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Admissibility Of "Day In The Life" Films In Virginia, Mahlon G. Funk Jr., Harry J. Hicks Iii

University of Richmond Law Review

In recent years, audiovisual technology has taken an increasingly prominent position in courtroom procedures. Defense attorneys have traditionally introduced motion pictures of allegedly injured plaintiffs caught in some intense physical activity. More recently, courts have allowed the use of audiovisual depositions, which afford scrutiny of the characteristics and mannerisms of deposed witnesses. In the midst of this evidentiary trend, plaintiffs' counsel now frequently seek admission of "day in the life" films. Such films purport to depict for the jury in graphic detail the effects that a severe personal injury can have on the plaintiff's life. Admission of these films is …