Episode 10: To Take or Not to Take A Case

How do lawyers decide which cases to take and which ones they have to turn away?

In this episode of The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast, Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi discuss case selection inside a plaintiff law firm. Every week, people call after catastrophic injuries, medical mistakes, or the loss of a loved one. Most believe they have a case. The difficult reality is that many cannot be pursued.

Karen explains the economics of contingency litigation and why complex cases can require hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars to investigate and try. Mo walks through how lawyers evaluate credibility, evidence, and whether a claim can actually be proven in court.

And then there is the hardest part of the job. Saying no.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with someone interested in how these decisions are made, and leave a review telling us what surprised you most.

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

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📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.

Episode 9: Sanctions, Sexism, and Gender Bias in the Courtroom

A judge issued a sanctions order against a plaintiff attorney. But this was not about missed deadlines or discovery disputes. It was about gender bias, professionalism, and what happens when misogyny shows up in a courtroom.

In this episode, Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd break down the order, including allegations that a female defense attorney was told she lacked empathy because she did not have children and was treated drastically differently than her male counterpart during depositions. The court found the conduct inappropriate. The bigger question is why we are still talking about this in 2026.

Karen sits in the discomfort. She talks about the shock of being pulled out of what you thought was a professional exchange, what it means to “stuff it” when your primary job is protecting your client, and why silence only feeds shame. Mo reflects on bullying, allyship, and whether redemption requires acknowledgment. Mike pushes on accountability and consequences.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with someone navigating bias in their profession.

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.

Season 6, Episode 8: What Legal Dramas Get Wrong About Real Trials

What do legal dramas get completely wrong about the courtroom?

Karen Koehler, Mo Hamoudi, and Mike Todd take on Law and Order, The Wire, John Grisham movies, My Cousin Vinny, and even Drop Dead Diva to break down what Hollywood gets wildly wrong about real trials.

From surprise evidence waved in the air mid-cross to rogue police officers kicking down doors, they explain why real courtrooms are slower, more procedural, and far less dramatic than TV would have you believe.

At the same time, they also admit that Hollywood gets one thing very right.

Trials are about story.

Karen shares how watching courtroom dramas shaped her trial style, including a five-minute cross-examination using a paper cup and water to explain a spinal injury. Mo reflects on the moment a juror pulled him aside after a murder trial and said, “Your story made sense to me.” They talk about monotone lawyers, long-winded closings, and why reading PowerPoints to a jury is a fast way to lose.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague who lives for courtroom scenes, and leave a review telling us your favorite legal drama.

🎧 Stay Connected with The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast

Hosted by Karen Koehler and Mo Hamoudi, trial lawyers at Stritmatter Law, a nationally recognized plaintiff personal injury and civil rights law firm based in Washington State.

Produced by Mike Todd, Audio & Video Engineer, and Kassie Slugić, Executive Producer.

Watch full episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
📬 Questions or topic ideas? Email us at thevelvethammerpodcast@stritmatter.com

🔥 New episodes every Wednesday
Subscribe for bold takes, heartfelt moments, and the unfiltered reality of what it means to live and lead as a trial lawyer at Stritmatter Law.