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Self Defense Law and Related Civil Liability: Litigating the Justifiable Use of Reasonable Force

Recording of a 90-minute CLE video webinar with Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Conducted on Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Recorded event now available

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This CLE webinar will guide counsel through an in-depth look at the law of self defense and the values that underpin it. The program will offer strategies, tips, and guides for representing clients that have utilized force. The panelist will review self defense laws and their elements, the use of deadly vs. nondeadly force, when the use of force is reasonable, provocateurs and initial aggressors, and more.

Description

Throughout time and across cultures, the right of self defense has been universally recognized in some form or another. High profile cases in the last decade have highlighted these issues and the values that underpin them.

Even if criminal charges are not brought or are defeated, the person using force may have to defend against civil suits from the injured party or their families, often re-litigating the same issues. Self-defense is a complicated area of law that is made more so by duty to retreat/stand your ground statutes and similar laws. Counsel ignores this area of law at their peril.

Listen as Sarah Gervase, Assistant General Counsel at National Rifle Association of America, takes attendees through an in-depth look at the law of self defense and its underpinnings, and then offers guidelines and tips for representing clients that have utilized force.

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Outline

  1. Values underlying self defense
  2. Elements of self defense
    1. Common law
    2. Statute
  3. Limitations on self defense
  4. Stand your ground statutes
  5. Burdens of proof
  6. Insurance

Benefits

The panelist will review these and other key issues:

  • What are the most common errors and beliefs about self defense?
  • What level of force can be used to defend against destruction of property?
  • How does the "castle doctrine" operate in real life?
  • Which party has the burden of proof to prove or disprove self defense?

Faculty

Gervase, Sarah
Sarah Gervase

Assistant General Counsel
National Rifle Association of America

Ms. Gervase has been Assistant General Counsel at the National Rifle Association since 2006. She advises the NRA and...  |  Read More

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Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include course handouts.

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