Elawvate

"It's not rocket science," says Brian McKeen about trial advocacy. His record-breaking verdicts may suggest otherwise. The Detroit med-mal virtuoso shares with hosts Ben Gideon and Rahul Ravipudi how he transformed from a sports-obsessed student into one of Michigan's powerhouse plaintiff attorneys. From a $130 million med mal judgment to a $96 million trucking verdict, Brian reveals how deep medical knowledge and relentless case development unlock extraordinary outcomes. Most compelling are his civil rights cases against detention facilities, where he has leveraged video evidence to show neglect of vulnerable detainees. His message to young lawyers: Good trial advocacy is learnable with courage and commitment.Learn More and Connect☑️ Brian McKeen | LinkedIn☑️ McKeen & Associates on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X ☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Produced and Powered by

In a personal injury case, the plaintiff's lawyer must rely on witnesses to perform. In a bad-faith case, their job is educating the jury about the rules that insurance companies must follow. That's how Ricardo Echeverria describes the two areas of his practice at Shernoff Bidart Echeverria. With hosts Ben Gideon and Rahul Ravipudi, he explains that he started his career focusing on PI but that evolved over the years to litigating bad faith cases. “They are definitely different kinds of cases and a different approach to cases altogether,” he says. Tune in for Ricardo's insights about how he advocates for fire victims who are under-insured and why he'd "go back to milking cows" before representing insurance companies.Learn More and Connect☑️ Ricardo Echeverria☑️ Shernoff Bidart Echeverria on LinkedIn | Facebook | X☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Produced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by

When FDA guidelines failed their client, trial partners Austin Dana and Karen Zahka flipped the script by arguing for clinical judgment, typically a defense position. Hospitalized with an epileptic seizure at age 13, their client was old enough to receive an adult dosage of an anti-seizure medication, according to the FDA – but she weighed only 61 pounds, the weight of a child. That adult dosage led to their client getting Stevens-Johnson syndrome. “Our position was that the defendant should have deviated from the guidelines,” Karen explains to hosts Ben Gideon and Rahul Ravipudi. Tune in as Austin and Karen break down how they secured an $11.9 million verdict.Learn More and Connect☑️ Karen Zahka | LinkedIn☑️ Trial Lawyers For Justice on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube☑️ Austin Dana | LinkedIn ☑️ Keches Law Group on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on

Spare Terry Garmey the old joke about ambulance chasers. “I'm defensive about being a plaintiff's lawyer. I like what I do,” says one of Maine's most respected plaintiff's lawyers. His daughter Alexis Garmey Chardon, who left a high-paying corporate law career to practice with her father, also describes the profession's nobility: “It's almost like a civic duty for us lawyers that we keep trying cases, including small cases.” Tune in to this conversation with host Ben Gideon for an inside look at a powerhouse family's success in court and at home.Learn More and Connect☑️ Terry Garmey | LinkedIn | X☑️ Alexis Garmey Chardon | LinkedIn☑️ Garmey Law | LinkedIn | Facebook☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Produced and Powered by

"AI knows what absolute truth is," says Darryl Williams, whose military career solving "strategic surprise" led him to create algorithms that dive deeper than conventional AI. Speaking with host Ben Gideon, Darryl explains how his cognitive AI system, grounded in foundational sciences, achieves near-perfect accuracy where generative AI can falter. From identifying juror biases to uncovering hidden fraud, Darryl details how his platform reconstructs reality from sparse data points, helping lawyers win high-stakes cases through superior intelligence gathering. The message: In litigation, you don't know what you don't know until deeper AI reveals it.Learn More and Connect☑️ Darryl Williams ☑️ Partsol (Partnership Solutions International | LinkedIn☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Produced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by SmartAdvocate, Hype Legal, Expert Institute,

"Attach yourself to the right people. Anything great that you ever accomplish is almost certainly accomplished by a team," says Kimball Jones, who's on an incredible winning streak with verdicts of $550 million, $105 million, and others in quick succession. Fresh off these victories, Kimball joins host Rahul Ravipudi to break down his teambuilding philosophy, inspired by the 1980s Detroit Pistons. He shares how his losses taught him to "don't agree to anything the defense wants" and why calming jurors — rather than inflaming them — has led to massive punitive damages.Learn More and Connect☑️ Kimball Jones | LinkedIn☑️ Bighorn Law on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Produced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by

Trial lawyer and consultant Elizabeth Larrick brings her expertise on focus groups to hosts Ben Gideon and Rahul Ravipudi. With experience conducting over 1,000 focus groups, the founder of the Trial Lawyer Prep Podcast explains how she helps attorneys make critical decisions at various stages in a case. Sharing success stories, Elizabeth details how her streamlined Zoom focus groups identify blind spots, test liability theories, and gauge damages. The dominant theme: preparing your case for outside scrutiny inevitably strengthens your trial strategy, regardless of the outcome.Learn More and Connect☑️ Elizabeth Larrick | LinkedIn☑️ Trial Lawyer Prep Podcast☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Produced and Powered by LawPodsSponsored by SmartAdvocate, Hype Legal,

When Brad Cosgrove got the case of a woman who died during elective cosmetic surgery, his first thought was, “Is this rare?” During his investigation, he discovered that the plastic surgeon had been linked to other deaths but never disciplined. Tune in as Brad recaps his $54 million verdict against the doctor with hosts Ben Gideon and Rahul Ravipudi. Brad also discusses how to eliminate the “worst” jurors for a med-mal plaintiffs' attorney: those who won't award damages because they feel that “shit happens.”Interested in brainstorming a case with Ben and Rahul? Join a confidential case workshop. Email Ben or go online and submit a case workshop request. Learn More and Connect☑️ Brad Cosgrove | LinkedIn☑️ Clifford Law Offices on LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts |

Big data doesn't stymie a lawyer's creativity in the courtroom; it actually informs smart decisions. So argues John Campbell, who co-authored “Jury Ball: The Big Data Revolution Is Here” with his wife, Alicia, and Sean Claggett.Big data is no substitute for creativity; it can't capture the lawyer's biggest weapon: authenticity and heart. So argues Josh Koskoff, a leading personal injury trial attorney. Tune in to this friendly debate moderated by hosts Ben Gideon and Rahul Ravipudi to hear where John and Josh diverge on the issue, and where they align.Interested in brainstorming a case with Ben and Rahul? Join a confidential case workshop. Email Ben or go online and submit a case workshop request. Learn More and Connect☑️ Josh Koskoff | LinkedIn☑️ Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder on X | LinkedIn | Facebook☑️ John Campbell ☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Subscribe:

“I say the theater is a safe place to be dangerous. I firmly believe that the courtroom is a dangerous place to be safe.”That's why Jesse Wilson teaches lawyers and witnesses how to be dangerous in the courtroom. A Julliard-trained actor, he prepares witnesses and helps lawyers with trial strategy through his Tell the Winning Story consultant business. Following a workshop for host Ben Gideon's team, Jesse joins “Elawvate” to share tips with listeners. Tune in for his lessons about masks, imagination, and authentic communication. Learn More and Connect☑️ Jesse Wilson | LinkedIn☑️ Tell the Winning Story on X | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok☑️ Order Jesse's book, “Witness Preparation: How To Tell The Winning Story”☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts |

Frank Fratello used to consider money an “evil secret” in jury selection. Then he got a $2.5 million verdict.Fresh off the red-eye to Florida, Frank told his trial partner David Thompson about a strategy he'd learned days before from consultant Sari de la Motte at Trial Lawyers University in Las Vegas. “He was extremely excited. He's like, ‘I'm doing it.' … And he went and did it, and it was actually quite effective,” David recalls.Tune in as Frank and David – “problem-solvers” for Farah & Farah – break down the case, where they represented a young woman who required a life care plan to manage injuries sustained in a truck accident. Visiting hosts Ben Gideon and Rahul Ravipudi, they explain the selection method, which involves approaching damages gradually through questions asked at intervals. As Frank saw, jurors who would have balked at awarding the plaintiff's figure “struck themselves.” Learn More and Connect☑️ Frank Fratello ☑️ David Thompson | LinkedIn☑️ Farah & Farah on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | X ☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on LinkedIn |

Hosts Ben Gideon and Rahul Ravipudi invite trial lawyer Charla Aldous for a conversation about her distinguished career. Sharing stories that range from amusing to poignant, she recalls making corporate defendants wither and juries giggle. She discusses reinventing herself from a defense lawyer to a plaintiff's lawyer specializing in medical malpractice. She criticizes med-mal caps in Texas and cherishes taking unpopular cases. The dominant theme is her fearless devotion to clients. If she were to give advice to young lawyers, she'd say this: “You are the voice for those that, but for you, would not have a voice. And if you ever lose sight of that fact, you need to go do something else for a living.”Produced and Powered by LawPodsLearn more about our sponsors mentioned today: SmartAdvocate, Hype Legal, Expert Institute, Steno, and LawPods.Learn More and Connect☑️ Charla Aldous | LinkedIn ☑️ Aldous Walker | LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube ☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn |

Scott Schlesinger has known what it means to be a trial lawyer from his earliest days, growing up in the shadow of his father, legendary Florida trial lawyer Shelly Schlesinger.  Scott talks about how the lessons and values he learned for his father shaped his approach.  Scott has continued to legacy by becoming a one of the country's best plaintiff's trial lawyers in his own right, continuing to fight for clients impacted by the scourge of Big Tobacco, childhood exposure to Juul and many other cases of major significance from a public health standpoint.  Join Ben and Rahul for their wide-ranging interview of Scott that takes us from the origins of the original cases against Big Tobacco to the cutting-edge cases going on today. About Scott Schlesingerhttps://schlesingerlawoffices.com/scott-p-schlesinger/ Since 1984, Attorney Scott P. Schlesinger has represented the rights of clients who have been injured by negligence. Over the years, he has established himself as a passionate advocate, securing multi-million dollar verdicts on numerous cases. Scott is proud to have the opportunity to help those who have been injured move forward from their incident and pursue a secure future.The firm, Schlesinger Law Offices, P.A., focuses on the representation of claims involving defective medical devices, tobacco litigation, defective drugs, birth injuries, car accidents, and more. As the founder, Scott leads the way in providing legal services that are committed to excellence and to the individual needs of each client. Professional Associations & MembershipsInner Circle of AdvocatesFlorida BarAmerican Association for JusticeFlorida Justice AssociationBroward County Justice AssociationAwards & RecognitionFlorida Trend Legal Elite, 2008-2012Super Lawyers®, 2014-2015, 2017-2019Martindale Hubbel AV Preeminent – Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional ExcellenceMartindale Hubbel Distinguished – Peer Rated for High Professional AchievementEducationUniversity of Florida, 1984J.D.Brown UniversityB.S.Major: BiopsychologyPublicationsFeatured in Daily Business Review, “Scott Schlesinger's Key to Avoiding Burnout: Fight for Something Worthy”, October 2017

Join Ben and Rahul for a conversation with Spencer Lucas, Partner at Panish Shea Ravipudi, in which Spencer talks about his recent $135 million verdict on behalf of two victims of sexual assault by a teacher at a public school, and his work on the leadership trial teams representing sexual assault victims in claims against the Los Angeles Catholic Diocese and Boy Scouts of America.  Spencer talks about how he found a passion for championing the rights of victims of sexual assault and how he has navigated the complexities of proving that the school district and Catholic Diocese had prior notice that the teacher and priest were harming children and failed to act upon that information to protect his clients.   About Spencer Lucas https://www.panish.law/Spencer Lucas is a trial lawyer and partner at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP specializing in litigating complex catastrophic personal injury, products liability, wrongful death, and sexual abuse cases. A member of the firm since 2007, he has extensive experience in cases involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and has successfully recovered over $600 million for his clients. Mr. Lucas prides himself on not only helping survivors of trauma and their families recover from tragic situations but by implementing institutional safeguards for the community.Ranked among the Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers in 2022, Mr. Lucas is recognized as a leading trial lawyer in California trying cases in venues across the state resulting in eight-figure verdicts. He has been the recipient of numerous awards for his work in the courtroom including nominations as Consumer Attorney of the Year by Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA).  Mr. Lucas is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) with an elevated rank of Associate due to the number of lengthy trials to verdict he has completed and is annually recognized as a Best Lawyer in America® .Mr. Lucas has obtained numerous eight-figure verdicts and settlements in cases throughout California, including the following:$135 million verdict for two men who were sexually abused as students by a teacher in the Moreno Valley Unified School District.$48,500,000 settlement at the beginning of trial involving a 26-year-old man who was struck by a corporate vehicle and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.$30,000,000 settlementat the beginning of trial involving a 33-year-old man who was struck by a tractor-trailer and suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.$19,466,000 verdict In Zastawnik v. Asplundh Construction, for his client who suffered severe ankle fractures and resulting pain disorder after being struck by a construction truck while riding a motorcycle.$17,120,672 verdict In Huayanca v. Southland Transit District, for his 83 year old client who sustained a below the knee amputation after being struck by a bus in a crosswalk.$13,000,000 verdict in Doe v. EōS Fitness,  in Riverside County Superior Court for a young girl who was sexually molested while in the care of EōS Fitness' Kid's Club in Palm Springs, California. This verdict is believed to be one of the largest of its kind in America.$15,313,703 verdict in Francisco v. AC Transit, for a client who suffered a back injury while riding on a city bus.$15,000,000 verdict in Tilton v. Southern California Gas Company, for a teenager who sustained a closed head injury after his vehicle was struck by a Southern California Gas Company utility truck.$14,500,000 verdict in Barber v. Mossy Ford , in a complex tire failure case arising from a accident in which the parents of three young boys were killed.  Along with settlements reached with other defendants, the total award was in excess of $22 million.$14,000,000 verdict in Curiel v. SSA Marine, for a man who suffered serious spinal cord injuries after a crane operator dropped a 25,000 lb. container onto the cab of his truck.$21,000,000 verdict in Nelsen v. Hillyard Inc., for an Iraq war veteran who suffered a brain injury after being rear-ended by a commercial vehicle at high speed.$20,000,000 verdict in Rivas v. J.B. Hunt , for a woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer.$10,500,000 in Nichols v. Alameda-Contra Costa County Transit, on behalf of a woman who suffered serious orthopedic injuries when she was struck by an AC Transit bus while crossing the street.  The case settled for $10.5 million.$8,652,580 award in the matter of of Haskell v. Farmers Insurance, on behalf of his client who suffered pelvic injuries. The settlement offer in this case prior to the award was $300,000.Outside the courtroom, Mr. Lucas is a frequent speaker on various issues, including traumatic brain, spinal cord injuries, and sexual abuse, and actively publishes articles in trade publications on a wide range of legal topics. He also spends much of his time dedicated to assisting his clients recovering from trauma obtain the best medical treatment available.In addition to his work as a trial lawyer, Mr. Lucas is a member of the Pepperdine School of Law Dean's Council and serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities (LATLC) which funds many local charity groups focusing on education, survivors of abuse, children, and the homeless.Originally from Seattle, Washington Mr. Lucas graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Business Administration.  During his undergraduate work, he completed an International Business program with honors from the University of Sevilla in 1999. He graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2004, where he was the co-founder of the Pepperdine International Human Rights Program.Fluent in Spanish, Mr. Lucas works with many of the firm's Spanish-speaking clients and is frequently asked to give legal commentary on national Spanish television and radio programs.  He has lived in Havana, Cuba, and throughout Mexico, where he spent his summers in college building homes for the homeless in Ciudad Juarez.Mr. Lucas is a member of the State Bar of California, the District of Columbia Bar and the Washington State Bar Association. He is an active member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Consumer Attorneys of California, and Los Angeles County Bar Association, and regularly volunteers his time providing pro-bono legal services to foster children and children facing immigration deportation proceedings.

Join Ben and Rahul for their conversation with Michael Talve, Founder and CEO of Expert Institute, a nation-wide expert search and research firm.  Michael talks about how he stared the business in his apartment with a few friends and grew it to hundreds of employees that service more than 5000 plaintiff law firms across the United States.  Michael discusses trends he has witnessed in the practice of plaintiff law and what he sees for the future of expert search and the role of AI in the plaintiff practice.  He talks about the role of entrepreneurship in growing and scaling a business.  Michael's background as a successful entrepreneur serving the trial bar is fascinating and provides valuable insight. You don't want to miss this episode.About Michael Talvehttps://www.expertinstitute.com/resources/insights/author/michael/ Michael Talve stands at the forefront of legal innovation as the CEO and Managing Director of Expert Institute. Under his leadership, the Expert Institute has established itself as a vital player in the legal technology arena, revolutionizing how lawyers connect with world-class experts and access advanced legal technology. Michael's role involves not only steering the company's strategic direction but also ensuring the delivery of unparalleled intelligence and cutting-edge solutions to legal professionals. His work at Expert Institute has been instrumental in enhancing the capabilities of attorneys in case preparation and execution, making a significant impact on the legal industry's approach to expert consultation and technological integration. Michael's vision and execution have positioned the Expert Institute as a key facilitator in the intersection of law and technology. Under his stewardship, Expert Institute has played a pivotal role in some of the most important cases of the past decade - totaling more than $300B in verdicts and settlements. Expert Institute has grown to become one of the foremost businesses dedicated to partnering with leading plaintiff firms. The company has been involved in high profile matters ranging from Camp Lejeune, to opioid litigation, to numerous mass shooting incidents, and more recently, Boeing airplane investigations, and thousands of single claimant cases each month.

From a young age, Robert Glassman worked hard to perfect his abilities as a public speaker.  When he was in high school, his parents enrolled him in a Dale Carnegie program to develop confidence speaking in front of strangers.  From high school to law school, Robert was a perennial class president and accustomed to giving planned speeches before large audiences.  Join Rahul and Ben as they discuss with Robert the advantages and challenges of transitioning his public speaking skills to success in the courtroom.  Robert talks about how he developed expertise in handling high-profile cases involving injuries to children while in the care of the public schools, and lessons learned from his first experience examining witnesses at trial to recently obtaining an eight-figure jury verdict the day after his forty-first birthday. About Robert Glassmanhttps://www.panish.law/glassman.htmlRobert Glassman is a partner at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP where he represents plaintiffs in large and complex personal injury cases and is a recognized leader in the Los Angeles legal community.Recognized by the Daily Journal as among the 2023 Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 in California, Mr. Glassman has also been named a “Rising Star” in Personal Injury litigation by Law360 and recognized as a “Rising Star” by the Super Lawyers publication since 2013 where he has been consistently selected as one of the “Up-and-Coming 100 Southern California Rising Stars”, the list of lawyers who rank at the top of the Super Lawyers' Rising Stars list.His work on three high-profile school injury cases –  Lee v. Pupil Transportation Cooperative, Pierce v. Murrieta Valley Unified School District, and Sepulveda v. Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District – led to significant reforms at the school districts where the tragedies occurred and helped to establish new child safety laws in California.Mr. Glassman also represents victims and survivors of sexual abuse, including ‘Jane' who filed suit against her abusers in the high-profile case against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.A three-time Consumer Attorneys of California Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist for his work on Lee v. Pupil Transportation Cooperative, Pierce v. Murrieta Valley Unified School District, and Sepulveda v. Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District, Mr. Glassman has also been recognized as a 2023 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year for his work on Sepulveda v. Yucaipa-Calimesa Unified School District.Mr. Glassman currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers Los Angeles Young Lawyers division and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Los Angeles Chapter.SOME OF MR. GLASSMAN'S MOST NOTABLE TRIAL VERDICTS INCLUDE:Diao v. Southern California Gas Company (Los Angeles jury awarded a $19,786,818 to injured plaintiff following a gas explosion at home in San Gabriel, CA). The judgment was recently upheld on appeal.Dillon v. City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles jury awarded $11,045,000 for a motorcyclist who suffered serious injuries following a collision with a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) vehicle.)Crenshaw v. Land O'Lakes, Inc.(Kings County jury awarded $6.45 million to Corcoran State Prison correctional officer after motorcycle crash in Hanford, CA).  For the work Mr. Glassman and firm partner Brian Panish did on the Crenshaw case, it was recognized by The Daily Journal as a Top Ten Verdict of 2010.Gil v. Anderson (Los Angeles County jury awarded $2,000,969 to a man who was injured when his vehicle was struck from behind by a large commercial plumbing van)Ortega v. Lim (San Diego County jury awarded $1,957,500 for a man who suffered a back injury after his pick-up truck was struck by another vehicle whose driver was distracted and ran a red light at an intersection.)Kluthe v. Charles Doherty Concrete(Vista, California jury awarded a $1,552,917.56 verdict for a young man who suffered a back injury after his vehicle was struck by a cement dump truck that ran a red light at an intersection)SOME OF MR. GLASSMAN'S NOTABLE SETTLEMENTS INCLUDE:Lee v. Pupil Transportation Cooperative($23,500,000 for the parents of Hun Joon “Paul” Lee, a 19-year-old non-verbal autistic student who tragically died aboard a Whittier school bus after the driver left him behind to engage in a sexual tryst with a co-worker)Sepulveda v. Yucaipa-Calimesa Unified School District ($15,750,000 for the mother of 13-year-old Adilene Carrasco who suffered an asthma attack at school and died as a result of the district's failure to follow its own safety protocols)Pierce v. Murietta Valley Unified School District($11,000,000 for the family of a middle school student who drowned during a school-sponsored swim party)Palmstrom v. City of Pasadena ($7,150,000 for a toddler who suffered severe injuries after she was trapped beneath a 20-foot eucalyptus tree branch that had fallen onto her while playing on a preschool playground)Agu v. UC Regents ($4,750,000 for the parents of a Cal Berkeley football player with sickle cell trait who died during an off-season conditioning drill)Mr. Glassman has also secured eight-figure settlements in a wide range of cases including $32.6 million in a products liability design defect case, $16 million in a premises liability case, $12.45 million in a motor vehicle collision case, and $10 million in a dangerous condition of public property case involving a fallen tree.He is a member of the executive committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Judicial Appointments Committee (JAC) which responds to the governor's requests to evaluate individuals under consideration for appointment to the Superior Court bench.Prior to working at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, Mr. Glassman clerked at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office in the Major Crimes Division where he worked on high profile murder prosecutions and in the Preliminary Hearing Unit where he conducted dozens of preliminary felony hearings.  Mr. Glassman also previously worked on Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer's Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.In 2020, Mr. Glassman also led the collaboration between Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP and The Children's Rights Clinic at Southwestern Law School (CRC) to provide legal representation to low-income children in the areas of school discipline, special education, and personal injury. Under his direction, clients will be represented by the firm in the area of personal injury while Southwestern law students participating in the Children's Rights Clinic will represent clients in the areas of special education and school discipline under the supervision of Southwestern Law School Professors.An alumnus of the Whitfield School in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Glassman also provided an invaluable opportunity in 2021 for the current and future students at his alma mater with the creation of the Glassman Leaders Program. During the program, two selected students — one junior and one senior — develop their public speaking and leadership skills through on-and off-campus coursework and mentorship. Participants also attend an eight-week Dale Carnegie course, which focuses on building communication skills for business people and students alike.Mr. Glassman attended Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA where he obtained his B.A. degree in English.  Following college, Mr. Glassman obtained his law degree from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles where he served as president of the student body, and was a member of the Trial Advocacy Honors Program. GLASSMAN'S PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS INCLUDE:President, Los Angeles County Bar Association BarristersNickel Club President (Southwestern Law School's Young Alumni Association)Political Chair, New Lawyers Division, Consumer Attorneys of CaliforniaStudent Body President, Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, CAClass President, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA.Senior Class President, Whitfield School, St. Louis, MO.Mr. Glassman is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, California, and United States District Courts throughout California.

Join Ben and Rahul for their in-depth discussion of Ben's recent three-week jury trial in which Ben represented a little girl who developed cerebral palsy following the development of necrotizing enterocolitis in the NICU.  Ben discusses how decision-making guided by big data led to him and his client to turning down an $11 million offer after closing arguments to take a verdict.  He discusses what he learned following extensive discussions with jurors following the trial. Ben describes how this verdict influences his thinking about data, risk and approach to trial moving forward.About Ben Gideonhttps://gideonasen.com/our-team/benjamin-gideon/Ben grew up in Portland, Maine, attended public schools and graduated from Deering High School in 1989. Ben's father, Martin Rogoff, was a prominent member of the Maine Law School faculty, so Ben grew up immersed in discussions of the law. Ben began to develop his legal skills early in life through nightly arguments with his father at the dinner table.In high school, Ben played varsity soccer and was the captain of the hockey team. Following high school, Ben attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Ben attempted to walk on to the Cornell hockey team, but was eventually cut from the team, ending his hockey career. Depressed and disappointed at this failure, Ben became a poor student, failed several classes, and was told he was being suspended from college on academic probation.After rehabilitating himself through some community college courses, Ben was able to gain re-admission to Cornell and to complete his degree. Ben applied to law school and was admitted to Boston University School of Law. There, Ben was a standout student. His grades were so exceptional after his first year that he was accepted as a transfer student to Yale Law School where he earned his law degree.Ben began his career in private practice at a large, multi-national law firm, Latham & Watkins, in New York City. He practiced there for several years before deciding to return to Maine to join Berman & Simmons, PA, Maine's largest plaintiff's law firm.EDUCATIONCornell University, 1993Yale Law School, 1999RECOGNITIONSThe Inner Circle of Advocates, 100 of the Best Plaintiff Lawyers in the U.S., 2019-presentAmerican College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2020-present, Top 1% of all lawyersAmerica's Top 100 Attorneys ― Listed in Maine for Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Products Liability, 2017The Best Lawyers in America ― 2013–present; “Lawyer of the Year,” 2016–presentSuper Lawyers ― “Super Lawyer,” 2013–presentMartindale-Hubbell ― Top Rated “AV Preeminent”Chambers & Partners USA ― Listed for Litigation: Medical Malpractice & Insurance and Mainly PlaintiffBenchmark Litigation ― “Litigation Star”AVVO — Rated 10.0 out of 10MEMBERSHIPSMaine Board of Overseers of the Bar, Professional Ethics CommissionMaine State Bar AssociationAmerican Association for Justice (AAJ)American Bar AssociationGovernor, Maine Trial Lawyers AssociationADMISSIONSMaine (2003)U.S. District Court, District of Maine (2010)Vermont (2016)New Hampshire (2010)U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (2002)New York (2000) A Leader at Berman & SimmonsDuring his years at Berman & Simmons, Ben rose from an associate to become an owner and practice leader at the firm. Ben was instrumental in helping the firm re-invent its approach to litigating and trying cases; expanded its areas of practice expertise; and recruited and trained many talented lawyers.During his 17 years at Berman & Simmons, Ben enjoyed many great successes and some disappointing failures, but overall managed to build the most successful plaintiff's personal injury and medical malpractice practice in the State of Maine. Ben achieved success in a broad range of different types of plaintiff's cases—police civil rights, product liability, medical malpractice, nursing home, maritime and industrial accidents.Early in his career, Ben achieved a landmark civil rights verdict against a police officer for violating his client's civil rights with a Taser shooting. The verdict was affirmed on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.In 2014, after 4 ½ year of litigation, Ben achieved a record-setting $22.5 million jury verdict in Burlington, Vermont, on behalf of a utility lineman who lost both of his legs during a high-voltage powerline switching operation.Ben followed his Vermont verdict with a verdict of $1.75 million jury verdict in a medical malpractice trial in Bangor, Maine.More recently, Ben recovered $2.5 million in a medical malpractice case tried to a jury in New Hampshire.Over the past decade, no other plaintiff's lawyer in Maine can match Ben's level of success on behalf of his clients, which include:Recovering more than $130 million in verdicts and settlementsAchieving 31 verdicts or settlements in excess of $ 1 millionRecovering more than $50 million for the victims of medical malpracticeRecovering tens of millions of dollars for victims of car and trucking accidents.Recovering more than $11 million in actions against major automobile manufacturers, including Toyota, Hyundai, and Fiat ChryslerRecovering more than $15 million from power and electrical utility companiesRecovering millions of dollars for families of the victims of the El Faro maritime disasterRecovering more than $5 million from 3 trials and several settlements of medical malpractice and personal injury against the U.S. GovernmentRecovering millions of dollars for victims of nursing home negligence and abuseRecovering millions of dollars for victims of dangerous and defective productsPeer RecognitionBen's accomplishments, professionalism and character have won him the recognition of his peers. Ben has been named in Best Lawyers in America every year since 2013 and was named “Lawyer of the Year” for the State of Maine twice. Ben has been listed in Super Lawyers every year since 2013. He has received the top rating of “AV Preeminent” from Martindale-Hubbell and has a 10.0 out 10 rating on AVVO.In 2019, Ben became only the second lawyer in Maine to be inducted into the Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation-only group of the best 100 plaintiff lawyers in the United States.Here is how the Inner Circle describes its criteria for membership:Membership CriteriaMembership in The Inner Circle of Advocates is by invitation and based on criteria that include an applicant's performance and success in the courtroom. The Inner Circle carefully evaluates experience, reputation, judicial references, and peer evaluations to identify the best 100 trial lawyers in the country. Typically, applicants are expected to have at least three verdicts of one million dollars or a recent verdict in excess of ten million dollars to be considered for membership. The Inner Circle looks for cutting edge lawyers in their jurisdiction who are active courtroom lawyers with a willingness to learn and teach about our craft and to be part of a close-knit, sharing group of professional colleagues. Membership in The Inner Circle of Advocates is not just an accolade, it is a commitment to participate in a unique laboratory of professional advancement.In 2020, Ben was inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), an invitation-only group limited to the top 1% of lawyers. Here is how ACTL describes the qualifications required for membership:Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province.Founding Gideon Asen LLCAfter 17 years at Berman & Simmons, in November 2020, Ben decided to leave one firm he loved and had helped to build, to form a new law firm, Gideon Asen LLC.“I was very proud of everything we accomplished at Berman & Simmons,” Ben said, “but I was excited by the challenge of building a new firm that could be even better.”Ben's first step was to recruit Taylor Asen to join him.“Taylor and I have a common mission,” Ben said. “Although we're separated by 12 years, Taylor also attended Yale Law School and completed prestigious Federal clerkships. He's insanely smart.”“But perhaps more important, Taylor and I share a common vision of a plaintiff's law firm where clients have access to exceptional lawyers and service. We are both supremely competitive and don't tolerate mediocrity. We believe we owe it to our clients to give them the very best, and that is what Gideon Asen will provide.”Podcast, Writing and TeachingBen enjoys thinking about the practice of trial law and strategies for success and is a frequent writer and speaker on trial topics.Ben co-hosts a podcast called Elawvate! which focuses on the human factors and guiding principles that drive successful lawyers and law firms.Personal Life and InterestsBen lives in Freeport, Maine, with his wife, Sara Gideon, and three children, Julian, Aleksandr, and Anna Josephine. Sara is a former two-term Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives and was the 2020 Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine. When Ben is not practicing law, he enjoys skiing at Sugarloaf, fishing in Casco Bay, hiking, canoeing, traveling and just spending time with his family.

Tampa Florida trial lawyer Steve Yerrid has done it all.  He was a boxer in his youth and a fighter for justice in his career as a trial lawyer.  Steve was the youngest member of the Tobacco “Dream Team,” which secured a $17 billion settlement from Big Tobacco and numerous changes in their business practices which have saved thousands of lives.  Steve has many record setting jury verdicts.  He has served as personal counsel to NY Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner.  And he has given back to his community through his Yerrid Foundation.  Steve has authored several books and has frequently spoken on the topic of what separates those would achieve greatness (i.e., those who have “it”) from everyone else.  Join Rahul and Ben for their fascinating conversation with Steve as he shares aspects of his incredible career and things that have shaped his approach to trying cases and success in life. About Steve Yerridhttps://www.yerridlaw.com/attorneys/c-steven-yerrid/In a city like Tampa, Florida, a coastal metropolis steeped in history, the list of well-known names and larger-than-life personalities is rich and lengthy, but few names resonate with the same renown as Steve Yerrid.Yerrid, a trail-blazing trial lawyer for more than 45 years, has built a legacy that continues to evolve, fueled by a relentless desire to help as many people as possible, whether seeking and securing justice on their behalf in the courtroom or selflessly devoting his time and donating a substantial portion of his accumulated wealth to bettering the world around him. In an age where importance and social impact are measured by likes and subscribers, instead of hard work and good deeds, Steve remains a practitioner of the old ways, always leading by example and putting the needs of others first. Whether meeting each client of his firm personally or taking time to deliver much needed food to the area's most vulnerable and less fortunate, he is and has always been one-of-a-kind, a determined legal and social warrior the likes of which are a rarity in today's world.Yerrid has experienced a career of noteworthy achievements, including over 300 verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more for individuals and the families of those injured or killed by the wrongdoing of others. Among those was a jury verdict of $217 million, the largest medical malpractice award in Florida's history, and the nation's largest verdict in 2006. In 2009, he again obtained the country's largest verdict rendered in a wrongful death case that year, with a jury award of $330 million. When he was just 30 years old, Yerrid received international recognition in one of the world's largest maritime tragedies. In utilizing a rare “Act of God” defense, he was able to secure the complete exoneration of Captain John Lerro, the accused pilot in command of a large 608-foot bulk freighter which, during an unpredicted storm packing hurricane force winds, was blown off course and struck the mammoth Sunshine Skyway Bridge, collapsing its center span and tragically claiming 35 innocent lives.  Not a decade has passed that Steve has not left an indelible mark. In 2010, confronted by one of the largest environmental catastrophes in history, then-Governor Charlie Crist appointed him as Special Counsel regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster and its aftermath. Yerrid gave his time, costs, and efforts for nearly a year to the people of Florida as a public service. As a result, The Florida Justice Association presented him with the Outstanding Pro Bono Award, a special recognition given only every several years. Yerrid also was retained by the City of Tampa to hold BP responsible for the economic damages it sustained as a result of that disaster. He successfully obtained a $27.5 million settlement in July 2015. It was the largest recovery paid to any municipality by British Petroleum. In the 1990's, as the youngest lawyer appointed by the late Governor Lawton Chiles to an 11-member “Dream Team” of private lawyers, Steve undertook a leading role in Florida's landmark lawsuit against the previously unbeaten cigarette industry. The case resulted in the biggest monetary settlement that had occurred in U.S. history, ultimately topping $17 billion. In addition, he and the Dream Team members succeeded in obtaining unprecedented advertising concessions that permanently prevented marketing aimed at children, eliminated cigarette billboards, vending machines, Joe Camel, the Marlboro Man, and established youth tobacco prevention programs across the United States. As a result of his success, tenacity and integrity, Steve has long been sought out to take on important and precedent-setting cases. He was honored to be appointed as Special Counsel to the Office of the Chief Judge (13th Judicial Circuit) and the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges. In representing Florida's entire judiciary, he successfully argued before the Florida Supreme Court and protected state judges and staff from public disclosure of confidential records and internal communications within the court system. Yerrid is a lifetime member of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates, an “invitation only” organization whose membership consists of the top 100 trial lawyers in the United States. He is a past recipient of the Perry Nichols Award, bestowed by the Florida Justice Association (FJA) as its highest honor in recognition of a lifelong pursuit of justice, and in 2013, he received the Excalibur Award for exemplifying leadership and commitment at the highest level of Florida's civil justice system, an honor bestowed on only four Florida trial lawyers. In 2016, he was voted into the National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame. Steve also is the recipient of several FJA Eagle Awards (Gold, Silver and Crystal), including recognition as the first donor to achieve the $1 million-dollar-level of giving to the FJA's educational efforts designed to protect and improve the American system of justice; currently serves as a Distinguished Fellow in the FJA; has been named Top Lawyer in the Nation by Lawyers USA; was selected by the National Law Journal as a top ten litigator; honored by the American Board of Trial Advocates a Diplomate as well as Trial Lawyer of the Year (Tampa Bay); and the recipient of numerous other honors and recognitions through his career too numerous to specifically reference. He has been continuously listed in Best Lawyer in America over the last five decades. Steve Yerrid, a Georgetown University Law Center graduate has long been one of the country's top catastrophic injury and wrongful death trial attorneys, having secured over 300 verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more.  This year the jury awarded $15 million in damages to each parent for mental anguish, plus burial expenses of $7,502.00. The verdict total was $30,007,502.00.  In 2006 - A $217 million verdict was obtained for the client and his family. It is the largest medical malpractice verdict in Florida's history, and the top national jury verdict of its kind in 2006.  1990s, Mr. Yerrid was selected by the late Gov. Lawton Chiles as the youngest member of the 11-member “Dream Team” of private trial lawyers. He took a leading role in Florida's landmark lawsuit against the previously unbeaten cigarette industry. The case resulted in the biggest monetary settlement in the nation's history at the time, ultimately topping $17 billion.  The mantra that everyone should have a shot at happiness, success and living the American dream led to the formation of The Yerrid Foundation almost four decades ago.   The self-funded family foundation has made significant donations to more than 700 causes and charitable organizations locally, nationally, and even internationally, with an emphasis on children's issues, pediatric cancer research, the welfare of veterans, and domestic abuse victims.

Join Ben and Rahul for their discussion with Jake and Tor, breaking down the recent 495 million Dollar verdict in a product liability case against Abbott Laboratories for pre-term infant formula that increases the risks for developing necrotizing enterocolitis. Hear how Jake and Tor navigated this difficult case and won this epic battle. About Jacob Plattenbergerhttps://www.torhoermanlaw.com/team/jake-plattenberger/Jacob Plattenberger has taken hundreds of depositions, argued in countless hearings, and tried over 35 cases to a jury.His experience in and out of the courtroom has made him a passionate advocate for those injured due to the negligence of others.Jake started his career trying cases at one of the busiest civil courthouses in the country – the Richard J. Daley Center in downtown Chicago.He started out doing insurance defense because he knew that afforded him the best opportunity to get courtroom experience.“When I was working on the defense side, I always knew that I was going to be a plaintiff's lawyer. I knew that being able and willing to try a case to a jury was a skill that I needed to have if I was going to be able to offer my clients the best legal representation. Insurance companies and corporate defendants need to believe you when you say you will take them to trial – they need to fear that.”This type of real trial experience is exceedingly rare in complex civil litigation and having seen it from the defense side gives Jake an added advantage.At TorHoerman Law, Jake manages our Chicago office where he leads trial teams in nationwide, complex litigations such as:Representing dozens of workers across the United States who were exposed to Diacetyl at work and now suffer lung diseaseeg. The Juul/E-cigarette LitigationThe Incretin Mimetics Products Liability Litigation, currently pending in the Southern District of California, where he was named to the Plaintiff's Steering CommitteeVarious Transvaginal Mesh multidistrict litigations that are currently pendingJake also maintains a personal injury practice in Chicago, representing people and their families who have been victims of catastrophic auto and truck accidents, products liability, maritime accidents, premises liability, and medical negligence.Jake believes that to successfully represent his clients, it is absolutely necessary to get personally involved.Jake's quote below perfectly reflects that belief! Notable Cases & ResultsIncretin Mimetics – Products Liability Litigation, MDL Case No. 13MD2452 AJB (MDD). Appointed to the Plaintiff's Steering Committee by Judge Battaglia in the MDL. The case is pending.JUUL E-Cigarettes – Products Liability Litigation, JCCP No. 5052. Appointed to the Plaintiff's Steering Committee by Judge Anne Jones in the JCCP. The case is pending.Diacetyl – Leads the Diacetyl litigation for TorHoerman Law. Previous settlements and verdicts have exceeded $5,000,000.00 to date. Litigation is currently ongoing.Actos Related Cases, MDL Case No. 11 L 10011, Et. Al. – Actively participated in managing the case for TorHoerman Law which resulted in a $2.4 billion settlement.Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents Litigation Case No. 279 and Products Liability Litigation MDL No. 1909 – Managed the cases for TorHoerman Law which resulted in a large, confidential settlement.Bus Accident – Handled a bus accident injury case in which an individual was thrown from a seat. Resulted in a $850,000.00 settlement.Auto Accident – Handled an auto accident injury case that resulted in a $650,000.00 settlement.Slip and Fall – Handled a slip and fall accident that occurred on a sightseeing boat in Chicago. Resulted in a $490,000.00 settlement. Personal LifeJake was born and raised in Chicago.He now lives in the Chicago suburbs, where his two young sons keep him busy.When he isn't working, Jake is a lifelong Bears and Cubs fan and loves participating in the (mostly) healthy rivalry between the Cubs and Cardinals fans at TorHoerman Law.   About Tor Hoermanhttps://www.torhoermanlaw.com/team/tor-hoerman/Tor Hoerman is a nationally recognized attorney who has served in the field for more than 25 years.He is most well-known as the founder of the personal injury law firm TorHoerman Law, LLC (THL). Early Life & EducationTor was born the youngest of four boys on July 16, 1969, in Bethesda, Maryland to Kirk and Greta Hoerman.With his father serving as a Captain in the Navy, Tor often moved towns during his childhood, eventually landing in the Chicago metropolitan area.In Chicago, Tor lived in the Great Lakes Naval Base and Lake Bluff before his family settled in Lake Forest, which is where he attended high school.Despite repeatedly switching homes, Tor made the most of his situation.In high school, he played football, basketball, and baseball, and he earned varsity letters in each of these sports.In addition to varsity recognition, he was recognized as an All-county athlete and awarded the Booster Club Athlete of the Year his senior year.Outside of sports, Tor coached little league baseball, served as a summer camp counselor, and worked as a summertime janitor at his former high school after graduating.Tor attended Depauw University and majored in Political Science.He played NCAA baseball and football at Depauw, and he was the captain of the baseball team.After graduating from Depauw in 1991, Tor enrolled in the Chicago-Kent College of Law.During law school, Tor bartended at a local bar and clerked for Kravolec, Jambois & Schwartz, LLC. Legal CareerAfter graduating from law school in 1995, Tor took on a job doing insurance defense at Bolero, Cart & Stone, LLC, where he worked reluctantly for a year and a half.One day at work, Tor received a phone call from Steve Jambois, his former employer throughout law school, asking if he wanted a job on the plaintiff's side of insurance law.Tor immediately accepted the job, kickstarting decades to come of fighting corporations on behalf of harmed individuals.Tor's Transition to Medical Malpractice LitigationTor returned to Kravolec, Jambois & Schwartz to fight on behalf of medical malpractice victims, which mostly consisted of high-intensity trial work in the Chicago courthouse.After seven years at the Jambois firm, Hoeman was recruited by the Simmons law firm, based in an Illinois suburb of St. Louis, to start and lead a branch of the practice that focused on pharmaceutical litigation.Leading the Pharmaceutical Practice at Simmons Law FirmTor became a partner of what is now Simmons, Hanly, and Conroy and led the pharmaceutical practice for seven years.One of Tor most notable achievements while leading the practice was his work against Purdue Pharma and its reckless distribution of OxyContin.Tor was the first to file a case alleging Purdue Pharma's wrongdoing in distributing OxyContin and failing to adequately warn healthcare providers and the public of the risks of addiction.Achieving Justice Against Purdue PharmaHe led the litigation process and got Purdue Pharma to agree to a large settlement, which was distributed to thousands of accidental addicts.Tor took a step further to achieve justice in this case, assisting the Department of Justice in obtaining guilty pleas by Purdue Pharma representatives who had a direct role in contributing to the opioid epidemic. Founding TorHoerman LawHaving garnered success leading the pharmaceutical branch at the Simmons firm, Tor amicably decided to split from Simmons in 2009 and start his own pharmaceutical and personal injury practice called TorHoerman Law, LLC (THL).After negotiating the terms of the split, Tor struck a deal that allowed him to bring his entire staff from Simmons to his new practice, which summed up to more than 25 lawyers and staff members.Expansion and Success of THLTor opened offices in Edwardsville, IL; Clayton, MO; and Chicago, IL to kickstart operations; all three offices remain open today.In the time since opening THL, Tor and his team have litigated many pharmaceutical malpractice and personal injury cases.Notable Successes at THLTor's most notable successes while operating THL are perhaps co-leading the litigations against Boehringer Ingelheim's Pradaxa and Takeda's Actos.Through intense research and vetting, Tor was able to find substantial evidence indicating Actos causes bladder cancer and Pradaxa causes internal bleeding.He then presented the evidence to the companies, which decided to settle the cases.Tor played a significant role in negotiating these settlements, which ended up being $650 million for Pradaxa and $2.4 billion for Actos.Tor has also had major success in several other product liability lawsuits, such as Zelnorm, Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents, and Incretin Mimetics.We've outlined these cases, a few other notable cases, and their correlating results in the section below.Recognition & AwardsHis successes with these cases and beyond earned him the distinction as a Top 25 Notable Alumni from the Chicago-Kent School of Law, which was awarded to him and 24 other lawyers out of the tens of thousands who have graduated from the school since its founding in 1888.Tor is also recognized as a Top 100 National Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Organization. Notable Cases & ResultsPradaxa (Dabigatran Etexilate) – Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2385 – Appointed by Judge Herndon as national lead counsel in the MDL. After protracted litigation successfully negotiated a $650 million settlement.Actos Related Cases, MDL Case No. 11 L 10011, Et. Al. – Appointed by Judge Dooling as lead counsel in Cook County consolidated docket (over 4400 cases). After protracted litigation, he was one of four lead negotiators (along with Pete Flowers, Mark Lanier, and Andy Birchfield) on a $2.4 billion settlement.Incretin Mimetics Products Liability Litigation, MDL Case No. 13MD2452 AJB (MDD) – Appointed as lead counsel by Judge Battaglia in the MDL. The case is pending.OxyContin – Represented thousands of “accidental addicts”. After protracted litigation, he negotiated a large settlement and assisted the DOJ in obtaining guilty pleas by corporate representatives.Zelnorm Litigation., Case No. 280 – Appointed lead counsel in NJ state court consolidation, took the major depositions and negotiated a confidential settlement.Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents Litigation Case No. 279 and Products Liability Litigation MDL No. 1909 – Appointed by Judge Polster as both the state and federal liaison and lead counsel in the Cook County consolidated docket. He negotiated large, confidential, individual settlements. Involvement in the Legal CommunityIn addition to his litigation work, Tor is on the Board of Managers of the Illinois Trial Lawyer Association and an Executive Board Member of the Mass Torts Trial Lawyer Association.He also attends national legal conferences on a yearly basis. Personal LifePersonally, Tor is the proud father of Casey, Kirsten and Quinn, and husband of Jessica.He tries to stay active, including still playing baseball.

Join Ben for his conversation with Dylan Ruga, trial lawyer and co-founder and President of Steno, a long-time sponsor of the pod.  Dylan updates us on the new functionality and services offered by his innovative court reporting service, Steno.  Steno allows plaintiff attorneys to defer costs of court reporting and videographer services until the end of the case.  In states that allow it, these deferred costs can be non-recourse.  Steno now operates through the Zoom platform but offers an app that integrates with Zoom and makes collating, marking, annotating, and saving exhibits at depositions seamless.  Steno also offers videographer services that enable recording of the witness and exhibits and post-production editing so that witnesses and exhibits can be presented in optimal fashion without requiring substantial attorney time or other vendor for editing.  Dylan also discusses the roll out of a new product, Transcript Genius, which uses AI that has been specifically training to understand and interpret deposition transcripts to enable lawyers to query one or multiple transcripts to quickly identify key admissions, information, or contradictions in witness testimony.  If you are a trial lawyer who handles a volume of depositions, you will gain a lot of insight and value from this episode. Dylan is the Co-Founder, President and Chief Legal Officer at Steno, where he stewards business development initiatives and forges new partnerships. Dylan is also a founding member of Stalwart Law Group, recognized as one of California's top 20 litigation boutiques. He is a practicing trial lawyer with more than 15 years of experience in intellectual property, professional liability, and commercial litigation.

Join Ben and Rahul for their interview of famed Los Angeles trial lawyer, Arash Homampour. Arash has perfected the ability to trial difficult liability and damages cases to outlier high verdicts. Arash explains how he channels his innate connection with his clients and abilities as a trial lawyer to achieve these results. Arash discusses his upbringing as the child of first-generation Iranian immigrants and how he went from failing the bar examination to being one of the most accomplished and successful trial lawyers in California and the United States. You don't want to miss this episode!  About Arash Homampourhttps://www.homampour.com/ Arash Homampour Has Obtained Over $1 Billion Dollars in Settlements, Verdicts and Judgments for His Clients.He is a trial attorney who in the last five years alone has obtained many successful trial results (ranging from $2.5 million to $60 million) against Sunbeam Products, the State of California, Costco Stores, Farmers Insurance Exchange, Allstate Insurance, and Louisville Ladder in a wide array of cases involving dangerous roads, dangerous ladders, dangerous premises, and unlawful employment practices.In 2023, he has been named one of Daily Journal's Top Plaintiff Lawyers In California.In 2023, he has been named one of Daily Journal's Top 100 Lawyers In California.In 2023, he has been named one of the Top 10 Southern California Super Lawyers, 3 consecutive years.In 2023, he has been named the Best Lawyers® 2023 Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year” in Los Angeles.In 2023, he has been recognized by the Los Angeles Times as a legal visionary.In 2022, Homampour Law Firm was honored to be one of Top Verdict's Top 10 Verdicts in California.In 2002, Homampour Law Firm was honored to be one of Top Verdict's Top 20 Verdicts in California.In 2022, Homampour Law Firm was honored to be one of CVN's Top 10 Most Impressive Plaintiff Verdicts of the year.In 2022, he recovered a verdict of $60 million.In 2022, he recovered a verdict of $34 million.In 2022, he recovered a verdict of $36 million (wrongful death)In 2022, he recovered a settlement of $23 million (dangerous condition of public property)In 2022, he recovered a settlement of $15.92 million (dangerous condition of public property)In 2022, he recovered a settlement of $10 million (dangerous condition of public property)  In 2022, he recovered a settlement of $8 million (dangerous condition of public property) In 2022, he has been named one of the Top 10 Southern California Super Lawyers.In 2022, he has been named one of Law360°'s Titans Of The Plaintiffs Bar.In 2021, he recovered settlements of $24 million (dangerous condition of public property) and $8 million (dangerous condition of public property)In 2021, he has been named one of the Top 10 Southern California Super Lawyers.In 2021, he has become an Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor.In 2020, he recovered verdicts of $32 million (single plaintiff settlement premise and product liability case), $5.3 million (confidential settlement) and $5 million (disputed policy limits settlement).In 2019, he recovered a verdict of $30 million (wrongful death of driver that hit improperly parked truck), $12 million (wrongful death) and $5 million (liability and damages settlement)In 2018, he received the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA's) Ted Horn Memorial Award presented to the lawyer who has provided outstanding service to the Association and the legal community.In 2018, he received the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association Top Gun/Trial Lawyer of the Year award in Products Liability.In 2018, he recovered verdicts of $12.25 million (wrongful death of man at swap meet) and $10 million (fatal vehicle versus motorcycle) and was named in the Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers for the 7th year in a row.In 2017, he recovered settlements & verdicts of $14.5 million (insurance bad faith), $14.25 million (wrongful death of a motorcyclist) $4.5 million (auto vs. truck).In 2016, 2018 and 2019, he has been named one of the Top 30 Plaintiff's attorneys in the State by the Daily Journal.In 2016, he was awarded the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association Trial Attorney of the Year award.In 2015, he recovered verdicts of $16.2 million (motorcycle rider suffered a head injury), $5.6 million (wrongful death of 83 year old), $60 million (wrongful death of mother in fire started by a defective space heater),  $14.2 million (dangerous condition wrongful death case for lack of warning signs against Caltrans) and $14 million (bad faith claim against Allstate Insurance Co.).  In 2010, he was named by the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) as its Trial Attorney of the Year. CAALA is the largest plaintiff attorney group in the country.In 2007, he was named one of the Top 20 Attorneys Under the Age of 40 in the State of California by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. Every year since 2004, he has received nominations for Trial Attorney of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys of California and/or CAALA.Since 2005, he has been designated a Super Lawyer by Los Angeles Magazine and Law & Politics.Since 2010, he has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers which is based on the lawyers who received the highest point totals in the Southern California nomination, research and blue ribbon review process.He has also successfully briefed and argued many appeals, including a recent California Supreme Court victory in Cortez v. Abich (2011) 51 Cal. 4th 285.Arash frequently lectures throughout the state on all matters related to trial practice and has published many articles. You can find copies of those articles or videos of his presentations at www.caala.org or www.caoc.org Areas of PracticeLitigationInsurance Bad FaithPersonal InjuryEmploymentBusiness Litigation Percentage100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation Bar AdmissionsCalifornia, 1993U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1993 EducationSouthwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California, Los Angeles, CaliforniaB.S., Bachelor of Science – June, 1989Major: Economics/Finance

Join Ben for this conversation with John and Johnny Simon and Tim Cronin of the Simon Law Firm.  This episode covers discussion of two fascinating recent cases in which the Simon firm obtained more than $ 1 billion in combined verdicts on behalf of a client killed by a driver high on nitrous oxide and a rape victim in a psychiatric hospital.  Learn about John, Johnny and Tim expertly built these cases around themes of corporate malfeasance, greed, neglect, and punitive damages.  Both verdicts are huge landmark accomplishments that will create positive change for society. The Simon Law Firm, P.C. | Over $1 Billion Won (simonlawpc.com) About John SimonJohn G. Simon's work as Managing Partner at the firm has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars for past clients. Well-respected in his field, John's career includes several published works, frequent community involvement, and the role of adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of LawFor 30 years, John Simon has devoted himself to fighting for the victims of negligence in St. Louis and across the nation. Because of his unparalleled skill and belief in the power of the law, John has secured over 150 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million or more for his clients.John's practice is among the most accomplished in the nation:He has secured over 150 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million each.He has obtained more than 15 verdicts/settlements over $10 million.He has secured more than 25 verdicts/settlements over $5 million.Fighting for Plaintiffs Across the United States John's conviction and passion for the law form the cornerstone of our practice. His belief in the power of hard work, persistence, and dedication allows him and his fellow attorneys to achieve incredible results. Above all, he knows that a group of committed individuals working together can accomplish great things—that's the heart of his firm. About Johnny SimonBy joining The Simon Law Firm, P.C. in 2015, Johnny continues a proud tradition of excellence in the art of advocacy on behalf of people and businesses in need. A tradition that was established by his father—a tradition he intends to uphold.Ask Johnny Simon, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, what he does for a living, and he will tell you very simply: a trial lawyer. Trying cases to juries, to verdict, is what he does. Practicing law, he will tell you, is not job, but a vocation—a privilege that he takes very seriously. Johnny focuses his practice on a diverse array of personal injury cases, including litigating cases involving defective products and product liability issues, medical malpractice claims, 1983 excessive force cases, and trucking/auto accidents, business litigation, and consumer fraud. Johnny graduated from Marquette University obtaining a degree in business, finance, and economics. He obtained a law degree from Boston College law school.Johnny has litigated against some of the largest companies and hospital systems in the country. He is proud to represent clients from in need of top-notch legal representation and knows that he has the resources and experience to even the odds. He has tried cases in state, federal, and appellate courts across the country. With every case, Johnny brings the same tenacity and drive in order to achieve the best results for his clients. He is always eager to tell the story of his clients to a jury, members of the community, and expose improper and unlawful conduct which caused devastating and life altering injuries.Outside of the Courtroom, Johnny is a husband, father, son, brother, and nephew. His hobby: thinking of ways to make a client's case better. About Timothy CroninTim Cronin is a skilled and experienced personal injury trial attorney, including product liability, medical malpractice, premises liability, and trucking litigation, serving clients nationwide from our St. Louis office. He has recovered over 750 million dollars for injury victims, received numerous legal accolades, and offers compassionate counsel to his clients.Timothy M. Cronin is a skilled trial attorney that focuses his practice on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, premises liability and trucking litigation involving catastrophic injuries or death.Tim devotes himself to uncovering wrongdoing and seeking justice for his clients. His goal in every case is to help repair the lives of his clients that have been devastated by the reckless conduct of others, to do everything possible to ensure it never happens again to anyone else, and to make the litigation process as easy and stress-free for his clients as possible. He has tried many cases, and prepared countless others that settled on the courthouse steps. Tim has obtained verdicts exceeding ten million dollars on four separate occasions, along with a recent $535 million verdict that is the largest in Illinois state history for a single plaintiff. He has also obtained settlements or verdicts exceeding a million dollars for his clients on nearly fifty separate occasions, recovering in excess of four million dollars or more on over half of those cases. 

When Conal Doyle started his plaintiff's practice, he faced long odds and daunting obstacles.  But as one born without one of his legs who went on to become a ski racer, long odds and obstacles were nothing new to Conal.  Join Ben and Rahul for their discussion with Conal about how he bet on himself and his clients time and again, achieved monumental verdicts and changes to the legal system on his way to becoming one of California's most successful trial lawyers.     About Conal Doylehttps://conaldoylelaw.com/ Conal Doyle is an award-winning trial lawyer who has received national recognition for his courtroom victories that have had broad reaching impact on society. He is one of the few attorneys in history to argue before the United States Supreme Court and obtain multiple seven and eight figure jury verdicts.His international human rights victory in Castaneda v. United States was a catalyst for the reform of the United States immigration healthcare system, and garnered widespread acclaim from his peers, legal publications and the international media.For example, he received the 2012 California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) Award in Human Rights, and the 2011 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA). He has been listed in both Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers for the past ten consecutive years, and his courtroom victories have been chronicled in newspapers around the world, including a piece on the CBS news magazine “60 Minutes.”Conal's reputation as one of the finest trial attorneys in America was further cemented with two stunning back-to-back verdicts in Kern County, California, one of California's most “conservative” jurisdictions.In December 2013, Conal obtained as lead trial counsel a $26.8 million medical malpractice jury verdict in McKnight v. Spain. This result was the largest medical malpractice verdict in County history and was recognized by The Daily Journal as a Top 10 Verdict in California for 2013. The National Law Journal recognized the verdict as a Top 100 Verdict nationally and the Consumer Attorneys Association of California (CAOC) named him a Finalist for the 2014 Consumer Attorney of the Year Award. The highest pre-trial offer by the defense was $300,000.In March 2014, Conal obtained as lead trial counsel a $3.8 million jury verdict in Doe v. Jack In The Box. In this premises liability case, the highest pre-trial offer was $200,000.The foundation of this success is a passion for justice and a commitment to client service. Conal was born without his right leg, and like many of his clients, has overcome great obstacles and endured daily struggles. These experiences provide him a unique insight into his clients' challenges and help him guide his clients through difficult times.Conal's personal experience has led him to focus on the representation of amputees in both first party bad faith and personal injury claims.  The Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) honored Conal as the 2020 Street Fighter of the Year for his work on behalf of amputees in Trujillo v. United Healthcare, a national ERISA health insurance class action.  The case required the nation's largest health insurer to change its claims practices and reprocess claims related to the denial of prosthetic devices to amputees.  Conal is also prosecuting two other class actions for wrongful denial of prosthetics-against Anthem and Blue Shield of California, among numerous individual bad faith claims for wrongful denial of prosthetics.Conal is well known as an advocate for amputees in injury and bad faith insurance claims. His article, “Glimpsing the Future for an Amputee,” is used as a guide for litigating limb loss cases by attorneys across the country.Conal has never backed down from a challenge or started a fight that he couldn't finish. When he isn't challenging corporate giants in the courtroom, Conal enjoys skiing the Rockies, a remnant from his past as an alpine ski racer. Honors & Awards2020 Consumer Attorneys Association of California (CAOC) Street Fighter of the Year Award2014 Finalist-Consumer Attorney of the Year-Consumer Attorneys Association of California (CAOC)The National Law Journal Top 100 Verdicts, 2013The Daily Journal Top 10 Verdicts, 20132012 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award2011 Trial Lawyer of the Year-Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA)2011 Attorney of the Year-The RecorderThe Best Lawyers in America, 2012 – PresentFinalist-2011 CAOC Consumer Attorney of the Year2011 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in AmericaThe National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100, 2008 – PresentThe Daily Journal – Top 20 Under 40 in California, 2010Super Lawyers-Southern California Superlawyer, 2012 – PresentThe Daily Journal – Top 10 Verdicts, 2010Martindale Hubbell – AV Rating, 2007 – PresentSan Francisco Trial Lawyers Association – 2011 Civil Justice AwardThe National Law Journal-Appellate Lawyer of the Week, 20102011 Public Justice Achievement Award-Public Justice Foundation Public ServiceConal devotes a significant portion of his practice to public interest work and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Justice Foundation, a non-profit public interest law firm. Mr. Doyle frequently acts as “lead cooperating counsel” on cases with Public Justice, where he donates a portion of his fees as a pro bono contribution to the organization. Prior Work HistoryConal comes from a “big firm” background, where he served as a trial attorney for six years at one of Florida's largest and most respected law firms. Conal won his first federal jury trial in a civil rights excessive force case at age twenty-seven. By age thirty-one, he was lead trial counsel of an eleven-hundred-member law enforcement agency, where he litigated civil rights, torts, class actions, and employment cases.Conal participated in a dozen jury trials as a defense attorney, winning eleven of them. His jury trial experience includes cases involving medical malpractice, breach of contract, insurance coverage, premises liability, negligent security, 42 U.S.C. 1983 civil rights violations, excessive force, false arrest, automobile negligence, traumatic brain injury, wrongful death, and employment law. PersonalMr. Doyle is a right leg amputee. He is an avid alpine skier and has competed in Giant Slalom and Slalom alpine races against the best disabled athletes in the world, including the U.S. Ski Team, Canadian Ski Team, and Australian Ski Team. He is a former member of the Board of Directors (1998-2002) of Self-Reliance, Inc. and is active in community efforts to improve the lifestyles of Americans with disabilities. He regularly draws on his unique life experiences in representing clients who have sustained significant injuries or have suffered discrimination due to their disabilities. Public SpeakingMr. Doyle is a frequent lecturer and author on the topics of civil trial practice, civil rights, and personal injury litigation at law schools, Continuing Legal Education seminars, and the FBI NAA National Convention, where he has been recognized as an expert in civil rights litigation. He has also been quoted and featured frequently in national newspapers, radio, and television regarding constitutional law issues and civil rights. Bar AdmissionsCalifornia, 2003Florida, 1997New York, 2006District of Columbia, 2006U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Court of Appeals 11th CircuitU.S. Court of Appeals 9th CircuitU.S. District Court Central District of CaliforniaU.S. District Court Middle District of FloridaU.S. District Court Eastern District of CaliforniaU.S. District Court Southern District of CaliforniaU.S. District Court Northern District of California EducationFlorida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, FloridaJuris Doctor cum laude – May 1997Book Awards: Trial Practice, Litigation SeminarFlorida House of Representatives-Legislative Internship/ScholarshipFlorida Bar Scholarship-Top 10 Law Students in State 1996Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, FloridaFirst Year of Law School – 1994Class Rank: 1/159West's Outstanding Scholar Award-#1 ranked first year law studentBook Award-TortsBook Award-Civil ProcedureBook Award-Criminal LawEckerd College, St. Petersburg, FloridaB.A. – 1993

Before he became a trial lawyer, Colorado lawyer Kurt Zaner wanted to be an actor. But rather than just play a role, Kurt decided that he wanted to be a real-world champion and decided to become a trial lawyer. Now, Kurt applies lessons about presence, storytelling and drama from the stage to help achieve landmark verdicts for his clients. Join Ben for his wide-ranging discussion with Kurt that covers how a trial lawyer can use acting skills to enhance courtroom impact; strategies that have enabled Kurt to achieve several eight-figure verdicts against considerable odds; and even what modern day lawyers can learn from reading Cicero. About Kurt Zanerhttps://zanerhardenlaw.com/ Kurt Zaner has dedicated his legal career to representing folks against the modern-day Goliaths. In battling corporations that refuse to take responsibility, Kurt enjoys the challenge of standing up for people that seemingly have the odds overwhelmingly stacked against them.A sought-after national speaker, Kurt frequently lectures on his winning trial techniques, effective legal writing strategies, and iconic discovery tactics that force top-value settlements.  Kurt has secured the largest premises liability verdict in the history of Colorado ($16,000,000.00).He has appeared on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and every local media outlet including the Denver Post and local CBS, ABC, and Fox affiliates.  He is a published author of Federal and State case law, including Colorado law establishing the right to punitive damages for victims of drunk drivers; he also authored legal articles on distracted driving as well as articles on ancient Roman trial methods.As a trained stage actor, Kurt credits much of his trial success to his theatrical training in college and in Los Angeles prior to law school.After graduating law school near the top of his class and receiving the American Bar Association's and American Law Institute's Best Graduate Award – awarded to the one student of the graduating class who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership – Kurt went on to clerk for United States District Judge Ken Marra.Working side by side with a Federal Judge on one of the largest caseloads in the country, Kurt learned the art of persuasive advocacy both through legal writing and courtroom theatrics.Most importantly, he learned how cases are won from behind the bench.Prior to co-founding Zaner Harden Law, LLP, Kurt practiced with some of the best-known trial lawyers in the country.  Kurt has successfully represented hundreds of clients across the State of Colorado, trying and winning cases at every level of Colorado State Court, including several million and multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements.In 2017 he and his partner were recognized as having two of the largest verdicts of the year across all practice areas, including a 1,700,000.00 verdict against an oil company's distracted driver as well as a $2,500,000 verdict against a drunk driver that killed his client's son and then fled the scene.This drunk driving verdict landed on the front page of the Denver Post as the community was fed up with these kinds of reckless drivers avoiding accountability by running away.Kurt defended this verdict all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court. In 2018, Kurt secured the largest premises liability verdict in the history of Colorado – $16,000,000.00 in Boulder for a father of three who was diagnosed with the crippling neurological condition CRPS after a temporary electrical box exploded.A few years later, Kurt secured a verdict on another electrocution case where his client also developed CRPS, with a Denver jury delivering a $10,600,000.00 verdict (with interest).  A year after that, Kurt secured a $4,300,000.00 verdict for a client hurt in a trucking crash.No matter how big or small the case, Kurt takes great pride in helping those that entrust their most significant legal problems to his law firm.Kurt is very active in the Trial Lawyer community, both locally and nationally. Locally, he was recently elected to the Board of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) for his fifth consecutive year and serves on several committees.Nationally, after serving as President of the New Lawyers Division for the American Association of Justice (the 5,000 member NLD division of the most pre-eminent national trial lawyer organization in the Country), Kurt now serves on the Budget Committee of the entire 20,000-member organization as well as the Board of Governors.He also acts as a certified End Distracted Driving (EndDD Program) presenter, donating his time in high school classrooms in Colorado educating the next generation of drivers on the dangers of distracted driving.Kurt is invited to speak across the country on novel legal strategies and methods that he has developed – techniques that have resulted in unprecedented successful results for his clients.He has been a regular speaker for the American Association of Justice, having spoken in Boston, Palm Springs, Denver, Los Angeles, and Montreal on a variety of topics including trial techniques, writing strategies, and insurance bad faith. He also speaks regularly for Trial Lawyers University (formerly Trojan Horse) as well as The National Trial Lawyers' national trial seminars.On the State level, Mr. Zaner regularly teaches for the Colorado Trial Lawyers at their state convention, statewide CLEs, and for CTLA's new lawyer bootcamps,He has also spoken at several State Seminars around the Country, including the prestigious Arkansas Trial Lawyers College on one of his favorite topics: transplanting 2,000-year-old trial techniques from the Roman trial lawyer Cicero and demonstrating how they can be effective in today's trials.When not practicing law, Mr. Zaner spends much of his time with his wife and two young boys, outdoors in the mountains or on the stage in a local theater production.Licensed in Florida and Colorado. PublicationsWarembourg v. Excel, 471 P.3d 1213 (Co. Ct. App. 2020) – 63-page, 3-0 published opinion that affirmed the firm's record-breaking 16-million-dollar electrocution verdict.  This opinion creates significant new law in the area of spoliation of evidence, setting new standards for when parties must hold onto evidence and how they may be punished if they do not preserve such evidence (blessing an irrebuttable presumption of liability and causation punitive sanction).  Case settled for 15.7 million shortly after this opinion.“Lessons From Cicero” – Good Counsel, April 2017Alhilo v. Kleim, 413 P.3d 902 (Co. Ct. App. 2016), cert denied (Colo. June 26, 2017) – published opinion that affirmed the firm's multi-million dollar motorcycle verdict and created helpful case law for victims of drunk drivers (allowing for prior DUIs to come in as evidence) and for those who have lost loved ones in a wrongful death case (clarifying the damage cap to afford survivors the maximum benefit).Spotlight, “Overcoming Liability Roadblocks in Bicycle Accident Case” American Association for Justice, Trial Edition (July 2015)“Sad But Preventable – a Trial Lawyer's Quest to End Distracted Driving and Save Lives” The Colorado Trial Lawyers' Association publication Trial Talk, Volume 62, Issue 3, April/May 2013 publication at p. 26 (sole author).“Driving While on the Cell Phone; Punitive Damage Awards Should Come Through Loud and Clear” ABA's The Brief, Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. Sec., Summer 2007, Vol. 35, No.4 (co-author), republished in The Colorado Trial Lawyers' Association publication Trial Talk, Volume 62, Issue 3, April/May 2013 publication at p. 41.“National Security Policy and Ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty” 32 Houston Journal of International Law 1 (2009) (contributing author).Vidinliev v. Carey, 581 F.Supp. 2d 1281 (N.D. Ga. 2008) – created federal case law in the area of worker's FLSA rights. Bar LeadershipNATIONALAmerican Association of Justice – Board of Governor, 2018-2020; 2022-2025.American Association of Justice – Executive Committee Member 2019-2020.American Association of Justice – Budget Committee Member 2020-2023American Association of Justice – Elected National President of NLD Division 2016.American Association of Justice – Elected National Vice President of NLD Division 2016.American Association of Justice – Elected National Treasurer of NLD Division 2015.American Association of Justice – Elected National Secretary of NLD Division 2014.American Association of Justice – Appointed Board of Governor on New Lawyers Division, June 2013.American Association of Justice – Appointed Chair of the Publications Committee for the NLD quarterly national publication, the Sidebar, July 2013. STATEColorado Trial Lawyers Association – Elected to serve as Board Member 2016-presentColorado Trial Lawyers Association – Appointed to serve on Executive Committee and Legislative Committee 2016-17, 2021-2022Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Appointed to serve on Board as Board Member 2015-16.Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Appointed Membership Chair November 2012 -2015.Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Appointed New Lawyer Chair November 2013. Community InvolvementActor (Len), A One Night Stand at the Vintage Theater, Don't Throw the Cheese by Mark Ogle.Actor (Reverend Parris), The Crucible at Red Rocks Community Theater.Presenter, End Distracted Driving Campaign; presents programs to high school students to warn them of the dangers of distracted driving.Board of Director, Denver Athletic Club. 

Join Ben and Rahul for their discussion with top Alaska trial lawyer, Meg Simonian.  Meg shares her journey from growing up as one of seven children with parents who did not graduate from high school to attending law school and becoming one of the nation's best trial lawyers.  After graduating from law school, Meg worked as a Federal public defender and then joined the practice of legendary trial lawyer, Rick Friedman.  Meg shares lessons learned during her time working with Rick before leaving to join an Alaska-based medical malpractice firm.  Meg talks about how she has worked to turn bad case facts into good facts that have helped her win and achieve significant verdicts for her deserving clients.   About Meg SimonianDillon Findley & Simonian, P.C. | Anchorage Attorneys Serving Alaska Meg Simonian is one of Alaska's top trial lawyers devoting her practice to representing people who have been injured or wronged. She has obtained several of the largest jury verdicts and settlements in Alaska history in both state and federal court. Meg was born and raised in Anchorage and went to law school because she believed law could be a force of good. After clerking for the Alaska Superior Court, she has been practicing law for over 20 years sharpening her courtroom skills and winning trials as a felony trial lawyer at the Alaska Public Defender Agency and Office of Public Advocacy. Meg started her civil career at Friedman Rubin, representing people harmed by insurance bad faith. Meg's work is focused on medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, complex litigation and representing people who have been injured or need help in their most vulnerable times. She is a relentless advocate who uses her skills in the courtroom, dedication, and creativity to ensure her client's story is told with truth and power. She is one of the few woman lawyers inducted into the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates (an invitation only group of the 100 best trial lawyers in the U.S.). Meg is also recognized by both Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers. She was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court to serve on the Alaska Civil Pattern Jury Instruction Committee. Meg has successfully handled many appeals before the Alaska Supreme Court, including setting important precedent in Knolmayer v. McCollum, and Harrold-Jones v. Drury. When she is not battling in the courtroom, Meg loves to be with her family cooking, traveling, or dragging one of her five kids to hike, ski, or play outside. EducationNortheastern University School of Law, Boston, MassachusettsJ.D. - 1997University of Alaska AnchorageB.A. - 1992Honors: magna cum laudeMajor: English LiteratureMercer Law School, Trial Practice Institute of the National Criminal Defense College2000 Past PositionsAnchorage Superior Court, Law ClerkAlaska Public Defender Agency and Office of Public Advocacy, Felony Trial Lawyer Professional AssociationsAmerican Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Attorneys of America®), 2003 to PresentAnchorage Zoning and Planning Commission, 2005 to 2006Alaska Supreme Court Criminal Rules Advisory Committee, 2002 to 2003Alaska Bar Association, 1999 Practice AreasPlaintiff's Medical MalpracticeSerious Injury or DeathWhite-Collar Criminal Law Bar AdmissionsAlaska, 1999U.S. District Court District of Alaska, 1999

With 37 verdicts of more than a million dollars, few lawyers in America can match the track record of success of New York trial lawyer Judy Livingston.  What's more, many of Judy's verdicts came at a time when few women were trial lawyers.  Join Ben and Rahul for their in-depth interview with Judy in which they explore the sources of the courage and fortitude that fueled her success.  Judy shares accounts of her early trial practice, where she literally had to create a new mold as a woman in the courtroom.  Judy discusses her approach to trying complex medical malpractice cases and connecting with a jury.  She talks about juggling life and the demands of raising a family with a husband who, like her, is a renowned trial lawyer.  If you are a trial lawyer or aspire to be, there is no way you can listen to this episode without feeling inspired.  About Judy LivingstonTop Personal Injury Attorneys | Kramer Dillof Livingston & Moore (kdlm.com) Judith A. Livingston has long been one of the most successful plaintiff's attorneys in the United States. Reserved, methodical and precise, Ms. Livingston has been called “A Legal Legend” by Law Dragon and named one of “The 50 most influential women lawyers in America” by New York magazine. She has been a partner at the law firm of Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore since 1989. Ms. Livingston has won 37 trials with verdicts in excess of $1 million and has negotiated hundreds of settlements that have resulted in payments to her clients of almost a half-billion dollars. She specializes in medical malpractice and personal injury cases. Ms. Livingston is the current President of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation-only group limited to 100 of the best plaintiff lawyers in the United States who possess exceptional qualifications, are experienced and skillful in the handling of courtroom litigation, and who are respected among their peers. She was the first female, and youngest member invited to be a part of this prestigious organization. Judith A. Livingston has the distinction of being named in Best Lawyers magazine for 2011 and 2013 as the New York Medical Malpractice “Lawyer of the Year.” She was cited by the National Law Journal as one of “40 lawyers who have made their mark in the area of health care law,” and she has been listed yearly by New York magazine and Super Lawyers magazine as one of the best lawyers in New York. New York magazine also cited her as one of “the 50 most influential women lawyers in America.” And in every listing, since Lawdragon began recognizing the top 500 lawyers in the United States, Ms. Livingston has been selected as one of the country's top lawyers. In 2022, Judith was inducted into the Maurice A. Deane School of Law Hall of Fame at Hofstra University. Hofstra Law established the Hall of Fame “to honor alumni whose exemplary careers and extraordinary service to the betterment of society have significantly impacted the Hofstra Law community and beyond.” She received the Presidential Medal from Hofstra University and the Fordham Founder's Award in 2014. The former is awarded to “distinguished persons in recognition of outstanding career achievement and professional leadership.” The latter “recognizes individuals whose personal and professional lives reflect the highest aspirations of the University's defining traditions, as an institution dedicated to wisdom and learning in the service of others." A fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Judith Livingston has participated nationally in lectures and seminars on subjects ranging from trial strategy to women in the courtroom. Ms. Livingston sits on the Board of Directors of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association. She is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers; the International Society of Barristers; the Bar Association of the City of New York; the American Association of Justice, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. From 2006 through 2009, Ms. Livingston was co-president of the Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA.) She continues on the JALBCA Board of Directors, helping to educate women in the fight against breast cancer. Judith A. Livingston graduated from The State University of New York, Stony Brook, with high honors; and from Hofstra University School of Law in 1979, where she received a J.D. degree and an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 1998. In 2014, Ms. Livingston gave the Commencement address at Hofstra University School of Law, the second time she was given that honor. Bar AdmissionsNew York, 1979 EducationJuris Doctor (J.D.), Hofstra University School of Law, Hempstead, New York, 1979Honorary Doctor of Laws, Hofstra University School of Law, Hempstead, New York, 1998Honorary Degree, Fordham University School of Law, New York, New York, 2015Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude, Honors: With High Honors(B.A.), State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, 1976 Honors, Awards and Special RecognitionsMaurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University: Inducted into the Hall of Fame, 2022Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Women in Law, Champions of Justice, 2019Citizen's Union: “Gotham Great” Honoree, October, 2017, Gotham Great: “Honoring outstanding leaders who enhance the vitality of New York City.”Feerick Center For Social Justice: “Spirit Of Hope Award”, October, 2016, “Honoring individuals who have dedicated themselves to service and justice.”Hofstra Law School: “Outstanding Women In The Law” Award, April, 2016Hofstra University: Alumnus of The Year, September, 2015Fordham University: “Fordham Founder's Award”, May, 2014, “The highest honor conferred by the University, in recognition of individuals whose personal and professional lives reflect the highest aspirations of the University's defining traditions, as an institution dedicated to wisdom and learning in the service of others.”Hofstra University: “Presidential Medal”, May, 2014, “The highest honor conferred by the University, awarded to distinguished persons in recognition of outstanding career achievement and professional leadership.”Brooklyn A Legal Services Corporation: “Champion Of Justice Award”, November, 2010United Cerebral Palsy – “Women Who Care” Award, May, 2009Best Lawyers®: “Lawyer of The Year”, 2011 and 2013Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, 1993 – presentHofstra University, “Allan Tod Gittleson Society – Inaugural Member”, June, 2013National Law Journal: “Profiles In Power: The 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers”LawDragon Magazine, Named one of the “Top 500 Lawyers In The United States” annually since the inception of the listing (from 2007 through 2017)LawDragon 500, “The Hall of Fame”, November 2015, “To commemorate the 50 lawyers who have made the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America each year it has been published.”Super Lawyers®, Named to the Top 10 New York – Metro Lawyers 2020-presentSuper Lawyers®, Named one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in New York annuallySuper Lawyers®, Named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in New York on an annual basisJudges And Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert – “JALBCA” Leadership Achievement Award, May, 2008NYSTLA, “Civil Justice Honor 2006 Award”, June, 2006United Jewish Appeal – Trial Lawyer's Division “Outstanding Leadership And Contributions On Behalf of The Legal Community And All Humanity” Award, April, 1996Hofstra Law School – Dean's Award For Distinguished Alumnus, November, 1995 Professional Associations and MembershipsInner Circle of Advocates, President, 2022Inner Circle of Advocates, Vice President, 2020 – 2022International Academy of Trial Lawyers, FellowNew York State Trial Lawyers Association, Board of DirectorsAmerican College of Trial Lawyers, MemberInternational Society of Barristers, MemberBar Association of the City of New York, MemberAmerican Association of Justice, Member Pro Bono ActivitiesJudges and Lawyers Breast Cancer (JALBCA), Board Member and Past PresidentNew York State Continuing Legal Education BoardGovernor's Second Judicial Department Screening CommissionAmerican College of Trial Lawyers, New York Downstate Committee Location: New York, New YorkServing all five Boroughs of New York City, Long Island and Westchester County 

Join Ben for his conversation with legendary Kentucky trial lawyer, Peter Perlman.  Peter talks about how his upbringing, as the son of a 5 and 10 cent store owner, shaped his values and taught him the importance of finding ways to help others.  During his long and successful career as a trial lawyer, Peter applied these lessons in cases that helped his individual clients and led to larger industry-wide changes that have helped countless others.  These cases span a wide range of practice areas, from auto defect litigation, aviation, personal injury, and even a Title IX case brought to keep the door open for female college athletes. Through his own practice, and terms as President of AAJ and the Civil Justice Foundation, few trial lawyers have done more to promote and enhance the cause of individual victims and social justice than Peter Perlman. About Peter Perlmanhttps://peteperlman.com/ ExperienceIn his lengthy career as a trial lawyer, Peter has earned more than 60 multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in personal injury, product defect and wrongful death cases.  He was inducted into the Inner Circle of Advocates in 1985.  This is an elite organization limited to the top 100 trial lawyers in this country.  The Kentucky Justice Association's highest honor, “The Peter Perlman Outstanding Trial Lawyer,” has been presented each year since 1994. Throughout his career, Peter has maintained a close relationship with his alma mater, the University of Kentucky.  He was an Adjunct Professor in the law school for 25 years, and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame and U.K's Hall of Distinguished Alumni.  In 1999, Peter created an Endowment Fund.  This has provided annual scholarships to students who have shown, “a concern for providing equal justice under the law.” Complications from an eye injury, have led to some changes in Peter's practice.  He now serves as a consultant on a limited case-by-case basis. Over the years, Peter has given numerous talks to civic and legal groups and continues to do so.  In his trials, Peter stressed the power of America's juries, and the difference jurors make through their collective verdicts.  His current presentations emphasize these themes. Awards & HonorsTrial Lawyers “Hall of Fame” (Inducted 2017)University of Kentucky “Hall of Distinguished Alumni” (2015)American Association for Justice – “Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice” (2012)Kentucky Justice Association – “Charles M. Leibson Lifetime Achievement Award” (2013)Civil Justice Foundation – “Champion of Justice” (2011)Fayette County (KY) Bar Association – “Henry T. Duncan Lifetime Achievement Award” (2010)American Association for Justice – Former PresidentTrial Lawyers for Public Justice – Former PresidentNational Litigation Counsel – Former PresidentCivil Justice Foundation – Former PresidentSouthern Trial Lawyers Association – “Tommy Malone Great American Eagle Award”; “War Horse Award”; “Mickey Smiley Lighthouse Award” 

Join Ben for his discussion with attorneys Taylor Asen and Trevor Savage about their recent $2.4 million verdict in Bangor, Maine in a case involving a surgical mal positioning that caused an arm injury and CRPS.  Taylor and Trevor explain how they worked closely with the client to get her to the right specialist who could diagnose her medical condition.  They talk about the challenges of presenting a CRPS injury at trial.  They discuss how they resisted the defense effort to stipulate to liability and were able to present compelling evidence of corporate indifference and system failure in the lack of safeguards or systems to make sure that the surgery was done safely, and the lack of follow through, investigation, or changes that came out of this incident.  They discuss how they responded to the defense's 11th hour surprise surveillance video, which the judge allowed into evidence over objection.  They used the surveillance to further polarize the case and show the lie in the hospital's claim to be taking responsibility for its actions.  They discuss the use of data analysis to recognize the true value of the case and to formulate the amount asked for in closing. About Taylor Asenwww.gideonasen.com Taylor specializes in medical malpractice cases, trucking accident cases, and other complex personal injury cases. He has recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients. Taylor possesses a unique combination of intellect, competitive drive, and human empathy that makes him a powerful advocate for his clients. Taylor has dedicated his career to championing the interests of individuals who have suffered harm or injury from corporate misconduct, individual negligence, and bad medical care. Taylor's efforts on behalf of injured Mainers have resulted in several of the largest case settlements in Maine history. Recently, Taylor and his colleague Meryl obtained one of the largest jury verdicts in a child sex abuse case in Maine's history. Taylor has been recognized as one of Maine's leading plaintiff's attorneys. He is only one of two lawyer from Northern New England listed in Lawdragon's list of the top 500 plaintiff's attorneys in the nation—the other lawyer from Northern New England is his partner, Ben Gideon. Taylor is also included in Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch and Super Lawyers Rising Stars; these designations are given to attorneys that distinguish themselves during their first decade of practice. “Nobody is more committed to his clients than Taylor,” said Ben Gideon. “His mind is always working. It's not unusual for me to receive a call after midnight from Taylor, wanting to brainstorm about a thorny problem or about case strategy. Taylor is also a gifted legal writer, enabling our clients to gain the upper hand in motions and briefs submitted to the courts. When it comes to the full range of personal qualities and skills needed to achieve extraordinary client results, there are few lawyers I've met who can match Taylor.” Taylor is on the Board of Governors of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association and has served as Co-Chair of the MTLA's Legislative Committee for the past three years. Taylor has testified in the Maine Legislature on numerous occasions, and played a critical role in the fight to raise Maine's cap on wrongful death damages in 2019. Taylor also has experience litigating class action cases on behalf of employees, consumers, and victims of civil rights abuses. From 2019 to 2020, he co-counseled a class action on behalf of Maine prisoners who were denied treatment for Hepatitis C. That lawsuit resulted in a historic settlement with the Maine Department of Corrections, under which the DOC agreed to treat all incarcerated individuals who have chronic Hepatitis C. Taylor is an Adjunct Professor at Maine Law School, where he co-teaches Trial Advocacy. A native of Maine, Taylor is a graduate of Yale Law School. At Yale, Taylor worked in the Veterans Legal Services Clinic, representing veterans who were improperly denied disability benefits. After graduating from law school, Taylor clerked for federal judges in New York City and Newark, New Jersey. Taylor began his career at a law firm in New York, before returning to Maine to represent individual plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits. Taylor's wife, Becca, is the Director of Recruiting and Professional Development at Bernstein Shur. Taylor and Becca live in Cumberland County with their three children, Davida, Vivienne, and Leon. What Clients Say About Taylor“The most fantastic Lawyer I have ever met. Caring considerate and great results.” – Hilarie B. “Taylor went above and beyond during the entire case. I felt valued, respected and as if I was the #1 and only client he had.” – Adam D. “Taylor was there, step by step, fighting for what is right and just, making sure we understood each process. He helped my family get the best outcome to move forward with our lives without regret.” – Cheri H. “Taylor Asen was everything we needed in a lawyer: professional, communicative, straight forward and determined. He also was everything we didn't expect: personable, always available, kind and thoughtful. We highly recommend his services.” – Arianna S. “Taylor Asen is the ultimate professional. He navigated us through the toughest time in our lives and handled our medical malpractice case with mastery. . . Most of all, he was human. His confidence and his friendly demeanor put us at ease and his empathy towards our situation made us feel like we wanted to win this case not just for us, but for him.” – Lisa H. EDUCATIONJ.D., Yale Law School, 2012M.A., Columbia University, 2007B.A., George Washington University (summa cum laude), 2006 RECOGNITIONSLawdragon's 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2022The Best Lawyers in America ― “Ones to Watch,” 2021 – presentSuper Lawyers ― “Rising Star,” 2017 – presentAVVO – Rated 10/10 MEMBERSHIPSBoard Member, Maine Trial Lawyers AssociationCo-chair, Legislative Committee, Maine Trial Lawyers AssociationMember, Academy of Truck Accident AttorneysMember, American Association for JusticeMember, Right to Know Advisory Committee, Maine State Legislature, 2019-2022Member, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine Selection Advisory Committee (2021)Chair, Maine Supreme Judicial Court IOLTA Working Group (2020) ADMISSIONSMaine (2016)U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (2014)U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (2014)U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (2014)New York (2013) CLERKSHIPSLaw Clerk, Hon. Julio Fuentes, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2014Law Clerk, Hon. J. Paul Oetken, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 2013  About Trevor Savagewww.gideonasen.com Trevor is a skilled trial attorney who represents clients in claims involving medical malpractice, wrongful deaths and other complex personal injury cases. After completing a clerkship with the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Trevor began his career at a large firm in Portland, representing medical providers, businesses, and insurance companies. Trevor's experience as a defense attorney gives him a unique perspective that he uses to give Gideon Asen's clients an advantage during litigation with insurance companies. A native of Maine, Trevor is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and then the University of Maine School of Law. At Maine Law, he served as Managing Editor of the Maine Law Review and as a legal writing teaching assistant for first-year students. During law school—alongside his then-classmate and current colleague, Meryl Poulin—he distinguished himself as one of two “Prize Arguers” of their class and argued before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He and Meryl Poulin—another Gideon Asen attorney—later competed nationally as teammates on the Maine Law Moot Court Team, finishing in the top three of a competition of more than forty teams. While at law school, Trevor interned with the Appellate Division of the United States Attorney's Office and then with Judge Kermit V. Lipez of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He also worked as a Student Attorney at the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office (winning his first two jury trials as a second-year law student). Trevor lives in North Berwick, Maine, with his wife, Amy, and two children, Jacob and Will. EDUCATIONJ.D., Maine Law School (cum laude), 2017B.S., Emerson College (summa cum laude), 2013 RECOGNITIONSSuper Lawyer's: Rising Star 2022- present MEMBERSHIPSAmerican Bar Association, MemberMaine State Bar Association, MemberMaine Trial Lawyers Association, MemberEdward Thaxter Gignoux Inn of Court, MemberManaging Editor, Maine Law Review (2016-2017)Maine Law Class of 2017 Prize ArguerFaculty Significant Achievement Award, 2017 ADMISSIONSMaine (2017)United States District Court for the District of Maine (2018)United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (2018) CLERKSHIPSLaw Clerk, Hon. Joseph M. Jabar, Maine Supreme Judicial Court, 2017-2018

Join Rahul and Ben for their conversation with Canadian trial lawyer, Paul Miller, who shares the fascinating account of his effort to find justice for Canadian diplomats impacted by Havana Syndrome.  Paul explains the mounting evidence showing that Canadian and American diplomats posted in Cuba, England, Russia, Vietnam, and China have been targeted by weapons that use microwave or similar technology that is invisible but can cause brain damage, leading to a variety of life-long injuries and symptoms.  The story is somewhere between science fiction and spy novel, but much more troubling because the human victims are real people, including diplomats and their families.   About Paul Miller https://hshlawyers.com/ “I became a personal injury lawyer because I wanted to ensure that people, when devastated by injuries had access to not only benefits and compensation, but access to the courts in order to seek out justice for injuries they have suffered.” A dedicated advocate for people who have suffered personal injuries, Paul has 20 years of experience involving cases of defective products and medical devices and fighting for those denied justice. Paul has proven experience with high profile cases including serving as co-counsel for Canadian Diplomats in Cuba affected by Havana Syndrome, co-counsel representing Canadian Veterans affected by Mefloquine, co-counsel representing B.C. in its class action lawsuit against opioid drug companies, co-lead counsel for the victims of the 2005 Air France crash at Toronto's Pearson airport, and as representative for 23 Canadians involved in litigation surrounding the events of September 11, 2001. His passion for helping those wronged by negligence led to his dedicated work on the MK Airlines Halifax Plane Crash, TVM Litigation, and presently, the Ethiopian Airline Crash, Hernia Mesh Litigation and Essure. A Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation, Paul has been nominated twice for Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers and recognized in Best Lawyers for his work in Product Liability Litigation. He's a past board member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (2004–2006) and a current board director with the US-based organization Public Justice. Paul is an avid golfer. When not tirelessly working on cases or spending quality time with his wife and four children, you'll likely see him out on the green. Professional Success Settlements and VerdictsPast results are not predictive of future results and each situation is unique and requires individual and independent legal advice.$5.55 Million*Fly Jamaica Flight OJ 256 Class Action settlement for passengers who suffered injuries from emergency landingSuccessful settlements in over 70 transvaginal cases (confidential settlements).Co-lead counsel for the victims of the August 2, 2005 Air France crash at Pearson Airport in Toronto which resulted in a settlement in excess of $20 million.Representative for 23 Canadians involved in litigation surrounding the events of September 11, 2001.Successful settlement for 6 plaintiffs who received defective cochlear ear implants.  Thought Leadership Articles5 Canadians that left an Ontario airport killed in small-plane crash in NashvilleHope Starts Here for an Endorsement From Our Client And Community Network: Voting Open for Canadian Lawyer's Top 10 Personal Injury Boutique FirmPlane Crashes Aren't the Only Cause of Airline InjuriesDecember 6, 2020 – New Answers in the Havana Syndrome InvestigationVeterans' Advocate in the Fight of His LifeHow Your Occupation May Lead to Asbestos Exposure and A Mesothelioma Cancer DiagnosisThe Power of Many Customized For One: Mass Torts vs. Class ActionsHave You Been Diagnosed With Cancer After a Surgery Using Power Morcellators?From Air France Flight 358 Crash Victim to Personal Injury AdvocateFatal Shooting and Stampede at BPM Festival in Playa del Carmen, MexicoProlonged Use of Baby (Talcum) Powder Linked To Ovarian CancerHernia Mesh Lawsuit: Beware of Hernia Mesh RecallsDo You Rely on the Synchromed II Pain Pump For Drug Delivery? Beware of Pump FailureDo You Rely on a St. Jude Defibrillator / Pacemaker? Beware of Battery FailureSecondary Asbestos Exposure: Are You At Risk of Developing An Asbestos-Related Illness? Media MentionsPaul Miller Discusses his client's $5M lawsuit against Ont. Government, Children's Aid Society Alleging Years of Childhood Abuse in an Interview on CTV NewsPaul Miller Discusses a Recently Released Study On The Havana Syndrome On Global News. Paul Miller Discusses Taking on Out of The Box Lawsuits on The Not on Record PodcastPaul Miller appeared on the Not on Record Podcast to Discuss The Impact of Havana Syndrome on Canadian DiplomatsDefective Hernia Mesh and Sepsis/Blood Poisoning, the Hernia Mesh BlogDefective Hernia Mesh and The ‘Epidemic' of Complications, the Hernia Mesh BlogHernia Mesh Surgeries, Defective Mesh and Disability Benefits, the Hernia Mesh BlogDefective Hernia Mesh and Mesh Migration, the Hernia Mesh BlogDefective Hernia Mesh and Hernia Recurrence After Hernia Mesh, the Hernia Mesh BlogAwareness Campaign Launched for Victims of Hernia Mesh in Canada, the Hernia Mesh BlogDefective Hernia Mesh and Fistula Formation, the Hernia Mesh BlogCommon Types of Hernias, and Defective Hernia Mesh Side-Effects, the Hernia Mesh BlogDefective Inguinal Hernia Mesh and Sexual Side Effects, the Hernia Mesh BlogDefective Hernia Mesh and Infections, the Hernia Mesh BlogDefective Hernia Mesh and Chronic Pain, the Hernia Mesh Blog  Speaking and Teaching EngagementsOctober 2, 2019 – Paul Miller to Speak at TACTIX 2019 – The Motley Rice Co-Counsel SeminarSeptember 19, 2019 – Paul Miller to Speak at Veterans Mefloquine RallyApril 29-30, 2019 – Paul Miller to Speak at The Quinism Foundation's 2019 Annual MeetingJune 9, 2020 – Paul Miller to speak at The Advocates' Society's Class Actions AdvocacyFebruary 22, 2017 – Paul Miller Presents at CDL Product Liability ConferenceMedical Devices in Product Liability Litigation, Products Liability Litigation SeminarConsent and Capacity, Lunch and Learn, Toronto Rehab InstitutePersonal, Industry and Community Activity  EducationAdmitted to the Ontario Bar, 1997JD, Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, 1993BA, York University, 1989 Professional Associations and MembershipsCanadian Bar AssociationOntario Bar AssociationOntario Trial Lawyers Association, Member, Board of Directors (2004-2006)Public Justice – United States (Board of Directors)The Advocates Society Honours and AwardsCertified as a Specialist in Civil Litigation, Law Society of OntarioBest Lawyers in Canada, Personal Injury Law Category Community InvolvementOrganizer of Annual Golf Tournament Supporting Toronto Rehab

Join Rahul and Ben for their discussion with Indiana trial lawyer Lee Christie and Trial Lawyers for Justice Attorney, Karen Zahka, as they break down their recent trial against Tesla.  Although the case started out as a simple pickup truck vs. motorcycle accident involving a left turn, the personal involvement of Elon Musk led to an unusual investment of resources on the defense side and high drama in the courtroom.  To get to verdict, the plaintiff had to navigate a series of landmines and obstacles, including numerous law firms entering and exiting the case, a sea of motions, dozens of requests for mistrial and a hold-out juror that almost led to a mistrial during jury deliberations.   Link to animation video mentioned in episode:https://hypelegal.wistia.com/medias/z8rn4p0v6u About Lee Christie Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers | Christie Farrell Lee & Bell (cflblaw.com) Lee Christie is a part­ner with Christie Farrell Lee & Bell and is a life­long Indi­ana res­i­dent. He is pas­sion­ate in rep­re­sen­ta­tion, and takes pride in the relationships he devel­ops with his clients. He has exten­sive trial expe­ri­ence in both fed­eral and state court and is a fre­quent lec­turer on trial, medi­a­tion, per­sonal injury, med­ical mal­prac­tice, truck­ing acci­dents, and set­tle­ment issues. Lee has represented thousands of clients who have been personally injured and has obtained settlements and verdicts as high as $30.5M.  Lee is highly civically engaged with several Indiana organizations, including the Walker Foundation (founding board member and officer) and Indianapolis Bar Foundation (board member and officer), and is a patron of the YMCA.  He is past president of the Lawrence Township Girls Basketball League and continues to work with youth in the inner city of Indianapolis. AchievementsLee has been selected by Super Lawyers as a Top 10 Super Lawyer in Indi­ana and was named the Best Lawyer, Indi­anapo­lis Lawyer of the Year for Medi­a­tion (2014) and Arbitration (2012). He is a mem­ber of the Indi­ana Trial Lawyers Asso­ci­a­tion, the Amer­i­can Asso­ci­a­tion for Jus­tice, the Inter­state Truck­ing Lit­i­ga­tion Group, and Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. Lee has verdicts and settlements ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to over $30 million. Hon­ors2025 President of the Indianapolis Bar AssociationIndiana Judicial Nominating and Qualifications Commission (to serve a three-year term beginning 1/1/23)Indiana State Bar Association GP Hall of Fame Award 2021National Trial Lawyers: Trucking Trial Lawyers Association Top 10 in IndianaIndiana Lawyer Distinguished Barrister Award, 2017Indi­ana Trial Lawyer's Asso­ci­a­tion Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2015National Asso­ci­a­tion of Dis­tin­guished Coun­sel – The Nation's Top One Per­cent, 2015, Founding MemberSelected to Top 10 Indi­ana Super Lawyers, 2014Selected to Top 50 Indi­ana Super Lawyers, 2005–presentThe Best Lawyers in Amer­ica,® Per­sonal Injury Lit­i­ga­tion—Plaintiffs, 2005-presentBest Lawyers® Indianapolis Medi­a­tion “Lawyer of the Year”Mar­tin­dale Hubbel high­est AVrat­ing, 1983-20172010 Civility Award Recipient – Indiana State Bar Association Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers® for:Arbitration, Indianapolis (2024)Mediation, Indianapolis (2024)Arbitration, Indianapolis (2019)Mediation, Indianapolis (2018)Mediation, Indianapolis (2014)Arbitration, Indianapolis (2012) MembershipsIndianapolis Bar Association2025 PresidentNational Asso­ci­a­tion of Dis­tin­guished Coun­sel, Found­ing MemberAcademy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA)Amer­i­can Asso­ci­a­tion of Jus­tice (AAJ)Leaders ForumSus­tain­ing Mem­berInterstate Trucking Litigation GroupIndi­ana Trial Lawyers Asso­ci­a­tion (ITLA)Sus­tain­ing Mem­berCol­lege of Fel­lowsIndiana State Bar AssociationLitigation SectionSustaining MemberAdvanced Stud­ies in Trial AdvocacyFellow-National Col­lege of Advocacy Court AdmissionsU.S. Dis­trict Court for the North­ern Dis­trict of IndianaU.S. Dis­trict Court for the South­ern Dis­trict of Indiana Bar AdmissionsIndi­ana, 1982 RecognitionsAvvo Top Attor­ney Per­sonal Injury – Lawyer Lee Christie  About Karen Zahka Home - Trial Lawyers For Justice (tl4j.com) Karen is a Partner at Trial Lawyers for Justice. She is an experienced and passionate trial lawyer. While she was born and raised in Massachusetts, Karen litigates and tries cases nationwide. She is currently admitted to practice in Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma. She practices in other jurisdictions via pro hac vice. Throughout Karen's career, she has contributed to many multi-million verdicts and settlements, including but not limited to: Andrea Larkin, et al. v. Dedham Medical Associates, et al.: Karen was integral in successfully recovering over $40 million (with interest) for a 28-year-old woman who suffered a catastrophic stroke hours after labor and delivery of her daughter. Following this victory, Karen fought to defend and succeeded in defending the verdict from the insurance company's attempt to overturn it on appeal. Edward Xu v. Tufts Medical Center, et al.:  Karen contributed to a $24.4 million verdict on behalf of a family whose newborn suffered from severe short bowel syndrome, which requires that he be tube fed for the rest of his life. Estate of Joshua Messier v. Bridgewater State Hospital: Karen helped to obtain a $3 million settlement for a family whose 23-year-old disabled son was improperly restrained and killed by correction officers at a Massachusetts prison. This success resulted in sweeping systemic changes to improve the care and treatment of disabled individuals in state prison systems. Estate of Zoe Rosenthal v. Charles J. Davignon, et al.: In April 2021, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Karen contributed to the $9.5 million verdict obtained on behalf of two daughters whose mother was negligently killed while walking her dog in a crosswalk near her home. According to the court clerk, this result set a record for a non-economic damages verdict for wrongful death with adult heirs in Western Massachusetts. While Karen is a zealous advocate for her clients, what she takes most pride in is that she cares about each of her clients on a personal level. She is a kind human first and a dedicated lawyer second. Karen recognizes that by the time you ask for her help, you have likely already experienced a catastrophic loss or injury. Compassion is a must, and she understands how overwhelming the legal system can be. It is for that reason that she always takes the time to explain each and every step of the legal process and she will be candid with you every step of the way. Karen received her undergraduate degree from Boston University, where she double majored in Political Science and Psychology. She then graduated from Suffolk University Law School, where she served as the Continuity Editing Assistant for The Journal of Health and Biomedical Law. She graduated from law school with Pro Bono Honors and was recognized for her time and commitment to volunteer legal services programs. Throughout law school, she not only worked full time, but also volunteered her nights and weekends with several non-profit programs dedicated to empowering survivors of domestic violence and assisting them in navigating the legal system to protect themselves and their loved ones. Since 2016, Karen has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star. This designation is awarded only to a select number of accomplished attorneys under the age of 40 in each state. The Rising Stars selection process takes into account peer recognition, professional achievement in legal practice, and a review by an independent blue-ribbon panel. In 2022, Karen received the “Excellence in the Law: Up & Coming Lawyer” award from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. This award is given to those select lawyers who have already distinguished themselves in the field in less than ten (10) years of practice. In 2019, Karen was selected to the National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40, a professional organization that recognizes the top trial lawyers in each state. In her spare time, you can find Karen soaking up as much live music as possible or exploring the outdoors. BAR ADMISSIONSIowaMassachusettsNew HampshireOklahomaCaliforniaNebraska PREVIOUSLY ADMITTED PRO-HAC VICECaliforniaIndianaMissouriMontanaNebraskaOhioSouth Dakota EDUCATIONSuffolk University Law School– J.D. Juris DoctorBoston University– Bachelor of Science in Political Science / Psychology

In this episode, Rahul and Ben discuss major trends in trial practice and big picture take aways from the last 3 ½ years of the podcast.  The conversation begins with a discussion of nuclear verdicts in the golden age of trial, moves on to case analysis and key issues, then to strategies or courtroom success, and ends with discussion of the impact of the MAGA juror.   About Rahul https://www.panish.law/ravipudi.html Rahul Ravipudi is a partner at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP and has spent his legal career handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving commercial vehicles, pedestrians, industrial or construction accidents, utility negligence, dangerous conditions of public and private property as well as cases of sexual abuse and sexual assault. Mr. Ravipudi also represents consumers in class actions against businesses who engage in unfair/illegal business practices and public entities in cases where corporations have endangered the safety, health, property or comfort of the public.Mr. Ravipudi currently serves as Plaintiffs' Co-Lead Counsel in the Social Media Cases litigation which involves cases of children and young adults harmed or driven to suicide by social media algorithms as well as Public Entity Plaintiffs' Co-Lead Counsel in the JUUL Labs Product Cases, representing school districts and other public entities in California involved in litigation against the electronic cigarette manufacturer. He also serves as Plaintiffs Co-Lead Counsel in the Southern California Fire Cases litigation arising out of the 2017 Thomas Fire and subsequent debris flows in Montecito, California as well as on the Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the California North Bay Fires litigation. Mr. Ravipudi previously served on the Steering Committee in the Blythe bus crash litigation.Named 2017 Trial Lawyer of the Year by Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Mr. Ravipudi has obtained numerous landmark verdicts and settlements including a $160.5 million jury verdict for a man who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of a vicious beating by security personnel for a nightclub, a $46,475,112.33 jury verdict for a beginning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu student who suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury while sparring with a Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club instructor who performed a technique which rendered the student an incomplete quadriplegic, a $28,500,000+ settlement for a special needs student who was catastrophically injured after being struck by a vehicle while under the care and supervision of Victor Elementary School District (VESD) personnel, as well as a $23,500,000 settlement on behalf of the family of Paul Lee, a 19-year-old non-verbal autistic student who tragically died aboard a Whittier school bus after the driver left him behind to engage in a sexual tryst with a coworker. The Lee case was a catalyst for significant change in school transportation with Governor Jerry Brown signing the “Paul Lee School Bus Safety Law” in September 2016, requiring all school buses in the state of California to be equipped with a child safety alarm system that must be deactivated by the bus driver before departing the bus. The new law will go into effect at the start of the 2018-19 school year and requires bus drivers to receive training in child-safety check procedures.Committed to serving as an advocate for his clients, Mr. Ravipudi has obtained numerous eight-figure awards including a $20,500,000 jury verdict for the mother of a high school student who was killed while walking to a bus stop, a $19,786,818 jury verdict for a man who suffered severe burn and traumatic brain injuries when his rental home exploded as a result of Southern California Gas Company negligence, a $13,935,550 jury verdict for 19-year-old pedestrian who suffered extensive injuries as a result of being struck on the sidewalk by a vehicle driven by a Los Angeles County employee, a $13,000,000 settlement for the children and parents of a woman who was killed when her car was hit by a Hawthorne, California police officer, a $11,000,000 settlement for the family of a middle school student who drowned during a school-sponsored swim party, a$10 million for the family of an independent truck driver killed by an intoxicated heavy lift operator at a stevedoring terminal in Long Beach, and an$8,000,000 jury verdict in Clark County District Court for a Nevada man who suffered significant internal injuries after he was served and ingested what he believed was a Honey Blonde Ale but was actually a chemical cleaning compound left in the tap lines.Mr. Ravipudi shared his insight into successfully litigating cases against the stevedoring companies in an article entitled, “Danger on the Docks – Where there is an injury or death on the waterfront, drugs or alcohol are too often involved” published in the February 2011 edition of Advocate, journal of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles.Additional recoveries obtained by Mr. Ravipudi include a $15,950,000 settlement for a teen who suffered a brain injury on an HOA playground, $8,000,000 settlement for an 81-year-old woman who suffered severe spinal cord injuries after falling at a hotel, a $7,000,000+ settlement during trial for the family of a man killed at SpeedVegas when the vehicle he was driving slammed into a track wall and burst into flames, $6,500,000 settlement for the two minor children and friend of a Southern California man who was killed after being struck on the highway by a freight truck whose driver had fallen asleep behind the wheel, a $6,000,000 settlement for a woman who suffered severe burn injuries when a faucet in the bathtub of her apartment detached and sprayed scalding hot water onto her body, a $5 million for an HVAC worker who suffered serious injuries when he fell through a skylight while working on a customer's roof, a $3.3 million gross jury verdict arising out of the death of a pest control person crushed and killed when a semi-truck reversed into him at a warehousing facility, and $9 million from the State of California (Caltrans) when a 16-year-old girl on a restricted license lost control of her vehicle and collided into a guardrail damaged two days earlier resulting in a bilateral traumatic below knee amputations. This case involved significant appellate issues which led to Mr. Ravipudi's article, “Dealing with the state of California's first line of defense – stonewalling any meaningful discovery” published in Advocate, Journal of Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles in February 2009.  About Ben https://gideonasen.com/our-team/benjamin-gideon/ When clients come to us, they are looking for financial compensation. They are often struggling just to stay above water, and they need money to provide safety and security to meet basic life needs and to build a new and better life for themselves and their family in the future.But for many of our clients, their case is also about something more—something larger—than money. It's about accountability. It's about wanting to create a society where individuals, corporations, medical providers and insurance companies don't get away with selfish, neglectful or greedy choices that put people at risk. It's about obtaining the catharsis and closure the only comes when justice is done to make up for the precious things that another's harmful conduct took away from them.In short, I have come to realize that my clients don't just want a lawyer. They want a Champion—that is, someone who will fight for them individually, but also be willing to fight for the larger cause for which they stand.Let Us Be Your Champion.– Ben Gideon, 2021 Early YearsBen grew up in Portland, Maine, attended public schools and graduated from Deering High School in 1989. Ben's father, Martin Rogoff, was a prominent member of the Maine Law School faculty, so Ben grew up immersed in discussions of the law. Ben began to develop his legal skills early in life through nightly arguments with his father at the dinner table.In high school, Ben played varsity soccer and was the captain of the hockey team. Following high school, Ben attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Ben attempted to walk on to the Cornell hockey team, but was eventually cut from the team, ending his hockey career. Depressed and disappointed at this failure, Ben became a poor student, failed several classes, and was told he was being suspended from college on academic probation.After rehabilitating himself through some community college courses, Ben was able to gain re-admission to Cornell and to complete his degree. Ben applied to law school and was admitted to Boston University School of Law. There, Ben was a standout student. His grades were so exceptional after his first year that he was accepted as a transfer student to Yale Law School where he earned his law degree.Ben began his career in private practice at a large, multi-national law firm, Latham & Watkins, in New York City. He practiced there for several years before deciding to return to Maine to join Berman & Simmons, PA, Maine's largest plaintiff's law firm. A Leader at Berman & SimmonsDuring his years at Berman & Simmons, Ben rose from an associate to become an owner and practice leader at the firm. Ben was instrumental in helping the firm re-invent its approach to litigating and trying cases; expanded its areas of practice expertise; and recruited and trained many talented lawyers.During his 17 years at Berman & Simmons, Ben enjoyed many great successes and some disappointing failures, but overall managed to build the most successful plaintiff's personal injury and medical malpractice practice in the State of Maine. Ben achieved success in a broad range of different types of plaintiff's cases—police civil rights, product liability, medical malpractice, nursing home, maritime and industrial accidents.Early in his career, Ben achieved a landmark civil rights verdict against a police officer for violating his client's civil rights with a Taser shooting. The verdict was affirmed on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.In 2014, after 4 ½ year of litigation, Ben achieved a record-setting $22.5 million jury verdict in Burlington, Vermont, on behalf of a utility lineman who lost both of his legs during a high-voltage powerline switching operation.Ben followed his Vermont verdict with a verdict of $1.75 million jury verdict in a medical malpractice trial in Bangor, Maine.More recently, Ben recovered $2.5 million in a medical malpractice case tried to a jury in New Hampshire. Founding Gideon Asen LLCAfter 17 years at Berman & Simmons, in November 2020, Ben decided to leave one firm he loved and had helped to build, to form a new law firm, Gideon Asen LLC.“I was very proud of everything we accomplished at Berman & Simmons,” Ben said, “but I was excited by the challenge of building a new firm that could be even better.”Ben's first step was to recruit Taylor Asen to join him.“Taylor and I have a common mission,” Ben said. “Although we're separated by 12 years, Taylor also attended Yale Law School and completed prestigious Federal clerkships. He's insanely smart.”“But perhaps more important, Taylor and I share a common vision of a plaintiff's law firm where clients have access to exceptional lawyers and service. We are both supremely competitive and don't tolerate mediocrity. We believe we owe it to our clients to give them the very best, and that is what Gideon Asen will provide.”

We've all heard the stories of doctors who cause harm to patients by systematically performing medically unnecessary procedures, just to line their own pockets.  These circumstances rise to a level beyond ordinary medical negligence to fraud or criminal acts.  However, when we litigate individual medical malpractice cases, the rules of discovery and evidence can pose barriers that make it difficult to determine whether a client's experience reflects a larger pattern and practice by the doctor and the medical business.  Join us for our discussion with Washington, DC trial lawyer, Katie Bertram, as she tells the story of a case in which she was able to show this larger pattern of a doctor performing medically unnecessary medical procedures in an out-patient surgery center setting that provides very few checks and balances on this type of rogue behavior. About Catherine "Katie" Bertram Website: https://www.blg-dc.com/ Catherine D. “Katie” Bertram started the Bertram & Murphy, building on decades of experience as both a medical malpractice attorney and director of risk management at Georgetown University Hospital. In those environments, she learned how doctors and hospitals work, as well as how their attorneys assess claims against them. She draws on this knowledge to advocate for patients and their families. “People want someone who's competent, caring, and careful. They've just gone through the worst thing in their lives and been betrayed by doctors or a hospital — people that we're supposed to trust,” she said. “I can set forth what happened and why it was negligent.” Bertram graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a Bachelor of Social Work. While accompanying a social worker to court one day, she found her true passion—the law. “The minute I walked into court, I knew that's what I should be doing,” she said. She obtained her law degree from the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C., in 1989, becoming the first lawyer in her family. The faculty nominated her as Woman Law Student of the Year. Bertram focuses on personal injury and medical malpractice in part because her mother is a nurse. “It allows me to combine the law and medicine,” she said. “I enjoy talking to juries and teaching them about complicated medical cases in an easier way.” Bertram has achieved several distinctions throughout her career. She is one of 20 people serving on the D.C. Bar's Board of Governors and also is a board member of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, which finds lawyers to meet the legal needs of D.C.'s low-income residents, nonprofits, and small businesses. She's been an adjunct law professor at American University's Washington College of Law since 2013, teaching a course about medical malpractice. Among her charitable work, she is an active supporter of Public Citizen, the nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, and a founding member of the Washington, D.C., charity Power 100. She also sews quilts for military veterans through the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Licensed to practice in Washington, D.C., and in Maryland, Bertram has a notable record of favorable verdicts. In 2017, she won $8 million on behalf of her clients against Edward Dunne, M.D., and Foxhall Urology, and in 2018, she won a $1.25 million verdict against Capital Women's Care and others for negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress. But even though she and her firm have a strong track record, she and Heather J. Kelly also work hard to settle cases in their clients' best interests. If they're able to reach a settlement before formally filing the case, they'll lower their fees. A third-generation Washingtonian, Bertram enjoys spending time with her family and on the Chesapeake Bay when not in court. She's proud of the individualized attention that the Bertram & Murphy provides. “I can limit the number of cases I take so I can work very hard on each case,” Bertram said. “We have the time and the creativity and the resources and the technology and the verdicts behind us like we're a big firm, but you don't deal with layers and layers of people. You're getting the A team.”

Louisville, Kentucky trial lawyer Sheila Hiestand has harnessed the same competitive zeal she had as a starting center on a division one college basketball team to become one of Kentucky's leading trial lawyers.  Sheila has successfully litigated and tried many high-profile cases, including a recent case in which she obtained a $36 Million judgment on behalf of the family of victims of a January 2018 shooting at Marshall County High School in which two students were killed and several others injured.  Sheila discusses this case, including some of the many legal obstacles she confronted and the impact on the families she represented after this tragedy. About Sheila Hiestand Website: https://mhkylaw.com/ “The Lady Litigator”As a college basketball player who started in two final four appearances, Sheila knows the importance of hard work, drive and heart. Sheila—aka “The Lady Litigator” for her tenacity in court—is dedicated to helping women and their families through the very difficult process of personal injury claims. She has served as the president of the Kentucky trial lawyers with the Kentucky Justice Association and has worked tirelessly to fight for injured people for more than 30 years. This includes several trials with extraordinary results for her clients, such as an auto accident case where she earned a $743,000 verdict and a medical practice failure to diagnose cancer case where she earned a $1.3 million verdict.  She also has achieved many 7-figure settlements for her clients in trucking, medical malpractice, auto and motorcycle cases. After graduating from Centre College, Sheila received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky School of Law. Soon after she was recognized as the Fayette County Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer and was rated an “AV Lawyer” by Martindale-Hubbell®. She has also been recognized among the American Trial Lawyers Association's Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Kentucky; Super Lawyers Top 50 Lawyers in Kentucky;  Super Lawyers Top 25 Women Lawyers in Kentucky; as Top Lawyer by Louisville Magazine, and has received a long list of awards. When not practicing law, Sheila enjoys spending time with her three children and husband and loves to compete in triathlons. She plays viola, violin, cello and piano and is a past member of the Lexington Singers. Sheila is also fluent in Spanish and has volunteered at the Federal Correctional Institute to assist Spanish-speaking inmates with legal matters pro bono.EducationGraduated from Centre College with a double major in English and SpanishJuris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky, College of Law MembershipsKentucky Justice Association, Past PresidentKentucky Bar Association, Past Board of GovernorsKentucky Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, Past PresidentMillion Dollar Advocates ForumMulti-Million Dollar Advocates ForumAmerican Board of Trial AdvocatesInjury BoardThe American Society of Legal AdvocatesAmerican Association for Justice President of Fayette County Young Lawyers, Past PresidentLouisville Sports Commission Board MemberMemory Walk for the Alzheimer's Association, Committee ChairVolunteer Center of Central Kentucky Annual Fundraiser, Committee ChairLexington Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Sixty Five Roses Ball, Co-ChairTop Attorney Personal Injury LicensesCommonwealth of KentuckyState of IndianaState of TennesseeUS District Courts for Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of KentuckyUS District Court for Southern District of IndianaUS District Court for Northern District of IllinoisUnited States 6th Circuit Court of AppealsSupreme Court of the United States of America AwardsFayette County Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer , 1998Kentucky Justice Association Peter Perlman Award recipient for Outstanding Trial Attorney 2018AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-HubbellThe American Trial Lawyers Association , Top 100 Trial Lawyers in KentuckySelected for inclusion in Kentucky Super Lawyers ® for more than a decadeSelected as a Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyers in Kentucky for multiple yearsSelected as a Top 25 Kentucky Women Super Lawyers in Kentucky for multiple yearsSelected for inclusion in the  Who's Who in American LawAVVO Perfect 10 Rating – Top Personal Injury AttorneyOutstanding Attorney by the Greater Lexington Paralegal AssociationNational Academy of Personal Injury AttorneysNAOPIA Top 10 Attorney for KYGlobal Who's Who Best Lawyers in America

Before Maryland-based trial lawyer Reza Davani began rolling the dice with juries, he was a competitive poker player. Join Ben and Rahul for their discussion with Reza, in which he recounts how principles and lessons learned from playing poker translate to trial practice. Reza provides many valuable strategies for trial success, including identifying and planting “landmines” for the defense as part of his case. In addition to his phenomenal success as a trial lawyer, Reza is a sought-after speaker and teacher of trial tactics, and there is much for any practitioner to learn from listening to this episode. You may want to listen more than once. About Reza DavaniWebsite: Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer | Compensation After an Accident (kbaattorneys.com) KBA is fortunate to work with Mr. Reza Davani because he is a true trial lawyer. He has tried many cases and is a student of the art, studying trial strategies, attending seminars, and always polishing his skills. His passion for client advocacy and willingness to fight made his partnership at KBA a great fit. Mr. Davani has worked on both sides of the aisle, representing local, national, and international companies, governmental entities, and injured victims as both a plaintiff and defense lawyer. He has represented clients and worked on matters in state, federal and bankruptcy courts around the country, including in Maryland, Mississippi, Washington D.C., New Jersey, California, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Georgia, Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina, and New York. (He is licensed in Maryland and has worked in other states on a pro hac vice basis.) Within Maryland, he has represented clients in matters in Prince George's County, Frederick County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Allegany County, Cecil County, Washington County, Montgomery County, Charles County, Howard County, Talbot County, Carroll County, Wicomico County, and Harford County. He has the experience and helped clients with cases concerning complex litigation, product liability, commercial litigation, franchise disputes, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death and survival actions, direct lawsuits against insurance companies, qui-tam whistleblower cases, amputation injuries, and a variety of personal injury matters, including medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, vehicle collisions, commercial truck and tractor-trailer crashes, boating-collisions and allisions, and premises liability, including tripping hazards and dangerous trees. Mr. Davani is committed to advocating aggressively for his injured clients, which he has done for the past ten years. In recent years, he personally helped injured victims and their families recover close to $15,000,000 in settlements and verdicts. Each case is different and prior results does not mean future success, we are confident he is going to help KBA clients hold defendants accountable and prevent future harms through the civil justice system. He is also committed to community outreach and giving back to those in need. He has done non-profit legal work for a public defender's office, the Prisoner Rights Information System of Maryland, Inc., the Mississippi Center for Justice, and a clinic representing ex-offenders. Attorneys often turn to him for advice which he offers for free to help improve justice in our communities. Mr. Davani is also a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2019-2021. EDUCATIONUniversity of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of BusinessUniversity Of Maryland School Of Law, J.D.

From representing Yoko Ono to winning class action lawsuits on behalf of actors and musicians, Neville Johnson and his partner Douglas Johnson (no relationship) have built one of the most interesting and successful entertainment law practices in the nation, specializing in representing “talent” as opposed to the business side of the industry.  Join Rahul and Ben for a fascinating discussion with Neville and Doug, as they describe how they got their start in this practice, recount some of their most interesting cases, and talk about trends in entertainment law resulting from new technologies. About Neville Johnson - Senior PartnerWebsite: Johnson and Johnson, LLP Law Firm | Johnson and Johnson, LLP (jjllplaw.com) Professional Experience:Neville L. Johnson graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Berkeley (1971).  He received his law degree from Southwestern Law School (1975), graduating near the top of his class.  He has tried over 28 civil jury trials and over 70 civil trials and arbitrations without a jury. He is a member of the invitation-only American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and is on the Board of Governors of the Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles (CAALA since 2005), the Board of Directors of the national organization Public Justice, and on the Board of Governors of the Beverly Hills Bar Association 2013-2015 and 2020-2022 (BHBA). Johnson is a long-time member of the invitation-only Los Angeles Copyright Society, and on the Board of The California Society of Entertainment Lawyers. He was nominated for Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2005 by CAALA.  He was Co-Chair of the Entertainment Law Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association from 2009 to 2011. He has been on the Planning Committee of the USC Entertainment Law Institute since 2011. He has appeared in courts in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. In 2020, Mr. Johnson and his team secured a verdict in a Right of Publicity case of over 9 Million Dollars in damages, and over 7 Million Dollars in attorneys fees. Mr. Johnson has litigated and settled countless cases against a wide array of defendants concerning royalty accounting, profit participation, publicity rights, idea theft, copyright infringement, and many other entertainment law matters. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School since 2012, where he teaches Entertainment and Media Litigation. However, his greatest pride has been in defending the privacy rights of all citizens against the worst malefactors in the media. His work in this field was perhaps best summarized by Professor David A. Elder, a leading expert on the law of privacy, who published the following special dedication in his treatise, Privacy Torts: To Neville L. Johnson… who has led the charge, often successfully (and always creatively and with great passion) in exposing some of the worst outrages of media newsgathering. Neville ranks with Brandeis and Warren as the great defenders of privacy. All America is in his debt. Mr. Johnson has practiced entertainment law and IP law since 1975 [except for 10 months in 1977-78 when he was a Public Defender (juvenile) in Los Angeles County and handled over 100 matters, including two murder trials and one attempted murder trial]. Mr. Johnson has represented many well-known celebrities and entertainment concerns. The firm currently represents Sylvester Stallone in net profit litigation, and many other writers, directors, actors, producers, musicians, models, and JoJo Siwa, the biggest teen star in the world. He and his firm have been lead counsel in many class actions, including pioneering class actions in the entertainment industry against the entertainment unions, major record companies and motion picture companies. The firm has also handled a number of consumer class actions. The firm handles 15 to 20 right of publicity cases a year. Mr. Johnson is a frequent lecturer and written extensively on entertainment, copyright and media and other legal topics, including in London, England  (Entertainment attorneys based in the UK, London Branch of Entertainment Section of BHBA), Cannes, France (MIDEM, the international music convention), New York (ABA Forum on Communications Section, and Entertainment Law Section and New York Bar Assn.: Entertainment Law Section), Nashville (ABA Entertainment Law Section), Las Vegas (ABA Entertainment Law Section), Miami, Arizona State University, Stanford University, U.C. Berkeley, Loyola Law School, Southwestern Law School, USC Entertainment Law Institute annual forum (3 times) as well as the undergraduate school, California Western School of Law, California State University, Northridge, and many times to the Entertainment Section of the BHBA as a panelist or moderator), the Intellectual Property Section of Los Angeles County Bar Assn., and Berklee College of Music (Boston). Johnson & Johnson LLP, based in Beverly Hills, California, is a litigation firm that specializes in complex litigation with a particular emphasis on entertainment, intellectual property, right of publicity, privacy, defamation, consumer issues, and class actions. Mr. Johnson and the firm also negotiate business and entertainment agreements. Representative Matters:Obtained a 9.6 Million Dollar jury verdict after a seven week jury trial for claim of violation of the right of publicity, Hansen v. The Coca Cola Company, the largest verdict for a right of publicity case in the history of the United States. The trial court also awarded 7.4 million dollars in attorneys' fees.Obtained a unanimous landmark privacy ruling from the California Supreme Court in Sanders v. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (1999) 20 Cal.4th 907, a decision that is included in multiple casebooks and taught in law schools across the country.Obtained a published California Court of Appeal opinion representing fitness celebrity Richard Simmons in right of privacy claims against a magazine and private eye for placing a GPS tracker on a car. Simmons v. Bauer Media (2020)Represented numerous victims (both individually and in a class action) of notorious wiretapper Anthony Pellicano and other liable parties, including obtaining a favorable partial affirmance of a significant sanctions award by the California Court of Appeal in Gerbosi v. Gaims, Weil, West & Epstein LLP (2011) 193 Cal.App.4th 435, which concerned a law firm's use of Pellicano's services.Pioneered the use of class actions against studios and record labels for improperly accounting to artists regarding royalties and profit participation, obtaining multiple eight-figure settlements therefrom. Represented many individuals in profit participation claims, including Sylvester Stallone, Jack Klugman, Richard Dreyfuss and Mike Connors.Represented the heir of songwriter Gram Parsons in Parsons v. Tickner (1995) 31 Cal.App.4th 1513, defeating a statute of limitations defense and establishing a fiduciary duty claim against a music publisher.Represented numerous legendary musicians and/or their estates on a variety of contractual, accounting, and intellectual property matters, including John Lennon, Buddy Holly, Michelle Phillips, Rick Nelson, P.F. Sloan, members of Earth, Wind and Fire, Mitch Ryder, Lloyd Price and many others.Obtained a $15 million award in a jury trial business fraud case. Honors:He has been repeatedly selected by Super Lawyers as one of the top entertainment attorneys in Southern California (top 5% of attorneys as voted by peers). In 2020, 2021 and 2022 Super Lawyer and his peers named him one of the top 100 attorneys in Southern California, the only entertainment attorney on the list, he was named one of the top 100 Power Lawyers in Entertainment Law by The Hollywood Reporter every year since, 2008, and in 2020 moved to a new permanent category and designated a “Legal Legend.” He has also been designated numerous times one of the top lawyers in entertainment by Variety and Los Angeles legal newspapaer The Daily Journal. He was nominated as Trial Lawyer of the Year by the California Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. He is a fellow at the American Law Institute (only 2% of all attorneys are members).  In 2020 he was honored as Alumnus of the Year by the Biederman Entertainment Law Institute at Southwestern Law School.   A law review article about his career is Richard and Calvert, “Suing the Media, Supporting the First Amendment: the Paradox of Neville Johnson and the Battle for Privacy,” 67 Albany Law Review 1097 (2004). On June 23, 2015, the Los Angeles Times did a major profile (front page, Business Section) on his career, “Contract Sport, ‘Go-to' L.A. Lawyer Says Hollywood Studios Are Shortchanging His Clients,” noting that Johnson & Johnson is one of the few firms successfully taking on the entertainment establishment on a regular basis. The cover story of the July 2016, issue of Attorney at Law magazine is about Neville Johnson.  The Los Angeles Business Journal profiled him on its first page, “Lawyer Up,” (September 9, 2019). Speaking Engagements:He is a frequent speaker, including in London, England [Entertainment attorneys based in the UK, London Branch of Entertainment Section of Beverly Hills Bar Association (BHBA)], Cannes, France (MIDEM, the international music convention), the Intellectual Property Section of Los Angeles County Bar Assn., and Berklee College of Music (Boston); and the Los Angeles Copyright Society. New York (ABA Forum on Communications Section, and Entertainment Law Section and New York Bar Assn.: Entertainment Law Section), Nashville (ABA Entertainment Law Section), Las Vegas (ABA Entertainment Law Section), Miami, Arizona State University, Stanford University, U.C. Berkeley, Loyola Law School, Southwestern Law School, USC Entertainment Law Institute annual forum (3 times) as well as the undergraduate school, California Western School of Law, California State University, Northridge, and many times to the Entertainment Section of the BHBA as a panelist or moderator),  SInce 2011 he has moderated the panel on ethical issues for the annual Year in Review for the Entertainment Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association. Publications: Johnson & Johnson, “Interesting New Developments About Which All Practitioners Should be Aware,” 31 New York State Bar Assn, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Journal 56 (2020); Johnson, Johnson, Smolla & Tweed, “Defamation and Invasion of Privacy in the Internet Age,” 25 Southwestern Journal of International Law 9 (2019) Johnson & Johnson, “Trouble in Tinseltown, Los Angeles Daily Journal (April 23, 2019); “My Big Mouth,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (March 29, 2019); Johnson & Johnson, “Entertainment Contracts with Minors in New York and California, 30 New York State Bar Assn, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Journal 75 (2019); Johnson & Johnson, “A New Way to Revive a Corporation?,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (October 18, 2016); Johnson & Johnson, “Hollywood Docket: One Sided World,” 27 New York State Bar Assn, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Journal 32 (2016); Johnson & Elder, “Maybe America Needs More Peter Thiels,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (August 8, 2016); “We've Lost Control,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (June 16, 2016); “Talent Agency Act Survives Suit, Clarity Remains Elusive,” Los Angeles Daily Journal (May 10, 2013); “The Man Who Seduced Hollywood,” 36 Los Angeles Lawyer 41(September 2013); “Remedies for Web Defamation,” California Lawyer 36 (May 2013); “To Find Employment as a Lawyer, You Must Market Yourself,” 36 Los Angeles Lawyer 12 (June 2013); “Ten Rules for Success in the Practice of Law, 31 Los Angeles Lawyer 12 (June 2008); Chapter, Johnson & Aradi, “Defamatory Tweeting and Other Name and Likeness Violations” in Building Your Artist's Brand as a Business, International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (2012) (includes a discussion of right of publicity); Chapter, Johnson & Fowler, “Litigation: How to Draft Defensively Without Killing the Deal” in Licensing of Music from BC to AD (Before the Change/After Digital), International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (2014); Elder, Johnson & Rishwain, “Establishing Constitutional Malice for Defamation and Privacy/False Light Claims When Hidden Cameras and Deception Are Used by the Newsgatherer,” 22 Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review 327 (2002); “New Developments in California Privacy and Defamation Law,” 23 California Litigation 21 (2010); Johnson & Johnson, “What Happened to Unjust Enrichment in California? The Deterioration of Equity in the California Courts,” 44 Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review 277 (2010); Johnson & Walsh, “The Danger of “Anti-Libel Tourism” Litigation in the United States, 32 Los Angeles Lawyer 44 (December 2009); Johnson, “Privacy and the First Amendment”, California Litigation (2006); co-author “Caught in the Act,” Los Angeles Lawyer (1998) (an analysis of trends in the right of privacy); Johnson & Lang, The Personal Manager in the California Entertainment Industry, 52 Southern California Law Review 375 (1979)(a definitive article on the regulation of talent agents, personal managers, and the interplay of entertainment unions and guilds in that nexus). He co-authored chapters on music publishing and personal managers in The Musician's Business & Legal Guide (2017 5th edition), and wrote the authorized and best-selling biography of the greatest coach in the history of sports, The John Wooden Pyramid of Success (Second Edition 2004). Since 2012, Neville and Douglas Johnson have taught a course on entertainment and media litigation as Adjunct Professors at Southwestern School of Law.  From 2011-2014, he was one of the panelists teaching the Los Angeles County Bar Association new admittees course on class actions; and since 2011 he has moderated the panel on ethical issues for the annual Year in Review for the Entertainment Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association.  Professional Associations:American Board of Trial Advocates (invitation only)Association of Business Trial LawyersBeverly Hills Bar Association Co-Chair Entertainment Section, 2009-2011Board of Governors, 2012-2015, 2020-2022Consumer Attorneys Association of Los AngelesBoard of Governors, 2005-PresentConsumer Attorneys of CaliforniaLos Angeles Copyright Society (invitation only)Los Angeles County Bar AssociationLoyola Productions [Filmmaking arm of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits)]Co-Chair of the Board, 2009-PresentNational Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammy organization)Voting Member (as the recording artist professionally known as Trevor McShane)Public Justice (National organization advocating for consumers and fundamental rights)Board of Governors, 2011-PresentUSC Entertainment Law InstitutePlanning Board, 2011-Present Education:J.D., Southwestern University School of Law, 1975B.A., University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, 1971 Practice Areas:Media LawEntertainment LawEntertainment Class ActionsPrivacy LawComplex Business Litigation Matters, including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and fraudRight of Publicity (wrongful use of name and likeness)Copyright Infringement and Theft of Idea casesIssues involving the entertainment unions Admissions:CaliforniaUnited States Supreme Court  About Douglas Johnson - Managing PartnerWebsite: Johnson and Johnson, LLP Law Firm | Johnson and Johnson, LLP (jjllplaw.com) Professional Experience:Mr. Johnson is well known for handling high-profile and high-impact entertainment matters. His clients include producers, actors, directors, writers, production companies, music artists, composers, music publishers, and independent record labels. He is well-known for his successes in royalty disputes, profit participation disputes, right of publicity cases, and theft of idea cases for film and television.  Mr. Johnson also handles invasion of privacy and libel cases, business disputes, and class actions.  Mr. Johnson has been repeatedly named by Super Lawyer as a top intellectual property litigator for more than a decade, representing the top 2.5% of the profession in Southern California. Mr. Johnson also serves as outside general counsel for WorldStarHipHop.com, a popular music and pop culture website, where he deals with cutting-edge copyright, media, and right of privacy issues.  Mr. Johnson has handled numerous copyright infringement lawsuits in Federal Court for Worldstar.   Since co-founding Johnson & Johnson, Mr. Johnson has been at the forefront of developing California's right of publicity laws. He regularly represents celebrities, models, and professional athletes in litigation against defendants who have wrongfully used their images.  He has litigated cases up to the California Supreme Court, advocating for precedent to protect the rights of all Californians from those who would seek to profit from their names, images, and likenesses without authorization. Mr. Johnson's advocacy in this area of law extends to his participation on speaking panels, publication of scholarly articles, and educating law students on the importance of these rights.  Mr. Johnson recently litigated a right of publicity case that resulted in a 9.6 million jury award and an attorney fee award of 7 million against Coca-Cola and Monster Energy for building their Hubert's Lemonade brand around the name of the founder of Hansen Juices, Hubert Hansen.  Mr. Johnson also received a seven-figure jury award in a right of publicity case for an actor/supermodel.   Representative Matters:Handled profit participation disputes on behalf of Sylvester Stallone (Demolition Man, Expendables, and the Rocky Films), Glen Larson (Magnum PI, Knight Rider, Fall Guy, Battlestar Galactica), Ed Weinberger (Amen), Richard Dreyfuss (Goodbye Girl, Mr. Holland's Opus, and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, and What About Bob?), Raymond Wagner (Turner and Hooch), Jack Klugman (Quincy, Odd Couple), Mike Connors (Mannix), the Estate of Charles Bronson (St. Ives, Telefon), Mort Engelberg (Hot Stuff and Smokey And The Bandit), and the owners of the Friday 13th horror franchise.  Lead counsel in a class action against Sony Music, resulting in $12.7 million settlement and 36% uplift in ongoing foreign streaming royalties in Nelson v. Sony (S.D.N.Y) benefiting thousands of legacy recordings artists; currently co-counsel in similar litigation on behalf of legacy artists signed to Warner and Universal. Lead Counsel defending RatPac inidea theft case over the 2018 Melissa McCarthy movie, Life of the Party. (case dismissed on Motion for Summary Judgment).Lead Counsel representing producer in a dispute over turnaround rights to the film Rush Hour 4.  Lead Counsel for Janet Jackson in a royalty dispute with her label.  Obtained $5.35 million in retrospective relief and an estimated $3.1 million in savings over the next three years in Risto v. AFM & SAG-AFTRA (C.D. Cal.) for non-featured performers who receive royalties from the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund.Obtained a seven-figure settlement as lead counsel in a major talent management dispute for actress Karrueche Tran after successfully freezing all her manager's assets in Tran v. Muhammad (C.D. Cal.)Currently representing the leading production music company in North America on a variety of copyright matters both in and out of litigation-see, e.g., Associated Production Music v. The Vail Corp. (C.D. Cal.)Co-counsel in class actions against major Hollywood studios alleging endemic underpayment on home video and new digital media for pre-1982 movies for writers, producers, actors, and directors.  In those cases, Mr. Johnson handled the settlement with Universal for $25 million, the settlement with Fox for $12.6 million, and the settlements with Sony and Paramount.Mr. Johnson was co-counsel in three class actions against the record industry companies over digital download royalties of underpayments to artists (Temptations/Motels/Ronee Blakely), resulting in eight-figure settlements.  The cases dealt head-on with unresolved points of law as to the classification of digital downloads, and the rights of artists to receive royalties in the face of changing technology. Mr. Johnson has litigated several high-profile libel actions against large media companies, resulting in several mid-seven-figure settlements.  Recently he represented Richard Simmons against In-Touch Magazine. In May 2020, he argued and won an Anti-SLAPP appeal for Mr. Simmons.With his partner, Neville L. Johnson, he settled three class actions against the Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild of America, and Screen Actors Guild of America for tens of millions of dollars of unpaid foreign levies.  Defended blues icon B.B. King in a case seeking declaratory relief regarding the right to produce a film about his life, resulting in dismissal of the lawsuit.Obtained a seven-figure jury verdict in Oregon U.S. District Court on behalf of a music artist and record company in a copyright infringement case.Represented business owner in arbitration in a partnership dispute resulting in a seven-figure award for the client.Wrongful death and civil rights case resulting in reorganization of staffing and training at a county jail. The matter was featured on the cover of the Sacramento News & Review and constituted the largest settlement in the nation at the time for such a case. Thought Leadership:Panelist, CalCPA: Entertainment Industry Conference (June 21, 2022)Panelist, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Entertainment Law Year in Review, Ethics (January 13, 2020)Adjunct Professor, Entertainment and Media Litigation, Southwestern School of Law, (2012 to Present)Panelist, “Backend Optics: Profit Participations Through Different Lenses,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, Entertainment Law Section, (2018)Panelist, “I'm a Celebrity, You Can't Do That, (Can You?), California Society of Entertainment Lawyers, (2018)Panelist, “Entertainment Year in Review: Entertainment Litigation With Stars Of The Bar,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, Entertainment Law Section, (2017)Panelist, “The Right of Publicity: The State of The Current Law,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, Entertainment Law Section, (2014)The Ever-Evolving Courtroom Drama of Net Profits, Donald L. Stone's Inn of St. Ives, (2012)Panelist, Right of Publicity: How Much Is Your Client Really Worth?, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Entertainment Law Section, (2012)Panelist, Current Issues in Right of Likeness, Defamation and Privacy, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Entertainment Law Section, (2011)Panelist, Injuries Without Remedies, Loyola Law School's Legal Symposium, (2011) Sample Publications:The Troubling Trend of Online Exceptionalism to Copyright's Separate Accrual Rule, New York State Bar Association, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Vol. 34, No. 2, (Summer 2023)Florida sides with California on delayed discovery in copyright cases, Daily Journal (March 3, 2023)The Second and Ninth Circuits Diverge on Copyright Law's Discovery Rule, New York State Bar Association, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Vol 33, No. 2 (Fall 2022)The Top 3 Copyright Law Developments of 2022 (So Far), New York State Bar Association, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Vol. 33, No. 2, (Spring 2022)Say Goodbye to Back-End Deals, New York State Bar Association, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Vol. 32, No. 3 (Fall 2021)3 Music Litigation Developments in 2020-2021, Daily Journal (October 23, 2021)Contract, Fraud, and Libel Damages, Journal of Consumer Attorneys Associations for Southern California, Advocate Magazine (October 2021).  3 Music Litigation Developments in 2020-2021, Daily Journal (September 16, 2021)Recent Developments In Entertainment Law: Defamation Jurisdiction, Copyright, and Talent Contest Agreements (Summer 2021)Black Windows: Scarlett Jo vs Disney, Daily Journal, (July 6, 2021)Recent Right of Privacy Developments, Daily Journal, (July 22, 2021)Developments In Libel, Social Media, Privacy and The Right of Publicity, (Spring 2021)Copyright Developments in 2020, New York State Bar Association, Arts and Sports Journal, Vol. 32, No. 1 (Sring 2021)Pandemic-era Appellate Rulings Take on Arbitration, Los Angeles Daily Journal (April 22, 2021)Recent Interesting Cases, New York State Bar Association, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Vol. 31, No. 2, (Spring 2020)Hollywood Docket: Trending: Data Privacy, Copyright Trolling, And A Clause To Keep In Mind, New York State Bar Association, (June 6, 2020)Recent Development In Copyright Law, Daily Journal, (August 2, 2020)COVID-19 And The Return To Film Production In California, Los Angeles Daily Journal, (July 13, 2020)Interesting New Developments About Which All Practitioners Should Be Aware Of, New York State Bar Association, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Vol. 31, No. 1, (Winter 2020)My Big Mouth, Journal of Consumer Attorneys Association for Southern California, Advocate Magzine, (December 2019)Entertainment Contracts With Minors in New York and California, New York State Bar Association, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Vol. 30, No. 1, (Spring 2019)Defamation and Invasion of Privacy in the Internet Age, Southwestern Journal of International Law, Volume XXV (2019)When Will Legal Communication Result In Liability? Los Angeles Daily Journal, (Mar 29, 2019)Entertainment Contracts With Minors: Clarification Needed, Los Angeles Daily Journal, (Nov. 27, 2018)Tales and Lessons Regarding the Right of Publicity, USC Entertainment Law Spotlight, Issue 2, (2018)Hollywood Docket: Tales and Lessons Regarding the Right of Publicity, New York State Bar Association, Arts and Sports Law Journal, No. 2, (Summer 2018)Hollywood Docket: Essential Clauses for Drafting an Ironclad Release and Consent Agreement, New York State Bar Association, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Vol. 29, No. 1, (Spring, 2018)Before You Sign That Deal At Cannes…Produced By, Producers Guild of America, (April/May 2017)Hollywood Docket: Making the Perfect Pitch, New York State Bar Association, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Vol. 27, No.3, (Fall/Winter 2017)Hollywood Docket: One-Sided World, New York State Bar Association, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Vol 27, No. 2., (Summer, 2016)A New Way to Revive a Corporation, Los Angeles Daily Journal, (Oct 26, 2016)Hollywood Docket: Social Media, the Law, and You, New York State Bar Association, Arts and Sports Law Journal, Vol. 27, No. 3 (Fall 2016)What Happened to Unjust Enrichment in California? The Deterioration of Equity in the California Courts, Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review, Vol. 44:277 (Fall 2010) Published Cases:Gerbosi v. Gaims, Weil, West & Epstein, LLP (2011) 193 Cal.App.4th 435Walker v. Geico General Ins. Co. (9th Cir. 2009) 558 F.3d 1025Simmons v. Bauer Media Group USA, LLC (2020) 50 Cal App.5th 1037Education:J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2000, Dean's ListB.A., University of Southern California, 1996, Dean's List Practice Areas:Entertainment LitigationComplex Business LitigationClass Action LitigationIntellectual Property LitigationDefamation, Media, and First Amendment LawRights of Privacy and Publicity Admissions:California   

Chicago-based trial lawyer Jeffrey Kroll is no stranger to risk.  On the road to some of his biggest verdicts, including a 2017 verdict for $148 million, Jeff has turned down big money to cast his lot with the jury.  Join Ben and Rahul for their conversation with Jeff, in which he discusses some of the core beliefs and strategies that inform his highly successful approach to trying cases to juries.  Listeners will come away with many insightful tips that will benefit their own trial practices. About Jeffrey KrollWebsite: Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys | Kaveny + Kroll Jeffrey J. Kroll is a founding partner at Kaveny + Kroll, a Chicago firm focused primarily on plaintiffs' tort litigation.  Jeff has been representing victims of negligence for over three decades and has taken cases to verdict throughout the country in the areas of trucking accidents, products liability, premises liability, medical malpractice and transportation negligence.   In 2017, Jeff was a major part of the trial team that won a record-breaking $148 million verdict on behalf of a dancer paralyzed by a collapsed shelter at O'Hare International Airport.  This is the highest compensatory damage award to an individual plaintiff in Illinois history.  Jeff regularly handles complex damage cases and has received multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements. Jeff obtained a $15.2 million verdict on behalf of a man who was seriously injured when he was struck and run over by a forklift at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.  He obtained a $5.25 million dollar verdict in the first U.S. bike share death.   During his career, he has obtained verdicts or negotiated settlements on over 80 occasions where the results have exceeded $1 million, including six cases which have exceeded $10 million.  Jeff has obtained more than $430 million in verdicts and settlements throughout his career.  Jeff is also active in national bar associations where he routinely speaks and writes on several trial topics as part of his commitment to maintaining quality and professionalism in the legal community. He has been asked to lecture on over 160 occasions and has published over 139 articles for lawyers. Based on his substantial contributions to continuing legal education, the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education recognized Jeff with IICLE's 2015 Addis E. Hull award.  In 2008, that same group awarded Jeff the Top Instructor in CLE courses.   Jeff is also a highly sought-after legal commentator, making frequent local and national media appearances to provide in-depth legal insight and analysis of current events.  He has been interviewed in countless television segments, podcasts, and publications.   

Join Ben and Rahul for their discussion with Ohio Trial Lawyer, Allen Tittle who recently obtained a $6.19 million verdict in a difficult medical malpractice case in rural Ohio.  This was a case that Allen round tabled with Ben's breakout medical malpractice group at the PSBR trial college in California last year.  We discuss how Allen successfully used the hospital policies to establish the standard of care and system failures that resulted in the harm to his client.  We also talk about how Allen's unusual and challenging childhood created the foundation for his future success as a trial lawyer and informed his abilities to connect with clients and juries.  About Allen TittleAllen is a born and raised Ohioan. He grew up here, went to undergrad and law school in Ohio, and now serves this community with his law firm. Hardworking blue-collar people are his roots, who he relates with best, and is the reason he couldn't see himself living anywhere else. Allen was dropped on his great-great-aunt and uncle's doorstep when he was two weeks old. They took him in when they didn't have to and raised him as their own. While growing up, the phrase “it takes a village” couldn't be more true for him. He loves being able to help the people he grew up around and give back to the village that helped raise him. Both as a business and personally, Allen strongly believes in giving back to the community. He has a scholarship for students and is involved with many community initiatives.  Allen is best known as a family man, Cleveland sports fan, and supportive member of his community. Experience & ExpertiseAllen is the founder and co-owner of Tittle & Perlmuter. He started the firm in 2015 at his kitchen table with six figures of student loan debt, his first baby on the way, and a brand new mortgage because he wanted a law firm where clients actually came first. Allen practices exclusively in the area of personal injury, with an emphasis on medical malpractice and nursing home neglect state-wide. Medical malpractice cases are some of the most difficult cases to take on, but he is always up for a challenge and relishes the role of the underdog. Being a lawyer gives him the power to fight the Goliaths of the world, whether it be a billion-dollar insurance company or a multi-million-dollar medical company. He has the honor and privilege of representing people and families who have had their lives turned upside down by catastrophic injuries with life-altering effects. Recovering money, getting justice and answers, and helping families move on is the biggest responsibility that he does not take lightly. Allen has committed his life's work and legacy to serving his clients and community as one of Ohio's leading personal injury lawyers. Background & EducationAllen was born and raised in Huron, Ohio. After graduating from Huron High School, he attended Bowling Green State University where he graduated Magna cum laude. He then went to law school at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law where he graduated magna cum laude. Because of his education, experience, and expertise, Allen is asked to speak by multiple bars and legal associations like the Ohio Association for Justice, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Lorain County Bar Association, and the Westshore Bar Association. Bar & Court AdmissionsOhioUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Community InvolvementHanson House Traumatic Brain Injury Clubhouse, Member of the Board of DirectorsBay Wrestling Club, Assistant CoachYouth Flag Football, Head CoachCleveland-Marshall College of Law Alumni Association's Board of Directors Honors & AwardsAV Preeminent, Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional ExcellenceOhio Association for Justice, Medical Malpractice Chair 2018-2020National Trial Lawyers Top 100Rising Stars List 2015-2020Super Lawyers List 2022National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40Avvo Top Attorney, 10.0 RatingMillion Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocate's ForumNation's Top Attorneys, Top 1%, National Association of Distinguished CounselGlobal Directory of Who's WhoCALI Award for Excellence in Constitutional LawAlumni Association ScholarshipLead Counsel VerifiedBest Lawyers 2023 AssociationsKeenan Trial Institute, Master's Graduate 2021Ohio Association for Justice, SecretaryAmerican Association for Justice, State DelegateCleveland Academy of Trial AttorneysOhio State Bar AssociationCleveland Metropolitan Bar AssociationLorain County Bar AssociationWestshore Bar Association

When trial lawyer Jamal Alsaffar of Austin Texas heard about the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, he had the eerie feeling of history repeating itself.  Many of the facts were strikingly similar to what had occurred in the Sutherland Springs church mass shooting case in Texas that Jamal tried to a Federal judge, resulting in a $230 million judgment for the families.  In the process, Jamal also forced the U.S. Government to disclose documents and information that demonstrated a long-standing pattern of failing to report dangerous, violent, and mentally unstable members of the armed forces to the FBI databank, thereby permitting tens of thousands of deranged or dangerous individuals to purchase and continue to possess firearms.  As a result of Jamal's case, he not only secured compensation for his clients, but he forced the Air Force to enact policy changes that resulted in tens of thousands of dangerous individuals being reported.  Join Ben and Rahul for their in-depth discussion with Jamal, including his journey to becoming a trial lawyer that started with him becoming a standout in high school and college mock trial competitions to becoming one of the leading lawyers in the United States in bringing claims against the Federal Government and representing victims of mass shootings. About Jamal AlsaffarMr. Alsaffar was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and is a nationally experienced trial attorney. Mr. Alsaffar has spent his entire career as a trial lawyer representing individuals and families. He has successfully represented clients in state, federal, and appellate courts across the country in complex personal injury and medical malpractice cases. In addition to a Texas statewide practice, Mr. Alsaffar has a national Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) practice representing veterans and military families around the country including Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington D.C., New York, New Hampshire, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington. In 2013, Mr. Alsaffar was selected as one of the 20 “Leading Lawyers” under the age of forty in the state of Texas by Texas Lawyer magazine. His legal peers have voted him as a “Super Lawyer” from 2014-2022 and prior to that as a Texas “Rising Star” from 2006-2014. Mr. Alsaffar has also served as the National Chair of the Federal Torts and Military Advocacy Section for the American Association of Justice, the nation's premier trial lawyer organization. Mr. Alsaffar served as an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at the University of Texas School of Law, and also served as a volunteer coach for the University of Texas undergraduate trial advocacy team for over ten years. Mr. Alsaffar is a proud father of three children and is a volunteer select soccer coach for the Lake Travis Youth Association and serves on the board of LTYA. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONSMr. Alsaffar is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers' Association, Federal Bar Association, the Capital Area Trial Lawyers' Association, and the Austin Bar Association. He has served as Co-Chair of the Birth Trauma/Medical Negligence Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice, and has twice served as the Chair of the Federal Tort Liability and Military Advocacy section of the American Association for Justice. He is on the Federal Torts Executive Committee for the American Association for Justice. Mr. Alsaffar is also a fellow of the Texas State Bar Foundation. BAR ADMISSIONSUnited States Supreme CourtSupreme Court of TexasUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States District Court, Western District of TexasUnited States District Court, Eastern District of TexasUnited States District Court, Southern District of TexasUnited States District Court, Northern District of TexasUnited States District Court, Middle District of TennesseeUnited States District Court, Southern District of IllinoisUnited States District Court, Northern District of FloridaPRACTICE AREASFederal Tort ClaimsMedical MalpracticePersonal InjuryCivil Trials and Appeals EDUCATIONUniversity of Texas at Austin, B.A., 1996Baylor University Law School, J.D., 2000 NOTABLE CASE RESULTSJoe Holcombe, et al.; Plaintiffs -vs- United States of America, Defendant, $230,000,000.00 Trial Judgment for failure to report mass shooter to FBI database. This is most commonly known as the Sutherland Springs Mass Shooting case.Farley v. United States, $21,568,710.62 Trial Judgment against Manchester, New Hampshire Veteran Affairs Hospital, Concord, New Hampshire, for failure to properly treat a stroke resulting in permanent paralysis. $15,884,511.98 received by clients after fees and expenses.Brown v. United States, $13,690,648 Trial Judgment against United States Navy, Naval Branch Health Clinic, Millington, TN, for failure to prescribe prenatal vitamins containing folic acid, resulting in a baby developing spina bifida and lifelong disabilities. $9,183,752 received by clients after fees and expenses.Elliott v. United States, $8,000,000 Settlement against United States Army, Darnall Army Community Hospital, Texas, for negligent labor and delivery care resulting in hypoxic permanent brain injury to a child. $5,850,783.79 received by clients after fees and expenses.Roberts v. United States, $7,860,000 Settlement against United States Army, Bassett Army Community Hospital, Fairbanks, Alaska, for negligent labor and delivery care resulting in permanent hypoxic brain injury to a child. $5,688,631.37 received by clients after fees and expenses.Timmons v. United States, $6,500,000 Settlement against United States Air Force, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, for negligent labor and delivery care resulting in a permanent brain injury to a child. $4,607,211.28 received by clients after fees and expenses.Humble v. United States, $5,800,000 Settlement against United States Army for negligent care during labor and delivery and a delay in performing a C-section at Darnall Army Community Hospital, resulting in a permanent brain injury to a child. $4,106,711.68 received by clients after fees and expenses.Lee v. United States, $5,117,473.50 Trial Judgment against United States Air Force, Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, for failure to treat a child's infection resulting in a double kidney transplant. $3,475,648.35 received by clients after fees and expenses.Holweger v. United States, $2,300,000 Settlement against United States Navy for negligent care during labor and delivery and failing to timely perform a C-section at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center in Virginia. $1,623,930 received by clients after fees and expenses.Cloer v. United States, $2,150,000 Settlement against United States Army, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Tennessee, for failing to diagnose and treat colon cancer resulting in death. $1,492,813 received by clients after fees and expenses.Hogans v. United States, $1,650,000 Trial Judgment against United States Army, Joint Base Lewis-McCord in Washington and Winn Army Community Hospital in Georgia, for failing to diagnose a tumor leading to stroke and brain injury. $1,067,624 received by clients after fees and expenses. HONORS AND AWARDSSuper Lawyers, (2014 - 2023)Super Lawyers, Rising Stars (2007 - 2014)

Join Ben for his interview of Scott Perry, one of Virgina's most talented and successful trial lawyers.  Scott talks about his transition from Big Law to plaintiffs work and his later transition from a narrow focus on medical malpractice to a broader practice.  Scott discusses some of his landmark cases, including a case that changed the safety standard for American rowing and a recent $10 million verdict on behalf of a high school basketball star severely injured during a school community service project.  Scott talks about how he navigated the difficult facts of the case to achieve justice for his client.  About Scott PerryBefore joining Breit Biniazan, accomplished trial lawyer Scott Perry served as a founding partner of Perry Charnoff, PLLC.  Perry knows that it's not just luck, but skill that gets personal injury lawyers the best result. He strives to surround himself with like-minded attorneys who enjoy the challenge of pushing the status quo and raising the bar for trial practice, which is why he joined forces with Breit Biniazan. Perry, who has a history of creating change in his community, strives to leverage this partnership to make an even greater impact for his clients and the communities he serves. Several years ago, Scott represented a family in a devastating case involving a drowning on the Potomac River. The victim, an 18-year-old Filipino immigrant, became a rowing coach while on summer break from his Ivy League university. Unfortunately, one beautiful day, the victim was thrown from the launch and tragically drowned—despite being a strong swimmer.  When Perry looked into the case further, he discovered that the sport of rowing in the U.S. fell well behind its European counterparts when it came to safety. Coaches in other countries are required to wear special life vests and safety lanyards—and he successfully argued that safety measures like these could have prevented this tragedy. Perry's represented families in several other sporting injury and wrongful death cases since then.  While at Perry Charnoff, Scott's unique litigation approach led to multiple multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements, including: A $35.6 million jury verdict for a catastrophically injured clientA $12 million medical malpractice jury verdict for a family who lost a 39-year-old wife and mother due to an undiagnosed blood clotA $4.5 million sexual abuse lawsuit involving two special-needs adults who were raped and impregnated by a workshop employeeA $3.0 million medical malpractice verdict for the family of a lawyer whose heart was punctured during a minor procedureA $2.0 million medical malpractice jury verdict for a woman whose leg was amputated when a blood clot went undiagnosedA $1.55 million medical malpractice verdict for a federal worker whose ureter was sewed shut during a hysterectomyA $1.50 million premises liability lawsuit for the family of a child who drowned in a pool Helping the Davids Stand Up to the GoliathsPerry believes that trial lawyers and the jury system help level the playing field between well-funded parties and those with fewer economic resources. It's a David and Goliath challenge between injured plaintiffs and the biggest, most well-financed firms in the U.S.—and these firms fight like mad.  With Scott's broad experience in personal injury litigation, he levels this playing field expertly. And his philosophy of preparing each and every case as if it's going to trial forces defendants with deep pockets to sit up and take notice. Over the last 20 years, Perry has been consistently nominated as a Washington, D.C.-area “Super Lawyer,” honored in Virginia Lawyers Weekly, and (in 2019) named Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year. Each of these honors recognizes Perry's unsurpassed ability to recover damages on behalf of his clients. Not everyone realizes that, just like doctors, lawyers can become board-certified in certain areas of practice. Perry recently underwent an extensive process to become a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, demonstrating his proficiency in this area of law. Most recently, Scott was selected as a member of the invite-only Inner Circle of Advocates, which limits its members to the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in the country. He is one of only two Virginia attorneys selected to the Inner Circle, with the other member being his Partner, Jeffrey Breit. Both completed a rigorous vetting process requiring a review of verdicts and settlements, trial skills, commitment to the community, and general collegiality.  Representing Families After a Devastating LossPerry focuses his practice on catastrophic injury cases such as truck accidents, wrongful death, product liability, and medical malpractice. This laser focus allows Scott to give each client the individual attention and advice they deserve.  And it's paid off—he's successfully handled multiple cases involving catastrophic sports injuries, prompting the defendants to make nationwide safety changes to avoid future lawsuits.  What's more, with a brain-injury survivor in his own immediate family, Perry is well-aware of the challenges families face—which is why he's a longtime supporter and volunteer for Brain Injury Services, an organization dedicated to helping brain-injured children and adults build needed skills.  Scott, his wife JoAnn, and their two young children live in Northern Virginia. In his free time, Perry is an avid exercise enthusiast—though his favorite physical activity will always remain hiking with his family.

During a recent two-month period, Maryland and Pennsylvania-based trial lawyers Briggs Bedigian and Jon Stefanuca obtained verdicts of $34 million and $187 million in back-to-back trials in complex birth injury cases.  Join Ben and Rahul for their discussion with Briggs and Jon about their path to handling these challenging, highly leveraged, and risky cases, and the strategies they have developed for sustained and repeated success.  Whether you handle birth injury cases or not, this episode contains important lessons that will benefit anyone who tries cases for a living. About Briggs BedigianH. Briggs Bedigian (“Briggs”) is a trial lawyer dedicated to representing victims of medical malpractice and catastrophic personal injuries nationwide. Briggs and his partner, Charles Gilman, co-founded Gilman & Bedigian, LLC with one guiding principle – to provide the absolute best legal representation to those most in need.   Briggs' particular set of trial skills sets him apart from his peers when he steps into the courtroom. His familiarity with the trial process and his humility and comfort trying cases in front of juries has proven both persuasive and productive. Briggs has tried more than 70 cases to verdict, including winning the largest medical malpractice verdict in Pennsylvania history, $182 million on behalf of a catastrophically injured child. His record of success also includes winning the second largest medical malpractice verdict in Maryland history of $55 million.   While Briggs prepares every case for trial, he routinely achieves multimillion-dollar pre-trial settlements, many in excess of eight-figures. Experience has proven that the hard work of trial preparation and his assertive strategy has been crucial to his success.   Briggs has earned a reputation in the legal community as the “go-to attorney” for catastrophic medical malpractice and personal injury cases. When judges, defense lawyers, doctors, and prominent lawyers refer Briggs their serious personal injury cases, you know he is providing top notch legal representation – and getting top results.   Bar Admissions:  Maryland  Pennsylvania  District of Columbia  United States District Court of Maryland  United States District Court for the District of Columbia   Special Admissions by way of Pro Hac Vice:  Virginia  Texas  Alabama  New Jersey  Georgia  Delaware  North Carolina  Ohio  Nevada   Education:  University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D.  Honors: Top 10% of class  Ithaca College, New York, B.A.  All American football player  Captain of College football team – elected by teammates.   Professional Associations and Memberships:  The Inner Circle of Advocates (Inducted 2015)  Maryland Association for Justice (Elected to Board of Governors)  Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association (Elected to Board of Governors)  Pennsylvania Association for Justice  The American Association for Justice  Maryland State Bar Association  Baltimore City Bar Association   Honors and Awards:  2013 Trial Lawyer of the Year – Maryland Trial Lawyers Association  2016 Named as one of Maryland's Top 100 Lawyers – Super Lawyers Magazine  Named as “Super Lawyer” in the field of medical malpractice by Maryland Super Lawyers Magazine  Named as a ‘Rising Star” in the field of medical malpractice and personal injury by Baltimore Magazine's Maryland Super Lawyers  The Heuisler Honor Society  Named in The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40    About Jon Stefanuca   As a trial attorney at Gilman & Bedigian, LLC, Jon handles a variety of medical malpractice and personal injury cases. Jon has extensive experience with cases involving catastrophic injuries, including, but not limited to:  Cerebral Palsy  Pediatric brain injury  Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy  Developmental delays  Brain bleeds/ strokes  Neurologic injuries  Musculoskeletal injuries  Infections/ sepsis/ meningitis  Surgical injuries  Anesthesia injuries  Paraplegia/ quadriplegia  Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)  Spinal cord injuries   Jon dedicates most of his time to helping children injured by medical negligence, including children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, and developmental delays.   Beyond medical negligence, Jon has extensive experience with toxic exposure cases, including carbon monoxide poisoning and lead paint poisoning.   He has handled hundreds of birth injury cases around Maryland and across the country. Some of his recent jury verdicts speak for themselves:  $182,000,000, Birth Injury: Hagans v. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania  $34,000,000, Birth Injury: Anderson v. University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center  $20,000,000, Intellectual property dispute: Adcor Industries, Inc. v. Beretta USA Corp.  $13,300.000, Birth Injury: Lewis v. Upper Chesapeake Medical Center   In addition to medical malpractice litigation, Jon has extensive experience with toxic exposure cases, including carbon monoxide and lead paint cases. His experience includes class actions, mass actions, business disputes, contract disputes, intellectual property disputes, and non-disclosure agreement .litigation.  Verdicts and settlements in excess of $350,000,000.00.  America's Top 100 Medical Malpractice Litigators by America's Top 100.  “Nation's Top One Percent” of attorneys by National Association of Distinguished Counsel.  Power List for medical malpractice and personal injury by The Daily Record.  Board Member, Maryland Association for Justice, the largest trial lawyers' association in the State of Maryland.  Member, American Association for Justice.  Maryland Super Lawyer in the field of medical malpractice by Super Lawyers Magazine since 2020.  Rising Star in medical malpractice by Maryland Super Lawyers Magazine since 2011.  Maryland Top 10 under 40 for medical malpractice in 2015.   Prior to joining Gilman & Bedigian, LLC, Jon was a trial attorney with Murphy Falcon & Murphy, a nationally recognized group of elite trial lawyers. Jon represented the injured in a variety of cases involving medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injuries, product defects, brain injuries, lead poisoning, and carbon monoxide poisoning, among other cases. He was a member of the litigation team in the class action filed against St. Joseph Medical Center and Dr. Mark Midei, which culminated in a $37,000,000.00 settlement. Jon was also a member of the litigation team in the class action filed against Kennedy Krieger Institute, involving allegations of unethical and unlawful experimentation on children. Jon also developed a reputation for representing professional athletes and their families in personal injury cases.   Unlike most other attorneys, Jon has experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Jon was a litigation associate with Nash & Associates, LLC, where he represented MedStar Health, a $4 billion health care system in the Baltimore area with a network of nine hospitals and twenty other health-related businesses across Maryland and the Washington, D.C. region. As a result of this experience, Jon has a unique understanding of medical malpractice defense mentality and strategy.   Jon served a judicial clerkship for the Honorable W. Michel Pierson, Circuit Court Judge of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, prior to entering private practice.   EDUCATION  Jon graduated with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law. He served as the Articles Editor on the Board of the Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender, and Class. He was also admitted as a member of the school's Moot Court Board. As a student attorney, he represented a number of community organizations in the Economic Housing and Community Development Law Clinic for which he received a Special Achievement Award.   LANGUAGES  In addition to English, Jon speaks Russian, French and Romanian.   PUBLICATIONS  Jon Simon Stefanuca, The Fall of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971: A Public Choice Explanation, 19 U. Fla. J.L. & Pub. Pol'y 237 (2008).  Jon Simon Stefanuca, Crawford v. Washington: The Admissibility of Statements to Physicians and the Use of Closed-Circuit Television in Cases of Child Sexual Abuse, 5 U. Md. L. J. Race, Rel. Gender & Class 411 (2005).  Jon Simon Stefanuca, The PRI and Its Demise as Mexico's Single Ruling Party, 38 Towson U. J. Int'l Aff. 32 (2002).  Jon Simon Stefanuca, The ICC and the United States: Arguments in Favor of Ratification of the Rome Treaty, 37 Towson U. J. of Int'l Aff. (2001). 

Gideon Asen attorney, Trevor Savage, joins the podcast to talk about a recent case he and Ben Gideon tried involving a delay in diagnosis of prostate cancer.  Ben and Trevor discuss some of the legal challenges they had to overcome and how they used focus groups and big data to identify key issues and frame the case effectively for trial.  They discuss their approach to voir dire, opening statements, use of demonstrative aides and order of witnesses.   About Trevor SavageTrevor is a skilled trial attorney who represents clients in claims involving medical malpractice, wrongful deaths and other complex personal injury cases.After completing a clerkship with the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Trevor began his career at a large firm in Portland, representing medical providers, businesses, and insurance companies.Trevor's experience as a defense attorney gives him a unique perspective that he uses to give Gideon Asen's clients an advantage during litigation with insurance companies.A native of Maine, Trevor is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and then the University of Maine School of Law. At Maine Law, he served as Managing Editor of the Maine Law Review and as a legal writing teaching assistant for first-year students.During law school—alongside his then-classmate and current colleague, Meryl Poulin—he distinguished himself as one of two “Prize Arguers” of their class and argued before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He and Meryl Poulin—another Gideon Asen attorney—later competed nationally as teammates on the Maine Law Moot Court Team, finishing in the top three of a competition of more than forty teams.While at law school, Trevor interned with the Appellate Division of the United States Attorney's Office and then with Judge Kermit V. Lipez of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He also worked as a Student Attorney at the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office (winning his first two jury trials as a second-year law student).Trevor lives in North Berwick, Maine, with his wife, Amy, and two children, Jacob and Will.

Join Ben for his discussion with trial lawyers Larry and Lauren Acker from Travers City, Michigan.  Larry, who has spent his career trying legal and accounting malpractice claims, offers insights into how best to avoid having money embezzled from your law practice and how to avoid being sued for malpractice.  This father and daughter team discuss trying a recent accounting malpractice case together and the approach to communicating these types of cases to jurors. About Lawrence J. Acker_________________________Lawrence J. Acker, P.C/ The Acker Law Firm12930 S. West Bayshore DriveTraverse City, MI 49684248-229-1911 Education:B.A., Oakland University, Rochester MI 1970M.A.T., Oakland University, Rochester MI 1972J.D., Detroit College of Law, Detroit MI 1977 Practice Areas: Legal Malpractice Medical Malpractice Accounting Malpractice Family Law Fraud IssuesPersonal Injury Lawrence Acker is a trial attorney.  He has conducted trials in multiple Federal jurisdictions and multiple State Courts. He has conducted arbitration hearings at the American Arbitration Association, at JAMS and has served as a private arbitrator.Fellow of The American College of Trial Lawyers (FACTL 2007). Fellowship in the ACTL is available only by invitation. Fellows are inducted after rigorous investigation of adherence to the highest standards of trial performance and professional ethics. Membership is available to no more than 1% of the Trial Lawyers in the USA and Canada, after an attorney has established a reputation for excellence in trial advocacy.  Lawrence Acker served as Chairman of the State of Michigan Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers for a two-year term (2019-2020). Lawrence Acker is a past member of the Michigan Character and Fitness Committee. Lawrence Acker has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Martindale Hubbell Directory of Preeminent Attorneys and Michigan Super Lawyers Lawrence Acker has served on the Editorial Board of Michigan Lawyers Weekly.  He was nominated as “Lawyer of the Year” in 2002 by Lawyers Weekly.   Most recent trial completed: Lake Michigan Carferry vs. DeBoer Baumann, CPA firm. Mason County Circuit Court, Ludington, Michigan; Case No. 2019-000249-NM Entered judgment on jury verdict with interest 6/22/2023 in the amount of $746,918. Co-counsel Ms. Lauren Acker.  About Lauren AckerAssociate, Lawrence J. Acker, P.C/ The Acker Law Firm12930 S. West Bayshore DriveTraverse City, MI 49684 Education:J.D. William & Mary Law School, 2019B.A. Washington & Lee University, 2012 Admitted to Practice:MichiganDistrict of ColumbiaOregon Lauren has been assisting her father, Lawrence J Acker, with cases since November 2019, focusing on professional malpractice and personal injury.  Lauren is involved in all aspects of matters in Michigan State Courts and Federal Court including U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Michigan; Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; and Central District of California, Los Angeles.  Lauren sat second chair during a jury trial for accounting malpractice that resulted in the largest jury verdict in Mason County, Michigan.

Douglas “Monte” Tynes is a second-generation trial lawyer from Pascagoula, Mississippi.  Monte, who serves as the co-chair of the damages section of the Edge Trial College, has an insatiable desire to continue learning and getting better at the craft of trying cases.  In his career, Monte has tried numerous jury trials in civil rights, employment, personal injury, and medical malpractice cases.  He tries cases in Mississippi, in some of the most conservative and difficult plaintiff's venues in the Country.  Monte shares his recent experience achieving a verdict of almost $ 1 million in a low speed, no damage, rear-end car accident trial in a conversative Mississippi venue.  Monte talks about his “speed trial” technique and how he presented his difficult damages case.  Monte talks about other lessons learned from this and several other recent trials, and what he is continuing to do each day to hone is skills at the craft of trying cases. About Monte TynesDouglas L. Tynes, Jr., who prefers to go by the much more informal ‘Monte' Tynes, is a second-generation attorney, who began practicing law with his father, Douglas L. Tynes, in 2006. After the latter's retirement in May 2013, Mr Tynes continued practicing in the same historic building where his father had worked for more than 30 years. Mr. Tynes is a devoted practitioner of the law. He goes the extra mile to become better acquainted with his client by making house calls, so he may know them in their surroundings. Mr. Tynes makes sure that his team at Tynes Law Firm share his work ethic and is equally understanding of the needs of his clients. Areas of Specialization:Mr. Tynes' practice includes:Automobile accidents18-wheeler accidentsMedical malpracticeCriminal lawFamily law cases such as divorce, custody, and child supportMr. Tynes is admitted to practice in all state courts in Mississippi, as well as the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Education:Mississippi College School of Law, 2002-2005Active in the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association student chapterEarned a Juris Doctorate in May of 2005University of Mississippi School of Law, 2004-2005Finished final year of law school as a visiting studentGeorgia Institute of Technology, 1998-2002Earned Bachelor of Science in Civil EngineeringMember of the American Society of Civil Engineers and Sigma Phi EpsilonWrote for The Technique, the school's weekly newspaperWhile attending school full time, also worked at Pond & Co., Architects and Engineers Ocean Springs High School Graduated with High HonorsLettered in football and soccerPart of civic organizations such as Phi Kappa Representative Clients:Mr. Tynes has an impressive success rate when fighting complex and challenging cases. He has also obtained favorable results in several other kinds of cases, such as a recent $260,000.00 verdict in a sexual harassment case against former Sheriff Mike Byrd. In one of his most rewarding cases, Mr. Tynes, along with his co-counsel, obtained a rare acquittal in a capital murder case in ‘State of Mississippi v Tevin James Benjamin'. Personal Life:A longtime resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Monte is passionate about his family, fishing, and anything to do with Georgia Tech. He is married to Leilani Tynes, and they have four beautiful children.

Join Ben and Rahul for their conversation with Nevada trial lawyer Christian Morris.  Attorney Morris describes her journey, from going up on a farm in Maine with no electricity or running water to being named 2019 Trial Lawyer of the Year in Nevada after obtaining a $31 million verdict on behalf of a young California woman who suffered anaphylactic shock while attending a convention in Las Vegas.  Along the way, Attorney Morris describes how she found her own authentic approach, style, and voice as a lawyer that has enabled her to connect with jurors and to build a successful practice and career that she loves. About Christian Morris Christian Morris, Esq., is a personal injury trial attorney. Christian focuses exclusively on personal injury cases and making sure her clients obtain a just verdict or settlement. She recently received a $31 million dollar verdict for a woman who was severely brain damaged due to the negligence of Medic West, an ambulance company that chose to eliminate a lifesaving medication from their medic's jump bags to save $2.42 per bag. She is licensed to practice law in Nevada in both state and federal courts. Christian also holds bar licenses in California and New Jersey. In February, 2012, Christian successfully passed the New York State Bar. In 2013, Christian was accepted to the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer's College, and she continues her work with the Gerry Spence Method on the Ranch in Wyoming.  Christian was voted Nevada's Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Nevada Justice Association for 2019. She is the second woman in twenty-two years to receive the honor. Christian also serves on the Board of Governors for the American Association of Justice.Christian is well respected in the legal community for her candor, hard work and commitment to the civil justice system. Her verdicts have changed the law in Nevada for both premises liability cases and how Plaintiffs' counsel can be compensated for their fees. She has conducted both jury trials and bench trials and has published decisions by the Nevada Supreme Court.  Christian is the proud mother of Jackman Reese Burnette (age 5) and Winter Ryan Burnette (age 3).

In this episode, Ben and Rahul break down the recent $46 million verdict Rahul obtained in a case on behalf of a client injured during a Brazilian Jujitsu class.  Rahul talks about how he frames the issues in the case to deal with the challenge of many jurors believing that those who engage in dangerous activities, like Jujitsu, assume the risk of injury.  He shares his approach to voir dire and to obtaining this high-value verdict in a relatively conservative venue where verdicts tend to be on the lower side.  Rahul talks about how the verdict was received in the Jujitsu community and how it is likely to lead to changes that will make the practice safer.  About Rahul RavipudiRahul Ravipudi is a partner at Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP and has spent his legal career handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving commercial vehicles, pedestrians, industrial or construction accidents, utility negligence, dangerous conditions of public and private property as well as cases of sexual abuse and sexual assault. Mr. Ravipudi also represents consumers in class actions against businesses who engage in unfair/illegal business practices and public entities in cases where corporations have endangered the safety, health, property or comfort of the public. Mr. Ravipudi currently serves as Public Entity Plaintiffs' Co-Lead Counsel in the JUUL Labs Product Cases, representing school districts and other public entities in California involved in litigation against the electronic cigarette manufacturer. Has also serves as Plaintiffs Co-Lead Counsel in the Southern California Fire Cases litigation arising out of the 2017 Thomas Fire and subsequent debris flows in Montecito, California as well as on the Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the California North Bay Fires litigation. Mr. Ravipudi previously served on the Steering Committee in the Blythe bus crash litigation. Named 2017 Trial Lawyer of the Year by Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Mr. Ravipudi has obtained numerous landmark verdicts and settlements including a $160.5 million jury verdict for a man who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of a vicious beating by security personnel for a nightclub, a $46,475,112.33 jury verdict for a beginning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu student who suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury while sparring with a Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club instructor who performed a technique which rendered the student an incomplete quadriplegic, a $28,500,000+ settlement for a special needs student who was catastrophically injured after being struck by a vehicle while under the care and supervision of Victor Elementary School District (VESD) personnel, as well as a $23,500,000 settlement on behalf of the family of Paul Lee, a 19-year-old non-verbal autistic student who tragically died aboard a Whittier school bus after the driver left him behind to engage in a sexual tryst with a coworker. The Lee case was a catalyst for significant change in school transportation with Governor Jerry Brown signing the “Paul Lee School Bus Safety Law” in September 2016, requiring all school buses in the state of California to be equipped with a child safety alarm system that must be deactivated by the bus driver before departing the bus. The new law will go into effect at the start of the 2018-19 school year and requires bus drivers to receive training in child-safety check procedures. Committed to serving as an advocate for his clients, Mr. Ravipudi has obtained numerous eight-figure awards including a $20,500,000 jury verdict for the mother of a high school student who was killed while walking to a bus stop, a $19,786,818 jury verdict for a man who suffered severe burn and traumatic brain injuries when his rental home exploded as a result of Southern California Gas Company negligence, a $13,935,550 jury verdict for 19-year-old pedestrian who suffered extensive injuries as a result of being struck on the sidewalk by a vehicle driven by a Los Angeles County employee, a $13,000,000 settlement for the children and parents of a woman who was killed when her car was hit by a Hawthorne, California police officer, a $11,000,000 settlement for the family of a middle school student who drowned during a school-sponsored swim party, a$10 million for the family of an independent truck driver killed by an intoxicated heavy lift operator at a stevedoring terminal in Long Beach, and an $8,000,000 jury verdict in Clark County District Court for a Nevada man who suffered significant internal injuries after he was served and ingested what he believed was a Honey Blonde Ale but was actually a chemical cleaning compound left in the tap lines. Mr. Ravipudi shared his insight into successfully litigating cases against the stevedoring companies in an article entitled, “Danger on the Docks – Where there is an injury or death on the waterfront, drugs or alcohol are too often involved” published in the February 2011 edition of Advocate, journal of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. Additional recoveries obtained by Mr. Ravipudi include a $15,950,000 settlement for a teen who suffered a brain injury on an HOA playground, $8,000,000 settlement for an 81-year-old woman who suffered severe spinal cord injuries after falling at a hotel, a $7,000,000+ settlement during trial for the family of a man killed at SpeedVegas when the vehicle he was driving slammed into a track wall and burst into flames, $6,500,000 settlement for the two minor children and friend of a Southern California man who was killed after being struck on the highway by a freight truck whose driver had fallen asleep behind the wheel, a $6,000,000 settlement for a woman who suffered severe burn injuries when a faucet in the bathtub of her apartment detached and sprayed scalding hot water onto her body, a $5 million for an HVAC worker who suffered serious injuries when he fell through a skylight while working on a customer's roof, a $3.3 million gross jury verdict arising out of the death of a pest control person crushed and killed when a semi-truck reversed into him at a warehousing facility, and $9 million from the State of California (Caltrans) when a 16-year-old girl on a restricted license lost control of her vehicle and collided into a guardrail damaged two days earlier resulting in a bilateral traumatic below knee amputations. This case involved significant appellate issues which led to Mr. Ravipudi's article, “Dealing with the state of California's first line of defense – stonewalling any meaningful discovery” published in Advocate, Journal of Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles in February 2009. In recognition of his outstanding trial efforts, some of the awards Mr. Ravipudi has received include, but are not limited to:2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs Consumer Lawyers2023 Lawyer of the Year in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Best Lawyer2022 Top Plaintiffs Lawyer in California – Daily Journal2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs Consumer Lawyers2021 Robert E. Cartwright Sr. Award – Consumer Attorneys of California2021 Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys of California2021 Top Plaintiff Lawyer in California – Daily Journal2021 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs Consumer Lawyers2020 Top Plaintiffs Lawyer in California – Daily Journal2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiffs Consumer Lawyers2020 Plaintiffs Lawyer Trailblazer – National Law Journal2019 Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys of California2019 Plaintiffs Lawyer Trailblazer — National Law Journal2019 Trailblazer Award – South Asian Bar Association of Southern California2018 Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys of California2017 Trial Lawyer of the Year – Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles2017 Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys of California2017 Top Plaintiffs Lawyers of California – Daily Journal2017 Top 100 Lawyers of California – Daily Journal2016  Trial Lawyer of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles2016 Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys of California2016 Top Verdict By Impact – Daily Journal2015 Trial Lawyer of the Year finalist – Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles2014 Top 20 Under 40 – Daily Journal In addition, Mr. Ravipudi has been consistently ranked top in his profession for his work in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs with annual inclusion to Best Lawyers since 2013 and selection to the Super Lawyers list since 2014, the latter of which recognizes no more than five percent of attorneys in the state. Mr. Ravipudi was previously selected as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” from 2006-2013 – an honor awarded to the top 2.5 percent of lawyers in the Southern California area under 40 years of age. Prior to joining Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP, Mr. Ravipudi worked at another consumer law firm where his work helped recover over $4 billion for his clients. He participated as co-lead class counsel in a consumer class action case brought on behalf of all gas and electricity rate payers in the State of California against El Paso Natural Gas Company and Sempra Energy. This case arose out of the California Energy Crisis of 2000/2001 and resulted in the recovery of more than $3.5 billion in restitution to California utility customers. To date, this is recognized as one of the largest antitrust settlements in American history. Mr. Ravipudi also participated as co-lead counsel on an antitrust class action case brought on behalf of all gas and electricity rate payers in California against Reliant Energy Services and other energy traders for manipulating the California natural gas market by engaging in wash trades, churning, and false reporting. Hundreds of millions of dollars were recovered for rate payers of the State of California as well. In addition to serving as an Associate Editor for the Advocate, Journal of Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Mr. Ravipudi actively publishes articles in various journals and trade publications and is a frequent speaker on various issues, including class action litigation and trial tactics. In 2010, Mr. Ravipudi was profiled in the California Law & Politics magazine in an article entitled “Class Act(ion)”. A Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Mr. Ravipudi is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, and an Associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He is an active member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), the South Asian Bar Association (SABA), and the Nevada Justice Association. He serves on the Board for Loyola Law School, on the Executive Committee for the Los Angeles Chapter of ABOTA, on the Board of Governors for CAALA, on the Steering Committee for SABA, and on the Board for Public Counsel. He has previously served as Treasurer of the South Asian Bar Association Public Interest Foundation and is an active supporter of Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Mr. Ravipudi received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Minor in Chemistry from the University of California, Riverside and his law degree from Loyola Law School where he has served as an adjunct professor teaching Trial Advocacy since 2008. He resides in La Canada Flintridge with his three sons and wife Smitha, who serves as Chief Executive Officer at USC Care & Ambulatory Care Services at Keck Medicine of USC.

Join Ben and Rahul for their interview of San Francisco trial lawyer, Sarah London of Lieff Cabraser.  Sarah explains how her interest in community organizing ultimately led her to a career as a plaintiff trial lawyer.  She views the law as the ultimate weapon for promoting positive societal change.  Not long after becoming a lawyer, Sarah London found herself in Florida trying case after case against the big tobacco companies.  At first, the plaintiffs were losing every trial.  But in time, they found strategies to turn the cases around, win, and obtain large verdicts.  This experience of trying similar cases over and over provided a laboratory for better understanding of how to select juries and frame a case for trial success.  The insights gained through this process are valuable not just for tobacco litigation, but anyone who conducts jury trials.  Sarah was recently appointed as co-lead counsel for the Juul litigation.  Sarah's insights into trial lawyer are both practical and inspirational.  You won't want to miss this episode!  About Sarah London“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”Martin Luther King, Jr. A partner in Lieff Cabraser's San Francisco office, Sarah R. London is a determined, skilled, and experienced advocate for the injured, employees, and consumers.In February of 2020, Sarah was appointed to the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in the Gilead HIV Drug Kidney & Bone Injuries Litigation. In December of 2019, she was appointed to serve as Co-Lead Counsel and Liaison Counsel for plaintiffs in the nationwide multidistrict Juul e-cigarette fraud and injury litigation. In September of 2019, Sarah was appointed by Judge Judith E. Levy to serve as Subclass Settlement Counsel in In re Flint Water Cases, the federal class action lawsuit seeking justice for the over 100,000 residents of Flint, Michigan who were exposed to seriously elevated levels of lead as a result of insufficient water treatment.Sarah also serves in lead roles in women's health cases, including work as court-appointed Liaison Counsel and Interim Class Counsel in the federal class action filed on behalf of families in May 2018 against San Francisco's Pacific Fertility Center over the Center's March 2018 allegedly negligent destruction of hundreds of frozen eggs and embryos as a result of a leak in a cryogenic storage tank. Sarah also served in a leadership role in successful litigation recovering millions of dollars on behalf of women who suffered serious injuries due to complications from allegedly defective trans-vaginal surgical mesh.Sarah has been directly involved in several recent California environmental disaster cases, including litigation against Plains All American Pipeline arising out of the 2015 oil spill in Santa Barbara, and two important class action cases on behalf of homeowners and businesses that suffered economic injuries in the wake of the massive Porter Ranch gas leak, which began in October of 2015 and lasted into February of 2016.A Super Lawyers Rising Star for eight consecutive years and 2015 finalist for the Consumer Attorneys of California Streetfighter of the Year Award, Sarah has held multiple leadership positions in CAOC, including her current position on the Board of Directors. In September 2019, Sarah was appointed Chair of the Resource Board of the National Association of Women Judges.

Episode Summary John and Alicia Campbell join Ben and Rahul for a follow up discussion on the value of Big Data in preparing cases for trial.  John is joined by his business partner, fellow attorney and wife, Alicia Campbell.  John and Alicia discuss their forthcoming book, co-authored with Attorney Sean Claggett, in which they present both the science and practical uses of big data to help trial lawyers make better decisions and achieve better trial results.  In this episode, John and Alicia discuss some of the lessons learned from years of jury research and big data studies; how the data is best used to maximize value at trial; and some of the common mistakes trial lawyers make in case presentation and jury selection that can impact the win rate and verdict value in the case. About John and Alicia Campbell John and Alicia Campbell, Campbell Law John Campbell, JD is a trial and appellate lawyer turned law professor turned jury researcher.John trained as a trial lawyer under John Simon, a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, and then went on to become a successful consumer attorney.  John's verdicts and settlements exceed $350 million.  John has also handled appeals in the Eighth, Second, Tenth, and Fourth Circuit, as well as the United States Supreme Court and a variety of state courts.  Most recently, John served as lead counsel in a series of class actions against municipalities, including Ferguson, Missouri, who engaged in policing for profit.  The cases led to the eradication of many predatory fees targeted at minorities and the working poor.   John remains a member of Campbell Law LLC.For eight years John served as a professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.  While there, he founded the Civil Justice Research Initiative, dedicated to better understanding jury behavior through rigorous empirical research.  He continues to run CJRI at the University of Denver and teaches as an adjunct professor.John's academic work led to demand for him to study individual cases for plaintiff attorneys.  He ultimately founded Empirical Jury.  In only a few years, Empirical Jury has emerged as a cutting-edge firm that uses big data and scientific approaches to equip attorneys to obtain the best result possible for clients.  Empirical Jury has been involved in verdicts in excess of $550 million and is routinely called on to analyze some of the most complex consequential cases in the country.During the Covid-19 era, Empirical Jury is also leading the way on understanding the Covid Effect through careful data gathering and analysis.  To date, Empirical Jury has surveyed over 1,200 jurors on topics relating to Covid-19, virtual trials, and jury duty. Alicia CampbellAlicia started Campbell Law, LLC, in 2009. Prior to that, she worked for a legal services law firm representing people in Social Security and consumer claims. Alicia decided to create her own firm so that she could handle the cases she wanted and give her clients a personal and positive experience.Since opening Campbell Law, Alicia has tried a mortgage fraud case to verdict in 2010, and she has argued before the Court of Appeals in 2011 and 2013 about mortgage issues. In 2015, she settled a mortgage fraud case in Missouri for $1.5 million dollars. And in 2016, Alicia settled a mortgage fraud and wrongful foreclosure case in Missouri  for $4 million dollars. Alicia has also appeared in front of the Missouri State Supreme Court in 2012 and 2013 arguing on behalf of homeowners, in an attempt to change the unlawful detainer statute in Missouri. She has argued before the 8th Circuit,  and she has also argued before the Missouri Court of Appeals in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.In 2018, Alicia was lead counsel in certifying a class action against the City of Ferguson for its use of illegal and excessive fees in municipal court to generate profit.Alicia takes on mortgage companies and banks, as well as other types of financial fraud. She has pursued mortgage fraud claims for the last 5 years and understands people's struggles when it comes to their homes. She has been voted one of the best lawyers to call "if the bank wants your house." She has filed individual and class cases that involve predatory lending practices and schemes by banks and small lenders. She also sues debt collectors, auto dealers, and payday lenders, and has had considerable experience in the employment context, handling employment discrimination claims. Big Data is a fundamental part of Campbell Law.More than perhaps any other firm in the country, Campbell Law believes that better information makes better decisions. Campbell Law believes that big data and a science based approach to cases levels the playing field and that it can make any case more valuable. Indeed, John and Alicia operate on a simple rule: Big decisions call for big data.You can't decide whether to settle, what jurors to select, what evidence to share, how your client plays, whether to admit some comparative fault, how much to ask for in closing argument, or any of the other myriad questions we all face by relying solely on your gut. You need real answers. And they are available with big data. The methods are now tried and true. Time and again, the methods John and Alicia have developed have accurately predicted verdict ranges and provided insights into how to win difficult cases and to maximize value.This marriage of big data with trial law came from a happy confluence of events.John started his journey towards big data while working as a professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. There he became a well-known academic studying jurors. He is a recognized author in the field and continues to produce research to advance justice in courts and legislatures.Alicia joined the fight as she began to study her own cases using the same principles that informed academic studies. This desire to meld scientific rigor with real world questions produced a company called Empirical Jury. As founders of Empirical Jury, John and Alicia studied cases in at least 40 states, using over 135,000 jurors, across 330+ cases. In only five years they were honored to participate in over $1 billion in verdicts and more than $2 billion in settlements.Empirical Jury was a wonderful experience, but it was only a first step. Over the last five years, as the plaintiff bar has embraced big data, so too has the defense. PhDs in social science and statistics are now common hires at large defense firms.So, John and Alicia decided that more was required. At Campbell Law they are driven by three future-looking goals.To continue to use big data to help attorneys obtain, fine-grained, and powerful insights that help them best serve their clients;To develop technological tools for the future, including jury selection software, AI that allows deeper understanding of juries, and much more;To encourage the development of a wider body of knowledge and research regarding jurors and juries. This includes founding the Justice through Empirical Data Institute (JEDI), which will work with Arizona State University to fund important jury research that benefits all of the practicing bar.

Join Ben and Rahul for their discussion with legendary trial lawyer Brian Panish, founding partner of Los-Angeles-based trial firm, Panish Shea Boyle and Ravipudi (PSBR).  Brian discusses how the values he learned growing up and playing competitive sports through college shaped his work ethic and approach to the competition of trial practice.  Brian shares keys to success at trial and in building a world-class trial law firm.  Brian is the G.O.A.T. You don't want to miss this episode! About Brian PanishOne of the country's leading trial attorneys, Los Angeles personal injury lawyer Brian Panish has obtained some of the most significant jury verdicts in United States history on behalf of plaintiffs. His courtroom victories include a $4.9 billion record verdict in the landmark products liability case Anderson v. General Motors, over 100 verdicts and settlements in excess of $10 million, six verdicts in excess of $50 million, and more than 500 verdicts and settlements over one million dollars in personal injury, car accident, wrongful death and business litigation cases. Mr. Panish consistently serves in a leading role in the largest personal injury cases in California and the country. He currently serves as Plaintiffs Co-Lead Counsel in the Woolsey Fire litigation,  Plaintiffs Co-Lead Counsel in the Southern California Fire Cases litigation arising from the 2017 Thomas Fire and subsequent debris flows in Montecito, California, and serves on the Plaintiffs Executive Committee for the 2017 North Bay Fires in Northern California. Mr. Panish also serves as Lead Trial Counsel in the Southern California Gas Leak Cases where he led a team of lawyers in obtaining a $1.8 billion settlement from Southern California Gas Company and Sempra Energy. He previously served in leadership roles in the Asiana Airlines Crash Litigation, the Olympus Superbug CRE Litigation and DePuy ASR Hip Implant Litigation, among others. Most recently, Mr. Panish has been retained to represent the husband and son of Halyna Hutchins, a cinematographer who was fatally shot and killed by Alec Baldwin on the movie set of ‘Rust' in October 2021. Since 2011, Mr. Panish has obtained more than $500 million in verdicts including, among others, a $23,720,996 bench trial award for a Southern California man and his wife after the man suffered a lower leg amputation as a result of being struck by a 28-foot utility truck while riding his motorcycle, a $21,503,420.48 verdict for a man who suffered catastrophic injuries after a vehicle illegally exiting the 405 Freeway HOV lane struck his motorcycle, a landmark $53,745,374 verdict for two Southern California brothers who were severely injured following a head-on collision with CRST big rig, a $41,864,102 jury verdict and subsequent $46,000,000 settlement for a United States Air Force Captain who suffered catastrophic injuries after being struck from behind while on his motorcycle and then dragged the length of a football field and a half by a Southern California Gas Company truck, a $36.5 million jury verdict against Schneider National for a big-rig crash that left a woman with severe spinal cord injuries, a $34.5 million verdict for a man who suffered a below the knee amputation after being hit by a tractor trailer, a $21,503,420.48 jury verdict for a Southern California man who suffered catastrophic injuries after a vehicle illegally exiting the 405 Freeway HOV lane struck his motorcycle and sent him careening across three lanes of traffic and into a passing flatbed trailer, a $17.4 million verdict for a Ph.D. student who suffered brain and jaw injuries during a rear end chain collision accident, a $17 million jury verdict against the Los Angeles MTA in the wrongful death of a visually impaired passenger, a $17.845 million award in a wrongful death case involving four family members killed when a Marine jet crashed into their home, a $20 million jury verdict for a woman who suffered a brain injury in a hit-and-run accident involving a J.B. Hunt tractor trailer, a $17 million jury verdict for a 84-year old man hit by a bus resulting in a leg amputation, a $15.3 million jury verdict for a woman and her daughter after the woman was severely injured on a negligently driven Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District bus, a $10.45 million jury verdict for the family of a security guard killed on the CBS studio lot and a $8.3 million jury verdict in the first DePuy ASR Hip Implant case to go to trial. Because of his expertise in personal injury, wrongful death, mass tort and product liability cases, Mr. Panish has been appointed to serve on the Plaintiffs' Steering and Executive committees in numerous high profile mass torts and major disaster cases, including litigation involving train crashes (co-lead counsel in the the Chatsworth Metrolink disaster, the Glendale Metrolink crash, and the Placentia Metrolink collision), airplane disasters (Alaska Airlines Flight 261 and Singapore Airlines Flight 006 crashes), pharmaceuticals (Vioxx and diet drugs), and defective product cases (Welding Rods, DePuy ASR Hip Implant Litigation, and Toyota Unintended Acceleration cases.)  He is currently handling numerous cases involving the Asiana Flight 261 plane crash as well as serving as Plaintiffs Co-lead Trial Counsel, representing over 7,000 clients in the Porter Ranch Gas Leak litigation. Mr. Panish has been recognized by numerous publications and organizations as being among the top trial lawyers in the country. Some of the honors he has received include the following:2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America2023 Leading Commercial Litigators – Daily Journal2022 Finalist for CAOC Consumer Attorney of the Year2022 West Trailblazer – The American Lawyer2022 Top 100 Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2022 LA 500 – Los Angeles Business Journal2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America2022 Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2022 Top 100 Lawyers – Los Angeles Business Journal2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers2022 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award in the area of Personal Injury2022 Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar – Law3602021 Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys – Los Angeles Business Journal2021 Top 100 Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2021 Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2021 LA 500 – Los Angeles Business Journal2021 Lawdragon Leading Lawyers in America2020 Top 100 Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2021 Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Action – Plaintiffs – Los Angeles2020 Lawdragon Leading Lawyers in America2020 Plaintiffs Lawyer Trailblazer – National Law Journal2020 Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers2019 Top 100 Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2019 Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2019 Plaintiffs Lawyer Trailblazer – National Law Journal2019 Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar – Law3602019 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award in the area of Personal Injury2019 Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs – Los Angeles2018 Finalist for CAOC Consumer Attorney of the Year2018 Top 100 Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2018 Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2018 Daniel O'Connell Award – by Irish American Bar Association-Los Angeles2018 Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Aviation Law – Los Angeles2017 Top 100 Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2017 Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2017 Civil Advocate Award – by the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC)2017 Finalist (2) for CAOC Consumer Attorney of the Year2016 Outstanding Litigator – by Southwestern Law School2016 Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2016 Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation – Los Angeles2015 National Law Journal's Elite Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame2015 Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Product Liability Litigation – Los Angeles2015 Top 25 Plaintiff Lawyers in California – Daily Journal2015 Robert E. Cartwright Sr. Award (given by the Consumer Attorneys of California in recognition of excellence in trial advocacy and dedication to teaching trial advocacy to fellow lawyers and to the public.)2014 Consumer Attorney of the Year – by the Consumer Attorneys of California2013 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award in the area of Personal InjuryThe National Law Journal's 100 Most Influential Lawyers In AmericaDaily Journal's Top 100 Most Influential Attorneys in California2012 Top 20 Lawyers in California by The Recorder2010 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the California Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)2010 Champions of Justice award from Loyola Law School2010 Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Product Liability Litigation – Los Angeles2009 Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year – Personal Injury Litigation – Los Angeles1999 Trial Lawyer of the Year – by Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA)Top 500 Attorneys and Litigators in the United States by LawdragonTop 10 Southern California Super Lawyers® (various years, including from 2009-2017)Listed in Best Lawyers® since 2001Listed in Southern California Super Lawyers® since 2004 In addition to his numerous honors, Mr. Panish currently serves as immediate past president of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates, comprised of 100 of the nation's top plaintiffs' lawyers.  He is also a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers (including serving on the State Selection Committee), the International Society of Barristers, the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and was the 2011 President of the Los Angeles Chapter of ABOTA.  He is a member of the American Bar Association (formerly a Litigation Section Board Member), the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (formerly on the Board of Governors), and the Consumer Attorneys of California (formerly on the Board of Governors).  He also serves on the Best Lawyers® Board of Advisors. Mr. Panish received his law degree, with honors, from Southwestern Law School, and received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Southwestern in 2011. He received his B.S. from California State University Fresno, where he was named Scholar Athlete, was the recipient of the Athletic Directors Award and was named an outstanding alumnus at the school's Centennial Celebration in 2010. Mr. Panish is licensed to practice in California, Nevada, and Texas. Submit our online contact form to request legal assistance with your claim. Verdicts and Settlements:The following is a list of just some of the landmark cases that Brian Panish has been involved in:$4.9 Billion – Anderson v. General Motors Corp.$3.3 Billion – LA County v. Tobacco Industry$58 Million – Griggs v. Caterpillar, et al.$55.4 Million – Lampe v. Continental General Tire$53.745 Million – Lennig v. CRST$46 Million – Lo v. Southern California Gas Company$39.5 Million – Freeman v. Board of the Trustees of the California State University$36.5 Million – Sheth v. Schneider National$34.5 Million – Casillas v. Landstar Ranger, Inc.$32.5 Million – Johnson/Allen/Cascio v. City of Beverly Hills$32 Million __ J.G. v. Tulare County Child Welfare Services$27 Million – Dominguez v. San Francisco$25.5 Million – Sherman v. Courrege$23.7 Million– Rojas v.Hajoca Corporation$23.5 Million – Lee v. Pupil Transportation Cooperative$22 Million – Pogosyan v. SCRTD$21 Million – Nelsen v. Hillyard, Inc., et al.$17.845 Million – Yoon v. United States$17. 4 Million – Sheaffer v. NuCO2$17 Million – Cuthberton v. LACMTA$15.75 Million – Doe v. Alaska Airlines$15.3 Million – Francisco v. AC Transit$15 Million – Tilton v. Southern California Gas & Electric$15 Million – Wu v. Singapore Airlines$14.5 Million — Montanez v. Sunrise Farms, LLC$11 Million – Witham v. Avjet$10.45 – Villamariona v. CBS$10 Million – Doe v. Alaska Airlines$9.5 Million – Ledesma v. Patel$9.3 Million – Cedillo v. The Efim Sobol Trust$8.3 Million – Kransky v. DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.$8 Million – Rastello v. City of Torrance$7.5 Million – Rennie v. FedEx Brian Panish in the News: The following is a list of some of the articles in which Brian Panish is featured:What is the value of a poor man's life?Brian Panish addresses The Senate Judiciary CommitteeBrian Panish of Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP Top Vote Getter Among Southern California's Personal Injury Super LawyersFormer Fresno State footballer (Panish) gives generously to Dan Brown Legacy Fund – MedWatch Today, 9/2/10Brian Panish and the Toyota Recall – Press Release, 6/7/10Judge Agrees to Expand Plaintiffs Committees in Toyota MDL – The National Law Journal, 5/17/10Brian Panish Receives #3 Ranking in 2010 List of Top 10 Southern California Super Lawyers – Press Release, 2/2/10Personal Injury Litigators of 2010 – The National Law Journal, 2010 View PDF of ArticleBrian Panish and Kevin Boyle Talk About Their Numerous Wins in Air Disaster Cases – The National Law Journal, 2010 View PDF of ArticleThe Los Angeles Area's Best Lawyers 2006 Survey Results – West – Los Angeles Times Magazine, 11/12/06The Top 100: California's Leading Lawyers – The Daily Journal, 9/21/06Profiles in Power: The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America – The National Law Journal, 6/19/06View PDF of ArticleLawyering Up Pellicano's Victims – Deadline Hollywood Daily, 3/9/06Does Brian Panish Ever Lose? – Super Lawyers Magazine, 2006The Plaintiffs' Hot List – The National Law Journal, 10/10/05View PDF of ArticleOne of America's Top Trial Lawyers Opens New Law Firm – Press Contact, 4/18/05Top 10 LA County Super Lawyers – Southern California Super Lawyers, 2/05A Report On The Lawsuit Industry In California 2005 – Trial Lawyers Inc., 2005Jury Trials in The US – Faculty of Law, University of Hong Kong, 10/11/04The Top 100 – The Daily Journal, 10/27/03Brian Panish Interview – California Civil Jury Instructions, 2003The Top 100…Reasons Why It's Good That Lawyers Have Power – The Daily Journal, 9/30/02The Top 100 – The Daily Journal, 10/29/01WINNING – Successful Strategies from 10 of the Nation's Leading Litigators – The National Law Journal, 2001The Top 100: California Law Business Ranks the State's Most Influential Attorneys for 2000 – The Daily Journal, 10/30/00The Top 100: California Law Business Ranks the State's Most Influential Attorneys for 1999 – The Daily Journal, 9/13/99To Panish, Client's Most Important – Verdicts & Settlements, 2/16/96Brian Panish named TLPJ's Trial Lawyer of the Year – TLPJ Foundation Letter, 8/6/90ATLA Meeting This Week in San Diego – California Law Business, 7/23/90LA's Top Attorneys & Law Firms – Angeleno MagazinePanish Leaves Greene Broillet For Own Firm – The Daily JournalPanish Among 500 Leading Lawyers – LawdragonPanish Among 500 Leading Litigators – Lawdragon

Maine trial lawyers, Jodi Nofsinger and Susan Faunce join Ben and Rahul to talk about how they have joined together to form a powerhouse trial team and recently won a $6.5 million verdict in a malpractice case in Maine.  Jodi and Susan talk about their diverse backgrounds which led them to become trial lawyers and how they have worked together over the years to form one of Maine's most successful trial teams.   About Jodi Nofsinger Attorney Jodi Nofsinger represents people who have been harmed by medical malpractice and those who have suffered serious personal injury. With an educational background in medicine and biology, Jodi is the rare attorney who understands both the law and science of the cases she handles. Since joining Berman & Simmons in 1997, Jodi has earned a reputation as a tenacious and effective advocate for her clients. She is a natural competitor who thrives when representing the underdog and holding the powerful accountable. She is also a trailblazer among Maine's trial lawyers. In 2014, Jodi became only the 22nd trial lawyer in Maine—and only the third woman—inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Fellowship is extended to trial lawyers who are master advocates for their clients, and whose careers are distinguished by the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. Jodi learned about the justice system from her mother, a clerk at a federal courthouse in Rockford, IL. Jodi recalls her mother's compassion for people with disabilities who had come to court seeking benefits that were denied by the government. At an early age, Jodi understood that a lawyer can make all the difference for people who have been wronged. “People put themselves in your hands, often after the worst thing that has ever happened to them, and your job is to get them to the end of their case safely, and with the best result possible,” Jodi says. “As a lawyer, you have the privilege and power to make positive change in people's lives. That is the kind of responsibility that makes you want to do better.” Jodi obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology degree as a pre-med undergraduate. Beginning in high school and continuing until she entered the University of Maine School of Law, she worked in the field of biology, where she conducted research in the areas of heart disease, cellular biology, and genetics. Besides her outstanding record of success in medical malpractice and catastrophic personal injury cases, Jodi is also well known for her work on civil rights cases, such as the groundbreaking lawsuit brought on behalf of transgender high school student Nicole Maines of Orono, ME. Jodi serves on the board of directors for the ACLU of Maine and the Maine Trial Lawyers Association.  About Susan Faunce Since joining Berman & Simmons in 2006, attorney Susan Faunce has represented clients throughout Maine who have been harmed by personal injury and medical negligence. She currently leads the firm's mass tort practice, which involves dangerous drug and medical device litigation, and works on medical malpractice and wrongful death cases. Susan is motivated by compassion for her clients and an interest in medicine. From a young age, Susan knew she wanted to become a lawyer, in hopes of making a significant impact on people's lives. Today she is one of Maine's leading personal injury attorneys and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Benchmark Litigation. “I was raised by a single mother who spoke limited English and I lived in an underdeveloped country as a young adult,” Susan says. “These experiences have taught me to be courageous, resourceful, and persistent. I understand that every case carries both legal and emotional aspects, and I believe every client should have a strong advocate who will work tirelessly to successfully resolve their case.” Susan is a graduate of Bowdoin College where she majored in Government Studies and Asian Studies. After college she worked as a paralegal on high-profile intellectual property cases at a major Boston law firm. She joined the Peace Corps and served in Morocco, teaching English to local high school students and French to women in the community. Susan chose to return home to Maine and earned her law degree from the University of Maine School of Law. Susan serves as the Androscoggin County representative on the Maine State Bar Association Board of Governors and as President of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association. She is also a board member of the Maine Justice Foundation and the Robbie Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides funding for adaptive equipment and therapies for special needs children.

Ben and Rahul talk jury selection with Harry Plotkin, a nationally renowned expert on jury selection who has picked over a thousand juries in cases across the country. Harry has been involved in many high-profile cases and ground-breaking plaintiff's verdicts.  Harry shares his strategies for identifying favorable and unfavorable jurors and identifies areas where lawyer intuition leads to poor choices in jury selection. Harry explains how involvement of a jury consultant can increase the chances of a good result at trial.  If you are heading to trial and picking a jury, you don't want to miss this episode! About Harry Plotkin Harry is a nationally renowned jury consultant and leading voice in the field of jury decision-making, psychology, and persuasion. He has helped shape the outcome of over one thousand trials across the country in nearly every state. $19.25 MILLION VERDICT in dangerous condition trial in Santa Cruz        Howard v. CalTrans, February 2023 100% LIABILITY VERDICT in liability phase/fall down lift shaft trial in San Mateo        Veimau v. Phillips, December 2022 (settled for large confidential amount before damage phase) $45 MILLION VERDICT in public school district physical abuse trial in Los Angeles        Wong v. Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, October 2022 $464.2 MILLION VERDICT in employment retaliation trial in Los Angeles        Martinez/Page v. Southern California Edison, June 2022 $150 MILLION VERDICT in wrongful death trial in Palm Springs        Collins v. Diamond Generating Company, July 2022 $11 MILLION VERDICT in pedestrian v. auto crash trial in Santa Monica        Knight v. Haskell, August 2022 $34.5 MILLION VERDICT in aiding/abetting wrongful termination in Santa Cruz        Ruvalcaba v. Keenan & Associates, May 2022 $102.5 MILLION VERDICT in public school district sexual abuse trial in San Jose        Doe v. Union School District, March 2022 $25.7 MILLION VERDICT in medical malpractice arbitration in San Diego        Vargas v. Kaiser Permanente, April 2022 $23.2 MILLION VERDICT in care home death (of an 81 year-old) trial in Bakersfield        Mosley v. Pacifica Healthcare, March 2022 $10 MILLION VERDICT in "jaywalking" pedestrian death trial in Long Beach        Garcia v. Herrera, December 2021 $7.2 MILLION VERDICT in federal airline/unruly passenger mistreatment trial in LA        Bandary v. Delta, October 2021 $136.9 MILLION VERDICT in federal hostile work environment/race trial in SF        Diaz v. Tesla, October 2021 $12.6 MILLION VERDICT in spinal fusion/premises liability trial        Acosta v. Athena Management, August 2021 $6.4 MILLION VERDICT in spinal stimulator/vehicle crash trial in Orange County        Castaneda v. Perez, September 2021 $13 MILLION VERDICT *county record* in wrongful death/product trial in rural Missouri        Church v. CNH Industrial, November 2020 $25.6 MILLION VERDICT in dangerous condition/pedestrian stuck in crosswalk trial        Tusant v. City of Hemet, February 2020 $17 MILLION VERDICT (with fees) in right of publicity trial in San Diego        Hansen IP Trust v. Coca Cola, Monster Energy, February 2020 $13.3 MILLION VERDICT in traumatic brain injury trial against County sheriffs/nurses        Collins v. County of San Diego, July 2019 $2 MILLION VERDICT in non-termination retaliation trial against a public university        Linskey v. UC Irvine, April 2019 $6.5 MILLION VERDICT in zero-offer, coffee burn trial against a hotel        DeRuyver v. Omni La Costa, March 2019 $7 MILLION VERDICT in 70-mph motorcyclist's wrongful death against local city        Ascensio v. Covina, October 2018 $45.4 MILLION VERDICT in failure to prevent sexual abuse trial against local County        F.M. v. Los Angeles County DCFS, July 2018$2 MILLION VERDICT in non-termination retaliation trial against a public university        Linskey. v. UC Regents, April 2019 $16.2 MILLION VERDICT in disputed slip-and-fall, disputed brain injury trial        Kidd v. WKS/El Pollo Loco, February 2018 $25 MILLION VERDICT in product liability/wrongful death trial        Cruz, Mathenge v. Nissan North America, July 2017 DEFENSE VERDICT ($30M+ demand) in fraud/fiduciary duty trial        Hotze v. Hotze, October 2018 DEFENSE VERDICT ($30M demand) in fraud/elder abuse trial        Howard v. Howard, September 2018 $25.1 MILLION VERDICT in whistleblower retaliation trial        Babyak v. Cardiovascular Systems, April 2017 $29 MILLION VERDICT in medical malpractice trial        Williams v. Pilapil, March 2017 $16.3 MILLION VERDICT in trip and fall trial        Picazzo v. CW Driver, October 2017 DEFENSE VERDICT ($16M demand)in fraud/breach of contract trial        Oregon Ice Cream v. Gleason, April 2017 $256 MILLION VERDICT in fraud/breach of contract trial        Kahn v. Nissan, May 2017 $26 MILLION VERDICT in wrongful death (of a minor) trial        Zisette v. Starline, November 2016 $5.3 MILLION VERDICT plus malice in negligence/molestation trial        Doe v. Five Acres, May 2017 $27 MILLION VERDICT in wrongful death/construction site trial        Gonzalez v. Atlas Supply, July 2016 $47 MILLION VERDICT in breach of contract/employment trial        Stewart v. AAPS, February 2016 $2.9 MILLION VERDICT (plus malice) in wrongful termination trial        Mackey v. Helinet, January 2016 $14 MILLION VERDICT in insurance bad faith trial        Madrigal v. Allstate, November 2015 $7.1 MILLION VERDICT in age discrimination trial        Simers v. LA Times, November 2015 $10.5 MILLION VERDICT in breach of contract trial        Stelluti Kerr v. Mapei Corporation, November 2015 $3.5 MILLION VERDICT in eye injury trial versus charter bus        Guerra v. Starline, November 2015 $9.7 MILLION VERDICT in product liability/design defect trial        Rivera v. Volvo, August 2015 $28 MILLION VERDICT in medical malpractice/failure to diagnose trial        Rahm v. Kaiser Permanente, March 2015 $60 MILLION VERDICT in federal wrongful death/product liability trial        Shinedling v. Sunbeam, June 2015 $8.7 MILLION VERDICT in single-plaintiff discrimination/retaliation trial        Leggins v. Rite Aide, July 2015 DEFENSE VERDICT in class-action bad faith trial        Keller, et. al. v. California State University, April 2015       Class sought $58 million in damages, plus interest $1.75 MILLION VERDICT + MALICE in employment retaliation trial        Wascher v. Kaiser, June 2015       No claims for economic damages, only emotional distress $3.3 MILLION VERDICT + MALICE in breach of fiduciary duty trial        Colaco v. Cavotec, June 2015       DEFENSE VERDICT on claims, won on counter-claims $16.2 MILLION VERDICT against employer in car crash/injury trial       Evans v. Prospect Education, February 2015       Jury found driver was in “course and scope” while commuting $58 MILLION VERDICT in personal injury/car crash trial        Herman v. Cardiel, June 2014       Verdict included $45 million in non-economic damages RECORD VERDICT in a federal whistleblower trial        Zulfer v. Playboy, March 2014       $6 million verdict, plus finding of malice (settled) DEFENSE VERDICT in product liability/wrongful death trial       Chen v. BusWest, April 2015       Plaintiff's attorney asked for $57 million in closing