I was named after Satchel Paige the baseball player. People often ask me why there is not a “t” in my name and the truth is that my parents were afraid I would be called a satchel bag at school. I was raised in the small town of Viola, Arkansas and give the credit of my success to my wonderful parents, Eddy and Jeanie Oliver. I basically drove my mentor, Frank Bailey, nuts until he agreed to hire me. The first three phone calls to Frank’s office resulted in failure because the office manager simply told me, “Mr. Bailey was not hiring.” I brainstormed magic words with my parents and called back a 4th time asking if I could just spend “5 minutes with Mr. Bailey.” Thank goodness Frank agreed. In those 5 minutes, Frank determined I had great potential and hired me to trim the boxwoods and plant begonias in the firm’s garden. I told Frank that I would do whatever he wanted me to do for little or no money under one condition… If Frank went somewhere on a case for any reason, he must take me with him. We have been together ever since. I am married to Codi Oliver who is a pediatric occupational therapist. We have two daughters, Reesa and Reagan. One of our favorite things to do is ride horses together on our ranch in beautiful Northwest Arkansas. I am passionate about my faith and discipling men to be their best.
Depositions & Trial Damages with Sach Oliver & John Romano
apr 1 - 5, 2025 /
apr 1 - 5, 2025
About the bootcamp
Winning a trucking case isn’t just about the courtroom—it starts with dominating depositions and using every question to frame a powerful trial narrative. At this 5-day TLU Trucking Bootcamp, you’ll train with Sach Oliver, John Romano, and Dan Ambrose to master high-level deposition strategy, trial advocacy, and courtroom presence. This immersive program combines the precision of deposition technique with the art of persuasive trial storytelling, ensuring that every case you bring is built for maximum impact.
Sach Oliver will share game-changing deposition tactics that uncover the most damaging truths for the defense, setting the stage for big verdicts. John Romano will show you how to frame your case for maximum damages, ensuring jurors connect emotionally and financially to your client’s suffering. And with Dan Ambrose’s expert coaching, you’ll refine your presentation, cadence, and body language to command attention and gain the trust of jurors from the moment you step into the courtroom.
This is not just a bootcamp—it’s a complete transformation of how you approach depositions, how you build your case, and how you present in trial.
Student Prerequisites
Read Depositions Are Trial. Students should be prepared to bring a trucking or personal injury case and come poised to address all aspects of the case, including case framing and presentation of lay and expert witnesses, with a learning mindset eager to see the case from a new perspective.
testimonials
Doug Zanes
I believe that participating in the TLU bootcamps has been the single most beneficial investment that I have made in myself as a trial lawyer. It provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to work on everything from jury connection to storytelling within the courtroom and the confines of a case. I don't believe that the skills taught in this program are available anywhere else, and any lawyer who is serious about trial work MUST make this investment in yourself."
Przemek Lubecki
"This training will save you years of struggle and put you light years ahead of the defense. If you're open-minded about the role voir dire can play at trial and committed to doing the work it takes to get comfortable in the discomfort of training for trial, you may come out a different person and without question will leave a much better trial lawyer.”
What Strategies You Will Gain from Sach Oliver:
Every question you ask should not only extract information but strategically shape the case for a winning trial narrative. Sach Oliver will teach you how to take control of depositions, turn them into trial-defining moments, and frame every question with purpose.
You’ll learn:
- The Trucking 30(b)(6) Corporate Representative Deposition – Dig the safety hole and lower the trucking company into it. Learn how to structure your questioning to expose safety failures, establish liability, and lock in corporate admissions that will be undeniable at trial.
- The Top 10 Worst Things for the Defense – Discover how to uncover and frame the most damaging admissions that shift the balance of power in your favor. Learn how to control witness responses, force truthful answers, and use precision word choiceto box in the defense.
- Turning Depositions into Trial Strategy – Every deposition is an opportunity to build the narrative you want jurors to hear. Learn how to translate deposition testimony into compelling themes, create visuals that reinforce key admissions, and execute a questioning strategy that sets up powerful cross-examinations.
- Mastering Word Choice & Visual Strategy – The way you ask a question shapes how a witness responds. Learn to craft language and visual framing that push witnesses toward revealing the truth, making their admissions even more impactful in front of a jury.
- Executing a Trial-Driven Deposition Plan – Go beyond routine questioning. Develop a step-by-step strategy for each deposition that aligns with your trial goals, closing argument, and damages presentation.
What Strategies You Will Gain from John Romano:
Maximizing damages requires more than just presenting numbers—it’s about making non-economic losses real, tangible, and undeniable to jurors. John Romano will guide you through the subtleties and nuances of proving and arguing damages, ensuring that every case element is framed for maximum impact. This interactive session will include deep dives into attendees' pending cases, providing customized strategies and tactical insights to overcome key challenges and strengthen damages arguments.
You’ll learn:
- Mastering non-economic damages – Effectively prove and argue physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium in a way that resonates deeply with jurors.
- Crafting case-specific strategies – Work directly with John Romano to assess and refine your case's damages presentation, ensuring you have the best possible approach to persuade jurors and neutralize defense arguments.
- Overcoming common defense tactics – Learn how to anticipate, counter, and dismantle the defense’s efforts to minimize damages, ensuring jurors fully appreciate the depth of harm suffered by your client.
- Taking control of defense medical examiners – Develop strategies for preparing for, deposing, and discrediting defense medical experts to prevent them from undermining your case.
By the end of this session, you’ll have a tailored approach to arguing damages, a deeper understanding of juror psychology, and a refined strategy for securing the justice your clients deserve.
What Skills You Will Acquire from Dan Ambrose:
Dan Ambrose will train you in the micro skills of persuasion and presence, ensuring that every word, gesture, and pause amplifies your case’s impact. Through intensive coaching, you’ll develop the physical and vocal mastery necessary to make jurors not only listen—but believe.
You’ll learn:
- Commanding Presence from the First Word – Learn how to step into the courtroom with confidence, eliminate nervous energy, and project authority that makes jurors trust you before you even speak.
- Precision in Vocal Delivery – Master the cadence, pacing, and pausing needed to emphasize key points, control the emotional flow of your argument, and ensure jurors absorb every critical fact.
- Aligning Body Language with Message – Develop congruence between words and actions by using intentional gestures, glance control, and purposeful movement to reinforce your case themes and make your arguments feel natural and compelling.
- Maximizing the Impact of Depositions in Trial – Convert deposition admissions into trial moments that captivate jurors. Learn how to mirror deponent body language and intonation, use visual reenactments effectively, and deliver testimony in a way that makes it unforgettable.
- The Art of Emotional Connection – Jurors won’t just remember what you say—they’ll remember how you made them feel. Learn how to control your emotional state, project authenticity, and build genuine connections that make your client’s story impossible to ignore.
- By refining these micro skills, you’ll transform the way you present, persuading jurors on a subconscious level and ensuring your arguments resonate beyond logic—into belief.
Bootcamp preparation details
Students must bring a case to work on, complete prep assignments, and attend weekly Zoom meetings. You will record and review your presentations multiple times. This preparation ensures that you arrive ready to make the most of the bootcamp.
Your Instructors
Sach Oliver
Oliver Law FirmJohn Romano
Romano Law GroupJohn was born in Framingham, Massachusetts. His family moved to Florida when he was five years old. He was raised and schooled in West Palm Beach, Florida. While in high school he was the drummer in a rock band while being very active in sports having been named to two high school All America football teams as a running back. John then signed a football scholarship to play for Florida State University which was followed by law school and then active duty in the US Marine Corps, where he served as a Captain in the JAG Corps.
John and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 53 years and have four sons, each of whom played college football for Florida State University, University of Iowa, Kansas State University and Clemson University. Their family also includes four daughters-in-law and eleven grandchildren. John has handled virtually every type of tort and criminal case including those involving wrongful death, product liability, medical malpractice, murder, armed robbery, negligent security, trucking and auto, dramshop litigation, defamation of character, fraud and more. John is a former president of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (now called FJA), the Southern Trial Lawyers Association and the National Trial Lawyers. John loves traveling with his wife, Nancy, his family and friends. When time allows he loves watching good movies, good series, snow skiing, college football, Olympic Sports, and being with others.
Dan Ambrose
Trial Lawyers UniversityI grew up in Birmingham, MI. I am the youngest of eight children and attended an all-boys catholic school my whole life until I went to college at the University of Michigan. I went to night school at Detroit College of Law. My dad, my uncle, two of my brothers, and sister were lawyers. My first job was cutting lawns at age 10. I started working for my brother as a house painter at age 12. When I was 16 I started my own painting business and continued throughout high school, college, and law school, and a few years after until I was 32. I practiced criminal defense for eighteen years in Michigan until ten years ago when my roommate from the Trial Lawyers College, Nick Rowley, encouraged me to move to LA to become a PI lawyer. The California Bar took me four tries. I moved to Las Vegas this past March. I have recently taken up pickle ball, skiing and golf. I also think I'm competitive at connect four, backgammon, chess, and ping pong.
