Promoting Safety. Protecting Rights.
2009 Member Conference
June 3-6, 2009
St. Petersburg, Florida
Become a fan: Follow us: injuryboard.com/facebook twitter.com/InjuryBoard InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Welcome!
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to attend InjuryBoard’s 2009 conference in beautiful downtown St. Petersburg. Since you made the trip south, you made the conscious decision to learn and understand more about the InjuryBoard network and meet those instrumental in maintaining one of the nation’s ctop publi education websites. For that, we thank you and promise to make this an event you will attend for years to come!
Over the next two days, you will continue your legal education through presentations given by the finest plaintiff attorneys practicing today and learn from top online technology experts about how to improve your practice through proper SEO, marketing and the embracement of social technologies. You will also meet and network with like‐minded InjuryBoard members who understand the importance of these concepts and are already using Web 2.0 technologies to expand their practice and make a difference in their communities.
Our greatest hope for this conference is that you come to believe what we already know‐ that the ultimate goal of trial lawyers should be to reach out and make a difference in our profession, in our communities and in our country by acting as thought‐leaders and change‐agents in the fight to protect the Civil Justice System. In short, we must do well by doing good. By working together, we can undoubtedly achieve these goals.
Thank you again for making the trip to Tampa Bay. We hope you will spend the next few days interacting with the group, learning how to get engaged in the InjuryBoard network and most importantly, having fun!
Sincerely,
Nicholas Carroll & Thomas Young
InjuryBoard Founders
1 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Welcome
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Web 2.0 & The Trial Bar Conference Agenda
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm Registration St. Petersburg Yacht Club (Quarterdeck Room, 1st Floor. Use South Entrance)
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Opening Cocktail Reception St. Petersburg Yacht Club (Waterfront Room, 2nd Floor)
Thursday, June 4, 2009 st 7:30 am – 8:00 am Registration (Quarterdeck Room, 1 Floor. Use South Entrance)
8:00 am – 8:05 am Welcome & Introduction Tom Young InjuryBoard Co‐Founder & Attorney Member Liaison (Ballroom, 2nd Floor)
8:05 am – 8:55 am Keynote Address Garrett Graff – Author, Lecturer (Ballroom, 2nd Floor)
9:00 am – 10:15 am John Romano: Trial Cross‐ Andy Childers: Hot Topic: Examination in 2009 – The Reglan Litigation Paradigm Shift Brad Henry: The Big Dig: InjuryBoard Staff: Introduction Eric Romano: Risky Business: Use of Media and Internet to InjuryBoard Business Logic Defeating Pre‐Injury Liability Coverage in Modern Waivers Litigation (Quarterdeck Room, 1st Floor)
(Ballroom, 2nd Floor) (Harborview Room, 2nd Floor)
10:20 am – 11:35 am Doug Landau: Fatal & Gibson Vance: How National Politics Forgotten: Fractures in Relates to Your Practice Elderly Clients: Fatal, Preventable & InjuryBoard Staff: Introduction Rebecca Langston: Top Essentials Misunderstood to the InjuryBoard Community Needed to Evaluate a Birth Trauma
Case Devon Glass: Prescription (Quarterdeck Room, 1st Floor) Drug Errors (Ballroom, 2nd Floor) (Harborview Room, 2nd Floor)
nd 11:40 am – 12:40 pm Lunch & Sponsor Introduction (Waterfront Room, 2 Floor)
Gary Paul: Paint the Picture‐ 12:45 pm – 2:00 pm Mike Ferrara: Jury Selection in this Arguing Damages in the Economic Climate Wrongful Death Case InjuryBoard Staff, IB Members
Billy Walker: 7 Deadly Sins in Rick Shapiro & Steve Brandon Smith: Hot Topic: Dealing with Experts Lombardi: Advanced Stevens Johnson Syndrome InjuryBoard Participation Litigation (Ballroom, 2nd Floor)
(Quarterdeck Room, 1st Floor) (Harborview Room, 2nd
Floor)
1 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Agenda
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
2:05 pm – 3:05 pm Jesse Guerra & Bob Hilliard: How to Settle Your Swimming Pool Drowning InjuryBoard Kiosks, Meet and Pete Mackey: 60 Tips in 60 minutes Case in Less Than a Year for Greet InjuryBoard Staff
Seven Figures (Ballroom, 2nd Floor) (Quarterdeck Room, 1st Floor) (Harborview Room, 2nd Floor)
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Kansas City 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm Buses depart promptly at 3:30pm from the Hampton Inn Royals (Tropicana Field). Additional directly across the street from the St. Pete Yacht Club. Fees May Apply.
Friday, June 5, 2009 st 8:00 am – 8:45 am Registration (Quarterdeck Room, 1 Floor. Use South Entrance)
8:45 am – 8:50 am Welcome & Introduction Tom Young InjuryBoard Co‐Founder & Attorney Member Liaison (Ballroom, 2nd Floor)
8:50 am – 9:40 am Greg Cusimano: Winning in Today’s Environment
(Ballroom, 2nd Floor)
9:45 am – 10:55 am Jerry Trachtman: Tort Liability in Outer Space: What Every Space Tourist Technology Presentation: Should Know Continual InjuryBoard Theoretical & Practical Blogging Education, IB Kiosks, Meet Techniques Gerry McGill: Avoiding the and Greet InjuryBoard Staff Rocks & Shoals in Maritime
(Ballroom, 2nd Floor) Cases (Quarterdeck Room, 1st Floor)
(Harborview Room, 2nd Floor)
11:00 am – 12:10 pm Morgan Adams: What Every Car Wreck Lawyer Needs to Technology Presentation: Social Know About a Truck Wreck Continual InjuryBoard Media to Drive Traffic & Enhance Case Education, IB Kiosks, Meet Your Brand and Greet InjuryBoard Staff Hank Didier: Innovations in
(Ballroom, 2nd Floor) Product Safety (Quarterdeck Room, 1st Floor)
(Harborview Room, 2nd Floor)
nd 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm Lunch & Sponsor Introduction (Waterfront Room, 2 Floor)
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
1:20 pm – 2:30 pm Peter Mougey: The Subprime Meltdown: Greed at the Expense of
Mainstreet Continual InjuryBoard Technology Presentation: Web Education, IB Kiosks, Meet Design & Search Engine Bob Langdon: When is Your and Greet InjuryBoard Staff Optimization Car Crash Case a
Crashworthiness Case (Quarterdeck Room, 1st Floor) (Ballroom, 2nd Floor)
(Harborview Room, 2nd Floor)
nd 2:30 pm – 2:50 pm Networking Refreshment Break (Ballroom, 2 Floor)
2:55 pm – 4:30 pm Stephen Herman: 12 Lessons in Litigation
Gary Jackson: Structuring and Managing Co‐Counsel Technology Presentation: Continual InjuryBoard Relationships Analytics & Conversions Education, IB Kiosks, Meet
and Greet InjuryBoard Staff Brenda Fulmer: Overview of
Various Hot Mass Tort (Ballroom, 2nd Floor) (Quarterdeck Room, 1st Floor) Projects
(Harborview Room, 2nd Floor)
4:30 pm – 4:45 pm Closing Remarks Tom Young InjuryBoard Co‐Founder & Attorney Member Liaison (Ballroom, 2nd Floor)
Sunset Cruise Aboard Starship. Cruise departs promptly at 6:30 pm from the St. Pete Yacht 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Additional Fees May Apply. Club marina. Boarding will begin at 6:00 pm.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
9:00 am – 3:00 pm InjuryBoard Fishing Tournament St. Petersburg Yacht Club – Marina Additional Fees May Apply
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Keynote Address Garrett Graff – Author, Lecturer
As presidential candidate Howard Dean’s first webmaster and the first blogger to be admitted to cover a White House press briefing, author and Georgetown University professor Garrett Graff has had a front row seat to the collision of technology and political power. Garrett’s first book, The First Campaign: Globalization, the Web, and the Race for the White House, details “how the ‘flattening of the world’ has transformed politics – and what it meant for the 2008 election.
Garrett first spoke to the InjuryBoard membership at the 2008 conference, discussing his personal experience with the power of social networking and web 2.0, how it has changed the political landscape forever, and how that dynamic of change can and must be put to work in the legal landscape if attorneys want to connect with clients and more importantly, save the civil justice system. The speech was met with rave reviews.
In this year’s keynote, Garrett plans to expand on his 2008 speech, discussing how social media and web 2.0 tactics defined last fall’s historic election and what the future of social networking will look like.
Garrett M. Graff – Author, Lecturer
Garrett M. Graff is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on technology and politics. As editor at large at The Washingtonian, he covers media and politics, edits the Capital Comment section, and serves as internet director. He has profiled Barack Obama, Tom Friedman, and FBI Director Robert Mueller, among others.
His first book, "The First Campaign: Globalization, the Web, and the Race for the White House," which examines the role of technology in the 2008 presidential race, was published in December 2007 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux to strong reviews. The New York Times’ literary critic Michiko Kakutani wrote, “The astonishingly young Mr. Graff (who was born in 1981) proves in these pages that he is a cogent writer, willing to tackle large‐scale issues and problems.” Graff also teaches internet and social media at Georgetown University in the school’s master’s in journalism and communications program.
As the first blogger admitted to cover a White House press briefing, he is a frequent speaker on blogging and the intersection of politics and technology, and his reporter’s notebook from that first day in the White House hangs in the newly opened Newseum in Washington, DC. His writing and commentary has appeared in publications like the Washington Post, Wired magazine, the Politico, and The Huffington Post, and in 2008, he was named as one of four young “new media” journalists to watch by PRWeek.
He has appeared on Good Morning America, Fox News, CNN, CNN Headline News, CNN International, CNBC, MSNBC, Al Jazeera English, and various NPR programs, as well as local and regional television and radio channels. He has spoken at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, the National Press Club, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, the Defense Department, and the Google headquarters, as well as universities from Princeton to UT‐Austin, companies, trade groups, and to overseas audiences at the invitation of the U.S. State Department.
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Nick Carroll: InjuryBoard Co‐Founder & CEO
Nick has pioneered Internet technology and marketing solutions for the legal industry since 1996. In 2001 he co‐founded Claris Law, LLC and launched InjuryBoard.com to create a vehicle for socially responsible personal injury marketing. As CEO, Nick provides strategic vision and leadership for the organization and directly oversees the development and implementation of the technologies that have made InjuryBoard an industry leader for nearly a decade.
Nick holds a BA in Business Administration with a specialty in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Florida.
Tom Young: InjuryBoard Co‐Founder & Attorney Member Liaison
Tom is a practicing attorney and leader in the online legal community. In 2001, he founded Claris Law and launched InjuryBoard.com to leverage his interest in advanced technology and his extensive personal network of trial attorneys from around the nation. Tom is a fierce advocate for the protection of the Civil Justice System and has worked tirelessly to enlist and connect professionals from the legal, medical, political, educational, and business communities to advance the legal rights of all Americans.
Tom holds a BA in Economics and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida.
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John Romano: Trial Cross‐Examination in 2009 – The Paradigm Shift
John F. Romano was born in 1949, in Framingham, Mass. In 1954, his family moved to Lake Worth and West Palm Beach, Florida. John graduated from Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida, in June 1967. In his senior year of high school, he served as Senior Class President and he received numerous athletic honors, including being named to several high school football All‐America Squads as a running back.
Upon graduation from high school, John accepted a football scholarship from Florida State University and went on to attend law school at South Texas College of Law in Houston, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in August 1973.
Following law school, John clerked for the law firm of Cone, Wagner, Nugent, Johnson & McKeown while preparing for the Bar exam. He was admitted to practice law in the state of Florida on May 10, 1974. He then fulfilled his military obligation, serving for three years in the United States Marine Corps, an experience which John recalls as "one of the greatest and most fulfilling experiences of my lifetime." During his years with the Marine Corps, he served as a trial lawyer with the "J.A.G. Corps" as a Captain with the Second Marine Division. He received numerous honors in the Marine Corps, including recognition for trial advocacy, leadership, and organizational skills.
In October 1977, John returned to Florida where he went to work with the personal injury and general trial attorneys at the law firm of Cone, Wagner, Nugent, Johnson & McKeown, a firm that was ultimately named Cone, Wagner, Nugent, Johnson, Roth, Romano, Eriksen & Kupfer. In May of 1991, John formed the Palm Beach County law firm of Romano, Eriksen & Cronin with his partners and close friends, Dr. Joel Cronin and Mike Eriksen, and his younger brother, Rodney Romano. 7In 200 the firm became the Romano Law Group and includes John Romano's sons Eric Romano and Todd Romano, and attorney Maureen Martinez‐ Schwab. Dr. Joel Cronin and Mike Eriksen, and Stanley E. Preiser are Of‐Counsel to the firm.
John is a board certified civil trial lawyer and litigation attorney with concentrations in insurance law, auto and truck accident cases, fall–down/premises liability cases, product liability, medical malpractice, and business litigation.
Eric Romano: Risky Business: Defeating Pre‐Injury Liability Waivers
Eric Romano began his career as a prosecutor with the State Attorney's office for the 15th Circuit in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he prosecuted a wide variety of criminal cases in the Misdemeanor, Juvenile, Domestic Violence, and Felony trial divisions. He left the State Attorney’s office to join Romano, Eriksen & Cronin in 2001, which was reorganized as Romano Law Group in 2007.
Eric serves as the President‐Elect of the Southern Trial Lawyers Association and is on the Board of Directors of the Florida Justice Association. He is a member of the American Association for Justice, the American Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Palm Beach County Bar Association, the Palm Beach County Justice Association, and the Palm Beach
County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He lectures extensively in the areas of both criminal and civil trial practice.
Eric lives in Wellington with his wife, Paige, their daughter, Emma, and their sons, Braden and Cameron.
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Andy Childers: Hot Topic: Reglan Litigation
A founding member of the firm Childers & Schlueter, L.L.P., Andy limits his practice to representation of victims in products liability cases and individuals who have suffered personal injury as a result of the negligence of others. Law runs in Andy’s blood, and he prides himself on creating and fostering a level of trust with his clients that allows them to relax while he and the firm handle their cases.
Andy excelled in trial courses while in law school, being active in The University of Georgia School of Law mock trial program, serving as Vice‐Chair of the Mock Trial Board in 1997‐ 1998 and standing out in numerous competitions around the country. In his third year Andy worked for the Gwinnett County Solicitor’s Office, conducting eight jury trials before even graduating. He and partner Robert Buck met while at a previous firm and forged a
relationship while working together on ea larg number of pharmaceutical cases. This relationship led to founding of the firm with Richard Schlueter three years ago with a common goal.
A member of the State Bar of Georgia as well as the State Bar of Florida, Andy has been admitted to practice before all state trial courtsa in Georgi and Florida, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Andy has represented thousands of victims of unsafe pharmaceutical products including individuals injured by Fen Phen (Pondimin, Redux, and phentermine), Baycol, Rezulin and Lotronex. He speaks regularly at national conferences on topics relating to the rights of victims in pharmaceutical litigation and is a frequent guest lecturer for the Rollins School of Public Heath at Emory University. The experiences spur him to become well versed in the science involved in each case – and he points out it is that becoming educated and experienced about the issues is the only way to effectively represent his clients.
Brad Henry: The Big Dig: Use of Media and Internet Coverage in Modern Litigation
Brad Henry of Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow, P.C. learned to appreciate attention to detail and careful planning while working for USAirways in fleet service and public relations during college and law school. Working his way through law school full‐time, Henry took on the role of law clerk to Peter Black in aviation defense matters and Leo Boyle in plaintiff's cases. Upon joining the firm in 1991, Henry focused on the pretrial preparation of complex civil cases in both state and federal courts. A partner since 1999, Henry has been trial counsel in a wide variety of cases and has primarily been responsible for preparing high‐ profile and media intensive matters including the wrongful death cases of Del Valle v. Bechtel Cap., et al.; Allen v. MBTA & Amtrak; Krueger v. MIT & FIJI, and the college shooting case of Beavers v. Simon's Rock College. Henry's practice also includes nursing home litigation, complex products liability and weapons cases.
Henry speaks at state and national legal seminars and events, often in connection with his positions in the Federal Bar Association where he has served as the National Chair of the Young Lawyers Division, on the FBA's National Executive Committee and as President of the FBA's Massachusetts Chapter. He has also served in the House of Delegates of both the Massachusetts Bar Association and the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.
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Gibson Vance: How National Politics Relates to Your Practice
Beasley Allen’s Gibson Vance is heavily involved in the American Association for Justice and currently serves as Vice President. In that role, Vance is one of six officers representing AAJ's 60,000 members nationwide. He also serves as Co‐Chairman for the National Finance Committee for AAJ. Additionally, Gibson serves on the Budget Committee, Legal Affairs Committee, Marketing‐Client Services Committee, Membership Oversight Committee, Public Affairs Committee and Key Person Committee for the American Association for Justice. He also serves on the American Association for Justice's Public Affairs committee.
Gibson was recently presented by the AAJ's New Lawyers Division with The Joe Tonahill Award. He has received this award for his outstanding, dedicated services to and support of consumers and the trial bar.
As an officer, Gibson was assigned to the National College of Advocacy Board of Trustees, Law Schools and Key Person Committees during American Association for Justice's 2008 Winter Convention held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Gibson was recently appointed to the Alabama Judicial Compensation Commission by the Lt. Gov. It is a four year appointment. The five person commission is responsible for recommending to the Alabama Legislature the amount of compensation all state judges shall receive. Gibson has also been a speaker at many State Trial Lawyers Association conferences. He has spoken to the Kentucky Trial Lawyers Association, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers, The Consumer Attorneys of California, the New York State Trial Lawyers’ Association, the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and many others. Gibson travelse th country speaking on behalf of the Civil Justice Systems.
Rebecca Langston: Top Essentials Needed to Evaluate a Birth Trauma Case
Rebecca McRae Langston of Langston & Langston in Jackson, MS, was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Admitted to bar, 1999, Mississippi; 2001, District of Columbia. Education: University of Mississippi (B.S.B.A., 1995); Mississippi College School of Law (M.B.A., 1999; J.D., 1999). Alpha Lambda Delta; Phi Eta Sigma; Phi Alpha Delta; Gamma Beta Phi. Recipient, Chief Justice Roy Noble Lee Scholarship.
Listed in: The National and International Registry of Who's Who; Who's Who: American Law Students. Appointed by the Governor of Mississippi to the Children's Justice Act Task Force.
Member: Hinds County, Federal, Fifth Federal Circuit and American Bar Associations; the Mississippi State Bar; Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association (Member, Leader's Forum, Stalwart member, Board of Governors ‐ 6 years, Executive Committee ‐ 5 years; New Lawyers Division Chair, Former Chairman of C.L.E. Board Liaison and Parliamentarian; ATLA State Delegate second term. Recipient of the Stone Pony Award for "going above and beyond"); the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Member, Leader's Forum, President's Club, ATLA‐PAC Task Force Committee, Secretary of the New Lawyers' Division, Co‐Chair of Fundraising); Jackson Young Lawyers (Chairman, Community Services Committee).
Practice Areas: Premises Liability; Products Liability; Medical Malpractice ‐ emphasis in birth trauma; Class Action Litigation; Consumer Litigation.
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Doug Landau: Fatal & Forgotten: Fractures in Elderly Clients: Fatal, Preventable & Misunderstood
Doug has practiced as a civil trial lawyer since 1985. He founded his own firm in 1989, originally in Old Town Alexandria, in the Courthouse Plaza on King Street. Doug’s firm, Abrams Landau, Ltd. is now based in the historic district of Herndon, Virginia. The Abrams Landau team concentrates its practice in the areas of: Personal Injury; state Workers Compensation; and, Federal Social Security Disability Income. The goal of Abrams Landau is to help injured and disabled people and their families.
Doug’s father Mr. Norman J. Landau and his grandfather Mr. William L. Abrams were instrumental and inspirational in the establishment of Abrams Landau, Ltd. It is to the memory of these great men that Doug attributes his commitment to serving his clients with the highest levels of professionalism, efficiency and confidentiality.
In addition to his dedication to the practice of law, Doug competes all over the country in running races, biathlons and triathlons. He has competed abroad as well as in the U.S. Sprint and Olympic Distance National Championships. His proven success in court as well as athletics is testimony to his relentless pursuit of excellence.
Devon Glass: Prescription Drug Errors
Devon Glass of Church Wyble grew up in Oakland County, Michigan, and has been living in the Lansing area since 1998. He attended Michigan State University for undergraduate studies, earning a B.S. in Medical Technology. Devon graduated from Michigan State University College of Law in 2004 with honors.
Devon was a licensed Emergency Medical Technician from 2000‐2003, working in the emergency room at Ingham Regional Medical Center during college and law school. He is currently an Executive Board Member of the Michigan Association for Justice and a member of the American Association for Justice. He practices in the areas of automobile negligence, slip and fall, medical and pharmacy malpractice, and Michigan No‐Fault insurance benefits.
When he is not working, Devon enjoys golfing, playing basketball, and doing construction work on his house.
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Mike Ferrara: Jury Selection in this Economic Climate
The Ferrara Law Firm’s Michael A. Ferrara, Jr. has been an attorney since 1972. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the New Jersey Supreme Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the Federal Courts. He is certified by both the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney. He is the founder and former chair of the Association of Trial Attorneys of American ‐ New Jersey Legal PAC, the lawyer’s political action committee.
He is a Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) a Master of the Camden Inns of Court, a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and a past president and current trustee of the Civil Justice Foundation.
Mr. Ferrara was invited to become a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Attorneys, one of 500 selected in the world. He was awarded the “av” [highest] rating by Martindale‐ Hubbell, The Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement by Association of Trial Attorneys of American ‐ New Jersey (ATLA‐NJ), and The Trial Bar Award to outstanding trial attorneys presented by Trial Attorneys of New Jersey (TANJ). Since 1997 he has served on Senators Corzine, Lautenberg, Torricelli’s, and Medendez’ Federal Judicial Selection Advisory Committee and was recently appointed to the Burlington County Judicial and Prosecutorial Selection Committee. He is listed in the book The Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Ferrara has also been designated as a Super Lawyer in New Jersey, each year for the past four years, a peer evaluated rating only given to 5% of attorneys in NJ.
Billy Walker: 7 Deadly Sins in Dealing with Experts
William P. Walker, Jr., is one of the most experienced trial attorneys in South Carolina. A lawyer since 1973, Billy has represented clients in over 200 jury trials. He has considerable experience in all phases of complex personal injury litigation, burn trauma and electrical injury cases, construction litigation, medical malpractice, products liability, various types of wrongful death claims, and automobile personal injury cases in addition to the defense of numerous serious criminal prosecutions.
Billy, a partner at Walker & Morgan in Lexingotn, South Carolina, is a sustaining member of the American Association of Justice, where he holds the "M" club status. He is also a member of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, the South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Lexington County Bar Association, South Carolina Bar (House of Delegates), American Bar Association, American Judicature Society, South Carolina Workers' Compensation Claimant's Attorneys Association, The Melvin Belli Society, Civil Justice Foundation, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Billy also serves as President of the Lexington Economic Development Association, was former Chairman and is a current member of the Board of the Newberry College Foundation, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Newberry College.
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Gary Paul: Paint the Picture‐Arguing Damages in the Wrongful Death Case
Gary Paul is a partner in Waters & Kraus' Los Angeles office. Gary brings a distinguished legal practice to the firm, with more than three decades of trial experience in complex civil matters, including consumer and medical product liability, medical and professional malpractice, commercial and insurance litigation, and employment and labor law.
Gary earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Arizona, and a Master of Science degree in engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. He was a space and missile engineer for a decade before deciding to pursue a career in law. Gary earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles in 1974, and was admitted to practice by the State Bar of California the same year.
A respected author, Gary has written numerous articles for legal journals. He is co‐author of California Tort Practice Guide, a five‐volume law treatise published by Clark Boardman Callaghan. He also frequently presents at legal symposia and continuing legal education seminars.
Gary is a member of the State Bar of California, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, American Association for Justice (AAJ), The Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), and Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC). He has served on the Board of Governors, and as president of both the CAALA and CAOC, as well as in numerous other executive positions.
Brandon Smith: Hot Topic: Stevens Johnson Syndrome Litigation
Born and raised in Georgia, Brandon Smith of Childers & Schlueter in Atlanta received his Law degree and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Georgia. In law school, Brandon was a natural leader who served as president of his second year class and executive editor of his law journal. Before joining the law firm known then as Childers, Buck, and Schlueter in 2005, Brandon was a prosecutor in the Alcovy Circuit where he gained valuable trial experience in protecting the rights of innocent victims. Today, Brandon utilizes those skills in representing people who have been hurt by the negligence of others.
Brandon currently represents victims of dangerous products, personal injury, and unsafe prescription drugs. His prior life experiences and passion for helping others allows Brandon to help maximize the potential value of his client’s claims.
“I take pride in my ability to help those who, due to the negligence of others, can no longer help themselves. It is my ability to make a difference in people’s lives that makes my role as an attorney so rewarding”
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Rick Shapiro: Advanced InjuryBoard Participation
Richard N. Shapiro received his college degree from the University of Maryland, served as staff assistant to U.S. Congressman Whitehurst, and graduated from George Mason Law School With Distinction.
Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis and Appleton exclusively handles injury law. Rick co‐authored “Railroad Health & Safety; a Litigator’s Guide” which appears in a leading law encyclopedia, “American Jurisprudence Trials”, and is Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy by the N.B.T.A. He was elected chair of the Railroad Law section of the American Association for Justice (AAJ, 2005‐2006) and has lectured on evidence law to the AAJ, VTLA, Georgia TLA, as well as to Virginia lawyers. A member of Primerus Society of Law Firms, along with his partners‐an
organization of experienced and ethical attorneys.
Rick is an inventor, holding 14 U.S. patents relating to compact, folding wheel axle technology applied to wagons, carts, jogging strollers and other products. He also has been granted several international patents, and several of his designs are used on products sold in the US and internationally.
Rick has lectured before lawyers with the AAJ, VTLA and GTLA, for Virginia CLE on evidence law and railroad/FELA law, and has an article on evidence/proving damages law published in the VTLA Law Letter (2009).
Steve Lombardi: Advanced InjuryBoard Participation
Steve Lombardi of The Lombardi Law Firm was born and raised in New England and in 1975 moved to the Midwest to obtain his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa. In 1981 he graduated from Drake University Law School. During law school he worked as a private investigator in a five state region of the Midwest and has testified in court. Working his way through law school as a PI taught essential skills for gathering and preserving evidence. After law school Mr. Lombardi chose to make Iowa his home. A choice he continues to make.
Mr. Lombardi is a person driven to complete what he starts. He prides himself on telling his clients what they need to hear not what they want to hear. He doesn't believe in awards, he believes in achievement. He doesn't concern himself with recognition of his accomplishments but focuses on winning the task at hand. He is a lawyer that hates to lose. His style is to begin to size up and prepare his clients from the first conversation through the trial. All people that become his clients are important to him. After over 25 years of practicing personal injury law many former clients and attorneys from rural Iowa refer family members, friends and personal injury clients to his office for consideration and representation.
Professionally Mr. Lombardi is active in the development of communication tools for trial lawyers and regularly speaks on various subjects having to do with civil trial work, ethics and the skills needed to be successful.
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Pete Mackey: 60 Tips in 60 minutes
A partner at Burns, Cunningham & Mackey in Mobile, AL, Pete Mackey was born in Fairfield, California. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1978 and Cumberland School of Law, Cum Laude, in 1983. While at Cumberland, he was an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Trial Advocacy and was a member of Curia Honoris. After graduating, Pete clerked for the Honorable Emmett R. Cox, then a United States District Court Judge (now on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals).
Over the next three years, Pete practiced primarily defense litigation. A desire to represent people and try cases led him to Pete Burns in 1987 and, in 1988, they formed the partnership of Burns & Mackey. Initially, Pete concentrated his practice on plaintiffs’ personal injury, domestic relations and criminal cases. Since 1993, he has focused his practice on civil trial litigation, the overwhelming majority of which involves representing plaintiffs. Pete’s caseload today centers on nursing home negligence, business and consumer torts, residential construction cases, employment lawsuits, and insurance matters. He is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, the South Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, the Alabama chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association, the Alabama Bar Association and the Mobile Bar Association. Pete is admitted to practice in Alabama and in the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits.
Pete and his wife Carol have two children. Catherine is a junior at the College of Charleston, and Russ is a freshman at the University of Alabama. Carolr has he own career in the infusion therapy field. Their child‐raising years revolved around coaching youth sports. Pete has been active with the local YMCA, and they are members of All Saints Episcopal Church. Pete also serves on an independent review board which acts as the patient’s advocate in reviewing materials for proposed pharmaceutical studies. These days, Pete spends his leisure time fishing, playing tennis, talking to his dog and laughing with friends and family.
Bob Hilliard: How to Settle Your Swimming Pool Drowning Case in Less Than a Year for Seven Figures
Bob Hilliard has been trying cases since 1983. He has been board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law for over 18 years and Civil Trial Law for over 16 years. He has been selected as a Texas Super Lawyer 4 separate times, the last being in 2008. Bob is the founding partner of Hilliard Muñoz Guerra L.L.P.; a firm that has been representing people from all over the country since 1985. He graduated with highest honors (summa cum laude) from St.Edward's University with a degree in English Literature. While at St. Edward's he was selected as Athlete of the Year for his accomplishments in Tennis. He was a member of the All American All Academic Team and has been elected into St. Edward's Athletic Hall of fame.
Bob moved to Corpus Christi in 1983 and practiced law with The Law Offices of Guy Allison from 1983‐1985. He started his own law firm in 1985. He is a past instructor at the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College and past co‐chair of the American Trial Lawyers Association Ethics Committee.
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Jesse Guerra: How to Settle Your Swimming Pool Drowning Case in Less Than a Year for Seven Figures
Jesse's practice areas at Hilliard Muñoz Guerra include serving clients who have been severely burned, crippled, or who have died as a result of another person's negligence. He has been involved in personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, premise liability, 18 wheeler accidents, swimming pool death/drownings and commercial vehicle accident cases. Jesse has always considered himself to be a "voice for the voiceless" and a true advocate for the underprivileged.
Practicing in the legal area of Safety Law, has earned Jesse the nickname of “Texas Safety Lawyer” by his peers and friends. Jesse continues to be at the forefront of swimming pool safety laws and health codes. Jesse is an active blogger on pool safety and his published articles can easily be found by performing a Google search of “Texas Safety Lawyer”.
“My passion remains and will always be to help make our communities safer for your children and mine, onee cas at a time.”
Greg Cusimano: Winning in Today's Environment
Gregory S. Cusimano is in full‐time practice with the law firm of Cusimano, Keener, Roberts & Raley in Gadsden, Alabama, and a principal in Winning Works, a national consulting firm.
Greg is a top rated lawyer by his clients and his peers. He is contributing editor of Alabama Tort Law Handbook and Alabama Tort Law, 1st‐4th edition. His partner Mike Roberts is the author. Greg is Co‐Editor in Chief of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s (now AAJ) 6‐volume treatise, Litigating Tort Cases. Mr. Cusimano, along with Jim Lees, released AAJ’s Education video series, ‘Commanding the Courtroom‘ used by lawyers and law schools all over the country. He is listed in Best Lawyers of America, Best Lawyers in Alabama, Who’s Who in American Law, Best of the U.S., Super Lawyers, and rated AV (the best) by the oldest and most prestigious lawyer rating service in America, Lexis Martindale. Cusimano was the second inductee into the Hall of Fame of the Small Office Practice Section of ATLA in 1996, listed in Academy of Catastrophic Injury Attorneys, and is a Diplomat of the International Academy of Litigators. The designation of diplomat of Trial Advocacy was awarded him in 1994 by ATLA. He was inducted as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation in 1998, and the Alabama Law Foundation in 1999. These selections are limited to 1/3rd of one percent of the lawyers practicing in a jurisdiction. Greg is the fifth recipient of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. . Greg was inducted at the top level as “Advocate” in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and Alabama Chapter of ABOTA. He has lectured trial bars in 42 states and publishes frequently.
Cusimano served as President of Alabama Association for Justice, serves on the Bd. of Gov. of AAJ and has served on its’ executive committee. He was appointed by the AL Supreme Court to re‐write the Rules of Evidence and to update Pattern Jury Instructions and Rules of Procedure. He is a sought after trial consultant, in the firm of Winning Works LLC. He developed the Overcoming Jury Bias Model along with David Wenner of Arizona.
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Jerry Trachtman: Tort Liability in Outer Space: What Every Space Tourist Should Know
Jerry Trachtman of Law Offices of Jerry H. Trachtman, P.A. received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at Penn State. He has lived in Brevard County, Florida, since 1968, when he began work at the Kennedy Space Center on the Apollo and Skylab programs.
In 1974, Jerry entered the University of Florida College of Law, and in 1976 he received his Juris Doctor degree and began practicing law in Brevard County. He is a member of the Florida Justice Association, American Association for Justice, Florida Bar Aviation Law Committee (former Chairman), Florida Bar Aviation Law Certification Committee, which tests aviation lawyers who desire Board Certification (Chairman 2006, 2007), National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association (founding member), Lawyer‐Pilot Bar Association, and practices in State and Federal Court.
Jerry is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Aviation Law, an instrument rated pilot and is listed in Who’s Who in American Law. He is on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Brevard and Indian River Counties (President 2000, 2001, 2007) and the International Research Foundation for RSD/CRPS.
Gerry McGill: Avoiding the Rocks & Shoals in Maritime Cases
Founder of the McGill Law Firm, Gerry served four years as a Coast Guard line officer before going to law school. The first year he was assigned to a high endurance cutter out of Pensacola, FL. The following year he was given command of a 95' Coast Guard patrol boat stationed in West Palm Beach, FL., where he mostly did patrols of the Florida Keys doing search and rescue work, drug interdiction, and other law enforcement.
The following year Gerry commanded an 82' patrol boat out of DaNang, Vietnam, doing coastal patrols. The fourth year he taught cadets at the Coast Guard Academy, and then the Coast Guard sent him to law school.
Gerry spent a total of nine years on active duty, then left to become a felony prosecutor in the State Attorney's office in West Palm Beach.
Gerry is admitted in FL, AL, & MS. He is Boardd Certifie in Admiralty and Maritime Law by the Florida Bar.
Gerry is happily married with two daughters and three grandsons.
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Morgan Adams: What Every Car Wreck Lawyer Needs to Know About a Truck Wreck Case
Morgan G. Adams established the Chattanooga, Tennessee based Law Offices of Morgan Adams in 1997. He is a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum and routinely presents lectures for other attorneys on the subjects of personal injury, workers’ compensation, and wrongful death. For years, he has been providing his clients with expert legal representation, first as an attorney in the United States Marine Corps and later in private practice. Since leaving active duty with the Marine Corps in 1994, Mr. Adams has focused his practice on personal injury law.
After completing his undergraduate degree at Bowdoin College in Maine, Mr. Adams received his law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law in 1989. He is a graduate of the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island. Mr. Adams was admitted to the Georgia and Tennessee Bar in 1989 and the District of Columbia Bar the following year. Since that time, he has devoted numerous hours to continuing legal education each year in order to keep his litigation skills and knowledge current. He has presented multiple seminars to the American Association for Justice including: The Use of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in Tractor Trailer Litigation, July 2006, and Deposing the Trucking Company Safety Director in September of 2006.
Mr. Adams has published and lectured widely on the subject of personal injury. He has taught attorneys in many states, including Washington, Illinois, Tennessee, Georgia, Nevada and Louisiana. Morgan Adams has lectured on various topics as part of the faculty for the National Business Institute, including “Trying the Wrongful Death Case in Tennessee: Strategies in Preparation and Valuation” (1998), “Trying the Automobile Injury Case in Tennessee” (1999), and “Advanced Workers Compensation in Tennessee“ (2004). As a Program Chair for the Tennessee Bar Association, he has also given a “Trial Practice Seminar.”
Hank Didier: Innovations in Product Safety
The Didier Law Firm, P.A. specializes in top‐notch service and legal advocacy through a team approach dedicated to client needs. The firm’s founding partner, Henry “Hank” Didier, Jr. brings academic excellence, years of litigation experience, and an exceptional track record to the practice.
Hank believes people are what differentiate one law firm from another. The Didier Law Firm prides itself on being consummate professionals dedicated to representing consumers in product safety matters. Hank’s team is passionate about consumer safety issues, and they have the skills and dedication necessary to pursue complex product defect cases for our clients.
Education: Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina, 1995 Doctor of Jurisprudence with Honors Honors: Contributions Editor, Enviromental Law and Policy Forum
Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 1992 Bachelor of Science Honors: Summa Cum Laude Major: Management Major: Multi‐National Business
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Peter Mougey: The Subprime Meltdown: Greed at the Expense of Mainstreet
Peter J. Mougey is a shareholder with the Pensacola, Florida law firm of Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Echsner & Proctor and is head of the Business Torts Department. Peter concentrates his practice in the areas of securities arbitration and litigation as well as commercial, antitrust, and construction litigation. His nationwide practice includes the representation of several state and municipal pension funds in various investment disputes. In addition, he has represented more than a thousand securities fraud victims in state and federal court and securities arbitrations across the country.
He frequently lectures at securities and continuing legal education programs and seminars on issues of broker‐dealer supervision, discovery in securities arbitration, measuring damages in securities arbitrations, standard deviation in securities cases, monte carlo simulations, annuity abuse, and misuse of B Shares by the brokerage industry. Peter is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association ("PIABA"), an international organization of attorneys dedicated to the advancement of investors' rights in the securities industry. He serves on several PIABA committees, including the Annual Meeting Committee, Arbitrator Recruitment Committee, and the Discovery Abuse Committee. Peter is also qualified as a public arbitrator with the securities industry dispute resolution forum. (FINRA).
In addition to his practice, Peter is also active with several charities and his local community. He serves on the Board of Directors for ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens) as Vice‐ President and President elect and is chairman of several ARC committees. He was given the ARC President's Award as volunteer of the year for 2006. He also teaches an economic business simulation class for an area high school on behalf of Junior Achievement; serves on the Board of Directors for his church; and is on the Cabinet for the United Way. In 2003, Peter was also selected to participate in Leadership Pensacola.
Bob Langdon: When is Your Car Crash Case a Crashworthiness Case
Robert Langdon brings more than thirty years experience in civil litigation to his practice at Langdon & Emison. Following his graduation from law school, Bob has narrowed his practice to representing those individuals injured by negligence or defective products. Within the last fifteen years, he has focused on defective vehicles and products that have injured and killed his clients. Bob has tried cases across the country from Seattle, Washington to Baltimore, Maryland and Jacksonville, Florida and has proven results as most of his litigated cases have returned multi‐million dollar verdicts for his seriously injured clients.
Bob's outstanding reputation has been recognized by his peers. He is a Past‐President of the Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers, a past member of the Board of Governors of the American Trial Lawyers Association, and currently serves as an Executive Board member of the Attorneys Information Exchange Group (AIEG). In 2000, Bob was one of eight lawyers in the United States to spearhead cases against Ford/Firestone. Since then, he and the firm have been actively pursuing Ford/Firestone for causing the deaths and serious injuries to thousands of innocent US consumers. Finally, Bob speaks regularly at many seminars throughout the US, teaching other lawyers various successful trial techniques.
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Stephen Herman: 12 Lessons in Litigation
Stephen is a partner of Herman, Herman, Katz & Cotlar, L.L.P, as well as the national firm of Herman Gerel, L.L.P., with central offices in Atlanta, Georgia. After receiving a B.A. from Dartmouth College, he attended Tulane Law School, where he was admitted to the Order of the Coif, graduating magna cum laude in 1994. He then spent a year clerking for Justice Harry T. Lemmon of the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Developing a broad civil practice, Stephen has handled everything from highway defect and
products liability cases, to fire and flood loss cases, to attorney fee disputes and employment cases, to special appellate work before the Louisiana Supreme Court and other courts of appeal. In addition to the favorable resolution of two significant workplace explosion cases, Stephen has dedicated a significant part of his practice to Tobacco Litigation and ERISA cases on behalf of physicians, consumers, unions, and the sponsors of welfare benefit plans against the managed care and PBM industries. He is currently focusing on commercial, class action, insurance coverage and professional liability cases, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.
Stephen teaches complex litigation at both Tulane and Loyola Law Schools. He is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America andy was recentl appointed as a Hearing Committee Member by the Louisiana Disciplinary Board. He previously served as the President of the Civil Justice Foundation, a national non‐profit organization dedicated to the support of grassroots organizations that protect workers, consumers, children, the environment, and access to the courts. In 2001, he was presented with a special CJF President's Award, as well as a Wiedemann‐Wysocki Award from the American Association for Justice. He was a Finalist for TLPJ Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2005.
Gary Jackson: Structuring and Managing Co‐Counsel Relationships
Jackson & McGee’s Gary Jackson has practiced law for over twenty‐eight years, the last thirteen of which have been devoted exclusively to representing plaintiffs. After clerking for a federal judge in California, he became a litigation associate with the world's largest law firm, Baker & Mackenzie. In 1986, Gary returned to North Carolina, where he was a partner with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice. In 1995, he left "big firm" practice to begin representing individuals and small business owners, primarily against large corporate entities.
Gary holds leadership positions in several national and state legal organizations, such as the American Association for Justice, the Southern Trial Lawyers Association and the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers. Gary frequently speaks throughout the country at educational programs for lawyers, and writes articles addressing current legal trends and developments. Recent recognition includes Gary's selection to Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite", "Outstanding Lawyers of America", Litigation Counsel of America and "North Carolina Superlawyers".
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Brenda Fulmer: Overview of Various Hot Mass Tort Projects
Brenda S. Fulmer was a partner in the Tampa firm Alley, Clark, Greiwe & Fulmer before joining Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley as a shareholder in 2008. Her practice is primarily in the areas of pharmaceutical and medical device mass torts litigation, representing thousands of claimants in state and federal courts.
Brenda graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.S. in Finance, and received her Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Stetson College of Law. She was an Assistant Editor of the Stetson Law Review, and twice earned recognition as an Outstanding Law Review member. She served asl a Federa Judicial Intern, and worked on pro bono projects as a Florida Bar Foundation Public Service Fellow and an intern with Gulf Coast Legal Services. She was recently named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association.
Brenda is active in multi‐district litigation discovery committee work for various national pharmaceutical and medical device mass torts projects, including groups focusing on Digitek, Heparin, pain pumps, AMO Contact Lens Solution, bladder slings, Rhino ATVs, ReNu Contact Lens Solution, Ortho‐Evra, hormone replacement therapy, Vioxx, Bextra, heart devices, diet drugs, Baycol, Propulsid, PPA, Sulzer hip and knee implants, Rezulin, and breast implants.
An Indiana native, Brenda has been an active volunteer with a number of charitable organizations: Board of Directors for supporters of the Pre‐Law Magnet, Inc. at Palm Beach Lakes High School; Buddy Break, providing respite care for autistic and physically‐challenged children; with the Girl Scouts; and with Trial Lawyers Care, which provides free legal services to the victims of 9/11.
Rae Hoffman
Rae Hoffman is the Principal of Sugarrae SEO Consulting and does various types of Internet marketing; search engine optimization, viral marketing, affiliate marketing, site auditing, link development road maps and tons of other little nooks and crannies of this business. She runs various affiliate and content websites ‐ ranging from those in highly competitive to those in niche areas. She is also the owner of MFE Interactive and Outspoken Media. Rae fell into this industry by accident, but I couldn’t imagine ever doing anything else.
Rae spends an insane amount of time online. Some of it reading at the forums she used to moderate (and posting) at forums and on various social media sites and most of the rest working, Facebooking, Twittering and talking on messenger (also known as the Internet water cooler). If she’s offline more than eight hours at a time, you can bet she’s speaking at a conference, sitting on a Q&A panel or hanging out with friends in various locations.
Rae is a single mom to three gorgeous kids who are her lights and her strengths. She loves to travel and always brings an extra suitcase when she does because the one thing Rae loves to do more is shop. She also owns, according to many, an “insane amount of shoes”.
Rea speaks or has spoken at PubCon, Search Engine Strategies, Search Marketing Expo (SMX) and Affiliate Summit.
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Rhea Drysdale
Rhea Drysdale is the Chief Operations Officer of Outspoken Media, an Internet marketing company she co‐founded with Rae Hoffman and Lisa Barone in 2009. The company focuses on high quality, custom and discrete search engine optimization, social media marketing, content creation, affiliate marketing and online reputation management.
The concept for the company evolved between Lisa and Rhea after a short tenure with We Build Pages in Troy, NY, where Rhea managed the client relationship, reporting, SEO consulting and social media strategy development. Prior to her work with WBP, Rhea was the Online Marketing Director for a ruby on rails development company, the Internet Marketing Manager for a Fortune 1000 recruitment and staffing company, an e‐commerce analyst with a Top 200 Internet Retailer and an account manager for an online hotel marketing agency.
Rhea was also a contributor to Search Engine Journal, co‐Founder of SEMJax, was featured in the “SEO Bible” by Jerri Ledford as an industry insider and speaks with local companies and organizations on best search marketing practices.
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InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Name: Total Hours Attended: Available Lecturer Minutes Actually Attended Minutes John Romano: Trial Cross‐Examination in 2009 – The Paradigm Shift 30
Eric Romano: Risky Business: Defeating Pre‐Injury Liability Waivers 30 Andy Childers: Hot Topic: Reglan Litigation 30 30 Brad Henry: The Big Dig: Use of Media and Internet Coverage in Modern Litigation
Gibson Vance: How National Politics Relates to Your Practice 30 Rebecca Langston: Top Essentials Needed to Evaluate a Birth Trauma Case 30 Doug Landau: Fatal & Forgotten: Fractures in Elderly Clients: Fatal, Preventable & 30 Misunderstood Devon Glass: Prescription Drug Errors 30 Mike Ferrara: Jury Selection in this Economic Climate 30 Billy Walker: 7 Deadly Sins in Dealing with Experts 30 30 Gary Paul: Paint the Picture‐Arguing Damages in the Wrongful Death Case
Brandon Smith: Hot Topic: Stevens Johnson Syndrome Litigation 30 50 Pete Mackey: 60 Tips in 60 minutes
Jesse Guerra & Bob Hilliard: How to Settle Your Swimming Pool Drowning Case in Less 50 Than a Year for Seven Figures
Greg Cusimano: Winning in Today’s Environment 40
Jerry Trachtman: Space Treaties and Conventions Affecting Tort Liability 30 30 Gerry McGill: Avoiding the Rocks & Shoals in Maritime Cases
Morgan Adams: What Every Car Wreck Lawyer Needs to Know About a Truck Wreck 30 Case Hank Didier: Innovations in Product Safety 30 Peter Mougey: The Subprime Meltdown: Greed at the Expense of Mainstreet 30 Stephen Herman: 12 Lessons in Litigation 30
Gary Jackson: Structuring and Managing Co‐Counsel Relationships 30
Brenda Fulmer: Overview of Various Hot Mass Tort Projects 30
Bob Langdon: When is Your Car Crash Case a Crashworthiness Case 30
1 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Worksheet
UniformCertificateofAttendance ThiscertificateshouldbefiledwiththeappropriateMCLE Board(s)orCommission(s)within30daysofactivity. Sponsor: Claris Law - InjuryBoard ActivityTitle: Web 2.0 & The Trial Bar Date: June 3 - 6, 2009 Location: St. Petersburg, Florida StateActivityNumber: (forthosestatesdesignatingprogramnumbers) Thisprogramiseligibleforatotalof: 8 CLEcredits(60minutehour) CLEcredits(50minutehour) Ofthistotal:Ethicscredits(60minutehour) Ethicscredits(50minutehour) NOTE: Introductoryremarks,keynoteaddresses,businessmeetings,breaks,receptions,etc.,arenot includedinthecomputationofcredit. TOBECOMPLETEDBYATTORNEY: Bysigningbelow,IcertifythatIattendedtheactivitydescribedaboveandamentitledtoclaim CLEcredithours,including Ethicscredits. AttorneyName(Print): Membership,RegistrationorSupremeCourtNumber AttorneySignature Date Statewherecreditsaretoberegistered Note: Completeacertificateforeachstateinwhichyouarerequiredtofile.RulesforCLEinsomestates requiretheprovidertofileattendancewiththeregulatorasaservicetolawyers.Pleaseconfirm jurisdictionalreportingrequirementswiththeproviderorstateregulator Acknowledgedby: ______ SponsorRepresentative
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Our Mission
“We create technologies and opportunities that help people connect to make the world a safer and fairer place”
Our History
Throughout its history, InjuryBoard has been a leader in pioneering technology and leveraging information to help its attorney members connect with those in need. From its ground‐breaking practice of web‐based legal encyclopedic content to its present work transforming the industry with its 500+ attorney blog‐ network and national news reporting, InjuryBoard continues to be a forward‐thinking industry leader, bringing new benefits to visitors and member alike.
2001 – LAUNCH 2002 – CONTENT 2003‐04 – TRAFFIC & REACH
InjuryBoard is founded by InjuryBoard pioneers the InjuryBoard’s content leadership technologist Nick Carroll and practice of providing and commitment to providing attorney Tom Young as a encyclopedic content to visitors. useful answers to an ever‐wider membership organization of trial While most legal sites offer little in increasingly higher visitor attorneys committed to making more than the names and traffic, page view rankings, and a difference by sharing their contact numbers of attorneys, search rankings. InjuryBoard professional experience with InjuryBoard becomes the surpasses much broader‐based visitors seeking information definitive online source for competitors in page views and about personal safety and injury professional and practical legal continues to produce the highest recovery. Membership consists information, educating the visitor‐to‐member ratio among of just four firms in Florida, New public and connecting thousands legal sites of its kind. York and Chicago. Angus Hinson of visitors to member attorneys and Patrick Mickler are among providing answers. Darren the first employees of the Wilson joins InjuryBoard with company. the merger of his internet services company with Claris Law.
1 | 2009 Annual Conference – About InjuryBoard
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Our History (cont’d)
2005 – BLOGS 2006 – CONFERENCES 2007 – NEWS
InjuryBoard launches its InjuryBoard hosts the InjuryBoard is recognized by nationwide attorney blog‐ first Member Conference in Google News as an Seattle, offering attorney authoritative source of network, allowing members to members the opportunity to personal safety and injury directly share their professional connect with one another, recovery news. Members’ blog experience and expert opinions collaborate on cases, discover posts and professional staff with the site’s visitors. With each emerging issues, share best reporting are now aggregated member as a journalist‐advocate, practices, and receive leading‐ with the latest articles from InjuryBoard exponentially edge technologies. An mainstream news sources expands the scope, depth, and overwhelming success, Member such as The Wall Street Conferences are held annually Journal and The New York effectiveness of its content. going forward. Times. Visitor traffic nearly Members and visitors, alike doubles within 3 months, benefit from the collective more than triples within the knowledge and commitment of year. the entire attorney network.
2008 – DEVELOPMENT PRESENT – EXPANSION
InjuryBoard launches new and InjuryBoard continues its multi‐ improved integrated blog year transformation to reach an network, allowing members to exponentially larger audience. “Change is the law of life. easily connect with consumers InjuryBoard’s new Voices program reading their blogs. Over 2 million gives member firms the ability to And those who look only unique visitors reach InjuryBoard connect with safety, legal, to the past or present in one year for first time in political and medical are certain to miss the company’s history. professionals in their community future.” by allowing access to the firm’s — John F. Kennedy blog. InjuryBoard’s self‐published magazine launches, reaching thousands of legal professionals and consumers. The new writing assignment desk gives bloggers the ability to assign breaking news stories to IB’s staff writers, including law students, for immediate publishing.
2 | 2009 Annual Conference – About InjuryBoard InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Our Members
InjuryBoard is a national network of nearly 100 member firms and 500 individual attorneys representing exclusive geographic regions covering nearly all metropolitan areas in the United States. InjuryBoard firms range in size from community‐focused single attorney offices to nationally‐known practices with dozens of attorneys. Similarly, member firm practice areas vary from straight‐forward personal injury to complex multi‐jurisdictional torts. While there is no “typical” firm in terms of size or focus, InjuryBoard attorneys are always sought out and recruited for their high degree of competency, character, and conviction.
“Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
For unaffiliated regions within the national attorney network, InjuryBoard is currently recruiting attorney members and firms who are:
Knowledgeable
Experienced
Straightforward
Motivated
Passionate
Committed
3 | 2009 Annual Conference – About InjuryBoard InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Our Focus
InjuryBoard’s network of attorney members focuses its resources and efforts to create a safer and fairer society by addressing locally five major problems in the current Civil Justice System.
PROBLEM: Direction
Many trial attorneys are frustrated, disappointed, and troubled at the current condition of the Civil Justice System, but are unsure of how to fix it or what steps to take next.
SOLUTION: Accept the Mission
Become part of a group of like‐minded attorneys, experts, and advocates who are re‐discovering the original mission of the Civil Justice System — promoting personal safety and accident prevention as well as protecting rights and recovering damages related to injury.
ACTION STEP: Join InjuryBoard and accept its mission.
PROBLEM: Association
Trial attorneys committed to making a difference feel isolated and “outgunned” in the process, overwhelmed by the strength of the opposition and frustrated by the actions of many of their peers.
SOLUTION: Build Relationships
Connect with other attorney members in the InjuryBoard network to lay the groundwork for personal success and industrywide change. Participation in regular online and regional meetings and at national Member Conferences gives members the best chance to develop the tools and build the relationships they need to thrive in today’s dynamic legal marketplace.
ACTION STEP: Complete the InjuryBoard Orientation and connect with other members.
4 | 2009 Annual Conference – About InjuryBoard InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Our Focus (cont’d)
PROBLEM: Reputation
Pervasive and aggressive marketing has tarnished the profession in the eyes of clients, adjusters, and juries alike, making it increasingly difficult to connect with a client, secure a fair settlement, or receive a just verdict.
SOLUTION: Create Credibility
Share your professional insights and practical experience with InjuryBoard’s nationwide audience, building a credible reputation as a thought‐leader in your area. InjuryBoard’s global media platform and exclusive technology increase your reach and broadcast your message as you develop your personal brand.
ACTION STEP: Participate in InjuryBoard Blogs, Forums, and Encyclopedic Content.
“Justice is the fundamental law of society.” — Thomas Jefferson
PROBLEM: Position
Present circumstances have led many trial attorneys to become defensive and reactionary allowing the opposition to strike first and attack from a consistently stronger position.
SOLUTION: Develop as a Leader
Take a leadership position in InjuryBoard by contributing, coaching and serving on a committee. Lead your legal peers by participating in local and national trial attorney associations. Lead in your community by recruiting a network of influential experts and advocates to provide content and commentary and proactively move the mission forward.
ACTION STEP: Move through the InjuryBoard Member Development Process.
5 | 2009 Annual Conference – About InjuryBoard InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Our Focus (cont’d)
PROBLEM: Perception
The general public has been too often misled and denied the whole truth regarding the issues surrounding the current state of the Civil Justice system and the professionals working hard to defend it.
SOLUTION: Extend the Message
Counter and combat orchestrated disinformation by working with InjuryBoard leadership to develop a personal online and offline strategy that takes advantage of InjuryBoard’s proprietary technology and exclusive membership‐based opportunities to get the word out and change the conversation.
ACTION STEP: Work with InjuryBoard leaders to develop a personal online and offline communication and connection strategy.
6 | 2009 Annual Conference – About InjuryBoard InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Our Visitors
InjuryBoard visitors are a large, dynamic, and growing community representing nearly every county, municipality, and neighborhood within all fifty states in the nation. While visitors range in age, education, cultural background and position in society — all come into contact with InjuryBoard with an interest in issues related to personal safety, accident prevention, and injury recovery.
Research shows that visitors arrive at InjuryBoard through a series of first‐contact gateways, including:
Traditional search engine portals (e.g. Google, Yahoo, AOL, etc.)
Aggregated online news and commentary search (e.g. Google News)
Optimized rankings for general keyword searches
Optimized rankings for highly‐focused, contextual or geo‐targeted searches
Educational and issue‐oriented video content
Word‐of‐mouth, traditional media, and off‐line outreach events
Our Strategy
No matter how visitors arrive, InjuryBoard’s strategy remains the same — to provide useful news and information in an easy‐to‐navigate format that allows readers to quickly discover both basic and in‐depth information, research an issue to their satisfaction, and contact a professional with more specific questions or rrequests fo representation.
InjuryBoard’s goal is to assist visitors as they move through this three‐stage process:
CONTACT CONTRIBUTE CONNECT
InjuryBoard establishes contact InjuryBoard contributes to InjuryBoard connects with with visitors through its national visitors by providing credible and visitors who need professional news, regional attorney member helpful information through its help through its unique 1‐800 blogs, and regular features, encyclopedic content, visitor numbers and direct email access. opinions, and commentary. forums, and help centers.
7 | 2009 Annual Conference – About InjuryBoard InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Technology & Offline Opportunities
InjuryBoard offers attorney members proprietary online technology and offline opportunities to develop and share their professional knowledge and practical experience. Members connect and answer questions with visitors from their own communities, answering questions and providing thoughtful legal insight.
Exclusive benefits of membership currently include:
Global Media Platform
News Division
Member Blog Network
Features, Commentary, and Analysis
Visitor Forums
Video Production
Social Networking
Community Training Materials
Our Legacy
InjuryBoard has joined its attorney members in the mutual goal of improving the lives of individuals and families who have been affected by personal injuries by establishing The InjuryBoard Foundation, a non‐ profit arm of the membership network.
The InjuryBoard Foundation is overseen by an advisory board of company executives, attorney members, and local community leaders committed to developing, piloting, and modeling reproducible community projects that benefit the injured.
All members participate indirectly in the Foundation through part of their membership dues which is contributed to its work. For members seeking more direct ways to give back and additional opportunities to connect with their local communities, the InjuryBoard Foundation provides a liaison service to help members replicate an existing program in their area or develop a new program for pilot.
8 | 2009 Annual Conference – About InjuryBoard InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Testimonials
“What you really see, meeting one on one, is the passion they have for their vision and the thirst for making it better. You do not see that in a lot of businesses. They care for the members, the consumers who come to the site and the message itself. " — Pete Mackey, Burns, Cunningham & Mackey, Mobile, AL
“In this day and age, when there are about a million ways to advertise, it's great to be involved with something that not only works, but is positive for the profession. I heard a saying today: Mother Teresa would never go to an Anti War rally, instead she said "Call me when you have a Peace Rally". It's all about making a positive difference. InjuryBoard is doing that in major ways.” — Michael Bryant, Bradshaw & Bryant, St. Cloud, MN
“Will it work? Yes. But it will take an army of lawyers who are willing to stay disciplined and committed. Business will come. All we have to do is stay together, blog and follow the rules. I see nothing else out there that offers a chance for us to turn the battle over tort deform to our way.” — Wayne Parsons, Wayne Parsons Law Office, Honolulu, HI
“The InjuryBoard group has been a tremendous asset to us in terms of cases, referrals, and developing lasting relationships with others. It is also a rather unique opportunity to join in the battle of promoting accurate information and guidance to those who need it most in their times of strife and turmoil." — Brandon Smith, Childers & Schlueter, Atlanta, GA
“We have been with the group for three years and it has been a good source of referrals and new cases. I get steady email inquiries, as well as referrals from other attorneys in the network. At year end 2007 I had an opportunity to look back at our income vs. outlay with InjuryBoard and it wasn’t even close, we have made much more on the cases than we have paid out...” — Bobby Blanchard, Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Escher and Proctor, P.A., Pensacola, FL
“Tom, you and InjuryBoard are to be commended for all you are doing to change the Civil Justice System in America. It’s time to fight back and counter the big lies. I cannot recommend InjuryBoard enough. Trial lawyers don’t need to do anything more, except to join.” — Mike Ferrara, The Ferrara Law Firm, LLC, Cherry Hill, NJ
“This group is the Cadillac of the Internet and is the Wikipedia of the legal world. Day to day 100 lawyers work on the investment return.” — Stephen D. Lombardi, Lombardi Law, Des Moines, IA
9 | 2009 Annual Conference – About InjuryBoard InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
InjuryBoard Fundamentals InjuryBoard Management Team
The core leadership at InjuryBoard has worked together for nearly a decade. Collectively, they have developed the vision, pioneered the advanced technologies, and incorporated the practical, real‐world experiences that have culminated in the organization, as it exists today. With a deep understanding of past initiatives and through close work with InjuryBoard’s attorney members, this team is responsible for charting the long‐term vision and conducting the day‐to‐day operations for the benefit of both members and the public.
Accept the Mission
Nicholas Carroll – Co‐Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Nick has pioneered Internet technology and marketing solutions for the legal industry since 1996. In 2001, he founded Claris Law and launched InjuryBoard.com to establish the standard for socially responsible personal injury marketing. As CEO, Nick provides strategic vision and leadership for the organization and directly oversees the development and implementatione of th technologies that have made InjuryBoard an industry leader for nearly a decade. Nick holds a BA in Business Administration with a specialty in Industrial & Systems Engineering from the University of Florida.. Contact: [email protected]
Build Relationships
Patrick Mickler – Vice President, Member Recruitment
Patrick joined InjuryBoard within 6 months of its launch and has held leadership positions in content creation and new client intake. Patrick is currently responsible for growing our membership base by seeking out and recruiting the next generation of InjuryBoard member attorneys. Patrick holds a BA in Journalism from Washington ande Le University. Contact: [email protected]
Create Credibility
Angus Hinson – Vice President, Member Services
Angus has been with InjuryBoard from its launch and has led the company in areas of website development, account management and search engine marketing. Angus currently oversees a team devoted to helping member attorneys cultivate relationships across the network and leverage technology to reach more clients. Angus holds a BA in History from University of Florida. Contact: [email protected]
Develop as a Leader
Darren Wilson – President & Chief Financial Officer
Darren first joined the InjuryBoard team in 2002, when his Internet services company merged with sister company, SiteLogic. In 2005, Darren rejoined InjuryBoard as President and CFO and is currently responsible for financial oversight and strategic partnerships for the organization. Darren holds a BA in English Literature from the University of dVirginia a an Master of Business Administration with a specialty in Management of Information Systems and Entrepreneurship from the University of Texas at Austin. Contact: [email protected]
Extend the Message
Tom Young – Co‐Founder & Attorney Member Liaison
Tom is a practicing attorney and leader in online legal marketing. In 2001, he founded Claris Law and launched InjuryBoard.com to leverage his interest in advanced technology and his extensive personal network of trial attorneys from around the nation. Tom is a fierce advocate for the protection of the Civil Justiced System has an worked tirelessly to enlist and connect professionals from the legal, medical, political, educational, and business communities to advance the legal rights of all Americans. Tom holds a BA in Economics and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida. Contact: [email protected]
10 | 2009 Annual Conference – About InjuryBoard
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
InjuryBoard Voices Program
Launched in April, InjuryBoard's newest feature, Voices, gives member firms the ability to further their message by extending invitations to professionals in their communities to be guest bloggers on local InjuryBoard blogs. Medical professionals, safety advocates, concerned citizens, charitable leaders and even satisfied former clients can now become involved in the conversation for the first time, all courtesy of their local InjuryBoard firm.
Voices will contribute valuable content to local blogs, which will increase visitor traffic and referral opportunities. Potential clients will identify member firms participating in the Voices program as experts in the various topics these professionals discuss on local blogs. With InjuryBoard's inclusion in Google News, local activists finally have an enormous microphone to get their voice heard, something they will be forever grateful for.
For more information about the Voices program, speak to a member of InjuryBoard's management team during your stay in Tampa Bay.
1 | 2009 Annual Conference – New Features InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Blog Research Assignment Desk
Debuting at the 2009 conference, the blog research assignment desk offers member firms the convenience of having a journalist at their fingertips. Recognizing that our member attorneys are often preoccupied with legal matters, InjuryBoard management designed the assignment desk to be a solution to the many time constraints plaintiff lawyers face.
Member attorneys may now submit story ideas or breaking news articles to the assignment desk, staffed by law students and professional writers, for immediate research on the topic. A member of the team will investigate the subject matter and share their findings within hours.
For more information about the assignment desk, speak to a member of InjuryBoard's management team during your stay in Tampa Bay.
2 | 2009 Annual Conference – New Features InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
IB The Magazine
InjuryBoard's first self‐published quarterly magazine, scheduled for circulation this fall, will reach thousands of legal professionals and consumers. Full length exposes on happenings in the safety and legal world, informative blog posts from InjuryBoard member attorneys, a nationwide InjuryBoard member directory and attorney member "spotlights" will highlight each edition of the magazine.
IB The Magazine offers a unique branding opportunity for member attorneys who consistently produce quality, educational posts. With hundreds of firms across the country receiving IB The Magazine, the referral opportunities for member attorneys identified in each edition are endless.
For more information about IB The Magazine, speak to a member of InjuryBoard's management team during your stay in Tampa Bay.
3 | 2009 Annual Conference – New Features
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Kansas City Royals Tropicana Field June 4, 2009
Join us Thursday, June 4 at Tropicana Field, as the 2008 American League champion Tampa Bay Rays take on the Kansas City Royals. Transportation, a ticket to a reserved section of the stadium and food and refreshments will be provided. Use this opportunity to network with conference speakers, InjuryBoard management and attorney members. It’s a great way to end the first day of the conference!
1 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Activities InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Yacht Starship Sunset Cruise Tampa Bay June 5, 2009
Aboard Yacht StarShip on Friday, June 5, you'll enjoy exceptional cuisine brilliantly prepared by Yacht StarShip's Executive Chef and galley staff as well as beautiful views of Tampa Bay. Yacht StarShip also offers fine wines, sparkling champagnes, bar classics and specialty drinks. Your ticket includes a 2.5 hour sunset cruise, heavy hors devours and free cocktails.
Yacht StarShip, America’s First 3‐diamond rated yacht by AAA and Tampa Bay’s premier dining yacht cruises daily, offering fine cuisine, top quality service, dazzling entertainment and a promenade deck for 360 degree views of Tampa Bay.
This cruise is a must and will sellout before it sails on Friday. Swing by the cruise sign up desk in the hallway on the 2nd Floor and get your ticket now!
2 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Activities InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
InjuryBoard Fishing Tournament “Battle in the Bay” Tampa Bay June 6, 2009
Round out the weekend with some fishing. Join us for a day on the waters of Tampa Bay as professional light tackle guides take you on the fishing trip of a lifetime. We'll depart from the SPYC marina, just footsteps from your hotel, and return back mid‐afternoon with trout and redfish in the cooler (hopefully). We'll also target snook, tarpon and other game fish.
Tampa Bay is one of the finest estuaries in the world for light tackle fishing. It's not to be missed! This is designed to be a family affair, so spouses and children are encouraged to participate.
Registration fee is per person and includes:
‐ Guide fee and tip (3‐4 passengers per boat) ‐ Fishing equipment and bait ‐ Box lunch ‐ Beer, soft drinks and water ‐ Award ceremony and post‐tournament poolside cocktail party ‐ Tournament t‐shirts
3 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Activities InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Professional Video Production June 4‐6 – All Day
Take advantage of the economies of scale that come with the InjuryBoard network. Video production is not a profit center for us, so we can offer this service to you at our cost. The finished product could easily cost you between $3,000‐$5,000 elsewhere.
Professionally filmed, edited and produced with the plaintiff lawyer in mind, InjuryBoard videos give you more bang for your buck than you're likely to find anywhere else. Spend some time with our film crew who will make the process fun and easy by asking questions pertinent to your practice. The goal being to feature you as the expert on whatever subject matter you choose. We'll then take the footage back to the studio for editing and post production work.
You can use the finished product on your own web site or send a DVD to clients and potential clients. Video is emerging as the gold standard content on the Internet.
There are limited spots for video production and only those signed up will be able to take advantage of this service. Swing by the video sign up desk in the hallway on the 2nd Floor and get your spot now!
4 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Activities
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
FORGE is a national consulting firm that is challenging the status quo in the settlement industry. Our plaintiff‐focused approach and full‐market access ensures that our clients receive the best possible settlement, individually structured to meet their particular financial needs. For too long, plaintiffs have been unaware of the wealth of consulting options available to them, accepting settlements that are ill‐suited for their life situations. We aim to solve this problem by providing plaintiffs and their trial lawyers with the full power of structure.
By designing a customized financial solution that includes the right combination of trust products, managed accounts and structures, FORGE assures your client of liquidity, lifelong security and valuable tax advantages. We are independent brokers who seek out and require competition for the best pricing among life insurance, trust and money management corporations. FORGE also provides attorneys with fee structuring options, allowing them to take advantage of the unique opportunity to defer taxation on earned fees.
We are determined to make a difference in the fight for plaintiffs' rights, and are staunch partners with attorneys who wish to do the right thing for their clients. Our team looks forward to working in your best interest and that of your clients, helping them to make the best choice for their futures. Don't just settle. Forge a winning structure. Call FORGE Consulting the moment you get the case.
1 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Sponsors InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
For almost two decades, we’ve helped top law firms win important cases by providing state of the art digital document management, electronic discovery, and litigation support.
Digital Legal is committed to helping you manage, search, share, and present discovery data in ways never before possible. We’re fast, accurate, flexible, and affordable d— an committed to your success.
We founded our business on the belief that great verdicts begin with great discovery. We’ve grown our business by continually striving to improve all the steps in between.
We work with you to develop the right discovery strategy first, digging deep to get at the critical issues. That’s why you get better data collection, better filters, better search capabilities — and more usable information faster. Plus, you’ll have a dedicated, experienced project manager — not just a sales representative — to ensure on‐time delivery and accuracy every time.
National presence, local response. Digital Legal has offices in major cities across America – so that we can respond quickly to any requirements.
So whether you’re an office of three attorneys or a network of 30,000… whether you’ve got 10,000 pages of documents to review or terabytes of data to process… make Digital Legal part of your winning team.
2 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Sponsors InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
MediVisuals, Inc. designs and develops visual exhibits to support medical expert testimony. We have considerable experience in working with attorneys, paralegals, legal nurse consultants, and with testifying experts, in order to develop medical visuals to emphasize your particular arguments. Our primary services include complimentary consultation, research and production services for medical illustrations, graphics, medical 3‐D models, animations and interactives. MediVisuals employs the country's largest private staff of professional medical illustrators and animators, and works with clients in all 50 United States and territories, in Canada and in other countries, from its two regional offices. Our specialty is medical malpractice and personal injury litigation. MediVisuals also supports textbook and journal publishing, and medical device or pharmaceutical advertising.
We have assisted our clients by providing medical illustrations for courtroom exhibits in litigation for more than 23 years as the nation's largest medical demonstrative evidence provider. During that time, we have researched and illustrated various topics within all areas of medical science, creating demonstrative aids for personal injury, medical malpractice, and product liability cases for both defense and plaintiffs' attorneys.
3 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Sponsors InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Thaxton Barclay Group, Inc. is a professional liability insurance brokerage. Formed by the merger of the The Thaxton Group, Inc., and Barclay & Associates, our principals offer nearly 30 years of experience and industry expertise to our clients. The primary objective of our business is to provide your practice with professional guidance for risk management and thoughtful selection of cost‐effective professional liability insurance.
MISSION
In today’s tumultuous insurance market, you need brokers that watch out for their clients’ interests. At Thaxton Barclay Group, our loyalty lies with the client, not any one insurance carrier. Service is our absolute guarantee! We handle the necessary work without burdening you and your support staff.
. Social Responsibility . Responsible Business Management . Giving back to the community . Work hard, play hard, deliver results . Relationships are of utmost importance to us . Community
Thaxton Barclay is committed to providing the most outstanding value to each of our clients, and we shall set the standard for professional liability insurance.
4 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Sponsors InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
MedKM is an intelligence provider to the Insurance and Legal communities. We specifically provide the interpretation of medical records within a relevant legal framework. Our objective is to render significant and comprehensible analysis focused on the case or claim with which it is associated. MedKM has invested in Six Sigma strategies to measure and improve its’ processes with the goal of eliminating waste and improving quality all while lowering costs.
5 | 2009 Annual Conference ‐ Sponsors
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Alabama - Birmingham Alabama - Gadsden Alabama - Huntsville Lewis, Feldman, Lehane & McAtee Cusimano, Keener, Roberts, Knowles Martin & Helms 2100 Third Ave. North, Suite 810 & Raley 401 Holmes Ave., NE, Ste C Birmingham, AL 35203 153 South 9th Street Huntsville, AL 35804 Phone: 800-391-5816 Gadsden, AL 35901 Phone: 256-539-1990 Fax: 205-254-3939 Phone: 256-543-0400 Fax: 256-539-1949 www.lewis-attorneys.com Fax: 256-543-0488 www.martinhelms.com www.alabamatortlaw.com
Alabama - Mobile Alabama - Montgomery Alaska - Anchorage Burns, Cunningham & Mackey Beasley Allen Law Offices of Michael J. Schneider 50 St. Emanuel Street 218 Commerce Street 880 "N" St., Ste. 202 Mobile, AL 36602 Montgomery, AL 36104 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: 866-852-8011 Phone: 334-269-2343 Phone: 907-277-9306 Fax: 251-432-0625 Fax: 334-954-7555 Fax: 907-274-8201 www.bcmlawyers.com www.beasleyallen.com www.aktriallaw.com
Alaska - Fairbanks Arkansas – Bentonville & Mountain Merdes & Merdes Home Arkansas – Jonesboro PO Box 71309 Bailey & Oliver Law Firm Law Office of Paul Ford Fairbanks, AK 99707-1309 506 Hospital Drive 218 West Washington Phone: 907-452-5400 Mountain Home, AR 72653 Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401-2839 Fax: 907-452-8879 Phone: 870-425-6041 Phone: (870)935-5400 www.merdes.com Fax: 870-424-2543 www.imaginejustice.com
California - Fresno California - Glendale, Lancaster & California - Los Angeles The Rowell Law Office Santa Clarita Kiesel, Boucher & Larson 1530 E Shaw Ave, Suite 124 Owen, Patterson & Owen 8648 Wilshire Blvd. Fresno, CA 93710 23822 Valencia Blvd., Suite 201 Beverly Hills, CA 90211-2910 Phone: 559-224-4000 Valencia, CA 91355 Phone: 310-854-4444 Fax: 559-224-4011 Phone: 661-799-3899 Fax: 310-854-0812 www.rowelllawoffice.com www.opolaw.com www.kbla.com
California - Novato, Santa Rosa, California – Modesto & Stockton & San Rafael California – Oakland & San Francisco Law Offices of Lawrence M. Knapp Brayton Purcell Choulos, Choulos, & Wyle 250 Dorris Place 222 Rush Landing Road, 425 California St., 18th Floor Stockton, CA 95204 PO Box 6169 San Francisco, CA 94104 Phone: 877-673-8137 Novato, CA 94948 Phone: 415-474-7800 Fax: 209-466-1170 Phone: 415-898-1555 Fax: 415-474-0734 www.stocktoninjurylaw.com Fax: 415-898-1247 www.ccwlawyers.com www.braytonlaw.com
1 | 2009 Annual Conference – Membership
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
California – Redding California – Sacramento & Chico California - San Luis Obispo Reiner, Simpson & Slaughter Demas & Rosenthal, LLP Ernst & Mattison Law Firm 2851 Park Marina Dr., Suite 200 701 Howe Ave, Suite A-1 1020 Palm Street Redding, CA 96001 Sacramento CA 95825 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Phone: 530-241-1905 Phone: 916-442-9000 Phone: 805-541-0300 Fax: 530-241-0622 Fax: 916-441-6444 Fax: 805-541-5168 www.reinerinjurylaw.com www.injury-attorneys.com www.ernst-mattison.com
Colorado District of Columbia Florida - Bartow Bachus & Schanker Paulson & Nace Lilly, O'Toole & Brown 1400 16th Street, Suite 450 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW 310 East Main Street Denver, CO 80202 Washington, DC 20009-2520 Bartow, FL 33831
Phone: 303-893-9800 Phone: 202-463-1999 Phone: 863-533-5525 Fax: 303-893-9900 Fax: 202-223-6824 Fax: 863-533-0505 www.coloradolaw.net www.paulsonandnace.com www.loblawyers.com
Florida - Jacksonville Florida - Gainesville Florida - Miami Farah & Farah Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, PA Law Office of Robert L. Parks 10 West Adams St., 3rd Floor PO Box 65 2121 Ponce de Leon, Suite 505 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Gainesville, FL 32602 Coral Gables, Florida 33134 Phone: 904-396-5555 Phone: 352-373-8000 Phone: 305-445-4430 Fax: 904-358-2424 Fax: 352-373-8400 Fax: 305-445-4431 www.farahandfarah.com www.meldonlaw.com www.robertlparks.com
Florida - Orlando Florida – Sarasota & Wooten, Kimbrough, Gibson, Florida - Pensacola St. Petersburg Doherty and Normand Levin Papantonio Saunders & Walker 236 S. Lucerne Circle 316 S Baylen St., Ste 600 3491 Gandy Blvd. N.; Suite 200 Orlando, FL 32801 Pensacola, FL 32502-5996 Pinellas Park, FL 33781 Phone: 407-843-7060 Phone: 850-435-7085 Phone: 727-579-9653 Fax: 407-843-5836 Fax: 850-497-7057 www.saunderslawyers.com www.whkpa.com www.levinlaw.com
Florida - Tampa Florida - West Palm Beach Georgia Alley, Clark, Greiwe Searcy, Denney Scarola, Childers & Schleuter 701 East Washington Street Barnhart & Shipley 260 Peachtree Street NW Tampa, FL 33602 2139 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 813-222-0977 West Palm Beach, FL 33409 Phone: 404-419-9500 Fax: 813-224-0373 Phone: 561-686-6300 Fax: 404-419-9501 www.tampatriallawyers.com www.searcylaw.com www.cbsfirm.com
2 | 2009 Annual Conference – Membership
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Hawaii Illinois - Chicago Illinois - Cook County Wayne Parsons Law Offices Gary D. McCallister & Associates The Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle 1406 Colburn St., Ste. 201C 120 North LaSalle Street 100 West Monroe St., #2100 Honolulu, HI 96817-4903 Suite 2800 Chicago, IL 60603 Phone: 808-845-2211 Chicago, IL 60602 Phone: 312-263-1080 Fax: 808-843-0100 Phone: 312-345-0611 Fax: 312-263-0153 www.wayneparsons.com Fax: 312-345-0612 www.accidentlawillinois.com www.gdmlawfirm.com
Iowa - Council Bluffs Indiana - Bloomington Iowa - Des Moines Inserra & Kelley Greene & Schultz Lombardi Law Firm 6790 Grover St., Suite 200 320 W. 8th Street, Suite 100 4200 Corporate Drive, Suite 112 Omaha, NE 68106-3612 Bloomington, IN 47401 West Des Moines, IA 50266 Phone: 402-391-4000 Phone: 866-685-6800 Phone: 515-222-1110 Fax: 402-391-4039 Fax: 812-336-5615 Fax: 515-222-0718 www.inserra.com www.greeneschultz.com www.lombardilaw.com
Kansas - Wichita Iowa - Fort Dodge & Waterloo Kentucky – Louisville Warner Law Offices The Johnson Law Firm The Karl Truman Law Office 310 West Central, Ste. 110 809 Central Avenue, Suite 600 420 Wall Street Wichita, KS 67202-1003 Fort Dodge, IA 50501 Jeffersonville, IN 47130 Phone: 316-269-2500 Phone: 515-573-2181 Phone: 812-282-8500 Fax: 316-269-1430 Fax: 515-573-2548 Fax: 812-989-7848 www.warnerlawoffices.com www.johnsonlawia.com www.trumanlaw.com
Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Massachusetts - Boston Massachusetts - Cape Cod Lafayette & New Orleans Steven H. Schafer & Associates & Stoughton The Young Firm 141 Tremont Street, Sixth Floor Law Offices of Bruce A. Bierhans 400 Poydras St., Ste. 2090 Boston, Massachusetts 02111-1209 294 Pleasant St., Suite 204 New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: 617-423-2447 Stoughton, MA 02072 Phone: 504-680-4100 Fax: 617-695-9798 Phone: 781-297-0005 Fax: 504-680-4101 www.schaferlaw.com Fax: 781-297-7427 www.theyoungfirm.com www.bierlaw.com
Michigan - Grand Rapids & Michigan - Lansing Minnesota – St. Cloud Traverse City Church Wyble Bradshaw & Bryant PLLC Smith & Johnson 2827 E. Saginaw 1505 Division Street 603 Bay Street, P.O. Box 705 Lansing, MI 48912 Waite Park, MN 56387 Traverse City, MI 49685 Phone: 888-227-4770 Phone: 320-259-5414 Phone: 231-946-0700 Fax: 517-372-1031 Fax: 320-259-5438 Fax: 231-946-1735 www.churchwyble.com www.minnesotapersonalinjury.com www.smith-johnson.com
3 | 2009 Annual Conference – Membership
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Mississippi - Biloxi & Gulfport Missouri - Jefferson City Montana McGill Law Firm Bartimus, Frickleton, Law Office of Elizabeth L. Cunningham 202 W. Jackson St. Robertson & Gorny 315 W. Pine Street, P.O. Box 8946 Pensacola, FL 32501 11150 Overborook Rd., Suite 200 Missoula, MT 59802 Phone: 850-432-6000 Leawood, KS 66211 Phone: 406-728-5936 Fax: 850-432-1190 Phone: 913-266-2300 Fax: 406-728-2828 www.mcgilllawfirm.com www.bflawfirm.com
New Jersey - Cherry Hill Nebraska - Omaha Nevada - Reno Ferrara Law Firm Inserra & Kelley Steven J. Klearman & Associates 601 Longwood Ave. at 6790 Grover St., Suite 200 437 W Plumb State Highway 38 Omaha, NE 68106-3612 Reno, NV 89503 Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 Phone: 402-391-4000 Phone: 775-323-3700 Phone: 856-779-9500 Fax: 402-391-4039 www.injurylitigators.com Fax: 856-661-0369 www.inserra.com www.ferraralawfirm.com
New Jersey - Newark New Jersey - Trenton New York - Long Island Brady, Brady & Reilly LLC Gaylord, Rubinstein & Popp Rappaport, Glass, Greene, & Levine 377 Kearny Avenue 1230 Parkway Avenue, Suite 203 1355 Motor Parkway Kearny, NJ 07032 Trenton, NJ 08628 Hauppauge, NY 11749 Phone: 201-997-0030 Phone: 609-771-8611 Phone: 631-293-2300 www.bbr-law.com Fax: 609-771-8612 Fax: 631-293-2918 www.gyrlaw.com www.rapplaw.com
North Carolina - Charlotte North Carolina – Northeast NC New York - New York City Greg Jones Law Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton Napoli Bern Ripka 3015 Market Street 101 E. Elizabeth Street 115 Broadway, 12th Floor Wilmington, NC 28403 Elizabeth City, NC 27909 New York, NY 10006-1604 Phone: 910-251-2240 Phone: 757-460-7776 Phone: 888-529-4669 Fax: 910-251-1520 Fax: 757-460.3428 www.nbrlawfirm.com www.gregjoneslaw.com www.hsinjurylaw.com
North Carolina - Raleigh/Durham & North Carolina – Wilmington Ohio - Cincinnati Fayetteville Shipman & Wright Goodson & Company Brent Adams & Associates 11 South 5th Street 110 East Eighth Street, Suite 2 119 South Lucknow Square Wilmington, NC 28401 Cincinnati, OH 45202 Dunn, NC 28334 Phone: 910-762-1990 Phone: 513-621-5631 Phone: 910-892-8177 Fax: 910-762-6752 Fax: 513-621-3855 Fax: 910-892-0652 www.shipmanlaw.com www.goodsonandcompany.com www.brentadams.com
4 | 2009 Annual Conference – Membership
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Ohio - Cleveland Oklahoma Pennsylvania - Philadelphia Spangenberg, Shibley & Liber Nix & McIntyre Sheller P.C. 1900 East Ninth Street, Suite 2400 1300 S. Meridian, Suite 501 1528 Walnut Street; 3rd Floor Cleveland, OH 44114 Oklahoma City, OK 73108 Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 216-696-3232 Phone: 866-917-5200 Phone: 215-790-7300 Fax: 216-696-3924 Fax: 405-917-5405 Fax: 215-546-0942 www.spanglaw.com www.oklahoma-law.com www.sheller.com
South Carolina – Florence & South Carolina - Columbia Rhode Island - Providence Myrtle Beach Strom Law Firm Audette, Bazar, Cordeiro & Grasso Mike Kelly Law Group 2110 Beltline Blvd., Suite A 35 Highland Avenue 816 Broadway Columbia, SC 29204 East Providence, RI 02914 Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 Phone: 803-252-4800 Phone: 401-438-3800 Phone: 843-946-7550 Fax: 803-252-4801 Fax: 401-438-3804 Fax: 803-252-7145 www.stromlaw.com www.abcglawfirm.com www.mklawgroup.com
Texas - Corpus Christi, Texas - Austin Brownsville, McAllen & Laredo Tennessee - Nashville Perlmutter & Schuelke Hilliard Munoz Guerra Law Office of George Fusner, Jr. 1717 W. 6th Street, Ste. 375 719 S. Shoreline, Ste.500 116 Wilson Pike Circle Suite 210 Austin, TX 78703 Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Brentwood, Tennessee 37027 Phone: 512-476-4944 Phone: 361-882-1612 Phone: 615-251-0005 Fax: 512-476-6218 Fax: 361-882-3015
www.civtrial.com www.hmglawfirm.com
Texas - Dallas Texas - Houston & Galveston Bay Texas - San Antonio The Rasansky Law Firm Reich & Binstock Law Offices of Beth Janicek 2525 McKinnon; Suite 625 4265 San Felipe, Suite 1000 100 Sandau, Suite 101 Dallas, TX 75201 Houston, TX 77027 San Antonio, TX 78216
Phone: 214-651-6100 Phone: 713-622-7271 Phone: 210-366-4949 Fax: 214-651-6150 Fax: 713-623-8724 Fax: 210-979-6804 www.jrlawfirm.com www.reichandbinstock.com www.bethjanicek.com
Virginia - Charlottesville Texas - Victoria Utah - Salt Lake City Michie Hamlett Lowry Rasmussen Cole, Cole & Easley Jones Waldo & Tweel 302 W. Forrest 170 So. Main Street, Suite 1500 500 Court Square, Ste. 300 Victoria, TX 77902 Salt Lake City, UT VA 84101 Charlottesville, VA 22903 Phone: 361-575-0551 Phone: 801-521-3200 Phone: 434-951-7233 Fax: 361-575-0986 Fax: 801-328-0537 Fax: 434-951-7218 www.cce-vic.com www.joneswaldo.com www.michiehamlett.com
5 | 2009 Annual Conference – Membership
InjuryBoard 2009 Annual Conference
Virginia - Northern Virginia Virginia - Richmond Virginia - Fairfax/Loudoun Benjamin W. Glass, III & Associates Butler Williams & Skilling Abrams Landau, Ltd. 3915 Old Lee Highway, Suite 22-B 100 Shockoe Slip, Fourth Floor 797 Center Street Fairfax, VA 22030 Richmond, VA 23219 Herndon, VA 20190 Phone: 703-591-9829 Phone: 804-648-4848 Phone: 703-796-9555 Fax: 703-783-0686 Fax: 804-648-6814 Fax: 703-796-9210 www.vamedmal.com www.butlerwilliams.com www.landaulawshop.com
Virginia - Roanoke Virginia - Virginia Beach, Washington - Everett Frith Law Firm Norfolk, & Portsmouth Phillips & Webster 303 Washington Avenue SW Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton 13303 NE 175th Street Roanoke, VA 24016 1294 Diamond Springs Rd. Woodinville, WA 98072 Phone: 540-985-0098 Virginia Beach, VA 23455 Phone: 425-482-1111 Fax: 540-985-9198 Phone: 757-460-7776 www.phillipswebster.com www.frithlawfirm.com www.hsinjurylaw.com
Washington – King County Washington – Seattle & Tacoma Washington - Vancouver Brodkowitz Law Myers & Company, P.L.L.C NW Injury Law Center 3600 Fremont Avenue North 1809 Seventh Avenue, Suite 700 1405 Esther Street Seattle, WA 98103 Seattle, WA 98101 Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: 206-838-7531 Phone: 206-398-1188 Phone: 360-695-1624 Fax: 206-838-7532 Fax: 206-400-1112 Fax: 360-695-0422 www.brodkowitzlaw.com www.myers-company.com www.nwinjurylawcenter.com
Wisconsin Wyoming Jacquart & Lowe Bachus & Schanker 241 N. Broadway; Suite 202 1400 16th Street, Suite 450 Milwaukee, WI 53202 Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 414-271-8828 Phone: 303-893-9800 Fax: 414-271-8299 Fax: 303-893-9900 www.jacquart-lowe.com www.coloradolaw.net
InjuryBoard Voices Member Mark Bello, Attorney At Law Lawsuit Financial Corp. 29777 Telegraph Road, Suite 1310
Southfied, MI 48034
Phone: 248-948-1800 Fax: 248-948-1802 www.lawsuitfinancial.com
6 | 2009 Annual Conference – Membership