supporting evidence
103- **Key vulnerabilities** — candid weaknesses with mitigation strategies
104- **Anticipated opposing themes** — their narrative and rebuttal points
105- **Trial flow** — suggested witness order, examination priorities
106- **Contingencies** — if-then scenarios for adverse rulings or unexpected testimony
107
108## Pitfalls
109
110- **Unsourced assertions** — every fact must cite exhibit #, depo page:line, or Bates range
111- **Stale citations** — mark all legal citations `[VERIFY]` unless confirmed current and jurisdictionally on-point
112- **Advocacy creep** — maintain neutral analytical tone; flag weaknesses candidly
113- **General legal summaries** — skip principles the attorney already knows; focus on case-specific application
114- **Missing Daubert flags** — always note whether a reliability challenge is pending or viable for expert testimony
CaseMark