Research and Analysis · Litigation Support
The empirical foundation for your change of venue motion
A community attitude survey gives the court a documented, statistically rigorous record of what jury-eligible residents in the venue actually believe about the case.
What we deliver
We design every survey to meet the evidentiary standard of the specific court where your motion will be filed.
Survey report
Documents community bias, pretrial publicity exposure, and prejudgment of the parties among residents in the venue.
Affidavit
Attests to the methodology and findings in a signed document ready to file with your motion.
Expert testimony
Testifies to the methodology and defends the findings under cross-examination at your venue hearing.
Media analysis
Reviews local media coverage to document the pretrial publicity environment in the venue.
Why Hanser & Associates
PR expertise meets research rigor
Hanser & Associates delivers research built to withstand cross-examination with random sampling, neutral question design, and statistical analysis that meets evidentiary standards. In successfully supporting venue motions in state and federal courts, our content analysis draws on 30 years of tracking how media coverage moves public opinion. All of this work for legal teams sits inside the firm’s broad experience in quantitative and qualitative research.
Results that hold up in court.
— Paralegal for civil litigation attorney (redacted for client confidentiality)
Process
Most surveys take three weeks
Assess — We examine your case, affirm the standards in your jurisdiction, and design a survey protocol built to meet them.
Design —We adapt best-practice questions to measure community awareness, exposure to pretrial publicity, and predisposition toward parties
Collect — We field the survey, securing a statistically valid sample
Analyze — We examine the data and produce a report summarizing findings in plain language for the court.
Deliver — We deliver a signed expert affidavit and remain available to testify at the hearing as warranted.
Change of venue survey questions and answers
What does a change of venue survey cost?
Change of venue surveys start at $4,500. Cost depends on venue and climbs when the engagement includes a comparative survey of the proposed transfer venue, media content analysis or expert testimony at the hearing. Contact us for a case-specific estimate.
How long does a change of venue survey take?
Most surveys complete in two to four weeks. Once we begin collecting responses, securing a valid sample takes approximately two weeks. Timelines extend when the engagement includes multiple venues or small markets that are difficult to sample. If your deadline is close, call us before ruling it out.
What evidence do I need for a change of venue motion?
Courts expect a community attitude survey documenting what residents believe about the case, and a media content analysis documenting the pretrial publicity that produced those beliefs. Hanser delivers both.
Can you oppose a change of venue motion with a survey?
Yes, if the results support it. A survey commissioned by the opposing party measures what the community actually believes and can show that a fair jury can be seated.
How do I prove jury bias?
A community attitude survey documents bias at the population level. It measures what jury-eligible residents in the venue believe about the case as a group and supports a venue motion by showing whether the pool is compromised. Identifying biased individual jurors is a separate question addressed through voir dire.
Does pretrial publicity guarantee a venue change?
No. Pretrial publicity alone does not guarantee a venue transfer. Courts want evidence that the coverage has actually affected community opinion, not just that it existed.
What makes a venue survey admissible?
Admissibility depends on methodology. Courts scrutinize question wording for neutrality, sampling for randomness, and sample size (N=380+) for statistical validity. The researcher must provide a signed affidavit and be prepared to testify under cross-examination.
Ready to evaluate your venue?
We’re ready to sign an NDA, assess your case and inform the change of venue motion.
No commitment required · Response within one business day