Texaco and the $10 Billion Jury

James Shannon, a juror in the trial, provides a superb observation of the trial proceedings as they were presented. He includes enough detail of the involved personalities and background facts that his opinions are persuasive without interfering with the reader's interest in learning about this fascinating battle of two oil giants. This book will be appreciated by those in either the legal profession or the oil industry, interested in some light reading, as well as anyone with an interest how a complex civil case might unfold in a courtroom.

I think this is the first book I have read written by an actual juror. Since the author was a very influential juror, pulling for the winner of the case, his selection of things from the transcript probably is skewed some, but if so it is not obvious. I was fascinated to read how the judge allowed the lawyers, especially the lawyer for Pennzoil, to "run wild" in voir dire, and one cannot but think that the fact the lawyer gave the judge $10,000 for his election campaign may have at least subconciously influenced the judge. This campaign contribution is discussed in the book, but the author apparently does not see the obvious solution: a lawyer who gives money to a judge should be barred from practicing before that judge. This would soon have Texas going to a better method of selecting judges, as many states have. This is a book which anyone who wants to see how a juror reacts to what goes on should read. A fascinating account of a mammoth case.