Client: McGuire Woods, Richmond, VA
Summary: 3D animations and analytical graphics to help one of the world’s largest law firms to defend the “Big 3” US automakers from class-action suit re asbestositis
Result: A very happy client:
“We cannot be happier with the quality of the animations you produced for us. (They will) help tremendously in this national litigation, and I expect juries will relate well, regardless of their geographic location.”
– Samuel L. Tarry, Jr., Partner, McGuire Woods
Contents
(1) Background
(2) The “Big 3’s” law firm retained me
(3) The 3D animations that I directed the production of, based on the detailed storyboards I created
(4) Testimonial
(1) Background
National litigation was brought against General Motors, Ford and Chrysler by a class of plaintiffs, consisting of auto mechanics and factory workers. The basis of their claim was that they suffered a variety of respiratory ailments, most notably, asbestositis, as a result of their working on brake systems that these manufacturers used in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The “Big 3” auto makers hired McGuire Woods, one of the world’s largest and most respected law firms, as part of their defense team.
(2) The “Big 3’s” law firm retained me
I was retained by McGuire Woods’ world headquarters in Richmond, VA to consult on, design and direct the production of a series of 3D computer-animated visualizations to depict the following, to educate jurors:
- Simulated braking dynamics of 1960s-era domestic autos
- A nondescript 1960’s/early 1970’s-era sedan on a braking “skid pad” (test track)
- The great extent to which the “Big 3” worked to achieve shorter braking distances than the government required, using brakes constructed with the only material it permitted, because of its superior performance characteristics: asbestos
- The practical implications of asbestos vs. non-asbestos braking systems
The resulting animations were integrated into a larger multimedia presentation (produced by DecisionQuest) that was shown to juries nationwide.
(3) The 3D animations that I directed the production of, based on the detailed storyboards I created
The design process began with establishing what the generic car would look like:
And then, the skid pad (braking test area), with all key facets indicated:
Below are the three animations that I designed and directed the production of, with links to the storyboard I created for each, upon which they are based.
(1) TEST 1: PASS: Establishing the “skid pad” components; a nondescript 1960s-style auto with (government-mandated) asbestos brakes “passes” the test of government performance regulations
See the storyboard here.
(2) TEST 2: FAIL: The same auto, without asbestos brakes, “fails” the test of government performance regulations
See the storyboard here.
(3) TEST 3: MANUFACTURER TARGET: As a safety measure, the “Big 3” worked to engineer brake systems to exceed the performance required by government performance regulations
See the storyboard here.
(4) Testimonial
Excerpt:
“We cannot be happier with the quality of the animations you produced for us. (They will) help tremendously in this national litigation, and I expect juries will relate well, regardless of their geographic location.”
– Samuel L. Tarry, Jr., McGuire Woods
McGuireWoods Testimonial fo… by jonsutz