The Great Trials Podcast
The Great Trials Podcast offers a series of laid-back, casual conversations with leading trial lawyers, taking listeners ”behind the scenes” of America’s greatest trials. Hosted by acclaimed trial lawyers Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey, each podcast episode focuses on one important trial and includes in-depth, insightful interviews with the attorneys who successfully argued the case in front of a judge and jury.
Tue, April 01, 2025
Michael Lyons and Chris Simmons | Robert and Virginia Rymers v. CPS Energy | $109.5 Million
In this episode of The Great Trials Podcast , hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey discuss the case of Robert and Virginia Rymers vs. CPS Energy with trial lawyers Mike Lyons and Chris Simmons of Lyons & Simmons . Remember to rate and review GTP on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite platform. --- Case Details: The case involves a devastating natural gas explosion in a San Antonio home that resulted in severe burn injuries to Robert and Virginia Rymers. The gas lines had not been properly maintained or inspected by CPS Energy. The defense argued it was not a natural gas explosion, positing alternative theories. However, the jury sided with the plaintiffs, resulting in a $109.5 million verdict. (Source) --- Guest Bios: Michael Lyons Michael Lyons is one of the founding partners of Lyons & Simmons and concentrates his practice on representing plaintiffs in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases as well as “bet the company” complex business disputes. Lyons has a national reputation for achieving outstanding results for his clients by displaying a mastery of the facts and law while utilizing creativity, tenacity, and cutting-edge technology. Over the past 25+ years of practice, Lyons has tried cases to juries, judges, and arbitrators throughout the state of Texas and all over the country. In the process, Lyons has obtained verdicts, awards, and settlements totaling over a billion dollars on behalf of his clients—many involving high profile, high exposure matters. Lyons has extensive trial experience in cases involving catastrophic personal injuries, wrongful death, and product liability. Lyons’ cases are as diverse and extensive as his approach to his cases. He has handled cases involving: brain and spinal cord injuries, electrocutions, aviation disasters involving helicopters and airplanes, trucking accidents, construction site accidents, industrial accidents, motor vehicle products liability, pharmaceutical, and medical device products liability, large business disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duties, medical malpractice, high profile contract disputes involving college football coaches and celebrities, and fire and explosion cases. Read Full Bio --- Guest Bios: Christopher Simmons Chris Simmo
Tue, March 18, 2025
Kimball Jones and Joshua Berrett | Kuhn v. USAA Casualty Insurance Company | $107 Million
In this episode of the Great Trials Podcast, Steve Lowry hosts Kimball Jones and Joshua Berrett, partners at Bighorn Law , to discuss a recent landmark case in Clark County, Nevada. The case involved their client, Timothy Kuhn, who suffered severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, after being rear-ended. Remember to rate and review GTP on Apple Podcasts Case Details: A Nevada state court jury slammed USAA with a $100 million punitive damages verdict in a bad faith lawsuit over the insurance giant's delays in paying out a claim for a zero-fault insured driver involved in a rear-end collision. The Clark County jury awarded the $100 million, in addition to $14 million in compensatory damages, over USAA's actions following a 2018 collision involving plaintiff Timothy Kuhn. USAA determined Kuhn was not at fault after being rear-ended in stationary highway traffic, but when Kuhn sued the driver who hit him to collect damages related to a concussion USAA intervened and argued Kuhn was responsible for the crash. Despite clear fault and significant medical expenses, USAA Casualty Insurance Company failed to reasonably handle his underinsured motorist claim, resulting in prolonged litigation. Jones and Berrett elaborate on the trial strategy, highlighting issues of insurance bad faith and the impressive jury verdict of $7 million in compensatory and $100 million in punitive damages against USAA. (Source) Guest Bios: Kimball Jones Kimball Jones is a partner at Bighorn Law, where he serves as both a trial lawyer and a dedicated advocate for individuals. His legal practice is centered on representing everyday people, often in cases against major corporations and insurance companies. Kimball graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from BYU-Idaho in 2005. While earning his degree Kimball started the Pre-Law Society, interned for a U.S. senator, and served as the university’s student body president, all while holding a job to pay for school. Kimball went on to graduate from BYU Law School in 2008, where he was awarded a Dean’s Scholarship for academic merit each year. Professionally, Kimball has been recognized as a Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney, winning several historic verdicts for his clients, including a recent $550 million dollar verdict, which is the largest verdict for a single plaintiff in Nevada history. Outside of his legal career, Kimball has proudly served in the U.S. Army, both on active duty and as a reservist. He is deeply committed to community service and cherishes his role as a family man. Kimball and his wife, Ashley, recently celebrated 21 years of marriage and are the proud parents of four amazing children. <a href='https:/
Tue, March 04, 2025
Brian Brown and E.J. Hammann | Hansford v. Largo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center LLC | $8.5 Million
In this episode of the Great Trials Podcast, host Steve Lowry interviews trial lawyers Brian Brown and E.J. Hammann from Brown and Baron in Baltimore, Maryland. They discuss a complex case involving the tragic death of 83-year-old Helen Hansford at Largo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The episode highlights their strategic legal maneuvers, including the successful exclusion of the defense's medical expert, and the compelling testimony that led to an $8.5 million verdict for Hansford’s estate --- Case Details: In June 2020, when Helen first came to Largo Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Prince George’s County, she weighed 112 pounds. She had previously been hospitalized after a bad fall, so she needed around-the-clock care. Upon admission, it was noted that she was at risk for falls, pressure injuries (bed sores), malnutrition, and “failing to thrive” (unsafe weight loss and related complications). By October, Helen’s weight was reported to be around 95 pounds. Months later, in January 2021, her weight had plummeted to just 81 pounds, which is about 72% of what it was before. Amid Helen’s weight loss crisis, Largo staff failed to put her back on the blood thinner medication that she needed after a surgery related to her fall. In February 2021, a blood clot went to her lungs and brain, causing her to pass away. --- Guest Bios: E.J. Hammann E.J. Hammann is a Partner and Trial Attorney at Brown & Barron. In her second year with the firm, E.J. was trial counsel in two cases obtaining $8 Million Plaintiffs’ verdicts (one for $8.5 Million and one for $8.3 Million). She has over 20 years’ experience working almost exclusively on medical malpractice cases. Her time defending doctors and hospital facilities, as well as knowledge gained working for medical malpractice insurance carriers, brings a depth of insight that benefits individuals who have been injured. As an experienced trial attorney, E.J. is committed to helping clients who face serious complications due to medical negligence or nursing home abuse. Read Full Bio Brian Brown Brian S. Brown, one of the firm’s founding partners, as well as its Managing Member, has over thirty years of experience as a trial lawyer and focuses his practice on litigating nursing home abuse and medical malpractice cases. Brian has tried well over 100 tort cases and has obtained multiple multi-million dollar verdicts. Over his career, he has recovered more than $175 million for his clients, through both trial and settlement. In addition to his trial experience, Brian has extensive appellate experience, having appeared before the Maryland Court of Appeals twelve times, and the Court of Special Appeals more than fifty times. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia, as well as in the 4th
Tue, February 18, 2025
Philip Sieff and Tara Sutton | McDougall v. CRC Industries | $7.75 Million
In this episode of The Great Trials Podcast , hosts Steve Lowery and Yvonne Godfrey welcome guests Tara Sutton and Philip Seiff from Robbins Kaplan LLP . The discussion centers on the significant legal case, McDougal vs. CRC Industries , which resulted in a $7.75 million verdict (later over $10.5 million after post-judgment adjustments). Remember to rate and review GTP on Apple Podcasts: Click Here to Rate and Review Case Details: The Robins Kaplan trial team secured a groundbreaking $7.75 million verdict against CRC Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of aerosol dust remover products. This is believed to be the first known case against a dust remover manufacturer that has been tried to a plaintiff verdict. The litigation stemmed from a tragic vehicle crash in 2019 where the client’s wife was killed after her car was struck by a driver who was impaired from huffing CRC Duster. Inhaling this product can cause dramatic impairment effects from the chemical used as a propellant. The case focused on the well-known abuse of aerosol dust remover products, such as CRC Duster, and CRC Industries’ responsibility for the foreseeable consequences of their products' misuse. (Source) Guest Bio: Tara Sutton Tara Sutton, chair of Robins Kaplan’s National Mass Tort Group, has built a distinguished career in mass tort litigation and is renowned for her dedicated, unyielding commitment to justice. Her career has been marked by steadfast advocacy, and an unrelenting pursuit for accountability over corporate misconduct. Tara stands out as the embodiment of legal excellence representing individuals, governments, and Tribal Nations harmed by defective products or corporate negligence. Her legal acumen and tenacity is evident as she navigates the complex landscape of mass torts — including cases involving defective products, dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, and faulty medical devices. Read Full Bio Philip Sieff Trial lawyer Phil Sieff battles for justice when wrongdoers cause serious injury or death. Intense and relentless, he helps clients find the courage they need to face those who have hurt them. He has significant experience representing families coping with the wrongful death of a loved one, particularly a child, having handled hundreds of wrongful death cases. He has particular experience in complex and high-profile cases, including: the I-35W Bridge
Tue, February 04, 2025
Maxey Scherr | Ruben Ivan Mendoza v. Titan Transportation | $16.8 Million
GTP host Steve Lowery is leading the conservation today with special guest Maxey Scherr, the founder of Scherr Law Firm in El Paso, Texas. They explore the complexities of an extraordinary case, Mendoza vs. Titan Transportation , where Maxey secured a verdict of over $16 million for her client, Ruben Ivan Mendoza. Remember to rate and review GTP on Apple Podcasts: Click Here to Rate and Review Case Details: The case revolved around a severe truck crash in Dallas County, Texas, where Ruben Mendoza, the driver of a pickup truck leased by Titan Transportation, was rear-ended by a truck owned by DSX Transportation. Despite the defense's attempts to frame Mendoza as an independent contractor, Maxey successfully proved that he was an employee in the course and scope of his employment, showcasing Titan's negligence in his lack of training and safety protocols. Scherr Law Firm secures an $11,005,000 settlement with three of four defendants named in a lawsuit and obtains a $16,857,276 verdict against the fourth remaining defendant in their second trial. (Source) Guest Bio: Maxey Scherr Maxey Scherr founded Scherr Law Firm in 2022. She has litigated over 40 jury trials resulting in multi-figure verdicts across the board. Her areas of expertise include trucking accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injuries, and catastrophic injuries. Ms. Scherr is a member of various boards and organizations and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Women's Caucus and Board of Regents member with the ATAA, is on the Texas State Bar Committee on the Administration of the Rules of Evidence, is a member of the American Association for Justice and sits on the Women's Rights Commission for the City of El Paso. Through the years, Ms. Scherr's efforts have garnered many accolades. Most notably, Ms. Scherr is a "Super Lawyer," a "Top Ten Attorney," receives numerous "Litigator Awards" and has various National Law Journal Top 100 Verdicts. Ms. Scherr is licensed in Texas, New Mexico and Illinois and graduated from Texas Tech School of Law. She received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts-Boston with magna cum laude honors and undertook postgraduate work in Neuroscience at Harvard University. <a href='https://www.scherrlawfirm.com/attorney/scherr-
Tue, January 21, 2025
Mel Orchard | Donald Clark v. State of Iowa | $12 Million
GTP hosts Steve Lowery and Yvonne Godfrey delve into the riveting case of Donald Clark vs. the State of Iowa with guest Mel Orchard from the Spence Law Firm . They explore the wrongful conviction of Donald Clark, a school counselor accused of sexual assault in 2009, and the subsequent legal malpractice case against his public defender for inadequate representation. The discussion highlights the significant emotional and physical toll on Clark during his six and a half years in prison, the courtroom strategies employed, and the eventual $12 million verdict for emotional distress. Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Case Details: The case revolves around a legal malpractice action against a state public defender, who represented a client convicted of sexual abuse. The client, Donald Lyle Clark, was convicted and sentenced to prison. The conviction was affirmed on appeal. However, in postconviction proceedings, the court determined that Clark's defense counsel had provided ineffective assistance and ordered a new trial. The state declined to prosecute, and Clark filed a civil action for legal malpractice against the state as the lawyer’s employer. The district court granted partial summary judgment, holding that the finding of ineffective assistance in the postconviction proceedings established counsel’s negligence as a matter of law. The jury found the lawyer negligent and awarded Clark $12 million in emotional distress damages. The Supreme Court of Iowa reversed the judgment for emotional distress damages. The court clarified that to recover emotional distress damages for legal malpractice, the plaintiff must prove more than negligence. The court held that the plaintiff must prove by a preponderance of clear, convincing, and satisfactory evidence that the criminal defense attorney acted with willful and wanton disregard for the client’s rights or safety. The court concluded that the district court erred by instructing the jury that negligence was sufficient. The case was remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. (Source) Guest Bio: Mel Orchard Mel Orchard is a trial lawyer, trying cases in the courtrooms across America, for the past 27 years. Mel has litigated and/or tried hundreds of cases in his career and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement and verdicts for his clients. During his trial career, Mel has been a part of record-breaking civil jury verdicts in various jurisdictions (Wyoming, Arizona, and Iowa). He has also devoted significant time to pro bono work through Lawyers and Advocates for Wyoming, and
Tue, January 07, 2025
Jake Plattenberger and Alan Holcomb | Margo Gill v. Abbott Laboratories | $495 Million
After a short hiatus, the Great Trials team is back in action! This week, Steve and Yvonne interview Jake Plattenberger and Alan Holcomb of TorHoerman Law about the high-stakes legal battle, Margo Gill vs. Abbott Laboratories. The case revolves around a $495 million verdict awarded to Margo Gill, representing her daughter Robynn Davis, who suffered catastrophic injuries from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after being fed Similac Special Care 24 formula by Abbott Labs. Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Case Details: Margo Gill’s premature infant daughter, Robynn Davis, was born on August 26, 2021, at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Shortly after birth, doctors transferred Robynn to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, where she was fed Similac cow’s milk-based formula, manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. After consuming these products, Robynn developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a life-threatening gastrointestinal disease that primarily affects premature infants. As a result of NEC, Robynn required extensive surgery and now faces long-term health complications. The complaint alleged that Abbott Laboratories, along with sales representatives Matthew McClure and Tara Todd, aggressively marketed their cow’s milk-based formula as safe for premature infants, despite being aware that it significantly increased the risk of NEC. It also claims Abbott failed to provide adequate warnings about the risks of NEC. Additionally, Abbott falsely promoted their formula as essential for the growth and development of preterm infants. (Source) Guest Bios: Jake Plattenberger Since joining TorHoerman Law in 2009, Jacob Plattenberger has taken hundreds of depositions, argued in countless hearings, and tried over thirty-five (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 bel
Tue, August 27, 2024
Chris Hamilton | Thomas v. Charter Communications, Inc. | $7.3 Billion
This week on the podcast we interview Chris Hamilton of Hamilton Wingo ( https://hamiltonwingo.com/ ). Rate and review GTP on iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review . View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Chris Hamilton Chris Hamilton is one of the country’s leading high-stakes trial lawyers. He has won record-setting verdicts and settlements in catastrophic personal injury cases, wrongful death lawsuits, and complex business disputes. Chris chooses to work on cases where he knows he can make a game-changing difference by relying on his methodical preparation and truly extraordinary trial skills. He takes great pride when lawyers and clients trust him to handle the most important cases of their careers or lives. In 2022, Chris won a historic $7.37 billion jury verdict in Dallas, Texas, which was the year’s largest verdict nationwide and 4th largest personal injury award in U.S. history against a corporation. His nearly two decades of experience taking on negligence, fraud, and abuse by big businesses includes Chris’ work alongside the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office in a ground-breaking federal False Claims Act case. The $25 million settlement in 2021 directly against a private equity firm and a group of healthcare industry executives is the largest of its kind. Chris has been featured in Courtroom View Network’s (CVN) list of the Most Impressive Trials of 2019, and his multibillion-dollar victory in 2022 topped CVN’s list of the Most Impressive Plaintiffs Verdicts of 2022. The Dallas Business Journal recognized Chris for winning Texas’ largest personal injury verdict in 2014, ranked as the nation’s 17th largest. In addition, he was recognized by Top Verdict in 2016 for Texas’ 9th largest personal injury verdict. Verdict Search noted him in 2011 for one of the state’s Top 10 and Top 100 verdicts in the U.S. Chris has been repeatedly recognized for his expertise in personal injury trials by other attorneys in the annual list of The Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine, The Best Lawyers in America, Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Texas Super Lawyers, and National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Attorneys, and is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the Leader’s Forum for the American Association for Justice. Chris’ cases have been featured in numerous media outlets, including Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNN, Texas Lawyer, Dallas Business Journal, Law360, The Dallas Morning News, Texas Lawbook, The Houston Chronicle, and The Austin-American Statesman, and numerous local television reports and print news stories nationwide. Chris earned the Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year honor in 2017
Tue, August 13, 2024
Cody Berne | Jeanyne James, et al. v. PacifiCorp, et al. | $84 million
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Cody Berne of Stoll Berne ( https://stollberne.com/ ). Rate and review GTP on iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review . View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Cody Berne Cody Berne is an advocate for his clients in cases large and small. He is prepared to go to trial if that is what the case requires. Cody has been first chair at over 40 trials. He leads Stoll Berne’s team in the class action lawsuit against PacifiCorp for starting fires across Oregon during the Labor Day 2020 storm. He was co-lead trial counsel in an 8-week trial where the jury found PacifiCorp liable to a class of several thousand people for gross negligence, punitive damages, and other claims. The jury awarded on average approximately $5 million to each of the 17-named plaintiffs. He was also co-lead trial counsel in the first and second damages-only jury trials on behalf of 19 more class members. The juries awarded several million dollars per person. The trials and litigation, including the work by Cody and his colleagues at Stoll Berne, have been featured in national and local news, including NPR, the Washington Post, Oregonlive, the New York Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, and the AP. Along with representing wildfire survivors and their families, Cody advises investors who lost money because of fraud and other misconduct and plaintiffs in class actions. His class action experience includes securities, consumer, ERISA, food labeling, and fire cases. Cody’s practice also includes commercial and complex litigation. He is an active member of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. Cody previously worked as a deputy district attorney at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. Before that, Cody represented individuals and businesses in cases involving investment fraud and a wide range of business disputes at a large Northwest firm. He received the Haglund Award in 2016 from the Multnomah Bar Association. He was selected as a Future Star in Benchmark Litigation and also named in The Best Lawyers in America and Oregon Super Lawyers. During law school, Cody interned for U.S. District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller and U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn Delaney. Elected to Order of the Coif, he received the Clinical Legal Education Association Award and a Witkin Award. Cody also represented clients as a law student at the Civil Rights Clinic and Prison Law Clinic and earned a Public Service Certificate. Before law school, Cody served as a police officer with the Portland Police Bureau and as a wildland firefighter across the West. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services -<a href='h
Tue, July 16, 2024
GTP CLASSIC: Chris Hamilton | Crisp v. The McDonald's Corporation; McDonald's USA, LLC; and McDonald's Restaurants of Texas, Inc. | $27 million
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Chris Hamilton of Hamilton Wingo LLP ( https://hamiltonwingo.com/ ). Rate and review GTP on iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review . View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Discussing a landmark premises liability case, trial lawyer and Hamilton Wingo LLP partner Chris Hamilton explains how he held McDonald's responsible for ongoing lack of security and secured justice for the families of Texas A&M college students Denton Ward and Lauren Crisp, who died following a late-night trip to a McDonald's in College Station, Texas. In February 2012, Denton Ward and Lauren Crisp, along with Samantha Bean and another friend, went to McDonald's, where Denton Ward was violently assaulted by Marcus Jones and a mob of other attackers. Lauren Crisp and Samantha Bean carried a bleeding Denton Ward to his SUV in an attempt to get him to the hospital. The driver, Samantha Bean, ran a red light and collided with another car. Denton Ward was killed and Lauren Crisp, who was unrestrained and tending to Denton Ward's injuries, was also killed. Despite the defense's attempts to shift focus away from McDonald's ongoing lack of concern for customer safety at a restaurant location with a history of late-night violence and to blame Samantha Bean for reckless driving, a Brazos County, Texas jury assigned 97 percent of the responsibility to McDonald's and returned a verdict of $27,000,000 in damages. Guest Bio: Chris Hamilton Chris Hamilton has established himself as one of the leading high-stakes trial lawyers in the United States. Hamilton has a recent track record of verdicts and settlements that are setting the mark in both the personal injury arena and in complex business disputes. For example, Hamilton was recently featured in Courtroom View Network’s (CVN) list of Most Impressive Trials of 2019. In 2014, Hamilton was recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as having the largest jury verdict in Texas for a personal injury case and the 17th largest jury verdict in the United States. In 2016, Hamilton was recognized by Top Verdict as having the ninth-largest personal injury verdict in Texas. Hamilton was recognized in 2011 by Verdict Search as having one of the top 10 verdicts in Texas and top 100 verdicts in the United States. Hamilton was selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America for 2019, the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America for 2020, and is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService
Tue, July 02, 2024
GTP CLASSIC: Shane Lazenby | Holland v. Cypress Insurance Company and the Estate of James Harper | $21 million verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Shane Lazenby of Lazenby Law Group ( https://lazlawgroup.com/ ). Rate and review GTP on iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review . View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Former defense attorney and U.S. Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps veteran Shane Lazenby of Lazenby Law Group explains how he secured justice in the wrongful death of Kip Holland, a 50-year-old intellectually disabled pedestrian who was hit by a weaving, out-of-control tractor-trailer in Gainesville, Georgia. At trial, Shane Lazenby demonstrated that James Harper, the 76-year-old tractor-trailer driver who died before the case went to trial, lied on his Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration medical exam, took prescription narcotics four times a day, performed breathing treatments for COPD in his trailer and was regularly admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. In 2020, a Gainesville, Georgia jury returned a verdict in favor of Kip Holland's grieving family and awarded $21,029,363 in damages, litigation expenses, and attorney's fees. Guest Bio: Shane Lazenby Shane Lazenby is the founder and managing member of Lazenby Law Group. After more than a decade of defending those accused of negligence in personal injury cases, Shane decided to reverse course and help the victims of serious injuries. With unparalleled compassion and limitless commitment, Shane quickly learned how much more rewarding and uplifting service as a victim’s advocate can be. Shane now focuses his practice on helping the victims of catastrophic personal injury and the families whose loved ones have passed as a result of another's negligence. Shane received his law degree in 1999 at the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. While at Mercer, Shane was a member of the Moot Court Board and the Mercer Law Review where he served as the Eleventh Circuit Survey Editor. Shane also received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a minor in Latin, from Mercer in 1994. Following law school, Shane returned to the United States Army, where he served as a Judge Advocate with the 82d Airborne Division. Shane’s service included duties as the Regimental Judge Advocate for the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, where he obtained a 100% conviction rate in the most active military justice jurisdiction in the United States Army. Shane was also selected to be the first Judge Advocate from the 82d Airborne Division to deploy to the Global War on Terrorism as counsel to the Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Shane was then selected to be the Operational Law Attorney for the 82d
Tue, June 18, 2024
GTP CLASSIC: Richard Mitchell | Elizabeth Dickinson v. Landmark Hospital of Athens, LLC | $1.3 million verdict
This week, Steve and Yvonne interview Richard Mitchell of Mitchell & Shapiro LLP ( https://www.mitchellshapiro.com/ ). Rate and review GTP on iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review . View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Richard Mitchell, a partner at Mitchell & Shapiro LLP, explains how he secured justice for Elizabeth Dickinson, who sustained a painful pressure ulcer due to the negligence of Landmark Hospital's staff, who did not rotate her position regularly on her hospital bed. Transferred from Grady Hospital in Atlanta after receiving treatment for car crash-related injuries, Elizabeth was admitted to Landmark Hospital with a stable stage 2 sacral ulcer, which quickly escalated to stage 4. The pressure ulcer took a full year to heal, but Elizabeth's activities continue to be limited due to the poor wound care she received. Despite the defense's attempts to blame Landmark's new medical records system, Elizabeth's daughter and even Elizabeth herself for her injuries, a Gwinnett County, Georgia jury returned a verdict of $1,300,000 in damages. Guest Bio: Richard Mitchell Richard C. Mitchell is a partner with Mitchell & Shapiro LLP. He concentrates on personal injury matters, including medical malpractice, trucking and auto wrecks, and aviation crashes. In December of 2003 and 2014, he was voted by his peers in Georgia Trend magazine as one of Georgia’s “Legal Elite” in the personal injury area. From 2003-2019 the readers of Atlanta Magazine voted him a “Georgia Super Lawyer” in personal injury litigation. He is regarded as one of the most experienced personal injury and medical malpractice lawyers in the Atlanta, Georgia area and has received the highest possible professional rating, Martindale-Hubble's AV Preeminent rating, consecutively for 20 years. After clerking for 2 United States District Court judges in Atlanta, Richard C. Mitchell was an associate and partner with the major law firm Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy for over 14 years before leaving to start his own firm in 1997. During that time, he successfully represented numerous manufacturers and insurers in product liability cases, including manufacturers of automobiles, aircraft and aircraft components, forklifts, woodworking machinery, chemicals, conveyor belts, and electric limit switches. He left the large firm in order to concentrate on representing injured individuals. Mr. Mitchell’s years of experience defending clients in personal injury cases and working with insurance companies have given him a unique insight into the civil litigation process and an ability to work with defendants to obtain favorable results for his clients. He is a successful veteran of more than 100 trials, arbitrations, and me
Tue, June 04, 2024
GTP CLASSIC: Alwyn Fredericks│Jewel Wicker v. American Family Insurance Company, First Class Produce and Owens│$3.5 Million Verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Alwyn Fredericks of Cash, Krugler, Fredericks ( https://ckandf.com/ ). Rate and review GTP on iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review . View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Alwyn Fredericks, a partner at Cash Krugler Fredericks in Atlanta, shares how he secured justice for 18-year-old college student Jewel Wicker, who sustained permanent brain damage following a severe car crash. Jewel was on her way to church when her Honda Accord was hit by a 26-foot Freightliner that ran a red light. The impact of the tractor-trailer, owned by First Class Produce, caused Jewel to hit her head, rendering her temporarily unconscious. Suffering damage to her frontal and temporal lobes, Jewel was diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury, which, years after the crash, still causes her to have headaches, ringing in her ears, light sensitivity, memory problems, anxiety, and depression. Despite the defense's attempts to persuade the jury that Jewel was lying about her injuries or embellishing the extent of her pain, a DeKalb County jury returned a verdict of $3,500,000. Guest Bio: Alwyn Fredericks Alwyn Fredericks graduated from Mercer University Law School in 1998. His practice areas include auto and trucking accidents, medical malpractice, fire and explosion cases, and premises liability actions. Mr. Fredericks has a sub-specialty in litigating traumatic brain injury cases and has successfully tried several brain injury cases, obtaining substantial verdicts for his clients. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and a former member of the Editorial Board of Verdict, a magazine of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Additional memberships include the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, the American Bar Association, and the Gate City Bar Association. Mr. Fredericks frequently presents at local and national seminars regarding effective litigation and trial techniques. He is consistently recognized as a top litigator in Georgia and named one of Georgia’s Superlawyers. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 </
Tue, May 21, 2024
GTP CLASSIC: Brian McKeen│Tran v. William Beaumont Hospital│$130.5 million verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Brian McKeen of McKeen and Associates, LP ( https://www.mckeenassociates.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review . View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Detroit medical malpractice attorney Brian McKeen explains how he secured justice for a two-month-old boy who suffered brain damage resulting in cerebral palsy after William Beaumont Hospital technicians failed to act urgently. The baby turned blue after receiving an IV for an outpatient renal scan and was without oxygen for 12 minutes because nuclear medicine technicians neglected to immediately issue a "code blue" or to begin administering chest compressions. Despite the defense's attempts to convince the jury that the incident occurred due to pre-existing conditions, an Oakland County, Michigan jury returned a landmark $130.5 million verdict. Guest Bio: Brian McKeen Brian McKeen began practicing law in 1982. During his career, he has become a powerful advocate for his clients and one of the foremost medical malpractice attorneys in Michigan. He has tried cases throughout the United States. He currently sits on the executive boards of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Mr. McKeen formerly served as chair of the AAJ Professional Negligence Section, Medical Negligence Exchange Group, and Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG). Since 2001, McKeen & Associates has generated the year's top verdict in Michigan four times, including securing the state's largest medical malpractice verdict on record in 2001, when a jury rendered a verdict award of $55 million in the case of Hall v Henry Ford Health System. McKeen & Associates also topped all Michigan verdict awards in 2002, with an award of $22.5 million in the case of Blazo v McLaren Regional Medical Center, et al; in 2006, with an award of $16 million in the case of Lowe v Henry Ford Health System; and in 2007, with an award of $35 million in the case of Oppenheim v Aeneas C. Guiney. Mr. McKeen was recently inducted into The Inner Circle of Advocates and named Top Attorneys in Michigan as published by The New York Times in September 2012. Professional Associations and Memberships: Inner Circle of Advocates - The Inner Circle of Advocates is an invitation-only group, limited to 100 lawyers of excellent character and integrity, representing people throughout the United States. To qualify, members must have tried at least 50 personal injury jury trials and at least three verdicts in excess of one million dollars or one verdict in excess of ten million dollars. International Society of Pri
Tue, May 07, 2024
David Yarborough and William Applegate│Shannon Shaw v. Amazon.com Inc.│$44.6 million verdict
This week, Steve and Yvonne interview David Yarborough and William Applegate of Yarborough Applegate Law Firm, LLC ( https://www.yarboroughapplegate.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Yarborough Applegate secured a landmark jury verdict against Amazon for $44.6 million, including $30 million in punitive damages, after a man was catastrophically injured in a motorcycle collision with an Amazon van on Orangeburg Road in Summerville, South Carolina. This distracted driving case marks the first time Amazon has tested with a jury the issue of whether the online retail and global logistics giant will be held responsible for injuries caused by one of its 285,000 Amazon Delivery Associates (drivers) it calls independent contractors. Yarborough Applegate attorneys David Yarborough, Alexandra Heaton, and William Applegate, working alongside Nick Clekis of the Clekis Law Firm in Charleston, represented a motorcyclist who sustained a traumatic brain injury and numerous orthopedic injuries in September 2021 when an Amazon Delivery Associate failed to yield to the right of way and turned left directly into his path. We filed suit against the driver, the local delivery company MJV Logistics, and Amazon, Amazon Services, and Amazon Logistics Inc. Source . Guest Bios: David Yarborough David has a history of achieving record-breaking jury verdicts and settlements for his clients. In December 2023, David and partners obtained a $44.6 million jury verdict against Amazon.com, Inc. in the first case to hold Amazon vicariously liable under an agency theory for the vicarious and negligent acts of its delivery drivers, whom Amazon claims are independent contractors. This was the largest personal injury verdict ever awarded in conservative Dorchester County and is believed to be one of the largest jury verdicts in South Carolina history in an injury case not involving death. Read more about this case here. In October 2021, David achieved the largest dram shop verdict ever in Charleston County, South Carolina, for the sale of alcohol to minors by a Sunoco gas station. David and the firm also achieved one of the top 100 jury verdicts in the United States from their $35.9 million verdict against PEPCO in conservative Montgomery County, Maryland. David has collected jury verdicts and settlements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars for his catastrophically injured clients in cases involving bad faith against insurance companies; industrial plant injuries resulting in worker deaths; product liability from auto
Tue, April 23, 2024
Lee Hunt│James Razo v. No Exit Film LLC│$66.6 million verdict
This week, Steve and Yvonne interviewed Lee Hunt of Hunt Law Firm ( https://huntlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: James Razo, age 55, suffered a spinal cord injury while working on Only the Brave, a movie about a group of elite hotshot firefighters filmed in 2016. Mr. Razo was transporting camera equipment, which tipped over, crushing him. He suffered a spinal cord injury, internal injuries, and brain damage. Guest Bio: Lee Hunt You want to know more about your lawyer than whether he is capable of handling your case. By the end of the case, you and your lawyer better trust each other, know each and honestly care about each other. My belief is that to help a person in a legal crisis, I must know you as a person – not just another case.That means you should know more about me than where I went to school. I am a husband. My wife Kristi is a native New Mexican who grew up on a cattle ranch in Roy, New Mexico. Her family settled the ranch back in the early 1940s and have raised cattle and kids there ever since. I am a father. I have three wonderfully full of life children. I am also a Christian. My faith and my belief in redemption is what drives me to do this work. I don’t think that you have to be a trial attorney to make the world better and to live in the likeness of Jesus, but it is what makes sense to me. If I can help people in crisis and be a calm witness in the midst of the storm, then maybe God can use that to His Glory. I am also an athlete. I love to get away from everything with a hard run in early morning hours or a solitary bike ride. I have raced the Hawaii Ironman twice and ran 100 miles at the Leadville Trail 100. I think balance in life is difficult to find, but even harder to get back aligned when out of whack. Trust me when I say, that I work as hard as anyone I know, but I will always find time for my family and for myself. In the end that time away makes me a better lawyer. As a lawyer, I have always wanted to try difficult cases to juries. To be respected by the other side, they must know that we are willing to fight all the way to the end and get results in Court. Our track record at trial speaks to who we are and how far we are willing to go to make things right. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP -<a href='https://www.hlmlawfirm
Tue, April 09, 2024
GTP CLASSIC: Kyle Farrar & Wesley Ball│Brown v. Silvi, et al.│$11.7 million verdict
This week, we're replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interviewed Kyle Farrar and Wesley Ball of Farrar and Ball, LLP ( http://fbtrial.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review . View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Farrar & Ball trial attorneys Kyle Farrar and Wesley Ball share how they secured justice for Shanika Brown and her infant daughter, who underwent arm and leg amputations, respectively, after being ejected from a car that hit a blown truck tire from a concrete mixer owned by Silvi Concrete on I-295 in New Jersey. The failed Bridgestone L315 tire, which was poorly retreaded by McCarthy Tire and negligently maintained by Silvi Concrete, was left in the roadway and caused the car Brown and her daughter were riding in to swerve and crash. Bridgestone, the original manufacturer of the tire, settled pre-trial. McCarthy Tire settled early in the trial and Silvi Concrete settled with the infant daughter before the case was presented to the jury. A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania jury ultimately assigned 85 percent of the blame to Silvi Concrete. It returned a verdict of $10.6 million to Shanika Brown and $65,000 to Shanika's mother, who was driving the vehicle. Combined with delay damages, the verdict totaled $11.7 million. Guest Bios: Kyle Farrar Kyle Farrar is a veteran litigator with an active trial caseload in state and federal courts across the country. He has secured record jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of individuals injured by dangerous products and reckless and negligent parties. In addition, he has taken leading roles in high-profile multidistrict litigation (MDL) in cases involving dangerous and defective medical products. Kyle began his career at one of the nation’s largest law firms, representing Fortune 500 companies in multimillion-dollar lawsuits. He founded his firm to focus on representing individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries caused by tire blowouts, tread separation, and tire failure linked to defective tires and automotive products. Kyle is a national thought leader regarding tire and vehicle safety, and his work has helped spur manufacturers to improve safety and recall defective products. In this capacity, Kyle routinely assists peers and helps educate lawyers at product liability litigation conferences nationwide. He is often asked to assist as trial counsel in cases and trials, having appeared in Courts in over twenty different states and trying cases to a successful outcome in ten different states. Read Full Bio Wesley Ball In 2005 – three years after graduating from Baylor Law School – Wesley
Tue, March 26, 2024
Matt Cook and Shane Lazenby │Freeman v. ACE American Insurance Co. │ $10 Million Settlement
This week, Steve and Yvonne interviewed Matt Cook of Cook Law Group LLC ( www.cook-lawgroup.com ) and Shane Lazenby of Lazenby Law Group ( lazlawgroup.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: On April 23, 2016, a fatal crash resulted in the loss of Taliah Freeman, a 32-year-old resident of Gainesville, GA, who lost her life in a devastating collision along Interstate 85 in Gwinnett County. Sandra Gallo, Freeman's mother, brought the case on behalf of her six-year-old son. The defendants in the case were C&T Durham Trucking Company of Greensboro, North Carolina, and ACE American Insurance Company. The case ended nearly eight years later, with a settlement totaling $10 million between the parties, with approximately 95% of the settlement amount going to Freeman's family. Source Guest Bios: Matt Cook Matt grew up in Northeast Georgia, the son of a single mom. While he and his mother had very little worldly means, they had grit, determination and a commitment to decency and fairness. Matt’s upbringing gave him a healthy respect for hard work and for standing up for the underdog. Matt spent three years working in cotton mills and other manual labor jobs before graduating college and attending law school. After graduating law school, Matt joined a nationally renowned trial lawyer firm where he spent six years as an associate and five years as a partner handling a broad range of complex, catastrophic injury and death cases across the United States ranging from trucking collisions to product liability claims and everything in between. Matt is a frequent speaker at trial lawyer seminars, has published numerous articles, and has served as an expert witness in several cases. Matt is an aviation enthusiast and has his private pilot’s license. Matt’s unique style, genuine empathy, ability to relate to juries, and fearlessness have led to hundreds of millions of dollars of recoveries for clients. Matt has secured more than $225 million for clients in just the past 10 years. Read Full Bio Shane Lazenby Shane Lazenby is the founder and managing member of Lazenby Law Group. After more than a decade of defending those accused of negligence in personal injury cases, Shane decided to reverse course and help the victims of serious injuries. With unparalleled compassion and limitless commitment, Shane quickly learned how much more rewarding and uplifting service as a victim’s advocate ca
Tue, March 12, 2024
Jude Basile │Collins v. Diamond Generating Corp. │ $150 million verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Jude Basile of The Basile Law Firm ( https://www.basilelaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Jude Basille Jude first began practicing law in 1982. Over the years, he has earned numerous awards as a result of his fierce dedication to protecting families and people. Jude has been named Trial Lawyer of the Year four times, and Outstanding Trial Lawyer nine times by various trial lawyer organizations. He is the only lawyer between Los Angeles and San Francisco to be part of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates, a national invitation-only organization that includes only the 100 top plaintiff trial lawyers in the United States. In addition, he has earned the highest rating among his peers in the legal community while enjoying the friendship and gratitude of his clients. Nothing gives him more satisfaction, however, than finding out and overcoming injustice in the form of abuse of power and corporate greed - a mission he began in childhood. Those who know Jude best will tell you he demonstrates a depth of intensity that even those who oppose him in the courtroom cannot deny. He is simply the very best at what he does, and believes in quality over quantity when it comes to caseload, spending time with his clients in order to better understand each unique situation. Jude is an invited speaker and presenter at numerous State Bar Associations and invited to teach at various Trial Lawyer programs. EDUCATION University of Notre Dame Edinboro University of Pennsylvania B.A. Social Science Indiana University of Pennsylvania M.S. Business Thomas Jefferson School of Law J.D. with honors BAR ADMISSIONS US Supreme Court California 1982 Georgia 1982 (inactive) US Federal Court Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 <a href='https://www.gr
Tue, February 27, 2024
GTP CLASSIC: Lee Hunt │Eric Armstrong & Luke Armstrong v. Express Ranches, LLC. │ $5.256 million verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Lee Hunt of The Hunt Law Firm ( https://huntlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Top 25 New Mexico Super Lawyers honoree Lee Hunt discusses how he secured justice for Eric and Luke Armstrong, two brothers who were hit by bullet fragments fired from neighboring hunters on Express Ranches, LLC’s Atmore Ranch. Their guide mistakenly told the hunters that their targets were between 240 and 250 yards away, causing them to aim high at the elk, which were actually only 160 yards away. While walking on the main road between Atmore Ranch and neighboring Ute Creek Ranch, Luke was hit in the mouth with a bullet fragment, which left him with permanent facial nerve damage and a numb limp. Eric had a bullet fragment lodged in his abdomen. A New Mexico jury found Express Ranches, LLC negligent for failing to adhere to safe hunting practices and awarded $5,256,000 in damages to the Armstrong brothers. Guest Bio: Lee Hunt You want to know more about your lawyer than whether he is capable of handling your case. By the end of the case, you and your lawyer better trust each other, know each and honestly care about each other. I believe that to help a person in a legal crisis, I must know you as a person – not just another case. That means you should know more about me than where I went to school. I am a husband. My wife Kristi is a native New Mexican who grew up on a cattle ranch in Roy, New Mexico. Her family settled on the ranch in the early 1940s and have raised cattle and kids there ever since. I am a father. I have three wonderfully full-of-life children. I am also a Christian. My faith and my belief in redemption is what drives me to do this work. I don’t think that you have to be a trial attorney to make the world better and to live in the likeness of Jesus, but it is what makes sense to me. If I can help people in crisis and be a calm witness in the midst of the storm, then maybe God can use that to His Glory. I am also an athlete. I love getting away from everything with a hard run in the early morning or a solitary bike ride. I have raced the Hawaii Ironman twice and ran 100 miles at the Leadville Trail 100. I think balance in life is challenging to find, but even harder to get back aligned when out of whack. Trust me when I say that I work as hard as anyone I know, but I will always find time for my family and myself. In the end, that time away made me a better lawyer. As a lawyer, I have always wanted to try difficult cases to juries. To be respected by the other side, they must know that we are
Tue, February 13, 2024
GTP CLASSIC: William Ricigliano│Jason Kowalsky v. County of Suffolk, Rancourt et al.│$5.088 Million Verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview William Ricigliano of Ricigliano and Filopei, P.C. ( www.rfinjurylaw.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: One of America’s Top 100 Attorneys, William Ricigliano shares how he secured justice for Jason Kowalsky, a Verizon technician in New York who was hit by a negligent driver in a Suffolk County Parks, Recreation & Conservation pickup truck. Jason was collecting safety cones and putting away his equipment when the driver struck him from behind with enough force to thrust him into the roadway and push his parked vehicle forward. Jason sustained damage to his knee and back, requiring surgery and a costly chronic pain management regimen. Despite the defense’s attempts to pin Jason’s back injury on pre-existing conditions, a Suffolk County, New York jury returned a $5,088,000 verdict. Guest Bio: William Ricigliano William Ricigliano is the founding partner of Ricigliano & Filopei, P.C. with offices in Manhattan, the Bronx, and soon, West New York, New Jersey. Mr. Ricigliano founded the firm with the single goal of helping victims of catastrophic personal injury on both sides of the Hudson River. He has obtained significant verdicts in every borough of New York City, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk counties, and various counties in New Jersey. He has been named a Metro Area Super Lawyer every year since 2013 and has been named as one of America’s Top 100 Attorneys. Mr. Ricigliano’s victories in the courtroom have provided the opportunity to focus his attention on various areas of specialty. A $3.775 million verdict in Suffolk County for an 8-year-old boy who suffered a traumatic brain injury and required a lifetime of medical care sparked Mr. Ricigliano’s devotion to victims of traumatic brain injury. Similarly, a $2.6 million settlement after three weeks of trial in Brooklyn influenced his work with clients suffering from complex regional pain disorder, a chronic pain condition caused by trauma. Mr. Ricigliano has also dedicated his practice to representing construction workers who sustain life-altering injuries on the job. These hard-working men and women include carpenters, ironworkers, roofers, and industrial bridge painters, who typically cannot return to their former occupations. A significant portion of his practice is also related to handling spinal injuries, including a 5 million verdict in Suffolk County in 2015 for a Verizon Technician who was struck by a Suffolk County Parks vehicle, was forced to undergo spinal surgery, and never returned to work. Mr. Ricigliano’s trial results have bee
Tue, January 30, 2024
Jordan Strokovsky │Parks v. Temple University Hospital│$30 Million Verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Jordan Strokovsky of Strokovsky LLC ( https://actionafterinjury.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Jordan won his client a $30 million recovery against Temple University Hospital in one of the largest medical malpractice cases in Pennsylvania's history. Despite the hospital's denial of wrongdoing, Jordan refused their offer of $3 million and prepared tirelessly for court to ensure a just outcome for his client. The hospital admitted fault and the jury awarded $25.9M to Jordan's Mr. Parks ($6M for future medical costs and $20M for pain and suffering) after a comprehensive investigation and a hard-fought trial. The hospital hired three law firms in an attempt to overturn the verdict and offered a settlement less than the awarded amount. Jordan's client refused to settle, and Jordan won every argument against the big firms. The court refused the hospital's request to reduce the verdict, and $3.7 million in delay damages were added. The total recovery now exceeds $30 million, including over $600,000 in interest. No appeal was filed. Guest Bio: Jordan Strokovsky Jordan Strokovsky is a trial lawyer serving the catastrophically injured in a diverse range of cases, including medical malpractice, birth injury, truck accidents, fires, explosions, plane crashes, premises liability, product liability, workplace injuries, toxic torts, civil rights, car accidents, and sexual assault. His hard work ethic, integrity, and compassion earn him the trust of his clients and the respect of his opponents. These attributes have also helped him obtain significant verdicts and settlements. For good reason, many lawyers refer or seek to co-counsel their serious injury and wrongful death cases with Jordan. Jordan handles countless catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases and routinely handles cases pro bono to help his community. His volunteer work includes taking a civil rights case to verdict with the Volunteer Attorney Panel of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, representing victims of sexual abuse with the Support Center for Child Advocates, and successfully handling various cases from Philadelphia VIP. He has been recognized by the court for his service and was a featured volunteer by Philadelphia VIP. As an animal lover and dog owner, Jordan has also championed animal rights causes, helping establish that pets should not be viewed as property under the law. He also serves on the Pennsylvania Association for Justice Board of Directors and has previously served on boards for non-profits that help animals, homeless people, and refugees.
Tue, January 16, 2024
GTP CLASSIC: Dan Blouin and Jim Kramer │Clagett as Temporary Administrator for the Estate of Pietro Macaluso v. A. O. Smith Corporation, et. al.│$60 Million Verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Dan Blouin and Jim Kramer of Simmons, Hanly, Conroy ( https://www.simmonsfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Accomplished mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys Dan Blouin and Jim Kramer explain how they secured justice for the family of laborer Pietro Macaluso, who died from mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos dust while servicing and removing boilers. Despite the fact they knew it was hazardous, three boiler manufacturers used asbestos-filled insulation, cement, gaskets, tape and wire in their equipment and failed to warn workers like Pietro of potential health hazards or to offer safe handling methods. A New York City jury found the three manufacturers negligent and assigned 25 percent of the blame for Pietro's wrongful death to each company, along with smaller percentages to seven other manufacturers. The jury awarded a $60 million verdict, including 21 years of compensation to Pietro's son and daughter. Guest Bios: Dan Blouin Attorney Daniel Patrick Blouin is a shareholder at Simmons Hanly Conroy in the asbestos litigation department. Based in the firm’s New York office, Daniel has secured hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of clients diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. In his frequent role as lead trial-attorney and co-counsel, he has litigated against numerous national corporations involved in the manufacture and sale of dangerous products and equipment. He involves himself with every aspect of the litigation process, from client intake to discovery, to motion practice through trial verdict, keeping his clients’ needs and rights foremost in his priorities. In 2013, Daniel obtained a $190 million verdict on behalf of two tradesmen who developed mesothelioma decades after their occupational exposure to asbestos. The verdict was the largest consolidated asbestos verdict in New York history. In addition, the $60 million the two cancer patients received ranked among the largest individual damages awarded in a New York asbestos case. In 2014 and 2015, Daniel had unprecedented successes at trial in Delaware, New York City and Upstate New York. He obtained excellent settlements for clients before and during trial and won a jury verdict in a very contentious case in Syracuse, New York. In 2018, Daniel and fellow shareholder Jim Kramer secured a $60 million verdict in New York City against boiler manufacturers A.O Smith, Burnham, LLC, and Peerless Industries, Inc. This historic verdict, secured on behalf of a former laborer, marks one of the highest verdicts f
Tue, January 02, 2024
GTP CLASSIC: Brian Brown │Ashley Partlow v. Kennedy Krieger Institute, Inc. │ $1.841 Million Verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Brian Brown of Brown and Barron, LLC ( https://www.brownbarron.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Accomplished Baltimore trial lawyer Brian Brown explains how he secured justice for Ashley Partlow, who was subjected to the Kennedy Krieger Institute's negligent Lead-Based Paint Abatement and Repair and Maintenance Study. Designed to identify the least expensive solution to a nationwide lead paint and dust problem, the study monitored blood lead levels in children under 4 years of age who were living in homes with unhealthy levels of poisonous lead dust. Ashley was too old to be an official test subject but was still exposed to high levels of lead dust through the study. As a result of her exposure, Ashley suffers from permanent brain damage and struggles with learning disabilities and behavior issues. After a month-long trial, a Baltimore City, Maryland jury returned a verdict of $1,841,000 in damages in this landmark case. Guest Bio: Brian S. Brown Brian S. Brown, one of the firm’s founding partners, as well as its Managing Member, has over thirty years of experience as a trial lawyer and focuses his practice on litigating medical malpractice and nursing home abuse cases. Brian has tried well over 100 tort cases and has obtained multiple multi-million dollar verdicts. Over his career, he has recovered more than $175 million for his clients, through both trial and settlement. In addition to his trial experience, Brian has extensive appellate experience, having appeared before the Maryland Court of Appeals twelve times, and the Court of Special Appeals more than fifty times. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia, as well as in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Brian is currently a member of the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Brian has presented on legal topics in a variety of settings, including for the Inn of Court, and over ten times for HB Litigation Conferences. He has also presented to the entire bench of the Circuit Court of Baltimore City regarding the evolving law of expert testimony in Maryland. Brian has been named as a Super Lawyer, and he has been selected as a member of both the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and of the prestigious Litigation Counsel of America. Outside of his legal work, Brian has served as the President of the Board for the Maryland Disability Law Center (now known as Disability Rights Maryland), and has volunteered with other civic organizations, including with the Upt
Tue, December 19, 2023
GTP CLASSIC: T. Scott Jones │Collins v. Harold Limburg │ $525,000 Verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview T Scott Jones of Banks and Jones ( https://www.banksjones.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Acclaimed Tennessee trial lawyer T. Scott Jones shares how he secured justice for his client, a 16-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted by a prominent Greeneville, Tennessee businessman and funeral homeowner who avoided meaningful criminal charges through a pre-trial diversion program and two years of probation. In his late 50s at the time of the statutory rape, the businessman posed as an 18-year-old on a website and targeted minors. The plaintiff suffered severe physical injuries, requiring hospitalization and continued medical treatment. A Greene County, Tennessee jury held the defendant accountable when it returned a verdict of $525,000, including $300,000 in compensatory damages and $225,000 in punitive damages. Guest Bio: T. Scott Jones Scott Jones is a fierce trial lawyer and a zealous advocate for his clients. Well-regarded in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, T. Scott has received numerous accolades and awards. Multiple times, his peers in the legal field have voted him one of Knoxville’s Top Attorneys in polls conducted by CityView magazine. He has the highest possible AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell and is regarded as one of the preeminent attorneys in the southeastern United States. T. Scott’s successful litigation for his clients has qualified him for the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He has been named one of Tennessee’s 10 Best Attorneys by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys and the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, and the American Society of Legal Advocates named him one of Tennessee’s Top 100 Litigation Lawyers. He has also been nationally recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America by the National Trial Lawyers. America’s Top 100 Attorneys has awarded him a Lifetime Achievement award, and T. Scott is a Lifetime Charter Member of the Distinguished Justice Advocates. He has been named one of America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators in the state of Tennessee, and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel placed T. Scott into the Nation’s Top One Percent. He is currently serving as Vice President of the TN American Board of Trial Advocates (TN ABOTA) Chapter and regularly participates in trial practice-related teaching opportunities. Scott knows the importance of interacting with colleagues to stay abreast of developments and changes in the legal world. T. Scott frequently teaches CLE
Tue, December 05, 2023
GTP CLASSIC: John Duff & Alex Hilliard │Denise Marez and Juan Perez v. Isaac G. Rodriguez, Sr. d/b/a I & R Trucking and Rodriguez Trucking│$18 Million Verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview John Duff and Alex Hilliard of Hilliard Martinez Gonzalez LLP ( https://www.hmglawfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Texas trial attorneys John Duff and Alex Hilliard of Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP share how they secured justice for the family of 60-year-old truck driver Juan Perez, who died after falling through Rodriguez Trucking’s rotted roof onto a cement floor 12 feet below. Juan was a dedicated employee of Rodriguez Trucking for 17 years, contrary to the defense’s claims that he was not employed by the company at the time of the incident, and was asked to help repair the roof without a safety harness or training of any kind, both of which resulted in a serious Office of Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violation. A San Patricio County, Texas jury found Rodriguez Trucking owner Isaac G. Rodriguez, Sr. negligent and returned a verdict of $18 million, including $10 million in punitive damages. Guest Bios: Alex Hilliard Alex Hilliard is a dedicated advocate for those who have been injured or have lost a loved one due to another party’s negligence. Alex is committed to championing his clients’ interests, understanding the challenges they face, and helping them secure compensation for their losses. Alex’s top priority is achieving the most just case resolution for his clients, be it trial or settlement, which is seen in his tireless investigation and persistence. He has distinguished himself with the loyalty and support he shows to his clients in his determination to ensure that their voices are heard. His kindhearted nature makes him perfect for his position in personal injury and wrongful death cases – he handles clients with the sensitivity that is required yet is committed to researching and crafting a strategy that strengthens each case. He brings passion on behalf of those he serves and shares empathy with those victims of tragedy at all times. Having clerked at HMG for three years while attending St. Mary’s Law School, Alex worked on many aspects of personal injury and wrongful death litigation, including the high-profile ignition-switch litigation against General Motors. HMG represented injury victims and families of those killed in accidents caused by GM’s defective ignition switch and their concealment of safety defects. This multi-district litigation is considered the single largest product liability litigation in US history, resulting in a $575 million settlement. In September 2018, Alex was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Litigation Committee for the MSU/Nassar Class-Actio
Tue, November 21, 2023
Tom Bosworth │Melendez v. Mo │$19.7 million verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Tom Bosworth of Bosworth Law ( https://tombosworthlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Attorney Tom Bosworth achieved a historic milestone by becoming the youngest lawyer in Pennsylvania to secure an eight-figure jury verdict as the lead counsel in a medical malpractice case for a living client. The case involved a medical malpractice victim who was awarded a $19.7 million verdict by a Philadelphia jury, due to a failure to diagnose. After years of seeing the same primary care physician, a woman's complaints about back pain and other symptoms were repeatedly dismissed. She sought the help of a neurologist, who discovered a mass on her spine. Unfortunately, the mass had already caused several complications, including incontinence, pain, and difficulty walking. As a result, she was left partially paralyzed and unable to continue working. Guest Bio: Thomas Bosworth At age 33, Tom Bosworth became the youngest lawyer in the history of Pennsylvania to obtain a jury verdict in excess of $10 million for a living client as lead counsel (the total verdict being over $19 million). Three months prior to that, after two weeks as lead counsel at trial, Bosworth secured a $7 million settlement on behalf of a mother whose mentally disabled adult son wrongfully died in a group home. Bosworth also obtained multiple non-monetary terms in this settlement that were only agreed to by the defendant after two weeks of trial. In the past 5 years, Bosworth has been counsel on various additional jury trials and settlements totaling over $80 million. These cases included ones for medical malpractice, product liability, and wrongful death. Recently, Bosworth was designated by the independent attorney group Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Pennsylvania, a designation reserved for the top 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state who are 40 or younger or practicing 10 years or less. Bosworth attended Temple University Beasley School of Law from where he graduated in 2016 with magna cum laude and Order of the Coif distinction. During law school, Bosworth participated as a member of Temple’s nationally ranked Trial Team and as a Research Editor of the Temple Law Review. Following law school, Bosworth was a law clerk to the Honorable Lawrence Stengel in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing -<a href='https://www.digitallawm
Tue, November 07, 2023
GTP CLASSIC: Erin Hargis & Ted Rosenberg │Iacone v. Sal Passanisi, Jr., County of Nassau, Piccoli, Grassi and Kotter│$25.425 million settlement
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Erin Hargis and Ted Rosenberg of Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP ( https://www.lilawyer.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP trial lawyers Erin Hargis and Ted Rosenberg explain how they held New York’s Nassau County responsible for not addressing the limited sight distance of a dangerous curved road that resulted in a life-altering crash. At the intersection of Erwin Place and Oceanside Road, 17-year-old driver Nicollette Iacone pulled to a stop and crept forward to peer beyond obstructing hedges on the Grassi, Kotter, and Piccoli property line and an inoperable control cabinet before making a left turn. Sal Passanisi, Jr., who was speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, collided with Nicollette, resulting in life-altering traumatic brain injuries. The jury returned a verdict assigning 14% negligence to Sal and 86% negligence to Nassau County. Ultimately, all parties settled for a total of $25,425,000. Guest Bios: Erin Hargis Erin M. Hargis received her Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College. Thereafter, she received her law degree from Brooklyn Law School. During Law School, Ms. Hargis was a member of the school’s Moot Court Honor Society, Trial Advocacy Division, and Vice President of the school’s chapter of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. After completing school, Ms. Hargis joined the Kings County District Attorney’s office as an Assistant District Attorney, where she prosecuted both felony and misdemeanor cases and successfully tried numerous cases on behalf of the residents of Brooklyn. In 2008, Ms. Hargis joined a prominent Manhattan firm where she handled numerous complex medical malpractice cases. Ms. Hargis joined Rosenberg & Gluck in 2011 as an associate, rising to partner in 2015. She uses her experience to effectively represent victims of negligence and malpractice. Ms. Hargis handles all aspects of personal injury cases from inception through trial. Ms. Hargis was admitted to practice law in New Jersey in 2004, the State of New York in 2005, and the District of Columbia in 2016. She is also admitted to practice in Federal Court in the Eastern and Southern Districts. Read Full Bio Ted Rosenberg Ted M. Rosenberg is a Suffolk County native. He graduated from Boston University with honors and received his Juris Doctor from St.John’s University School of Law in 1982. Mr. Rosenberg worked as an associate at a law firm until he formed his own firm in 1984. In 1996, he jo
Tue, October 24, 2023
GTP CLASSIC: Michelle Shughart│State of Texas v. Christopher Duntsch│Convicted - Life Imprisonment - Part 2
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Michelle Shughart, Dallas District Attorney. Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: In the riveting conclusion of a two-part series, Dallas District Attorney Michelle Shughart explains how she criminally prosecuted Dr. Christopher Duntsch, also known as “Dr. Death,” and secured the nation’s first life imprisonment of a physician for actions towards a patient. Dr. Duntsch was convicted of knowingly maiming an elderly woman by surgically implanting spinal fusion hardware into muscle, not bone. Jurors heard how Dr. Duntsch resigned from his practicing hospital and was able to continue treating patients despite causing life-altering injuries to dozens of patients. This landmark case and Dr. Duntsch’s disturbing actions were the focus of the popular Dr. Death Podcast hosted by top medical journalist Laura Beil. Guest Bio: Michelle Shughart Michelle Shughart has been an Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County for over 14 years. She is currently chief of a felony court and has previously been assigned to the Child Abuse, Specialized Crime, Arson, Mental Health, and State Jail divisions. She completed her Juris Doctorate from S.M.U. in May 2005, passing the BAR examination before graduation. While working full-time at the District Attorney’s Office, Michelle completed her Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management from the S.M.U. Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Outside her work at the D.A.’s Office, Michelle teaches at Southern Methodist University in the Master of Liberal Arts program. Her classes include Negotiation, Psychology of Conflict, Multicultural Communication, and the Human Experience. She also teaches for the Dallas County Community College District on the topics of Texas Family Code and Divorce Mediation. Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, October 10, 2023
GTP CLASSIC: Gary Fox │Slayton v. Professional Park Pediatrics, P.A., Pediatrics of Timberlane, P.A., and Penrod, M.D.│ $3.373 million verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Gary Fox of Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain, P.A ( https://www.stfblaw.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Inner Circle of Advocates attorney Gary Fox shares how a medical malpractice case was mistried twice before resulting in Leon County, Florida’s first verdict in 17 years in favor of a patient against a physician. Premature baby Levi Slayton was taken to the doctor a few days after birth for breathing difficulties and rising bilirubin levels, which can indicate elevated red blood cell destruction and a possible infection. The doctor was negligent and failed to admit the baby to the hospital to monitor his bilirubin levels in an environment that could respond quickly. Returning home, the baby stopped breathing while being breastfed and suffered such significant brain damage from a lack of oxygen that life-support was not recommended. Levi only lived for six days. The jury assigned 100% responsibility for the baby’s death to the doctor, returning a verdict of $3,373,000. Guest Bio: Gary Fox For the past 39 years, Gary Fox has devoted his practice exclusively to the trial of civil cases in Florida. He specializes in the trial of medical malpractice, products liability and wrongful death cases. Gary graduated from the University of Florida School of Law in 1976, where he was an editor of the law review and member of the National Moot Court Board. After graduation, he went to work for the firm known as Frates Floyd Pearson Stewart Richman & Greer. He became a partner at the firm and in 1984 left to open his own firm with Larry Stewart, Jim Tilghman and David Bianchi, where he has remained since. Gary is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, the most selective group of trial lawyers in the United States. The Inner Circle is an invitation-only group limited to the top 100 plaintiffs’ trial attorneys in America. Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain is the only law firm in Florida with two members in The Inner Circle. Gary was selected as the Trial Lawyer of the Year by the American Board of Trial Advocates, Florida Chapters, an organization also known as FLABOTA. The American Board of Trial Advocates is an invitation-only group of trial lawyers evenly divided between attorneys who represent plaintiffs and those who represent insurance companies, manufacturers, health care providers, and other defendants. Seven years after graduation, he became board certified as a civil trial lawyer by the Florida Bar and the following year he was certified in the same specialty by the National Board of Trial Advo
Wed, September 27, 2023
GTP CLASSIC: Lloyd Bell | Sandra Williams v. St. Francis Hospital, Inc. et al. | $26 million verdict
This week, we're replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Lloyd Bell of the Bell Law Firm ( https://www.belllawfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Medical malpractice attorney Lloyd Bell of Bell Law Firm explains how he led two weeks of trial and obtained a record-breaking jury verdict for a woman who suffered severe complications following neck surgery. Due to the negligence of the hospital’s ICU doctor in responding to the patient’s restricted airway, she entered into a three-week-long coma and awoke blind and brain-damaged due to a lack of oxygen. Guest Bio: Lloyd Bell With over 25 years of legal experience, Lloyd Bell has built a sterling courtroom record and recovered millions of dollars for medical malpractice victims. A veteran of the U.S. Army JAG Corps, Bell founded his own law firm in 1999 and is consistently recognized as one of the top attorneys in his field. In 2018, Bell Law Firm was recognized as Personal Injury Litigation Team of the Year by Daily Report, the leading source of legal news in Atlanta. Lloyd Bell has been included in Atlanta Magazine’s prestigious Super Lawyers list every year since 2005, and more recently the Super Lawyers “Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia” list in 2018. Bell has also been named as one of the few personal injury lawyers in Georgia on the prestigious list of “Legal Elite” by Georgia Trend Magazine, an honor he has received every year since 2015. His firm differentiates itself with deep legal expertise, a mastery of technology in the courtroom, and compelling storytelling. Over the past five years, Bell won more seven- and eight-figure verdicts for his clients in medical malpractice cases than any other attorney in the state of Georgia, including a $15 million verdict against a large Atlanta hospital group in 2016 and a record-breaking $26 million verdict against a Columbus hospital in 2017. Bell is a member of the Melvin M. Belli Society, a group of distinguished trial lawyers dedicated to the principles of education. Bell is also board certified by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys in the field of medical malpractice. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: <a href='https://www.greattrialspodcast.com/p
Tue, September 12, 2023
GTP CLASSIC: Tracey Dellacona | Ellen Wadsworth v. Howland. PA-C, Paustian, M.D., and Georgia EM-I Medical Services, P.C. | $5 million verdict
This week we're replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Tracey Dellacona of Dellacona Law Firm, LLC ( http://www.dellaconalaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Georgia trial lawyer and nurse Tracey Dellacona of Dellacona Law Firm, LLC shares how she strategically represented emergency room patient Ellen Wadsworth, whose misdiagnosed pain resulted in the amputation of both of her legs. On Thanksgiving Day in 2008, Ellen arrived at the hospital with severe pain in both of her legs and cold feet, which a physician's assistant -- after only a brief physical exam and vein testing -- determined to be cellulitis, a type of bacterial skin infection. Despite Ellen's inability to walk and pleas to be admitted to the hospital, the supervising doctor and physician's assistant sent her home with morphine. Hours later, Ellen returned to the emergency room after collapsing in her home, and it was discovered that she had arterial blockages in both of her lower legs. On December 4, 2008, Ellen underwent a double leg amputation below the knee. The defendants argued that Ellen's symptoms and physical conditions were entirely different at each emergency room visit and tried to place blame on Ellen's smoking and pre-existing medical conditions. In 2012, a Gwinnett County, Georgia jury found in favor of Ellen, awarding her $5 million in damages and charging the attending healthcare professionals and medical practice with ordinary negligence. Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Tracey Dellacona Ms. Dellacona graduated cum laude in 1985 from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and worked as an emergency department nurse and cardiac care nurse for several years in North Carolina before moving to Georgia to attend law school. She maintains a current Georgia license as a registered nurse. Ms. Dellacona graduated in 1994 from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law in Macon, Georgia, where she began her own law firm, Dellacona Law Firm. In 2007, Ms. Dellacona obtained her Master of Business Administration Degree magna cum laude from Wesleyan College. She has served as president of the Middle Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, as an at large Vice-President for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and is a member of the Bootle Inn of Court, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the Middle Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the State Bar of Georgia, the American Association for Justice, the Professional Negligence Group, Stroke Litigation Group and the Nursing Home Litigation Group. Ms. Dellacona is AV rated (the highest rating in c
Tue, August 29, 2023
GTP Classic: Eric Rosen | Vivian Turner, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Vivian Wilkinson v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | $13 million verdict
This week, we're replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Eric Rosen of Rosen Injury Law ( https://roseninjurylawyers.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Rosen Injury Law founder Eric Rosen explains how he secured justice for the family of Vivian Wilkinson, a lifelong smoker who died from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) caused by her addiction to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company's cigarettes. Building upon the success of the 1994 Engle class action lawsuit comprised of Florida smokers, trial lawyer Eric Rosen successfully took Broward County, Florida jury members on a journey back in time to when smoking was deeply ingrained in American society, helping them see how that environment influenced Vivian's decisions as well as the actions of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Despite the defense's attempts to convince the jury that the timing of Vivian's initial COPD symptoms failed to meet the statute of limitations, the jury found in favor of Vivian's estate, awarding $3 million in compensatory damages to her children, Vivian and Eugene, and $10 million in punitive damages against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for knowingly concealing information that ultimately contributed to Vivian's death. Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Eric Rosen Eric Rosen is a Fort Lauderdale injury lawyer and founder of Rosen Injury Law, P.A. Mr. Rosen is Board Certified by the Florida Bar as a civil trial specialist, a certification held by less than 2% of all attorneys licensed to practice law in Florida. Eric devotes his practice to representing plaintiffs who have suffered injury or death as a result of another person’s or corporation’s negligence. As lead trial attorney, Eric has obtained over $100 million in jury verdicts for his clients in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Eric has also co-chaired and served on trial teams obtaining combined jury verdicts in excess of $300 million. His verdicts have been featured extensively in the Daily Business Review, Courtroom View Network and other media outlets. Eric began his legal career as a prosecutor at the Office of the State Attorney in Broward County, Florida, where he tried dozens of jury trials and countless bench trials to verdict. Mr. Rosen left public service to pursue his passion for helping people who have suffered due to someone else’s misconduct. Mr. Rosen then rose through the ranks to become a partner at a prominent South Florida personal injury and wrongful death firm. For over a decade, Eric dedicated his practice to catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. After unparalleled success, Mr. Rosen pursued hi
Tue, August 15, 2023
Matt Cook & Ronny Hulsey | Finelli v. Steusloff | $5.6 million verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Matt Cook of Cook Law Group, LLC ( https://www.cook-lawgroup.com/ ) and Ronny Hulsey Smith Hulsey Law ( https://smithhulseylaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Matthew E. Cook Matt grew up in Northeast Georgia the son of a single mom. While he and his mother had very little worldly means, they had grit, determination and a commitment to decency and fairness. Matt’s upbringing gave him a healthy respect for hard work and for standing up for the underdog. Matt spent three years working in cotton mills and other manual labor jobs before graduating college and attending law school. After graduating law school, Matt joined a nationally renowned trial lawyer firm where he spent six years as an associate and five years as a partner handling a broad range of complex, catastrophic injury and death cases across the United States ranging from trucking collisions to product liability claims and everything in between. Matt is a frequent speaker at trial lawyer seminars, has published numerous articles and has served as an expert witness in several cases. Matt is an aviation enthusiast and has his private pilot's license. Matt’s unique style, genuine empathy, ability to relate to juries and fearlessness has led to hundreds of millions of dollars of recoveries for clients. Matt has secured more than $225 million for clients in just the past 10 years. Read Full Bio Ronny Hulsey Early in his career, Ronny defended big insurance companies at large law firms before devoting his practice solely to helping injured people win claims against insurance companies. Ronny focused his legal education in insurance law, graduating second in his class, magna cum laude from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law, where he was elected to Law Review, inducted into the Brainerd Currie Honor Society, and won the Guerry R. Moore Insurance Law Award. Recruited by Georgia’s top insurance defense firms, Ronny learned what insurance companies fear and what makes them pay fair compensation to injured parties. Recently, Ronny received state-wide recognition for obtaining a $1 million recovery for a high school track coach struck by a truck while jogging with her students. He recovered ten times the available policy limit after the insurer refused to treat his client fairly. More recently, Ronny represented a pedestrian who was killed when a vehicle left its lane on I-985, and recovered over $1.9 million for the victim’s family. <a href='https://smithhulseylaw.com/ourteam/ronny
Tue, August 01, 2023
GTP CLASSIC: Bill Stone | Trabue v. Atlanta Women’s Specialists, LLC and Stanley R. Angus, M.D. | $45.8 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Bill Stone of Stone Law Group ( https://www.stonelaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Former Georgia Plaintiff’s Lawyer of the Year Bill Stone of Stone Law Group in Atlanta explains how he secured justice for Shannon Trabue, an expectant mother with pre-eclampsia who suffered irreversible brain damage due to medical malpractice. Two Atlanta Women’s Specialists’ doctors failed to regulate Shannon’s blood pressure, despite knowledge that pre-eclampsia patients pose a high risk of blood pressure-induced seizures, and failed to manage her fluid levels. As a result, Shannon suffered cardiopulmonary arrest, resulting in permanent brain damage and physical disabilities due to an extended period of time without oxygen. A Fulton County, Georgia jury delivered a $45.8 million verdict, including $9.8 million in economic loss and $18 million in compensatory damages for Shannon. Guest Bio: William 'Bill' Sims Stone Bill is a trial lawyer from Blakely, Georgia, who specializes in personal injury, wrongful death, professional malpractice, product liability, commercial and consumer fraud cases. The firm’s predecessor was founded in 1915 by Bill’s grandfather, the late Wm. Lowrey Stone. Past members of the firm include Bill’s father, Lowrey S. Stone, who formerly served as Chief Judge of Superior Courts, Pataula Judicial Circuit. Bill was born in Dothan, Alabama, on August 19, 1953. He attended the public schools in Early County, Georgia and graduated from Early County High School in 1971. He attended the University of Georgia College of Business Administration and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting on graduation in 1975. Bill also attended the Netherlands Institute of Industrial Economics near Amsterdam in The Netherlands in 1973. Bill received his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1977. He was admitted to practice law in the state of Georgia in 1977 and in the state of Alabama in 1985. He is also member of the bars of the United States District Courts for the Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia, the Middle District of Alabama, and the Central District of Illinois, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits. The publishers of the Martindale Hubble Law Directory have awarded Bill its highest rating (AV) for legal ability and integrity. Bill is a Life Member and past president of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and is also a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia, the
Tue, July 18, 2023
T. Gabe Houston | Soulliere v. Suzuki Motor Corp. | $161 Million Verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview T. Gabe Houston of The Trial Lab ( https://thetriallab.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: In June 2013, Thomas Joseph (“Joey”) Soulliere was riding his recently-purchased motorcycle down a public road. Suddenly, a driver in an SUV pulled out of a parking lot directly in front of him. While the situation was dire, Joey certainly had sufficient time to brake so as to avoid the SUV. Unfortunately, Joey’s bike, a 2009 Suzuki GSXR 600, contained a defect within its Front Brake Master Cylinder (a defect which had been known for years by its designer and manufacturer, Suzuki Motor Corporation) which resulted in sudden and complete front brake failure. Having no front brake, Joey violently crashed into the SUV. His injuries included fracture of his right femur, right patella, and left foot. The patella injury was severe, requiring multiple surgeries (including for burst ligaments and infection). Joey also developed orthopedic injuries in his right shoulder and lower back, and continued to have chronic pain in his legs for years. ( Source ) Guest Bio: Gabe Houston Gabe Houston is the founding member of The Trial Lab Corporation (Formerly Houston Law of California, PC), a law firm devoted to enthusiastically representing aviation-related disputes as well as compassionately helping injured people. In personal injury matters, our job is to help injured people realize their brighter futures. The Trial Lab helps innocent injured victims who have been hurt due to the carelessness of others. Our clients have suffered a catastrophic personal injury, typically by defective products, dangerous properties, or other negligent people, or have been injured on an airline or by a doctor or hospital. The Trial Lab also represents clients in cases involving Qui Tam/Whistleblower matters. T. Gabe Houston has complex trial, arbitration, mediation, and negotiation experience. The Trial Lab and its trial attorneys have successfully tried and arbitrated multiple complex cases to verdicts in the areas of aviation litigation, product liability actions, personal injury, medical malpractice, and as well as defending wrongly charged or accused criminal defendants. The Trial Lab has also represented pilots against regulatory agencies such as the FAA and NTSB as well as representing clients in securities and commodities regulatory and administrative litigation. Gabe Houston and Caroline Blanco originally founded the law firm Houston and Blanco in 2008. Gabe and Caroline married, and Caroline left the practice of law to be the bedrock of a growing househol
Tue, June 20, 2023
GTP Classic: Michael A. Kelly | Loren Kransky v. DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. | $8.3 million verdict
This week we're replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Michael A. Kelly of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger ( https://www.walkuplawoffice.com ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished California personal injury lawyer Michael A. Kelly, a shareholder at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger and recent Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame inductee, shares how he secured justice for the first of thousands of victims of a defectively designed medical device. On December 5, 2007, U.S. Air Force veteran Loren "Bill" Kransky underwent hip surgery in Montana, receiving a DePuy ASR Acetabular Hip System orthopedic implant. DePuy, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, first put the ASR Acetabular Hip System on the market in Europe in 2004, and soon after began receiving notifications from prominent surgeons that the device was flawed. Despite receiving these notifications, DePuy continued to market the metal implant as a low-wear product that required only one surgery and failed to report product issues to American doctors. On August 4, 2010, a recall was issued and the Depuy ASR Acetabular Hip System was labeled as defective, but the damage was already done for millions of patients, including Loren. Following the recall, Loren underwent revision surgery to have the implant removed because it was shedding metal debris into the tissue of his hip and bloodstream. In March 2013, a Los Angeles jury returned a verdict in favor of Loren, awarding $8,338,136.12 in damages for the pain caused by the defective design and ultimately helping to facilitate a $2.5 billion national settlement for all victims. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Michael A. Kelly Mike Kelly is one of the nation’s top personal injury attorneys. For four decades he has protected consumers from corporate greed, medical mistakes, dangerous household products, unsafe medical devices, and motor vehicle accidents of every kind. He has tried, settled, and arbitrated more than 200 cases where the recovery by his client exceeded $1 million. In 2020 he helped negotiate the multibillion-dollar resolution of the 2017 California wildfire lawsuits brought against utility giant PG&E. Before that, his $8.341 million verdict in the first DePuy ASR/Johnson & Johnson metal-on-metal artificial hip litigation helped produce a $2.5 billion national settlement for all victims. In 2021 Mike was the number one vote-getter for the second year in a row on the 2021 list of Northern California “Super Lawyers”. A member of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates, Kelly was also included on the “Top 10” and “Top 100” list of lawyers in No
Tue, June 06, 2023
Brian Beckcom | The “Captain Phillips” Case | Confidential Settlement
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Brian Beckcom of VB Attorneys ( https://www.vbattorneys.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: The crew of the Maersk Alabama was attacked and taken hostage by Somali pirates. The events were depicted in a Hollywood blockbuster called “Captain Phillips” starring Tom Hanks. Brian and his firm countered a massive Hollywood publicity campaign that portrayed Captain Phillips as a hero and the crew as lazy layabouts, when in fact the exact opposite was true. The case resulted in a confidential settlement for each crew member. It also changed the way the shipping industry provides security to the men and women who travel in dangerous, pirate-infested waters Guest Bio: Brian Beckcom Brian Beckcom is one of the leading lawyers of his generation. Brian's peers have voted him a Texas Super Lawyer 14 years in a row, and every single year he has been eligible. Brian is also a Board Certified Expert in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a recognition shared by less than 2% of lawyers. Brian has obtained hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients, and he and his law firm have obtained record-setting settlements and verdicts in a wide variety of significant legal cases. Brian is also a Computer Scientist & Philosopher. He created and hosts the popular podcast "Lesson from Leaders with Brian Beckcom." Brian is a military "brat," a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a single-digit golfer, a former college basketball player at Texas A&M, a four-year member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, and an accomplished freshwater and saltwater fly fisherman. Brian is an honors graduate of the University of Texas School of Law. He is the author of 6 books and hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics. Brian has successfully prosecuted many high profile cases. The national and international media has covered Brian's work on these complex cases. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 <a href='https://www.greattrialspodcast.com/podcast/2019/1/1/bonus-episode-stages-of
Tue, May 23, 2023
Bob Cheeley | Richards v. U.S. Xpress | $15 million verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Bob Cheeley of Cheeley Law Group, LLC ( https://cheeleylawgroup.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Robert D. Cheeley “I’m just a small town country lawyer” is the way Bob Cheeley refers to himself. Having grown up in Buford, Georgia in the 1960’s and 1970’s, Bob grew up wanting to help people, just as his parents, Selma Medlock Cheeley and his father, Joseph E. Cheeley, Jr. modeled for him. Bob’s mother would never miss the opportunity to help out a family in need with a meal, clothing and Christmas gifts. Mrs. Cheeley served on the Buford City School Board during integration of the schools when Bob was in middle school. Bob’s father, Joe, was a lawyer in Buford for over 60 years after graduating from the University of Georgia in 1952. While in law school, Joe would earn money as the Sanford Stadium announcer on game days. Joe also served as State Court Judge in Gwinnett County for 20 years. Bob grew up driving tractors and working on the family farm. Later, Bob worked in his father’s law office in the summers during college and law school. It was during this time that Bob realized his calling to become a trial lawyer with a desire to help people who had been wronged, either to their person or their business. Like his father, Bob is a “Double Dawg,” having achieved two degrees from the University of Georgia, a degree in political science in 1978 and his Juris Doctorate from the School of Law in 1982. Bob has been advocating for the rights of Georgia residents who have sustained serious and catastrophic injuries his entire career. Bob has also represented business owners who have been the victim of breaches of fiduciary duties by a partner. Bob is the founding member and the managing partner of Cheeley Law Group, LLC, located in Alpharetta. Over the course of his career, Bob has secured over six hundred million ($600,000,000) dollars in jury verdicts and settlements. Most of these have been against insurers and publicly traded corporations, including trucking companies which caused injuries and deaths on the highways. Bob has also achieved justice for people who have suffered catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, due to automobile product defects in vehicles manufactured by companies such as General Motors, Toyota Motor Company, Suzuki Motor Company, Nissan Motor Company, and Ford Motor Company, among others. One of the most notable cases which Bob tried with his former law partner is Moseley vs. General Motors which resulted in a verdict of $105 million dollars in Atlanta in 1993. The subject vehicle was a 1982 model Chevrolet pickup truck equi
Tue, May 09, 2023
GTP CLASSIC: Bibi Fell | Kali v. Young, et al | $105.356 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve and Yvonne interview Bibi Fell of Fell Law, PC ( https://www.fellfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: California trial lawyer Bibi Fell, a founding partner at Fell Law, PC and a partner at Athea Trial Lawyers, shares how she successfully represented a breast cancer patient who fell victim to the beliefs and unconventional cancer treatment of a New York Times bestselling author masquerading as a licensed doctor. Plaintiff Dawn Kali was diagnosed with treatable Stage 1 breast cancer and rejected traditional treatment options in favor of the "Father of the Alkaline Diet" Robert O. Young's "pH Miracle" approach, which focused on making the body less acidic and more alkaline. This process involved costly extended stays at Young’s Rancho del Sol in Valley Center, California and expensive intravenous treatments that consisted of little more than baking soda. Unable to pay, Dawn worked for Young in exchange for treatments that were ultimately ineffective. After much time had passed, Dawn went to an oncologist and was diagnosed with terminal Stage 4 cancer that had spread to her spine and femur. At trial, Bibi Fell demonstrated that Young’s "pH Miracle" treatment was neither scientifically nor medically sound. In spite of the defense's claims that Dawn was aware that Young was not a licensed medical doctor and that she was not prevented from seeking conventional medical treatment, a San Diego jury found in favor of Dawn for her claims against Young of intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, false promise and negligence. In October 2018, the jury awarded Dawn a $105,356,000 verdict, including $15 million in punitive damages. Guest Bio: Bibi Fell Bibi represents plaintiffs who suffered catastrophic injuries or the death of a loved one. She is the Founding Partner of Fell Law, PC, in San Diego, California and is a Partner at Athea Trial Lawyers, a nationwide plaintiff’s firm comprised of six prominent female trial lawyers. Bibi is one of the few women attorneys to have received a verdict over $100,000,000.00 as lead trial counsel. Bibi is a National Board Member for the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Membership is extended by invitation only to lawyers who have demonstrated extensive trial experience, civility and professionalism. In 2018, Bibi was one of three finalists for Consumer Attorneys of California’s “Consumer Advocate of the Year,” Consumer Attorneys of San Diego’s “Trial Lawyer of the Year” award and received the “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” award and “Outstanding Advocate” award from Consumer Attor
Tue, March 28, 2023
William “Bill” Atkins | Tuggle v. Sheriff Victor Hill | $475,000 verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Bill Atkins of Warshauer Woodward Atkins ( https://warlawgroup.com/ ) and Bill is joined by the plaintiff in the case, Mr. Mark Tuggle. A podcast first! Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: William J. Atkins Bill Atkins represents clients in medical malpractice, wrongful death, and catastrophic personal injury cases. He has developed unique expertise representing children injured or killed in daycare facilities, victims of sexual abuse in youth service, religious or academic institutions, and victims of excessive force by law enforcement officers. He is also a certified mediator and arbitrator. Bill began his career prosecuting felonies and misdemeanors in Douglas County. He transitioned to civil practice in 2000 and has earned a reputation as a tenacious trial lawyer. He has secured multiple six and seven-figure verdicts and settlements for his clients in employment discrimination, civil rights, medical malpractice, and other catastrophic personal injury cases. Juries have returned multi-million-dollar verdicts in all of Bill’s medical malpractice cases. Bill has also secured multi-million-dollar settlements for his clients in commercial trucking cases, sexual abuse of children by a volunteer in a youth services organization, and the family of a little girl who choked to death in a daycare center. Bill is a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association’s Executive Committee. He is a GTLA Champion and PAC member. Bill has given seminar presentations on a variety of topics including medical malpractice, non-emergency medical transport, auto and trucking, trial techniques, employment discrimination, and police misconduct. Bill volunteers his time to serve as co-director of the Walton High School Mock Trial Program. Each year, he recruits lawyers to help teach high school students the fundamentals of trial practice. The team has finished in the top 3 in the Region every year, won a District championship, and earned a spot in the State tournament 2 times, including a run to the final four in 2021. Bill lives in Marietta with his wife, Kathleen, and Puppy, a delightful 15-pound poodle mix. He has four stepchildren scattered around the country and enjoys frequent visits with them. He plays golf, enjoys sailing, and wastes far too much emotional energy rooting for various sports teams. Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing -<a hre
Wed, March 15, 2023
Natalie Woodward & Dax López | Carusillo v. Metro Atlanta Recovery Residences, Inc. | $77.5 million verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Natalie Woodward of Warshauer Woodward Atkins ( https://warlawgroup.com/ ) and Dax López of DelCampo Grayson Lopez Attorneys at Law ( https://dglattorneys.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Natalie Woodward Anyone who meets Natalie Woodward feels like they have known her their entire life. It is this ability to put people at ease that makes her such an effective trial lawyer. Natalie secured a $77.7 million psychiatric malpractice verdict in September 2022 for the Carusillo family who’s son was forced out of a mental health facility without his medication in 2017. Watch the News Nation interview about the case. In 2010, she tried her first jury trial as lead counsel in a wrongful arrest case and secured a $1 million verdict which is the largest verdict of its kind in Georgia history. In 2021, she was interviewed about this trial. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-e8jnd-101dc94 Her cases have made international and national news including her fight to protect the rights of children on social media. https://youtu.be/cfGYpv8iKIE In 2014, she argued before the Georgia Court of Appeals to obtain increased protection for children targeted on social media. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ga-court-of-appeals/1680364.html Natalie has also led the fight to secure justice for victims of childhood sexual abuse. Natalie is a proud native of Powder Springs, Georgia and is a venerable “Double Dawg.” She received undergraduate degrees in Journalism and Political Science from UGA and then graduated from UGA Law in 2002. While in law school, she was a member of the 2001 Champion Intrastate Moot Court Team, President of her Second Year Class and Chair of the Moot Court Board. Natalie serves on the Executive Committee for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Bench and Bar Committee of the State Bar of Georgia. She has been recognized by her peers as one of the best lawyers in the State for the past six years and was selected as one of the Best Young Lawyers in Georgia by Atlanta Magazine. Read Full Bio Here Dax López For nearly 11 years, Dax served as a judge on the State Court of DeKalb County where he presided over complex criminal and civil matters. As only the second Hispanic judge on a court of record in the history of Georgia, Dax was known to be an efficient, fair, and just jurist who earned the respect of lawyers and litigants alike. A native of Ponce Puerto Rico, Dax attended Vanderbilt University and Vanderbil
Tue, February 28, 2023
GTP CLASSIC: Mike Haggard | Hinton v. 2331 Adams Street Corporation | $100 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where Steve and Yvonne interview Mike Haggard of the Haggard Law Firm ( http://www.haggardlawfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Episode Description: Best Lawyers of America’s 2017 Trial Lawyer of the Year Mike Haggard of The Haggard Law Firm explains how he secured one of the largest single personal injury verdicts in Florida history on behalf of Lorri and Lonnie Hinton, the parents of 2-year-old Loren “Tookie” Hinton. Loren suffered irreversible brain damage, leaving her unable to walk or talk after she nearly drowned in an apartment complex pool. The six-foot-deep pool was enclosed by a broken gate that the complex’s staff knowingly delayed fixing, without notifying tenants of the danger it posed to children. A Broward County jury assigned 99% of the blame to 2331 Adams Street Corporation and 1% to Loren’s father Lonnie for a lapse in supervision. Guest Bio: Mike Haggard Compassionate, empathetic and a fervent advocate for victims of crime, Michael Haggard has dedicated his career to the pursuit of justice on behalf of his clients in the courtroom securing unprecedented awards and as an activist who continuously lobbies for permanent solutions and changes through local, statewide and federal legislation. Specializing in pool drowning, negligent security, wrongful death, unsafe premises, and products liability, Haggard has established himself as a powerful force in the South Florida Legal Community as the Managing Partner for The Haggard Law Firm. After spending time as a Public Defender and working with a small personal injury firm before joining The Haggard Law Firm, Haggard was named a partner in 2001, secure in the belief that every case holds equal importance and could mean the opportunity to award a family resolution to a devastating incident. Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, February 14, 2023
Gregg Goldfarb | Walker v. Miami-Dade County | $1,500,000 verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Gregg Goldfarb of Gregg M. Goldfarb, LLP ( https://gregggoldfarb.com/ ) and the “Cut to the Chase” Podcast ( https://www.cuttothechasepodcast.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Gregg Goldfarb Gregg Goldfarb has been diligently representing injured clients for over 25 years. He has helped thousands of clients in complicated litigation receive millions of dollars in compensation for their injuries. His extensive experience includes whistleblower litigation, mass tort claims, accidents, PIP insurance claims, and civil rights claims. A valued member of his community, Gregg has been advocating for the disabled community for 15 years, serving as past President of the South Florida Center for Independent Living, and starting an environmental non-profit called Clean Miami River. With a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Miami School of Law, Gregg has worked on over 5000 legal cases in state and federal court. Gregg also hosts Cut to the Chase: podcast, which has nearly 100 episodes where he interviews the best lawyers in the country and on some of the biggest cases, and experts on topics ranging from the universe, energy, cryptocurrency, insurance, and even movies. Read Full Bio Here Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masstortguy/ Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, January 31, 2023
Anthony Elman & Frederick Joseph | Jefferson v. Mazzei | $1,000,000 verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Anthony Elman & Frederick Joseph of Elman Joseph Law Group, LLC ( https://www.elmanlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Anthony Ellman Anthony (Tony) Elman is the Lead Trial Attorney of the Elman Joseph Law Group, LLC. He has been named a "Super Lawyer" by Thomson Reuters each year from 2016-2022. This "Super Lawyer" designation is granted to no more than 5% of lawyers based upon 12 indicators of both professional achievement as well as peer recognition. Anthony Elman was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 22, 1966. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1988 from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, went on to earn his J.D. degree in 1991 from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana, and earned his Master of Law degree (L.L.M.) in health care law in 1994 from the DePaul Law School/Health Law Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He was admitted to the State of Illinois Bar and the General and Trial Bar of the United States District Court of North Eastern Illinois in 1992. Read the Full Bio Here Frederick Joseph Frederick is a partner and trial lawyer for the Elman Joseph Law Group, LLC. He was named to the 2021 & 2022 "Rising Stars" group of lawyers by Thomson Reuters as part of their "Super Lawyers" awards. This "Rising Stars" designation is for those under 40 years old or who have been practicing law for 10 years or less and is granted to the Top 2.5% of lawyers. The designation is based upon 12 indicators encompassing both professional achievement and peer review. The Elman Joseph Law Group concentrates on Illinois personal injury lawsuits involving car, truck, SUV, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accident injuries. The firm also handles cases involving premises liability injury cases (including "slip & fall" accidents), workplace accidents, injuries and accidents that occur in nursing homes, and other situations where injury or death has resulted due to the negligence or intentional actions of another person. Frederick prides himself on his success rate at arbitration and at trial. Like other lawyers at the Elman Joseph Law Group, LLC, he is unwilling to just "settle" cases by accepting inappropriate offers from the insurance companies. Among his accomplishments are the results he achieved in two Cook County car accident cases. Mr. Joseph has obtained the highest jury verdict awards in two separate Cook County municipal division courtrooms in 2018. Both verdicts are more than double the amount of the next highest verdict in their respective courtrooms. In one
Tue, January 17, 2023
Daniel Callahan | Beckman Coulter, Inc. v. Flextronics International | $934,000,000 verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Daniel Callahan, founding partner of Callahan & Blaine ( https://www.callahan-law.com/ ) and owner of Callahan Consulting ( https://callahanconsulting.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Daniel Callahan Throughout his career, Daniel J. Callahan has always been known as one of the top trial attorneys in California. His notable jury verdicts included a $934,000,000 jury verdict obtained after a three-month jury trial in a complex business dispute entitled Beckman Coulter vs. Flextronics. This unanimous verdict was the largest in California in 2003 and remains the largest in Orange County history. Mr. Callahan also went on to obtain a $50,000,000 settlement in a road design case against the City of Dana Point. Exclusive of large class actions, this continues to be the largest personal injury settlement in United States history. Mr. Callahan also obtained, after a two-month jury trial, a $38 Million settlement on behalf of a class of newspaper delivery drivers against The Orange County Register. This is still the highest employment settlement in Orange County’s history. Mr. Callahan grew up in Chicago, Illinois where he went on to receive his BA, magna cum laude, from Western Illinois University in 1976, and graduated with honors from the UC Davis School of Law in 1979, while serving as Editor of the Law Review. He began his career in Hawaii before relocating to Southern California and starting his own firm by opening the doors on St. Patrick’s Day, 1984. Mr. Callahan also provides corporate consulting to law firms and lawyers regarding litigation and strategy through Callahan Consulting Group, LLC. Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, January 03, 2023
Jake & Genevieve Zimmerman | Pozner v. Fetzer | $450,000 verdict
This week Steve and Yvonne interview Jake Zimmerman of The Zimmerman Firm ( http://zimmerman-firm.com/ ) and Genevieve Zimmerman of MeshBesher and Spence ( https://www.meshbesher.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Jake Zimmerman Jake Zimmerman has litigated on behalf of plaintiffs whose total recoveries approach a billion dollars. Much of his practice focuses on intellectual property disputes, and on patent litigation and licensing in particular. He has also litigated high-stakes cases on behalf of personal injury plaintiffs and defendants. He was selected as a 2019 Attorney of the Year in Minnesota for his groundbreaking work on behalf of a parent whose son was killed at Sandy Hook. He was again selected as an Attorney of the Year in Minnesota in 2021 for his role in appeals from the Bair Hugger MDL litigation against 3M. Jake graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota School of Law. He lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with his wife, Genevieve, and two wonderful children. Read Full Bio Genevieve Zimmerman Genevieve presently serves as court-appointed Co-Lead Counsel for plaintiffs in MDL 2666: In re Bair Hugger Products Liability Litigation. Genevieve was trial counsel in the only bellwether trial. The Bair Hugger MDL includes claims brought by patients who allege the Bair Hugger patient warming system caused deep joint infections following total hip and total knee replacement surgeries. Genevieve is also Co-Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs in MDL 2775: In re Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Products Liability pending in the District of Maryland. The MDL includes claims brought on behalf of patients who required revision surgery as a result of defective BHR products. Plaintiffs have successfully defeated a motion to dismiss based on preemption and tried the first MDL bellwether case in July 2021. After a three-week trial, the jury agreed Smith & Nephew was negligent for its false or misleading communications to orthopedic surgeons. Since 2013, Genevieve has served as a court-appointed member of the Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel Committee for MDL 2441: In re Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, and is also one of four attorneys appointed to the Settlement Committee for the Stryker MDL, which helped to negotiate a settlement in excess of $1.43 billion. Additionally, in May of 2019, Genevieve was appointed to the Plaintiff’s Executive Committee of the 3M Combat earplug litigation MDL. She is one of 14 lawyers appointed by Judge En
Bonus · Tue, January 03, 2023
The Great Trials’ New Year Update
On this episode, Steve and Yvonne share a short update on the future of The Great Trials Podcast . You can expect a slight change in the show's release schedule. You can also look forward to new interviews with tremendous trial lawyers that we can't wait to share with you. Happy New Year from The Great Trials Podcast team!
Tue, December 27, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Kila Baldwin | Ebaugh v. Ethicon Women’s Health and Urology | $57.1 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Kila Baldwin of Kline and Specter, PC ( https://www.klinespecter.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: A Philadelphia attorney with a strong track record leading complex cases against medical device manufacturers, Kila Baldwin of Kline and Specter, PC discusses the high-profile trial in which she represented Ella Ebaugh, a woman who sustained lifelong injuries due to defective transvaginal mesh implants designed by Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. In her 40s, Ella was diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence, which caused her bladder to leak unexpectedly. She was implanted with a TVT-Secur and TVT sling and later endured three mesh removal surgeries because the mesh had eroded into her bladder and urethra. Today, Ella is incontinent, wears adult diapers and suffers from frequent urinary tract infections. Using Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson's actions against them, including statements made in internal emails, Kila Baldwin was able to successfully persuade the Philadelphia jury to decide in favor of Ella. In 2017, the jury returned a verdict of $7.1 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages, citing Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson’s negligent design of the products and willful disregard for patient safety. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Kila Baldwin Kila B. Baldwin, a partner at Kline & Specter, has been involved in a number of the firm's high-profile cases, including as lead counsel in trials that resulted in verdicts of $80 million, $57.1 million and $41 million against Johnson & Johnson in transvaginal mesh cases. Baldwin was selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer for 2019 and 2020. From 2011-2018 she was named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer — Rising Star and for 2014-2019 as a New Jersey Super Lawyer -- Rising Star, designating her as among the top 2.5 percent of attorneys in the two states who are 40 or younger. She also was selected for the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 editions of the peer-review publication Best Lawyers in America. In her latest major case, Baldwin in February 2020 achieved a $12.75 million settlement with a medical device manufacturer, Monteris Medical Inc., whose NeuroBlate Sidefire broke during surgery and caused brain damage to the patient. (Read article) Prior to that case, Baldwin obtained a $75 million settlement in a wrongful death case, the largest pre-trial settlement in a case in Pennsylvania history. In May 2019, Baldwin was co-counsel in a six-week trial that resulted in an $80 million jury verdict against Johnson &
Tue, December 20, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Jim M. Perdue, Sr. & Jim M. Perdue, Jr. | Alexander v. Battaglia et. al. | $3.6 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jim M. Perdue, Sr. and Jim M. Perdue, Jr of Perdue and Kidd ( https://www.perdueandkidd.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: Texas trial lawyers Jim M. Perdue, Sr. and Jim M. Perdue, Jr. -- Perdue & Kidd's father-and-son trial team -- take a look back at the first case they ever tried together. Listen as this accomplished trial team explains how they secured justice for the wrongful death of a patient who died as a result of the negligence of a nurse anesthetist during routine orthopedic surgery. In September 1997, 40-year-old Mark Alexander was scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, but the anesthesiologist left him in the hands of an inexperienced nurse anesthetist, who failed to provide Mark with adequate ventilation during the surgery and neglected to record Mark's heart rate for 17 minutes. As a result, Mark was deprived of adequate blood flow to the brain for 10 to 14 minutes and remained in a coma for two weeks before passing away on October 3, 1997. Involved in the case while Mark was still in a coma, Jim M. Perdue, Sr. was able to collect powerful pieces of evidence he presented at trial: phone recordings and messages from Mark's family. In spite of the defense's attempts to cast blame on the other anesthesiologists and professional associations named in the lawsuit or to distance themselves from having any role in Mark's medical care, the father-and-son legal team was able to hold the doctors accountable for their contribution to Mark's substandard care and proximate cause of death. Jim M. Perdue, Sr. and Jim M. Perdue, Jr. strategically engaged the jury's senses with impressive storytelling and by sharing a visual timeline of the tragic events, a video of Mark languishing in a coma and the hard data comparison of the anesthetist's records versus the medical equipment records. In October 1999, a Harris County, Texas jury unanimously found the four defendants negligent and awarded $3.6 million in damages to Mark's wife and surviving parents. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Jim M. Perdue, Sr: Jim M. Perdue, Sr. is Of Counsel to Perdue & Kidd. Mr. Perdue received both his Bachelor of Science cum laude and his Juris Doctorate cum laude from the University of Houston. Mr. Perdue has had over five decades of success in securing substantial and in some cases unprecedented multi-million dollar verdicts and recoveries for his clients. He has lectured across the country, speaking before law schools, scientific associations, medical groups, bar associations, trial lawyer organizations, and co
Tue, December 13, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Joseph Preiser, Katrina Taraska & Ian Alexander | Estate of Sabanovic v. City of Chicago | $13.89 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Ian Alexander, Katrina Taraska, and Joseph Preiser of Goldberg & Goldberg ( https://www.chicagomedicalmalpracticefirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: Chicago trial lawyers Ian Alexander, Katrina Taraska, and Joseph Preiser of Goldberg & Goldberg share how they successfully represented 25-year-old model Irma Sabanovic's grieving family after Irma drove her car over an unmarked curb and drowned in the Chicago River. In May 2011, Irma drove her Ford Focus to Goose Island to pick up her boyfriend from a late-night performance at a nightclub and got lost on a dead-end street bisected by the Chicago River. Due to the City of Chicago's failure to maintain barriers or provide warnings to motorists --despite knowledge of a similar incident that occurred more than a decade earlier -- Irma unknowingly drove her car over the curb and into the water. After an extensive search, her body was discovered nine days later in her vehicle. At trial, the defense attempted to blame Irma for her own wrongful death, insinuating she was drunk, driving impaired, and not paying attention. In May 2016, a Cook County, Illinois jury awarded Irma's family $13,890,000 in damages, delivering the #6 verdict in Illinois in 2016. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Katrina M. Taraska Originally from the East Coast, Katrina M. Taraska grew up in a family of seven in Peoria, Illinois. Her mother was a language teacher proficient in French, Italian and Spanish who devoted her time to the enrichment of the lives of her students while teaching at area schools. Her father, a dedicated pathologist, was one of the four original founders of the Midwest affiliate of St. Jude Children’s Hospital, which provides care to children with childhood diseases. Unique to Ms. Taraska’s chosen career in personal injury law, she was the victim of a propane gas explosion, in which a commercial building collapsed on her, her mother, her brother, and a close family friend. The explosion left Taraska with extensive second and third-degree burns early in her life. She was hospitalized for 3 months, during which she underwent skin grafting of her arms, legs, hands, and chest. Incredibly, a year prior to the explosion, Ms. Taraska’s father and a reconstructive surgeon opened the only downstate burn unit in Peoria where she was successfully treated despite the severity of her burns. It is this life-changing event that has played a significant role in Ms. Taraska’s career of representing the injured. After graduating from law school Ms. Taraska has successfully
Tue, December 06, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Christine Spagnoli | Mauro v. Ford Motor Company | $73 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Christine Spagnoli of Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP ( https://www.gbw.law/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: Santa Monica, California attorney Christine Spagnoli of Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP shares how she advocated for injured church members and their grieving families after a Ford E350 15-passenger van overturned following a tire tread separation. In April 2004, four members of Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church traveled on Sacramento's I-5 in a van equipped with Goodyear Load Range E tires. Due to known tread separation problems, Goodyear conducted a voluntary replacement program on these tires, but Ford failed to notify its dealers. The tread on the church van's factory-mounted Goodyear tires separated, causing the van to flip four times, killing the driver William Brownell and front-seat passenger Tony Mauro and injuring passengers Marlene Shirley and Alexander Bessonov. Ford knew the E350 15-passenger van was susceptible to overturning, given professional driver tests that indicated oversteering and handling issues, but the company allowed the vehicle to go to market without modifying the design. In 2011, a Sacramento jury found Ford Motor Company negligent and returned a $73 million verdict, including $50 million in punitive damages against Ford in favor of the plaintiffs. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Christine D. Spagnoli Christine D. Spagnoli is a partner of Greene, Broillet & Wheeler in Santa Monica, specializing in representing plaintiffs in product liability, personal injury and legal malpractice actions. She has obtained many multimillion-dollar verdicts, including the 1999 General Motors case in which a defective fuel tank was found responsible for the burn injuries of two adults and four children. The jury returned with a landmark $4.9 billion verdict. She was co-counsel in the largest personal injury verdict in California, which resulted in a $58 million verdict for a man severely burned by a defective O-ring. Chris is one of the state’s most trusted legal leaders as a member of the Los Angeles Judicial Selection Advisory Committees (JSACs). In January 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom named Ms. Spagnoli to the influential committee that reviews judicial candidates under consideration for nomination and appointment and will provide important feedback before forwarding their names to the Governor for review. The awards and honors bestowed on Chris by these various organizations include the Consumer Attorneys of California’s 2014 Robert E. Cartwright Award and its 2010 Marvin E. Lewis Award as well as the Consumer
Tue, November 29, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Dan Huff | Thomas v. Joshi, M.D., and Radiology Associates of DeKalb | Defense Verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Dan Huff of Huff, Powell & Bailey, LLC ( https://www.huffpowellbailey.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: Georgia defense attorney Dan Huff of Huff, Powell & Bailey, LLC, a firm specializing in the defense of medical negligence cases for physicians and hospitals, explains how he secured a unanimous verdict in favor of radiologist Dr. Joshi and the staff at Radiology Associates of DeKalb, who were faced with charges of medical malpractice and the wrongful death of 51-year-old podiatry patient Lisa Calhoun. In June 2014, Lisa went to her podiatrist with leg pain and was told she may be suffering from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or blood clots in her legs. The podiatrist ordered an ultrasound, which was then interpreted by Dr. Joshi. The ultrasound confirmed a DVT diagnosis, but there was a factual dispute as to whether the diagnosis was communicated by Dr. Joshi’s office to the podiatrist. A few days later, Lisa was admitted to the emergency room, complaining of severe chest pain and shortness of breath. While in the hospital, she claimed that she was unaware of the ultrasound results and died of cardiac arrest several hours later. Disputing the claim that Dr. Joshi’s office did not communicate the ultrasound results to the podiatrist, Dan walked the jury through the proper procedures associated with communicating radiology results and shared evidence of phone calls between Lisa and her podiatrist's office as well as between the radiology technologist and the podiatrist's office. This evidence convinced a DeKalb County, Georgia jury that Dr. Joshi and the staff at Radiology Associates of DeKalb neither violated the standard of care nor served as a proximate cause to Lisa's death, resulting in a defense verdict. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Dan Huff Since 1991, Dan has specialized in the defense of high damages lawsuits, primarily medical malpractice lawsuits and claims. He has represented defendants in more than 110 jury trials. He has defended and successfully tried cases for every specialty of medicine and numerous hospitals throughout Georgia. Dan’s trial record would be a proud career for any defense lawyer and remarkable because Dan has tried and won so many cases in so few years. In the past five years Dan has tried more than 30 medical malpractice cases in Georgia. Many of those cases have been against the best plaintiffs' attorneys in the state. Because of Dan’s trial record and reputation with plaintiffs' attorneys, he is able to obtain the best possible outcomes for physicians and hospitals whether the
Tue, November 22, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Mark Avera │Wiederhold v. Domino’s Pizza LLC│$9 Million Verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mark Avera of Avera and Smith ( https://www.avera.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: Gainesville, Florida trial lawyer Mark Avera of Avera & Smith explains how he secured justice for Yvonne Wiederhold, the wife of the late Rich Wiederhold, by connecting the actions of one negligent delivery driver in Orlando, Florida to the larger Domino’s Pizza corporation through established right-of-control practices. Rich, a retired Brevard County District Fire Chief, strategically swerved and ultimately rolled his truck to avoid crashing into a Domino’s delivery car that pulled out in front of him. Rich was rendered a quadriplegic and died 15 months later due to complications. An Orange County, Florida jury returned a verdict of $8,977,788.55 in damages against Domino's Pizza LLC. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Mark Avera Like his father before him, Mark Avera has a history of many years of service to the people of Florida. His knowledge and understanding of the legal needs of his clients come not only from the practice of law but from his early career as sheriff’s deputy in Alachua County. Before becoming a law partner at Avera & Smith in 1989 (then Avera & Avera), Mark served as a sheriff’s deputy for Alachua County. He became the department’s youngest deputy ever to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant. His primary assignments were uniform patrol division, SWAT, and the supervision of the department’s Street Crimes Unit. Mark completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida while working midnight shifts for the Sheriff’s Department and went on to graduate from UF with a law degree. Today, Mark serves as Managing Partner for Avera & Smith and works alongside his brother, Lance Avera, who specializes in workers' compensation law, and partner Rod Smith, who specializes in personal injury law. Mark is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law (B.C.S.) by the Florida Bar. He received his initial certification in 1998 and has remained qualified for board certification in civil trial law since that time. Board Certification is the Florida Bar’s highest level of evaluation in competence and experience within a specific area of law and indicates superior professionalism and ethics in practice. Only slightly more than 1,000 of the more than 100,000 lawyers currently licensed in the State of Florida are actually Board Certified in Civil Trial Law. During his career, Mark’s professionalism and dedication to his work as a trial advocate are reflected by his induction into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and
Tue, November 15, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Patrick Malone | Gambino v. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital | $3.6 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Patrick Malone of Patrick Malone & Associates, P.C. ( https://www.patrickmalonelaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: Acclaimed Washington, D.C. plaintiff’s attorney Patrick Malone discusses how he secured a $3.6 million verdict on behalf of a two-week-old baby girl who suffered a serious chemical burn from an intravenous line delivering liquid nutrition and antibiotics in her ankle at Georgetown University Hospital. The tip of the intravenous needle migrated into the muscle and fat, causing permanent injury that required multiple medical interventions. At trial, Malone demonstrated that the nursing staff at the hospital allowed the IV line to go unchecked, directly contributing to the severity of the burn. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Patrick Malone Patrick Malone is a leading patient safety advocate and attorney who represents seriously injured people in medical malpractice lawsuits, product liability cases and other types of lawsuits. Mr. Malone has won a long string of exceptional verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. He is the co-author of an acclaimed book teaching other attorneys how to win cases: Rules of the Road: A Plaintiff’ Lawyer’s Guide to Proving Liability. Patrick Malone is a son of the Midwest. He grew up in an Irish Catholic family in Wichita, Kansas, the oldest of seven children. After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Kansas, he worked as a reporter for United Press International in Kansas City, then won a prestigious journalism fellowship at the University of Michigan, where he studied public health issues and wrote freelance articles for the Washington Post. Malone then worked as a medical writer and investigative reporter for the Miami Herald, where he won a number of awards, including a finalist designation for the Pulitzer Prize for a series co-authored on “dangerous doctors.” After he was accepted at Yale Law School, Malone and his wife Vicki sold their home in Miami and moved to a rental apartment in New Haven, Connecticut with their infant son. They had one more son while at Yale and a third after moving to the Washington area. At Yale, Malone won several student awards, including best “moot court” argument. He worked for a year after graduating for a prominent federal judge, U.S. District Judge Gerhard Gesell in Washington, D.C. In 1985, Patrick Malone began his career as an attorney representing seriously injured people. Read Full Bio Show Spon
Tue, November 08, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Betty Nguyen Davis & Bethany Schneider │Laguerre v. Cajun Contractors, Inc.│$5 Million Verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Betty Nguyen Davis ( http://www.bettydavislaw.com ) & Bethany Schneider ( https://schneiderlawpc.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: The National Trial Lawyers 40 Under 40 honoree Bethany Schneider of Schneider Law, P.C. and three-time Georgia Super Lawyers honoree Betty Davis of The Davis Injury Firm LLC discuss a recent personal injury case involving a metro Atlanta hotel, a general contractor, a subcontractor, and a Haitian cab driver. Struck by an 8-foot metal pipe falling from the construction site four floors above, cab driver Max Laguerre sustained a traumatic brain injury, due to a lack of safety precautions taken by Cajun Contractors, Inc. In June, a DeKalb County, Georgia jury returned a $5 million verdict, which was added to a $1 million pre-trial settlement with the hotel and over $500,000 in punitive damages. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Betty Nguyen Davis Betty Nguyen Davis is an Atlanta injury attorney who solely focuses her practice on plaintiff’s personal injury work. Betty is consistently recognized by her peers as a top attorney in Georgia by Super Lawyers and Georgia Trend and is highly recommended by her clients as an aggressive and persistent, yet caring and accessible attorney. Read Full Bio Bethany Schneider With more than a decade of trial experience, Bethany has built a reputation as a preeminent trial lawyer in Georgia and Florida. Bethany has always had a passion for fairness and justice and knew from an early age that she wanted to be a trial lawyer, fighting on behalf of others in the courtroom. Bethany grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, before attending the University of Georgia from 2002-2005, where she graduated with an ABJ and BA with highest honors, Phi Beta Kappa. She briefly left the Southeast for law school and graduated from the University of Texas a
Tue, November 01, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Russ Herman | Scott vs American Tobacco | $591 Million
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Russ Herman, Senior Partner of Herman, Herman & Katz, L.L.C. ( hhklawfirm.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: In late 2011, HH&K partner Russ Herman helped finalize the 14-year-old class action lawsuit, Scott v. American Tobacco Company, with a judgment that ordered certain tobacco companies to fund a statewide, 10-year smoking cessation program benefiting more than 200,000 Louisiana smokers who are members of the plaintiff class (the “Scott Class”). The judgment created a court-established and court-supervised smoking cessation program to benefit Louisiana residents who began their smoking habit before September 1, 1988. Since the judgment, the defendant tobacco companies have deposited the funds with the Court to create the Smoking Cessation Trust (“SCT”). View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Russ Herman Russ M. Herman is a Senior Partner of Herman, Herman & Katz, L.L.C. He graduated from Tulane University with a B.A. Degree and L.L.B. in 1966. In 1977, he was chosen “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” by the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association and was LTLA President in 1980-81. He has authored over 200 articles, papers and books in various aspects of Civil Trial Practice and has been published in various works including Am Jur; Trials; Shepard’s/McGraw Hill; The National Business Institute; Trial Magazine; The Forum; and Personal Injury Annual by Matthew Bender. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, October 25, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Brian Panish | Jason Lo v. Dominick Consolazio | $41.8 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Brian Panish of Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi LLP ( www.psbr.law ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: Trial lawyer Brian Panish shares how he secured a multi-million dollar verdict for a U.S. Air Force Academy Captain who suffered catastrophic injuries after a truck driver hit him while riding his motorcycle. The truck driver, who suffered from seizures, was charged for his negligent behavior after dragging the Captain for more than a football field. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Brian Panish One 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 250 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 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. Additionally, Mr. Panish has been appointed Lead Trial Counsel in the Porter Ranch/Aliso Canyon Gas Blowout Litigation and has served in leadership roles in the Asiana Airlines Crash Litigation, the Olympus Superbug CRE Litigation, and DePuy ASR Hip Implant Litigation, among others. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, October 18, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Eric Fong | William Tisdale v. Apro LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Corporation | $91 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Eric Fong of Fong Law ( https://www.ericfonglaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: Eric Fong, an accomplished lawyer who has tried more than 100 civil and criminal jury trials, shares how he successfully represented his client William Tisdale after being brutally attacked by a robber due to a convenience store's lack of employee training and proper security measures. Around 11 p.m. on November 4, 2015, William Tisdale entered an Apro convenience store in Parkland, Washington, and was immediately told by the clerk to call 911. Not realizing that there was a robber inside the store who was threatening to kill the clerk and demanding money from the register, William stepped outside to call 911 only to be violently beaten by the baseball bat-wielding thief as he stole William's car. Eric Fong used enhanced animation to show jurors the severity of William's numerous injuries, including multiple skull fractures, traumatic brain injury, and retinal damage, as they occurred in real-time via the video footage of the attack. In spite of the defense's attempts to minimize William's injuries and to blame him for not remembering to take his medications due to a TBI, the jury responded to Eric Fong's re-telling of William's story and his appeal for empathy and compassion for his client. In June 2021, a Pierce County, Washington jury — limited by COVID-19 precautions and virtual trial proceedings — found Apro was 90% at fault and William was 10% at fault in this groundbreaking premises liability case. The jury awarded William $91 million in total damages, which is the largest compensatory damages verdict for an individual plaintiff in Washington state. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Eric Fong Imaginative and yearning to explore with measured recklessness, Eric Fong lives for the adrenalin only a courtroom provides. With over 100 civil and criminal jury trials under his belt, he is recognized as an innovator of creative trial work in both fields of law. Eric protected low-income housing residents of WA State against oppressive crime control measures, creating the constitutional right to intimate association. His $91,000,000 verdict is the largest compensatory damages verdict for one person in Washington State. His representation of iconic funk musician & legend, George Clinton allowed Mr. Clinton to keep his historic body of work. Decided in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, this is the definitive copyright case in the United States. Eric lives with his beloved fiancé and co-collaborator Courtney, 2 amazing daughters, an
Tue, October 11, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Gilion Dumas | Kerry Lewis v. Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, The Boy Scouts of America et al. | $19.9 million verdicts
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Gilion Dumas of Dumas & Vaughn, LLC ( https://dumasandvaughn.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: Gilion Dumas, a partner at Dumas & Vaughn, LLC in Portland, Oregon, and an experienced litigator in child sexual abuse cases, explains how she successfully represented former Boy Scout Kerry Lewis, who was sexually abused by an adult Boy Scout volunteer multiple times in the early 1980s. From 1982 to 1984, Kerry was mentored by Timur Dykes, who admitted to a Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -- the organization that sponsored Kerry's Boy Scout troop -- that he had abused 17 boys before January 1983. Despite this admission, the church, the Boy Scouts of America organization, and the Portland-based Cascade Pacific Council allowed Dykes to remain involved in the organization and to work directly with children, failing to notify the parents of Boy Scouts, like Kerry, who unfortunately became another abuse victim following Dykes' admission. Through a groundbreaking use of the Boy Scouts of America's secret "perversion files" containing allegations of sex abuse within the organization, trial lawyer Gilion Dumas and her legal team were able to hold the Boy Scouts of America and local Cascade Pacific Counsel responsible for the abuse Kerry, who was 38 at the time of trial, suffered as a boy. In 2010, a Multnomah, Oregon jury awarded $1.4 million in non-economic damages, assigning 60% of the negligence to the Boy Scouts of America, 15% to the Cascade Pacific Council, and 25% to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which settled before the trial began. In a separate six-week trial, a jury returned a punitive damages award of an additional $18.5 million against the Boy Scouts of America. View/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Gilion Dumas Gilion Dumas is a partner at Dumas & Vaughn, LLC in Portland, Oregon. She has substantial litigation experience, most recently representing survivors of child sexual abuse and sexual assault. She is known for her diligent advocacy and compassion for her clients, bringing legal savvy, clear communication, and common sense to the stressful and often confusing experience of civil litigation. Gilion knows her way around the courtroom, having tried many cases, both on her own and as “second chair.” She obtained a judgment of over $4.5 million for a young Oregon woman who was sexually molested as a child. She was also one of the trial attorneys in the 2010 child sexual abuse trial in Portland against the Boy Scouts that resulted in a $19.9 million verdict for the plaintiff. Gil
Tue, October 04, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Neama Rahmani | United States of America v. Laura Elana Trejo-Macias | Guilty Verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Neama Rahmani of West Coast Trial Lawyers ( https://westcoasttriallawyers.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review Episode Details: West Coast Trial Lawyers' President and co-founder Neama Rahmani looks back on his days as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and shares how he convinced a California jury that Laura Elana Trejo-Macias intentionally and knowingly tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border with more than nine pounds of methamphetamine in her car. In March 2011, a trained drug detection dog at the San Ysidro port of entry alerted Customs and Border Protection Officers of contraband in Laura's newly acquired 2003 Chevy Tahoe. U.S. border officials found nine packages of methamphetamine with a street value of $130,000 in a modified shell of the vehicle's radiator. In spite of the defense's attempts to portray Laura as a successful businesswoman who was tricked into being a blind mule by an employee who had access to the car the day before, Neama Rahmani presented evidence that convinced the jury that Laura was, in fact, guilty of trafficking methamphetamine. In 2012, Laura was sentenced to more than 12 years in jail. Click Here to Read/Download the Trial Documents Guest Bio: Neama Rahmani Neama is the President and co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers. Neama graduated from UCLA at the age of 19 and Harvard Law School at the age of 22, making him one of the youngest graduates in the 200-year history of the law school. Upon graduation, Neama was hired by O’Melveny & Myers, the largest law firm in Los Angeles at the time, where he represented companies such as Disney, Marriott, and the Roman Catholic Church. But Neama wanted to help ordinary people, not corporations, so he joined the United States Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted drug and human trafficking cases along the United States-Mexico border. While working as a federal prosecutor, Neama captured and successfully prosecuted a fugitive murderer and drug kingpin who had terrorized Southern California and was featured on “America’s Most Wanted.” Neama was then appointed to be the Director of Enforcement of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, an independent watchdog that oversees and investigates the elected officials and highest-level employees of the City of Los Angeles, including the Mayor and City Council. He held that position until becoming a trial lawyer for the people. Neama has extensive trial experience. He has led teams of more than 170 attorneys in litigation against the largest companies in the world. Neama has successfully tried dozens of cases to verdict as
Tue, September 27, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Marc Diller | Cathrine Erickson v. Rosalie A. Cunio et al | $2.3 million verdict
This week we're replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Marc Diller of Diller Law, P.C. ( https://www.dillerlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum member Marc Diller of Diller Law, P.C. explains how he secured justice for tenant Cathrine Erickson when her landlord failed to prepare her Watertown, Massachusetts rental property for winter, creating a dangerous situation that resulted in permanent injury to Cathrine's right leg. After being informed by Cathrine and other tenants that the drain at the end of the sloped driveway was not working properly, landlord Rosalie Cunio chose to withhold important property information and ignore the contractor's proposed solution in favor of a cheap fix. The repair was ineffective, as water continued to pool, taking days to drain. The drainage problem was compounded when winter came and Rosalie did not "winterize" the rental property, including shutting off the exterior water. In February 2013, Cathrine returned home from her job as head coach of Northeastern University's track and field team and slipped on black ice caused by water spraying from a hose. As a result, Cathrine sustained a serious injury requiring a titanium rod as well as seven screws to stabilize her right leg. Today, this accomplished coach struggles with mobility and suffers from chronic pain. In March 2019, trial lawyer Marc Diller detailed the landlord's negligence and violations of common sense safety practices to a Middlesex County, Massachusetts jury. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Cathrine, awarding $2,324,815.62 in damages. Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Marc Diller On May 15, 1992, Marc Diller was a senior in high school in Brookline, MA. Brookline’s local paper, The Brookline Citizen, profiled Marc Diller as its Brookline Student of The Week. The article was titled, “Diller, an attorney in training”. Even back then, Marc’s passion for service and the law was evident. Nearly 30 years later, Marc uses that passion to deliver safety and justice to his clients. Marc helps people and their families during their most vulnerable times. It’s his ethos to hold corporations and insurance companies accountable for wrongdoings. Marc fights corporate and individual wrongdoers when it results in wrongful death or catastrophic injury. Marc doesn’t back down from the fight. Throughout his 20+ year career, Marc has held property owners, who maintain dangerous conditions, accountable for their wrongdoings. He has made companies take responsibility for the death or losses that result from making, designing or selling dangerous
Tue, September 20, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Robert Mongeluzzi | Harmon et al. v. The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia et al. | $227 million settlement
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey Robert Mongeluzzi of Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky ( https://www.smbb.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame inductee Robert Mongeluzzi of Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky shares how he successfully represented the families of nine customers and employees who were killed or seriously injured in the collapse of a Salvation Army Thrift Store in Philadelphia on June 5, 2013. Nearly two weeks before the collapse of an unsupported four-story brick masonry structure onto the one-story store, Salvation Army officials were warned about the risks posed to the Thrift Store due to ongoing demolition of neighboring properties. The Salvation Army chose to ignore the warnings and failed to notify customers or employees of the danger, resulting in seven fatalities and numerous injuries. After a high-profile 15-week trial, Robert Mongeluzzi convinced the Philadelphia jury that this was no accident, securing a liability verdict, with 75% of the liability for the customers assigned to the Salvation Army and the liability for the employees divided among property owner Richard Basciano, the architect and other parties. Following the liability verdict, Robert Mongeluzzi settled the case for $227 million in the damages phase. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Robert J. Mongeluzzi Robert J. Mongeluzzi is one of the finest trial lawyers in America. He has the largest personal injury verdict affirmed on appeal in Pennsylvania history, the largest individual personal injury settlement in Pennsylvania history, the largest multi-plaintiff personal injury settlement in Pennsylvania history, the largest workplace injury verdict in Pennsylvania history, the largest verdict in a motor vehicle accident in Pennsylvania history and the largest dram shop verdict in Pennsylvania history. He has the largest settlement of a construction case in American history. He was one of the lead plaintiffs attorneys in the largest settlement of a railroad accident case in American history. He has the largest verdict for a construction worker in American history. He has the largest wrongful death settlement in Philadelphia County history. He has the largest settlement in Lehigh County history. He has handled six cases with verdicts or settlements of $100 million or more. He has had more than 400 verdicts and settlements in excess of a million dollars. He was inducted into the National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2018, was awarded the Legal Intelligencer Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 and was the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers 2019 Michael A. Musmanno Award honore
Tue, September 13, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Randy Kinnard │Wade v. HealthSouth Cane Creek Rehabilitation Hospital, Lowry, M.D.│ $15.2 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Randy Kinnard of Kinnard Law ( www.kinnardclaytonandbeveridge.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished trial lawyer, veteran and Purple Heart recipient Randy Kinnard of Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge Attorneys at Law explains how he secured the largest verdict in Weakley County, Tennessee history for Cody Wade. At the age of 17, Cody was intubated following a traumatic car crash and struggled to breathe normally once it was removed. With the trach tube re-inserted, he was transferred to Cane Creek Rehabilitation Hospital and put under the care of a doctor who failed to consult a specialist or to provide reasonable care when Cody expressed concern and signs of respiratory distress following the second removal of the trach tube. Without the tube, Cody’s airway collapsed and he sustained irreversible brain damage, leaving him unable to speak or move. A Dresden, Tennessee jury returned a $15.2 million verdict following a lengthy five-week trial. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Randy Kinnard Before becoming a trial lawyer, Randy Kinnard was a soldier. He graduated from West Point and then served in the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam as a Lieutenant and airborne ranger. He commanded 250 men in combat. He was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart and Combat Air Medal for 28 air assaults in combat. After his military service, Randy went to law school in Memphis. Randy has tried over 250 jury trials for plaintiffs. He has won many record setting verdicts, including the Erin Andrews’ case of $55 million. He’s a past president of the Tennessee Association for Justice. Randy is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates and he lives in Nashville. He has served on several non-profit boards. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, September 06, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Mark Mandell | Moulton, et al. v. UTGR, Inc. d/b/a Twin River, et al. | $21.27 million verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mark Mandell of Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd ( https://www.mbmjustice.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Acclaimed trial lawyer Mark Mandell of Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd. explains how he successfully advocated for Alissa Moulton, who was ejected from her boyfriend Alexander Arango's car after he lost control while driving under the influence, leaving her paralyzed. In April 2010, Alexander, who was only 18 years-old at the time, became highly intoxicated after he was illegally served alcoholic drinks at Twin River Casino and Royal Liquors store in Rhode Island. While under the influence, Alexander drove his mother's 1997 Toyota Camry and lost control of the passenger-filled vehicle as it struck a median barrier, crossed two highway lanes, rolled onto its roof and hit a tree, ejecting Alissa and another passenger. Today, Alissa is paralyzed from the chest down and confined to a wheelchair. Despite the defense's attempts to poke holes in the established timeline of events and to question whether Alexander was served drinks at the casino, a Providence, Rhode Island jury found in favor of the plaintiff Alissa, returning a total judgment of $21,270,455.69 in November 2016. This landmark dram shop liability case is also featured in Mark Mandell's book Advanced Case Framing. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Mark Mandell Mark Mandell graduated from Georgetown University Law Center receiving his J.D. in 1974. When Mark graduated from Georgetown he served as a law clerk for the Honorable U.S. District Judge Edward W. Day in the United States Federal District Court in Providence for a year before entering private practice. Mark is certified for his expertise in civil trials by two national organizations. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification. Attorney Mandell is also nationally recognized and Board Certified as an expert in medical negligence litigation by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. Double board certification nationally is rare for trial lawyers. Both certifications require trial experience and passing a national certification examination. Mark is actually Triple Board Certified as he is also board certified in Civil Pretrial Practice by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification. Mark is a member of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates. Membership in the Inner Circle is limited to 100 of the best trial lawyers in the country. The Inner Circle has been described as “an invitation-only g
Tue, August 30, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Jeffrey Kroll | Tierney Darden v. City of Chicago, et al. | $148 million verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jeffrey Kroll of Kaveny + Kroll Trial Attorneys ( www.KavenyKroll.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished trial attorney Jeffrey Kroll of Kaveny + Kroll Trial Attorneys shares how he secured one of the largest premises liability compensatory awards in the nation and the largest verdict ever reported against the city of Chicago on behalf of college dance student Tierney Darden. In 2015, Tierney suffered life-altering injuries at O’Hare International Airport after a poorly maintained pedestrian shelter weighing 750 pounds fell on top of her, shattering her spinal cord. Today, Tierney is paralyzed from the waist down and suffers from severe neuropathic pain on a daily basis. A post-verdict settlement of $115 million was reached with the city of Chicago. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Jeffrey Kroll Jeffrey J. Kroll is an award-winning attorney who has represented injured victims of negligence throughout the country for nearly three decades in the areas of trucking accidents, products liability, and medical malpractice. In 2017, Mr. Kroll was part of the trial team that obtained a record-breaking $148 million jury verdict on behalf of a dancer who was paralyzed when a shelter collapsed on her at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Overall, his verdicts and settlements have exceeded $1 million on 80 separate occasions. Mr. Kroll has lectured throughout the country on personal injury and wrongful death matters. He has had more than 125 legal articles published on topics ranging from strategic jury selection and maximizing an injured client’s recovery, to successfully handling wrongful death cases and preparing and cross-examining expert witnesses. He is well known in Chicago media for countless segments and publications, and has taught Trial Advocacy and Medical Malpractice Law at DePaul University and Northwestern Law School. Mr. Kroll was the only Illinois attorney to be published in the Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit, 4th Edition, released by Trial Guides and the American Association for Justice. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: <a href='https:
Tue, August 23, 2022
Great Trials Podcast Recap | Jeff Harris, Steve Lowry, Jed Manton and Yvonne Godfrey
This week your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey are joined by Jeff Harris and Jed Manton to recap 4 years and 150+ episodes of the Great Trials Podcast! ( https://www.hlmlawfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Today’s episode includes lessons learned from over 150 interviews with America’s top trial lawyers. We discuss key takeaways on anchoring damages, demonstratives, expert witnesses, and much more. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Jeff Harris One of the nation’s top trial attorneys, Jeff Harris is an award-winning litigator who handles high-profile, complex cases across a wide variety of practice areas. He excels at securing justice for clients who have been seriously injured or killed, holding responsible parties accountable for their actions as well as their negligence. Over the course of his career, Jeff has secured hundreds of millions in jury verdicts and settlements for his clients and has helped make a variety of products, vehicles and industries safer for everyone. His cases have been featured in The New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, 20/20, CBS Evening News and many other national media outlets. Jeff has obtained numerous record-setting verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients and has been repeatedly included on the annual survey of top jury verdicts in the United States, compiled by the National Law Journal. He has been inducted to the Georgia Verdicts Hall of Fame and honored on the Georgia Super Lawyers Top 100 list, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 list and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel’s Top One Percent list. Jeff has earned a reputation as a strategic, aggressive litigator who takes on major corporations and wins cases on behalf of his clients. Jeff has successfully litigated cases involving product defects, business disputes, wrongful death, catastrophic injury, bad faith, aviation accidents, medical negligence and industrial accidents. His specialty is trying cases to a jury. He is routinely brought into complex cases at the request of other attorneys to handle the trial of those disputes. Read Full Bio Jed Manton Jed Manton is committed to representing individuals and business that have been harmed by the actions of others. With a solid track record, Jed has helped numerous clients who have been seriously injured or who have lost a loved one obtain justice, while holding the wrongdoer accountable. Many injuries occur because of a single individual’s carelessness. However, J
Tue, August 16, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Mary E. Alexander | Mary Hall v. Yosemite Park and Curry Company | $13.3 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mary E. Alexander of Mary Alexander and Associates, P.C. ( https://www.maryalexanderlaw.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Former president of the American Association for Justice Mary E. Alexander of Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C. explains how she secured justice for a University of Arizona college student severely injured after riding a rented Curry Company bicycle in California’s Yosemite Park. The bike’s used brakes caused Mary Hall to crash, rendering her a quadriplegic dependent upon a breathing machine. A jury in Fresno County, California returned a $13.3 million verdict, including $11.17 million in special damages. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Mary E. Alexander Widely recognized as one of San Francisco’s top personal injury attorneys, Mary Alexander established her stellar reputation in the legal community after obtaining some of the largest and highest profile verdicts and settlements in the state of California over the course of her career. She earned a national reputation for her work protecting consumer rights, and her dedication to her clients has won her numerous awards from attorneys, clients, legal publications and others. Ms. Alexander is a Past-President of both the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and Consumer Attorneys of California, and her lobbying work for consumer rights is matched only by her success on behalf of her clients. Read Full Bio Here Also mentioned in the episode: www.trialbyagreement.com Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, August 09, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Stephen Susman | Terry Casey et. al. v. Harold Simmons, et. al. | $178.7 Million Verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Steve Susman of Susman Godfrey, L.L.P. ( https://www.susmangodfrey.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Leading trial lawyer Stephen “Steve” Susman of Susman Godfrey LLP talks about how he obtained the largest verdict in 2009 in Dallas County, Texas by representing a trio of NL Industries stockholders (Efficasey Environmental LLC, Highland Environmental Management, LLC and Industrial Recovery Capital Holding Company) who were being offered a fraction of their stock’s worth because NL Industries’ management had depleted the company’s funds. Rather than admit to wrongdoing, NL Industries attempted to intentionally miscalculate or undervalue the stocks, committing a breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract that did not sit well with the jury, who also delivered a $5 million punitive damage verdict against NL Industries’ general counsel. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Steve Susman Recognized as one of the most successful plaintiff’s attorneys in the United States, Stephen Susman has built an unparalleled history of legal victory on an extremely straightforward idea — he gets paid for results, not effort. Although his career can be measured in many ways — the dozens of professional awards he has received, the very successful firm he has built, his remarkable record of winning very high-profile cases, working for plaintiffs against an array of large corporate interests, his defense work for select corporate and individual clients, it can all be traced back to Susman’s deep-rooted belief that his compensation should come from getting results. Honored as one of the nation’s Top 10 litigators, The National Law Journal(June 5, 2006) issue, Susman is among a highly select group to have been included Chambers USA for over 10 years in The Best Lawyers in America for over 25 years. The Business Insider, Law Review (January 20, 2010 issue), named him one of the eleven lawyers you definitely do not want to see across the aisle. Jury consultant, Don Vinson, in his book America’s Top Trial Lawyers, ranks Susman among the 14 best trial lawyers in the United States and International Commercial Litigation’s worldwide annual poll of lawyers ranked Susman as the Litigator of the Year and then top litigator in the United States in two separate years. Read Full Bio Here Also mentioned in the episode: www.trialbyagreement.com Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - <a h
Tue, August 02, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Russ Herman | Scott vs American Tobacco | $591 Million Verdict
This week we're replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Russ Herman, Senior Partner of Herman, Herman & Katz, L.L.C. ( hhklawfirm.com ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: In late 2011, HH&K partner Russ Herman helped finalize the 14-year-old class action lawsuit, Scott v. American Tobacco Company, with a judgment that ordered certain tobacco companies to fund a statewide, 10-year smoking cessation program benefiting more than 200,000 Louisiana smokers who are members of the plaintiff class (the “Scott Class”). The judgment created a court-established and court-supervised smoking cessation program to benefit Louisiana residents who began their smoking habit before September 1, 1988. Since the judgment, the defendant tobacco companies have deposited the funds with the Court to create the Smoking Cessation Trust (“SCT”). Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Russ M. Herman is a Senior Partner of Herman, Herman & Katz, L.L.C. He graduated from Tulane University with a B.A. Degree and L.L.B. in 1966. In 1977, he was chosen “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” by the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association and was LTLA President in 1980-81. He has authored over 200 articles, papers and books in various aspects of Civil Trial Practice and has been published in various works including Am Jur; Trials; Shepard’s/McGraw Hill; The National Business Institute; Trial Magazine; The Forum; and Personal Injury Annual by Matthew Bender. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, July 19, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Shanin Specter │Michael Goretzka v. West Penn Power Company │ $109 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Shanin Specter of www.klinespecter.com Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Inner Circle of Advocates member Shanin Specter of Kline & Specter, PC shares how he obtained the largest contested liability personal injury verdict in Pennsylvania history after 39-year-old Carrie Goretzka was fatally electrocuted by a 7200 volt power line. West Penn Power linemen failed to properly clean the wires with a wire brush before installing them, per the manufacturer’s instructions, resulting in the line overheating and falling to the ground as a live wire in her yard. The result of this premises liability case led to the re-training of Pennsylvania linemen, infra-red inspections of power lines and the creation of an Electric Safety Division by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to investigate reported electrical injuries. An Allegheny County jury returned a $109 million verdict, including $48 million in compensatory damages and $61 million in punitive damages. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Shanin Specter Shanin Specter is a preeminent American trial lawyer. He is a founding partner of Kline & Specter, one of the leading catastrophic injury firms in the United States. Specter has obtained more than 200 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million, including jury verdicts of $153 million against a major automaker and $109 million against a Pennsylvania power company. In all, he has achieved 16 eight- or nine-figure verdicts, among them news-making cases involving medical malpractice, defective products, medical devices, premises liability, auto accidents, and general negligence. He is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, whose membership is limited to the top 100 plaintiffs’ trial attorneys in the United States. Beyond winning substantial monetary compensation for his clients, many of Specter's cases have prompted changes that provide a societal benefit, including improvements to vehicle safety, nursing and hospital procedures, the safe operation of police cars, training for the use of CPR at public institutions, and inspections, installation and maintenance of utility power lines. One case spurred the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to create a new Electric Safety Division to investigate reported electrical injuries. Most recently, Specter’s lawsuit on behalf of the victims of a fire escape collapse helped move the City of Philadelphia in 2016 to enact an ordinance requiring all fire escapes to be regularly inspected. Specter earned his undergraduate degree with
Tue, July 12, 2022
GTP Classic: Paula Jossart | Scott Kowalewski v. BNSF Railway Company | $15.3 million verdict + $4.6 million misconduct penalty + attorney’s fees
This week we're replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Paula Jossart of Jossart Law Office, LLC ( https://www.jossartlaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Award-winning Minnesota personal injury lawyer Paula Jossart of Jossart Law Office, LLC discusses how she secured justice for Scott Kowalewski, a switchman who was exposed to toxic hydrocarbons while working at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) Northtown Yard in Minneapolis in 2014 and, as a result, suffered a severe neurological injury. Rail cars carrying hazardous chemicals from a fracking site in Texas leaked, causing Scott to feel a burning pain in his chest and to lose consciousness. Scott was later diagnosed with a progressive neurological disorder, which significantly diminishes his motor function, making it difficult to swallow, write, get out of bed or perform everyday tasks. Despite BNSF's claims that the company is not responsible for Scott's health problems and many evidence and discovery abuses, a Hennepin County, Minnesota jury returned a verdict of $15,343,753 in damages against BNSF for violating the Federal Employers' Liability Act. Following the jury trial, Judge Amy Dawson assigned a $4.6 million misconduct penalty to BNSF for concealing and destroying evidence related to the case, paying off a witness and misleading federal investigators. Click Here To Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Paula Jossart Paula Jossart is an experienced personal injury attorney and railroad injury attorney recognized for her record of success in actions against railroads and insurance companies. She has achieved multiple seven and eight-figure verdicts in her career including a recent $21 million judgment against the BNSF. In 2015, she achieved three million-dollar-plus verdicts for victims with personal injury claims in Hennepin County (Minneapolis, MN). She also attained one of Minnesota’s larger personal injury verdicts ─ totaling more than $12.5 million ─ for a man burned by steam from a boiler on which he was working. A fearless advocate for her clients, Paula Jossart has represented persons in personal injury and FELA (Federal Employees’ Litigation Act) cases in Minnesota and states across the country, including Arizona, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin. She served as lead counsel for injured victims in the nation’s largest anhydrous ammonia spill and has worked on many other large chemical exposure cases. Choosing the right personal injury attorney your important life matter can make a significant difference in the
Tue, July 05, 2022
Mike Papantonio │Carla Maria Bartlett and Jon William Bartlett v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company and David Freeman v. E.I. DuPont│$920 million settlement and multiple jury verdicts
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mike Papantonio of Levin Papantonio ( https://www.levinlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame inductee Mike Papantonio, a senior partner with Levin Papantonio in Pensacola, Florida, takes a deep dive into the high-profile $920 million dollar class-action settlement and multiple jury verdicts against DuPont related to the company’s West Virginia plant discharging the Teflon chemical PFOA (C8) into the air and water around the Ohio River Valley. Area citizens were exposed to a highly toxic chemical for decades, causing a number of serious health problems. This high-profile case -- which is featured in the documentary, The Devil We Know -- highlights the dangers of DuPont's chemical C8 and the connection between C8 and various forms of cancer, ulcerative colitis, and other diseases. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Rex Parris Mike Papantonio is a senior partner with the law firm of Levin-Papantonio. He has received numerous multi-million dollar verdicts on behalf of victims of corporate malfeasance. His award-winning work handling thousands of mass tort cases throughout the nation has helped make Levin-Papantonio one of the largest plaintiff law firms in the country. Mr. Papantonio is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers. He is a member of The National Trial Lawyers (past president), American Board of Trial Advocates, the American Association for Justice, the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, and the Florida Justice Association, where he served on the board of directors for five years. Mr. Papantonio is one of the few living attorneys inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame. He is listed in the publications Best Lawyers in America and Leading American Attorney. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 <a href='https://www.greattrialspodcast.com/podcast/201
Tue, June 28, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Rex Parris | Taylor v. Schilling | $41.6 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Rex Parris of Parris Lawyers ( https://www.parris.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: National Institute for Trial Advocacy Master Advocate Rex Parris describes how he obtained one of the nation’s top motor vehicle accident verdicts in 2018 on behalf of Anthony Taylor. Only 25 at the time of the collision with Schilling’s car, Taylor suffered a broken neck and severe spinal cord injury that rendered him a quadriplegic. A previous corrective back surgery for adolescent scoliosis conflicted with the post-accident reconstructive back surgery, causing serious infection and extensive hospital stays. Today, Taylor requires round-the-clock care. A Los Angeles, California jury returned a verdict of $41,634,170 in damages. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Rex Parris Rex Parris is recognized as one of the most successful and innovative trial lawyers alive today. Rex handles a wide variety of cases, ranging from severe personal injury to class actions, products liability, and business torts. When he is not in trial, Rex tours the country speaking to trial lawyer organizations about the intersection of cognitive science and the persuasion of jurors. Rex has been profiled in numerous national media outlets, including “20/20,” “Nightline,” the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and a myriad of legal journals. Rex has achieved outstanding results in the courtroom over the span of his career – he obtained the first million-dollar verdict in California’s Kern County as a young lawyer and, years later, obtained a historic, record-breaking defamation jury verdict in Los Angeles for $370,000,000. In between, Rex has obtained dozens of seven-, eight- and nine-figure verdicts and settlements. His success is hardly happenstance – Rex prepares every case for trial using the latest science in persuasion skills. Everything from metaphoric choices, word selection and visuals are tested and re-tested before each trial. In addition to managing his trial calendar and the Firm’s diversified practice, Rex also manages one of California’s fastest-growing cities. As the mayor of Lancaster since 2008, Rex has gained nationwide media attention for his efforts to improve the wellbeing of the city’s residents. For example, gang violence dropped 82%, the city’s downtown area was completely redeveloped during the worst economic downturn in over 75 years, and all of the city’s municipal buildings were converted to solar power. Rex and his wife, Carrol, founded the Firm in 1985 with the goal of
Tue, June 21, 2022
Frank Mangiaracina | Coryell v. Morris, et. al. | $2.1 million verdict
This week your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Frank Mangiaracina of Kline & Specter PC ( https://www.klinespecter.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Philadelphia-based personal injury attorney Frank Mangiaracina with Kline & Specter PC discusses how he secured justice for David Coryell, a motorcycle driver involved in an automobile wreck with a delivery driver employed by a Domino’s franchise. On July 27, 2016, defendant Steven Morris was driving a delivery vehicle to deliver Domino’s food when he made a sudden left turn into oncoming traffic, crashing his vehicle into David and his motorcycle. David suffered severe physical and emotional injuries from this incident. After numerous operations, he was left with the decision to either amputate his left leg or experience permanent and progressive pain. Despite the defense’s attempts to claim that Domino’s did not have control over a franchisee’s operations and therefore could not be held accountable for the actions of a franchisee’s employee, Mangiaracina established that Domino’s and the franchisee have a “master-servant relationship,” arguing that Domino’s did, in fact, have control over the franchisee and therefore should be held responsible. The jury agreed, and on August 13, 2021, a Philadelphia County jury returned a $2,009,553 verdict in favor of plaintiff David Coryell. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Frank Mangiaracina Frank Mangiaracina focuses his practice on catastrophic personal injury. He is a staunch advocate and proven trial lawyer who helped compile more than $60 million in recoveries in the five years before coming to Kline & Specter. Most recently, in a COVID-era trial during the summer of 2021, Mangiaracina won a $2.1 million verdict against Domino’s Pizza for a client who suffered severe and permanent injuries to his leg when his motorcycle was struck by a delivery driver. As co-lead counsel at trial, Mangiaracina gave a closing argument that helped convince the jury that Domino’s was responsible for the actions of a franchisee. He was also co-counsel in litigation that achieved a $44 million pre-trial settlement in a product liability case for an oil rig worker who was left a quadriplegic after he was struck by a falling light fixture. In medical malpractice cases, among others, Mangiaracina helped win settlements of $5.5 million, $5 million and $3.5 million for, respectively, failures to timely diagnose stroke, diagnose and treat sepsis and to treat an aortic aneurysm. These recoveries were made with Mangiaracina’s prior firm, Sheridan & Murray LLC in Fort Washington, Pa. He a
Tue, June 14, 2022
Andy Conn and Drew Gilliland | Wilson v. Evans + Allison v. Sorrell | $1.225 million + $218,400 verdicts
This week your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Andy Conn of Harris Lowry Manton, LLP ( https://www.hlmlawfirm.com/ ) and Drew Gilliland of the Nick Schnyder Law Firm, LLC ( https://www.schnyderlawfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: In this informative episode, Georgia trial lawyers Andy Conn and Drew Gilliland share their strategies to maximize verdicts in relatively small motor vehicle accident cases. On May 5, 2022, a Cobb County, Georgia jury awarded $1.225 million to a couple who sustained injuries as the direct result of a rear-end collision. Harris Lowry Manton LLP partner Andy Conn served as lead counsel in the Cobb County State Court case, which resulted in a notable jury verdict totaling more than 17 times the value of the plaintiffs’ original medical bills. On May 2, 2022, a Douglas County, Georgia jury awarded $218,400 to a plaintiff who was severely injured in a motor vehicle accident involving texting and speeding. Drew Gilliland at Nick Schnyder Law Firm, LLC secured a jury verdict totaling more than 10 times the value of the plaintiff’s original medical bills. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Drew Gilliland Drew is a trial attorney who loves helping clients through difficult times. His client philosophy is simple: treat every client like a family member. After graduating from Emory University School of Law (where he was the recipient of the Dean’s Honor Scholarship), Drew started his legal career as a felony prosecutor for the State of Florida, and tried more than 50 jury trials during his tenure. Drew and his wife then moved back to Georgia where he represented Fortune 500 companies in personal injury lawsuits. After seven years of learning the ins and outs of how the defense industry protects itself against personal injury lawsuits, Drew decided to use his skills to represent people who have been injured by another’s negligence. Since he became a personal injury lawyer, Drew has worked for the largest personal injury firm in the country as well as a boutique litigation firm. Drew has lectured on trial strategies and is frequently asked to co-counsel on cases with other attorneys. He has recovered millions of dollars for his clients since he became a personal injury attorney. Read Full Bio Andy Conn Andrew (Andy) Conn joined Harris Lowry Manton LLP in 2016, after earning his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law and B.B.A. from University of the Georgia’s Terry College of Business. At the firm, Andy’s leg
Tue, June 07, 2022
GTP Classic: John Gomez | William & Elaine Kidd v. WKS Restaurant Corporation (El Pollo Loco) | $16.2 Million Verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview John Gomez of Gomez Trial Attorneys ( https://www.thegomezfirm.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Award-winning trial lawyer John Gomez of Gomez Trial Attorneys shares how he secured justice for a California couple whose lives changed forever after a slip-and-fall in an El Pollo Loco restaurant. Because WKS Restaurant Corporation refused to pay overtime for workers to clean the grills after closing, employees chose to violate company policy and began cleaning an hour before closing. The resulting slippery floors caused a customer to fall, tear his quadricep and suffer a traumatic brain injury that has left him with severe optical problems. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: John Gomez John Gomez founded the firm alone in 2005. He acts today as President and Lead Trial Attorney. From humble beginnings, he attended three separate San Diego public high schools and Grossmont Junior College before graduating from the Nation’s top-ranked law school, Yale University, in 1993. In between, John was named an Academic All-American football player for the University of San Diego’s Toreros. He clerked for a federal judge, worked for the international law firm of Latham & Watkins and served the United States as an Assistant United States Attorney until becoming a trial lawyer for people in 2000. Since that time, he has established himself as one of California’s most recognized and accomplished trial lawyers. Lawyers USA named him the national Lawyer of the Year in 2010. He has twice been named San Diego’s Trial Lawyer of the Year. The Consumer Attorneys of San Diego have awarded him an unprecedented nine separate Outstanding Trial Lawyer Awards. He has been named a Top 100 California Attorney overall by the Los Angeles Daily Journal, a Top 10 San Diego attorney overall by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, and has been voted by peers a top 10 San Diego Super Lawyer every year since 2012. He was featured as the subject of the cover story in that 2012 publication. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jur
Tue, May 31, 2022
Render Freeman | White v. Robert M. McCommons et. al. | $22 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Render Freeman of Andersen, Tate & Carr, P.C. ( https://www.atclawfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Georgia trial lawyer Render Freeman, a partner at Andersen, Tate & Carr, P.C., explains how he secured a landmark verdict for the grieving widow of a metro Atlanta orthodontist who was killed while riding his dirt bike at a popular off-roading park in Union Point, Georgia. On September 28, 2019, Dr. Adam White was riding his dirt bike on the trails at Durhamtown Off Road Park when he was fatally struck by a 62-foot falling tree. The tree was knocked down by an excavator being driven on the track, which was a direct violation of Durhamtown Off Road Park's rule prohibiting maintenance or construction work on the track while it was in use. Durhamtown owner Mike McCommons' negligence in bringing an excavator onto the active trail served as a major focus at trial. Despite the court's ruling on the inadmissibility of evidence in three other deaths at Durhamtown Off Road Park as well as McCommons' attempts to avoid personal liability with the selling and re-branding of the park, Freeman convinced the jury to make a strong statement by delivering a verdict in this tragic wrongful death case. On April 29, 2022, a Greene County, Georgia jury found McCommons and five associated corporate entities liable for Dr. White's death and delivered a $22 million verdict. This is the largest verdict ever awarded in the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit and in Greene County, Georgia history. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Render C. Freeman Render Freeman has dedicated his legal career to helping injured victims hold wrongdoers financially responsible for their carelessness. As a trial attorney, Mr. Freeman has a broad range of experience in litigating complex disputes, including wrongful death, personal injury, products liability, motor vehicle and trucking collisions, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and malpractice, premises liability, negligent hiring and negligent security. Mr. Freeman has been lead trial counsel in jury trials all over Georgia from Federal District Court in Atlanta to smaller Superior Courts in the remote corners of our State. Mr. Freeman has developed a national reputation for expertise in litigating and trying personal injury lawsuits. He has lectured in Palm Springs, CA; Boca Raton, FL; Newport, RI; Rogers, AK; Cincinnati, OH; Fargo, ND; and other cities around the country. Mr. Freeman is a 2015 graduate of the Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming – an exclusive 4-week program providing advanced training for personal injury trial lawyers. Mr.
Tue, May 24, 2022
GTP Classic: Laura Shamp | Jordan V. Phillip Morris | $11 Million Verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Laura Shamp of Shamp Silk, LLC ( https://www.shampsilk.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Laura Shamp obtained a verdict of $11 million dollars for an ex-smoker in a case against Philip Morris USA Inc. The jury awarded $3.2 million in punitive damages after finding that the tobacco company had committed fraud and intentionally misrepresented the dangers of smoking to consumers. (Jordan v. Philip Morris Tobacco Co.) The verdict was affirmed on appeal. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Laura M. Shamp From her career as a college athlete playing in the Final Four to graduating with honors from Harvard Law School, Laura Shamp has always been a fierce competitor and has always played to win. Over the past 20 years, she has handled all types of major litigation and is known as one of the few trial lawyers able to get multi-million dollar verdicts in some of the toughest jurisdictions and has an $11 million dollar jury verdict against Philip Morris to prove it. So, it is not surprising that she is consistently listed as one of Georgia’s “Super Lawyers.” Laura’s success as a trial lawyer is only matched by her success as an appellate advocate. Her reported cases have helped shaped the law in Georgia regarding medical malpractice and the use of expert witness testimony in professional negligence cases and include: Hankla v. Postell, 293 Ga. 692, Georgia Supreme Court 2013; EHCA Cartersville v. Turner, 280 Ga. 333, Georgia Supreme Court 2006; Lee v. Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, 297 Ga. App. 692, Georgia Court of Appeals (2009); Houston v. Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, 295 Ga. App. 674, Georgia Court of Appeals 2009. Laura also chairs the Georgia Trial Lawyers Amicus Committee, which submits “friend of the court” briefs to the Georgia Supreme Court and Georgia Court of Appeals on issues affecting the civil justice system. Laura graduated in 1988 from Harvard Law School with honors. After graduating, she served as a federal law clerk to United States District Court Judge Robert H. Hall. In 2004, she returned to Harvard to study patient safety and medical errors under Don Berwick and Lucian Leape, leaders in the field of patient safety, and in 2005 obtained a Masters Degree in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. Laura is dedicated to working to try and improve the quality of medical care in Georgia and serves on several committees that review legislation to try and address issues of medical error and patient safety. Before founding Shamp Silk, Laura had a successful solo pra
Tue, May 17, 2022
GTP Classic: Chris Stewart | Radkey vs Safe Investments, LLC | $1.5 Million Verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Chris Stewart of Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys - https://smstrial.com/ Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: "Our client was staying at a local motel in a small rural county in Georgia when she was sexually assaulted by a total stranger who gained access to her room by handing a key card to the desk clerk and asking her to re-code it. Our client suffered severe mental and physical injuries. We were able to prove at trial the hotel was negligent and at fault for failing to have a written procedure in place regarding hotel keys and failure to train its employees." Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Chris Stewart Chris handles a variety of cases including wrongful death, civil rights, premises liability, mass torts and sexual assaults. Chris has won numerous record-setting jury verdicts and made U.S history when he won the first billion-dollar jury verdict for a rape victim. Chris is also recognized worldwide as one of the top civil rights lawyers of his generation. He has represented some of the most famous civil rights cases of this century including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Rayshard Brooks. He also represented Walter Scott, who was shot in the back on video by a police officer. The Walter Scott case settled for $6.5 million dollars – the highest in South Carolina history, and the officer received a twenty-year prison sentence. Chris also represented Alton Sterling who was held down and killed on video by police in Baton Rouge. Other high profile cases include Gregory Towns of Georgia, which led to a record settlement and two prison sentences for the officers involved, Chase Sherman of Florida who was killed on video which led to a record settlement, and Deaundre Phillips who was shot on video by police which is still in court. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, May 10, 2022
Nathan Werksman and Jon Davidi | Jennefer Jones v. Mathew Epstein | $309,250 verdict
This week your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Nathan Werksman of Merson Law PLLC ( https://mersonlaw.com/ ) and Jon Davidi at Panish|Shea|Boyle|Ravipudi LLP ( https://www.psbr.law/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Trial lawyers Nathan Werksman of Merson Law PLLC and Jon Davidi at Panish|Shea|Boyle|Ravipudi LLP discuss how they secured justice for a woman who was viciously attacked by a dog as well as the challenges of conducting a jury trial held at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 15, 2016, plaintiff Jennefer Jones took a walk around her neighborhood and attempted to pass neighbor Mathew Epstein, who was walking a 55-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback named Turkey on the sidewalk. Turkey lunged and attacked Jennefer, biting her right forearm, breaking the skin and dragging her to the ground, where she fell on her elbow. Jennefer was later diagnosed with two injuries: radial tunnel syndrome in her forearm and lateral epicondylitis in her elbow. Despite being put in a cast, injected with platelet-rich plasma and more than 80 physical therapy sessions, Jennefer continued to experience pain that greatly affected her ability to perform everyday tasks and to work as a golf instructor. The defense argued that Turkey didn't bite Jennefer but simply scratched her and asserted that any pain is from a pre-existing condition or an overuse injury related to her golf instruction career. Nathan Werksman and Jon Davidi called out the defense's tactic of referring to Jennefer's lateral epicondylitis by its more common name of "tennis elbow" to persuade the jury of the injury's true origin. In October 2020, an Orange County, California jury found in favor of Jennefer and awarded her $309,250 in damages. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Nathan Werksman As a trial attorney at Merson Law PLLC, lawyer Nathan Werksman fights for the injured and wronged in complex personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, sexual abuse, and mass tort litigation. Prior to joining Merson Law, Mr. Nathan Werksman recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients through both settlement and trial at the distinguished California personal injury firm Panish, Shea & Boyle LLP. Prior to that, Mr. Werksman clerked at internationally renowned law firm Kirkland & Ellis, plaintiffs’-side class-action giant Robbins Geller Rudman Down, and at the Office of the San Francisco Public Defender. While at Robbins Geller, he worked on behalf of cities and counties across the U.S. suing the opioid manufacturers for the irreparable damage caused by their products. During his time at t
Tue, May 03, 2022
Michael A. Kelly | Loren Kransky v. DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. | $8.3 million verdict
This week your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Michael A. Kelly of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger ( https://dicellolevitt.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished California personal injury lawyer Michael A. Kelly, a shareholder at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger and recent Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame inductee, shares how he secured justice for the first of thousands of victims of a defectively designed medical device. On December 5, 2007, U.S. Air Force veteran Loren "Bill" Kransky underwent hip surgery in Montana, receiving a DePuy ASR Acetabular Hip System orthopaedic implant. DePuy, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, first put the ASR Acetabular Hip System on the market in Europe in 2004, and soon after began receiving notifications from prominent surgeons that the device was flawed. Despite receiving these notifications, DePuy continued to market the metal implant as a low-wear product that required only one surgery and failed to report product issues to American doctors. On August 4, 2010, a recall was issued and the Depuy ASR Acetabular Hip System was labeled as defective, but the damage was already done for millions of patients, including Loren. Following the recall, Loren underwent revision surgery to have the implant removed because it was shedding metal debris into the tissue of his hip and bloodstream. In March 2013, a Los Angeles jury returned a verdict in favor of Loren, awarding $8,338,136.12 in damages for the pain caused by the defective design and ultimately helping to facilitate a $2.5 billion national settlement for all victims. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Michael A. Kelly Mike Kelly is one of the nation’s top personal injury attorneys. For four decades he has protected consumers from corporate greed, medical mistakes, dangerous household products, unsafe medical devices, and motor vehicle accidents of every kind. He has tried, settled, and arbitrated more than 200 cases where the recovery by his client exceeded $1 million. In 2020 he helped negotiate the multibillion-dollar resolution of the 2017 California wildfire lawsuits brought against utility giant PG&E. Before that, his $8.341 million verdict in the first DePuy ASR/Johnson & Johnson metal-on-metal artificial hip litigation helped produce a $2.5 billion national settlement for all victims. In 2021 Mike was the number one vote-getter for the second year in a row on the 2021 list of Northern California “Super Lawyers”. A member of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates, Kelly was also included on the “Top 10” and “Top 100” list of lawyers in Northern California for the 18th time, as well as bei
Tue, April 26, 2022
Christopher Stombaugh | Adriana Guzman v. The Boeing Company | $2.27 million verdict
This week your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Christopher Stombaugh of DiCello Levitt Gutzler ( https://dicellolevitt.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished trial lawyer Christopher Stombaugh, a partner at DiCello Levitt Gutzler in Chicago, shares how he successfully represented Costa Rican native Adriana Guzman after she suffered PTSD following a sudden decompression incident on a commercial Boeing 757 flight. On October 26, 2010, Adriana boarded a Boeing 757 in Miami. During the flight, a two-foot hole developed in the fuselage of the Boeing plane, causing a sudden decompression and a rapid descent from 32,000 feet to 10,000 feet. Adriana recalls the frightful incident, saying it felt like "a kick in the stomach" and that she feared was going to die. Years later, Adriana continued to suffer a range of medical issues from the traumatic experiences of that day aboard the Boeing plane. In spite of the defense's attempts to claim that Adriana's injuries were pre-existing conditions related to her past psychological history or to draw attention to Adriana's leave of absence from her doctoral program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, trial lawyer Christopher Stombaugh kept the jurors focused on Adriana's life-altering injuries. Christopher Stombaugh used a timeline of events, expert witnesses and a physical demonstration of the impact of altitude on the body via a shaken soda can to help the jury understand the nature of Adriana's injuries. On April 12, 2018, a Massachusetts District Court jury returned a $2.2 million verdict in favor of plaintiff Adriana Guzman with damages deducted and prejudgment interest added, resulting in a final verdict of $2,271,651. The Boeing Company's attorneys filed an appeal claiming that Christopher Stombaugh and the plaintiff's trial team utilized controversial reptile tactics at trial, but a U.S. Magistrate Judge denied the appeal. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Christopher Stombaugh For more than 30 years, Chris Stombaugh has been devoted to his true passion, advancing the art and science of trial advocacy. Chris focuses on trial. He has successfully tried to verdict cases for people around the country injured by hospitals, aircraft manufacturers, insurance companies, agribusiness, construction companies, truck companies and many other industries. His approach empowers people to tell their stories in a way that resonates with juries and has led to several record-setting, seven and eight figure jury verdicts. Chris speaks regularly to state bar and trial lawyer associations nationwide on modern and effective trial advocacy and is a key membe
Tue, April 19, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Nick Rowley and Steve Halteman | Jordan, et al. v. TGI Fridays, et al. | $40 million verdict
This week we're replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Nick Rowley and Steve Halteman of Carpenter, Zuckerman, & Rowley, ( https://czrlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Award-winning trial lawyer Nick Rowley -- a U.S. Air Force and Army veteran and one of the youngest trial lawyers to be named Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles' Trial Lawyer of the Year -- explains how he represented grieving mother Carmen Jordan after her 33-year-old son Orlando Jordan was stabbed and killed in a Riverside, California TGI Fridays restaurant by an intoxicated minor and his friend. Steve Halteman, jury consultant and Nick’s co-author of the book, Trial By Human, assisted with the case and joins Steve and Yvonne to discuss this trial. In January 2009, Orlando was enjoying a date with his girlfriend when her son Michael Castillo, 20, and his friend Louis Martinez, 27, arrived at the restaurant. Already intoxicated, Michael and Louis ordered 12 servings of alcohol in the span of 30 minutes without being asked for identification. Michael proceeded to get into a heated argument with Orlando and stabbed him. Orlando later succumbed to his injuries. Despite TGI Fridays restaurant operator Briad Group's attempts to deny any responsibility, the family’s allegations were supported by the head bartender, who testified that Briad Group made a deliberate decision to not card minors in order to increase profits on Fridays and Saturdays. A Riverside County, California jury awarded Orlando's parents $40 million in damages and assigned 55% of the blame to Briad Group. Michael and Louis were both convicted in separate criminal trials and sentenced to serve time in state prison. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Nicholas C. Rowley Many consider Nicholas C. Rowley, founder of Attorneys for Justice and partner at Carpenter, Zuckerman, & Rowley, to be the most accomplished trial lawyer of his generation having won more than $1.5 Billion in verdicts and settlements for injury victims and families across the country. Winner of the 2018 Attorney of the Year and five-time finalist, he is one of the youngest trial lawyers in history to be presented with the award. He has extensive courtroom experience representing victims of serious injuries and medical malpractice, especially those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and chronic pain. Nick has been recognized by dozens of publications for his record-breaking verdicts and work for injury victims and their families. In 2018, Nick was named to The National Law Journal’s Elite Attorneys for having a top 50 verdic
Tue, April 12, 2022
GTP CLASSIC | Robin Frazer Clark | Marshall Fox, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Jayne B. Fox v. Emory Healthcare, Inc., The Emory Clinic, Inc., et. al. | $2.35 million verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic GTP episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Robin Frazer Clark of The Law Firm of Robin Frazer Clark, P.C. ( https://www.gatriallawyers.net/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Former State Bar of Georgia President Robin Frazer Clark explains how she secured justice for the only son of 75-year-old Jayne Fox, a woman who suffered a traumatic vocal cord injury during intubation for a lung biopsy, causing Jayne to suffer post-surgical aspiration pneumonia and leading to her death. Admitted to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta for a biopsy of a spot on her lung, Jayne was initially intubated with equipment that was much too large for her petite 97 lb., 5-foot frame. Following the surgery, nurses observed Jayne having difficulty clearing secretions, and an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist found abnormalities indicating aspiration pneumonia. However, the ENT and nurses failed to report their observations to the attending physician, Dr. Roy Rajan, who also failed to properly supervise Jayne’s medical care or visit her in person. As a result, Jayne's treatment plan was not adjusted to treat her condition, and she passed away at Emory University Hospital nearly six weeks after her surgery. Despite the defense's attempts to blame Jayne's age, her son and the rarity of her post-operation condition, a Dekalb County, Georgia jury returned a verdict of $2,350,000 in damages against Emory Clinic and Dr. Rajan. Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Robin Frazer Clark Robin Frazer Clark is the owner and founder of the law firm of Robin Frazer Clark, P.C., and has practiced law in Georgia for 31 years. Ms. Clark devotes her practice exclusively to plaintiff’s personal injury. Her motto is “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.” She is the Co-host of the podcast “See You In Court.” Ms. Clark was sworn in as the Fiftieth President of the State Bar of Georgia on June 2, 2012, only the second woman ever to serve as President of the State Bar of Georgia and served as President of the 45,000-member association in 2012-2013. One of Ms. Clark’s initiatives she created while President is the State Bar of Georgia’s Suicide Prevention Campaign, “How to Save a Life.” Ms. Clark is a Past President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), also only the second woman in the organization’s history to lead GTLA. Ms. Clark is a Past President of The Lawyers Club of Atlanta (LCA), in which she has been a member for over 25 years. Ms. Clark is the only person ever to have served as President of all three of those professional associations, the State Bar of Georgia,
Tue, April 05, 2022
Doris Cheng | Maria Renteria v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority | $1.4 million verdict
This week your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Doris Cheng of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger ( https://www.walkuplawoffice.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Acclaimed California trial lawyer and former San Francisco Bar Association president Doris Cheng of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger shares how she successfully represented a grieving mother after her son was fatally struck by a city bus while riding his bike. On May 15, 2017, Maria Renteria's son, Luis Alvarez, Jr., rode his bike in the right lane of a Los Angeles street until he came upon a stopped Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) bus and, adhering to the rules of the road, moved to the left lane to pass the bus. In an attempt to return to the right lane and travel in front of the bus, Luis was struck by the bus, dragged 70 feet and killed on impact. Trial lawyer Doris Cheng argued that the bus driver failed to be aware of her surroundings and did not adhere to her training, while defense counsel countered that the bus driver should not be held to a higher standard of care than Luis or any bicyclist. In spite of the defense's tactics, which included revealing the estrangement between Luis and his mother due to Luis's father's chronic abuse, a Los Angeles County jury assigned a percentage of negligence to both LACMTA and Luis, awarding Maria $1,400,000 in damages for the tragic loss of her son. In this in-depth discussion, Doris Cheng discusses everything from dealing with bad facts in voir dire to when to abandon the conventional "rules of the road" formula, instead focusing on the fundamental rules of persuasion: ethos, pathos and logos. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Doris Cheng A frequent guest lecturer and adjunct professor, Ms. Cheng has trained lawyers and judges nationally and internationally. As part of the Rule of Law Initiative, she has had the privilege of training trial lawyers and judges in Mexico, Kosovo, and Macedonia. She has also collaborated and trained with civil practitioners in Singapore and Belfast. This past year, she led trial skills training for criminal prosecution offices in Glasgow, Scotland and multiple Caribbean countries. Ms. Cheng is also the Program Director of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s Western Region Advocacy Teacher Training Program. In 2012, she was awarded the Robert E. Keeton Award for outstanding service by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. She is the 2015 recipient of the University of San Francisco Professional Achievement Award. Ms. Cheng is involved in local bar associations and
Tue, March 29, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Chrysta Castañeda | Mesa Petroleum Partners LP v. Baytech LLP, J. Cleo Thompson and James Cleo Thompson, Jr., LP, and Delaware Basin Resources LLC | $146 million verdict
This week we're replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Chrysta Castañeda of The Castañeda Firm ( https://castaneda-firm.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished Dallas oil and gas litigator Chrysta Castañeda of The Castañeda Firm discusses how she secured justice for oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens, the owner of Mesa Petroleum Partners, in a landmark breach of contract case against three Texas oil companies, securing the nation's 12th largest verdict in 2016. In January 2007, Mesa Petroleum Partners signed a participation agreement with J. Cleo Thompson and Baytech, affording Mesa 15% ownership in oil wells and other assets in Texas over a five-year period. Mesa Petroleum elected to participate in all offered deals, but unbeknownst to Pickens, Mesa Petroleum's 15% interest was being used to purchase assets and to drill more than 160 wells under the auspices of two newly formed companies: Patriot Resources and Delaware Basin Resources. In 2009, Delaware Basin Resources attempted to buy out Mesa Petroleum from the original agreement and recruited Baytech to initiate an offer that Mesa Petroleum ultimately rejected. Despite the defense's claims that Pickens stated in a phone call that he wanted out of the agreement, except for his initial investment in a Lyda Well, and assertions that Pickens did not pay his fair share and was looking to repair his reputation after making poor business decisions during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, Chrysta Castañeda secured justice for her client. In November 2016, after a five-week trial, a Reeves County, Texas jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding more than $140 million in damages plus legal fees. This groundbreaking case is also featured in the book The Last Trial of T. Boone Pickens, written by Chrysta Castañeda and Loren Steffy. Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Chrysta Castañeda Chrysta Castañeda is a go-to lawyer for high-stakes litigation in the energy industry and beyond. Practicing for over twenty-five years, she has built a solid reputation for adeptly handling technical litigation, often serving as lead trial counsel in high-profile disputes of media interest. Her win for T. Boone Pickens’ Mesa Petroleum Partners was recognized as the 12th largest verdict in 2016 in the nation by The National Law Journal and earned her a spot as one of the NLJ’s Elite Trial Lawyers of 2018, as well as induction into Texas Lawyer‘s Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame. Following this series of high-profile recognitions, Chrysta was inducted as a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation in the beginning of 2020. Chrysta developed her reputat
Tue, March 22, 2022
GTP CLASSIC: Victor Vital | Mugdock Tavern Investments and Duffy I, LP, v. CAT Seattle, LLC et al. | Take Nothing Verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Victor Vital of Barnes & Thornburg LLP ( https://btlaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Texas Lawyer Verdicts Hall of Fame inductee Victor Vital, a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, shares how he secured a take-nothing defense verdict in a business fraud claim against his clients, CAT Seattle and Ascend Health Corporation. Both companies countersued Jim Graham, a Dallas oil magnate, and his company, Duffy, for illegally wiretapping a conversation that resulted in a $2 million purchase agreement. Jim Graham secretly and without consent recorded a critical conversation with a "spy pen" during business negotiations. A Dallas County, Texas jury sided with Victor's clients regarding the wiretapping claim, resulting in the recovery of attorneys' fees. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Victor Vital Victor’s trial experience ranges from patent litigation, unfair competition, contract disputes, business tort cases, and high net worth divorce cases to trade secret and non-compete litigation, real estate disputes, products liability matters, catastrophic injury and death cases, consumer fraud matters, and white-collar criminal matters. Because of his broad trial experience, clients and lawyers turn to Victor regardless of subject matter when they need a trial lawyer for their important cases. Beyond his trial experience, Victor has successfully resolved through settlement and dismissal all types of complex civil litigation matters. Moreover, Victor has secured favorable plea deals and indictment declinations in a range of white-collar criminal matters, including wire fraud and mail fraud, tax evasion, securities fraud, Ponzi cases, and money laundering. Notably, Victor was inducted into the Texas Lawyer Verdicts Hall of Fame for securing a No. 1 verdict -- the largest employment verdict in Texas in 2012 – for a corporate plaintiff in a complicated noncompete/trade secrets matter. In 2016, Victor secured the largest (No. 1) verdict in the fraud category in the Texas Lawyer Top Texas Verdicts & Settlements of 2016, with a jury verdict of nearly $34 million (including $16 million in punitive damages) in a partnership dispute involving claims of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. This top 2016 jury verdict also made the National Law Journal Top 100 list. Victor is often brought onboard on the eve of trial – in the final months or weeks leading up to trial – because of his deep trial experience. Moreover, Victor is a prolific author and invited lecturer/educator on trial issues. He also teache
Tue, March 15, 2022
Randall Sorrels and Alexandra Farias-Sorrels | Cruz v. Allied Aviation Fueling Company of Houston, Inc., and Reginald Willis | $352.77 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Randall Sorrels and Alexandra Farias-Sorrels of Sorrels Law ( https://sorrelllawfirm.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP on iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Husband-and-wife trial team Randall Sorrels and Alexandra Farias-Sorrels of Sorrels Law share how they secured justice for an airline wing walker who was struck by a fueling truck and catastrophically injured. On September 7, 2019, Ulysses Cruz donned his yellow vest and held bright orange wands to guide a United Airlines plane when Allied Aviation Fueling Company truck driver Reginald Willis struck Ulysses with the vehicle. Ulysses was paralyzed on impact, underwent spine stabilization surgery and suffered an accident-related stroke that affected the right side of his body and the left side of his brain. In the courtroom, award-winning trial lawyers Randall and Alexandra Sorrels sparred against the defense attorney, who attempted to place blame on United Airlines and to label Ulysses as a wing walker with a lack of "situational awareness." The Sorrels Law duo countered with proof that Reginald Willis violated Allied Aviation Fueling Company's policies by continuing to drive while blinded by the sun. On October 25, 2021, a Harris County, Texas jury found Allied Aviation Fueling Company 70% responsible and driver Reginald Willis 30% responsible for the accident and awarded Ulysses Cruz and his family a $352.77 million verdict, which is believed to be the largest actual damages verdict in U.S. history for an injured worker. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Randy Sorrel Randy Sorrels holds the unique distinction of being the only Texas board-certified plaintiffs’ lawyer ever to have been elected to serve as President of the State Bar of Texas and selected as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the state by Texas Super Lawyers magazine. His passionate representation of clients and lawyers has garnered statewide recognition and numerous prestigious awards. Randy and his partner/wife obtained what is believed to be the largest actual damages verdict in United States’ history for an injured worker — $352.7 million – in a fully contested jury trial. In short, whether it is in the courtroom or in the boardroom, Randy has an unparalleled track record of success for his clients and the organizations he leads. As a leader, Randy was voted by Texas lawyers to become the 2019-2020 State Bar President by the widest margin of victory in State Bar history. During his presidential service, he traveled Texas solidifying his reputation for helping not only those who hire him, but also helping fellow lawyers. His network
Tue, March 08, 2022
GTP Classic: Micha Star Liberty | Denis Le Moullac and Jessie Jewitt v. Daylight Foods, Inc. | $4 million verdict
This week we're replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Micha Star Liberty of Liberty Law Office, Inc. ( https://libertylaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Award-winning California trial attorney Micha Star Liberty discusses how she successfully advocated for the grieving parents of 24-year-old Amelie Le Moullac after she was fatally struck by a commercial vehicle while riding in a San Francisco bike lane in 2013. A responsible bicyclist, Amelie wore her helmet and stayed in the designated bicycle lane, but neither action prevented her from being run over by a 13,000-ton Daylight Foods, Inc. box truck, which illegally crossed the bike lane to make a sudden right turn. Amelie died from her injuries, including a fractured skull and crushed torso. Micha Star Liberty helped secure key video footage of the crash from a nearby business security camera after the San Francisco Police Department failed to conduct a thorough investigation, which was later revealed to be part of a larger bias against bicyclists. Despite the defense's attempts to blame Amelie and to depict her as a reckless bicyclist, Micha Star Liberty invoked a California Vehicle Code statute, which underscored the fact that Amelie had the right to remain in her bike lane and treat it as a safety zone in the event of a turning vehicle, which trumped the defense's use of a more general statute. In January 2015, a San Francisco jury ruled that Amelie shared no responsibility in her tragic death, found the driver to be at fault and awarded Amelie's parents a total of $4 million in damages. Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Micha Star Liberty Micha Star Liberty is the owner of Liberty Law Office, Inc. — a diverse legal practice primarily representing individuals who have suffered a serious injury or abuse, including child sexual abuse. The firm also represents employees who have been discriminated against or harassed in the workplace, and Micha has assisted businesses with finding a common ground when releasing an employee on best terms. Ms. Liberty is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She has held the title of President and Vice President of multiple legal and political organizations, expanding her network of associates and resources, which often helps to expedite the legal process for the greater benefit of her clients. “My clients come to me during a time of tremendous pain, anguish, and often confusion. They need help and a specialized kind of help. Someone to talk to who will listen; someone who can of
Tue, March 01, 2022
Bibi Fell | Kali v. Young, et al | $105.356 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Bibi Fell of Fell Law, PC ( https://www.fellfirm.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP on iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: California trial lawyer Bibi Fell, a founding partner at Fell Law, PC and a partner at Athea Trial Lawyers, shares how she successfully represented a breast cancer patient who fell victim to the beliefs and unconventional cancer treatment of a New York Times bestselling author masquerading as a licensed doctor. Plaintiff Dawn Kali was diagnosed with treatable Stage 1 breast cancer and rejected traditional treatment options in favor of the "Father of the Alkaline Diet" Robert O. Young's "pH Miracle" approach, which focused on making the body less acidic and more alkaline. This process involved costly extended stays at Young’s Rancho del Sol in Valley Center, California and expensive intravenous treatments that consisted of little more than baking soda. Unable to pay, Dawn worked for Young in exchange for treatments that were ultimately ineffective. After much time had passed, Dawn went to an oncologist and was diagnosed with terminal Stage 4 cancer that had spread to her spine and femur. At trial, Bibi Fell demonstrated that Young’s "pH Miracle" treatment was neither scientifically nor medically sound. In spite of the defense's claims that Dawn was aware that Young was not a licensed medical doctor and that she was not prevented from seeking conventional medical treatment, a San Diego jury found in favor of Dawn for her claims against Young of intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, false promise and negligence. In October 2018, the jury awarded Dawn a $105,356,000 verdict, including $15 million in punitive damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Bibi Fell Bibi represents plaintiffs who suffered catastrophic injuries or the death of a loved one. She is the Founding Partner of Fell Law, PC, in San Diego, California and is a Partner at Athea Trial Lawyers, a nationwide plaintiff’s firm comprised of six prominent female trial lawyers. Bibi is one of the few women attorneys to have received a verdict over $100,000,000.00 as lead trial counsel. Bibi is a National Board Member for the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Membership is extended by invitation only to lawyers who have demonstrated extensive trial experience, civility and professionalism. In 2018, Bibi was one of three finalists for Consumer Attorneys of California’s “Consumer Advocate of the Year,” Consumer Attorneys of San Diego’s “Trial Lawyer of the Year” award and received the “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” award and “Outstanding Advocate” award fro
Tue, February 22, 2022
Jim Gilbert | Dzemila Heco v. Johnson Controls, Inc. | $43.1 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jim Gilbert of The Gilbert Law Group, PC ( https://www.thegilbertlawgroup.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP on iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Jim Gilbert, the founder of Colorado's The Gilbert Law Group, PC and former national chairman of the Attorneys Information Exchange Group, shares how he successfully represented Bosnian War refugee Dzemila Heco after she suffered life-altering injuries due to a defective seatback. In August 2007, Dzemila's 2000 Dodge Neon was rear-ended by another car at a stoplight in Vermont. Dzemila, who was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, should have been able to walk away from this minor traffic accident, but her seatback collapsed on impact, causing her to sustain a neck injury that rendered her a permanent quadriplegic in need of round-the-clock care. In today's new episode, learn how "Lawyer of the Year" honoree Jim Gilbert held the seatback manufacturer, Johnson Controls, Inc., responsible for their defective design. Jim discusses how he used expert testimony as well as Johnson Controls, Inc.'s own testing and internal documents against them, including Johnson Controls, Inc.'s 1998 patent filing that stressed the disadvantages of a single-sided recliner. Two years after filing, the same single-sided recliner was implemented in the design of Dzemila's 2000 Dodge Neon. In spite of the defendant's claims that the seat in Dzemila's car met Chrysler's requirements and exceeded government and industry safety standards, the Chittenden County, Vermont jury found the seat to be defective. In June 2013, the jury awarded Dzemila a groundbreaking $43.1 million verdict, the largest jury verdict in the state of Vermont at the time. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Jim Gilbert A 1968 graduate of New York University Law School, James L. Gilbert is the owner of The Gilbert Law Group, P.C. an Arvada, Colorado law firm. The firm specializes in product defect litigation, primarily automotive and truck products. He now has over 45 years of experience litigating complex cases against some of the world’s largest corporations. Jim Gilbert was voted 2019 Lawyer of the Year in Colorado. Highly skilled and comfortable in the courtroom, Mr. Gilbert has received a number of favorable jury verdicts. His work involving defective aftermarket windshield installations, including a $6,100,000 jury verdict against an aftermarket installer, was chronicled in a cover story in Lawyers Weekly entitled "Personal Injury Cases That Made a Difference." Jim Gilbert has obtained many eight-figure jury verdicts including $35,000,000 (California) award
Tue, February 15, 2022
GTP Classic | Natalie Woodward | Robert Richard Lucas v. City of Braswell et al. | $1 million verdict
This week, we’re replaying a classic GTP episode where Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Natalie Woodward of of Jordan Woodward Cathey ( http://thetrial.attorney/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Jordan Woodward Cathey founding partner Natalie Woodward discusses how she secured justice for the former Chief of Police for the City of Braswell, Georgia after he was falsely arrested and maliciously prosecuted by the Mayor, City Manager and subsequent Chief of Police for the City of Braswell over a reimbursement dispute. In 2007, Robert Richard Lucas was initially told by the Mayor that he would be reimbursed for the purchase of used vehicles for the police department, but after five months of waiting, the Mayor and City Manager informed Robert that they considered the vehicle to be a non-reimbursable donation to the City. Unable to reach an agreement, Robert resigned as the Chief of Police and took possession of the vehicle, as the title was still in his name. The City of Braswell reported the car stolen and continued to pursue criminal prosecution with a warrant for Robert's arrest, despite a neighboring county officer's determination that the vehicle ownership dispute was a civil matter. Robert was unjustly placed in a holding cell with criminals who were likely well aware of his previous law enforcement position. In spite of the defense's attempts to utilize a reimbursement check that didn't materialize until after the lawsuit was filed, trial lawyer Natalie Woodward emphasized the lack of proper procedure and Georgia Bureau of Investigation involvement. In 2010, a Rome, Georgia jury returned a verdict in favor of Robert, awarding $1 million in compensatory and punitive damages against the defendants. Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Complaint Consolidated Pre-Trial Order and Total Brief Verdict Lucas Docket Lucas Opening and Closing Guest Bio: <p
Tue, February 08, 2022
GTP Classic | Kalpana Srinivasan and Max Tribble │Title Source, Inc. v. HouseCanary, Inc., f/k/a Canary Analytics, Inc.│$706.2 Million Verdict
This week, we replay a classic GTP episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Kalpana Srinivasan and Max Tribble of Kalpana Srinivasan and Max Tribble of Susman Godfrey LLP ( https://www.susmangodfrey.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP on iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: High-stakes trial lawyers Kalpana Srinivasan and Max Tribble of Susman Godfrey LLP explain how they secured the largest intellectual property verdict in the United States in 2018 in a countersuit against Title Source, Inc., a company providing valuation services to Quicken Loans. Originally, Title Source, Inc. sued Kalpana and Tribble's client HouseCanary, Inc. for breach of contract. HouseCanary filed crossclaims regarding Title Source's allegedly improper use of the data and discovered, via a PowerPoint presentation, that Title Source was violating the rules of its nondisclosure agreement and stealing HouseCanary’s trade secrets to reverse-engineer a competing automated valuation model. After seven weeks of trial, a Bexar County, Texas jury returned a verdict of $706.2 million, including $201.6 million for the value of the trade secrets, and cleared HouseCanary of any allegations of wrongdoing. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Kalpana Srinivasan Ms. Srinivasan tries high-stakes cases for plaintiffs and defendants in courtrooms across the country. A partner in the Los Angeles office and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, she has secured significant victories for her clients in antitrust, patent, trade secret, copyright, class action, and other disputes. Ms. Srinivasan won a $706.2 million jury verdict for client HouseCanary in a misappropriation of a trade secret, fraud, and breach of contract case. As co-lead counsel, Ms. Srinivasan played a crucial role in this landmark win. Read more on the win here or see the case featured in Lawdragon’s feature story, “Revenge of the Hatchlings: How Susman Godfrey Won Almost a Billion Dollars for HouseCanary” or in Law360‘s “How They Won It” series. Ms. Srinivasan recently obtained court approval for a class action settlement valued at over $100 million with music streaming service, Spotify. The deal resolved claims of copyright infringement. She currently serves as Court-appointed co-lead counsel for a certified class of hundreds of millions of consumers impacted by Qualcomm’s anticompetitive conduct in the sale of chipsets used in mobile devices and its patent licensing practices. Ms. Srinivasan’s practice includes pursuing and defending patent infringement actions, including cases involving standard-essential telecommunications patents; gaming and graphics pate
Tue, February 01, 2022
Derrick Alexander Pope │Hidden Legal Figures Podcast Collaboration │The City of Memphis v. Martin Luther King, Jr. et al.
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Derrick Alexander Pope of Hidden Legal Figures ( https://www.hiddenlegalfigures.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Hidden Legal Figures Podcast host Derrick Alexander Pope returns to discuss what proved to be Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last legal stand and how its historical significance continues to impact protests to this day. In February 1968, more than 1,000 African-American sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, went on strike after two black sanitation workers were killed on the job. A local pastor invited King to help the protestors nonviolently strike for job safety, better wages, benefits and union recognition. On March 28, 1968, King and other protestors peacefully marched through Memphis until violence broke out and looting took place, resulting in numerous injuries, arrests and the calling of the National Guard. Unhappy with the unwanted attention his presence and participation brought, the City of Memphis sued King and his Southern Christian Leadership Conference associates, including Hosea Williams, James Bevel, James Orange, Ralph Abernathy and Bernard Lee. On April 3, 1968, U.S. District Court Judge Bailey Brown issued a temporary restraining order against King as part of the city's attempts to thwart the next planned march. On today's special collaborative episode with the Hidden Legal Figures Podcast, Derrick Alexander Pope shares how King's lawyers Mike Cody and Lucius Burch sought and secured a compromise with the City of Memphis, which resulted in lifting the restraining order and allowing the march to go on with safety restrictions in place. The night before the compromise was formalized, King was tragically assassinated. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Derrick Alexander Pope: Derrick Alexander Pope, who describes himself as a composer and conductor of ideas, is President and founding Director of The Arc of Justice Institute. In this role, he has responsibility for all aspects of its standing initiatives and programs and host of its podcast, Hidden Legal Figures. Before The Arc, Mr. Pope enjoyed a distinguished career in the public, private, and academic sectors. He has provided counsel to the legislative and executive branches of government at the federal, state, and county level, having most recently served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. He is a former Assistant Legislative Counsel to the Georgia General Assembly and former Legislative and General Counsel to the Medical Association of Georgia. During the Obama adm
Tue, January 25, 2022
Patrick Arenz | Richard H. Tholen, M.D. v. Assist America, Inc. | $27.8 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Patrick Arenz of Robins Kaplan LLP ( https://www.robinskaplan.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Patrick Arenz of Robins Kaplan LLP shares how he successfully represented Twin Cities, Minnesota plastic surgeon Richard H. Tholen after he was denied emergency medical evacuation by Assist America, Inc. for a severe knee injury, which resulted in an above-the-knee amputation. In April 2015, Richard "Dick" Tholen dislocated his knee on a zipline course in Mexico and attempted to use his American Medical Association membership privilege to initiate Assist America's emergency medical evacuation services, which are available to transport members when an international hospital is unable to meet the U.S. standard for medical care. It took more than 35 hours for a licensed doctor to evaluate Dick's injuries. After multiple conversations with Assist America's medical coordinators and the local hospital's improper use of a hard cast on Dick's soft tissue injury, he was denied transport. Taking matters into his own hands, Dick took a commercial flight back to his Minnesota home and was evaluated by doctors who determined that he had a significant blood clot behind his knee. On May 18, 2015 — approximately one month after he sustained the injury — Dick underwent an above-the-knee amputation. In spite of Assist America Inc.'s attempts to blame Dick for the loss of his leg and misrepresent the facts in a published case study, a U.S. District Court of Minnesota jury found Assist America, Inc. negligent and guilty of breach of contract. In November 2021, the jury assigned $10 million in punitive damages to Assist America, Inc. and awarded Dick a $27,882,915.49 verdict, which was the largest personal injury verdict in Minnesota history. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Patrick Arenz: In an era of litigators, Patrick Arenz is a trial lawyer. According to IAM, Patrick is an “excellent, thorough, and focused cross-examiner.” He handles high-stakes disputes for a diverse set of clients, ranging from Fortune 100 companies to small inventor-led companies and individuals. His practice focuses on patent and copyright infringement matters, trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract disputes, and business and individual tort cases. He is equally adept at representing defendants, and has handled competitor-versus-competitor patent cases on both sides of the “v.” His cases have garnered media attention from outlets including The New York Times, Star Tribune, and even “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” Based on his accomplishments, Patrick was sel
Tue, January 18, 2022
GTP Classic | State of Alabama v. Martin Luther King, Jr. | Derrick Alexander Pope | Hidden Legal Figures
This week, in celebration of Martin Luther King Day, we're replaying one of our favorite interviews with Derrick A. Pope of The Arc of Justice Institute ( https://onthearc.net/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Hidden Legal Figures Podcast host Alexander Pope returns to discuss the landmark 1956 case against Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. for his role in the year-long Montgomery, Alabama Bus Boycott and violation of a 1921 anti-boycott law. An example of white Alabama officials' effort to use the courts to quash the Civil Rights Movement, the trial began with numerous attempts by prosecutors to identify King as the official leader of the boycott. King's legal team countered by trying to establish "just cause" or "legal excuse" for the boycott, with 31 witnesses sharing their first-hand experiences with abusive bus drivers and reasons for participating in the boycott. In spite of these moving statements, Judge Eugene W. Carter found King guilty of violating the anti-boycott law and fined him $500 plus an additional $500 in court costs. King's appeal was rejected, and he later paid the fine. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Derrick Alexander Pope: Derrick Alexander Pope is President and Managing Director of The Arc of Justice Institute. In his role, he has responsibility for its standing initiatives and programs, including hosting its podcast, Hidden Legal Figures. Before The Arc, Mr. Pope enjoyed a distinguished career in the public, private, and academic sectors. He has provided counsel to the legislative and executive branches of government at the federal, state, and county level, having most recently served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. He is a former Assistant Legislative Counsel to the Georgia General Assembly and former Legislative and General Counsel to the Medical Association of Georgia. During the Obama administration, Mr. Pope was a member of the White House Data-Driven Justice Initiative and the My Brother's Keeper Taskforce in 2015 and 2016. In private practice, he has helped protect the inheritance rights of more than 500 families throughout Georgia. Mr. Pope is a former adjunct professor of law at the Georgia State University College of Law where he taught Probate Practice and Procedure. Mr. Pope has several published works to his credit. He is the author of By the Content of Our Character: A Declaration of Independence for Colored Folks, Negroes, Black People, and African Americans and Thy Will Be Done: An African American Guide to Estate Planning and t
Tue, January 11, 2022
Don Keenan | Bartholomew v. Zurbrugg, M.D. | $13.75 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey continue their interview Don Keenan of The Keenan Law Firm ( https://www.keenanlawfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch GTP on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: Known as a tireless advocate for children and a fierce trial lawyer, Don Keenan of The Keenan Law Firm discusses how he used an innovative causation strategy to successfully represent the family of an infant who sustained a permanent brain injury as a result of her pediatricians' negligence. Sally Bartholomew was born healthy, but three weeks later, she was diagnosed with bronchitis, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, and an upper respiratory infection. On January 16, 1995, Sally appeared to be turning gray and her Hilton Head Island, South Carolina pediatrician instructed Sally's mother, Carol, to drive the baby to a hospital in Savannah, Georgia. In route, Sally stopped breathing, and Carol administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until EMTs could arrive. Sally's brain was without oxygen for an extended period of time, and she suffered a traumatic brain injury that continues to limit her quality of life and capabilities to this day. Acclaimed trial lawyer Don Keenan explains how he immediately connected with the Beaufort County, South Carolina jury by beginning his opening statement with the story of Carol's traumatic drive to the hospital and simplified his presentation from a PowerPoint to pen-and-paper exhibits to better appeal to an older jury. This is the first recorded case where causation was the initial focus, meaning that Don demonstrated what caused Sally's brain injury before proving the doctor's liability in failing to prepare for the worst possible outcome. After a three-week trial, the Beaufort County, South Carolina jury returned a verdict of $13.75 million in favor of the plaintiff, resulting in the highest medical malpractice verdict in the state at the time. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Don Keenan: During his forty years specializing in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, Mr. Keenan has secured over 381 verdicts and settlements over $1,000,000, including 15 over $10,000,000 and one over $100,000,000. Mr. Keenan has dedicated his practice to child injury and wrongful death cases arising from medical negligence, products liability, and premise liability, with the goal of making our society safer for children. He has handled cases in 47 states and on three continents. Mr. Keenan strongly believes that our duty does not end when we secure justi
Tue, January 04, 2022
Moshik Temkin (Part II) | Commonwealth v. Sacco and Vanzetti | The Sacco-Vanzetti Trial
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey continue their interview with Moshik Temkin, Harvard University Associate Professor of History and Public Policy and author of The Sacco-Vanzetti Affair: America on Trial ( https://carrcenter.hks.harvard.edu/people/moshik-temkin ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch GTP on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: Harvard University Associate Professor of History and Public Policy Moshik Temkin, author of The Sacco-Vanzetti Affair: America on Trial, discusses the larger implications of this 1920s Massachusetts murder trial and how its proceedings and subsequent international post-verdict protests revealed the U.S. justice system's implicit bias against immigrants. On April 15, 1920, an armed robbery was committed at the Slater-Morrill Shoe Company in Braintree, Massachusetts, resulting in the death of two guards and the theft of at least $15,000 in payroll funds. Italian immigrant anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were accused and charged with first-degree murder. The pair's anarchists beliefs, advocating for the violent overthrow of political and capitalist institutions, and evasion of the World War I draft took center stage at the trial, overshadowing missing and contradictory evidence in the case. Influenced by presiding Judge Webster Thayer's obvious bias, which included calling the defendants "anarchist bastards," as well as the jury foreperson's publicly expressed predetermined verdict, Sacco and Vanzetti were sentenced to death. Worldwide, labor unions held protests and acclaimed writers and political influencers spoke out in support of Sacco and Vanzetti. The pair, who were widely seen as political prisoners, were executed in the electric chair on August 23, 1927. On today's new episode, author and historian Moshik Temkin will share what his extensive research has revealed about this infamous case and the resulting international protests. Learn how this legendary trial impacted global politics and resulted in lasting judicial reform. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Moshik Temkin: Moshik Temkin, Associate Professor of History and Public Policy, joined the Harvard Kennedy School faculty in 2009. A specialist in the history of the modern United States in global and comparative perspective, with a focus on the connections between history and public policy, he is particularly interested in the interaction between Americans and non-Americans–the effects that American politics have had on the
Tue, December 28, 2021
Moshik Temkin | Commonwealth v. Sacco and Vanzetti | The Sacco-Vanzetti Trial
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Moshik Temkin, Harvard University Associate Professor of History and Public Policy and author of The Sacco-Vanzetti Affair: America on Trial ( https://carrcenter.hks.harvard.edu/people/moshik-temkin ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch GTP on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: Harvard University Associate Professor of History and Public Policy Moshik Temkin, author of The Sacco-Vanzetti Affair: America on Trial, discusses the larger implications of this 1920s Massachusetts murder trial and how its proceedings and subsequent international post-verdict protests revealed the U.S. justice system's implicit bias against immigrants. On April 15, 1920, an armed robbery was committed at the Slater-Morrill Shoe Company in Braintree, Massachusetts, resulting in the death of two guards and the theft of at least $15,000 in payroll funds. Italian immigrant anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were accused and charged with first-degree murder. The pair's anarchists beliefs, advocating for the violent overthrow of political and capitalist institutions, and evasion of the World War I draft took center stage at the trial, overshadowing missing and contradictory evidence in the case. Influenced by presiding Judge Webster Thayer's obvious bias, which included calling the defendants "anarchist bastards," as well as the jury foreperson's publicly expressed predetermined verdict, Sacco and Vanzetti were sentenced to death. Worldwide, labor unions held protests and acclaimed writers and political influencers spoke out in support of Sacco and Vanzetti. The pair, who were widely seen as political prisoners, were executed in the electric chair on August 23, 1927. On today's new episode, author and historian Moshik Temkin will share what his extensive research has revealed about this infamous case and the resulting international protests. Learn how this legendary trial impacted global politics and resulted in lasting judicial reform. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bio: Moshik Temkin: Moshik Temkin, Associate Professor of History and Public Policy, joined the Harvard Kennedy School faculty in 2009. A specialist in the history of the modern United States in global and comparative perspective, with a focus on the connections between history and public policy, he is particularly interested in the interaction between Americans and non-Americans–the effects that American politics have had on the wider world, the roles that internatio
Tue, December 21, 2021
Jim M. Perdue, Sr. & Jim M. Perdue, Jr. | Alexander v. Battaglia et. al. | $3.6 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jim M. Perdue, Sr. and Jim M. Perdue, Jr of Perdue and Kidd ( https://www.perdueandkidd.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch GTP on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: Texas trial lawyers Jim M. Perdue, Sr. and Jim M. Perdue, Jr. -- Perdue & Kidd's father-and-son trial team -- take a look back at the first case they ever tried together. Listen as this accomplished trial team explains how they secured justice for the wrongful death of a patient who died as a result of the negligence of a nurse anesthetist during routine orthopedic surgery. In September 1997, 40-year-old Mark Alexander was scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, but the anesthesiologist left him in the hands of an inexperienced nurse anesthetist, who failed to provide Mark with adequate ventilation during the surgery and neglected to record Mark's heart rate for 17 minutes. As a result, Mark was deprived of adequate blood flow to the brain for 10 to 14 minutes and remained in a coma for two weeks before passing away on October 3, 1997. Involved in the case while Mark was still in a coma, Jim M. Perdue, Sr. was able to collect powerful pieces of evidence he presented at trial: phone recordings and messages from Mark's family. In spite of the defense's attempts to cast blame on the other anesthesiologists and professional associations named in the lawsuit or to distance themselves from having any role in Mark's medical care, the father-and-son legal team was able to hold the doctors accountable for their contribution to Mark's substandard care and proximate cause of death. Jim M. Perdue, Sr. and Jim M. Perdue, Jr. strategically engaged the jury's senses with impressive storytelling and by sharing a visual timeline of the tragic events, a video of Mark languishing in a coma and the hard data comparison of the anesthetist's records versus the medical equipment records. In October 1999, a Harris County, Texas jury unanimously found the four defendants negligent and awarded $3.6 million in damages to Mark's wife and surviving parents. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: Jim M. Perdue, Sr: Jim M. Perdue, Sr. is Of Counsel to Perdue & Kidd. Mr. Perdue received both his Bachelor of Science cum laude and his Juris Doctorate cum laude from the University of Houston. Mr. Perdue has had over five decades of success in securing substantial and in some cases unprecedented multi-million dollar verdicts and recoveries for his clients. He has lectured a
Tue, December 14, 2021
Bill, James & Ryals Stone | Thornal v. Clausen | $26.1 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Bill Stone, James Stone and Ryals Stone of The Stone Law Group ( https://www.stonelaw.net/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch GTP on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: The Stone Law Group's trial team -- comprised of father Bill Stone and sons James Stone and Ryals Stone -- explain how they thoroughly investigated a fatal car accident and proved that their client, a promising 19-year-old University of Mississippi student, was not the proximate cause of his own tragic death, as law enforcement investigators initially concluded. In the early morning hours of March 29, 2013, University of Mississippi freshman Price Thornal was attempting to travel from Oxford, Mississippi to his hometown in Tallahassee, Florida to celebrate his father's birthday. Price's Honda Civic was hit head-on by the defendant, who was driving a Dodge Durango on the wrong side of the divided US Hwy 84. Trial lawyers Bill, James and Ryals Stone used the GPS system in Price's car to plot his trajectory and utilized the defendant's cell phone records as evidence of her negligence and opposing trajectory. In spite of the defendant's attempts to cast blame on Price, the Stone Law Group used basic physics as well as expert accident reconstruction to show the jury which car was traveling in the appropriate direction. In November 2021, after just 20 minutes of deliberation, an Early County, Georgia jury found the defendant's negligence to be the proximate cause of Price's death and awarded $26,141,628 in damages. Click Here to Read/Download Trial Documents Guest Bios: William Stone: Bill is a trial lawyer from Blakely, Georgia, who specializes in personal injury, wrongful death, professional malpractice, product liability, commercial and consumer fraud cases. The firm’s predecessor was founded in 1915 by Bill’s grandfather, the late Wm. Lowrey Stone. Past members of the firm include Bill’s father, Lowrey S. Stone, who formerly served as Chief Judge of Superior Courts, Pataula Judicial Circuit. Bill was born in Dothan, Alabama, on August 19, 1953. He attended the public schools in Early County, Georgia and graduated from Early County High School in 1971. He attended the University of Georgia College of Business Administration and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting on graduation in 1975. Bill also attended the Netherlands Institute of Industrial Economics near Amsterdam in The Netherlands in 1973. Bill received his Juris Doctor D
Tue, December 07, 2021
Don Fountain & Drew Ashby | Batchelder et al v. Malibu Boats, LLC, f/k/a Malibu Boats, Inc.; Malibu Boats West, Inc. et al. | $200 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Don Fountain of Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Prather & Littky-Rubin ( https://www.clarkfountain.com/ ) and Drew Ashby of Ashby Thelen & Lowry ( https://www.atllaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch GTP on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: Don Fountain of Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Prather & Littky-Rubin and Drew Ashby of Ashby Thelen & Lowry discuss how they successfully represented the grieving parents of a 7-year-old boy who tragically died in an accident involving a defective boat design on Lake Burton in Georgia. On July 17, 2014, Ryan Batchelder was wearing a life jacket and sitting in the bow seating compartment in the front nose of a rented 2000 Malibu Response LC open bow ski boat when he was washed overboard as the boat circled, crossing its own wake and taking on water in a phenomenon known as "bow swamping." As the front of the boat filled with water, the driver put the boat in reverse to raise it to surface level, but the unguarded propeller sucked Ryan in, resulting in severe blood loss and fatal drowning. Don Fountain and Drew Ashby, along with their colleagues, took the case to trial for the Batchelder family to hold accountable the three entities involved in making boats under the name "Malibu Boats," which is the largest ski boat manufacturer in the world. Together, Don and Drew demonstrated that Malibu Boats West, Inc. and Malibu Boats LLC were negligent for failing to provide warnings concerning the bow swamping hazard associated with the open bow boat. In August 2021, a Rabun County, Georgia jury apportioned fault to Malibu Boats West, Inc., Malibu Boats, LLC and the boat driver for Ryan's wrongful death, awarding $80 million in compensatory damages and $120 million in punitive damages. The jury determined that because the Malibu defendants knew about the bow swamping hazard and made the conscious decision not to warn boat owners and users, punitive damages were also warranted, making this the largest pain and suffering wrongful death verdict in Georgia history. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Donald Fountain: Donald R. Fountain, Jr. is nationally recognized as a top trial attorney and is known for his work around the country for successfully representing catastrophically injured clients during some of the most traumatic and transformational times in their lives. For twenty-five years, Don has been a double board-certified civil tri
Tue, November 30, 2021
GTP CLASSIC | Daniel Rodriguez, Chantal A. Trujillo & Danay Gonzalez│Bowe Cleveland v. Taft Union High School District, et al.│$3.8 Million Verdict
This week we’re replaying a classic GTP episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Daniel Rodriguez, Chantal A. Trujillo & Danay Gonzalez of Rodriguez & Associates Trial Lawyers ( https://www.rodriguezlaw.net/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Rodriguez & Associates trial lawyers Daniel Rodriguez, Chantal A. Trujillo, and Danay Gonzalez explain how they became the first trial team to present a school shooting-related civil claim to a jury. On January 10, 2013, Bowe Cleveland was shot by a fellow student, who was repeatedly reported to Taft Union High School administrators for making violent threats, having a "hit list" and drawing scenes of killings. Administrators failed to update their threat assessment plan and implement intervention tactics. As a result, Bowe was shot in his science classroom and suffered multiple punctures in his right lung, massive blood loss, and fractured ribs, requiring over 30 surgical procedures. To this day, Bowe's chest is full of shotgun pellets, and he struggles with PTSD. A Bakersfield, California jury found eight individuals, including the school's assistant principal, negligent and partially responsible for Bowe's injuries, returning a verdict of $3.8 million. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Daniel Rodriguez Daniel Rodriguez has a background that is a little bit different than the typical lawyer. Daniel grew up in a migrant farm-worker family. He and his family were constantly on the move. He lived and worked in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and California. Daniel and his five siblings attended between three and five different schools each year up until college. In addition to working in the fields, Daniel later held a variety of jobs going through college and law school. To name a few, Daniel worked as a dishwasher, worked for PG&E in their mapping department, worked as a salesperson for Sears, Roebuck & Co., sold encyclopedias door to door, and pumped gas at a full-service gas station. Another job that Daniel held was working as a roustabout and mechanic in the oilfields for Atlantic Richfield Co. in Kern County. All of these jobs helped mold Daniel’s perspective on life. Namely, that there’s no substitute for putting in the hard work. Daniel’s career as a lawyer is also a little bit different than the typical plaintiff’s lawyer. The vast majority of plaintiff’s lawyers hardly ever go to trial. Most of them may take a case to trial once every five years or so. Daniel tried his first jury trial within one month of getting his license to practice law. Daniel’s skill as a personal injury lawyer in Bakersfield has not
Tue, November 23, 2021
GTP CLASSIC | Mikal Watts │United States of America v. Mikal Watts
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mikal Watts of Watts Guerra, LLP. ( https://www.wattsguerra.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Mikal Watts, the founding partner of Watts Guerra LLP in Texas, has always been known as a fierce mass torts litigator with a history of winning cases against big corporations like Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Ford Motor Company. Then, he was charged with 95 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, identity theft and aggravated identity theft. Falsely accused of stealing Social Security numbers to file claims on behalf of 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill victims, Watts discovered he was, in fact, the victim of fraud. A Mississippi-based consultant for the mass torts case and a claims manager spent millions of dollars funding their extramarital affair, rather than making sure money went to the victims of the oil spill. Faced with a possible life sentence and the end of his legal career, Watts shares why he chose to defend himself in court, how he proved his innocence to the jury and how he defines justice now that he has experienced a trial as both a lawyer and the accused. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: In August of 2002, Mr. Watts formed Watts Law Firm, L.L.P. In 2009, Mikal Watts joined forces with Francisco Guerra IV to form Watts Guerra LLP which handles catastrophic personal injury, toxic torts, product liability, automotive defects, refinery negligence, commercial trucking negligence, medical device, pharmaceutical, and commercial litigation. Mr. Watts has been admitted to practice pro hoc vice in New, York, Alabama, Florida, New York, Minnesota, Mississippi, and California. Mr. Watts has defended punitive damages obtained in federal court by oral argument before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Mr. Watts’ litigation against Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Ford Motor Company resulted in resolving the most significant product liability case in the country. The terms of the settlement in the Bailey case were unprecedented in American history for a case of this type; not only monetarily but by virtue of what the companies agreed to do with respect to the disclosure of information relating to their own investigations into the alleged defects with their products and their corporate safety policies and practices. Watts Guerra LLP is nationally recognized as one of two firms leading in the pursuit of hundreds of claims brought nationwide against Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Ford Motor Company. Mr. Watts was instrumental in bringing to light Ford’s quiet efforts to recall these defective tires in foreign countri
Tue, November 16, 2021
John Uustal | Samantha Elena Gonzalez et al. v. Lifetime Brands, Inc. | $27 million settlement
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview John Uusta of Kelley | Uustal ( https://kelleyuustal.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch GTP on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: John Uustal, a founding partner of Kelley | Uustal in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, discusses how he refused to accept the findings of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, engineering experts, firefighters and police officers and instead pursued justice for a 3-year-old girl who was badly burned by a defective pressure cooker. On September 14, 2015, toddler Samantha Gonzalez was being bathed by her grandmother in the kitchen sink when a Vasconia Aluminum 8 Quart Pressure Cooker on the nearby stove began to malfunction and opened under pressure, spraying scalding liquid onto the child. Sixty percent of Samantha's body was covered in second and third-degree burns, resulting in the loss of a leg, hand and all her fingers. The manufacturer, Lifetime Brands, denied any defect and instead blamed Samantha's grandmother for the tragic incident. John and his legal team discovered a major corporate cover-up when older models, unlike the newer models that had been used for testing, were found to have a defective lid-locking system that made them unsafe for use on stoves with higher temperatures higher than 2,000 watts. Despite knowledge of the design flaw, Lifetime Brands never issued a recall or a warning to consumers and instead quietly made design adjustments in newer models. On November 6, 2018, a Broward County, Florida Circuit Court Judge approved a $27 million settlement in favor of the plaintiff, resulting in one of the largest recoveries ever obtained in the U.S. for a consumer product design defect. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: John Uustal: John Uustal is a founding partner of the Kelley | Uustal law firm in Fort Lauderdale. Uustal leads a team of fourteen elite trial lawyers, who have won some of the largest verdicts in the country. He limits his own practice to a small number of “cases that can’t be won for families that can’t afford to lose.” He has taken on some of the most complex and difficult legal cases of our time. His successes have resulted in safer fuel tanks, safer seat belts, safer medical care, and safer equipment for firefighters. That success has earned him some powerful enemies. A car company promised to bankrupt him, he was attacked and maligned by Big Tobacco, and he was threatened in Argentina after antagonizing government officials who had be
Tue, November 09, 2021
GTP CLASSIC | Jeff Harris and Rebecca Franklin Harris | Jones v. CSX | $11.2 million verdict
This week, in light of the tragedy that recently occurred during filming of the movie Rust , we’re replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jeff Harris of Harris, Lowry, and Manton ( www.hlmlawfirm.com ) and Rebecca Franklin Harris of Franklin Law ( franklinlawllc.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch GTP on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: Two-time Georgia Super Lawyers Top 100 honoree Jeff Harris of Harris Lowry Manton LLP and award-winning trial lawyer Rebecca Franklin Harris discuss the landmark wrongful death case that occurred on the set of the Gregg Allman biopic “Midnight Rider.” Unbeknownst to camera assistant Sarah Jones and the rest of the crew, they were filming on active railroad tracks owned by CSX Transportation. Sarah was struck and killed by a train and quickly became the face of Hollywood’s film safety movement. Thanks to a strong case presented by Jeff Harris and Rebecca Franklin Harris, a Chatham County, Georgia jury returned an $11.2 million verdict. Visit - https://www.safetyforsarah.com/ Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Rebecca Franklin Harris: As founder of Franklin Law, LLC, Rebecca Franklin Harris works with clients both locally in Savannah and across the country in cases involving consumer rights and product safety. In addition to dangerous consumer products, her practice includes cases arising out of trucking accidents, medical malpractice, aviation disasters and premises liability incidents. Rebecca has been repeatedly recognized for her legal achievements, being inducted into the “Verdicts Hall of Fame” and named as part of “Georgia’s Top 40 Under 40” by Georgia’s leading legal publication, The Fulton County Daily Report . She was a recipient of the “Courageous Pursuit of Justice Award” given by The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and has consistently been recognized as part of the “Rising Stars” selection in the annual Georgia Super Lawyers publication. She has also been selected Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Read Full Bio Here Jeff Harris: One of the nation’s top trial attorneys, Jeff Harris is an award-winning litigator who handles high-profile, complex cases across a wide variety of practice areas. He excels at secu
Tue, November 02, 2021
Edward Larson | The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes | The Scopes Monkey Trial | Part 2
Part two of our discussion with Edward Larson, Ph.D., J.D., author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion ( Ed Larson ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: Edward Larson, Ph.D., J.D., author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion and the Hugh and Hazel Darling Chair in Law and University Professor of History at Pepperdine University, explains the historical significance and societal impact of the landmark "Scopes Monkey Trial." In March 1925, the state of Tennessee passed the Butler Bill, which prohibited the teaching of evolution or anything but Divine Creation in schools. In response, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sought a test case and found one in Dayton, Tennessee science teacher John Scopes. During the eight-day trial, John Scopes pleaded not guilty to charges of violating the Butler Bill. He was represented by the ACLU and legendary trial attorney Clarence Darrow, who argued that the Butler Bill was unconstitutional and impeded basic freedom of religion rights. The special counsel for the prosecution was iconic American orator William Jennings Bryan, a political titan, former Secretary of State, celebrated speech maker and acclaimed U.S. Congressman who served as a major force behind the creation of the Butler Bill. The legal battle between Darrow and Bryan was truly an epic showdown, pitting two of the nation’s best orators against one another in a court of law. On July 21, 1925, the jury returned a guilty verdict after nine minutes of deliberation, and Judge John Raulston ruled that John Scopes was ordered to pay a $100 fine for violating the Butler Bill. The verdict was overturned on a technicality at the Tennessee Supreme Court on January 15, 1927. In today's episode, learn why the Scopes trial is considered one of the most important cases in 20th century America and how it became the first trial to be broadcast live on the radio. Hear Edward Larson's analysis about the case, the precedents it set for Constitutional law in America and why the topic of evolution vs. creationism in schools is still being debated nearly 100 years later. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Edward Larson Ed Larson holds the Hugh and Hazel Darling Chair in Law and is University Professor of History at Pepperdine University. O
Tue, October 26, 2021
Edward Larson | The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes | The Scopes Monkey Trial | Part 1
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Edward Larson, Ph.D., J.D., author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion ( Ed Larson ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: Edward Larson, Ph.D., J.D., author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion and the Hugh and Hazel Darling Chair in Law and University Professor of History at Pepperdine University, explains the historical significance and societal impact of the landmark "Scopes Monkey Trial." In March 1925, the state of Tennessee passed the Butler Bill, which prohibited the teaching of evolution or anything but Divine Creation in schools. In response, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sought a test case and found one in Dayton, Tennessee science teacher John Scopes. During the eight-day trial, John Scopes pleaded not guilty to charges of violating the Butler Bill. He was represented by the ACLU and legendary trial attorney Clarence Darrow, who argued that the Butler Bill was unconstitutional and impeded basic freedom of religion rights. The special counsel for the prosecution was iconic American orator William Jennings Bryan, a political titan, former Secretary of State, celebrated speechmaker, and acclaimed U.S. Congressman who served as a major force behind the creation of the Butler Bill. The legal battle between Darrow and Bryan was truly an epic showdown, pitting two of the nation’s best orators against one another in a court of law. On July 21, 1925, the jury returned a guilty verdict after nine minutes of deliberation, and Judge John Raulston ruled that John Scopes was ordered to pay a $100 fine for violating the Butler Bill. The verdict was overturned on a technicality at the Tennessee Supreme Court on January 15, 1927. In today's episode, learn why the Scopes trial is considered one of the most important cases in 20th century America and how it became the first trial to be broadcast live on the radio. Hear Edward Larson's analysis about the case, the precedents it set for Constitutional law in America, and why the topic of evolution vs. creationism in schools is still being debated nearly 100 years later. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents ABOUT EDWARD LARSON'S BOOK: https://www.pulitzer.org/w
Tue, October 19, 2021
Derrick Alexander Pope │Hidden Legal Figures Podcast Collaboration│Buchanan v. Warley and Shelley v. Kraemer
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Derrick Alexander Pope, Managing Director of the Arc of Justice Institute and host of the Hidden Legal Figures Podcast ( https://onthearc.net/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: Derrick A. Pope, Managing Director of the Arc of Justice Institute and host of the Hidden Legal Figures Podcast, returns to discuss the landmark Civil Rights decisions in Buchanan v. Warley (1917) and Shelley v. Kraemer (1948). On today's episode, learn about the significance of each case and how the two decisions are intimately related. Preparing to celebrate its 104th anniversary in November 2021, the unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in Buchanan v. Warley ruled that Louisville, Kentucky's residential segregation laws were unconstitutional and violated the personal and property rights afforded to all U.S. citizens by the 14th Amendment. Chief Justice Edward Douglass White upheld the rights of whites and Blacks to sell property to one another and initiated a turning point in the Court's attitude toward the rights of African Americans. Years later, private covenants -- not laws -- were being used to segregate neighborhoods. In 1948, Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson ruled in Shelley v. Kraemer that private covenant agreements do not violate 14th Amendment rights and that the state's enforcement of discriminatory private covenants does violate the 14th Amendment. This ruling made racial discrimination in housing no longer judicially enforceable and established a legal precedent for future efforts to enforce the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Derrick Alexander Pope Derrick Alexander Pope, who describes himself as a composer and conductor of ideas, is President and founding Director of The Arc of Justice Institute. In this role, he has responsibility for all aspects of its standing initiatives and programs and host of its podcast, Hidden Legal Figures. Before The Arc, Mr. Pope enjoyed a distinguished career in the public, private, and academic sectors. He has provided counsel to the legislative and executive branches of government at the federal, state, and county level, having most recently served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. He is a former Assistant Legislative Counsel to the Georgia General Assembly and former Legislative and General Counsel to the Medical Association of Georgia. During the Obama
Tue, October 12, 2021
Zoe Littlepage | Rowatt, Forrester and Scofield v. Wyeth | $134.1 Million Verdict
This week we're replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Zoe Littlepage of Littlepage, Booth, Leckman ( http://www.littlepagebooth.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Three Nevada women who developed breast cancer as a result of their use of Wyeth’s hormone replacement drugs, Prempro and Premarin. The jury found that Prempro and Premarin helped cause their cancers and that Wyeth misled the public about the drugs’ health risks. The court ultimately awarded $22.8 million in compensatory damages and $35 million in punitive damages. Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Zoe Littlepage’s practice focuses on complex cases including mass torts, defective medical product or drug cases as well as human rights issues. She typically spends months each year in trial, all across the country. Ms. Littlepage’s jury awards made the list of the Top 10 Largest Verdicts in the country for 2007, 2009 and 2010. In 2011, Zoe Littlepage was induced into The Inner Circle of Advocates. Founded in 1972, The Inner Circle of Advocates is an invitation only group of 100 of the best trial lawyers in America who are selected for their character, experience and success in the courtroom. The Inner Circle of Advocates was described by The Washington Post as, "A select group of 100 of the nation's most celebrated trial lawyers" and is recognized as one of the most exclusive groups of attorneys in the nation. Inner Circle members often work collectively to share experience, skills and knowledge in pursuit of justice. American Lawyer magazine as well as Fortune magazine named Ms. Littlepage as one of America’s “Premiere Lawyers.” She has also been nominated as a “Super Lawyer” as well as “Top Lawyer” in the country multiple years running. In 2008, she received the Clarence Darrow award for Best Mass Tort Lawyer. Texas Lawyer praises Ms. Littlepage’s tenacity stating “all bets should be on Littlepage.” Chambers USA, a legal publisher, recognizes Zoe Littlepage as a leading lawyer in nationwide product liability litigation and notes that “Zoe Littlepage of Littlepage Booth does ‘a bang-up job for plaintiffs.’” According to lawyers interviewed by Chambers USA, “[w]hen you see her, you know you have a fight on your hands.” Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - <a
Tue, October 05, 2021
Sarah Stempky-Kime | Vaylma Dorado v. McCoig Concrete Company and Leonard Wells | $17.8 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Sarah Stempky-Kime of Christensen Law ( https://www.davidchristensenlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: Sarah Stempky-Kime, an experienced trial lawyer and managing attorney at Christensen Law in Michigan, discusses how she secured justice for Vaylma Dorado, a woman who suffered a TBI and sustained other serious injuries after she was rear-ended by a cement truck. On September 17, 2010, Vaylma sat in her Volkswagen Jetta waiting to make a turn when she saw a cement truck in her rearview mirror that showed no signs of stopping. The 66,000-lb cement truck –– driven by a distracted company employee –– crashed into the back-end of Vaylma's car and propelled her vehicle into a utility pole. As a result, Vaylma endured three spinal fusion back surgeries, hip fusion surgery and shoulder surgery, making her unable to live independently or remain employed. On today's episode, hear how Sarah Stempky-Kime focused on McCoig Concrete Company and the driver's admitted liability at trial and kept the jury's attention on the extent of Vaylma’s injuries, while countering defendants' attempts to minimize those injuries. On June 11, 2014, a Wayne County, Michigan jury awarded Vaylma $17,800,000 in damages, marking the second-largest verdict or settlement in a Michigan courtroom in 2014. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Sarah Stempky-Kime Sarah is the managing attorney at Christensen Law, where she recently celebrated her 12th anniversary. Integral to the successful operations of the firm, Sarah has been working alongside founder David Christensen since 2009, partnering on major trials protecting the rights of accident victims. Sarah is responsive and compassionate when it comes to her clients, and a strong litigator with a history of successful verdicts won in challenging court situations. Sarah has far more trial experience than her years in practice would suggest, making her stand out as one of the state’s best young trial attorneys. “I’ve learned that everyone deserves the same attention. People who have been hurt are going through the extreme stress of trying to heal while dealing with the added stress of being in a lawsuit. They’ve been wronged, and they need someone to represent their interests. That’s where I come in.” A native of Cheboygan, Michigan, Sarah graduated from Alma College in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her psychological backgrou
Tue, September 28, 2021
Eric Fong | William Tisdale v. Apro LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Corporation | $91 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Eric Fong of Fong Law ( https://www.ericfonglaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdeO4IodggpSLyhWVdcWKw Episode Details: Eric Fong, an accomplished lawyer who has tried more than 100 civil and criminal jury trials, shares how he successfully represented his client William Tisdale after being brutally attacked by a robber due to a convenience store's lack of employee training and proper security measures. Around 11 p.m. on November 4, 2015, William Tisdale entered an Apro convenience store in Parkland, Washington and was immediately told by the clerk to call 911. Not realizing that there was a robber inside the store who was threatening to kill the clerk and demanding money from the register, William stepped outside to call 911 only to be violently beaten by the baseball bat-wielding thief as he stole William's car. Eric Fong used enhanced animation to show jurors the severity of William's numerous injuries, including multiple skull fractures, traumatic brain injury and retinal damage, as they occurred in real-time via the video footage of the attack. In spite of the defense's attempts to minimize William's injuries and to blame him for not remembering to take his medications due to a TBI, the jury responded to Eric Fong's re-telling of William's story and his appeal for empathy and compassion for his client. In June 2021, a Pierce County, Washington jury — limited by COVID-19 precautions and virtual trial proceedings — found Apro was 90% at fault and William was 10% at fault in this groundbreaking premises liability case. The jury awarded William $91 million in total damages, which is the largest compensatory damages verdict for an individual plaintiff in Washington state. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Eric Fong Imaginative and yearning to explore with measured recklessness, Eric Fong lives for the adrenalin only a courtroom provides. With over 100 civil and criminal jury trials under his belt, he is recognized as an innovator of creative trial work in both fields of law. Eric protected low-income housing residents of WA State against oppressive crime control measures, creating the constitutional right to intimate association. His $91,000,000 verdict is the largest compensatory damages verdict for one person in Washington State. His representation of iconic funk musician & legend, George Clinton allowed Mr. Clinton to keep his historic body of work. Decided in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals,
Tue, September 21, 2021
Daniel Kramer & Teresa Johnson | Louis Acosta v. MAS Realty, LLC et al. | $12.6 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Daniel Kramer and Teresa Johnson of Kramer Trial Law ( https://www.kramerlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch the video recording: Link Episode Details: California trial lawyers Daniel Kramer and Teresa Johnson of Kramer Trial Law share how they secured justice in a major premises liability case that was one of the first in-person civil jury trials to be held in Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kramer and Johnson represented Louis Acosta, a 40-year-old electrician who was severely injured on a job site at a strip mall in Riverside, California in 2016. Two years earlier, Athena Management, Inc. — the property management company that MAS Realty, LLC hired to oversee a shopping center they owned in Riverside — was told by roofing inspectors that a rooftop hatch was broken and the access ladder needed to be repaired in order to meet OSHA compliance requirements and to address safety concerns. The rooftop hatch was never repaired, so when Louis attempted to fix malfunctioning exterior lights, he opened the hatch — not realizing it was broken — and the 40-pound hatch door slammed down on his spine. Louis immediately felt his right side go numb. He continues to struggle with chronic pain and has endured numerous surgeries, resulting in hardware being placed in his spine, neck and lower back. Trial lawyers Daniel Kramer and Teresa Johnson countered the defendants' attempts to claim they were not notified in 2014 about the broken hatch and to blame the roofing inspector as well as Louis for his own injuries. In August 2021, a Los Angeles jury found defendants Athena Management, Inc. and MAS Realty, LLC negligent and responsible for Louis's injuries, awarding him $12,622,238.75 in total damages. The jury found that the property management company was 80% at fault and the property owner was 20% at fault, with no comparative fault for the plaintiff. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Daniel Kramer Daniel Kramer is a trial lawyer who specializes in representing families and individuals involved in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death matters, as well as employment discrimination and retaliation lawsuits. Daniel has obtained numerous jury verdicts as lead counsel, all victories on behalf of his clients. Multiple verdicts have been featured in both The Daily Journal, Verdict Search, The Huffington Post, and Fox 11 News. Five verdicts were ranked as the top 50 verdicts in the state of California for 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 by TopVerdict.com. Early i
Tue, September 14, 2021
GTP CLASSIC | Karen Koehler | DINH Group v. Ride the Ducks | $123 Million Verdict
This week we're replaying a classic episode where your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Karen Koehler of Stritmatter Kessler Koehler Moore Law Firm ( stritmatter.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Acclaimed trial lawyer Karen Koehler, also known as the “Velvet Hammer,” discusses how she secured justice for dozens of victims of the Sept. 24, 2015 mass casualty crash involving a defective duck boat -- a World War II vessel turned amphibious vehicle -- and a tour bus full of international students on the Aurora Bridge in Seattle. She held the state of Washington responsible for the dangerous undivided, two-lane highway on which the wreck occurred as well as the Ride the Ducks Seattle and Ride the Ducks International companies for their disregard for safety in maintaining their duck boats. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: In the mid-2000’s an opponent told me that other defense attorneys were calling me “The Velvet Hammer™”. When asked why, he said: because you smile so sweetly while you are hammering us into the ground. I thought that was funny and adopted the name. Being a lawyer is part of my soul. My work is part of who I am. The stories of my clients will never leave me. The child who could not bear to see his father take his last breath... The son who waved goodbye to his mother as he headed off to school, not realizing that would be the last time he would see her… The teenager on a school trip who woke up to see bones coming out through her skin… The young man struck down and killed in front of the police who had been ordered not to enter the Mardi Gras riot zone…The siblings who were in the hospital for so long that they had to postpone the funeral for their parents by a year… The eighth grader sitting in the rear passenger seat when the bumper from another car went through the vehicle and into her lovely face… The Boeing worker whose leg was almost torn off from the impact, fragments of bone lying in the street… The maintenance lead burned to death by an acid solution… The widows who created shrines in their bedrooms for their beloved spouses…The sister who saw her baby sister die. So much preventable sorrow. My job is to make sure that wrongdoers are brought to justice and that the lives and losses of my clients are fully honored and respected. I love my job. Trial Lawyer of the Year, Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ), 2005 Named as Top 10 Super Lawyer in Washington State, Super Lawyers, 2014 Named as Top 100 Super Lawyer in Washington State, Super Lawyers, 2007-2018 Named as Top 50 Women Washi
Tue, September 07, 2021
Ronald Johnson & Jay Vaughn | Alton G. Godwin, et al. v. Eaton Asphalt Paving Co., Inc. | $70 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Ronald Johnson and Jay Vaughn of Hendy Johnson Vaughn Emery ( https://justicestartshere.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review New! Watch the video recording: https://youtu.be/vJAe3s1SkPo Episode Details: Kentucky trial lawyers Ronald Johnson and Jay Vaughn of Hendy Johnson Vaughn Emery explain how they held an asphalt paving company responsible for causing a car crash that killed Amy Skiba. On the morning of January 9, 2019, Amy was driving her 12-year-old twins to school on a two-lane road when a 2013 Chevrolet truck's front tire went off the side of the road. When the truck returned to the roadway, it hit Amy's Honda Accord, and she died on impact. In this episode, learn how Ronald Johnson and Jay Vaughn explained to the jury that Amy's death was not the fault of either driver, instead demonstrating that Eaton Asphalt Paving Co., Inc. was ultimately responsible due to the fact that the company incorrectly re-paved the road two months prior to the accident and created hazardous conditions by removing safety wedges and rumble strips. In spite of Eaton Asphalt Paving Co., Inc.'s attempts to assert they had the permission of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to not mill the road and to cast blame on the driver of the Chevrolet truck, the Boone County, Kentucky jury found in favor of the plaintiff. On July 12, 2021, the jury awarded Amy's surviving children $24 million in damages as well as $50 million in punitive damages against the defendant. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Ronald Johnson Ronald Johnson is a veteran trial lawyer who has spent his career representing families and persons who have been injured or killed by defective drugs and medical devices, chemicals, dangerous conditions on a property, semi-truck collisions, automobile wrecks, medical malpractice, and other product liability claims. Ron’s experience and success in this field have been recognized by his peers and by federal courts across the country. Ron is a former president of the Kentucky Justice Association and has been designated as “AV” rated (pre-eminent) by the peer-reviewed publication Martindale, as well as designated a “Super Lawyer” by his fellow attorneys. Ron has also been appointed to numerous leadership positions in nationwide litigation by federal judges. In fact, Ron is the only lawyer currently practicing in Kentucky who has been appointed as lead or co-lead counsel of multiple Multi-District Litigations (MDL’s) in Federal Courts. Ron has tried numerous complex cases, including a medical dev
Tue, August 31, 2021
Tyler Thompson | Lori Rone, as Legal Guardian of Shannon Houchin v. Republic Services of Kentucky, LLC d/b/a Monarch Environmental and Jackie Jones | $27.3 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Tyler Thompson of Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway, PSC ( https://www.kytrial.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Kentucky trial lawyer Tyler Thompson of Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway, PSC explains how he successfully represented a teenage girl who sustained a permanent brain injury after a crash involving a Monarch Environmental garbage truck parked on the wrong side of the road. On Thanksgiving Day in 2000, 17-year-old Shannon Houchin was driving to work when she crested the top of a hill and saw the headlights of a garbage truck in her lane. She quickly swerved to avoid the large Monarch Environmental truck and swerved again to avoid a pedestrian, which sent her car spinning and sliding sideways into the garbage truck. As a result of the crash, Shannon spent over 50 days in a coma and sustained brain and physical injuries that require round-the-clock care, including involuntary muscle contractions, bilateral third nerve palsy, dementia and hyperphagia -- a memory-related eating disorder. Trial lawyer Tyler Thompson shares how he utilized testimony from residents who had near collisions with Monarch Environmental garbage trucks and how the company ignored warnings about parking on the opposite side of the street for two years — some incidents being as recent as one week before Shannon's accident. In spite of the defense's arguments, a Warren County, Kentucky jury found that Shannon was not at fault and awarded her $27,335,667.87 in damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Tyler Thompson Tyler Smyth Thompson is a graduate of Berea College and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, and currently the senior partner at the law firm Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway, PSC in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his wife, Frances Travis Thompson MD, have three daughters, Calley, Madison and Ellery. Mr. Thompson has represented clients in medical negligence and products liability cases throughout the United States. He has achieved a number of eight-figure settlements on behalf of injured clients and has obtained a number of multi-million dollar verdicts at trial, including three verdicts exceeding $10 million dollars and two verdicts exceeding $20 million dollars. In 2008, Mr. Thompson became an invited member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, a trial lawyer organization limited to 100 lawyers in the United States, which the National Law Journal has called "a fraternity of superstar personal injury litigators" and the Washington Post recognized as "a select group of 100 of the nation's most celeb
Tue, August 24, 2021
Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey | New Segment: Listener Questions
This week we have a very special episode. Your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview each other and launch a new segment for listener questions. Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Have you ever wanted to ask a question on The Great Trials Podcast? Well now you can! We’re launching a new listener question segment where you can submit your questions to be answered live on the air. To submit a question: Send us a direct message on Instagram (@greattrialspodcast ). Send us a direct message on Facebook ( @greattrialspodcast ) Email us at info@greattrialspodcast.com Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, August 17, 2021
Gregorio Francis | In re Pigford II or "Black Farmers" Litigation | $1.25 billion settlement
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Gregorio "Greg" Francis of Osborne & Francis, PLLC ( https://www.realtoughlawyers.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Award-winning Florida trial lawyer Gregorio "Greg" Francis of Osborne & Francis, PLLC shares his experience serving as lead counsel for nearly 20,000 African-American farmers who received disparate treatment from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), resulting in the largest settlement of a civil rights case in the history of the American Civil Justice system. Widely known as the “Pigford” or "Black Farmers" cases, this national class action lawsuit sought to address the racial discrimination Black farmers experienced between 1981 and 1996, including the denial or delay of their applications for federal farm credit services, loans or benefit programs. Citing the USDA's internal report of a failed civil rights complaint management system and a lack of diversity in Farm Service Agency county-level commissioners, Greg was able to negotiate a record settlement with the USDA for $1.25 billion to be distributed to class members in the form of damages, forgiveness of debt owed to the USDA and/or a tax payment to offset the awarded funds. This historic settlement was reached on February 18, 2010. As part of the settlement, President Obama signed the Claims Resolution Act of 2010, which provided $1.15 billion to pay successful claims. In May 2021, Gregorio published Just Harvest, a book detailing these groundbreaking cases against the U.S. government. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Gregorio "Greg" Francis Awarded the Vince Monroe Townsend Legends Award by the National Bar Association for historic leadership in the area of Civil Rights and designated as a Game Changer by Politic365. Gregorio (Greg) Antonio Francis currently serves as lead counsel for the historic Black Farmers case. This national class action challenged the ongoing disparate treatment of Black Farmers across the United States resulting in a $1.25 billion dollar settlement. Nearly 20,000 Black farmers or their descendants received the “JUSTICE” they had long demanded. In RE: Black Farmers is the largest settlement of a Civil Rights case in the history of the American Civil Justice system. Francis began his legal career in 1994 as an associate with a statewide defense firm specializing in medical malpractice defense, nursing home defense and municipal defense. In 2001, Francis joined the law firm of Morgan and Morgan, P.A., as a Partner, focusing his practice on medical malpractice, police misconduct, wrongful death and catastrophi
Tue, August 10, 2021
Tracey Dellacona | Ellen Wadsworth v. Howland. PA-C, Paustian, M.D., and Georgia EM-I Medical Services, P.C. | $5 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Tracey Dellacona of Dellacona Law Firm, LLC ( http://www.dellaconalaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Georgia trial lawyer and nurse Tracey Dellacona of Dellacona Law Firm, LLC shares how she strategically represented emergency room patient Ellen Wadsworth, whose misdiagnosed pain resulted in the amputation of both of her legs. On Thanksgiving Day in 2008, Ellen arrived at the hospital with severe pain in both of her legs and cold feet, which a physician's assistant -- after only a brief physical exam and vein testing -- determined to be cellulitis, a type of bacterial skin infection. Despite Ellen's inability to walk and pleas to be admitted to the hospital, the supervising doctor and physician's assistant sent her home with morphine. Hours later, Ellen returned to the emergency room after collapsing in her home, and it was discovered that she had arterial blockages in both of her lower legs. On December 4, 2008, Ellen underwent a double leg amputation below the knee. The defendants argued that Ellen's symptoms and physical conditions were entirely different at each emergency room visit and tried to place blame on Ellen's smoking and pre-existing medical conditions. In 2012, a Gwinnett County, Georgia jury found in favor of Ellen, awarding her $5 million in damages and charging the attending healthcare professionals and medical practice with ordinary negligence. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Tracey Dellacona Ms. Dellacona graduated cum laude in 1985 from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and worked as an emergency department nurse and cardiac care nurse for several years in North Carolina before moving to Georgia to attend law school. She maintains a current Georgia license as a registered nurse. Ms. Dellacona graduated in 1994 from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law in Macon, Georgia, where she began her own law firm, Dellacona Law Firm. In 2007, Ms. Dellacona obtained her Master of Business Administration Degree magna cum laude from Wesleyan College. She has served as president of the Middle Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, as an at large Vice-President for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and is a member of the Bootle Inn of Court, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the Middle Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the State Bar of Georgia, the American Association for Justice, the Professional Negligence Group, Stroke Litigation Group and the Nursing Home Litigation Group. Ms. Dellacona is AV rated
Bonus · Tue, August 03, 2021
GTP CLASSIC | Kay Van Wey │State of Texas v. Christopher Duntsch │Multi-Million Dollar Settlement - Part 1
This week we are replaying a GTP Classic episode. Your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Kay Van Wey of Van Wey, Presby, And Williams ( https://www.vanweylaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: In the first of a two-episode series, 17-time Dallas Super Lawyer Kay Van Wey shares how she held neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch – widely known as “Dr. Death” – accountable for performing surgeries under the influence of drugs and alcohol and failing to execute procedures properly, often resulting in patient paralysis or death. Representing a number of Dr. Duntsch’s victims, Kay exposed the lack of protection from medical regulatory bodies that are supposed to protect patients from dangerous doctors. Dr. Duntsch is one of the first physicians to be criminally convicted for severely injuring a patient. His heinous actions and operating room horror stories were the focus of the popular Dr. Death Podcast, hosted by top medical journalist Laura Beil. Click to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents: Guest Bio: Kay Van Wey I’m Kay Van Wey, a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer and Patient Safety Advocate. My clients are everyday people who have been seriously injured by a healthcare provider, medical device, or prescription drug or involved in a life-altering accident. I am passionate about helping my clients. My team and I take a personalized, hands-on approach to helping our clients navigate the legal system and ultimately achieve the justice and compensation they deserve. I understand just how confusing the legal landscape is and how when you are injured or grieving it is difficult to understand the complexities and navigate through the legal maze. In experiencing my own personal family tragedy in my late 30’s, I understand first-hand what it feels like to be a victim and go through the difficult process of healing and the road to justice. This is one of the primary reasons that I do this work. My patient safety advocacy comes from my passion to ensure that bad medical practices, doctors, and procedures that lead to unfortunate outcomes that could be avoided are removed or lessened so that no one else suffers. You may know me as one of the lawyers that prosecuted multiple civil cases against “Dr. Death.” I had the privilege of representing many of his victims. As I have always said and believed, most doctors are good doctors — and good people. But the system for how we identify, report, and stop bad doctors is failing patients. The tragedy of the Christopher Duntsch story is that so many patients were harmed before he could be stopped. This is just incomprehensible and unacceptable.
Tue, July 27, 2021
Marc Diller | Cathrine Erickson v. Rosalie A. Cunio et al | $2.3 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Marc Diller of Diller Law, P.C. ( https://www.dillerlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum member Marc Diller of Diller Law, P.C. explains how he secured justice for tenant Cathrine Erickson when her landlord failed to prepare her Watertown, Massachusetts rental property for winter, creating a dangerous situation that resulted in permanent injury to Cathrine's right leg. After being informed by Cathrine and other tenants that the drain at the end of the sloped driveway was not working properly, landlord Rosalie Cunio chose to withhold important property information and ignore the contractor's proposed solution in favor of a cheap fix. The repair was ineffective, as water continued to pool, taking days to drain. The drainage problem was compounded when winter came and Rosalie did not "winterize" the rental property, including shutting off the exterior water. In February 2013, Cathrine returned home from her job as head coach of Northeastern University's track and field team and slipped on black ice caused by water spraying from a hose. As a result, Cathrine sustained a serious injury requiring a titanium rod as well as seven screws to stabilize her right leg. Today, this accomplished coach struggles with mobility and suffers from chronic pain. In March 2019, trial lawyer Marc Diller detailed the landlord's negligence and violations of common sense safety practices to a Middlesex County, Massachusetts jury. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Cathrine, awarding $2,324,815.62 in damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Marc Diller On May 15, 1992, Marc Diller was a senior in high school in Brookline, MA. Brookline’s local paper, The Brookline Citizen, profiled Marc Diller as its Brookline Student of The Week. The article was titled, “Diller, an attorney in training”. Even back then, Marc’s passion for service and the law was evident. Nearly 30 years later, Marc uses that passion to deliver safety and justice to his clients. Marc helps people and their families during their most vulnerable times. It’s his ethos to hold corporations and insurance companies accountable for wrongdoings. Marc fights corporate and individual wrongdoers when it results in wrongful death or catastrophic injury. Marc doesn’t back down from the fight. Throughout his 20+ year career, Marc has held property owners, who maintain dangerous conditions, accountable for their wrongdoings. He has made companies take responsibility for the death or losses that result from making, designing or selling danger
Tue, July 20, 2021
Ryan Saba and Robert Karwin | Nicholas Tusant v. City of Hemet et al. | $25.6 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Ryan Saba of Rosen Saba, LLP ( https://www.rosensaba.com/ ) and Robert Karwin of the Law Office of Robert P. Karwin ( https://www.karwinlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Ryan Saba of Rosen Saba, LLP and Robert Karwin of the Law Office of Robert P. Karwin explain how they successfully represented California high school student Nicholas Tusant after he was struck by a truck in a lighted crosswalk, resulting in severe, life-altering injuries. On March 24, 2017, 16-year-old Nicholas activated the crosswalk's flashing lights and yelled for Joseph Gervais, who was driving a Dodge Dakota truck, to stop. Instead, Nicolas was hit in the crosswalk and rendered unconscious. Nicholas, one of 10 teens injured in this crosswalk between 2007 and 2018, spent 30 days in a coma and months in the hospital healing from a stroke, bone fractures and severe brain damage — all of which continue to make it difficult for him to walk and talk. Despite the City of Hemet's attempts to use a design immunity defense, cast blame on Joseph Gervais' negligent driving and assert that an accident on public property does not constitute a dangerous condition, a Riverside County, California jury found in favor of the plaintiff. In February 2020, Nicholas was awarded $25,656,686.58 in damages, marking the largest personal injury verdict in California in 2020. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Ryan Saba Ryan Saba is an accomplished civil litigation and trial attorney. Ryan’s practice consists of prosecuting and defending individual, class action and mass action claims. On the plaintiff side, each year Ryan obtains some of the largest settlements and verdicts. On the defense side, Ryan is widely considered one of the premiere “bet-the-company” trial lawyers in California. Ryan has extensive experience in a wide range of federal and state matters, including consumer litigation, employment litigation, women’s rights, complex business and entertainment disputes, catastrophic injury claims, professional responsibility, copyright/trademark, civil rights, maritime, and municipal, insurance bad faith, landowner, and product liability. Ryan has been working with Jim Rosen since 1999 and is a founding partner of Rosen“RosenSaba, LLP. Read Full Bio Robert P. Karwin Robert P. Karwin began his career as a trial attorney for a personal injury defense firm in Glendale, California that represented such clients as Allstate, State Farm, Mercury, and Avis R
Tue, July 13, 2021
Timothy Trecek | Vanderventer v. Hyundai Motors Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kayla M. Schwartz | $38.1 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Timothy Trecek of Habush, Habush & Rottier S.C. ( https://www.habush.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Two-time Wisconsin Association for Justice Trial Lawyer of the Year Award winner Timothy Trecek of Habush, Habush & Rottier S.C. shares how he successfully represented Edward Vanderventer, Jr. and his wife Susan after Edward was rendered a paraplegic following a traffic accident due to a seatback defect in the 2013 Hyundai Elantra. In July 2015, Edward was driving a Hyundai Elantra when he slowed down to make a left turn and was hit from behind by a 17-year-old driver. Upon impact, Edward's headrest flew backwards into the back seat and the headrest guide poles within the seatback deformed toward his spine. The headrest guide poles separated his spinal column, rendering him a paraplegic. Despite Hyundai's attempts to blame Edward's spinal injuries on the rear-end crash and a degenerative spinal condition, the Racine County, Wisconsin jury found Hyundai negligent in the design and testing of the driver's seat. In February 2020, the jury awarded $38,164,263 in damages to Edward and Susan Vanderventer, resulting in the largest single plaintiff compensatory award in Wisconsin history and a landmark victory for Timothy Trecek in the same courtroom where he experienced his first trial victory as a high school mock trial attorney 36 years earlier. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Timothy Trecek In 2020, as lead trial counsel, Tim Trecek obtained a $38.1 million verdict against Hyundai Motor Company, for a defectively designed seat back and head restraint system in his client’s 2013 Hyundai Elantra (see news story). The verdict is the largest single plaintiff compensatory award in Wisconsin history. The verdict included $7.77 million for the plaintiff’s spouse, another record for Wisconsin verdicts. Based on the significance of his 2020 verdict, Tim was honored to receive the Robert L. Habush, Trial Lawyer of the Year Award, the second time being recognized with said award (read acceptance speech). He was also awarded The Litigation Counsel of America’s Tommy Malone Outstanding Verdict Award, an honor bestowed upon one attorney in the US whose verdict is extraordinary in amount or significance. Tim is the Vice President, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Secretary of Habush Habush & Rottier and has been a member of the law firm since 1995. He is a managing partner of both the Milwaukee and West Bend offices. Tim specializes in all types of personal injury litigation. He has successfully litigated cases involving automobile defects (airbags, seat
Tue, July 06, 2021
Jennifer L. Lawrence | Longbottom et al. v. Gary S. Huber, D.O. and Qualified Emergency Specialists, Inc. | $2.41 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jennifer L. Lawrence of The Lawrence Firm ( https://www.lawrencefirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Top 25 Women Kentucky Super Lawyers honoree Jennifer L. Lawrence of The Lawrence Firm, PSC, shares how she secured justice for the parents of Kyle Smith, a young boy who suffered head trauma that was not thoroughly assessed by a physician and resulted in permanent injuries. In March 2002, 9-year-old Kyle Smith hit his head on a coffee table and later began vomiting, prompting Kyle's parents, Kristi Longbottom and Jesse Smith, to take him to the hospital, where Dr. Gary S. Huber of Qualified Emergency Specialists, Inc. sutured Kyle's laceration and discharged him, stating that the boy just needed to "sleep it off." Kyle was unresponsive the next morning, and an emergency CT scan revealed a large epidural hematoma in the brain that required immediate surgery. Kyle spent over three weeks in the Rehabilitation Care Unit re-learning how to swallow, eat, communicate and walk. A permanent brain injury has affected his mobility. Despite the defense's claims that Dr. Huber advised Kyle's parents to follow the hospital's head injury pamphlet, which stated that patients should be awakened every two hours, a Clermont County, Ohio jury found Dr. Huber negligent. In September 2010, Kyle was awarded $2,112,899 in damages as part of a $2.41 million verdict. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Jennifer L. Lawrence Jennifer L. Lawrence is a partner of The Lawrence Firm, PSC, in Covington, Kentucky. Ms. Lawrence practices law with a particular focus on product liability, mass torts and medical malpractice. She represents a wide variety of clients throughout the United States including the State of Ohio and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Ms. Lawrence has concentrated her practice representing clients and their families injured as a result of defective medical devices, dangerous drugs and medical and hospital negligence. It is part of Ms. Lawrence’s mission to help families gain closure through the discovery of not only an explanation of what happened but why it happened. Ms. Lawrence hopes that through helping families one at a time that ultimately the quality of production of medical devices and drugs and the quality of care within the healthcare system will improve within our country. Ms. Lawrence graduated with a B.A. from The Ohio State University and earned her law degree from Salmon P. Chase College of Law. She graduated within the top of her class and earned the highest grades in several classes. While in law school, she was an active
Tue, June 29, 2021
Eric Rosen | Vivian Turner, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Vivian Wilkinson v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | $13 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Eric Rosen of Rosen Injury Law ( https://roseninjurylawyers.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Rosen Injury Law founder Eric Rosen explains how he secured justice for the family of Vivian Wilkinson, a lifelong smoker who died from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) caused by her addiction to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company's cigarettes. Building upon the success of the 1994 Engle class action lawsuit comprised of Florida smokers, trial lawyer Eric Rosen successfully took Broward County, Florida jury members on a journey back in time to when smoking was deeply ingrained in American society, helping them see how that environment influenced Vivian's decisions as well as the actions of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Despite the defense's attempts to convince the jury that the timing of Vivian's initial COPD symptoms failed to meet the statute of limitations, the jury found in favor of Vivian's estate, awarding $3 million in compensatory damages to her children, Vivian and Eugene, and $10 million in punitive damages against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for knowingly concealing information that ultimately contributed to Vivian's death. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Eric Rosen Eric Rosen is a Fort Lauderdale injury lawyer and founder of Rosen Injury Law, P.A. Mr. Rosen is Board Certified by the Florida Bar as a civil trial specialist, a certification held by less than 2% of all attorneys licensed to practice law in Florida. Eric devotes his practice to representing plaintiffs who have suffered injury or death as a result of another person’s or corporation’s negligence. As lead trial attorney, Eric has obtained over $100 million in jury verdicts for his clients in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Eric has also co-chaired and served on trial teams obtaining combined jury verdicts in excess of $300 million. His verdicts have been featured extensively in the Daily Business Review, Courtroom View Network and other media outlets. Eric began his legal career as a prosecutor at the Office of the State Attorney in Broward County, Florida, where he tried dozens of jury trials and countless bench trials to verdict. Mr. Rosen left public service to pursue his passion for helping people who have suffered due to someone else’s misconduct. Mr. Rosen then rose through the ranks to become a partner at a prominent South Florida personal injury and wrongful death firm. For over a decade, Eric dedicated his practice to catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. After unparalleled success, Mr. Rosen pu
Tue, June 22, 2021
Arash Homampour | Shinedling v. Sunbeam Products, Inc. | $58.65 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Arash Homampour of The Homampour Law Firm ( https://www.homampour.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Award-winning California trial lawyer and The Homampour Law Firm founder Arash Homampour discusses how he successfully represented grieving widower Kenneth Shinedling and his three daughters after a defective space heater designed and manufactured by Sunbeam Products, Inc. started a fire that tragically killed Kenneth's wife and the girls' mother, Amy Shinedling. In the early morning hours of January 5, 2011, Kenneth woke up to a blazing fire in his bedroom, caused by a Holmes Sunbeam HQ307 radiant heater that did not shut off after heating up and igniting nearby clothing, starting the deadly blaze. Sunbeam failed to provide consumers with warnings about not using the heater while sleeping, per the Consumer Product Safety Commission's 2005 bulletin, and neglected to alert consumers that the advertised automatic safety feature would not shut-off the heater before it started a fire. In spite of the defense's attempts to blame Kenneth for not saving his wife's life, the Los Angeles, California jury found Sunbeam Products, Inc. guilty of negligent design as well as failure to warn. As a result of trial lawyer Arash Homampour's efforts, 80% of the responsibility for Amy Shinedling's wrongful death was assigned to Sunbeam. In a landmark jury verdict, Kenneth and his daughters were awarded $58,650,000 in damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Arash Homampour Arash Homampour is a trial lawyer and founder of The Homampour Law Firm, a nine lawyer firm that represents individuals in catastrophic injury/wrongful death, employment and insurance bad faith matters throughout the State. The Homampour Law Firm is considered one of the top trial law firms in the State with record setting verdicts (twelve 8 figure and fifteen 7 figure verdicts) along with many outlier settlements. In 2021, he was the 5th ranked lawyer in Southern California by Super Lawyers in all practice areas. He was previously named one of the top 30 Plaintiff lawyers in the State by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. He was the recipient of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles 2018 Ted Horn Memorial Award, presented to the lawyer who has provided outstanding service to the Association and the legal community. He also received trial attorney of the year awards from the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association and the Ventura County Trial Lawyers the Association. In 2007, he was named one of the Top 20 Attorneys
Tue, June 15, 2021
Chuck Clay | Lee et al. v. Berkel & Co. Contractors Inc. et al. | $43.9 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Chuck Clay of Pratt Clay LLC ( https://www.prattclay.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Georgia Super Lawyer Chuck Clay of Pratt Clay LLC shares his experience -- from a record-breaking verdict to an overturn on appeal -- representing construction crane operator Tyler Lee after his left leg was crushed on the job, resulting in an above-the-knee amputation. In September 2013, an effort to free a stuck auger on a Houston, Texas construction site caused a lattice-boom crane to collapse. A piece of the collapsing crane struck Tyler and crushed his leg. Trial lawyer Chuck Clay and his team asserted that Berkel & Co. Contractors Inc. violated standard safety practices in an attempt to save time and money and neglected to ensure that the 21-year-old crane operator was qualified. In 2015, a Brazoria County, Texas jury found Berkel & Co. Contractors Inc. as well as the business that owned the crane, Maxim Crane Works L.P., negligent and awarded plaintiff Tyler Lee and his family a record $43,943,006 million verdict, including $8.5 million in punitive damages against Berkel & Co. Contractors Inc. In 2017, the verdict -- the largest single leg amputee verdict in history -- was overturned on appeal due to the Texas Workers Compensation Act. Listen as Chuck Clay shares what this case taught him about hedging his bets, choosing when to settle and much more. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Chuck Clay Chuck Clay represents survivors of catastrophic injuries and the families of victims of fatal disasters and violent crimes. He’s built a reputation for taking on cases with a narrow path to victory, overcoming complicated legal challenges, and boxing defendants into optimal settlement resolutions. Always ready for a trial, Chuck has had jury trials across the country. The combination of personality, worth ethic, and fiercely competitive spirit is loved by clients and respected by nearly all. Chuck had record-setting jury awards in Georgia and Texas. As a zealous yet charismatic litigator, he has a knack for connecting with juries and communicating complex issues in plain language that produces extraordinary results. Over the last several years, Chuck has accumulated an impressive string of multi-million dollar recoveries for victims and their spouses. Chuck and his partner Bradley Pratt, enjoy a successful track record for handling complex product liability resolving complicated cases requiring highly specialized knowledge including product defect. Before establishing a plaintiff’s firm in 2013, Chuck practiced corporat
Bonus · Tue, June 08, 2021
GTP CLASSIC | Rachel Lanier │Gail Lucille Ingham, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson, et al. │$4.69 billion verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey revisit their interview with Rachel Lanier of the Lanier Law Firm ( https://lanierlawfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: National Trial Lawyers Civil Plaintiff Top 40 Under 40 honoree Rachel Lanier discusses how she and other members of the Lanier Law Firm trial team secured the largest verdict in the United States in 2018. This landmark verdict secured justice for 22 women who developed ovarian cancer after continuous use of Johnson & Johnson’s best-selling baby powder and other talcum powder products containing cancer-causing asbestos. Rachel helped prove the multi-billion dollar, multi-national company had known about the asbestos for decades and covered it up with biased tests and skewed interpretations of test results. After a six-week trial, a St. Louis jury awarded $4.14 billion in punitive damages and $550 million in compensatory damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Rachel Lanier joined the Lanier Law Firm’s New York office as an associate in 2016 and practices in the areas of toxic torts, pharmaceutical litigation, mass torts, and product liability. In 2017, Ms. Lanier served on the Lanier Law Firm’s trial team in the Pinnacle hip implant litigation against DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. which led to a $247 million dollar verdict in favor of plaintiffs. In 2018, Ms. Lanier was on the trial team in St. Louis, Missouri representing twenty-two plaintiffs in the Talcum Powder litigation against Johnson & Johnson, and was instrumental in obtaining the $4.7 billion dollar verdict for the plaintiffs. Most recently, Ms. Lanier was appointed to Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the 3M Combat Earplug Multi-District Litigation. Ms. Lanier is dedicated to representing injured clients and their families by pursuing justice for those who have been harmed by toxic substances and defective products. Prior to joining the Lanier Law Firm, Ms. Lanier was an associate at a mid-sized firm in Manhattan, where she focused on representing individuals suffering from asbestos-induced diseases, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Ms. Lanier was recognized as a 2018 New York Rising Star in the practice area of personal injury – products and is a member of the American Bar Association, American Association for Justice, New York Bar Association, and New Jersey Bar Association. She enjoys speaking at Continuing Legal Education seminars, and participated in a breakout panel at the annual Mass Torts Made Perfect seminar in Las Vegas, NV. In 2018, Ms. Lanier spoke on the recent Talc verdict at the HarrisMartin
Bonus · Tue, June 01, 2021
GTP CLASSIC | William Applegate & Liam Duffy │Estate of Jose Larios v. Dominion Energy South Carolina f/k/a S.C. Electric & Gas Company│$21 million verdict
This week we're replaying a Great Trials Podcast classic episode that originally aired in January 2020 with guests William Applegate and Liam Duffy of Yarborough Applegate (https://www.yarboroughapplegate.com/). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Yarborough Applegate attorneys William Applegate and Liam Duffy share how they secured the largest jury verdict in Colleton County, South Carolina history for the wrongful death of landscaper Jose Larios. While trimming palm trees on Edisto Island, South Carolina, Jose screamed in pain and fell from a 25-foot ladder. Further investigation revealed hidden power lines that shocked Jose, causing him to fall and suffer fatal injuries. In this wrongful death case where the defense disputed the cause of Jose’s injuries, the jury returned a verdict of $21 million in damages and assigned 90 percent of the responsibility to Dominion Energy South Carolina and 10 percent to Jose. Click to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: William Applegate William is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law. As a law student, he received the Public Interest Law Society Grant to work in Washington, D.C., served as vice-president of the Pro Bono Board, and was a student member of the John Belton O'Neal Inn of Court. Following law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable James R. Barber, III, of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of South Carolina, before starting a private practice with Motley Rice, one of the largest plaintiff's firms in the country. William has represented individuals and companies as plaintiffs throughout South Carolina and the U.S. and has achieved significant recoveries on their behalf. He has experience in a variety of different legal areas and has litigated cases covering a broad spectrum, ranging from Federal Employer's Liability Act relating to occupational disease and catastrophic injuries; Jones Act personal injury; Oil Pollution Act cases relating to oil spills from container ships and oil refineries; products liability relating to unsafe products and unsafe drugs; toxic spills from railroad companies; consumer fraud class actions; commercial litigation, as well as securities fraud, derivative, deal, and misrepresentation cases under the Securities and Exchange Act. Read Full Bio Liam Duffy Liam is a Washington, D.C. native who has called Charleston home for more than a decade. He is a proud product of the College of Charleston and is a summa cum laude graduate of the Charleston School of Law. While in law school, Liam earned several CALI awards (high
Tue, May 25, 2021
John Martin | Goodrich v. Cimline, Inc. and Garlock Equipment Company, Inc. | $11.618 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Craig Milsten of John Martin of KJC Law Firm ( https://www.kjclawfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished Massachusetts trial lawyer John Martin of KJC Law Firm discusses how he secured justice for paving contractor Brian Goodrich, who was tragically crushed by a Cimline MAGMA 110 Asphalt Melter/Applicator after a jack slipped, causing permanent, life-altering injuries. In April 2013, Brian used a jack to raise the asphalt melter, so he could perform required routine maintenance on the engine oil plug. The jack did not hold the asphalt melter in place, and the machine fell on top of Brian, crushing his skull. Today, Brian suffers from permanent disfigurement, blindness in one eye, and a significant loss of cognitive function, requiring round-the-clock care. Despite the fact that Garlock Equipment Company, Inc. and Cimline did not manufacture the jack that failed and evidence suggesting Brian was using marijuana while operating the machinery, trial lawyer John Martin convinced the jury that Garlock Equipment Company, Inc. and Cimline, Inc. did not provide the instructions and warnings the manufacturers of the jack intended to be given to consumers. In 2018, a Massachusetts District Court jury found Garlock Equipment Company, Inc. and Cimline, Inc. negligent and awarded Brian, his wife, and two daughters an $11,618,700 verdict. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: John Martin John T. Martin is a Partner at the KJC Law Firm, and he is proud to be a trial attorney who fights against powerful corporate and government interests on behalf of ordinary people. John represents clients who have been accused of criminal conduct, some of whom are innocent and others who have just made a bad decision. John also represents clients in civil cases, including those who have suffered personal injuries in a car crash, at the hands of a drunk driver, a doctor, a nurse, tripped and fell in a grocery store, or were mistreated at work because of their race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. Top 100 BadgeJohn has won cases in front of juries and judges all across the Commonwealth and has been the lead attorney on some of the most high-profile criminal and civil cases in recent Massachusetts history. In his first civil jury trial when he was about two years out of law school, John achieved the highest award allowed by law for punitive damages in the United States Federal Court. John obtained the fourth largest verdict in New England for the year 2018 and his jury verdicts in sexual harassment cases have gained nationwide attention. John ha
Tue, May 18, 2021
Craig Milsten | William N. Waite v. Argento Family Partnership | $4.035 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Craig Milsten of KBG Injury Law ( https://resultsyoudeserve.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Million Dollar Advocates Forum member Craig Milsten of KBG Injury Law shares how he successfully represented an elderly man with limited vision who was blinded due to a fall on an unmarked step at a shopping center in York County, Pennsylvania. On July 3, 2012, William Waite, a U.S. Army veteran and retired president of an architectural products company with vision in only his left eye, tripped and fell face-first over a single step in the sidewalk at a shopping center owned by Argento Family Partnership. After the fall, William was immediately blinded in his one good eye and has been unable to see ever since, despite undergoing four surgeries, including a corneal transplant. Despite the fact that the primary defendant John Argento is an award-winning civil defense litigator, trial lawyer Craig Milsten secured justice on his client's behalf, citing experts and pointing out to the jury how much money John Argento was willing to spend on legal fees, but not the nominal fee it would have cost to paint the step a different color or to display a warning sign for customers. In March 2017, a York County, Pennsylvania jury found Argento Family Partnership negligent after less than an hour of deliberations and awarded $4,035,329.11 in damages to William in one of the largest personal injury verdicts in York County history. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Craig Milsten Craig Milsten is an experienced trial attorney with numerous courtroom victories in both state and federal courts, including one of the largest personal injury verdicts in York County history. He is an AV-Preeminent rated attorney by his peers and has been awarded the Client Service award from Martindale-Hubbell in recognition of a record of excellent client satisfaction. He specializes in personal injury cases including automobile accidents, slip and fall injuries and wrongful death as well as nursing home negligence and insurance bad faith cases. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America, the United States District Courts for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the York County Court of Common Pleas. He has handled cases across seven counties in Pennsylvania. He has been admitted to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a prestigious forum reserved only for attorneys who have obtained civil verdicts or settlements in excess of one million dollars. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar As
Tue, May 11, 2021
Mickey Mixson | David McDavid et al. v. Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc. | $281 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview "Mickey" Mixson of Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP ( https://www.bmelaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished business torts lawyer H. Lamar "Mickey" Mixson of Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP discusses how he secured justice for Texas businessman David McDavid after his binding agreement to purchase 85% of the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) interest in the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers and the operating rights to Philips Arena (now State Farm Arena) in Atlanta failed due to breach of contract. On April 30, 2003, David and the David McDavid Group signed a letter of intent with TBS and reached an agreement three months later. Following the passing vote by the Board of Directors, the TBS chief negotiator breached his obligations to David and began secret discussions with Atlanta Spirit LLC, which was led by TBS principal Ted Turner's son-in-law and the son of a long-time Atlanta Hawks board member. A press conference was scheduled to publicly announce the sale to David until he was notified that an agreement had been reached with Atlanta Spirit LLC instead. In spite of the defense's claims that the signed letter of intent contained a 45-day exclusive negotiation period and that Turner could only be bound by a signed written agreement -- not an oral agreement -- the Fulton County, Georgia jury unanimously found for David on the breach of contract and promissory estoppel. Trial lawyer Mickey Mixson secured a $281 million verdict for David, resulting in the largest compensatory damage award in Georgia history and one of the nation's 10 largest verdicts of 2008. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Lamar "Mickey" Mixson Mickey Mixson represents individuals and corporations in a wide variety of business disputes. He has successfully presented hundreds of complex commercial disputes to juries, arbitration panels and judges, gaining a reputation for success with cases considered “unwinnable” by others. Mickey’s areas of focus include business torts, corporate governance, partnership and fiduciary disputes, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, attorney and accountant liability, RICO, tender offers, and proxy and securities litigation. In recent years, he has recovered awards and settlements for clients totaling well over $2 billion. He has an equally successful record on the defense side, having obtained summary judgments, dismissals and defense verdicts for numerous major claims. Mickey is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers,
Tue, May 04, 2021
Robert Mongeluzzi | Harmon et al. v. The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia et al. | $227 million settlement
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Robert Mongeluzzi of Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky ( https://www.smbb.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame inductee Robert Mongeluzzi of Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky shares how he successfully represented the families of nine customers and employees who were killed or seriously injured in the collapse of a Salvation Army Thrift Store in Philadelphia on June 5, 2013. Nearly two weeks before the collapse of an unsupported four-story brick masonry structure onto the one-story store, Salvation Army officials were warned about the risks posed to the Thrift Store due to the ongoing demolition of neighboring properties. The Salvation Army chose to ignore the warnings and failed to notify customers or employees of the danger, resulting in seven fatalities and numerous injuries. After a high-profile 15-week trial, Robert Mongeluzzi convinced the Philadelphia jury that this was no accident, securing a liability verdict, with 75% of the liability for the customers assigned to the Salvation Army and the liability for the employees divided among property owner Richard Basciano, the architect and other parties. Following the liability verdict, Robert Mongeluzzi settled the case for $227 million in the damages phase. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Robert J. Mongeluzzi Robert J. Mongeluzzi is one of the finest trial lawyers in America. He has the largest personal injury verdict affirmed on appeal in Pennsylvania history, the largest individual personal injury settlement in Pennsylvania history, the largest multi-plaintiff personal injury settlement in Pennsylvania history, the largest workplace injury verdict in Pennsylvania history, the largest verdict in a motor vehicle accident in Pennsylvania history and the largest dram shop verdict in Pennsylvania history. He has the largest settlement of a construction case in American history. He was one of the lead plaintiffs attorneys in the largest settlement of a railroad accident case in American history. He has the largest verdict for a construction worker in American history. He has the largest wrongful death settlement in Philadelphia County history. He has the largest settlement in Lehigh County history. He has handled six cases with verdicts or settlements of $100 million or more. He has had more than 400 verdicts and settlements in excess of a million dollars. He was inducted into the National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2018, was awarded the Legal Intelligencer Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 and was the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers 2019 Michael A. Musmanno Award honoree. <
Bonus · Thu, April 29, 2021
Bonus Episode | Should Razz Go to Law School | Razz Misher
On this bonus episode of The Great Trials Podcast, Steve and Yvonne are interviewed by a potential law school student...our producer, Razz! We discuss the LSAT, choosing a school, tips for being successful in law school, the work/life balance of an attorney, and much more.
Tue, April 27, 2021
Natalie Woodward | Robert Richard Lucas v. City of Braswell et al. | $1 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Natalie Woodward of Shamp Jordan Woodward ( https://www.sjwtriallaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Shamp Jordan Woodward founding partner Natalie Woodward shares discusses how she secured justice for the former Chief of Police for the City of Braswell, Georgia after he was falsely arrested and maliciously prosecuted by the Mayor, City Manager and subsequent Chief of Police for the City of Braswell over a reimbursement dispute. In 2007, Robert Richard Lucas was initially told by the Mayor that he would be reimbursed for the purchase of used vehicles for the police department, but after five months of waiting, the Mayor and City Manager informed Robert that they considered the vehicle to be a non-reimbursable donation to the City. Unable to reach an agreement, Robert resigned as the Chief of Police and took possession of the vehicle, as the title was still in his name. The City of Braswell reported the car stolen and continued to pursue criminal prosecution with a warrant for Robert's arrest, despite a neighboring county officer's determination that the vehicle ownership dispute was a civil matter. Robert was unjustly placed in a holding cell with criminals who were likely well aware of his previous law enforcement position. In spite of the defense's attempts to utilize a reimbursement check that didn't materialize until after the lawsuit was filed, trial lawyer Natalie Woodward emphasized the lack of proper procedure and Georgia Bureau of Investigation involvement. In 2010, a Rome, Georgia jury returned a verdict in favor of Robert, awarding $1 million in compensatory and punitive damages against the defendants. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Natalie Woodward Anyone who meets Natalie Woodward feels like they have known her their entire life. It is this ability to put people at ease that makes her such an effective trial lawyer. Indeed in her very first jury trial as lead counsel, she secured a $1 million verdict in a wrongful arrest case. Natalie has extensive experience in personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, false arrest, and malicious prosecution. A native of Powder Springs, Natalie is a venerable “Double Dawg.” She received undergraduate degrees in Journalism and Political Science. She then attended and graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law. While at UGA Law, she was the Chair of the Moot Court Board and a member of the champion Intrastate Moot Court Team. Natalie is a member of the Executive Committee for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, is a member of
Tue, April 20, 2021
Rich Newsome | Pat Dougherty and Anita Forester, as Co-Personal Representatives of the Estate of Abigail Dougherty v. WCA of Florida, LLC | $25 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Rich Newsome of Newsome Melton Law Firm ( https://www.newsomelaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Orlando trial lawyer Rich Newsome of Newsome Melton Law Firm shares how he successfully advocated for the parents of deceased University of Florida student Abigail Dougherty after she was struck and killed by a Waste Corporation of America (WCA) garbage truck while riding her bicycle. On October 28, 2016, Abigail was riding her bike in the dedicated bicycle lane near 17th Street and University Avenue in Gainesville, Florida, when a 15-year veteran WCA driver made a right turn, striking the rear tire of Abigail's bike in the crosswalk. Abigail and her bicycle were pulled under the truck, dragged and crushed by the right rear tires of the 2,000-ton vehicle. Despite the defense's attempts to blame Abigail for this tragic collision, Rich convinced the jury that WCA was responsible due to its driver's negligent actions, including not checking the right-side mirrors and making a sharp turn at a high speed. In October 2018, an Alachua County, Florida jury assigned 80% of the blame for Abigail's death to WCA and awarded a sum of $12,500,000 in damages to each of Abigail's parents, Pat Dougherty and Anita Forester, resulting in a major $25 million verdict. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Rich Newsome Rich Newsome is the senior partner of the Newsome Melton law firm and represents people and families in complex civil litigation. After graduating from the University of Florida College of Law in 1989, Rich worked as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern and Middle Districts of Florida. Rich left the U.S. Attorney's Office in 1993 and went to work for a large product liability defense firm in Orlando, Florida where he represented manufacturers. After defending a manufacturer in a case brought by a family who lost a child, Rich felt compelled to leave the defense practice and began representing only families and individuals. Since then, for more than 25 years, Rich’s practice has focused on representing people who have suffered catastrophic or fatal injuries. In 2001, Rich was appointed by the Florida Governor to the Fifth District Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Commission and served as the JNC’s Chairman during his term. He is a Past-President of the Orlando Federal Bar Association, Past-President of the Florida Justice Association, Past-Member of the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice, Past-President of the Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association, and is a member of the A
Tue, April 13, 2021
Neama Rahmani | United States of America v. Laura Elana Trejo-Macias | Guilty Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Neama Rahmani of West Coast Trial Lawyers ( https://westcoasttriallawyers.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: West Coast Trial Lawyers' President and co-founder Neama Rahmani looks back on his days as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and shares how he convinced a California jury that Laura Elana Trejo-Macias intentionally and knowingly tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border with more than nine pounds of methamphetamine in her car. In March 2011, a trained drug detection dog at the San Ysidro port of entry alerted Customs and Border Protection Officers of contraband in Laura's newly acquired 2003 Chevy Tahoe. U.S. border officials found nine packages of methamphetamine with a street value of $130,000 in a modified shell of the vehicle's radiator. In spite of the defense's attempts to portray Laura as a successful businesswoman who was tricked into being a blind mule by an employee who had access to the car the day before, Neama Rahmani presented evidence that convinced the jury that Laura was, in fact, guilty of trafficking methamphetamine. In 2012, Laura was sentenced to more than 12 years in jail. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Neama Rahmani Neama is the President and co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers. Neama graduated from UCLA at the age of 19 and Harvard Law School at the age of 22, making him one of the youngest graduates in the 200-year history of the law school. Upon graduation, Neama was hired by O’Melveny & Myers, the largest law firm in Los Angeles at the time, where he represented companies such as Disney, Marriott, and the Roman Catholic Church. But Neama wanted to help ordinary people, not corporations, so he joined the United States Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted drug and human trafficking cases along the United States-Mexico border. While working as a federal prosecutor, Neama captured and successfully prosecuted a fugitive murderer and drug kingpin who had terrorized Southern California and was featured on “America’s Most Wanted.” Neama was then appointed to be the Director of Enforcement of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, an independent watchdog that oversees and investigates the elected officials and highest level employees of the City of Los Angeles, including the Mayor and City Council. He held that position until becoming a trial lawyer for the people. Neama has extensive trial experience. He has led teams of more than 170 attorneys in litigation against the largest companies in the world. Neama has successfully tried dozens of cases to verdict as lead trial counsel, and h
Tue, April 06, 2021
Donald Hinkle | Mathis v. United States of America | $4.73 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Don Hinkle of Hinkle and Foran ( https://www.hinkleforan.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Million Dollar Advocates Forum member and accomplished Tallahassee, Florida attorney Donald Hinkle of Hinkle & Foran shares how he held the United States government responsible for the negligence of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doctor who failed to promptly diagnose Vietnam War veteran Ronald Mathis' Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, resulting in his untimely death. In preparation for his annual exam, Ronald underwent routine blood tests, which revealed a white blood cell count twice the normal level. His doctor at the Veterans Affairs facility admitted that he overlooked Ronald's elevated white blood cell count and failed to promptly refer him to a hematologist for what was then a highly treatable condition. Without treatment, Ronald's condition worsened and developed into Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia. He was released to hospice care, where he died less than three weeks later in May 2018. Trial lawyer Donald Hinkle worked to secure economic and noneconomic damages for Ronald's surviving family members recognized under Florida's Wrongful Death Act, including his wife of 52 years, Grace, and his two grandchildren whom he had adopted and was raising as his own. Ultimately, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court - Northern District of Florida awarded $4,725,961.76 in economic and noneconomic damages to the Mathis family, ruling against the defendant. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Don Hinkle Whether it's representing the injured or working with families who have experienced tragic losses, attorney Don Hinkle's track record of success in undeniable. When not representing clients, Don is often asked to lecture other attorneys regarding how to best handle serious automobile accidents, premises liability and medical malpractice cases. Member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum for obtained verdicts of more than a million dollars in personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, automobile crash, premises liability and civil rights cases. When not practicing law, Don enjoys golf, travel, collecting art and his three delightful children. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - <a href='
Tue, March 30, 2021
Gilion Dumas | Kerry Lewis v. Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, The Boy Scouts of America et al. | $19.9 million verdicts
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Gilion Dumas ( https://dumasandvaughn.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Gilion Dumas, a partner at Dumas & Vaughn, LLC in Portland, Oregon and an experienced litigator in child sexual abuse cases, explains how she successfully represented former Boy Scout Kerry Lewis, who was sexually abused by an adult Boy Scout volunteer multiple times in the early 1980s. From 1982 to 1984, Kerry was mentored by Timur Dykes, who admitted to a Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -- the organization that sponsored Kerry's Boy Scout troop -- that he had abused 17 boys before January 1983. Despite this admission, the church, the Boy Scouts of America organization and the Portland-based Cascade Pacific Council allowed Dykes to remain involved in the organization and to work directly with children, failing to notify the parents of Boy Scouts, like Kerry, who unfortunately became another abuse victim following Dykes' admission. Through a groundbreaking use of the Boy Scouts of America's secret "perversion files" containing allegations of sex abuse within the organization, trial lawyer Gilion Dumas and her legal team were able to hold the Boy Scouts of America and local Cascade Pacific Counsel responsible for the abuse Kerry, who was 38 at the time of trial, suffered as a boy. In 2010, a Multnomah, Oregon jury awarded $1.4 million in non-economic damages, assigning 60% of the negligence to the Boy Scouts of America, 15% to the Cascade Pacific Council and 25% to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which settled before the trial began. In a separate six-week trial, a jury returned a punitive damages award of an additional $18.5 million against the Boy Scouts of America. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Gilion Dumas Gilion Dumas is a partner at Dumas & Vaughn, LLC in Portland, Oregon. She has substantial litigation experience, most recently representing survivors of child sexual abuse and sexual assault. She is known for her diligent advocacy and compassion for her clients, bringing legal savvy, clear communication, and common sense to the stressful and often confusing experience of civil litigation. Gilion knows her way around the courtroom, having tried many cases, both on her own and as “second chair.” She obtained a judgment of over $4.5 million for a young Oregon woman who was sexually molested as a child. She was also one of the trial attorneys in the 2010 child sexual abuse trial in Portland against the Boy Scouts that resulted in a $19.9 million verdict for the plaintiff. Gilion is currently involved in doze
Tue, March 23, 2021
Micha Star Liberty | Denis Le Moullac and Jessie Jewitt v. Daylight Foods, Inc. | $4 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Micha Star Liberty ( https://libertylaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Award-winning California trial attorney Micha Star Liberty discusses how she successfully advocated for the grieving parents of 24-year-old Amelie Le Moullac after she was fatally struck by a commercial vehicle while riding in a San Francisco bike lane in 2013. A responsible bicyclist, Amelie wore her helmet and stayed in the designated bicycle lane, but neither action prevented her from being run over by a 13,000-ton Daylight Foods, Inc. box truck, which illegally crossed the bike lane to make a sudden right turn. Amelie died from her injuries, including a fractured skull and crushed torso. Micha Star Liberty helped secure key video footage of the crash from a nearby business security camera after the San Francisco Police Department failed to conduct a thorough investigation, which was later revealed to be part of a larger bias against bicyclists. Despite the defense's attempts to blame Amelie and to depict her as a reckless bicyclist, Micha Star Liberty invoked a California Vehicle Code statue, which underscored the fact that Amelie had the right to remain in her bike lane and treat it as a safety zone in the event of a turning vehicle, which trumped the defense's use of a more general statute. In January 2015, a San Francisco jury ruled that Amelie shared no responsibility in her tragic death, found the driver to be at fault and awarded Amelie's parents a total of $4 million in damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Micha Star Liberty Micha Star Liberty is the owner Liberty Law Office, Inc. — a diverse legal practice primarily representing individuals who have suffered a serious injury or abuse, including child sexual abuse. The firm also represents employees who have been discriminated against or harassed in the workplace, and Micha has assisted businesses with finding a common ground when releasing an employee on best terms. Ms. Liberty is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She has held the title of President and Vice President of multiple legal and political organizations, expanding her network of associates and resources, which often helps to expedite the legal process for the greater benefit of her clients. “My clients come to me during a time of tremendous pain, anguish, and often confusion. They need help and a specialized kind of help. Someone to talk to who will listen; someone who can offer confidential protection under the law; someone with
Tue, March 16, 2021
Taylor Rayfield and Tobin Lanzetta | Delia Flores v. ConvergeOne, Inc. | $2.6 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Taylor Rayfield of Manly Stewart Finaldi ( https://www.manlystewart.com/ ) and Tobin Lanzetta of Greene, Broillet & Wheeler, LLP ( https://www.gbw.law/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: California trial lawyers Taylor Rayfield of Manly Stewart Finaldi and Tobin Lanzetta of Greene, Broillet & Wheeler, LLP explain how they successfully represented their client Delia Flores after she was injured in a head-on collision caused by a driver whose employer was ultimately held responsible for his reckless driving. On a clear October afternoon in 2016, Delia was driving a Toyota Camry when she was hit head-on by an Audi attempting and failing to pass an 18-wheeler going 50 mph on a two-lane road. The Audi was driven by ConvergeOne, Inc. IT engineer Lewis Rocchetti, who was on his way home from work at 5:30 p.m. Because Lewis was a salaried employee who never officially clocked out and was expected to use his personal vehicle to respond to service calls, trial lawyers Taylor Rayfield and Tobin Lanzetta were able to utilize the vehicle-use exception to the Coming and Going Rule, holding Lewis's employer ConvergeOne, Inc. liable for Delia's traumatic brain injury and numerous orthopedic injuries. The defense countered that Lewis was not working or providing a benefit to ConvergeOne, Inc. at the time of the crash. In March 2019, a San Bernardino, California jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding Delia $2.6 million in damages, resulting in one of the top 50 personal injury verdicts in California in 2019. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Taylor Rayfield Taylor Rayfield is a seasoned trial lawyer who has dedicated her practice to championing the rights of survivors, obtaining substantial trial verdicts and settlements in the process. Before joining Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, Taylor made a name for herself by obtaining incredible results on behalf of victims across a wide range of areas, including sexual assault, many times in difficult cases against considerable adversaries. Her practice is focused on representation of victims sexual abuse across a broad range of areas, including those abused by coaches, teachers, family members, mentors, and religious personnel. Never one to back down from a confrontation, Taylor obtained a $2,600,000.00 jury verdict for a woman who was severely injured after being involved in a head-on collision, after successfully convincing the jury that the employer was responsible for the acts of its employee under an exception to the “going and coming rule”. Taylo
Tue, March 09, 2021
James "Bo" Bolus, Jr. & Nick Mudd | Boerste v. University Medical Center, Inc. et al. | $10.5 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview James "Bo" Bolus, Jr. of Bolus Law ( https://www.boluslaw.com/ ) and personal injury lawyer Nick Mudd of Mudd Legal Group ( https://www.muddlegalgroup.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Kentucky Trial Court Review's 2020 Plaintiff Trial Lawyer of the Year James "Bo" Bolus, Jr. of Bolus Law and personal injury lawyer Nick Mudd of Mudd Legal Group explain how they successfully represented Carolyn Boerste, a woman who endured a life-altering below-the-knee leg amputation due to complications caused by a sponge left inside her following surgery. In 2011, Carolyn underwent vascular bypass surgery at Louisville's University Medical Center, but the nursing staff's failure to do a sponge count resulted in one 18x18 inch sponge being left inside Carolyn's abdomen. The sponge was not found until five years later, after Carolyn went to Louisville Emergency Medical Associates complaining of gastrointestinal problems. The sponge was removed at the Franciscan Health Care Center -- a lower-income, short-staffed medical center, where Carolyn had to use her heels to move herself around on the hospital bed to prevent bedsores. This movement resulted in infected heel blisters and a partial amputation of Carolyn's left leg in 2017. Trial lawyers Bo Bolus, Jr. and Nick Mudd faced an uphill battle trying this case in Jefferson County, Kentucky -- a county that had not seen a plaintiff medical malpractice verdict in five years -- and in a state that had not held a surgeon responsible in a retained sponge case since 1997. At trial, the defense attempted to blame Carolyn's already declining health and lifestyle choices for her amputation, but Bo and Nick countered with a bank of skilled medical expert witnesses. In December 2019, the jury returned a verdict in Carolyn's favor, awarding her $9,500,000 for medical expenses, pain and suffering as well as $1,000,000 in punitive damages against University Medical Center, which was found 60% liable for Carolyn's injuries. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: James "Bo" Bolus, Jr. Many consider Nicholas C. Rowley, founder of Attorney s for Justice and Partner at Carpenter, Zuckerman, & Rowley, to be the most accomplished trial lawyer of his generation having won more than $1.5 Billion in verdicts and settlements for injury victims and families across the country. Winner of the 2018 Attorney of the Year and five time finalist, he is one of the youngest trial lawyers in history to be presented with the award. He has extensive courtroom experience representing victi
Tue, March 02, 2021
Nick Rowley and Steve Halteman | Jordan, et al. v. TGI Fridays, et al. | $40 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Nick Rowley and Steve Halteman of Carpenter, Zuckerman, & Rowley, ( https://czrlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Award-winning trial lawyer Nick Rowley -- a U.S. Air Force and Army veteran and one of the youngest trial lawyers to be named Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles' Trial Lawyer of the Year -- explains how he represented grieving mother Carmen Jordan after her 33-year-old son Orlando Jordan was stabbed and killed in a Riverside, California TGI Fridays restaurant by an intoxicated minor and his friend. Steve Halteman, jury consultant and Nick’s co-author of the book, Trial By Human, assisted with the case and joins Steve and Yvonne to discuss this trial. In January 2009, Orlando was enjoying a date with his girlfriend when her son Michael Castillo, 20, and his friend Louis Martinez, 27, arrived at the restaurant. Already intoxicated, Michael and Louis ordered 12 servings of alcohol in the span of 30 minutes without being asked for identification. Michael proceeded to get into a heated argument with Orlando and stabbed him. Orlando later succumbed to his injuries. Despite TGI Fridays restaurant operator Briad Group's attempts to deny any responsibility, the family’s allegations were supported by the head bartender, who testified that Briad Group made a deliberate decision to not card minors in order to increase profits on Fridays and Saturdays. A Riverside County, California jury awarded Orlando's parents $40 million in damages and assigned 55% of the blame to Briad Group. Michael and Louis were both convicted in separate criminal trials and sentenced to serve time in state prison. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Nicholas C. Rowley Many consider Nicholas C. Rowley, founder of Attorney s for Justice and Partner at Carpenter, Zuckerman, & Rowley, to be the most accomplished trial lawyer of his generation having won more than $1.5 Billion in verdicts and settlements for injury victims and families across the country. Winner of the 2018 Attorney of the Year and five time finalist, he is one of the youngest trial lawyers in history to be presented with the award. He has extensive courtroom experience representing victims of serious injuries and medical malpractice, especially those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and chronic pain. Nick has been recognized by dozens of publications for his record-breaking verdicts and work for injury victims and their families. In 2018, Nick was named to The National Law Journal’s Elite Attorney s for having a top 50 verdict in the nation.
Tue, February 23, 2021
Chrysta Castañeda | Mesa Petroleum Partners LP v. Baytech LLP, J. Cleo Thompson and James Cleo Thompson, Jr., LP, and Delaware Basin Resources LLC | $146 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Chrysta Castañeda of The Castañeda Firm ( https://castaneda-firm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished Dallas oil and gas litigator Chrysta Castañeda of The Castañeda Firm discusses how she secured justice for oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens, the owner of Mesa Petroleum Partners, in a landmark breach of contract case against three Texas oil companies, securing the nation's 12th largest verdict in 2016. In January 2007, Mesa Petroleum Partners signed a participation agreement with J. Cleo Thompson and Baytech, affording Mesa 15% ownership in oil wells and other assets in Texas over a five-year period. Mesa Petroleum elected to participate in all offered deals, but unbeknownst to Pickens, Mesa Petroleum's 15% interest was being used to purchase assets and to drill more than 160 wells under the auspices of two newly formed companies: Patriot Resources and Delaware Basin Resources. In 2009, Delaware Basin Resources attempted to buy out Mesa Petroleum from the original agreement and recruited Baytech to initiate an offer that Mesa Petroleum ultimately rejected. Despite the defense's claims that Pickens stated in a phone call that he wanted out of the agreement, except for his initial investment in a Lyda Well, and assertions that Pickens did not pay his fair share and was looking to repair his reputation after making poor business decisions during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, Chrysta Castañeda secured justice for her client. In November 2016, after a five-week trial, a Reeves County, Texas jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding more than $140 million in damages plus legal fees. This groundbreaking case is also featured in the book The Last Trial of T. Boone Pickens, written by Chrysta Castañeda and Loren Steffy. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Chrysta Castañeda Chrysta Castañeda is a go-to lawyer for high-stakes litigation in the energy industry and beyond. Practicing for over twenty-five years, she has built a solid reputation for adeptly handling technical litigation, often serving as lead trial counsel in high-profile disputes of media interest. Her win for T. Boone Pickens’ Mesa Petroleum Partners was recognized as the 12th largest verdict in 2016 in the nation by The National Law Journal and earned her a spot as one of the NLJ’s Elite Trial Lawyers of 2018, as well as induction into Texas Lawyer‘s Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame. Following this series of high-profile recognitions, Chrysta was inducted as a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation in the beginning of 2020. Chrysta developed her repu
Tue, February 16, 2021
Jonathan Marko | Lisa and Cedric Griffey v. Michigan Department of Corrections | $11.67 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jonathan Marko, the Detroit Bar Association's Civil Rights Chair and founder of Marko Law ( https://markolaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Jonathan Marko, the Detroit Bar Association's Civil Rights Chair and founder of Marko Law, shares how he secured justice for Lisa and Cedric Griffey, a husband and wife who suffered racial discrimination in the workplace. A probation officer for the Michigan Department of Corrections who worked in an all-white office, Lisa was called "mammy" and "the black one," and she was the victim of numerous racially derogatory remarks. Lisa's multiple attempts to file discriminatory harassment complaints through the proper channels were sabotaged, and no action was taken. After Lisa filed suit, Cedric's boss received a copy of Lisa's lawsuit and retaliated against Cedric, alleging that the 2017 Corrections Professional Excellence Award winner did not properly administer discipline. Cedric was forced to resign as deputy warden, ending his 29-year career with the Michigan Department of Corrections. In September 2019, a jury returned the largest employment discrimination verdict in Genesee County, Michigan history, awarding the Griffeys over $11.67 million in economic and non-economic damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Jonathan Marko Jonathan Marko knew that he wanted to be a lawyer for as long as he can remember. As a little boy, he was always being told by his teachers and authority figures to use his inside voice because he was too loud; to not argue with opinions that he didn’t agree with; and to always follow the rules, even if they didn’t make any sense. These traits that got Jon in so much trouble when he was younger, are what make him a great attorney today. Jonathan grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended Aquinas College, a small Catholic liberal arts school for his undergraduate studies, where he obtained a bachelor’s in history. After undergrad, Jon set his sights on Washington, D.C. He attended American University for law school, where he was active in the trial advocacy program and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class. While in Washington, D.C., Jonathan had the honor to clerk for well-respected Maryland Circuit Court Judge Michael Mason, where he cultivated his passion for trial advocacy and honed his trial skills. Jonathan also had the opportunity to work on Capitol Hill. There he lobbied for clients, especially the interests of Michiganders. After graduating law school, Jonathan was invited to work under the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Marilyn Ke
Tue, February 09, 2021
Joseph Preiser, Katrina Taraska & Ian Alexander | Estate of Sabanovic v. City of Chicago | $13.89 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Ian Alexander, Katrina Taraska, and Joseph Preiser of Goldberg & Goldberg ( https://www.chicagomedicalmalpracticefirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Chicago trial lawyers Ian Alexander, Katrina Taraska, and Joseph Preiser of Goldberg & Goldberg share how they successfully represented 25-year-old model Irma Sabanovic's grieving family after Irma drove her car over an unmarked curb and drowned in the Chicago River. In May 2011, Irma drove her Ford Focus to Goose Island to pick up her boyfriend from a late-night performance at a nightclub and got lost on a dead end street bisected by the Chicago River. Due to the City of Chicago's failure to maintain barriers or provide warnings to motorists --despite knowledge of a similar incident that occurred more than a decade earlier -- Irma unknowingly drove her car over the curb and into the water. After an extensive search, her body was discovered nine days later in her vehicle. At trial, the defense attempted to blame Irma for her own wrongful death, insinuating she was drunk, driving impaired and not paying attention. In May 2016, a Cook County, Illinois jury awarded Irma's family $13,890,000 in damages, delivering the #6 verdict in Illinois in 2016. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Katrina M. Taraska Born Staten Island, New York, 1968; Admitted to bar, 1995, Illinois. Education: University of Illinois, Bradley University (B.S., 1991), Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, DE (J.D., 1995). Originally from the East Coast, Katrina M. Taraska grew up in a family of seven in Peoria, Illinois. Her mother was a language teacher proficient in French, Italian and Spanish who devoted her time to the enrichment of the lives of her students while teaching at area schools. Her father, a dedicated pathologist, was one of the four original founders of the Midwest affiliate of St. Jude Children’s Hospital, which provides care to children with childhood diseases. Unique to Ms. Taraska’s chosen career in personal injury law, she was the victim of a propane gas explosion, in which a commercial building collapsed on her, her mother, brother and a close family friend. The explosion left Taraska with extensive second and third degree burns early in her life. She was hospitalized for 3 months, during which she underwent skin grafting of her arms, legs, hands, and chest. Incredibly, a year prior to the explosion, Ms. Taraska’s father and a reconstructive surgeon opened the only downstate burn unit in Peoria where she was successfully treated despite the severity of her bu
Tue, February 02, 2021
Adam Slater | McGinnis v. C.R. Bard, Inc. et al. | $68 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Adam Slater of Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman ( https://www.mazieslater.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: New Jersey trial lawyer Adam Slater of Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman shares how he successfully represented Mary McGinnis, a 70-year-old woman who underwent numerous surgeries after C.R. Bard's defective transvaginal mesh products eroded within her body, causing chronic inflammation, severe pain, and debilitating physical injuries. In March 2009, Mary's doctor implanted the Avaulta Solo and Align TO mesh products to treat her pelvic prolapse. Due to recurrent mesh erosion, Mary later endured multiple mesh removal surgeries and a complex vaginal wall reconstruction. Today, she still suffers from severe pain and is unable to sit comfortably or be intimate with her husband. Despite the defense's attempts to blame Mary's pain on pre-existing medical issues or her surgeon's techniques, a Bergen County, New Jersey jury found that the Avaulta Solo and Align TO were defective in its design, and that Bard failed to warn of the defects, and awarded $33 million in compensatory damages to Mary and her husband, Thomas. In a separate punitive damages phase, Attorney Adam Slater obtained a punitive damages award of an additional $35 million against Bard.. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Adam Slater Adam Slater is certified as a civil trial attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and a partner in the law firm of Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman, LLC in Roseland, New Jersey. Mr. Slater specializes in the handling of complex civil litigation including product liability, malpractice, catastrophic injury cases, class actions, and mass litigations. He has obtained many jury verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million, with a number in the nine figures. He also has argued appeals in the New Jersey Supreme Court, New Jersey Appellate Division, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, in his own cases and as Amicus, with numerous published decisions. Mr. Slater also has been appointed as lead counsel in numerous mass torts and class actions, including for example the coordinated litigation of more than 10,000 pelvic mesh cases against Johnson & Johnson, Ethicon, and C.R. Bard in New Jersey State Court, the In Re Benicar Federal MDL in the District of New Jersey which resulted in a global settlement for $358 million, the In Re Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan Federal MDL in the District of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Court consolidation of the Allergan breast implant litigation, and a member of the Executive Committee for the Federal MDL
Tue, January 26, 2021
Mark Mandell | Moulton, et al. v. UTGR, Inc. d/b/a Twin River, et al. | $21.27 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mark Mandell of Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd ( https://www.mbmjustice.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Acclaimed trial lawyer Mark Mandell of Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd. explains how he successfully advocated for Alissa Moulton, who was ejected from her boyfriend Alexander Arango's car after he lost control while driving under the influence, leaving her paralyzed. In April 2010, Alexander, who was only 18 years-old at the time, became highly intoxicated after he was illegally served alcoholic drinks at Twin River Casino and Royal Liquors store in Rhode Island. While under the influence, Alexander drove his mother's 1997 Toyota Camry and lost control of the passenger-filled vehicle as it struck a median barrier, crossed two highway lanes, rolled onto its roof and hit a tree, ejecting Alissa and another passenger. Today, Alissa is paralyzed from the chest down and confined to a wheelchair. Despite the defense's attempts to poke holes in the established timeline of events and to question whether Alexander was served drinks at the casino, a Providence, Rhode Island jury found in favor of the plaintiff Alissa, returning a total judgment of $21,270,455.69 in November 2016. This landmark dram shop liability case is also featured in Mark Mandell's book Advanced Case Framing. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Mark Mandell Mark Mandell graduated from Georgetown University Law Center receiving his J.D. in 1974. When Mark graduated from Georgetown he served as a law clerk for the Honorable U.S. District Judge Edward W. Day in the United States Federal District Court in Providence for a year before entering private practice. Mark is certified for his expertise in civil trials by two national organizations. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification. Attorney Mandell is also nationally recognized and Board Certified as an expert in medical negligence litigation by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. Double board certification nationally is rare for trial lawyers. Both certifications require trial experience and passing a national certification examination. Mark is actually Triple Board Certified as he is also board certified in Civil Pretrial Practice by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification. Mark is a member of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates. Membership in the Inner Circle is limited to 100 of the best trial lawyers in the country. The Inner Circle has been described as “an invitation only group of the best plaint
Tue, January 19, 2021
Derrick Alexander Pope │ Hidden Legal Figures Podcast Collaboration │ State of Alabama v. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Derrick A. Pope of The Arc of Justice Institute ( https://onthearc.net/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Hidden Legal Figures Podcast host Alexander Pope returns to discuss the landmark 1956 case against Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. for his role in the year-long Montgomery, Alabama Bus Boycott and violation of a 1921 anti-boycott law. An example of white Alabama officials' effort to use the courts to quash the Civil Rights Movement, the trial began with numerous attempts by prosecutors to identify King as the official leader of the boycott. King's legal team countered by trying to establish "just cause" or "legal excuse" for the boycott, with 31 witnesses sharing their first-hand experiences with abusive bus drivers and reasons for participating in the boycott. In spite of these moving statements, Judge Eugene W. Carter found King guilty of violating the anti-boycott law and fined him $500 plus an additional $500 in court costs. King's appeal was rejected, and he later paid the fine. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Derrick Alexander Pope: Derrick Alexander Pope is President and Managing Director of The Arc of Justice Institute. In his role, he has responsibility for its standing initiatives and programs, including hosting its podcast, Hidden Legal Figures. Before The Arc, Mr. Pope enjoyed a distinguished career in the public, private, and academic sectors. He has provided counsel to the legislative and executive branches of government at the federal, state, and county level, having most recently served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. He is a former Assistant Legislative Counsel to the Georgia General Assembly and former Legislative and General Counsel to the Medical Association of Georgia. During the Obama administration, Mr. Pope was a member of the White House Data-Driven Justice Initiative and the My Brother's Keeper Taskforce in 2015 and 2016. In private practice, he has helped protect the inheritance rights of more than 500 families throughout Georgia. Mr. Pope is a former adjunct professor of law at the Georgia State University College of Law where he taught Probate Practice and Procedure. Mr. Pope has several published works to his credit. He is the author of By the Content of Our Character: A Declaration of Independence for Colored Folks, Negroes, Black People, and African Americans and Thy Will Be Done: An African American Guide to Estate Planning and the Howard Law Journal article A Constituti
Tue, January 12, 2021
Randy Edwards, John Sherrod, & Paul Piland | Johns v. Suzuki Motor Corp. | $12.5 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Randy Edwards and Paul Piland of Cochran Edwards ( https://www.cochranedwardslaw.com/ ) & John Sherrod of Sherrod Bernard ( https://www.sherrodandbernard.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished trial lawyer and former NFL defensive lineman Randy Edwards of Cochran Edwards, personal injury attorney John Sherrod of Sherrod Bernard, and experienced litigator Paul Piland, also of Cochran Edwards, explain how they strategically represented Adrian Johns, a motorcyclist who was catastrophically injured due to a brake defect concealed by manufacturer Suzuki Motor Corp. In August 2013, Adrian, an experienced rider and U.S. Air Force Special Ops veteran, was thrown off his 2006 Suzuki GSX-R1000 when his front brakes failed to work on an Austell, Georgia roadway. As a result, Adrian shattered his back and permanently damaged his spinal cord, requiring surgery and leading to irreversible motor problems as well as sensory deficits. As early as December 2012, Suzuki Motor Corp. knew riders were in danger due to front brake issues and failed to warn consumers like Adrian until nearly a year later in an effort to maintain sales during peak season. In spite of Suzuki's attempts to blame Adrian's injuries on his own reckless driving or gravel on the roadway, a Douglas County, Georgia jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $10,500,000 in compensatory damages to Adrian and $2,000,000 to his wife Gwen. This was the fifth-largest motorcycle accident verdict in the U.S. in 2018. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Randy Edwards: Randy is an “AV” rated lawyer by Martindale Hubbell and has been practicing law for over 25 years. He spent the first half of his career at two of Atlanta’s premier law firms, Kilpatrick Stockton (now Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton) where he was a partner for 8 years, and Smith Currie & Hancock where he was an associate for 4 years. In 2009, he opted for lower overhead and a shorter commute and formed Cochran & Edwards with his childhood friend and neighbor, Scott Cochran. He is licensed in both Georgia and Alabama. As a former NFL defensive lineman, Randy brings a “unique” attitude to the courtroom. Randy is a trial lawyer and primarily handles the following types of cases: Business Litigation With a master’s degree in finance, Randy has unique experience with business cases involving complex damage models. He has handled a wide variety of cases involving unfair competition, “business divorces”, trade secrets, patents, failed
Tue, January 05, 2021
Christine Spagnoli | Mauro v. Ford Motor Company | $73 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Christine Spagnoli of Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP (https://www.gbw.law/). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Santa Monica, California attorney Christine Spagnoli of Greene Broillet & Wheeler LLP shares how she advocated for injured church members and their grieving families after a Ford E350 15-passenger van overturned following a tire tread separation. In April 2004, four members of Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church traveled on Sacramento's I-5 in a van equipped with Goodyear Load Range E tires. Due to known tread separation problems, Goodyear conducted a voluntary replacement program on these tires, but Ford failed to notify its dealers. The tread on the church van's factory-mounted Goodyear tires separated, causing the van to flip four times, killing the driver William Brownell and front-seat passenger Tony Mauro and injuring passengers Marlene Shirley and Alexander Bessonov. Ford knew the E350 15-passenger van was susceptible to overturning, given professional driver tests that indicated oversteering and handling issues, but the company allowed the vehicle to go to market without modifying the design. In 2011, a Sacramento jury found Ford Motor Company negligent and returned a $73 million verdict, including $50 million in punitive damages against Ford in favor of the plaintiffs. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Christine D. Spagnoli: Christine D. Spagnoli is a partner of Greene, Broillet & Wheeler in Santa Monica, specializing in representing plaintiffs in product liability, personal injury and legal malpractice actions. She has obtained many multimillion-dollar verdicts, including the 1999 General Motors case in which a defective fuel tank was found responsible for the burn injuries of two adults and four children. The jury returned with a landmark $4.9 billion verdict. She was co-counsel in the largest personal injury verdict in California, which resulted in a $58 million verdict for a man severely burned by a defective O-ring. She has also spear-headed litigation to protect consumers from injuries and deaths involving 15 passenger vans including: A March 2018 jury verdict of $25.9 million awarded to the family of a church volunteer in New Port Richey, Florida who died in a rollover of a Ford 15 passenger van after the left rear tire tread separated. (Named by National Law Journal as one of the Top 100 Verdicts of 2018) A November 2011 jury verdict of $73 million (including $50 million in punitive damages) awarded to the family of a church volunteer in Sacramento who died in a rollover crash o
Tue, December 29, 2020
Brett Turnbull and Jerome Tapley | Cruz v. Nissan North America, Inc. | $24.9 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Brett Turnbull of Turnbull Law Firm ( https://turnbulllawfirm.com/ ) and Jerome Tapley of Cory Watson Attorneys ( https://www.corywatson.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Trial lawyers Brett Turnbull of Turnbull Law Firm and Jerome Tapley of Cory Watson Attorneys explain how they successfully represented grieving father Hilario Cruz after his wife and two young daughters were killed in a car crash caused by a faulty brake system. In 2012, a 2004 Infiniti QX56 SUV driven by Solomon Mathenge t-boned a Dodge Caravan in Los Angeles, resulting in the death of the driver, Hilario's wife, and daughters Stephanie, 4 and Hilda, 6. Solomon insisted that his brakes were not working properly. Originally charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter, Solomon later joined the case as an additional plaintiff, separately represented, against Nissan North America, Inc., due to the discovery of a history of braking issues in Infiniti vehicles. Nissan knew as early as 2003 that select models were equipped with a defective braking software with a "delta stroke sensor," which unnecessarily activated the car's optimized hydraulic braking. Despite this knowledge, Nissan failed to recall the vehicle or notify all vehicle owners. In 2017, a Los Angeles jury found Nissan's negligence to be 100% responsible for the three wrongful deaths and awarded plaintiffs compensatory damages totaling $24,931,109. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: BRETT TURNBULL: Brett Turnbull has embraced the philosophy of keeping clients first in distinguishing himself as a leading trial lawyer, recognized for his jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients killed or injured by the negligent and wrongful actions of others. When Brett goes before a jury, he realizes he has one job: to get justice for his client by proving their claims and guiding the jury to award a fair and reasonable verdict. Brett has more than a decade of successful courtroom experience in complex litigation, including trucking cases, product liability, automobile defects, pediatric burns, traumatic brain injury and nursing home malpractice. Respect for individuals and for the justice system led Brett, a graduate of the University of Alabama, to pursue legal studies at The Cumberland School of Law. There, he discovered his true passion: trial law. As a class leader, Brett won national recognition for his trial advocacy skills. That leadership track continued throughout Brett’s legal career. Today, he gives back to his profession by servi
Tue, December 22, 2020
Armen Akaragian and Garo Mardirossian | Uno v. Toyota | $10 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Armen Akaragian and Garo Mardirossian of Mardirossian & Associates, Inc. ( https://www.garolaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Los Angeles trial lawyers Armen Akaragian and Garo Mardirossian of Mardirossian & Associates, Inc. explain how they represented the family of Nonki Uno, a 66-year-old restaurant owner who was killed after the accelerator pedal in her 2006 Toyota Camry got stuck following a crash caused by another driver who ran a stop sign. In August 2009, 86-year-old Olga Bello broadsided Nonki Uno's car, sending it spinning and uncontrollably accelerating, crossing the center median curb and striking multiple telephone poles and trees. Nonki was found dead at the scene with her foot broken and mangled under the brake pedal and her emergency brake activated. Originally tried in 2013, this was a bellwether case for nearly 300 unintended acceleration cases involving Toyota vehicles. Toyota failed to include a Brake Override Safety System (B.O.S.S.) in the American model of the Toyota Camry until 2007 and failed to warn consumers about the fact that solid accelerator pedals can get stuck and cause sudden acceleration. Despite Armen and Garo's argument that Toyota and Olga Bello were to blame for Nonki's death, the Los Angeles jury ultimately found Olga 100% responsible and awarded $10,000,000 in noneconomic damages to Nonki's husband and son. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Armen Akaragian Armen Akaragian is an attorney with the firm of Mardirossian & Associates, in Los Angeles, California. He has been with the firm since 1999. Admitted to practice in 2006, Armen has arbitrated, tried, and settled several cases that have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Some of the largest entities Armen has represented the firm’s clients against include Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Toyota Motor Corporation, Marriott International, Inc., Kiewit Construction, Continental Tire, Land Rover, State of California, Chrysler Motors, Emerson Electric, and Honeywell International. In 2009, he was nominated for the coveted Consumer Trial Attorney of the Year Award by the Consumer Attorneys of California, a statewide organization, following his involvement in the case of Pannu vs. Land Rover. This complex product liability case, which was litigated for more than seven years, tried over eight weeks and underwent a two-year appellate process, ultimately resulted in a fully affirmed judgment in excess of $25,000,000.00. Most notably, the published Court of Appeal opinion set precedent in the State of Cali
Tue, December 15, 2020
Robert Howell | Mark Corbitt, M.D. v. South Georgia Medical Center | $10 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Robert Howell of Howell Law Firm, P.C. ( https://www.southgalaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished Georgia personal injury attorney Robert Howell of Howell Law Firm, P.C. explains how he represented a highly skilled vascular surgeon whose medical career was cut short due to negligence at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Georgia. On January 25, 2010, Dr. Mark Corbitt entered Operating Room 5 to write orders for surgery and attempted to sit on a stool with hard caster wheels. The stool, which was designed to function in carpeted offices, shot out from underneath Dr. Corbitt, causing him to hit his head on the hard floor. Dr. Corbitt was diagnosed with post-concussive epilepsy, resulting in numerous grand mal seizures and constant headaches, and lost his ability to perform surgeries or practice medicine. Despite the hospital's knowledge that numerous physicians had fallen or had difficulty with the stools since they were originally purchased in 2006, the stools remained in use. In 2017, a Lowndes County, Georgia jury assigned 70% of the fault to South Georgia Medical Center and awarded $10,000,000 in damages to Dr. Corbitt. At the time, this was the largest plaintiff verdict on record in Lowndes County, Georgia. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Robert Howell Robert D. "Robb" Howell is the founding partner of Howell Law Firm, P.C.. He handles catastrophic and high-stakes injury cases, medical malpractice, pharmaceutical lawsuits, and business litigation. From his offices in Moultrie, Thomasville, and Albany, Georgia, he represents clients throughout the state and the southeast. He also maintains an Atlanta office and serves as Of-Counsel to the firm of Conley Griggs Partin, LLP. Due to his dedicated representation and trial skills, Mr. Howell has obtained many seven-figure and eight-figure recoveries on behalf of his clients. Since opening in February 2006, Howell Law Firm has recovered well over $80,000,000 for clients who were injured or harmed by the negligence of others. Robb has been particularly successful in securing large recoveries for his clients in small, rural, and traditionally-conservative venues. For example, in May 2014, Mr. Howell was lead counsel in a medical malpractice trial in Lowndes County Superior Court which resulted in a record-setting verdict of $1,811,377.09 for his client. This was the highest personal injury jury verdict in the history of Lowndes County, Georgia at the time. Mr. Howell's verdict in this trial was featured as one of the top verdicts in Georgia i
Tue, December 08, 2020
Dan Huff | Thomas v. Joshi, M.D., and Radiology Associates of DeKalb | Defense Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Dan Huff of Huff, Powell & Bailey, LLC ( https://www.huffpowellbailey.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Georgia defense attorney Dan Huff of Huff, Powell & Bailey, LLC, a firm specializing in the defense of medical negligence cases for physicians and hospitals, explains how he secured a unanimous verdict in favor of radiologist Dr. Joshi and the staff at Radiology Associates of DeKalb, who were faced with charges of medical malpractice and the wrongful death of 51-year-old podiatry patient Lisa Calhoun. In June 2014, Lisa went to her podiatrist with leg pain and was told she may be suffering from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or blood clots in her legs. The podiatrist ordered an ultrasound, which was then interpreted by Dr. Joshi. The ultrasound confirmed a DVT diagnosis, but there was a factual dispute as to whether the diagnosis was communicated by Dr. Joshi’s office to the podiatrist. A few days later, Lisa was admitted to the emergency room, complaining of severe chest pain and shortness of breath. While in the hospital, she claimed that she was unaware of the ultrasound results and died of cardiac arrest several hours later. Disputing the claim that Dr. Joshi’s office did not communicate the ultrasound results to the podiatrist, Dan walked the jury through the proper procedures associated with communicating radiology results and shared evidence of phone calls between Lisa and her podiatrist's office as well as between the radiology technologist and the podiatrist's office. This evidence convinced a DeKalb County, Georgia jury that Dr. Joshi and the staff at Radiology Associates of DeKalb neither violated the standard of care nor served as a proximate cause to Lisa's death, resulting in a defense verdict. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Dan Huff Since 1991, Dan has specialized in the defense of high damages lawsuits, primarily medical malpractice lawsuits and claims. He has represented defendants in more than 110 jury trials. He has defended and successfully tried cases for every specialty of medicine and numerous hospitals throughout Georgia. Dan’s trial record would be a proud career for any defense lawyer and remarkable because Dan has tried and won so many cases in so few years. In the past five years Dan has tried more than 30 medical malpractice cases in Georgia. Many of those cases have been against the best plaintiffs' attorneys in the state. Because of Dan’s trial record and reputation with plaintiffs' attorneys, he is able to obtain the best possible outcomes for physicians and hospitals wh
Tue, December 01, 2020
Dan Hessel | Juan Reyes v. Cincinnati Incorporated | $15 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Dan Hessel of Golkow Hessel ( https://www.golkowhessel.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Philadelphia personal injury attorney Dan Hessel of Golkow Hessel discusses how he secured justice for Juan Reyes, a worker who lost a finger and suffered permanent nerve damage after his hand was crushed by a defective hydraulic shear designed by Cincinnati Incorporated. Juan's employer purchased a used Cincinnati hydraulic shear and registered it with the manufacturer in 2007. In 2009, a Cincinnati technician serviced the machine and failed to note the damaged foot pedal and lack of roll guards, which are designed to prevent hand injuries. Due to Cincinnati's negligence and failure to warn Juan's employer about the machine's defects and safety hazards, Juan was seriously injured when he accidentally stepped on the damaged foot pedal and had his dominant hand crushed by the hold-downs. Today, Juan suffers from uncontrollable tremors and cannot use his right hand, which makes day-to-day tasks difficult and prevents him from achieving his career goal of becoming a welder. In November 2016, a Philadelphia jury found Cincinnati Incorporated negligent and the company's hydraulic shear defective, awarding Juan $15,000,000 in damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Dan Hessel With more than twenty years of experience in the fields of personal injury and subrogation law, Dan handles catastrophic injury cases on behalf of accident victims. Dan has had 16 seven- or eight-figure verdicts or settlements as lead counsel. He has been recognized as a Pennsylvania “Super Lawyer” for seven consecutive years, and a "Rising Star" for three years before that. Recipients of these awards are nominated by their peers, and the honor is limited to 5% of practicing lawyers. Dan is a life member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization reserved for trial lawyers who have obtained seven-figure verdicts or settlements on behalf of their clients. He has had more than $40 million in verdicts and settlements for his clients in the past few years alone. Many of these cases have been featured in journals such as The Legal Intelligencer, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Yahoo! Biz, New Jersey Verdict Reporter, Pennsylvania Damages, North Carolina Verdict Reporter, Pennsylvania Verdict Reporter and the Florida Verdict Reporter. Dan has spoken on issues related to tort law on more than 30 occasions in venues across the country. Read Full Bio <
Tue, November 24, 2020
Kenneth Suggs | Phillips v. Flexible Family Care, P.C. and Lynette Iles, M.D. | $18.126 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Kenneth Suggs of Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC ( https://www.jjsjustice.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Award-winning trial lawyer Kenneth Suggs of Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC explains how he successfully represented Taylor Phillips, a young girl whose spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy was caused by her mother's mismanaged labor and delivery at a hospital in Washington, Iowa. Lisa Phillips entered the hospital for the induced labor of her second child by Dr. Lynette Iles, a family physician who physically checked on Lisa only a few times throughout the day and relied mostly on continuous external fetal monitoring to inform her about the baby's health. As the delivery drew closer, Dr. Iles chose to move to intermittent external fetal monitoring, despite the lack of consistent heartbeat readings and missed key indications that the baby was struggling. Taylor was delivered through cesarean section by a different doctor and airlifted to a neonatal intensive care unit for the brain damage she sustained during the period of intermittent fetal monitoring. Due to her traumatic birth, Taylor is a locked-in quadriplegic who cannot speak and who cannot live independently. A Washington County, Iowa jury returned a landmark verdict of $18,126,000 against Dr. Iles and her medical practice for violating the standard of care. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Kenneth Suggs Kenneth M. Suggs, a principal in the firm of Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC, has been a tireless champion of consumer legal rights for over 40 years. Known for his advocacy in the areas of medical malpractice, product liability, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death, he has been recognized nationally as one of the nation’s finest trial lawyers. As head of the firm’s Personal Injury Division and a leader on medical malpractice teams, Ken has an in-depth understanding of how serious injuries from highway collisions to workplace injuries to doctor errors can impact the health and well-being of a person. He has sought and won justice for many, ranging from infants who suffered severe birth injuries to families severely burned in an 18-wheeler crash. Some of the judgments and verdicts he has won were against major corporations, including Fortune 500 corporations. Suggs has held a broad range of leadership positions in many organizations devoted to law and education, including President of the American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America) from 2005-2006, and president of the South Carolina Association for Justice. In 2016, he re
Tue, November 17, 2020
Jeffrey Kroll | Murray v. A &. B Flooring, Inc., an Illinois Corporation, A & B Flooring Supplies, Inc. and Cosmin A. Radu | $7 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jeffrey Kroll of Kaveny + Kroll ( https://kavenykroll.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Award-winning plaintiffs' litigator Jeffrey Kroll of Kaveny + Kroll in Chicago shares how he advocated on behalf of the first person in the United States to die while using a bike-sharing program. On July 1, 2016, Virginia Murray, a 25-year-old college graduate, rode her DIVVY bike — part of Chicago's official bike-share program — to an intersection where truck driver Cosmin Radu sat idling in his employer's A & B Flooring truck. The light turned green, and Cosmin made a right-hand turn, which his broken turn signal lights did not indicate. His vehicle struck Virginia, killing her instantly. During trial, the Chicago jury returned a $7,000,000 verdict in less than two hours in favor of the plaintiff's estate. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Jeffrey Kroll Jeffrey J. Kroll is an award-winning attorney who has represented injured victims of negligence throughout the country for nearly three decades in the areas of trucking accidents, products liability, and medical malpractice. In 2017, Mr. Kroll was part of the trial team that obtained a record-breaking $148 million jury verdict on behalf of a dancer who was paralyzed when a shelter collapsed on her at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Overall, his verdicts and settlements have exceeded $1 million on 80 separate occasions. Mr. Kroll has lectured throughout the country on personal injury and wrongful death matters. He has had more than 125 legal articles published on topics ranging from strategic jury selection and maximizing an injured client’s recovery, to successfully handling wrongful death cases and preparing and cross-examining expert witnesses. He is well known in Chicago media for countless segments and publications and has taught Trial Advocacy and Medical Malpractice Law at DePaul University and Northwestern Law School. Mr. Kroll was the only Illinois attorney to be published in the Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit, 4th Edition, released by Trial Guides and the American Association for Justice. Jeffrey has recovered more than $400 million for his clients. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - <a href='https://www.hlmlawfirm.com/
Tue, November 10, 2020
Ken Friedman and David Roosa | Margaret Dallo v. Holland America Line N.V. LLC | $1.689 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Ken Friedman and David Roosa of Friedman | Rubin ( https://friedmanrubin.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Friedman Rubin trial lawyers Ken Friedman and David Roosa share their experience trying the first federal Zoom civil jury trial during the pandemic and explain how they secured justice for an 84-year-old woman who sustained a traumatic brain injury on a Holland America cruise ship. In November 2018, passenger Margaret Dallo was walking down a hallway on the ship when she was knocked over by a door opening outward into the hallway. Margaret fell and hit her head on the frame of the door across the hall, resulting in a bilateral subacute subdural hematoma, which allowed blood inside the skull and put pressure on her brain. Margaret's traumatic brain injury required surgery and greatly diminished her mobility and quality of life. In spite of the defense's attempts to blame her medical condition on pre-existing conditions and previous falls, Seattle jurors participating via Zoom conference ultimately ruled in favor of the plaintiff, awarding $1,689,000 in damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Ken Friedman Since joining Friedman | Rubin in 1999, Ken has appeared on behalf of plaintiffs in state and federal courts throughout the United States. He has successfully tried cases involving claims of sexual harassment, defamation, personal injury, police misconduct, and insurance bad faith. Ken earned his B.A. in History from Antioch College and his J.D. from New York University School of Law. A well-respected attorney, he has been given the highest rating, “AV Pre-eminent,” by the Martindale Hubbell, and he has been designated as a “Super Lawyer” by his peers in the Washington Law and Politics survey annually since 2009. Ken also has been rated a “10, Superb” by Avvo.com. Read Full Bio David Roosa David primarily handles cases involving serious personal injury, traumatic brain injury (“TBI”), insurance bad faith denial of benefits, and nursing home abuse. David has jury trial experience in state, federal, and municipal courts. David and Friedman | Rubin partner Ken Friedman recently obtained a $1.7m verdict in the Western District of Washington’s first ever fully remote jury trial, in which the judge, the jury, the attorneys, and the witnesses all participated via Zoom. (See Bloomberg Law report – here]. David also occasionally tries criminal cases, and has obtained two defense verdicts in 2015, and another
Tue, November 03, 2020
Joseph Power, Jr. and Larry Rogers, Jr. | McKenna, et al. v. Allied Barton Security Services, et al. | $30.65 million
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Joseph Power, Jr. and Larry Rogers, Jr. of Powers Rogers, LLP ( https://www.claggettlaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Accomplished Chicago trial lawyers Joseph Power, Jr. and Larry Rogers, Jr. of Powers Rogers, LLP explain how they secured justice for the families of two attorneys and a law office secretary who were shot by a disgruntled client who gained unauthorized access to the office due to the failure of building security officers to follow established safety procedures. On December 8, 2006, Joseph Jackson entered a 41-floor professional building at 500 West Madison Street in Chicago, held Allied Barton Security Services officer Robert Brown at gunpoint and demanded to be taken to the 38th floor, where patent lawyer Michael McKenna's office was located. A client of Michael McKenna and an inventor seeking a patent, Joseph Jackson mistakenly thought Michael McKenna had sold his idea and owed him money. Supervising security officer Sidney Chambers knew that Joseph Jackson had been loitering in the building for hours and had suspiciously interacted with officer Robert Brown, but failed to take action. Robert Brown did not follow safety protocol, utilize officer codes to alert his supervising officer to the situation or employ restraint techniques designed to defuse the situation. Instead, he tried to flee the scene and save himself when Joseph Jackson began firing his gun in the law office, fatally shooting Michael McKenna and Allen Hoover and wounding office secretary Ruth Lieb. In 2017, a Cook County, Illinois jury delivered a verdict against Allied Barton Security Services, Sidney Chambers and Joseph Jackson, assigning 60 percent of the responsibility to the deceased Joseph Jackson and 40 percent to Allied Barton in a $30,650,000 verdict. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Joseph Power Jr. Joseph A. Power, Jr. is the founding partner of the Power, Rogers, LLP law firm in Chicago, and a prominent trial lawyer focusing on cases involving medical malpractice, trucking collisions, wrongful death, product liability and catastrophic personal injuries. Power received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1974 and his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University of Chicago in 1977. Power was named as partner in 1984 and the firm became Hayes & Power. In 1993, the firm became Power, Rogers & Smith, and has recently become Power Rogers, LLP. At the age of 28, Power became the youngest lawyer in the country to obtain a jury verdict in excess of $1 million for his client. Power was
Tue, October 27, 2020
Sean Claggett | Elisa Sales v. Summerlin Hospital and Medical Center | Undisclosed Settlement
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Sean Claggett of Claggett & Sykes Law Firm ( https://www.claggettlaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Nevada trial lawyer Sean Claggett shares his legal strategy representing Elisa Sales, a woman who sustained permanent brain damage when doctors at Summerlin Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas failed to act with urgency after she went into respiratory arrest during a routine pacemaker replacement surgery. During the procedure, the alarms on the monitors checking Elisa's heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels were turned off and inaudible, which was against hospital policy. Due to this violation, the medical staff was not alerted when Elisa's blood pressure dropped dangerously low after she was given too much sedative medication. The doctors and medical staff failed to begin immediately performing CPR when they realized her life-threatening condition, violating the standard of care. The medical team's lack of urgency left Elisa's brain without oxygen, causing permanent damage that reduced her mental capacity to that of a five-year-old. Sean Claggett originally asked for $63 million in damages for Elisa's suffering. After hearing from 18 fact witnesses and 13 expert witnesses during the trial, the defense chose to settle the medical malpractice lawsuit for an undisclosed amount immediately following closing arguments. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Sean Claggett Sean Claggett is an established Las Vegas personal injury attorney and handles difficult cases across the country. Sean founded Claggett & Sykes Law Firm in 2005, and is the firm’s lead trial lawyer. In 2017, Sean was recognized by his fellow trial lawyers of the Nevada Justice Association as Nevada’s Trial Attorney of the Year. In 2016, Sean had the fourth most influential verdict in the United States according to Courtroom View Network, stemming from a slip and fall at Lowe’s in which his client suffered a TBI after she slipped, fell, and knocked down a three-foot yellow warning cone. Lowe’s top offer before the verdict was $1,400,000.00, and the referring plaintiff attorney offered to resolve the case for $1,749,999.99. The jury returned a verdict in the amount of $16,430,000.00. Sean’s trial success continued with two verdicts in 2018 in the amounts of $20,000,000.00 and $3,382,000.00. Sean’s verdict of $20,000,000.00 was recognized as the fourth most influential verdict in the United States according to Courtroom View Network
Tue, October 20, 2020
Kila Baldwin | Ebaugh v. Ethicon Women's Health and Urology | $57.1 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Kila Baldwin of Kline and Specter, PC ( https://www.klinespecter.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: A Philadelphia attorney with a strong track record leading complex cases against medical device manufacturers, Kila Baldwin of Kline and Specter, PC discusses the high-profile trial in which she represented Ella Ebaugh, a woman who sustained lifelong injuries due to defective transvaginal mesh implants designed by Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. In her 40s, Ella was diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence, which caused her bladder to leak unexpectedly. She was implanted with a TVT-Secur and TVT sling and later endured three mesh removal surgeries because the mesh had eroded into her bladder and urethra. Today, Ella is incontinent, wears adult diapers and suffers from frequent urinary tract infections. Using Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson's actions against them, including statements made in internal emails, Kila Baldwin was able to successfully persuade the Philadelphia jury to decide in favor of Ella. In 2017, the jury returned a verdict of $7.1 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages, citing Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson’s negligent design of the products and willful disregard for patient safety. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Kila Baldwin Kila B. Baldwin, a partner at Kline & Specter, has been involved in a number of the firm's high-profile cases, including as lead counsel in trials that resulted in verdicts of $80 million, $57.1 million and $41 million against Johnson & Johnson in transvaginal mesh cases. Baldwin was selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer for 2019 and 2020. From 2011-2018 she was named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer — Rising Star and for 2014-2019 as a New Jersey Super Lawyer -- Rising Star, designating her as among the top 2.5 percent of attorneys in the two states who are 40 or younger. She also was selected for the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 editions of the peer-review publication Best Lawyers in America. In her latest major case, Baldwin in February 2020 achieved a $12.75 million settlement with a medical device manufacturer, Monteris Medical Inc., whose NeuroBlate Sidefire broke during surgery and caused brain damage to the patient. (Read article) Prior to that case, Baldwin obtained a $75 million settlement in a wrongful death case, the largest pre-trial settlement in a case in Pennsylvania history. In May 2019, Baldwin w
Tue, October 13, 2020
Chris Hamilton | Crisp v. The McDonald's Corporation; McDonald's USA, LLC; and McDonald's Restaurants of Texas, Inc. | $27 million
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Chris Hamilton of Hamilton Wingo LLP ( https://hamiltonwingo.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Discussing a landmark premises liability case, trial lawyer and Hamilton Wingo LLP partner Chris Hamilton explains how he held McDonald's responsible for ongoing lack of security and secured justice for the families of Texas A&M college students Denton Ward and Lauren Crisp, who died following a late-night trip to a McDonald's in College Station, Texas. In February 2012, Denton Ward and Lauren Crisp, along with Samantha Bean and another friend, went to McDonald's, where Denton Ward was violently assaulted by Marcus Jones and a mob of other attackers. Lauren Crisp and Samantha Bean carried a bleeding Denton Ward to his SUV in an attempt to get him to the hospital. The driver, Samantha Bean, ran a red light and collided with another car. Denton Ward was killed and Lauren Crisp, who was unrestrained and tending to Denton Ward's injuries, was also killed. Despite the defense's attempts to shift focus away from McDonald's ongoing lack of concern for customer safety at a restaurant location with a history of late-night violence and to blame Samantha Bean for reckless driving, a Brazos County, Texas jury assigned 97 percent of the responsibility to McDonald's and returned a verdict of $27,000,000 in damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Chris Hamilton Chris Hamilton has established himself as one of the leading high-stakes trial lawyers in the United States. Hamilton has a recent track record of verdicts and settlements that are setting the mark in both the personal injury arena and in complex business disputes. For example, Hamilton was recently featured in Courtroom View Network’s (CVN) list of Most Impressive Trials of 2019. In 2014, Hamilton was recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as having the largest jury verdict in Texas for a personal injury case and the 17th largest jury verdict in the United States. In 2016, Hamilton was recognized by Top Verdict as having the ninth-largest personal injury verdict in Texas. Hamilton was recognized in 2011 by Verdict Search as having one of the top 10 verdicts in Texas and top 100 verdicts in the United States. Hamilton was selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America for 2019, the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America for 2020, and is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Read Full Bio<
Tue, October 06, 2020
Robin Frazer Clark | Marshall Fox, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Jayne B. Fox v. Emory Healthcare, Inc., The Emory Clinic, Inc., et. al. | $2.35 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Robin Frazer Clark of The Law Firm of Robin Frazer Clark, P.C. ( https://www.gatriallawyers.net/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Former State Bar of Georgia President Robin Frazer Clark explains how she secured justice for the only son of 75-year-old Jayne Fox, a woman who suffered a traumatic vocal cord injury during intubation for a lung biopsy, causing Jayne to suffer post-surgical aspiration pneumonia and leading to her death. Admitted to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta for a biopsy of a spot on her lung, Jayne was initially intubated with equipment that was much too large for her petite 97 lb., 5-foot frame. Following the surgery, nurses observed Jayne having difficulty clearing secretions, and an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist found abnormalities indicating aspiration pneumonia. However, the ENT and nurses failed to report their observations to the attending physician, Dr. Roy Rajan, who also failed to properly supervise Jayne’s medical care or visit her in person. As a result, Jayne's treatment plan was not adjusted to treat her condition, and she passed away at Emory University Hospital nearly six weeks after her surgery. Despite the defense's attempts to blame Jayne's age, her son and the rarity of her post-operation condition, a Dekalb County, Georgia jury returned a verdict of $2,350,000 in damages against Emory Clinic and Dr. Rajan. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Robin Frazer Clark Robin Frazer Clark is the owner and founder of the law firm of Robin Frazer Clark, P.C., and has practiced law in Georgia for 31 years. Ms. Clark devotes her practice exclusively to plaintiff’s personal injury. Her motto is “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.” She is the Co-host of the podcast “See You In Court.” Ms. Clark was sworn in as the Fiftieth President of the State Bar of Georgia on June 2, 2012, only the second woman ever to serve as President of the State Bar of Georgia and served as President of the 45,000-member association in 2012-2013. One of Ms. Clark’s initiatives she created while President is the State Bar of Georgia’s Suicide Prevention Campaign, “How to Save a Life.” Ms. Clark is a Past President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), also only the second woman in the organization’s history to lead GTLA. Ms. Clark is a Past President of The Lawyers Club of Atlanta (LCA), in which she has been a member for over 25 years. Ms. Clark is the only person ever to have served as President of all three of those professional associations, the State Bar of Georgia, GTLA and Lawyers Club of Atlanta. Ms. Clark is a Fellow of the International
Tue, September 29, 2020
Shane Lazenby | Holland v. Cypress Insurance Company and the Estate of James Harper | $21 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Shane Lazenby of Lazenby Law Group ( https://lazlawgroup.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Former defense attorney and U.S. Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps veteran Shane Lazenby of Lazenby Law Group explains how he secured justice in the wrongful death of Kip Holland, a 50-year-old intellectually disabled pedestrian who was hit by a weaving, out-of-control tractor-trailer in Gainesville, Georgia. At trial, Shane Lazenby demonstrated that James Harper, the 76-year-old tractor-trailer driver who died before the case went to trial, lied on his Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration medical exam, took prescription narcotics four times a day, performed breathing treatments for COPD in his trailer and was regularly admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. In 2020, a Gainesville, Georgia jury returned a verdict in favor of Kip Holland's grieving family and awarded $21,029,363 in damages, litigation expenses and attorney's fees. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Shane Lazenby Shane Lazenby is the founder and managing member of Lazenby Law Group. After more than a decade of defending those accused of negligence in personal injury cases, Shane decided to reverse course and help the victims of serious injuries. With unparalleled compassion and limitless commitment, Shane quickly learned how much more rewarding and uplifting service as a victim’s advocate can be. Shane now focuses his practice on helping the victims of catastrophic personal injury and the families whose loved one has passed as a result of the negligence of another. Shane received his law degree in 1999 at the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. While at Mercer, Shane was a member of the Moot Court Board and the Mercer Law Review where he served as the Eleventh Circuit Survey Editor. Shane also received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a minor in Latin, from Mercer in 1994. Following law school, Shane returned to the United States Army where he served as a Judge Advocate with the 82d Airborne Division. Shane’s service included duties as the Regimental Judge Advocate for the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment where he obtained a 100% conviction rate in the most active military justice jurisdiction in the United States Army. Shane was also selected to be the first Judge Advocate from the 82d Airborne Division to deploy to the Global War on Terrorism as counsel to the Commander of the 3d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Shane was then selected to be the Operational Law Attorney for the 82d Ai
Tue, September 22, 2020
Brian Breiter and Chance Pardon | Atlas Ferrera v. Terminix International, Inc., et al | $8 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Brian Breiter and Chance Pardon of the Law Offices of Brian Breiter ( https://brianbreiter.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Los Angeles personal injury attorneys Brian Breiter and Chance Pardon of the Law Offices of Brian Breiter discuss how they secured justice for Atlas Ferrera, a make-up artist and budding fragrance designer after he was exposed to harmful chemicals negligently sprayed by a Terminix employee in a neighboring business. While using the bathroom at his workplace, Atlas was exposed to Terminix's roach infestation treatments at an adjacent business when a cloud of neurotoxin-filled "smoke" entered the bathroom. Atlas immediately began to feel dizzy and experienced a burning sensation in his throat. Days later, he had permanently lost his sense of taste and smell and began suffering from chronic migraines. Utilizing a unique strategy, Breiter portrayed a game show host in his closing statements, undermining the credibility of the defense's expert statements and witness testimony in a strategy based on "To Tell the Truth." After five hours of deliberation, a Los Angeles jury returned an $8,000,000 verdict in favor of Atlas. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Brian Breiter, Esq. Mr. Breiter was nominated for trial lawyer of the year for 2019 by CAALA (Consumer Attorney Association of Los Angeles) for his numerous verdicts over the past year. He is a Lifetime Fellow of ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) and has been named to National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Mr. Breiter has been named 9 consecutive years by Southern California and South Florida SuperLawyers. Brian Breiter is a civil trial lawyer practicing since 1995 in the area of Plaintiff’s Personal Injury. With over 100 Millions dollars in settlements and verdicts, Mr. Breiter has dedicated his practice to helping consumers during their most difficult times. Mr. Breiter is licensed in California and Florida. Mr. Breiter represents clients throughout the entire state of California and Florida. Brian is also an adjunct professor at the Pepperdine Law School where he teaches “Improvisational Mediation” to fellow lawyers, mediators and judges. He also recently taught at the University of Calgary School of Law. He uses his skills as a professional actor for 30 years in the courtroom and depositions like no other in his field. Read Full Bio Chance Pardon, Esq. Chance Pardon is dedicated to helping injured plaintiffs and has made helping those in need a core part of who he is. Mr. Pardon started as a law clerk at
Tue, September 15, 2020
Paula Jossart | Scott Kowalewski v. BNSF Railway Company | $15.3 million verdict + $4.6 million misconduct penalty + attorney's fees
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Paula Jossart of Jossart Law Office, LLC ( https://www.jossartlaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Award-winning Minnesota personal injury lawyer Paula Jossart of Jossart Law Office, LLC discusses how she secured justice for Scott Kowalewski, a switchman who was exposed to toxic hydrocarbons while working at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) Northtown Yard in Minneapolis in 2014 and, as a result, suffered a severe neurological injury. Rail cars carrying hazardous chemicals from a fracking site in Texas leaked, causing Scott to feel a burning pain in his chest and to lose consciousness. Scott was later diagnosed with a progressive neurological disorder, which significantly diminishes his motor function, making it difficult to swallow, write, get out of bed or perform everyday tasks. Despite BNSF's claims that the company is not responsible for Scott's health problems and many evidence and discovery abuses, a Hennepin County, Minnesota jury returned a verdict of $15,343,753 in damages against BNSF for violating the Federal Employers' Liability Act. Following the jury trial, Judge Amy Dawson assigned a $4.6 million misconduct penalty to BNSF for concealing and destroying evidence related to the case, paying off a witness and misleading federal investigators. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Paula Jossart Paula Jossart is an experienced personal injury attorney and railroad injury attorney recognized for her record of success in actions against railroads and insurance companies. She has achieved multiple seven and eight-figure verdicts in her career including a recent $21 million judgment against the BNSF. In 2015, she achieved three million-dollar-plus verdicts for victims with personal injury claims in Hennepin County (Minneapolis, MN). She also attained one of Minnesota’s larger personal injury verdicts ─ totaling more than $12.5 million ─ for a man burned by steam from a boiler on which he was working. A fearless advocate for her clients, Paula Jossart has represented persons in personal injury and FELA (Federal Employees’ Litigation Act) cases in Minnesota and states across the country, including Arizona, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin. She served as lead counsel for injured victims in the nation’s largest anhydrous ammonia spill and has worked on many other large chemical exposure cases. Choosing the right personal injury attorney your important life matter can make a significant difference in the outcome. Paula Jossart encourages potential clients to do their own research befor
Tue, September 08, 2020
Kent Emison and Hoyt Tessener | Batts v. Ford Motor Company | $31 million settlement
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Kent Emison of Langdon & Emison ( https://www.langdonemison.com/ ) and Hoyt Tessener of James Scott Farrin ( https://www.farrin.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Missouri personal injury lawyer Kent Emison of Langdon & Emison and North Carolina trial lawyer Hoyt Tessener of James Scott Farrin share how they secured justice for an 11-year-old boy who was paralyzed in a car crash due to an inadequate seat belt design. Positioned in the rear center seat of his father's 1999 Ford Escort, Che-Val Batts' two-point lap belt jackknifed him when another car suddenly pulled out in front of the Escort, leaving Che-Val with damage to his internal organs and spinal cord, rendering him a paraplegic. The other passengers, who were restrained by three-point seat belts, sustained significantly less severe injuries. Despite knowing the higher safety rating of three-point seatbelts and including these more effective restraints in other models, Ford continued to manufacture Escorts with a rear center seat two-point seat belt, violating the company's own safety policies. The defense's attempts to blame Che-Val's injuries on his own misplacement of the lap belt swayed some Nash County, North Carolina jurors and resulted in a hung jury. The case was ultimately settled for $31 million, with details of the settlement remaining confidential. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Kent Emison A Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and a frequent lecturer to bar associations and trial lawyer groups nationwide, Kent devotes 100 percent of his practice to litigation in product liability, motor vehicle accidents, and other cases involving personal injury and wrongful death. In that role he has served as lead trial counsel in numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements and has handled cases all across the United States, from Florida to Hawaii. Best Lawyers in America named Kent "Lawyer of the Year" for 2018 for personal injury plaintiffs' litigation for the Kansas City metro area. In 2017 he received the Thomas G. Strong Trial Attorney Award from the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys for his leadership in the profession. Kent’s reputation in the field is due to his track record of obtaining the maximum compensation for injured individuals and for families who have lost loved ones. Throughout his career he has been an advocate of trial by jury and is seen as a leader in the profession. For the past three consecutive years Kent has been selected as one of the top 100 lawyers in Missouri and Kansas by the peer review process Su
Tue, September 01, 2020
Allison MacLellan | Toussaint v. Brigham and Women's Hospital and Mary Ann Kenyon | $28.2 million verdict + attorney's fees
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Allison MacLellan of MacLellan Law Firm, P.C. ( https://www.maclellanlawfirm.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Allison MacLellan of MacLellan Law Firm, P.C., the 2018 Massachusetts Lawyer of the Year, shares how she secured the largest verdict in Massachusetts history for an employment-related retaliation claim. The plaintiff -- a Haitian-American nurse named Gessy Toussaint, who worked at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston for over a decade -- sued the hospital and her nurse manager, Mary Ann Kenyon, for discrimination and retaliation, which began after Gessy defended a fellow Haitian-American nurse who was being verbally abused by management. In a true David-versus-Goliath-style trial, the hospital's large, powerful defense team attempted to tarnish Gessy's stellar career record with standard of care violations. Following 14 days of trial and three days of deliberation, a Suffolk County, Massachusetts jury awarded $28,213,000 in damages to Gessy for the retaliation she faced and cleared the hospital of any discrimination charges. Citing MacLellan's meritorious work as a solo trial lawyer, Judge Christine Roach issued an order for the defendants to pay attorney's fees and costs totaling $415,630.85. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Allison MacLellan Allison MacLellan is a litigator with proven results. In May 2018, Attorney MacLellan single-handedly secured the largest verdict in Massachusetts’ history regarding a retaliation claim in the employment context after a two and a half week jury trial in Boston. Attorney MacLellan was named a Massachusetts Lawyer of the Year in 2018 and has been recognized by her peers for her litigation skill and groundbreaking strides, which have changed the landscape of employment discrimination cases in Massachusetts. Ms. MacLellan has also been named a Massachusetts “Super Lawyer.” Ms. MacLellan fights for her clients no matter how large the opponent and no matter the odds. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 <a href='https://www.greattri
Tue, August 25, 2020
Victor Vital | Mugdock Tavern Investments and Duffy I, LP, v. CAT Seattle, LLC et al. | Take Nothing Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Victor Vital of Barnes & Thornburg LLP ( https://btlaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Texas Lawyer Verdicts Hall of Fame inductee Victor Vital, a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, shares how he secured a take nothing defense verdict in a business fraud claim against his clients, CAT Seattle and Ascend Health Corporation. Both companies countersued Jim Graham, a Dallas oil magnate, and his company, Duffy, for illegally wiretapping a conversation that resulted in a $2 million purchase agreement. Jim Graham secretly and without consent recorded a critical conversation with a "spy pen" during business negotiations. A Dallas County, Texas jury sided with Victor's clients regarding the wiretapping claim, resulting in the recovery of attorneys' fees. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Victor Vital Victor’s trial experience ranges from patent litigation, unfair competition, contract disputes, business tort cases, and high net worth divorce cases to trade secret and non-compete litigation, real estate disputes, products liability matters, catastrophic injury and death cases, consumer fraud matters, and white-collar criminal matters. Because of his broad trial experience, clients and lawyers turn to Victor regardless of subject matter when they need a trial lawyer for their important cases. Beyond his trial experience, Victor has successfully resolved through settlement and dismissal all types of complex civil litigation matters. Moreover, Victor has secured favorable plea deals and indictment declinations in a range of white-collar criminal matters, including wire fraud and mail fraud, tax evasion, securities fraud, Ponzi cases, and money laundering. Notably, Victor was inducted into the Texas Lawyer Verdicts Hall of Fame for securing a No. 1 verdict -- the largest employment verdict in Texas in 2012 – for a corporate plaintiff in a complicated noncompete/trade secrets matter. In 2016, Victor secured the largest (No. 1) verdict in the fraud category in the Texas Lawyer Top Texas Verdicts & Settlements of 2016, with a jury verdict of nearly $34 million (including $16 million in punitive damages) in a partnership dispute involving claims of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. This top 2016 jury verdict also made the National Law Journal Top 100 list. Victor is often brought onboard on the eve of trial – in the final months or weeks leading up to trial – because of his deep trial experience. Moreover, Victor is a prolific author and invited lecturer/educator on trial issues. He also teaches trial practice techniques and provides commentary on major trials and
Tue, August 18, 2020
Richard Mitchell | Elizabeth Dickinson v. Landmark Hospital of Athens, LLC | $1.3 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Richard Mitchell of Mitchell & Shapiro LLP ( https://www.mitchellshapiro.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Richard Mitchell, a partner at Mitchell & Shapiro LLP, explains how he secured justice for Elizabeth Dickinson, who sustained a painful pressure ulcer due to the negligence of Landmark Hospital's staff, who did not rotate her position regularly on her hospital bed. Transferred from Grady Hospital in Atlanta after receiving treatment for car crash-related injuries, Elizabeth was admitted to Landmark Hospital with a stable stage 2 sacral ulcer, which quickly escalated to stage 4. The pressure ulcer took a full year to heal, but Elizabeth's activities continue to be limited due to the poor wound care she received. Despite the defense's attempts to blame Landmark's new medical records system, Elizabeth's daughter and even Elizabeth herself for her injuries, a Gwinnett County, Georgia jury returned a verdict of $1,300,000 in damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Richard Mitchell Richard C. Mitchell is a partner with Mitchell & Shapiro LLP. He concentrates on personal injury matters, including medical malpractice, trucking and auto wrecks, and aviation crashes. In December of 2003 and 2014, he was voted by his peers in Georgia Trend magazine as one of Georgia’s “Legal Elite” in the personal injury area. From 2003-2019 the readers of Atlanta Magazine voted him a “Georgia Super Lawyer” in personal injury litigation. He is regarded as one of the most experienced personal injury and medical malpractice lawyers in the Atlanta, Georgia area and has received the highest possible professional rating, Martindale-Hubble's AV Preeminent rating, consecutively for 20 years. After clerking for 2 United States District Court judges in Atlanta, Richard C. Mitchell was an associate and partner with the major law firm Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy for over 14 years before leaving to start his own firm in 1997. During that time, he successfully represented numerous manufacturers and insurers in product liability cases, including manufacturers of automobiles, aircraft and aircraft components, forklifts, woodworking machinery, chemicals, conveyor belts, and electric limit switches. He left the large firm in order to concentrate on representing injured individuals. Mr. Mitchell’s years of experience defending clients in personal injury cases and working with insurance companies have given him a unique insight into the civ
Tue, August 11, 2020
Michael Levine│Barrett v. Smith│$5.75 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Michael Levine of Rappaport, Glass, Levine & Zullo LLP ( https://www.rglzlaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Michael Levine -- a partner at Rappaport, Glass, Levine & Zullo LLP known as "Motorcycle Mike" -- explains how he secured justice for 33-year-old air traffic controller Kevin Barrett, who endured a painful through-the-knee amputation after a pick-up truck collided with his motorcycle and crushed his right leg. The driver of the truck abruptly cut off Kevin, who was going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, while making a left turn. Kevin uses a prosthetic limb as a result of this catastrophic injury. A Suffolk County, New York jury returned a $5,750,000 verdict, assigning 63% of the negligence to the defendant. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Michael Levine Michael Levine is, without a doubt, the prime example of a “Go-Getter”. In over 35 years Michael has never stopped chasing after perfection, and his reputation and record are a shining reflection of this. If you’re looking for a personal injury attorney who is a rare combination of experience, hard-charging, tactical, spirited, and unfailingly caring, you’ve found him. At RGLZ we sometimes wonder how Michael finds the time and energy to do everything he does. He lectures often on his areas of expertise before the bar associations of Suffolk and New York State, serves on the Grievance and Judicial Screening committees for those bar associations, is on the board of directors of the Suffolk County Bar Association, writes articles for legal journals, has served as the President of the more than 4000 member strong New York State Trial Lawyers’ Association, is Mayor of his home town of Old Field, NY, and still finds time to be an active part of the Long Island motorcycle community as Motorcycle Mike Esq. This is all on top of a thriving practice here at RGLZ, where Michael handles litigation in numerous types of personal injury cases including motorcycle accidents, auto accidents, truck accidents, premises liability accidents, construction accidents, and railroad and subway accidents. He is also a friend of labor unions, taking cases for the Transit Workers Union and other large unions in New York. Despite this nearly insane workload, Michael Levine is also regarded as a true friend to his clients. He prides himself on providing round-the-clock access for his clients, regularly taking their calls personally at all hours of the day. This is backed up by the fact that, in his entire career, Michael Levine has never had a grievance filed against him, and many of hi
Bonus · Tue, August 04, 2020
Bonus Episode | Randy Scarlett | Remembering Tommy Malone
In today's bonus episode, Randy Scarlett shares stories in remembrance of the great Tommy Malone.
Tue, August 04, 2020
Randall H. Scarlett | Bianchi v. GTI | $49.1 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Randy Scarlett of Scarlett Law Group ( https://www.scarlettlawgroup.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Acclaimed trial lawyer Randall H. Scarlett of Scarlett Law Group explains how he secured justice for a 21-year-old pre-med student who suffered a traumatic brain injury following a car crash involving two tractor-trailers on California's State Route 152 near Pacheco Pass. Drew Bianchi, a promising medical student, was a passenger in his friend's Toyota Avalon when the vehicle was struck by a truck that crossed the center line, causing a head-on collision with a Gordon Trucking 18-wheeler. The truck driver who caused the collision was operating his vehicle on only three hours of sleep; the second truck driver was talking on his cell phone at the time of impact. Drew sustained major injuries and was rendered a quadriplegic, requiring around-the-clock care. After six weeks of trial, a San Jose, California jury returned a $49,123,375.87 verdict, assigning 35% of the fault to Gordon Trucking, 60% to the other tractor-trailer driver and 5% to the State of California. This case secured the highest non-punitive verdict in California for a traumatic brain injury. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Randall H. Scarlett Randall H. Scarlett, is principal of San Francisco based Scarlett Law Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, wrongful death, and other serious wrongs. Mr. Scarlett is a member of the Washington District of Columbia Bar, (DC Bar #479781) and the State Bar of California, (CA Bar #135554) and is admitted to practice before the District of Columbia, the California Supreme Court, all United States Federal District Courts in California, the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Mr. Scarlett also enjoys pro hac vice admissions in various state and federal courts throughout the United States and has tried cases to verdict in California, Nevada, North Carolina, Hawaii, and Alaska. Mr. Scarlett is a Leaders Forum and President’s Club member of the American Association for Justice and is a past Chair and current Board Member of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group of AAJ. Mr. Scarlett is a member in good standing of the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, the Western Trial Lawyers Association, the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association (out of state member), the Bar Association of San Francisco, and the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Scarlett is al
Tue, July 28, 2020
Daniel DeSantis and Jon Teller │Stewart v. Wake│$1.382 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Daniel DeSantis and Jon Teller of Wilshire Law Firm, PLC ( https://www.wilshirelawfirm.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Wilshire Law Firm trial attorneys Daniel DeSantis and Jon Teller explain how they secured justice for Belinda Stewart, a traveling nurse who sustained severe spinal damage as a result of a car crash involving a distracted driver. A distracted driver crashed into Belinda's car with enough speed to thrust Belinda's vehicle up onto the sidewalk and into the car in front of her. Belinda sustained significant neck pain and lower back pain as a result of the crash and sought out chiropractic care, physical therapy and epidural pain management before undergoing surgery, resulting in metal rods and screws being placed in her spine. Despite the defense's attempts to blame Belinda's back pain on degeneration, rather than the crash, and to assert that Belinda's three back surgeries were unnecessary, a Los Angeles, California jury returned a $1,382,000 verdict, which was more than five times the value of the defense's pre-trial offer. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Daniel DeSantis, Esq. Daniel DeSantis, Esq. is a senior trial attorney in Wilshire Law Firm's award-winning personal injury department. Through hundreds of cases, Mr. DeSantis has recovered more than $30,000,000 in settlements on behalf of his deserving clients, aggressively fighting against insurance companies, government entities, and their counsel to obtain the absolute best result for his clients. Additionally, Mr. DeSantis' jury verdicts have collectively resulted in over $5,000,000 recovered for his injured clients. Most notably, he obtained a jury verdict on a $0 pre-trial offer that was 4x the Defendant's insurance policy. He has also hit several other jury verdicts where he has multiplied the Defendant's pre-trial offer to settle. In 2018, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) recognized these jury wins by nominating him for the prestigious Rising Stars award. Read Full Bio Jon C. Teller, Esq. Jon C. Teller, Esq. is a senior trial attorney at Wilshire Law Firm. Jon assists his clients with complex legal matters, focusing his practice on catastrophic injuries, including: spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severe shoulder and knee injuries, and other personal injury cases. His strategic, client-first approach centers on out-preparing, out-thinking, and out-working his opponents. In less than a decade, Jon has represented hundreds
Tue, July 21, 2020
Alwyn Fredericks│Jewel Wicker v. American Family Insurance Company, First Class Produce and Owens│$3.5 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Alwyn Fredericks of Cash, Krugler, Fredericks. ( https://ckandf.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Alwyn Fredericks, a partner at Cash Krugler Fredericks in Atlanta, shares how he secured justice for 18-year-old college student Jewel Wicker, who sustained permanent brain damage following a severe car crash. Jewel was on her way to church when her Honda Accord was hit by a 26-foot Freightliner that ran a red light. The impact of the tractor-trailer, owned by First Class Produce, caused Jewel to hit her head, rendering her temporarily unconscious. Suffering damage to her frontal and temporal lobes, Jewel was diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury, which years after the crash still causes her to have headaches, ringing in her ears, light sensitivity, memory problems, anxiety and depression. Despite the defense's attempts to persuade the jury that Jewel was lying about her injuries or embellishing the extent of her pain, a DeKalb County jury returned a verdict of $3,500,000. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Alwyn Fredericks Alwyn Fredericks graduated from Mercer University Law School in 1998. His practice areas include auto and trucking accidents, medical malpractice, fire and explosion cases, and premises liability actions. Mr. Fredericks has sub-specialty in litigating traumatic brain injury cases and has successfully tried several brain injury cases obtaining substantial verdicts for his clients. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and a former member of the Editorial Board of Verdict, a magazine of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Additional memberships include the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, American Bar Association and the Gate City Bar Association. Mr. Fredericks is a frequent presenter at seminars both locally and nationally regarding effective litigation and trial techniques. He is consistently recognized as a top litigator in Georgia and named one of Georgia’s Superlawyers. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com
Tue, July 14, 2020
John Simon and Timothy Cronin | Brian and Michelle Koon v. Walden, M.D. and St. Louis University| $17.6 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview John Simon and Timothy Cronin of Simon Law Firm, P.C. ( https://simonlawpc.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Simon Law Firm, P.C. trial attorneys John Simon and Timothy Cronin share how they secured justice for Brian Koon, who became addicted to opioids after being prescribed up to 13 times the recommended amount of Oxycontin, Oxycodone and Vicodin for undiagnosed lower back pain between 2008 and 2012. Brian's doctor violated the standard of care by overprescribing opioids, failing to recommend physical therapy or alternative methods of treatment and disregarding Brian's symptoms of addiction by fulfilling his requests for early refills without an exam. In 2012, Brian checked himself into a drug rehabilitation program and endured a painful withdrawal process. At the time of trial, he suffered from opioid withdrawal, opioid use disorder and major depressive disorder, which significantly impacted his relationship with his wife, Michelle, and their young daughter. A St. Louis, Missouri jury returned a verdict of $1.4 million in compensatory damages for Brian, $1.2 million in damages for Michelle and $15 million in punitive damages against the physician and St. Louis University Hospital. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: John G. Simon John 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 Law. For 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. 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 a
Tue, July 07, 2020
Geoffrey Fieger | Amedure v. Warner Bros. | $25 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Geoffrey Fieger of Fieger Law ( https://www.fiegerlaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: Geoffrey Fieger, one of America's top trial lawyers, explains how he vigorously represented the family of Scott Amedure, who was fatally shot by Jonathan Schmitz after revealing his "secret crush" on Schmitz during a taping of The Jenny Jones Show in 1995. Schmitz, a heterosexual man who was deeply embarrassed by the confession, was convicted of second-degree murder and served 22 years in prison. In a civil trial that attracted national attention, Geoffrey Fieger held the show and its partners, including Warner Brothers and Telepictures, responsible for the show’s ambush tactics and negligent actions. An Oakland County, Michigan jury returned a verdict of $25 million for Amedure’s wrongful death, which was later overturned on appeal. Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Geoffrey N. Fieger Practicing for nearly 40 years, Geoffrey Fieger is a veteran of the legal battlefield. His command of the law, both as a trial litigator and as a scholar, has made him one of the most sought-after attorneys in the nation. Though he has always practiced from his firm’s home in Southfield, Michigan, he is known all over the world for his charismatic trial presence and his refusal to back down from the battles that matter. In fact, the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University named The Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute in his honor. Nationally Recognized Legal Counsel Geoffrey’s legal skill is uniquely well-known, even for a lawyer as renowned as him—he has been repeatedly featured on MSNBC, CNN, Fox, and various other networks to provide legal insight and commentary throughout his career. He has had his own program on CBS radio titled “Fieger Time,” and was featured on Fox’s live court program “Power of Attorney.” Geoffrey has also frequently been in the news as a subject, as he is often called upon to represent high-profile cases on behalf of those facing impossible odds. In one of his notable cases, Attorney Fieger was able to secure acquittals for every one of Dr. Jack Kevorkian’s assisted-suicide trials in which he represented the doctor. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawf
Tue, June 30, 2020
Katurah Topps, Gino Brogdon and Derrick A. Pope | Black Lives Matter Episode
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Katurah Topps ( https://www.naacpldf.org/ ), Gino Brogdon ( http://ginobrogdon.com/ ) and Derrick Pope ( https://onthearc.net/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Episode Details: NAACP Legal Defense Fund Policy Counsel Katurah Topps, mediator and former Atlanta Judge Gino Brogdon, and Arc of Justice Institute founder Derrick Pope join Steve and Yvonne to discuss systemic racism in America's civil and criminal justice system. This enlightening panel discussion covers the historical context of systemic racism, the current Black Lives Matter movement, and the work we all must do to build a better future. Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Katurah Topps Katurah Topps serves as Policy Counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF). Prior to joining LDF, Katurah was a Litigation Associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (Simpson Thacher). While at Simpson Thacher, she litigated a variety of complex commercial and civil rights cases. Additionally, Katurah co-founded Simpson Thacher’s Civil Rights and Liberties Initiative, assisting in bringing meaningful civil rights leaders, knowledge, and work to the firm. Before joining Simpson Thacher Katurah clerked for the Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee (retired) at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. She also worked with Just the Beginning- A Pipeline Organization and its efforts to diversify the legal profession, by selecting, training, and elevating qualified diverse law students to interview with federal judges across the country, for judicial internships and clerkships. Katurah earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. While at Georgetown Law, Katurah interned with LDF, served as an Editor for the Georgetown Law Journal, and collaborated with the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project to represent those wrongfully convicted. Katurah also participated in Georgetown Law’s renowned Appellate Litigation clinic. Katurah, a St. Louis native, proudly received her B.A. in French and Philosophy from Saint Louis University. Read Full Bio Hon. Gino Brogdon, Sr. Hon. Gino Brogdon, Sr. presided over complex civil and felony cases for almost ten years as a trial judge in the Superior and State Courts of Fulton County in Atlanta, Georgia. Following his 2005 retirement from the bench, Gino has tried high visibility civil cases for plaintiffs and defendants. He has also become a highly sought after mediator
Tue, June 23, 2020
Brian McKeen│Tran v. William Beaumont Hospital│$130.5 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Brian McKeen of McKeen and Associates, LP ( https://www.mckeenassociates.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Detroit medical malpractice attorney Brian McKeen explains how he secured justice for a two-month-old boy who suffered brain damage resulting in cerebral palsy after William Beaumont Hospital technicians failed to act urgently. The baby turned blue after receiving an IV for an outpatient renal scan and was without oxygen for 12 minutes because nuclear medicine technicians neglected to immediately issue a "code blue" or to begin administering chest compressions. Despite the defense's attempts to convince the jury that the incident occurred due to pre-existing conditions, an Oakland County, Michigan jury returned a landmark $130.5 million verdict. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Brian McKeen Brian McKeen began practicing law in 1982. During his career, he has become a powerful advocate for his clients and one of the foremost medical malpractice attorneys in Michigan. He has tried cases throughout the United States. He currently sits on the executive boards of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Mr. McKeen formerly served as chair of the AAJ Professional Negligence Section, Medical Negligence Exchange Group, and Birth Trauma Litigation Group (BTLG). Since 2001, McKeen & Associates has generated the year's top verdict in Michigan four times, including securing the state's largest medical malpractice verdict on record in 2001, when a jury rendered a verdict award of $55 million in the case of Hall v Henry Ford Health System. McKeen & Associates also topped all Michigan verdict awards in 2002, with an award of $22.5 million in the case of Blazo v McLaren Regional Medical Center, et al; in 2006 with an award of $16 million in the case of Lowe v Henry Ford Health System; and in 2007, with an award of $35 million in the case of Oppenheim v Aeneas C. Guiney. Mr. McKeen was recently inducted to The Inner Circle of Advocates and named Top Attorneys in Michigan as published by The New York Times in September 2012. Professional Associations and Memberships: Inner Circle of Advocates - The Inner Circle of Advocates is an invitation-only group, limited to 100 lawyers of excellent character and integrity, representing people throughout the United States. To qualify, members must have tried at least 50 personal injury jury trials and at least three verdi
Tue, June 16, 2020
Kyle Farrar & Wesley Ball│Brown v. Silvi, et al.│$11.7 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Kyle Farrar and Wesley Ball of Farrar and Ball, LLP ( http://fbtrial.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Farrar & Ball trial attorneys Kyle Farrar and Wesley Ball share how they secured justice for Shanika Brown and her infant daughter, who underwent arm and leg amputations, respectively, after being ejected from a car that hit a blown truck tire from a concrete mixer owned by Silvi Concrete on I-295 in New Jersey. The failed Bridgestone L315 tire, which was poorly retreaded by McCarthy Tire and negligently maintained by Silvi Concrete, was left in the roadway and caused the car Brown and her daughter were riding in to swerve and crash. Bridgestone, the original manufacturer of the tire, settled pre-trial. McCarthy Tire settled early in the trial and Silvi Concrete settled with the infant daughter before the case was presented to the jury. A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania jury ultimately assigned 85 percent of the blame to Silvi Concrete and returned a verdict of $10.6 million to Shanika Brown and $65,000 to Shanika's mother, who was driving the vehicle. Combined with delay damages, the verdict totaled $11.7 million. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Kyle Farrar Kyle Farrar is a veteran litigator with an active trial caseload in state and federal courts across the country. He has secured record jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of individuals injured by dangerous products and reckless and negligent parties. In addition, he has taken leading roles in high-profile multidistrict litigation (MDL) in cases involving dangerous and defective medical products. Kyle began his career at one of the nation’s largest law firms, representing Fortune 500 companies in multimillion-dollar lawsuits. He founded his firm to focus on representing individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries caused by tire blowouts, tread separation and tire failure linked to defective tires and automotive products. Kyle is a national thought leader regarding tire and vehicle safety, and his work has helped spur manufacturers to improve safety and recall defective products. In this capacity, Kyle routinely assists peers and helps educate lawyers at product liability litigation conferences across the nation. He is often asked to assist as trial counsel in cases and trials, having appeared in Courts in over twenty different states and trying cases to a successful outcome in ten different states. Rea
Tue, June 09, 2020
Derrick Alexander Pope│Hidden Legal Figures Podcast Collaboration│Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Derrick Alexander Pope ( https://onthearc.net/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Hidden Legal Figures podcast host Derrick Alexander Pope returns to the Great Trials Podcast to discuss a landmark case, which brought into question both the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the governing of interstate commerce in a post-Civil Rights world. Moreton Rolleston, owner of the Heart of Atlanta Motel located near I-75 and I-85, refused to rent available rooms to African-Americans, claiming that Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should not outrank the limits on the power afforded to Congress to regulate interstate commerce in the Commerce Clause. Moreton went so far as to argue that being forced to serve people of all races would violate his 13th Amendment rights and would place him in involuntary servitude to the government's wishes without compensation. The U.S. District Court for the North District of Georgia upheld the protections offered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and issued a permanent injunction, forcing Moreton to cease his discriminatory actions. Guest Bio: Derrick Alexander Pope Derrick Alexander Pope is President and founding Director of The Arc of Justice Institute. In this role, he has responsibility for all aspects of its standing initiatives and programs beginning with developing and managing the exhibit and its accompanying educational programs. He is also host of its podcast, Hidden Legal Figures. Before The Arc, Mr. Pope enjoyed a distinguished career in the public, private, and academic sectors. He has provided counsel to the legislative and executive branches of government at the federal, state, and county level, having most recently served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. He is a former Assistant Legislative Counsel to the Georgia General Assembly and former Legislative Counsel to the Medical Association of Georgia. In 2015 and 2016, Mr. Pope was a member of the White House Data Driven Justice Initiative and the My Brother's Keeper Taskforce. In private practice, he has helped protect the inheritance rights of more than 500 families throughout Georgia. Mr. Pope is a former adjunct professor of law at the Georgia State University College of Law where he taught Probate Practice and Procedure. Mr. Pope has several published works to his credit. He is the author of By the Content of Our Character: A Declaration of Independence for Colored Folks, Negroes, Black People, and African Americans and Thy Will Be Done: An African American Guide to Estate Planning and the Howard Law Journal article A
Tue, June 02, 2020
Lee Hunt │Eric Armstrong & Luke Armstrong v. Express Ranches, LLC. │ $5.256 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Lee Hunt of The Hunt Law Firm ( https://huntlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Top 25 New Mexico Super Lawyers honoree Lee Hunt discusses how he secured justice for Eric and Luke Armstrong, two brothers who were hit by bullet fragments fired from neighboring hunters on Express Ranches, LLC’s Atmore Ranch. The hunters were mistakenly told by their guide that their targets were between 240 and 250 yards away, causing them to aim high at the elk, which was actually only 160 yards away. While walking on the main road between Atmore Ranch and neighboring Ute Creek Ranch, Luke was hit in the mouth with a bullet fragment, which left him with permanent facial nerve damage and a numb limp. Eric had a bullet fragment lodged in his abdomen. A New Mexico jury found Express Ranches, LLC negligent for failing to adhere to safe hunting practices and awarded $5,256,000 in damages to the Armstrong brothers. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Lee Hunt You want to know more about your lawyer than whether he is capable of handling your case. By the end of the case, you and your lawyer better trust each other, know each and honestly care about each other. My belief is that to help a person in a legal crisis, I must know you as a person – not just another case. That means you should know more about me than where I went to school. I am a husband. My wife Kristi is a native New Mexican who grew up on a cattle ranch in Roy, New Mexico. Her family settled the ranch back in the early 1940s and have raised cattle and kids there ever since. I am a father. I have three wonderfully full of life children. I am also a Christian. My faith and my belief in redemption is what drives me to do this work. I don’t think that you have to be a trial attorney to make the world better and to live in the likeness of Jesus, but it is what makes sense to me. If I can help people in crisis and be a calm witness in the midst of the storm, then maybe God can use that to His Glory. I am also an athlete. I love to get away from everything with a hard run in early morning hours or a solitary bike ride. I have raced the Hawaii Ironman twice and ran 100 miles at the Leadville Trail 100. I think balance in life is difficult to find, but even harder to get back aligned when out of whack. Trust me when I say that I work as hard as anyone I know, but I will always find time for my family and for myself. In the end that time away makes me a better lawyer. As a lawyer, I have always wanted to try difficult cases to juries. To be respected by
Tue, May 26, 2020
Catherine "Katie" Bertram │Sheldon J. Hervey as Guardian and Conservator for Nancy Clifford Hervey v. Virginia Neurosurgeons, P.C. et al.│$35,620,902 Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Catherine "Katie" Bertram of The Bertram Law Group ( https://www.blg-dc.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Top 100 Washington D.C. Super Lawyer honoree Catherine "Katie" Bertram explains how she secured justice for Nancy Hervey, who suffered devastating, life-altering injuries due to a botched spinal surgery. Looking to find relief for her lower back pain, Nancy went to a surgeon at Virginia Neurosurgeons, P.C., who recommended surgery. During surgery, the doctor punctured an artery at the base of her spine, causing Nancy to lose staggering amounts of blood and to suffer a lack of oxygen to the brain. Today, Nancy is paralyzed on her right side and has permanent brain damage. An Arlington County, Virginia jury awarded $35,620,902 in damages in this medical malpractice case. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Catherine D. “Katie” Bertram Catherine D. “Katie” Bertram started the Bertram Law Group, 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 peo
Tue, May 19, 2020
Kalpana Srinivasan and Max Tribble│Title Source, Inc. v. HouseCanary, Inc., f/k/a Canary Analytics, Inc.│$706.2 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Kalpana Srinivasan and Max Tribble of Kalpana Srinivasan and Max Tribble of Susman Godfrey LLP ( https://www.susmangodfrey.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: High-stakes trial lawyers Kalpana Srinivasan and Max Tribble of Susman Godfrey LLP explains how they secured the largest intellectual property verdict in the United States in 2018 in a countersuit against Title Source, Inc., a company providing valuation services to Quicken Loans. Originally, Title Source, Inc. sued Kalpana and Tribble's client HouseCanary, Inc. for breach of contract. HouseCanary filed crossclaims regarding Title Source's allegedly improper use of the data and discovered, via a PowerPoint presentation, that Title Source was violating the rules of its nondisclosure agreement and stealing HouseCanary’s trade secrets to reverse-engineer a competing automated valuation model. After seven weeks of trial, a Bexar County, Texas jury returned a verdict of $706.2 million, including $201.6 million for the value of the trade secrets, and cleared HouseCanary of any allegations of wrongdoing. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Kalpana Srinivasan Ms. Srinivasan tries high-stakes cases for plaintiffs and defendants in courtrooms across the country. A partner in the Los Angeles office and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, she has secured significant victories for her clients in antitrust, patent, trade secret, copyright, class action, and other disputes. Ms. Srinivasan won a $706.2 million jury verdict for client HouseCanary in a misappropriation of a trade secret, fraud, and breach of contract case. As co-lead counsel, Ms. Srinivasan played a crucial role in this landmark win. Read more on the win here or see the case featured in Lawdragon’s feature story, “Revenge of the Hatchlings: How Susman Godfrey Won Almost a Billion Dollars for HouseCanary” or in Law360‘s “How They Won It” series. Ms. Srinivasan recently obtained court approval for a class action settlement valued at over $100 million with music streaming service, Spotify. The deal resolved claims of copyright infringement. She currently serves as Court-appointed co-lead counsel for a certified class of hundreds of millions of consumers impacted by Qualcomm’s anticompetitive conduct in the sale of chipsets used in mobile devices and its patent licensing practices. Ms. Srinivasan’s practice includes pursuing and defending patent infringement actions, including cases involving standard-essential telecommunications patents; gaming and graphics patents; and cybersecurity software. <a href='https://www.s
Tue, May 12, 2020
Anna Green Cross, Brian D. "Buck" Rogers & Darren Summerville │Johnson v. Lee│$128.8 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Anna Green Cross and Darren Summerville of The Summerville Firm, LLC ( http://www.summervillefirm.com/ ) and Brian D. "Buck" Rogers of Rogers & Fite, LLC ( https://www.rogersfite.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Anna Green Cross and Darren Summerville of The Summerville Firm, LLC, and Brian D. "Buck" Rogers of Rogers & Fite, LLC share how they secured justice for the Johnson family after an intoxicated 16-year-old driver recklessly slammed his Dodge Ram 1500 into the back of their minivan at 78 mph. Inside the minivan were David and Susannah Johnson and their four children -- Brooke, 10, Kathryn, 8, Hannah, 6 and Owen, 3 -- who were enjoying a family vacation in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Tragically, Hannah was pronounced dead at the scene, and Owen sustained massive injuries that caused him to be a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. Kathryn's pelvis was shattered on impact, causing her to have to learn to walk again. Brooke had several broken bones and her mother Susannah sustained multiple broken ribs. After two hours of deliberation, a Fannin County, Georgia jury returned a verdict of $128,813,522, including $40 million for Hannah's wrongful death, $30 million for Owen's intangible damages and another $40 million for his future medical expenses. This was the fifth-largest wrongful death jury verdict in the United States in 2018. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Anna Cross Anna has been on the winning side in complex litigation in the trial and appellate courts of Georgia for decades. In her 20 years as a prosecutor in Metro Atlanta, Anna represented the State in high-profile homicide prosecutions such as State v. Hemy Neuman (2010 Dunwoody Daycare murder), State v. James Vincent Sullivan (1987 contract killing of Lita McClinton Sullivan), and State v. Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, Aka H. Rap Brown (2000 murder of Fulton County Sheriff’s Deputy) as part of the trial team and as the lead appellate attorney. Since making the switch to civil law in 2018 and joining The Summerville Firm, Anna has used her skills to help secure a $128 million jury verdict in the wrongful death and personal injury case Johnson v. Lee (Fannin County, GA). She has successfully briefed complex pretrial evidentiary issues, allowing her clients to secure several multi-million dollar settlements. Anna has tried over 80 cases to verdict, briefed hundreds of cases in the Georgia Appellate Courts, and argued
Tue, May 05, 2020
William Ricigliano│Jason Kowalsky v. County of Suffolk, Rancourt et al.│$5.088 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview William Ricigliano of Ricigliano and Filopei, P.C. ( www.hlmlawfirm.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: One of America’s Top 100 Attorneys, William Ricigliano shares how he secured justice for Jason Kowalsky, a Verizon technician in New York who was hit by a negligent driver in a Suffolk County Parks, Recreation & Conservation pickup truck. Jason was collecting safety cones and putting away his equipment when the driver struck him from behind with enough force to thrust him into the roadway and to push his parked vehicle forward. Jason sustained damage to his knee and back, requiring surgery and a costly chronic pain management regimen. Despite the defense’s attempts to pin Jason’s back injury on pre-existing conditions, a Suffolk County, New York jury returned a $5,088,000 verdict. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: William Ricigliano William Ricigliano, is the founding partner of Ricigliano & Filopei, P.C. with offices in Manhattan, the Bronx, and soon, West New York, New Jersey. Mr. Ricigliano founded the firm with the single goal of helping victims of catastrophic personal injury on both sides of the Hudson River. He has obtained significant verdicts in every borough of New York City as well as Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk counties and various counties in New Jersey. He has been named a Metro Area Super Lawyer every year since 2013 and has been named as one of America’s Top 100 Attorneys. Mr. Ricigliano’s victories in the courtroom have provided the opportunity to focus his attention in various areas of specialty. A $3.775 million verdict in Suffolk County for an 8-year-old boy who suffered a traumatic brain injury and required a lifetime of medical care sparked Mr. Ricigliano’s devotion to victims of traumatic brain injury. Similarly, a $2.6 million settlement after three weeks of trial in Brooklyn influenced his work with clients suffering from complex regional pain disorder, a chronic pain condition caused by trauma. Mr. Ricigliano has also dedicated his practice to the representation of construction workers who sustain life-altering injuries on the job. These hard-working men and women include carpenters, ironworkers, roofers, and industrial bridge painters, who typically are unable to return to their former occupations. A significant portion of his practice is also related to handling spinal injuries, including a 5 million verdict in Suffol
Tue, April 28, 2020
Jeff Harris and Jed Manton │Mundy v. Ford Motor Company│$40 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jeff Harris and Jed Manton of Harris, Lowry, and Manton LLP ( www.hlmlawfirm.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Harris Lowry Manton LLP partners Jeff Harris and Jed Manton share how they joined forces with Great Trials Podcast host Steve Lowry to secure justice in a landmark auto product liability case, which initiated a federal investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On November 1, 2005, Jessica Mundy's Ford Explorer suddenly shifted from park to reverse and started rolling backward. Jessica was struck by the driver's side door and was run over by the vehicle, rendering her a paraplegic. Jeff, Steve and Jed were able to demonstrate that Ford Motor Company transmissions suffered from a defect known as false park and that the company had known about it for decades. A DeKalb County, Georgia jury returned a verdict of $40 million for Jessica and her husband, Ken. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Jeff Harris One of the nation’s top trial attorneys, Jeff Harris is an award-winning litigator who handles high-profile, complex cases across a wide variety of practice areas. He excels at securing justice for clients who have been seriously injured or killed, holding responsible parties accountable for their actions as well as their negligence. Over the course of his career, Jeff has secured hundreds of millions in jury verdicts and settlements for his clients and has helped make a variety of products, vehicles and industries safer for everyone. His cases have been featured in The New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, 20/20, CBS Evening News and many other national media outlets. Jeff has obtained numerous record-setting verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients and has been repeatedly included on the annual survey of top jury verdicts in the United States, compiled by the National Law Journal. He has been inducted to the Georgia Verdicts Hall of Fame and honored on the Georgia Super Lawyers Top 100 list, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 list and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel’s Top One Percent list. Jeff has earned a reputation as a strategic, aggressive litigator who takes on major corporations and wins cases on behalf of his clients. Jeff has successfully litigated cases involving product defects, business disputes, wrongful death, catastrophic injury, bad faith, aviation accidents, medical negligence and industrial a
Tue, April 21, 2020
Dan Blouin and Jim Kramer │Clagett as Temporary Administrator for the Estate of Pietro Macaluso v. A. O. Smith Corporation, et. al.│$60 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Dan Blouin and Jim Kramer of Simmons, Hanly, Conroy ( https://www.simmonsfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Accomplished mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys Dan Blouin and Jim Kramer explain how they secured justice for the family of laborer Pietro Macaluso, who died from mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos dust while servicing and removing boilers. Despite the fact they knew it was hazardous, three boiler manufacturers used asbestos-filled insulation, cement, gaskets, tape and wire in their equipment and failed to warn workers like Pietro of potential health hazards or to offer safe handling methods. A New York City jury found the three manufacturers negligent and assigned 25 percent of the blame for Pietro's wrongful death to each company, along with smaller percentages to seven other manufacturers. The jury awarded a $60 million verdict, including 21 years of compensation to Pietro's son and daughter. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Dan Blouin Attorney Daniel Patrick Blouin is a shareholder at Simmons Hanly Conroy in the asbestos litigation department. Based in the firm’s New York office, Daniel has secured hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of clients diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. In his frequent role as lead trial-attorney and co-counsel, he has litigated against numerous national corporations involved in the manufacture and sale of dangerous products and equipment. He involves himself with every aspect of the litigation process, from client intake to discovery, to motion practice through trial verdict, keeping his clients’ needs and rights foremost in his priorities. In 2013, Daniel obtained a $190 million verdict on behalf of two tradesmen who developed mesothelioma decades after their occupational exposure to asbestos. The verdict was the largest consolidated asbestos verdict in New York history. In addition, the $60 million the two cancer patients received ranked among the largest individual damages awarded in a New York asbestos case. In 2014 and 2015, Daniel had unprecedented successes at trial in Delaware, New York City and Upstate New York. He obtained excellent settlements for clients before and during trial and won a jury verdict in a very contentious case in Syracuse, New York. In 2018, Daniel and fellow shareholder Jim Kramer secured a $60 million verdict in New York City against boil
Tue, April 14, 2020
Daniel Rodriguez, Chantal A. Trujillo & Danay Gonzalez│Bowe Cleveland v. Taft Union High School District, et al.│$3.8 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Daniel Rodriguez, Chantal A. Trujillo & Danay Gonzalez of Rodriguez & Associates Trial Lawyers ( https://www.rodriguezlaw.net/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Rodriguez & Associates trial lawyers Daniel Rodriguez, Chantal A. Trujillo, and Danay Gonzalez explain how they became the first trial team to present a school shooting-related civil claim to a jury. On January 10, 2013, Bowe Cleveland was shot by a fellow student, who was repeatedly reported to Taft Union High School administrators for making violent threats, having a "hit list" and drawing scenes of killings. Administrators failed to update their threat assessment plan and implement intervention tactics. As a result, Bowe was shot in his science classroom and suffered multiple punctures in his right lung, massive blood loss, and fractured ribs, requiring over 30 surgical procedures. To this day, Bowe's chest is full of shotgun pellets, and he struggles with PTSD. A Bakersfield, California jury found eight individuals, including the school's assistant principal, negligent and partially responsible for Bowe's injuries, returning a verdict of $3.8 million. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Daniel Rodriguez Daniel Rodriguez has a background that is a little bit different than the typical lawyer. Daniel grew up in a migrant farm-worker family. He and his family were constantly on the move. He lived and worked in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and California. Daniel and his five siblings attended between three and five different schools each year up until college. In addition to working in the fields, Daniel later held a variety of jobs going through college and law school. To name a few, Daniel worked as a dishwasher, worked for PG&E in their mapping department, worked as a salesperson for Sears, Roebuck & Co., sold encyclopedias door to door, and pumped gas at a full-service gas station. Another job that Daniel held was working as a roustabout and mechanic in the oilfields for Atlantic Richfield Co. in Kern County. All of these jobs helped mold Daniel’s perspective on life. Namely, that there’s no substitute for putting in the hard work. Daniel’s career as a lawyer is also a little bit different than the typical plaintiff’s lawyer. The vast majority of plaintiff’s lawyers hardly ever go to trial. Most of them may take a case to trial once every five years or so. Daniel t
Tue, April 07, 2020
GTP CLASSIC | John Romano | Adams v. Imported Car Store, Inc | $28.5 Million
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview John Romano of The Romano Law Group - www.romanolawgroup.com Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: In this personal injury proceeding, plaintiff Shawn J. Adams and other joining plaintiffs claimed The Imported Car Store Inc. employee Jason Neal violently beating the plaintiff, which permanently damaged the plaintiff's brain. The incident happened on October 17, 2005, when the plaintiff witnessed a vehicular collision involving defendant Neal. Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: John F. Romano of Romano Law Group in West Palm Beach, Florida, is Board Certified by The Florida Bar and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Advocate, and he is Board Certified by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys in Medical Malpractice. Mr. Romano had held the following positions: President of The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, The Southern Trial Lawyers Association, and The National Trial Lawyers; Chairman of the ATLA National College of Advocacy; Chairman, ATLA Criminal Law Section. He has authored three books: Strategic Use of Circumstantial Evidence, The Deposition Field Manual, and Opening Statements. He is editor and chapter author of Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit, 4th Edition. John Romano has gone to verdict in virtually every type of Civil Tort and Criminal case including Product Liability, Medical Malpractice, Defamation, Negligent Security, Traumatic Brain Injury, Wrongful Death, Trucking, Paralysis, First Degree Murder, Armed Robbery, Murder for Hire, and more. He is a former Captain in the United States Marine Corps. John and his wife Nancy (of 47 years) have four sons and 11 grandchildren. Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Case Pacer - CasePacer.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Bonus · Tue, March 31, 2020
Bonus Episode: Brian Brown | Sheltering (and Working) in Place
Brian Brown, of Brown & Barron, LLC, joins Steve and Yvonne to talk about the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. The three discuss tips on how to practice law and advocate for clients while “sheltering in place” and practicing social distancing.
Tue, March 31, 2020
Brian Brown │Ashley Partlow v. Kennedy Krieger Institute, Inc. │ $1.841 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Brian Brown of Brown and Barron, LLC ( https://www.brownbarron.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Accomplished Baltimore trial lawyer Brian Brown explains how he secured justice for Ashley Partlow, who was subjected to the Kennedy Krieger Institute's negligent Lead-Based Paint Abatement and Repair and Maintenance Study. Designed to identify the least expensive solution to a nationwide lead paint and dust problem, the study monitored blood lead levels in children under 4 years of age who were living in homes with unhealthy levels of poisonous lead dust. Ashley was too old to be an official test subject but was still exposed to high levels of lead dust through the study. As a result of her exposure, Ashley suffers from permanent brain damage and struggles with learning disabilities and behavior issues. After a month-long trial, a Baltimore City, Maryland jury returned a verdict of $1,841,000 in damages in this landmark case. Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Brian S. Brown Brian S. Brown, one of the firm’s founding partners, as well as its Managing Member, has over thirty years of experience as a trial lawyer and focuses his practice on litigating medical malpractice and nursing home abuse cases. Brian has tried well over 100 tort cases and has obtained multiple multi-million dollar verdicts. Over his career, he has recovered more than $175 million for his clients, through both trial and settlement. In addition to his trial experience, Brian has extensive appellate experience, having appeared before the Maryland Court of Appeals twelve times, and the Court of Special Appeals more than fifty times. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia, as well as in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Brian is currently a member of the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Brian has presented on legal topics in a variety of settings, including for the Inn of Court, and over ten times for HB Litigation Conferences. He has also presented to the entire bench of the Circuit Court of Baltimore City regarding the evolving law of expert testimony in Maryland. Brian has been named as a Super Lawyer, and he has been selected as a member of both the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and of the prestigious Litigation Counsel of America. Outside of his legal work, Brian has served as the President of the Board for the Maryland Disability Law Cent
Tue, March 24, 2020
T. Scott Jones │Collins v. Harold Limburg │ $525,000 Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview T Scott Jones of Banks and Jones ( https://www.banksjones.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Acclaimed Tennessee trial lawyer T. Scott Jones shares how he secured justice for his client, a 16-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted by a prominent Greeneville, Tennessee businessman and funeral homeowner who avoided meaningful criminal charges through a pre-trial diversion program and two years of probation. In his late 50s at the time of the statutory rape, the businessman posed as an 18-year-old on a website and targeted minors. The plaintiff suffered severe physical injuries, requiring hospitalization and continued medical treatment. A Greene County, Tennessee jury held the defendant accountable when it returned a verdict of $525,000, including $300,000 in compensatory damages and $225,000 in punitive damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: T. Scott Jones Scott Jones is a fierce trial lawyer and a zealous advocate for his clients. Well-regarded in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, T. Scott has received numerous accolades and awards. Multiple times, his peers in the legal field have voted him one of Knoxville’s Top Attorneys in polls conducted by CityView magazine. He has the highest possible AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell and is regarded as one of the preeminent attorneys in the southeastern United States. T. Scott’s successful litigation for his clients has qualified him for the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He has been named as one of Tennessee’s 10 Best Attorneys by both the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys and the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, and the American Society of Legal Advocates named him one of Tennessee’s Top 100 Litigation Lawyers. He has also been nationally recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America by the National Trial Lawyers. America’s Top 100 Attorneys has awarded him a Lifetime Achievement award and T. Scott is a Lifetime Charter Member of the Distinguished Justice Advocates. He has been named one of America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators in the state of Tennessee, and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel placed T. Scott into the Nation’s Top One Percent. He is currently serving as Vice President of the TN American Board of Trial Advocates (TN ABOTA) Chapter and regularly participates in trial practice relating teaching opportunities. Scott knows the importance of interacting with colleagues to stay abreast of developments and changes in the legal world. T.
Tue, March 17, 2020
John Duff & Alex Hilliard │Denise Marez, individually and on behalf of the estate of Juan Perez v. Isaac G. Rodriguez, Sr. d/b/a I & R Trucking and Rodriguez Trucking│$18 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview John Duff and Alex Hilliard of Hilliard Martinez Gonzalez LLP ( https://www.hmglawfirm.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Texas trial attorneys John Duff and Alex Hilliard of Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP share how they secured justice for the family of 60-year-old truck driver Juan Perez, who died after falling through Rodriguez Trucking’s rotted roof onto a cement floor 12 feet below. Juan was a dedicated employee of Rodriguez Trucking for 17 years, contrary to the defense’s claims that he was not employed by the company at the time of the incident, and was asked to help repair the roof without a safety harness or training of any kind, both of which resulted in a serious Office of Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violation. A San Patricio County, Texas jury found Rodriguez Trucking owner Isaac G. Rodriguez, Sr. negligent and returned a verdict of $18 million, including $10 million in punitive damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Alex Hilliard Alex Hilliard is a dedicated advocate for those who have been injured or have lost a loved one due to another party’s negligence. Alex is committed to championing his clients’ interests, understanding the challenges they face, and helping them secure compensation for their losses. Alex’s top priority is achieving the most just case resolution for his clients, be it trial or settlement, which is seen in his tireless investigation and persistence. He has distinguished himself with the loyalty and support he shows to his clients in his determination to ensure that their voices are heard. His kindhearted nature makes him perfect for his position in personal injury and wrongful death cases – he handles clients with the sensitivity that is required, yet is committed to researching and crafting a strategy that strengthens each case. He brings passion on behalf of those he serves and shares empathy with those victims of tragedy at all times. Having clerked at HMG for three years while attending St. Mary’s Law School, Alex worked on many aspects of personal injury and wrongful death litigation, including the high-profile ignition-switch litigation against General Motors. HMG represented injury victims and families of those killed in accidents caused by GM’s defective ignition switch and their concealment of safety defects. This multi-district litigation is considered the single largest produ
Tue, March 10, 2020
Mark Avera │Wiederhold v. Domino’s Pizza LLC│$9 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mark Avera of Avera and Smith ( https://www.avera.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Gainesville, Florida trial lawyer Mark Avera of Avera & Smith explains how he secured justice for Yvonne Wiederhold, the wife of the late Rich Wiederhold, by connecting the actions of one negligent delivery driver in Orlando, Florida to the larger Domino’s Pizza corporation through established right-of-control practices. Rich, a retired Brevard County District Fire Chief, strategically swerved and ultimately rolled his truck to avoid crashing into a Domino’s delivery car that pulled out in front of him. Rich was rendered a quadriplegic and died 15 months later due to complications. An Orange County, Florida jury returned a verdict of $8,977,788.55 in damages against Domino's Pizza LLC. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Mark Avera Like his father before him, Mark Avera has a history of many years of service to the people of Florida. His knowledge and understanding of the legal needs of his clients come not only from the practice of law, but from his early career as sheriff’s deputy in Alachua County. Before becoming a law partner at Avera & Smith in 1989 (then Avera & Avera), Mark served as a sheriff’s deputy for Alachua County. He became the department’s youngest deputy ever to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant. His primary assignments were uniform patrol division, SWAT, and the supervision of the department’s Street Crimes Unit. Mark completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida while working midnight shifts for the Sheriff’s Department and went on to graduate from UF with a law degree. Today, Mark serves as Managing Partner for Avera & Smith and works alongside his brother, Lance Avera, who specializes in workers' compensation law, and partner Rod Smith, who specializes in personal injury law. Mark is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law (B.C.S.) by the Florida Bar. He received his initial certification in 1998 and has remained qualified for board certification in civil trial law since that time. Board Certification is the Florida Bar’s highest level of evaluation in competence and experience within a specific area of law and indicates superior professionalism and ethics in practice. Only slightly more than 1,000 of the more than 100,000 lawyers currently licensed in the State of Florida are actually Board Certified in Civil Trial Law. During his career, Mark’s professionalism and dedication to his work as a trial advocate are reflected by his induction into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and in 2015 his induction into the Internatio
Tue, March 03, 2020
Benedict Morelli│Mark Perez v. Live Nation Worldwide, Inc.│$101 Million Verdict
Benedict Morelli│Mark Perez v. Live Nation Worldwide, Inc.│$101 Million Verdict This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Benedict Morelli of ( https://www.morellilaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Morelli Law Firm founder Benedict Morelli shares how he secured justice for 30-year-old Mark Perez, a talented graphic designer and DJ who sustained a traumatic brain injury when a forklift operated by a Live Nation employee crashed into his booth at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York. Despite the defense’s attempts to undermine the validity and severity of Mark’s physical limitations and continuing, pain and suffering, a New York County jury returned a verdict of $101,798,968 in damages after four weeks of trial. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Benedict Morelli Benedict Morelli began his career in 1973 as a law clerk in a personal injury law firm, becoming eligible for the bar exam in 1977. After being admitted to the New York State Bar he became a partner and then senior partner of that firm. Mr. Morelli has a degree from City College, NY 1971 and studied law at New York Law School. He is admitted to the United States Supreme Court, the U.S. District Courts, Southern, Eastern, Western, and Northern districts of New York. Mr. Morelli has been a partner at his law firm since 1981 and a senior partner since 1990. In June 1998, Mr. Morelli dissolved his firm and started Benedict P. Morelli & Associates, which later became Morelli Law Firm. Mr. Morelli represents clients in Employment Discrimination cases (including racial discrimination, age discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, and gender bias), false arrests, civil rights, complex product liability (including drug product liability – DES, Vioxx, Bextra, Ortho-Evra, and Avandia), auto accidents, premises, labor law, and many other types of cases. In each of these areas, Mr. Morelli has gotten multi-million dollar verdicts. He represents individual plaintiffs against many major corporations including many large investment banks. For over thirty-five years of trying cases, Mr. Morelli has received numerous multi-million dollar verdicts. In 1995, his $40 million dollar verdict was featured in the National Law Journal as one of the "Top Ten Verdicts" in the United States. He has tried every kind of civil case – fro
Tue, February 25, 2020
Larry Greenberg & Cary Hansel │Nicole Wallace, et al. v. State of Maryland, et al. │ $25 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Larry Greenberg of Greenberg Lawyers ( https://greenberglawyers.com/ ) & Cary Hansel of Hansel Law, P.C. ( http://www.hansellaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Greenberg Lawyers’ Larry Greenberg and Hansel Law, PC founder Cary Hansel explain how they secured justice for Nicole Wallace’s son, Daquan, who was severely beaten while in police custody. Arrested as a healthy 20-year-old man by Baltimore City police, Daquan was taken into pre-trial detention and beaten regularly by other detainees. Daquan’s mother, Nicole, spoke with officers in hopes they would address the situation and protect her son, who was in jail because she could not afford bail. Despite Nicole’s regular calls, officers violating detention center security and transfer policies, moving Daquan and leaving him alone in a cell, where he was beaten into a coma by other detainees. He now suffers from a traumatic brain injury and cannot walk or stand. A Baltimore City jury returned a verdict of $25 million in damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Larry Greenberg Lawrence “Larry” S. Greenberg earned his undergraduate degree from Boston University and his law degree from the University of Baltimore. After graduating from law school, Larry joined the Greenberg Law Offices, where his practice focuses on representing individuals who were injured from the negligence of others. Larry practices in Maryland state and federal courts, in the areas of general litigation; serious injury claims; medical, legal and other professional malpractice; slip and fall; defective products litigation; victims of truck, tractor-trailer, motorcycle and automobile negligence; and those victims injured by the police or other state agency employees. Larry also represents individuals accused of serious crimes and traffic offenses. When not in court, Larry is an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he teaches Trial Advocacy. Larry was a Captain and Legal Officer JAG of the Maryland Defense Force, where he provided legal support for the Maryland Army National Guard and the Maryland Air National Guard. He is past president of the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ). He has served on multiple committees and sections in MAJ, including legislative, auto-negligence, membership, marketing, awards, nominating, mentoring, new lawyers, trial reporter, scholarship, te
Tue, February 18, 2020
Brian Snyder & David Wenner │Esmeralda Tripp v. The Arizona Board of Regents et al. │$15 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Brian Snyder and David Wenner of Snyder and Wenner, P.C. ( https://snyderwenner.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Snyder & Wenner, P.C. partners Brian Snyder and David Wenner, experts in understanding jury bias, share how they secured Arizona’s highest medical malpractice verdict in decades on behalf of Esmeralda Tripp. A disabled woman with atrial fibrillation, Esmeralda entered the state university’s teaching hospital with abnormal bloodwork. She was treated by a recent medical school graduate, who ordered an off-label use of the high-risk blood clotting drug Profilnine. As a result of the drug, Esmeralda suffered a heart attack and sustained permanent brain damage from a lack of oxygen to the brain, requiring round-the-clock care. A Tucson, Arizona jury returned a verdict of $15 million in damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Bryan Snyder Named one of the Rising Stars in the plaintiff medical malpractice and personal injury arena, Brian has been featured in interviews on ABC15, CBS Local, KTAR, and AZTV, and has had an op-ed on medical malpractice and tort reform published in the Arizona Republic. Brian was born and raised in Arizona, and joined Snyder & Wenner in 2008, after compiling a distinguished record of achievement at Brandeis University and at Chapman University School of Law. While at Chapman University, Brian received numerous awards, including two CALI Awards for Excellence and first place in the National Arbitration Competition. He was also the President of the legal fraternity Phi Delta Phi, which focused on community outreach programs and was an editor on the Nexus Law Journal. In college, Brian was also president of the Brandeis University chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu for two years. Since joining Snyder & Wenner, Brian has continued to receive accolades. In 2013, he was named a “Top 40 Under 40” attorney by the National Trial Lawyers Association, while in 2014 and 2015 he was named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine and a “Top Attorney in Arizona” by Phoenix Magazine. Brian has also spoken at and moderated several Continued Legal Education (CLE) seminars for attorneys throughout the state regarding jury selection. In 2015, Brian accepted a position on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Association for Justice, and one year later was awarded the prestigious position as the Arizona delegate to the national organization, American Association For Justice. <
Tue, February 11, 2020
Derrick Alexander Pope | Hidden Legal Figures Podcast Collaboration | Holmes v. Danner
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Derrick Alexander Pope of Hidden Legal Figures The Podcast ( https://onthearc.net/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: In honor of Black History Month, Great Trials Podcast hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey joined forces with Hidden Legal Figures podcast host Derrick Alexander Pope to discuss Holmes v. Danner, the landmark University of Georgia desegregation case. In 1960, a lawsuit was filed against Walter Danner, the university registrar, by two African-American students who were unfairly denied admission. On Jan. 6, 1961, Judge William A. Bootle ruled that the two students were "fully qualified for immediate admission," adding that they "would already have been admitted had it not been for their race and color." Derrick also discusses the trial lawyers who played a vital role in the Civil Rights movement as well as his involvement with the Arc of Justice Project and the Hidden Legal Figures podcast. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Derrick Alexander Pope Derrick A. Pope is President and founding Director of The Arc of Justice Institute. In this role, he has responsibility for all aspects of the standing initiatives and programs of the Institute beginning with developing and managing the exhibit initiative and accompanying programs. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Pope is a 1987 graduate of Morris Brown College and a 1992 graduate of Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana, earning top honors in the Loyola Law Clinic. Mr. Pope has a distinguished career in the public, private and academic sectors. He has provided counsel to the legislative and executive branches of government at the federal, state, and county level and has been an Adjunct Professor at Georgia State University College of Law. In private practice, he has helped protect the inheritance rights of more than 500 families throughout Georgia. Mr. Pope has several published works to his credit. He is the author of By the Content of Our Character: A Declaration of Independence for Colored Folks, Negroes, Black People and African Americans and Thy Will Be Done: An African American Guide to Estate Planning and the Howard Law Journal article, A Constitutional Window to Interpretive Reason: Or in other Words...The Ninth Amendment. In 2012 teaming with his daughter he released a spoken word CD – The Race Track. Mr. Pope is a member of the State Bar of Georgia (Immediate Past Co-Chair of the Committee to Promote Inclusion in the Profession, member Advisory Committee on Legislation and Communications/Cornerstones of Freedom
Tue, February 04, 2020
Erin Hargis & Ted Rosenberg │Iacone v. Sal Passanisi, Jr., County of Nassau, Michael Piccoli, Thomas Piccoli, Anthony Grassi, Geralyn Grassi and Grace Kotter│$25.425 million settlement
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Erin Hargis and Ted Rosenberg of Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP ( https://www.lilawyer.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP trial lawyers Erin Hargis and Ted Rosenberg explain how they held New York’s Nassau County responsible for not addressing the limited sight distance of a dangerous curved road that resulted in a life-altering crash. At the intersection of Erwin Place and Oceanside Road, 17-year-old driver Nicollette Iacone pulled to a stop and crept forward to peer beyond obstructing hedges on the Grassi, Kotter and Piccoli property line and an inoperable control cabinet before making a left turn. Sal Passanisi, Jr., who was speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, collided with Nicollette, resulting in life-altering traumatic brain injuries. The jury returned a verdict assigning 14% negligence to Sal and 86% negligence to Nassau County. Ultimately, all parties settled for a total of $25,425,000. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Erin Hargis Erin M. Hargis received her Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College. Thereafter, she received her law degree from Brooklyn Law School. During Law School, Ms. Hargis was a member of the school’s Moot Court Honor Society, Trial Advocacy Division, and Vice President of the school’s chapter of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. After completing school, Ms. Hargis joined the Kings County District Attorney’s office as an Assistant District Attorney where she prosecuted both felony and misdemeanor cases and successfully tried numerous cases on behalf of the residents of Brooklyn. In 2008, Ms. Hargis joined a prominent Manhattan firm where she handled numerous complex medical malpractice cases. Ms. Hargis joined Rosenberg & Gluck in 2011 as an associate, rising to partner in 2015. She uses her experience to effectively represent victims of negligence and malpractice. Ms. Hargis handles all aspects of personal injury cases from inception through trial. Ms. Hargis was admitted to practice law in the state of New Jersey in 2004, the State of New York in 2005, and the District of Columbia in 2016. She is also admitted to practice in Federal Court in both the Eastern and Southern Districts. Read Full Bio Ted Rosenberg Ted M. Rosenberg is a Suffolk County native. He graduated from Boston University with honors, and then received his Juris Doctor from St.John’s University School of Law in 1982. Mr. Rosenberg work
Tue, January 28, 2020
William Applegate & Liam Duffy │Estate of Jose Larios v. Dominion Energy South Carolina f/k/a S.C. Electric & Gas Company│$21 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview William Applegate and Liam Duffy of Yarborough Applegate ( https://www.yarboroughapplegate.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Yarborough Applegate attorneys William Applegate and Liam Duffy share how they secured the largest jury verdict in Colleton County, South Carolina history for the wrongful death of landscaper Jose Larios. While trimming palm trees on Edisto Island, South Carolina, Jose screamed in pain and fell from a 25-foot ladder. Further investigation revealed hidden power lines that shocked Jose, causing him to fall and suffer fatal injuries. In this wrongful death case where the defense disputed the cause of Jose’s injuries, the jury returned a verdict of $21 million in damages and assigned 90 percent of the responsibility to Dominion Energy South Carolina and 10 percent to Jose. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: William Applegate William is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law. As a law student, he received the Public Interest Law Society Grant to work in Washington, D.C., served as vice-president of the Pro Bono Board, and was a student member of the John Belton O'Neal Inn of Court. Following law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable James R. Barber, III, of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of South Carolina, before starting a private practice with Motley Rice, one of the largest plaintiff's firms in the country. William has represented individuals and companies as plaintiffs throughout South Carolina and the U.S. and has achieved significant recoveries on their behalf. He has experience in a variety of different legal areas and has litigated cases covering a broad spectrum, ranging from Federal Employer's Liability Act relating to occupational disease and catastrophic injuries; Jones Act personal injury; Oil Pollution Act cases relating to oil spills from container ships and oil refineries; products liability relating to unsafe products and unsafe drugs; toxic spills from railroad companies; consumer fraud class actions; commercial litigation, as well as securities fraud, derivative, deal, and misrepresentation cases under the Securities and Exchange Act. Read Full Bio Liam Duffy Liam is a Washington, D.C. native who has called Charleston home
Tue, January 21, 2020
Jerome Block & Mike Shepard │Summerlin v. Philip Morris USA Inc, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company and Hampden Automotive Sales Corporation│ $43.1 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jerome Block of Levy Konisberg LLP ( https://www.levylaw.com/ )and Mike Shepard of Shepard Law ( https://shepardlawfirm.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Levy Konigsberg LLP partner Jerome Block and Shepard Law founder Mike Shepard explain how they worked together to try this first lung cancer case against tobacco and asbestos product companies for claims of exposure. Their client, Louis Summerlin, became addicted to menthol cigarettes before the first official health warnings were issued in 1966. Despite the fact that RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company knew their cigarettes were addictive and could cause lung cancer, the company continued to market their products, which contained nicotine levels far beyond the addiction threshold and failed to properly address potential health hazards. Years of smoking menthol cigarettes, in combination with nearly 25 years of exposure to asbestos-lined brakes while working as an auto mechanic, resulted in Summerlin suffering the synergistic effect of two major causes of lung cancer: cigarette smoke and asbestos. He died as a result. A Boston jury returned a verdict of $43.1 million, including $13.1 million for Summerlin’s family and $30 million in punitive damages against RJ Reynolds. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Jerome H. Block Jerome (Jerry) Block is a partner at Levy Konigsberg LLP and specializes in representing people diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma (cancer caused by asbestos exposure) and lung cancer (cancer caused by both asbestos exposure and smoking). Jerry is one of the only attorneys in the United States to have won multiple jury verdicts against both the asbestos and tobacco industries. Jerry is a fierce and passionate advocate who views his cases as battles for public health. Jerry tries his cases in courtrooms throughout the country and has successfully defended his jury verdicts on appeal in courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the New York Appellate Division and the Delaware Supreme Court. Jerry’s mastery of the law and rules of evidence have resulted in an extraordinarily high winning percentage at trial and the rare distinction of never having a jury verdict reversed on appeal. Over the course of his career, Jerry has obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in jury verdicts and pre-trial settlements. Jerry is known for his willingness to take on the most challengi
Tue, January 14, 2020
Michelle Shughart│State of Texas v. Christopher Duntsch│Convicted - Life Imprisonment - Part 2
Episode 048: Michelle Shughart│State of Texas v. Christopher Duntsch│Convicted - Life Imprisonment - Part 2 This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Michelle Shughart, Dallas District Attorney. Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: In the riveting conclusion of a two-part series, Dallas District Attorney Michelle Shughart explains how she criminally prosecuted Dr. Christopher Duntsch, also known as “Dr. Death,” and secured the nation’s first life imprisonment of a physician for actions towards a patient. Dr. Duntsch was convicted of knowingly maiming an elderly woman by surgically implanting spinal fusion hardware into muscle, not bone. Jurors heard how Dr. Duntsch resigned from his practicing hospital and was able to continue treating patients, despite causing life-altering injuries to dozens of patients. This landmark case and Dr. Duntsch’s disturbing actions were the focus of the popular Dr. Death Podcast, hosted by top medical journalist Laura Beil. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Michelle Shughart Michelle Shughart has been an Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County for over 14 years. She is currently chief of a felony court and has previously been assigned to the Child Abuse, Specialized Crime, Arson, Mental Health, and State Jail divisions. She completed her Juris Doctorate from S.M.U. in May 2005, having passed the BAR examination prior to graduation. While working fulltime at the District Attorney’s Office, Michelle completed her Masters of Arts in Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management from the S.M.U. Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Outside her work at the D.A.’s Office, Michelle teaches at Southern Methodist University in the Master of Liberal Arts program. Her classes include Negotiation, Psychology of Conflict, Multicultural Communication, and the Human Experience. She also teaches for the Dallas County Community College District, on the topics of Texas Family Code and Divorce Mediation. Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1
Tue, January 07, 2020
Kay Van Wey│State of Texas v. Christopher Duntsch│Multi-Million Dollar Settlement - Part 1
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Kay Van Wey of Van Wey, Presby, And Williams ( https://www.vanweylaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: In the first of a two-episode series, 17-time Dallas Super Lawyer Kay Van Wey shares how she held neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch – widely known as “Dr. Death” – accountable for performing surgeries under the influence of drugs and alcohol and failing to execute procedures properly, often resulting in patient paralysis or death. Representing a number of Dr. Duntsch’s victims, Kay exposed the lack of protection from medical regulatory bodies that are supposed to protect patients from dangerous doctors. Dr. Duntsch is one of the first physicians to be criminally convicted for severely injuring a patient. His heinous actions and operating room horror stories were the focus of the popular Dr. Death Podcast, hosted by top medical journalist Laura Beil. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Kay Van Wey I’m Kay Van Wey, a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer and Patient Safety Advocate. My clients are everyday people who have been seriously injured by a healthcare provider, medical device, or prescription drug or involved in a life altering accident. I am passionate about helping my clients. My team and I take a personalized, hands-on approach to helping our clients navigate the legal system and ultimately achieve the justice and compensation they deserve. I understand just how confusing the legal landscape is and how when you are injured or grieving it is difficult to understand the complexities and navigate through the legal maze. In experiencing my own personal family tragedy in my late 30’s, I understand first-hand what it feels like to be a victim and go through the difficult process of healing and the road to justice. This is one of the primary reasons that I do this work. My patient safety advocacy comes from my passion to ensure that bad medical practices, doctors, and procedures that lead to unfortunate outcomes that could be avoided are removed or lessened so that no one else suffers. You may know me as one of the lawyers that prosecuted multiple civil cases against “Dr. Death.” I had the privilege of representing many of his victims. As I have always said and believed, most doctors are good doctors — and good people. But the system for how we identify, report, and stop bad doctors is failing patients. The tragedy of the Christopher Duntsch story is that so many patients were harmed before he could be stopped. This is just incomprehensible and unacceptable. Ac
Tue, December 31, 2019
Craig McClellan │Garrison v. Files, Porsche-Audi, a Division of Volkswagen of America, Inc., Porsche, Norden Autohaus Limited │ $2.5 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Craig McClellan of The McClellan Law Firm ( https://www.mcclellanlaw.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Three-time Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award recipient Craig McClellan reveals how he held a manufacturer liable for making a vehicle that is “too dangerous for the average consumer without warnings and instruction.” Air Force veteran Donald Fresh was killed after his coworker failed to maintain control of her Porsche Turbo 930, which was designed to operate more like a race car and did not respond well to deceleration or braking while executing a turn. The brake bent under the force of her foot due to a laceration defect, causing the brake pedal to clamp down on the accelerator. A San Diego jury returned a verdict of $2,500,000 and assigned 100% of the blame for Donald’s death on Porsche for not posting warnings about the car’s foreseeable risk of hazard to users and negligence in addressing the car’s defective brakes and handling. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Craig McClellan Craig McClellan has obtained more than 130 verdicts and settlements in excess of one million dollars, and is a three-time recipient of the "Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award" from the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego for cases in which million and multi-million dollar verdicts were obtained. He is the first and only San Diego personal injury attorney selected for admission to the Inner Circle of Advocates, a prestigious invitation-only group of top plaintiff's attorneys, limited to 100 members nationwide. One of his final arguments is featured in Million Dollar Arguments. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, where he served as President of the San Diego Chapter. He is also a Master of the American Inns of Court, where he currently serves as President of the Enright Inn. He is a former Member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Craig has the distinction of being voted by his peers as one of the Best Lawyers in America and its San Diego “Lawyer of the Year” five times, as well as a top 10 "Super Lawyer" for San Diego, ranked number one of all San Diego lawyers in 2019. In addition to these recognitions, Craig earned a 10/10 "Superb" Avvo rating and was named one of 2015's Top Lawyers in San Diego in Business Litigation by San Diego Magazine. He has appeared on public radio and television p
Bonus · Tue, December 24, 2019
GTP Classic: Scott Occhiogrosso | Robert Liciaga v. New York City Transit Authority | $110.17 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Scott Occhiogrosso of Block, O'Toole, and Murphy ( www.blockotoole.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Brooklyn Gang Unit prosecutor turned personal injury attorney Scott Occhiogrosso of Block O’Toole & Murphy discusses how he secured the largest non-medical malpractice jury verdict in New York history. In April 2016, 23-year-old bicyclist Robert Liciaga was struck by a falling railroad tie after New York City Transit Authority workers failed to follow procedure and practice safety measures while executing an elevated track replacement above Broadway. Liciaga is now paralyzed from the waist down. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Scott Occhiogrosso is a partner at Block O’Toole & Murphy, having handled many very significant construction accident cases as well as other catastrophic injury matters that have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients. In April 2019, he won a $110,174,972.38 verdict from a Brooklyn jury for a catastrophically-injured cyclist against the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA). This result is believed to be the largest non-medical malpractice verdict in New York State. After graduating from law school, Mr. Occhiogrosso - - like several of his colleagues at the firm - - began his training as a trial lawyer in the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office. He handled thousands of serious cases and spent his days navigating the gritty, cavernous courtrooms in downtown Brooklyn. He had occasion to work side-by-side with now firm partners Stephen J. Murphy and S. Joseph Donahue and made a distinct impression on them while he honed his skills as a prosecutor. Mr. Occhiogrosso was recognized for his tenacity and skills, resulting in a promotion to the prestigious Brooklyn Gang Unit. While with the Gang Unit, Mr. Occhiogrosso focused on prosecuting criminals that were involved in violent crimes and gang-related activities. He handled cases involving drug, robbery, burglary, assault, attempted murder and murder charges and did so with tremendous success. It was at the District Attorney's Office where Mr. Occhiogrosso developed a reputation for being an ethical but formidable adversary. Most importantly, his experiences solidified his desire as a lawyer to impact people in a positive way. He left the District Attorney's Office in 2005 determined to advance his skills and experience as a trial attorney, beginning as a defense attorney in the civil arena for the Port Authority. Mr. Occhiogrosso fought on behalf of police officers and other
Tue, December 17, 2019
Lance Cooper │Melton v. General Motors LLC and Thornton Chevrolet, Inc. │ Undisclosed Settlement
Episode 045: Lance Cooper │Melton v. General Motors LLC and Thornton Chevrolet, Inc. │ Undisclosed Settlement This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Lance Cooper of The Cooper Firm ( https://thecooperfirm.com/ ) | Live from the 2019 Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Conference Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: In a special episode recorded live at the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association’s 2019 Holiday Workshop in Atlanta, product liability attorney Lance Cooper shares how he uncovered one of the earliest General Motors ignition switch cases in a case surrounding the death of Brooke Melton. Brooke hydroplaned while driving her 2005 Chevy Cobalt, crossed the centerline, hit another vehicle head-on and died on impact. Upon further investigation, Lance and his team discovered Brooke lost control of her car because her ignition had turned off due to a product liability involving the ignition’s low torque. This landmark discovery launched a nationwide recall of millions of cars and resulted in billions of dollars in penalties and settlements against General Motors. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Lance Cooper Lance Cooper is the founding partner of The Cooper Firm and represents clients in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. He specializes in product liability cases involving automobile design and manufacturing defects. Lance has been lead counsel for plaintiffs in a large number of jury trials including trials against General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Kia, Chrysler, Honda, as well as other motor vehicle manufacturers and large corporations. He has successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases and has received numerous multi-million dollar jury verdicts and settlements. His 2011 wrongful death case against General Motors (Melton v. GM, 2011-A-2652) exposed the cover-up of faulty ignition switches resulting in millions of recalled vehicles. Lance received his law degree from Emory University in 1989 where he was a G. Joseph Tauro Scholar and Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1985. Lance served as the 2002-2003 President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and is a past President of the Cobb County Trial Lawyers Association. He is also a member of the American Association of Justice and was honored to receive the Steven J. Sharpe Public Service Award in 2014. Lance was also a 2014 nominee for the Public Justice Trial Lawyer of the Year award. In addition to his law practice, Lance is actively engaged in numerous community and
Tue, December 10, 2019
Gary Fox │Slayton v. Professional Park Pediatrics, P.A., Pediatrics of Timberlane, P.A., and Penrod, M.D.│ $3.373 million verdict
Episode 044: Gary Fox │Slayton v. Professional Park Pediatrics, P.A., Pediatrics of Timberlane, P.A., and Penrod, M.D.│ $3.373 million verdict This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Gary Fox of Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain, P.A ( https://www.stfblaw.com ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Inner Circle of Advocates attorney Gary Fox shares how a medical malpractice case was mistried twice before resulting in Leon County, Florida’s first verdict in 17 years in favor of a patient against a physician. Premature baby Levi Slayton was taken to the doctor a few days after birth for breathing difficulties and rising bilirubin levels, which can indicate elevated red blood cell destruction and a possible infection. The doctor was negligent and failed to admit the baby to the hospital to monitor his bilirubin levels in an environment that could respond quickly. Returning home, the baby stopped breathing while being breastfed and suffered such significant brain damage from a lack of oxygen that life-support was not recommended. Levi only lived for six days. The jury assigned 100% responsibility for the baby’s death to the doctor, returning a verdict of $3,373,000. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Gary Fox For the past 39 years Gary Fox has devoted his practice exclusively to the trial of civil cases in Florida. He specializes in the trial of medical malpractice, products liability and wrongful death cases. Gary graduated from the University of Florida School of Law in 1976, where he was an editor of the law review and member of the National Moot Court Board. After graduation, he went to work for the firm known as Frates Floyd Pearson Stewart Richman & Greer. He became a partner at the firm and in 1984 left to open his own firm with Larry Stewart, Jim Tilghman and David Bianchi, where he has remained since. Gary is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, the most selective group of trial lawyers in the United States. The Inner Circle is an invitation-only group limited to the top 100 plaintiffs’ trial attorneys in America. Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain is the only law firm in Florida with two members in The Inner Circle. Gary was selected as the Trial Lawyer of the Year by the American Board of Trial Advocates, Florida Chapters, an organization also known as FLABOTA. The American Board of Trial Advocates is an invitation-only group of trial lawyers evenly divided between attorneys who represent plaintiffs and those who represent insurance companies, manufacturers, health care providers, and other defendan
Tue, December 03, 2019
Randy Kinnard │Wade v. HealthSouth Cane Creek Rehabilitation Hospital, Lowry, M.D.│ $15.2 million verdict
Episode 043: Randy Kinnard │Wade v. HealthSouth Cane Creek Rehabilitation Hospital, Lowry, M.D.│ $15.2 million verdict This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Randy Kinnard of www.kinnardclaytonandbeveridge.com/ Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Accomplished trial lawyer, veteran and Purple Heart recipient Randy Kinnard of Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge Attorneys at Law explains how he secured the largest verdict in Weakley County, Tennessee history for Cody Wade. At the age of 17, Cody was intubated following a traumatic car crash and struggled to breathe normally once it was removed. With the trach tube re-inserted, he was transferred to Cane Creek Rehabilitation Hospital and put under the care of a doctor who failed to consult a specialist or to provide reasonable care when Cody expressed concern and signs of respiratory distress following the second removal of the trach tube. Without the tube, Cody’s airway collapsed and he sustained irreversible brain damage, leaving him unable to speak or move. A Dresden, Tennessee jury returned a $15.2 million verdict following a lengthy five-week trial. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Randy Kinnard Before becoming a trial lawyer, Randy Kinnard was a soldier. He graduated from West Point and then served in the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam as a Lieutenant and airborne ranger. He commanded 250 men in combat. He was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart and Combat Air Medal for 28 air assaults in combat. After his military service, Randy went to law school in Memphis. Randy has tried over 250 jury trials for plaintiffs. He has won many record-setting verdicts, including the Erin Andrews’ case of $55 million. He’s a past president of the Tennessee Association for Justice. Randy is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates and he lives in Nashville. He has served on several non-profit boards. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Par
Tue, November 26, 2019
Shanin Specter │Michael Goretzka v. West Penn Power Company │ $109 million verdict
Episode 042: Shanin Specter │Michael Goretzka v. West Penn Power Company │ $109 million verdict This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Shanin Specter of www.klinespecter.com Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Inner Circle of Advocates member Shanin Specter of Kline & Specter, PC shares how he obtained the largest contested liability personal injury verdict in Pennsylvania history after 39-year-old Carrie Goretzka was fatally electrocuted by a 7200 volt power line. West Penn Power linemen failed to properly clean the wires with a wire brush before installing them, per the manufacturer’s instructions, resulting in the line overheating and falling to the ground as a live wire in her yard. The result of this premises liability case led to the re-training of Pennsylvania linemen, infra-red inspections of power lines and the creation of an Electric Safety Division by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to investigate reported electrical injuries. An Allegheny County jury returned a $109 million verdict, including $48 million in compensatory damages and $61 million in punitive damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Shanin Specter Shanin Specter is a preeminent American trial lawyer. He is a founding partner of Kline & Specter, one of the leading catastrophic injury firms in the United States. Specter has obtained more than 200 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million, including jury verdicts of $153 million against a major automaker and $109 million against a Pennsylvania power company. In all, he has achieved 16 eight- or nine-figure verdicts, among them news-making cases involving medical malpractice, defective products, medical devices, premises liability, auto accidents, and general negligence. He is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, whose membership is limited to the top 100 plaintiffs’ trial attorneys in the United States. Beyond winning substantial monetary compensation for his clients, many of Specter's cases have prompted changes that provide a societal benefit, including improvements to vehicle safety, nursing and hospital procedures, the safe operation of police cars, training for the use of CPR at public institutions, and inspections, installation and maintenance of utility power lines. One case spurred the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to create a new Electric Safety Division to investigate reported electrical injuries. Most recently, Specter’s lawsuit on behalf of the victims of a fire escape collapse helped move the City of Philadelphia in 2016 to enact an ordinance requiring all fire escapes to be
Tue, November 19, 2019
George “Skip” Finkbohner | Juno v. Amare, et al | $140 million verdict
Episode 041: George “Skip” Finkbohner | Juno v. Amare, et al | $140 million verdict This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview George "Skip" Finkbohner of Cunningham Bounds . Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Litigation Counsel of America Fellow Skip Finkbohner explains how he secured the largest medical malpractice verdict in Alabama history after his client, Sharron Juno, received a fatal dose of insulin that was 10 times the correct prescribed dosage due to a transcription error. Sharron’s dosage orders, dictated by Dr. Amare, were routed through a medical transcription company that the hospital had failed to properly vet. The transcription company was attempting to lower costs by outsourcing their services to unqualified transcribers in India. A Baldwin County, Alabama jury returned a landmark verdict of $140 million on behalf of Sharron’s estate. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: George "Skip" Finkbohner In an era when fewer and fewer civil cases go to trial, Skip Finkbohner has consistently won major court battles over a significant period of time and across a wide range of different types of cases, including wrongful death, product liability, complex commercial litigation, fraud, industrial accidents, environmental, medical malpractice, and others. Skip and his team examine the smallest of details and take the time to explain to juries the complex scientific, engineering and medical issues that are often the key factors in winning cases. After graduating from college at Duke University (magna cum laude), and then from Duke Law School, the Mobile Alabama native achieved early success in the courtroom. This inspired him to fight for those who he felt were wronged, knowing that with enough preparation, and by adhering to ethical values, he could help improve the lives of others by fighting for them rather than taking unfair settlements. Skip has represented plaintiffs in many cases that resulted in record-breaking jury verdicts, including the two largest jury verdicts in Alabama since 2003. These include his representation of the following: Dr. Peter Mannsfeld, a scientist, against Ineos Phenol GmbH & CO., KG, which resulted in a $192 million verdict. This was the largest verdict ever achieved in Mobile County, and the largest ever achieved in Alabama for an intellectual property/trade secrets case. The family of Sharron Juno against Thomas Hospital and Precise Solutions in a medical malpractice/wrongful death case in Baldwin County, which is generally considered one of the most conservative venues in Alabama. The trial of this case resulted in a $140 million verdict, which was the largest ever ach
Tue, November 12, 2019
Bill Stone | Trabue v. Atlanta Women’s Specialists, LLC and Stanley R. Angus, M.D. | $45.8 million verdict
Episode 040: Bill Stone Trabue v. Atlanta Women’s Specialists, LLC and Stanley R. Angus, M.D. $45.8 million verdict This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Bill Stone of stonelaw.com Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Former Georgia Plaintiff’s Lawyer of the Year Bill Stone of Stone Law Group in Atlanta explains how he secured justice for Shannon Trabue, an expectant mother with pre-eclampsia who suffered irreversible brain damage due to medical malpractice. Two Atlanta Women’s Specialists’ doctors failed to regulate Shannon’s blood pressure, despite knowledge that pre-eclampsia patients pose a high risk of blood pressure-induced seizures, and failed to manage her fluid levels. As a result, Shannon suffered cardiopulmonary arrest, resulting in permanent brain damage and physical disabilities due to an extended period of time without oxygen. A Fulton County, Georgia jury delivered a $45.8 million verdict, including $9.8 million in economic loss and $18 million in compensatory damages for Shannon. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Bill Stone Bill is a trial lawyer from Blakely, Georgia, who specializes in personal injury, wrongful death, professional malpractice, product liability, commercial and consumer fraud cases. The firm’s predecessor was founded in 1915 by Bill’s grandfather, the late Wm. Lowrey Stone. Past members of the firm include Bill’s father, Lowrey S. Stone, who formerly served as Chief Judge of Superior Courts, Pataula Judicial Circuit. Bill was born in Dothan, Alabama, on August 19, 1953. He attended the public schools in Early County, Georgia and graduated from Early County High School in 1971. He attended the University of Georgia College of Business Administration and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting on graduation in 1975. Bill also attended the Netherlands Institute of Industrial Economics near Amsterdam in The Netherlands in 1973. Bill received his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1977. He was admitted to practice law in the state of Georgia in 1977 and in the state of Alabama in 1985. He is also a member of the bars of the United States District Courts for the Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia, the Middle District of Alabama, and the Central District of Illinois, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits. The publishers of the Martindale Hubble Law Directory have awarded Bill its highest rating (AV) for legal ability and integrity. Read Full Bio</
Tue, November 05, 2019
Patrick Malone | Gambino v. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital | $3.6 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Patrick Malone of https://www.patrickmalonelaw.com/ Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Acclaimed Washington, D.C. plaintiff’s attorney Patrick Malone discusses how he secured a $3.6 million verdict on behalf of a two-week-old baby girl who suffered a serious chemical burn from an intravenous line delivering liquid nutrition and antibiotics in her ankle at Georgetown University Hospital. The tip of the intravenous needle migrated into the muscle and fat, causing permanent injury that required multiple medical interventions. At trial, Malone demonstrated that the nursing staff at the hospital allowed the IV line to go unchecked, directly contributing to the severity of the burn. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Patrick Malone Patrick Malone is a son of the Midwest. He grew up in an Irish Catholic family in Wichita, Kansas, the oldest of seven children. After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Kansas, he worked as a reporter for United Press International in Kansas City, then won a prestigious journalism fellowship at the University of Michigan, where he studied public health issues and wrote freelance articles for the Washington Post. Malone then worked as a medical writer and investigative reporter for the Miami Herald, where he won a number of awards, including a finalist designation for the Pulitzer Prize for a series co-authored on “dangerous doctors.” After he was accepted at Yale Law School, Malone and his wife Vicki sold their home in Miami and moved to a rental apartment in New Haven, Connecticut with their infant son. They had one more son while at Yale and a third after moving to the Washington area. At Yale, Malone won several student awards, including best “moot court” argument. He worked for a year after graduating for a prominent federal judge, U.S. District Judge Gerhard Gesell in Washington, D.C. In 1985, Patrick Malone began his career as an attorney representing seriously injured people. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 <a href='https://
Tue, October 29, 2019
Rex Parris | Taylor v. Schilling | $41.6 million verdict
Episode 038: Rex Parris | Taylor v. Schilling | $41.6 million verdict This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Rex Parris of www.ParrisLawyers.com Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: National Institute for Trial Advocacy Master Advocate Rex Parris describes how he obtained one of the nation’s top motor vehicle accident verdicts in 2018 on behalf of Anthony Taylor. Only 25 at the time of the collision with Schilling’s car, Taylor suffered a broken neck and severe spinal cord injury that rendered him a quadriplegic. A previous corrective back surgery for adolescent scoliosis conflicted with the post-accident reconstructive back surgery, causing serious infection and extensive hospital stays. Today, Taylor requires round-the-clock care. A Los Angeles, California jury returned a verdict of $41,634,170 in damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Rex Parris Rex Parris is recognized as one of the most successful and innovative trial lawyers alive today. Rex handles a wide variety of cases, ranging from severe personal injury to class actions, products liability, and business torts. When he is not in trial, Rex tours the country speaking to trial lawyer organizations about the intersection of cognitive science and the persuasion of jurors. Rex has been profiled in numerous national media outlets, including “20/20,” “Nightline,” the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and a myriad of legal journals. Rex has achieved outstanding results in the courtroom over the span of his career – he obtained the first million-dollar verdict in California’s Kern County as a young lawyer and, years later, obtained a historic, record-breaking defamation jury verdict in Los Angeles for $370,000,000. In between, Rex has obtained dozens of seven-, eight- and nine-figure verdicts and settlements. His success is hardly happenstance – Rex prepares every case, for trial using the latest science in persuasion skills. Everything from metaphoric choices, word selection and visuals are tested and re-tested before each trial. In addition to managing his trial calendar and the Firm’s diversified practice, Rex also manages one of California’s fastest-growing cities. As the mayor of Lancaster since 2008, Rex has gained nationwide media attention for his efforts to improve the wellbeing of the city’s residents. For example, gang violence dropped 82%, the city’s downtown area was completely redeveloped during the worst economic downturn in over 75 years, and all of the city’s municipal buildings were converted to solar power. Rex and his wife, Carrol, founded the Firm in 1985 w
Tue, October 22, 2019
Kent Buckingham, Rick Barrera & Mike Newell | Anne Sperling (conservator of Jonathan Botello), Lorenza & Alvaro Botello v. Pecos Valley of New Mexico, LLC | $73.2 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Kent Buckingham and Rick Barrera of Buckingham Barrera Law Firm and Mike Newell of Newell Law Firm, LLC . Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Kent Buckingham and Rick Barrera of Buckingham Barrera Law Firm and Mike Newell of Newell Law Firm, LLC explain how they secured justice for Lorenza and Alvaro Botello after their son, Jonathan Botello, sustained a traumatic brain injury and significant nerve damage after he was left without oxygen for 10 minutes at birth. The doctor treating Lorenza failed to perform the serial ultrasounds necessary for a diabetic’s pregnancy and recklessly attempted a traditional vaginal birth, despite indications that Jonathan, weighing in at 11.5 pounds, would be too large to be delivered via traditional methods. A Santa Fe, New Mexico jury awarded $73.2 million in damages to Jonathan’s parents, including $13.35 million in damages for Lorenza, who suffers from severe birth-related injuries. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Kent Buckingham Kent Buckingham is a board-certified, AV-rated attorney—earning the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell—who limits his practice to the specialty of medical malpractice. In addition, he practiced for several years as an eye doctor before beginning his legal career. His firm has obtained numerous multi-million dollar settlements and judgments. He is a sustaining member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, a member of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group, and a Diplomate of the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Before starting his legal practice, Mr. Buckingham practiced as an ophthalmologist for several years. This experience has endowed him with the unique insight necessary to effectively represent plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases. Read Full Bio Rick Barrera Mr. Barrera was born and raised in the border community of Del Rio, TX. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994. After careers in grocery retail management and financial advising, Mr. Barrera returned to law school to fulfill a childhood dream. Mr. Barrera graduated from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 2009. He is licensed to practice law in Texas and New Mexico. Mr. Barrera believes strongly in civic duty and has served in various leadership capacities with Rotary Internationa
Tue, October 15, 2019
Brad Beckworth | State of Oklahoma v. Johnson & Johnson; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | $572.1 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Brad Beckworth of Nix Patterson, LLP ( https://nixlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Nix Patterson, LLP trial attorney Brad Beckworth shares how he joined forces with the Attorney General of Oklahoma to try Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary, opioid manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as a public nuisance for creating the worst manmade public health crisis in U.S. history. In the nation’s first major trial against an opioid maker, Beckworth and the state’s litigation team proved Johnson & Johnson and Janssen deceptively marketed opioids for safe, long-term-use, resulting in thousands of deaths due to overdose and addiction. The District Court ordered Johnson & Johnson and Janssen to pay $572,102,028, which will be used to fund Oklahoma’s opioid crisis abatement plan, supporting addiction treatment centers and opioid addiction prevention initiatives. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Nix Patterson partner Brad Beckworth is the co-head of the Firm’s Complex Litigation group. Brad joined the firm in 1998 after clerking for The Honorable Richard Schell, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Like many of our lawyers, Brad began his career with a hunger for trying cases to a jury for those who needed help. Brad grew up in Conroe, Texas, which was a small rural town at the time. He worked his way through high school and college, holding a variety of jobs like working on a commercial roofing crew, running a landscaping crew for a developer, and drying cars at a commercial car wash. Brad took the lessons he learned working side by side with working class people into his early career at the Firm and volunteered to take just about any case he could to get in front of a jury. As a result, his early court room work included everything from trying pro bono cases for battered women and prisoners’ rights cases to complex personal injury trials. After winning several trials in his first few years, Brad won a major trademark case and then negotiated a complex licensing deal on behalf of our client. After that, Brad became a go-to trial lawyer for bet the company litigation. Brad has never been afraid of handling something new. Together with co-head Jeff Angelovich, Brad created the Firm’s Institutional Securities Litigation and Energy and Natural Resource Litigation Practice. Brad’s first securities fraud litigation resulted in a $49.5 million settlement; his first gas royalty case resulted in a $155 million settlement; his first effort to
Tue, October 08, 2019
GTP CLASSIC | Roxanne Conlin | McFarland v Rieper Law Firm | $3.25 Million
Ep 006: Roxanne Conlin | McFarland v Rieper Law Firm | $3.25 Million This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Roxanne Conlin of Roxanne Conlin and Associates, ( https://www.roxanneconlinlaw.com ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: The 3-month-old baby died April 22, 2014, about five weeks after his birth mother got him back from the McFarlands, whom he had lived with since birth. Police charged the child's father with murder after his birth mother found the baby "alone, pale, wet and foaming from his mouth and nose" in her apartment. Full Article Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Roxanne Conlin has her own law firm in Des Moines, where she exclusively represents people who have been harmed by others, whether by discrimination, products, doctors or vehicles. She entered Drake University in 1961, when she was only 16, and graduated from law school with honors five years later at the age of 21. From 1969 to 1976, she was an Assistant Attorney General for Iowa, where she was head of the Iowa Civil Rights section and fought race and sex discrimination. She also rewrote Iowa's inheritance laws; toughened the state's assault laws and blocked a merger of two major utilities that would have hurt the average consumer. She left the Attorney General's Office to become a consultant to the United States Department of State for International Women's Year. In 1977, she became one of the first two women ever to be a United States Attorney. Roxanne put heroin dealers behind bars and prosecuted white-collar crimes and corruption in public office. She also served as President of the Federal Executive Council, which is composed of the heads of all seventy federal agencies. Roxanne has devoted much time to individual organizations and causes and community service. She founded and was the first chair of the Iowa Women's Political Caucus, and was president and general counsel of the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund. Most recently, she has been named by the National Law Journal as one of the fifty most influential women lawyers in America, one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America and one of the top 10 litigators. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - <a href='http://ltsatlanta.c
Tue, October 01, 2019
GTP CLASSIC | Randi McGinn | Sowards v. Biotronik | $67.3 million
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Randi McGinn of McGinn, Montoya, Love & Curry. P.A. (MMLC) - www.mcginnlaw.com Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Sowards v. Biotronik, wrongful implant of a pacemaker in exchange for kickbacks. Read More Here Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents (Plaintiff's Opening, Plaintiff's Closing, Special Verdict Form Compensatory/Punitive Damages) Guest Bio: Interesting Stuff Randi McGinn is the author of “Changing Laws, Saving Lives: How to Take on Corporate Giants and Win,” available through Trial Guides at http://www.trialguides.com/book/changing-laws-saving-lives/ She is one of the country’s leading trial lawyers, having tried over 130 cases, including those of women survivors of sexual assault, harassment, and retaliation. The first woman president of the Inner Circle (100 best trial lawyers in the US), she is known for her creativity in the courtroom and use of demonstrative evidence to visualize opening, direct, cross-examination and closing argument. She has destroyed adverse witnesses by leaving a pretentious Beverly Hills doctor standing in front of the jury covered with post-its and clutching a grapefruit to his chest, by grilling a government snitch until he threw up and by exposing the fact that a world-renowned polygraph expert had been polygraphing his own sperm cells in the dead of night. In a particularly hard-won police shooting case, the local SWAT cops once put her face on their Christmas pinata and took turns whacking it with a big stick. She recently was appointed as a special prosecutor and tried the first murder prosecution in over 50 years of an Albuquerque police officer for an on the job shooting. Started her career by giving birth to daughter Heather, now age 38, the day before the 3-day bar examination. Boring Stuff A senior partner with her three women partners in a law firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico; double listed in criminal and civil litigation in Best Lawyers in America; International Academy of Trial Lawyers fellow; past AAJ Governor; past president of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers' Association; NACDL board member, NITA-NCDC-UNM adjunct instructor. Randi's Full Bio Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketi
Tue, September 24, 2019
GTP CLASSIC: Tommy and Adam Malone | Yamada vs Northside Hospital | $16.5 Million Verdict
On this week's GTP Classic replay, Steve and Yvonne interview legendary attorneys and father & son team, Tommy and Adam Malone of https://malonelaw.com Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: $16.5 Million - MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE Representing compensatory damages for child who suffered liver failure requiring a liver transplant at age of 4 months caused by a failure of her health care providers to follow-up on an abdominal cyst detected on ultrasound early in the pregnancy. Brooke Yamada, A Minor, by and through her Guardian, Mina Leigh Yamada, and Takahiro Yamada and Mina Leigh Yamada, Individually vs. Northside Hospital, Inc., Northside Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, P.C. and Women’s Health Associates, P.C., State Court of Fulton County, Georgia, C.A.F. 2005VS076354G (2006). Click Here to Read/Download The Complete Trial Documents (Consolidated PTO, Summations, and Opening Transcript) Tommy Malone Thomas “Tommy” Malone is the founder of Malone Law. For more than 40 years he has litigated cases involving catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death throughout the State of Georgia. He has obtained a multitude of jury verdicts in excess of one million dollars, including a verdict in excess of $49 million for a 23-year-old student who suffered catastrophic traumatic brain injuries as the result of a road wreck involving two commercial truck drivers on a two-lane highway in San Jose, California. His record-setting $45 million verdict changed the way managed care providers operate. Tommy is the past President of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, the official certifying body sanctioned by the American Bar Association for certification of competency in handling professional negligence cases. Tommy's Full Bio Adam Malone Adam Malone is based in Atlanta, Georgia and dedicates his entire practice to helping families with issues involving brain injury, spinal cord injury, burns, amputation, and wrongful death throughout the state of Georgia. His efforts over the last two decades have produced over $500 million in compensation for injured victims and their families and have helped change careless corporate practices to keep us all safer. Adam has obtained record jury verdicts, including a $24.5 million verdict in a case involving an above-knee amputation for a young athlete which is reported to be the largest personal injury verdict ever returned in Albany, Georgia. In addition to his trial skills, Adam has also ear
Tue, September 17, 2019
GTP CLASSIC | Stages Of A Trial II
GTP Classic Replay: The Great Trials Podcast presents Part 2 of our 2 part series on the "Stages of a Jury Trial". Hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey are joined by very special guests: Rebecca Franklin Harris - Founder of Franklin Law franklinlawllc.com Jeff Harris and Jed Manton - partners at Harris, Lowry, and Manton www.hlmlawfirm.com To see video of the podcast, go to www.greattrialspodcast.com/ Don't forget to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review
Tue, September 10, 2019
GTP CLASSIC | Stages Of A Trial I
GTP Classic Replay: The Great Trials Podcast presents Part 1 of our 2 part series on the "stages of a jury trial". Hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey are joined by very special guests: Rebecca Franklin Harris - Founder of Franklin Law franklinlawllc.com Jeff Harris and Jed Manton - partners at Harris, Lowry, and Manton www.hlmlawfirm.com Don't forget to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review
Tue, September 03, 2019
Year In Review with Steve and Yvonne
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey are interviewed by the other half of the GTP team, Allison Hersh ( capricorncomm.com ) and Terrass "Razz" Misher ( podonthego.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Thank you for listening, sharing, and supporting The Great Trials Podcast !
Tue, August 27, 2019
Mike Papantonio │Carla Maria Bartlett and Jon William Bartlett v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company and David Freeman v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company│$920 million
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mike Papantonio of Levin Papantonio ( https://www.levinlaw.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame inductee Mike Papantonio, a senior partner with Levin Papantonio in Pensacola, Florida, takes a deep dive into the high-profile $920 million dollar class-action settlement and multiple jury verdicts against DuPont related to the company’s West Virginia plant discharging the Teflon chemical PFOA (C8) into the air and water around the Ohio River Valley. Area citizens were exposed to a highly toxic chemical for decades, causing a number of serious health problems. This high-profile case -- which is featured in the documentary, The Devil We Know -- highlights the dangers of DuPont's chemical C8 and the connection between C8 and various forms of cancer, ulcerative colitis, and other diseases. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Mike Papantonio is a senior partner with the law firm of Levin-Papantonio. He has received numerous multi-million dollar verdicts on behalf of victims of corporate malfeasance. His award-winning work handling thousands of mass tort cases throughout the nation has helped make Levin-Papantonio one of the largest plaintiff law firms in the country. Mr. Papantonio is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers. He is a member of The National Trial Lawyers (past president), American Board of Trial Advocates, the American Association for Justice, the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, and the Florida Justice Association, where he served on the board of directors for five years. Mr. Papantonio is one of the few living attorneys inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame. He is listed in the publications Best Lawyers in America and Leading American Attorney. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, August 20, 2019
Rachel Lanier │Gail Lucille Ingham, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson, et al. │$4.69 billion verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Rachel Lanier of the Lanier Law Firm ( https://lanierlawfirm.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: National Trial Lawyers Civil Plaintiff Top 40 Under 40 honoree Rachel Lanier discusses how she and other members of the Lanier Law Firm trial team secured the largest verdict in the United States in 2018. This landmark verdict secured justice for 22 women who developed ovarian cancer after continuous use of Johnson & Johnson’s best-selling baby powder and other talcum powder products containing cancer-causing asbestos. Rachel helped prove the multi-billion dollar, multi-national company had known about the asbestos for decades and covered it up with biased tests and skewed interpretations of test results. After a six-week trial, a St. Louis jury awarded $4.14 billion in punitive damages and $550 million in compensatory damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Rachel Lanier joined the Lanier Law Firm’s New York office as an associate in 2016 and practices in the areas of toxic torts, pharmaceutical litigation, mass torts, and product liability. In 2017, Ms. Lanier served on the Lanier Law Firm’s trial team in the Pinnacle hip implant litigation against DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. which led to a $247 million dollar verdict in favor of plaintiffs. In 2018, Ms. Lanier was on the trial team in St. Louis, Missouri representing twenty-two plaintiffs in the Talcum Powder litigation against Johnson & Johnson, and was instrumental in obtaining the $4.7 billion dollar verdict for the plaintiffs. Most recently, Ms. Lanier was appointed to Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the 3M Combat Earplug Multi-District Litigation. Ms. Lanier is dedicated to representing injured clients and their families by pursuing justice for those who have been harmed by toxic substances and defective products. Prior to joining the Lanier Law Firm, Ms. Lanier was an associate at a mid-sized firm in Manhattan, where she focused on representing individuals suffering from asbestos-induced diseases, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Ms. Lanier was recognized as a 2018 New York Rising Star in the practice area of personal injury – products and is a member of the American Bar Association, American Association for Justice, New York Bar Association, and New Jersey Bar Association. She enjoys speaking at Continuing Legal Education seminars, and participated in a breakout panel at the annual Mass Torts Made Perfect seminar in Las Vegas, NV. In 2018, Ms. Lanier spoke on the recent Talc verdict at the HarrisMartin MDL Conference in Napa, C
Tue, August 13, 2019
Tom Girardi│Citizens of Hinkley v. Pacific Gas & Electric│$333 million settlement
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Tom Girardi of Girardi Keese ( https://www.girardikeese.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Legendary Los Angeles trial attorney Tom Girardi of Girardi Keese reflects upon the landmark 1993 case against Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which served as the basis for the Academy Award-winning film Erin Brockovich . Girardi represented 650 citizens of Hinkley, California, who developed high rates of cancer and other diseases from exposure to water contaminated with chromium VI and discharged by a Pacific Gas & Electric facility over a 15-year period. Following arbitration, Girardi secured a $333 million settlement for Hinkley residents. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Tom Girardi Widely regarded by his peers as one of the nation's top trial lawyers and with nearly fifty years of experience representing victims, Thomas V. Girardi has obtained numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, handling claims involving wrongful death, commercial litigation, products liability, bad faith insurance, and toxic torts. In 2003, he received the most prestigious honor of being inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame by the California State Bar. Mr. Girardi is a Member of the Board of Directors and former President of the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only worldwide organization, limited to 500 trial lawyers. Mr. Girardi is also the first trial lawyer to be appointed to the California Judicial Council, the policymaking body of the state courts. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, August 06, 2019
Mary Koch & Keith Forman│ Zubida Byrom, et al. v. Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Inc. │$229.6 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mary Koch and Keith Forman of Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, & Offutt, LLC ( https://www.malpracticeteam.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Wais, Vogelstein, Forman & Offutt LLC partners Mary Koch and Keith Forman discuss how they secured the largest medical malpractice verdict in U.S. history, advocating on behalf of Zubida Byrom, a child who was born with cerebral palsy due to the negligence of doctors and medical staff in treating her mother, Erica Byrom, at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Erica, who suffered from preeclampsia, was misinformed about Zubida’s chance of survival and signed a consent form indicating she did not wish to undergo a c-section. The impact of the induced delivery on Zubida’s brain and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit staff’s failure to act appropriately left Zubida without oxygen, causing the baby to be born with cerebral palsy and requiring round-the-clock care for life. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Mary M. Koch Mary McNamara Koch joined WVFO as a partner in January of 2016. Shortly after her arrival, she obtained Plaintiffs’ verdicts in two medical negligence cases, with one jury awarding a stroke victim over $6,000,000.00 and another jury awarding a woman with debilitating drop foot over $2,000,000.00. These successes were in keeping with her reputation of winning big cases. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice Medical Mistakes In 2014, Ms. Koch spearheaded a team of attorneys that successfully negotiated the historic $37 million settlement against St. Joseph Medical Center on behalf of former patients of Dr. Mark G. Midei, a cardiologist at the hospital who was accused of performing hundreds of unnecessary cardiac stent procedures. As part of this landmark victory, Ms. Koch conducted over 100 depositions, argued many of the motions, and made the successful class action argument. In addition to giving the 273 patients financial resources, and even more important some closure so they could resume their lives, the settlement helped establish a national dialogue on unnecessary medical procedures. Read Full Bio Keith Forman Keith is a partner at the firm. Since becoming an attorney, he has almost exclusively represented minor children injured as a
Tue, July 30, 2019
Mikal Watts│United States of America v. Mikal Watts
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mikal Watts of Watts Guerra, LLP. ( https://www.wattsguerra.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Mikal Watts, the founding partner of Watts Guerra LLP in Texas, has always been known as a fierce mass torts litigator with a history of winning cases against big corporations like Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Ford Motor Company. Then, he was charged with 95 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, identity theft and aggravated identity theft. Falsely accused of stealing Social Security numbers to file claims on behalf of 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill victims, Watts discovered he was, in fact, the victim of fraud. A Mississippi-based consultant for the mass torts case and a claims manager spent millions of dollars funding their extramarital affair, rather than making sure money went to the victims of the oil spill. Faced with a possible life sentence and the end of his legal career, Watts shares why he chose to defend himself in court, how he proved his innocence to the jury and how he defines justice now that he has experienced a trial as both a lawyer and the accused. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: In August of 2002, Mr. Watts formed Watts Law Firm, L.L.P. In 2009, Mikal Watts joined forces with Francisco Guerra IV to form Watts Guerra LLP which handles catastrophic personal injury, toxic torts, product liability, automotive defects, refinery negligence, commercial trucking negligence, medical device, pharmaceutical, and commercial litigation. Mr. Watts has been admitted to practice pro hoc vice in New, York, Alabama, Florida, New York, Minnesota, Mississippi, and California. Mr. Watts has defended punitive damages obtained in federal court by oral argument before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Mr. Watts’ litigation against Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Ford Motor Company resulted in resolving the most significant product liability case in the country. The terms of the settlement in the Bailey case were unprecedented in American history for a case of this type; not only monetarily, but by virtue of what the companies agreed to do with respect to the disclosure of information relating to their own investigations into the alleged defects with their products and their corporate safety policies and practices. Watts Guerra LLP is nationally recognized as one of two firms leading in the pursuit of hundreds of claims brought nationwide against Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Ford Motor Company. Mr. Watts was instrumental in bringing to light Ford’s quiet efforts to recall these defective tires in foreign co
Tue, July 23, 2019
Brandon McHugh & Jeananne Ayoub│GibsonBros., Inc., et al. v. Oberlin College, et al. │ $44 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Brandon Mchugh of Tzangas Plakas Mannos Ltd. ( https://www.lawlion.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Tzangas Plakas Mannos Ltd. attorneys Brandon McHugh and Jeananne Ayoub explain how their team secured justice for a multi-generational Ohio bakery after it was defamed as a racist business by Oberlin College administrators and students. In November 2016, a Gibson’s Bakery employee confronted three African-American Oberlin College students for attempted shoplifting, which resulted in student protests, flyers encouraging boycotts, and the termination of the college’s business with the bakery. With no evidence of racial discrimination, Oberlin College continued to harm the bakery’s reputation and failed to retract or correct the wrongful statements, leading the jury to conclude that Oberlin College acted with actual malice that warranted punitive damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Brandon W. McHugh is an associate attorney with our firm. His practice includes business litigation, legal malpractice litigation, personal injury cases, and general litigation. Mr. McHugh is a native of Summit County, Ohio and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Mr. McHugh graduated summa cum laude from the University of Akron School of Law where he received CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for obtaining the highest grades in Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Basic and Incorporated Business Associations, Torts, and Contracts I courses. While at Akron Law, Mr. McHugh refined his oral and written advocacy skills as a member of the Evidence Team for the Akron Law Chapter of the Moot Court Honor Society. Mr. McHugh also served as an Associate Editor for the Akron Law Review. Mr. McHugh was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 2017, where he scored in the 100th percentile on the Ohio Bar Examination, and is licensed to practice in all courts in the State of Ohio. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 <a href='https://www.greattrialspodcast.com/podcast/2019/1/1/bonus-ep
Tue, July 16, 2019
Steve Vartazarian & Matt Whibley│Reed v. County of San Bernardino Children and Family Services│ $113.4 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Steve Vartazarian & Matt Whibley of The Vartazarian Law Firm ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-vartazarian-law-firm/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Four-time Southern California Super Lawyer honoree Steve Vartazarian and Matt Whibley of the Vartazarian Law Firm share their strategy for holding San Bernadino County liable for its failure to follow mandatory regulations in a case of extreme child abuse against 5-year-old Noah Reed. Despite multiple reports to Children and Family Services and a visit to the home, county social workers did not implement a case plan or follow-up on Noah’s welfare. Months later, Noah lay comatose in the hospital. Today, he is confined to a wheelchair with devastating injuries, including permanent brain damage. The jury awarded $13.4 million in economic losses and $100 million in non-economic losses, which is believed to be California’s largest pain and suffering award in a case without punitive damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Steven Vartazarian Biography Steve graduated cum laude from Oklahoma City University and cum laude from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Attorneys (ABOTA), and he serves on the Board of the Consumer Attorney's Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), the Los Angeles Trial Lawyer’s Charities (LATLC), Brain Society of California, and is a member of the Cowboy Lawyers Association and the Armenian Bar Association. After starting out as an associate in a Los Angeles based personal injury firm, Steve opened his own firm, the Vartazarian Law Firm, in 2010. The Varazarian Law Firm prides itself on obtaining significant non-economic damages awards on cases where the economic damages are relatively low. Awards and notes: - two verdicts in the TopVerdict list of top 100 verdicts of 2018 - two verdicts in the TopVerdict list of top 100 verdicts of 2017 - CVN’s top 10 most impressive verdict of 2017 - winner of the DK Global Golden Advocate award in 2015 - member of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel Matthew Whibley Biography Matt attended the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada, then went on to tour the world with a platinum-selling and Grammy-nominated Canadian punk rock band. He then attended Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, quickly obtaining numerous academic awards and scholarships eventually graduating number 1 in the school. He attended Trial Lawyers Col
Tue, July 09, 2019
Betty Nguyen Davis & Bethany Schneider │Laguerre v. Cajun Contractors, Inc.│$5 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Betty Nguyen Davis ( http://www.bettydavislaw.com ) & Bethany Schneider ( https://schneiderlawpc.com/ ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: The National Trial Lawyers 40 Under 40 honoree Bethany Schneider of Schneider Law, P.C. and three-time Georgia Super Lawyers honoree Betty Davis of The Davis Injury Firm LLC discuss a recent personal injury case involving a metro Atlanta hotel, a general contractor, a subcontractor, and a Haitian cab driver. Struck by an 8-foot metal pipe falling from the construction site four floors above, cab driver Max Laguerre sustained a traumatic brain injury, due to a lack of safety precautions taken by Cajun Contractors, Inc. In June, a DeKalb County, Georgia jury returned a $5 million verdict, which was added to a $1 million pre-trial settlement with the hotel and over $500,000 in punitive damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Betty Nguyen Davis Read Full Bio Here Bethany Schneider Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, July 02, 2019
Barry Eichen │Fuccilli v. New Jersey Transit, Central Railroad of New Jersey│$19.2 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Barry Eichen of Eichen, Crutchlow, Zaslow ( https://www.njadvocates.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: A member of the prestigious Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Barry Eichen of Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP shares how he secured justice for New Jersey railroad worker Roger Fuccilli, who died of a lung disease caused by occupational exposure to toxic fumes. After 5 weeks of trial, a New Jersey Superior Court jury returned what is believed to be one of the largest Federal Employers Liability Act verdicts in the country for pulmonary fibrosis. Fuccilli’s widow, Catherine, was awarded $19.2 million, including $4.1 million in pre-death pain and suffering and $15.1 million for his wrongful death. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: NJ medical malpractice lawyer, Barry R. Eichen, grew up in the middle-class neighborhood of South Edison. His father was a manager at an auto parts store and his mother worked part-time while raising five children. After graduating from Edison High School, Mr. Eichen worked at night while attending college to help pay for his education. After graduating from law school, Mr. Eichen opened his own law practice in 1987. Mr. Eichen is one of New Jersey’s most seasoned and well-respected trial lawyers. In 2012-2013 alone, Mr. Eichen tried eight cases resulting in verdicts totaling more than ten million dollars. Mr. Eichen recently represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2010, wherein he obtained a $51 Million verdict against Johnson & Johnson for overcharging Medicaid recipients. This verdict led to a recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In a recent trial against the City Of Newark, Mr. Eichen was able to obtain a verdict in the amount of three million dollars. The case involved the failure of the City of Newark to repair a pothole that was approximately three feet wide and four feet long. The jury had determined that this was a dangerous condition that the city knew or should have known existed for approximately one year, although there were complaints that the city had neglected to repair said dangerous conditions for a period of one year. While this matter was reversed due to a procedural technicality, Mr. Eichen looks forward to a retrial. In April of 2007, Barry Eichen obtained a verdict against Ford Motor Company for a defective throttle body which resulted in a brachial plexus injury to the right arm of the plaintiff. After a 4 week trial, the jury awarded plaintiff $10,626,479.89. In August of 2005, Mr
Bonus · Tue, June 25, 2019
Bonus Episode: Zoe Littlepage | Visuals at Trial
Zoe Littlepage of Littlepage, Booth, Leckman ( http://www.littlepagebooth.com/ ) joins us to discuss the value of using visuals and demonstratives at trial. Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review
Tue, June 25, 2019
Zoe Littlepage | Rowatt, Forrester and Scofield v. Wyeth | $134.1 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Zoe Littlepage of Littlepage, Booth, Leckman ( http://www.littlepagebooth.com/) . Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Three Nevada women who developed breast cancer as a result of their use of Wyeth’s hormone replacement drugs, Prempro and Premarin. The jury found that Prempro and Premarin helped cause their cancers and that Wyeth misled the public about the drugs’ health risks. The court ultimately awarded $22.8 million in compensatory damages and $35 million in punitive damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Zoe Littlepage Zoe Littlepage’s practice focuses on complex cases including mass torts, defective medical product or drug cases as well as human rights issues. She typically spends months each year in trial, all across the country. Ms. Littlepage’s jury awards made the list of the Top 10 Largest Verdicts in the country for 2007, 2009 and 2010. In 2011, Zoe Littlepage was inducted into The Inner Circle of Advocates. Founded in 1972, The Inner Circle of Advocates is an invitation only group of 100 of the best trial lawyers in America who are selected for their character, experience, and success in the courtroom. The Inner Circle of Advocates was described by The Washington Post as, "A select group of 100 of the nation's most celebrated trial lawyers" and is recognized as one of the most exclusive groups of attorneys in the nation. Inner Circle members often work collectively to share experience, skills, and knowledge in pursuit of justice. American Lawyer magazine as well as Fortune magazine named Ms. Littlepage as one of America’s “Premiere Lawyers.” She has also been nominated as a “Super Lawyer” as well as “Top Lawyer” in the country multiple years running. In 2008, she received the Clarence Darrow award for Best Mass Tort Lawyer. Texas Lawyer praises Ms. Littlepage’s tenacity stating “all bets should be on Littlepage.” Chambers USA, a legal publisher, recognizes Zoe Littlepage as a leading lawyer in nationwide product liability litigation and notes that “Zoe Littlepage of Littlepage Booth does ‘a bang-up job for plaintiffs.’” According to lawyers interviewed by Chambers USA, “[w]hen you see her, you know you have a fight on your hands.” Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com </p
Tue, June 18, 2019
Jeff Harris and Rebecca Franklin Harris | Jones v. CSX | $11.2 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jeff Harris of Harris, Lowry, and Manton ( www.hlmlawfirm.com ) and Rebecca Franklin Harris of Franklin Law ( franklinlawllc.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Two-time Georgia Super Lawyers Top 100 honoree Jeff Harris of Harris Lowry Manton LLP and award-winning trial lawyer Rebecca Franklin Harris discuss the landmark wrongful death case that occurred on the set of the Gregg Allman biopic “Midnight Rider.” Unbeknownst to camera assistant Sarah Jones and the rest of the crew, they were filming on active railroad tracks owned by CSX Transportation. Sarah was struck and killed by a train and quickly became the face of Hollywood’s film safety movement. Thanks to a strong case presented by Jeff Harris and Rebecca Franklin Harris, a Chatham County, Georgia jury returned an $11.2 million verdict. Visit - https://www.safetyforsarah.com/ Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: Rebecca Franklin Harris: As founder of Franklin Law, LLC, Rebecca Franklin Harris works with clients both locally in Savannah and across the country in cases involving consumer rights and product safety. In addition to dangerous consumer products, her practice includes cases arising out of trucking accidents, medical malpractice, aviation disasters and premises liability incidents. Rebecca has been repeatedly recognized for her legal achievements, being inducted into the “Verdicts Hall of Fame” and named as part of “Georgia’s Top 40 Under 40” by Georgia’s leading legal publication, The Fulton County Daily Report . She was a recipient of the “Courageous Pursuit of Justice Award” given by The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and has consistently been recognized as part of the “Rising Stars” selection in the annual Georgia Super Lawyers publication. She has also been selected Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Read Full Bio Here Jeff Harris: One of the nation’s top trial attorneys, Jeff Harris is an award-winning litigator who handles high-profile, complex cases across a wide variety of practice areas. He excels at securing justice for clients who have been seriously injured or killed, holding responsible parties accountable for their actions as well as their negligence. Over the cou
Tue, June 11, 2019
Brian Chase | Romine v. Johnson Controls, Inc. | $24.7 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Brian Chase of Bisnar Chase, Personal Injury Attorneys ( https://www.bestattorney.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Former president of the Consumer Attorneys of California Brian Chase of Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys shares how he secured justice for Jaklin Romine after the driver’s seat in her vehicle collapsed during a rear-end collision, rendering her a paraplegic. Chase demonstrated that Jaklin’s seat, designed by Johnson Controls, Inc., was defective in this groundbreaking case, which resulted in a $24.7 million verdict, including past and future economic and non-economic losses. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Brian Chase is managing partner and senior trial attorney that heads up the litigation department of the firm. Brian was named 2019 Lawyer of the Year, 2019 Million Dollar Advocate, 2018 Best Law Firm, 2017 High Stakes Litigator, Top Lawyer of Distinction in 2016 as well as a 2016 SuperLawyer recipient and one of America's Best Lawyers 2016. He was the 2015 President of the Consumer Attorneys of California and is a Past President of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. He is a member of ABOTA. In 2014 he was named Trial Lawyer of the Year in products liability by the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. In 2012, Chase was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys of California and a Trial Lawyer of the Year Nominee by the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. In 2004 he was named Trial Lawyer of the Year for products liability by the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. He is listed as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association since 2007. He's also been listed as the Nation's Top One Percent by the National Association of distinguished Counsel. He's earned the title of Southern California SuperLawyer since 2007 and a Top 50 Orange County SuperLawyer for the past four years. Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: <a href='https://www.greattrialspodcast.com/podcast/2019/1/1/bonus-episode-stag
Bonus · Tue, June 04, 2019
Bonus Episode: Mike Haggard | National Crime Victim Bar Association
The National Crime Victim Bar Association is an affiliate and program of the National Center for Victims of Crime . It was founded in April 1999, creating the nation's first professional association of attorneys and expert witnesses dedicated to helping victims seek justice through the civil system. The National Crime Victim Bar Association continues the pioneering work of Frank Carrington and is a testament to the National Center for Victims of Crime's long-standing commitment to civil justice for victims. Crime victims deserve compensation for the harms they have suffered, and third parties are increasingly held accountable through the civil justice system. National Crime Victim Bar Association Website: https://victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/national-crime-victim-bar-association Learn more about Mike Haggard and the Haggard Law Firm: http://www.haggardlawfirm.com/ Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review
Tue, June 04, 2019
Mike Haggard | Hinton v. 2331 Adams Street Corporation | $100 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mike Haggard of the Haggard Law Firm ( http://www.haggardlawfirm.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Best Lawyers of America’s 2017 Trial Lawyer of the Year Mike Haggard of The Haggard Law Firm explains how he secured one of the largest single personal injury verdicts in Florida history on behalf of Lorri and Lonnie Hinton, the parents of 2-year-old Loren “Tookie” Hinton. Loren suffered irreversible brain damage, leaving her unable to walk or talk after she nearly drowned in an apartment complex pool. The six-foot-deep pool was enclosed by a broken gate that the complex’s staff knowingly delayed fixing, without notifying tenants of the danger it posed to children. A Broward County jury assigned 99% of the blame to 2331 Adams Street Corporation and 1% to Loren’s father Lonnie for a lapse in supervision. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Compassionate, empathetic and a fervent advocate for victims of crime, Michael Haggard has dedicated his career to the pursuit of justice on behalf of his clients in the courtroom securing unprecedented awards and as an activist who continuously lobbies for permanent solutions and changes through local, statewide and federal legislation. Specializing in pool drowning, negligent security, wrongful death, unsafe premises, and products liability, Haggard has established himself as a powerful force in the South Florida Legal Community as the Managing Partner for The Haggard Law Firm. After spending time as a Public Defender and working with a small personal injury firm before joining The Haggard Law Firm, Haggard was named a partner in 2001, secure in the belief that every case holds equal importance and could mean the opportunity to award a family resolution to a devastating incident. Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, May 28, 2019
Scott Occhiogrosso | Robert Liciaga v. New York City Transit Authority | $110.17 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Scott Occhiogrosso of Block, O'Toole, and Murphy ( www.blockotoole.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Brooklyn Gang Unit prosecutor turned personal injury attorney Scott Occhiogrosso of Block O’Toole & Murphy discusses how he secured the largest non-medical malpractice jury verdict in New York history. In April 2016, 23-year-old bicyclist Robert Liciaga was struck by a falling railroad tie after New York City Transit Authority workers failed to follow procedure and practice safety measures while executing an elevated track replacement above Broadway. Liciaga is now paralyzed from the waist down. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Scott Occhiogrosso is a partner at Block O’Toole & Murphy, having handled many very significant construction accident cases as well as other catastrophic injury matters that have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients. In April 2019, he won a $110,174,972.38 verdict from a Brooklyn jury for a catastrophically-injured cyclist against the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA). This result is believed to be the largest non-medical malpractice verdict in New York State. After graduating from law school, Mr. Occhiogrosso - - like several of his colleagues at the firm - - began his training as a trial lawyer in the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office. He handled thousands of serious cases and spent his days navigating the gritty, cavernous courtrooms in downtown Brooklyn. He had occasion to work side-by-side with now firm partners Stephen J. Murphy and S. Joseph Donahue and made a distinct impression on them while he honed his skills as a prosecutor. Mr. Occhiogrosso was recognized for his tenacity and skills, resulting in a promotion to the prestigious Brooklyn Gang Unit. While with the Gang Unit, Mr. Occhiogrosso focused on prosecuting criminals that were involved in violent crimes and gang-related activities. He handled cases involving drug, robbery, burglary, assault, attempted murder and murder charges and did so with tremendous success. It was at the District Attorney's Office where Mr. Occhiogrosso developed a reputation for being an ethical but formidable adversary. Most importantly, his experiences solidified his desire as a lawyer to impact people in a positive way. He left the District Attorney's Office in 2005 determined to advance his skills and experience as a trial attorney, beginning as a defense attorney in the civil arena for the Port Authority. Mr. Occhiogrosso fought on behalf of police officers and other
Tue, May 21, 2019
Jeffrey Kroll | Tierney Darden v. City of Chicago, et al. | $148 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Jeffrey Kroll of Kaveny + Kroll Trial Attorneys ( www.KavenyKroll.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Accomplished trial attorney Jeffrey Kroll of Kaveny + Kroll Trial Attorneys shares how he secured one of the largest premises liability compensatory awards in the nation and the largest verdict ever reported against the city of Chicago on behalf of college dance student Tierney Darden. In 2015, Tierney suffered life-altering injuries at O’Hare International Airport after a poorly maintained pedestrian shelter weighing 750 pounds fell on top of her, shattering her spinal cord. Today, Tierney is paralyzed from the waist down and suffers from severe neuropathic pain on a daily basis. A post-verdict settlement of $115 million was reached with the city of Chicago. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Jeffrey J. Kroll focuses primarily on plaintiffs’ litigation. Jeff has been representing victims of negligence for almost three decades and has taken cases to verdict throughout the country in the areas of trucking accidents, products liability, medical malpractice and transportation negligence. In 2017, Jeff was 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, and in the top five nationally, in a personal injury case excluding punitive damages. It is also believed to be one the largest premises liability compensatory awards nationally that does not involve a toxic tort claim. Jeff regularly handles complex damage cases and often receives multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements. In 2015, 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. During his career, he has obtained verdicts or negotiated settlements on over 75 occasions where the results have exceeded $1 million, including six cases which have exceeded $10 million. Jeff has obtained more than $325 million in verdicts and settlements throughout his career. Jeff has been selected by Best Lawyers as one of the Top Personal Injury Lawyers in Illinois for the last seven years. He has been selected by the American Trial Lawyers Association as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Illinois and has been selected by his peers as a Leading Attorney and Super Lawyer in Illinois every year since 2005. Jeff is also active in local and national b
Tue, May 14, 2019
Mary E. Alexander | Mary Hall v. Yosemite Park and Curry Company | $13.3 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Mary E. Alexander of Mary Alexander and Associates, P.C. ( https://www.maryalexanderlaw.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Former president of the American Association for Justice Mary E. Alexander of Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C. explains how she secured justice for a University of Arizona college student severely injured after riding a rented Curry Company bicycle in California’s Yosemite Park. The bike’s used brakes caused Mary Hall to crash, rendering her a quadriplegic dependent upon a breathing machine. A jury in Fresno County, California returned a $13.3 million verdict, including $11.17 million in special damages. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Most lawyers take on a case – a few take on a cause. Over the past 30 years, Mary Alexander has earned a national reputation for her work protecting consumer rights, winning the respect of clients and colleagues alike. A past president of both the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Consumer Attorneys of California , Mary’s career – both in and out of the courtroom – has focused on one thing: ensuring that those who have been harmed by the negligent, preventable actions of others get their day in court – and get the answers, and justice, they deserve. Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, May 07, 2019
Alan Hamilton | Hiuy Huynh v. MDV Spartannash, LLC | $27 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Alan Hamilton of Shiver Hamilton ( https://shiverhamilton.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Award-winning trial attorney Alan Hamilton of Shiver Hamilton discusses a complex wrongful death case involving a motorcyclist who was fatally injured in a 2017 tractor-trailer collision in Columbus, Georgia. A jury in the Muscogee State Court returned a $22 million verdict for U.S. Army veteran Cindy Tran Huynh’s life and $5 million for the suffering she endured. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Alan Hamilton focuses his law practice on significant personal injury cases, wrongful death, and business torts. Alan has helped numerous clients obtain seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements during his career. He has represented individuals and appeared before courts in twelve different states. Prior to co-founding Shiver Hamilton, LLC, Alan practiced with a nationally recognized trial firm and served as a federal judicial law clerk. Since its founding in 2011, Shiver Hamilton has obtained a series of outstanding jury verdicts, many of them far exceeding the insurance company’s best offer. Alan decided early on to dedicate his career to representing injured victims of negligence and corporate wrongdoing, turning down multiple job offers from corporate defense law firms to pursue a law practice representing plaintiffs. Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, April 30, 2019
Greg Allen | Colin T. Lacy v. Freightliner, LLC et. al. | $18.8 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Greg Allen of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. ( https://www.beasleyallen.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Products liability attorney Greg Allen of Beasley Allen Law Firm shares how he secured justice for Alabama truck driver Colin Lacy, an imperfect plaintiff who previously lied on employment applications and struggled to communicate due to behavioral disorders. Due to improper maintenance by Empire Truck Sales, including a loose control rod and impaired brake pad system, the truck slid off the road and rolled over into a Florida interstate median. The impact of the crash, combined with a defective seat belt, left Mr. Lacy partially paralyzed. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: It is hard to imagine Greg Allen apart from the practice of law, but it was almost by chance that he found his calling. In the late 1970s, Greg was working for the railroad in Atlanta when he got a call that he was being transferred to Montgomery, Alabama. He loaded up his pickup truck with all his worldly belongings and made the move. Shortly after arriving in Montgomery, he saw an ad for Jones School of Law that said students could attend classes at night. He applied and was accepted. In 1980, Greg began working for Jere Beasley as his first law clerk, right after Beasley opened his private practice. In the beginning, Greg worked at the law office for free, hoping to gain experience while attending law school. Today, he is a principal and lead products liability attorney at Beasley Allen Law Firm. He has been involved in many product liability cases that have resulted in substantial verdicts and settlements and enjoys taking on giant corporations on behalf of people who have been seriously injured, especially in difficult and technical cases. Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Bonus · Tue, April 23, 2019
Bonus Episode: Stephen Susman | The Civil Jury Project
On this bonus episode of The Great Trials Podcast, Steve and Yvonne speak with Steve Susman, Executive Director of The Civil Jury Project at NYU. Learn more: https://civiljuryproject.law.nyu.edu/
Tue, April 23, 2019
Stephen Susman | Terry Casey et. al. v. Harold Simmons, et. al. | $178.7 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Steve Susman of Susman Godfrey, L.L.P. ( https://www.susmangodfrey.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Leading trial lawyer Stephen “Steve” Susman of Susman Godfrey LLP talks about how he obtained the largest verdict in 2009 in Dallas County, Texas by representing a trio of NL Industries stockholders (Efficasey Environmental LLC, Highland Environmental Management, LLC and Industrial Recovery Capital Holding Company) who were being offered a fraction of their stock’s worth because NL Industries’ management had depleted the company’s funds. Rather than admit to wrongdoing, NL Industries attempted to intentionally miscalculate or undervalue the stocks, committing a breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract that did not sit well with the jury, who also delivered a $5 million punitive damage verdict against NL Industries’ general counsel. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Recognized as one of the most successful plaintiff’s attorneys in the United States, Stephen Susman has built an unparalleled history of legal victory on an extremely straightforward idea — he gets paid for results, not effort. Although his career can be measured in many ways — the dozens of professional awards he has received, the very successful firm he has built, his remarkable record of winning very high-profile cases, working for plaintiffs against an array of large corporate interests, his defense work for select corporate and individual clients, it can all be traced back to Susman’s deep-rooted belief that his compensation should come from getting results. Honored as one of the nation’s Top 10 litigators, The National Law Journal(June 5, 2006) issue, Susman is among a highly select group to have been included Chambers USA for over 10 years in The Best Lawyers in America for over 25 years. The Business Insider, Law Review (January 20, 2010 issue), named him one of the eleven lawyers you definitely do not want to see across the aisle. Jury consultant, Don Vinson, in his book America’s Top Trial Lawyers, ranks Susman among the 14 best trial lawyers in the United States and International Commercial Litigation’s worldwide annual poll of lawyers ranked Susman as the Litigator of the Year and then top litigator in the United States in two separate years. Read Full Bio Here Also mentioned in the episode: www.trialbyagreement.com Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - <a href='http://ltsatlanta.com/LTS
Bonus · Tue, April 16, 2019
Bonus Episode: Karen Koehler | The Velvet Hammer
12-time Top 100 Washington Super Lawyers honoree Karen Koehler of Stritmatter Kessler Whelan Koehler Moore talks about her popular blog, “Lawyer As Human,” and the daily challenge to balance the needs of her clients and their cases with the demands of everyday life. Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review
Tue, April 16, 2019
Karen Koehler | DINH Group v. Ride the Ducks | $123 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Karen Koehler of Stritmatter Kessler Koehler Moore Law Firm ( stritmatter.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Acclaimed trial lawyer Karen Koehler, also known as the “Velvet Hammer,” discusses how she secured justice for dozens of victims of the Sept. 24, 2015 mass casualty crash involving a defective duck boat -- a World War II vessel turned amphibious vehicle -- and a tour bus full of international students on the Aurora Bridge in Seattle. She held the state of Washington responsible for the dangerous undivided, two-lane highway on which the wreck occurred as well as the Ride the Ducks Seattle and Ride the Ducks International companies for their disregard for safety in maintaining their duck boats. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: In the mid-2000’s an opponent told me that other defense attorneys were calling me “The Velvet Hammer™”. When asked why, he said: because you smile so sweetly while you are hammering us into the ground. I thought that was funny and adopted the name. Being a lawyer is part of my soul. My work is part of who I am. The stories of my clients will never leave me. The child who could not bear to see his father take his last breath... The son who waved goodbye to his mother as he headed off to school, not realizing that would be the last time he would see her… The teenager on a school trip who woke up to see bones coming out through her skin… The young man struck down and killed in front of the police who had been ordered not to enter the Mardi Gras riot zone…The siblings who were in the hospital for so long that they had to postpone the funeral for their parents by a year… The eighth grader sitting in the rear passenger seat when the bumper from another car went through the vehicle and into her lovely face… The Boeing worker whose leg was almost torn off from the impact, fragments of bone lying in the street… The maintenance lead burned to death by an acid solution… The widows who created shrines in their bedrooms for their beloved spouses…The sister who saw her baby sister die. So much preventable sorrow. My job is to make sure that wrongdoers are brought to justice and that the lives and losses of my clients are fully honored and respected. I love my job. Trial Lawyer of the Year, Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ), 2005 Named as Top 10 Super Lawyer in Washington State, Super Lawyers, 2014 Named as Top 100 Super Lawyer in Washington State, Super Lawyers, 200
Tue, April 09, 2019
Lloyd Bell | Sandra Williams v. St. Francis Hospital, Inc. et al. | $26 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Lloyd Bell of the Bell Law Firm ( https://www.belllawfirm.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Medical malpractice attorney Lloyd Bell of Bell Law Firm explains how he led two weeks of trial and obtained a record-breaking jury verdict for a woman who suffered severe complications following neck surgery. Due to the negligence of the hospital’s ICU doctor in responding to the patient’s restricted airway, she entered into a three-week-long coma and awoke blind and brain-damaged due to a lack of oxygen. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: With more than 25 years of legal experience, Lloyd Bell has built a sterling courtroom record and recovered millions of dollars for medical malpractice victims. A veteran of the U.S. Army JAG Corps, Bell founded his own law firm in 1999 and is consistently recognized as one of the top attorneys in his field. In 2018, Bell Law Firm was recognized as Personal Injury Litigation Team of the Year by Daily Report, the leading source of legal news in Atlanta. Lloyd Bell has been included in Atlanta Magazine’s prestigious Super Lawyers list every year since 2005, and more recently the Super Lawyers “Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia” list in 2018. Bell has also been named as one of the few personal injury lawyers in Georgia on the prestigious list of “Legal Elite” by Georgia Trend Magazine, an honor he has received every year since 2015. His firm differentiates itself with deep legal expertise, a mastery of technology in the courtroom, and compelling storytelling. Over the past five years, Bell won more seven- and eight-figure verdicts for his clients in medical malpractice cases than any other attorney in the state of Georgia, including a $15 million verdict against a large Atlanta hospital group in 2016 and a record-breaking $26 million verdict against a Columbus hospital in 2017. Bell is a member of the Melvin M. Belli Society, a group of distinguished trial lawyers dedicated to the principles of education. Bell is also board certified by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys in the field of medical malpractice. Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 <a href='https
Tue, April 02, 2019
John Gomez | William & Elaine Kidd v. WKS Restaurant Corporation (El Pollo Loco) | $16.2 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview John Gomez of Gomez Trial Attorneys ( https://www.thegomezfirm.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Award-winning trial lawyer John Gomez of Gomez Trial Attorneys shares how he secured justice for a California couple whose lives changed forever after a slip-and-fall in an El Pollo Loco restaurant. Because WKS Restaurant Corporation refused to pay overtime for workers to clean the grills after closing, employees chose to violate company policy and began cleaning an hour before closing. The resulting slippery floors caused a customer to fall, tear his quadricep and suffer a traumatic brain injury that has left him with severe optical problems. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: John Gomez founded the firm alone in 2005. He acts today as President and Lead Trial Attorney. From humble beginnings, he attended three separate San Diego public high schools and Grossmont Junior College before graduating from the Nation’s top-ranked law school, Yale University, in 1993. In between, John was named an Academic All American football player for the University of San Diego’s Toreros. He clerked for a federal judge, worked for the international law firm of Latham & Watkins and served the United States as an Assistant United States Attorney until becoming a trial lawyer for people in 2000. Since that time, he has established himself as one of California’s most recognized and accomplished trial lawyers. Lawyers USA named him the national Lawyer of the Year in 2010. He has twice been named San Diego’s Trial Lawyer of the Year. The Consumer Attorneys of San Diego have awarded him an unprecedented nine separate Outstanding Trial Lawyer Awards. He has been named a Top 100 California Attorney overall by the Los Angeles Daily Journal, a Top 10 San Diego attorney overall by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, and has been voted by peers a top 10 San Diego Super Lawyer every year since 2012. He was featured as the subject of the cover story in that 2012 publication. Read full bio here Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part
Tue, March 26, 2019
Ronnie Crosby | Wickersham v. Ford Motor Company | $3.3 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Ronnie Crosby of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, and Detrick ( http://www.pmped.com/ ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Trial attorney Ronnie Crosby discusses how he secured justice for his client after Ford Motor Company failed to issue a recall on a defective pretensioner in one of the company’s most popular SUV models. The plaintiff’s husband suffered permanent facial injuries and lost an eye when his seat belt did not tighten, strengthening the impact of the airbag deployment. The South Carolina driver committed suicide one year later because of the physical injuries he sustained. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Ronnie Crosby began practicing with the firm in 1994 in its Hampton office after serving as a judicial law clerk for Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Judge Gerald C. Smoak. Mr. Crosby has successfully represented clients at all levels of South Carolina's state and federal courts in cases involving tractor trailer collisions, premises liability, motor vehicle collisions, vehicle rollovers, tire separations, roof crush, defective seat belts, defective boat trailers, highway defects, defamation, defective agricultural seeds, and insurance coverage disputes. His current practice focuses primarily on products liability where he is often associated by other attorneys to serve as co-counsel. Mr. Crosby has settled or tried to verdict in excess of 250 cases that resulted in recoveries of over one million dollars including numerous cases with recoveries greater than ten million dollars. Ronnie has been a featured speaker at the South Carolina Judicial Conference, the South Carolina Association of Justice Annual Convention and the South Carolina Association of Justice Auto Torts Seminar. He was recognized by Super Lawyers as one of South Carolina's top attorneys and has received the highest rating for both legal and ethical standards by Martindale Hubbell. He has served on the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Association for Justice and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Attorneys Information Exchange Group. Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 <a href='https://www.greattrialspodcast.com/podcast/20
Bonus · Tue, March 19, 2019
Bonus Episode: Tommy Malone | Perseverance
In this Great Trials Podcast exclusive, former Southern Trial Lawyers Association President and 10-time Top 10 Georgia Super Lawyer honoree Tommy Malone looks back at his early experiences in the courtroom after 40 years of practicing law. www.greattrialspodcast.com
Tue, March 19, 2019
Tommy and Adam Malone | Sutton et al. v. Bauer et al. | A Major Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Tommy and Adam Malone for a second time. https://malonelaw.com/ Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Iconic trial lawyer Tommy Malone and his son Adam explain how they were able to turn a hung jury trial into two wins for their client, resulting in a major settlement and noteworthy jury verdict. This episode focuses on the tragic case of a baby boy who was born with significant brain damage due to medical malpractice. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Tommy Malone Thomas “Tommy” Malone is the founder of Malone Law. For more than 40 years he has litigated cases involving catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death throughout the State of Georgia. He has obtained a multitude of jury verdicts in excess of one million dollars, including a verdict in excess of $49 million for a 23-year-old student who suffered catastrophic traumatic brain injuries as the result of a road wreck involving two commercial truck drivers on a two-lane highway in San Jose, California. His record-setting $45 million verdict changed the way managed care providers operate. Tommy is the past President of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, the official certifying body sanctioned by the American Bar Association for certification of competency in handling professional negligence cases. Tommy's Full Bio Adam Malone Adam Malone is based in Atlanta, Georgia and dedicates his entire practice to helping families with issues involving brain injury, spinal cord injury, burns, amputation, and wrongful death throughout the state of Georgia. His efforts over the last two decades have produced over $500 million in compensation for injured victims and their families and have helped change careless corporate practices to keep us all safer. Adam has obtained record jury verdicts, including a $24.5 million verdict in a case involving an above-knee amputation for a young athlete which is reported to be the largest personal injury verdict ever returned in Albany, Georgia. In addition to his trial skills, Adam has also earned a reputation for excellence in the appellate courts. Due to Adam’s work, the Georgia Supreme Court struck down the state’s cap of $350,000 on non-economic damages in medical negligence cases as violating the constitutionally guaranteed right to trial by jury. This ruling not only permitted his client to recover the amount of damages determined by the jury in that case – it was much more import
Tue, March 12, 2019
Brian Panish | Jason Lo v. Dominick Consolazio | $41.8 million verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Brian Panish of Panish, Shea, and Boyle LLP ( www.psblaw.com ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Trial lawyer Brian Panish shares how he secured a multi-million dollar verdict for a U.S. Air Force Academy Captain who suffered catastrophic injuries after a truck driver hit him while riding his motorcycle. The truck driver, who suffered from seizures, was charged for his negligent behavior after dragging the Captain for more than a football field, leading to his death. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: One 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 250 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 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. Additionally, Mr. Panish has been appointed Lead Trial Counsel in the Porter Ranch/Aliso Canyon Gas Blowout Litigation and has served in leadership roles in the Asiana Airlines Crash Litigation, the Olympus Superbug CRE Litigation, and DePuy ASR Hip Implant Litigation, among others. Click Here For Full Bio Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, March 05, 2019
Tab Turner | Linde V Arab Bank, PLC | $100 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Tab Turner of Turner and Associates, PA (www.tturner.com) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Acclaimed trial attorney Tab Turner talks about how he helped set the standard for terrorism cases with Courtney Linde et al. v. Arab Bank PLC, the first civil jury trial in the United States under the Anti-Terrorism Act. A landmark class action suit collectively representing more than 300 U.S. citizens injured or killed by terrorist bombings in Israel resulted in Arab Bank PLC being held responsible for funding dozens of terrorist acts in the early 2000s by issuing payouts to the families of suicide bombers. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Tab Turner is a trial lawyer with offices in Arkansas, Texas, San Diego, and New York. He graduated with high honors from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is the sole shareholder in Turner & Associates, P.A., a law firm devoted to serving consumers and victims of human rights violations. Mr. Turner is a trial attorney who specializes in representing consumers injured by defective automotive products, environmental litigation, anti-terrorism litigation, and commercial litigation. In the field of automotive safety, his primary focus has been on vehicle handling and stability and catastrophic tire failures as well as representing families of children injured by defective safety systems. Mr. Turner has won verdicts for clients in multiple cases where the verdict was in excess of $20,000,000.00, including a $132,000,000.00 jury verdict against Ford Motor Company relating to the death of Brian Cole, a young outfielder with the New York Mets organization, which remains the largest single verdict in a wrongful death claim in the U.S., and was lead trial counsel in winning the first antiterrorism case against Arab Bank in a trial that took place in Brooklyn in 2015, wherein the jury found the Bank guilty of providing material support to the terrorist organization Hamas, which had carried out twenty-four (24) separate attacks of U.S. citizens during the Second Intifida in the Middle East. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources:
Bonus · Tue, February 26, 2019
Bonus Episode: Laura Shamp | Women Trial Attorneys
On this bonus episode of The Great Trials Podcast, Laura Shamp explains what it's like being a women trial attorney in a male-dominated industry. Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Read more about Laura: https://www.sjwtriallaw.com Listen to more Great Trials episodes: https://www.greattrialspodcast.com/
Tue, February 26, 2019
Laura Shamp | Jordan V. Phillip Morris | $11 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Laura Shamp of Shamp, Jordan, and Woodward Trial Attorneys ( https://www.sjwtriallaw.com ). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Laura Shamp obtained a verdict of $11 million dollars for an ex-smoker in a case against Philip Morris USA Inc. The jury awarded $3.2 million in punitive damages after finding that the tobacco company had committed fraud and intentionally misrepresented the dangers of smoking to consumers. (Jordan v. Philip Morris Tobacco Co.) The verdict was affirmed on appeal. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Laura is a plaintiff’s trial lawyer practicing principally in the areas of medical negligence, product liability and catastrophic injury in both state and federal court. Laura graduated with honors from the Harvard Law School and thereafter clerked for the Honorable Robert H. Hall at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. In 1996 Laura formed her own firm where she focused on complex commercial litigation, medical negligence, and product liability, almost exclusively on behalf of plaintiffs. In 2004, she returned to Harvard to study patient safety and medical errors under Don Berwick and Lucian Leape, leaders in the field of patient safety, and in 2005 obtained a Masters Degree in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. Laura is dedicated to working to try and improve the quality of medical care in Georgia and serves on committees that review legislation to try and address issues of medical error and patient safety. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, February 19, 2019
John E. Parker and Ronnie Crosby | Murphy v. Jefferson Pilot Communications | $13.2 Million Verdict
Murphy vs Jefferson Pilot Communications and Donald Feldman This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview John E. Parker and Ronnie Crosbie of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, Detrick, www.pmped.com Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: The firm represented the Murphys in a defamation action against Jefferson Pilot Communications and its news director, Donald Feldman, for defamatory remarks made by Donald M. Feldman. The trial judge directed a verdict for Jefferson Pilot Communications at the end of trial finding Donald Feldman was not acting as an agent of Jefferson Pilot Communications at the time he made the defamatory remarks. The jury returned a $9,000,000.00 verdict against Donald Feldman. On appeal, the Court of Appeals held the Murphys presented sufficient evidence of agency to make it an issue to be determined by the jury. In a second trial, the jury returned a verdict of $4,250,000.00 against Jefferson Pilot Communications. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bios: John E. Parker John E. Parker joined the firm in 1973. He has served as president of the firm since 1994. His practice is limited to civil litigation. He has tried to a jury verdict over 150 civil trials. He has handled over 50 appeals which have resulted in published opinions. The majority of the cases he handles involves issues of product liability, defamation, trucking, insurance bad faith, railroads, and personal injury from automobile collisions. He has tried cases resulting in substantial jury verdicts in each of these areas of law. He has been listed in "Best Lawyers in America" for a number of years. He has also been listed in "Super Lawyers" since it was first published. In 2008 he was selected by "Super Lawyers" as one of the top 25 lawyers in South Carolina. He has an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell. He was recognized in 2010 as one of seventeen lawyers in South Carolina to be profiled in Lawyers Weekly as a recipient of its Leadership in Law Award. Read Full Bio Ronnie Crosby Ronnie Crosby began practicing with the firm in 1994 in its Hampton office after serving as a judicial law clerk for Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Judge Gerald C. Smoak. Mr. Crosby has successfully represented clients at all levels of South Carolina's state and federal courts in cases involving tractor-trailer collisions, premises liability, motor vehicle collisions, vehicle rollovers, tire separations, roof crush, defective seat belts, defective boat trailers, highway defects, defamation, defecti
Tue, February 12, 2019
Andy Scherffius & Jeff Harris | Sasser V. Ford Motor Co. | $47 Million Verdict
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Andy Scherffius, Of Counsel Attorney for Conley Griggs Partin LLP and Jeff Harris of Harris Lowry and Manton, LLP. Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: The case of Sasser vs. Ford Motor Company was tried to a successful jury verdict on March 4, 2004 in the Circuit Court of Fulton County, Georgia. In this case, Kelsey Sasser, who, at the time of trial, was 9 years of age, was awarded an actual damage judgment against Ford Motor Company in the amount of $33,000,000.00, and, during the punitive damage phase of the case, was awarded punitive damages of almost $14,000,000.00. This case involved a 2000 Lincoln LS vehicle, which had a defective rear seat which collapsed during the impact of an accident subjecting Kelsey Sasser to a permanent injury to her thoracic spine, which resulted in paraplegia. Ford Motor Company, represented by Don Dawson, decided to take this case to trial. As a result, the jury, in this case, returned an actual damage award, which was the highest actual damage award, to-date, for an injury case in Georgia. Click for full trial documents Guest Bios Andy Scherffius Andy Scherffius currently serves as Of Counsel Attorney for Conley Griggs Partin LLP. He enjoys a national reputation for his aviation accident practice. His representation on behalf of plaintiffs in these matters includes both commercial and private aircraft disasters. Mr. Scherffius has handled approximately fifty aviation cases in the past twenty years. Included among the many cases he has handled are the following: Read Full Bio Here Jeff Harris One of the nation’s top trial attorneys, Jeff Harris is an award-winning litigator who handles high-profile, complex cases across a wide variety of practice areas. He excels at securing justice for clients who have been seriously injured or killed, holding responsible parties accountable for their actions as well as their negligence. Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Bonus · Tue, February 05, 2019
Bonus Episode: Roxanne Conlin | Political Involvement
On this bonus episode of The Great Trials Podcast, Roxanne Conlin details her experience and explains the importance of getting involved in politics. Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Read more about Roxanne: https://www.roxanneconlinlaw.com Listen to more Great Trials episodes: https://www.greattrialspodcast.com/
Tue, February 05, 2019
Roxanne Conlin | McFarland v Rieper Law Firm | $3.25 Million
Ep 006: Roxanne Conlin | McFarland v Rieper Law Firm | $3.25 Million This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Roxanne Conlin of Roxanne Conlin and Associates, ( https://www.roxanneconlinlaw.com ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: The 3-month-old baby died April 22, 2014, about five weeks after his birth mother got him back from the McFarlands, whom he had lived with since birth. Police charged the child's father with murder after his birth mother found the baby "alone, pale, wet and foaming from his mouth and nose" in her apartment. Full Article Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: Roxanne Conlin has her own law firm in Des Moines, where she exclusively represents people who have been harmed by others, whether by discrimination, products, doctors or vehicles. She entered Drake University in 1961, when she was only 16, and graduated from law school with honors five years later at the age of 21. From 1969 to 1976, she was an Assistant Attorney General for Iowa, where she was head of the Iowa Civil Rights section and fought race and sex discrimination. She also rewrote Iowa's inheritance laws; toughened the state's assault laws and blocked a merger of two major utilities that would have hurt the average consumer. She left the Attorney General's Office to become a consultant to the United States Department of State for International Women's Year. In 1977, she became one of the first two women ever to be a United States Attorney. Roxanne put heroin dealers behind bars and prosecuted white-collar crimes and corruption in public office. She also served as President of the Federal Executive Council, which is composed of the heads of all seventy federal agencies. Roxanne has devoted much time to individual organizations and causes and community service. She founded and was the first chair of the Iowa Women's Political Caucus, and was president and general counsel of the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund. Most recently, she has been named by the National Law Journal as one of the fifty most influential women lawyers in America, one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America and one of the top 10 litigators. Read Full Bio Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - <
Tue, January 29, 2019
Russ Herman | Scott vs American Tobacco | $591 Million
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Russ Herman, Senior Partner of Herman, Herman & Katz, L.L.C. ( https://hhklawfirm.com ) Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: In late 2011, HH&K partner Russ Herman helped finalize the 14-year-old class action lawsuit, Scott v. American Tobacco Company, with a judgment that ordered certain tobacco companies to fund a statewide, 10-year smoking cessation program benefiting more than 200,000 Louisiana smokers who are members of the plaintiff class (the “Scott Class”). The judgment created a court-established and court-supervised smoking cessation program to benefit Louisiana residents who began their smoking habit before September 1, 1988. Since the judgment, the defendant tobacco companies have deposited the funds with the Court to create the Smoking Cessation Trust (“SCT”). Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents (Consolidated PTO, 2nd Amendment Complaint, and Opening Transcript) More Case Details Guest Bio: Russ M. Herman is a Senior Partner of Herman, Herman & Katz, L.L.C. He graduated from Tulane University with a B.A. Degree and L.L.B. in 1966. In 1977, he was chosen “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” by the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association and was LTLA President in 1980-81. He has authored over 200 articles, papers and books in various aspects of Civil Trial Practice and has been published in various works including Am Jur; Trials; Shepard’s/McGraw Hill; The National Business Institute; Trial Magazine; The Forum; and Personal Injury Annual by Matthew Bender. Russ Herman’s Full Bio Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Tue, January 22, 2019
John Romano | Adams v. Imported Car Store, Inc | $28.5 Million
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview John Romano of The Romano Law Group - www.romanolawgroup.com Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: In this personal injury proceeding, plaintiff Shawn J. Adams and other joining plaintiffs claimed The Imported Car Store Inc. employee Jason Neal violently beating the plaintiff, which permanently damaged the plaintiff's brain. The incident happened on October 17, 2005, when the plaintiff witnessed a vehicular collision involving defendant Neal. Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents Guest Bio: John F. Romano of Romano Law Group in West Palm Beach, Florida, is Board Certified by The Florida Bar and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Advocate, and he is Board Certified by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys in Medical Malpractice. Mr. Romano had held the following positions: President of The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, The Southern Trial Lawyers Association, and The National Trial Lawyers; Chairman of the ATLA National College of Advocacy; Chairman, ATLA Criminal Law Section. He has authored three books: Strategic Use of Circumstantial Evidence, The Deposition Field Manual, and Opening Statements. He is editor and chapter author of Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit, 4th Edition. John Romano has gone to verdict in virtually every type of Civil Tort and Criminal case including Product Liability, Medical Malpractice, Defamation, Negligent Security, Traumatic Brain Injury, Wrongful Death, Trucking, Paralysis, First Degree Murder, Armed Robbery, Murder for Hire, and more. He is a former Captain in the United States Marine Corps. John and his wife Nancy (of 47 years) have four sons and 11 grandchildren. Read Full Bio Here Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Bonus · Tue, January 15, 2019
Bonus Episode: Randi McGinn | Transformative Law
On this Bonus Episode of The Great Trials Podcast, Steve and Yvonne interview Randi McGinn on her philosophy of "Transformative Law". From www.mcginnlaw.com : The New Mexico law firm of McGinn, Montoya, Love & Curry. P.A. (MMLC) was founded on the belief that the cases we handle for our clients can make a difference – not only by making wrongdoers take responsibility and pay for the damages they cause, but by forcing companies, government agencies and individuals to change the policies, procedures, and behavior that injured or killed our clients. When a person is catastrophically injured or their loved one is killed, just compensation is only part of the solution. True justice can only be achieved if the wrongdoer corrects the problem that caused the harm, so no other innocent persons are injured or killed in the future. Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review
Tue, January 15, 2019
Randi McGinn | Sowards v. Biotronik | $67.3 million
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Randi McGinn of McGinn, Montoya, Love & Curry. P.A. (MMLC) - www.mcginnlaw.com Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: Sowards v. Biotronik, wrongful implant of a pacemaker in exchange for kickbacks. Read More Here Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents (Plaintiff's Opening, Plaintiff's Closing, Special Verdict Form Compensatory/Punitive Damages) Guest Bio: Interesting Stuff Randi McGinn is the author of “Changing Laws, Saving Lives: How to Take on Corporate Giants and Win,” available through Trial Guides at: http://www.trialguides.com/book/changing-laws-saving-lives/ She is one of the country’s leading trial lawyers, having tried over 130 cases, including those of women survivors of sexual assault, harassment, and retaliation. The first woman president of the Inner Circle (100 best trial lawyers in the US), she is known for her creativity in the courtroom and use of demonstrative evidence to visualize opening, direct, cross-examination and closing argument. She has destroyed adverse witnesses by leaving a pretentious Beverly Hills doctor standing in front of the jury covered with post-its and clutching a grapefruit to his chest, by grilling a government snitch until he threw up and by exposing the fact that a world-renowned polygraph expert had been polygraphing his own sperm cells in the dead of night. In a particularly hard-won police shooting case, the local SWAT cops once put her face on their Christmas pinata and took turns whacking it with a big stick. She recently was appointed as a special prosecutor and tried the first murder prosecution in over 50 years of an Albuquerque police officer for an on the job shooting. Started her career by giving birth to daughter Heather, now age 38, the day before the 3-day bar examination. Boring Stuff Senior partner with her three women partners in a law firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico; double listed in criminal and civil litigation in Best Lawyers in America; International Academy of Trial Lawyers fellow; past AAJ Governor; past president of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers' Association; NACDL board member, NITA-NCDC-UNM adjunct instructor. Randi's Full Bio Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - <a
Tue, January 08, 2019
Chris Stewart | Radkey vs Safe Investments, LLC | $1.5 Million Verdict
Ep 002: Chris Stewart | Radkey vs Safe Investments, LLC | $1.5 Million Verdict This week hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Chris Stewart of Stewart, Seay, & Felton Trial Attorneys - https://ssfjustice.com/ Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review Case Details: "Our client was staying at a local motel in a small rural county in Georgia when she was sexually assaulted by a total stranger who gained access to her room by handing a key card to the desk clerk and asking her to re-code it. Our client suffered severe mental and physical injuries. We were able to prove at trial the hotel was negligent and at fault for failing to have a written procedure in place regarding hotel keys and failure to train its employees." Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents (Consolidated PTO, 2nd Amendment Complaint, and Opening Transcript) Guest Bio: Chris Stewart is Managing Partner of Stewart, Seay & Felton Trial Attorneys , a personal injury litigation law firm. Chris handles a variety of cases including wrongful death, civil rights, and shootings or sexual assaults. Some of his notable results include having won the first billion-dollar jury verdict in U.S. history for a rape victim, a record $5.1 million negligent security settlement, the first $1.5 million jury verdict in rural Camden County, three record civil rights settlements, and Minnesota’s largest trampoline park injury settlement for $3 million dollars. Chris is also recognized worldwide for his civil rights cases including Walter Scott, who was shot in the back on video by a police officer that settled for $6.5 million dollars, the highest in South Carolina history. He also represents some of the nation’s highest-profile civil rights death cases including Alton Sterling who was killed on video by police in Baton Rouge. Attorney Stewart holds five record jury verdicts in Georgia and is regarded as one of the nation’s top injury trial lawyers. Chris’ Full Bio Show Sponsors Legal Technology Services - LTSatlanta.com Forge Consulting - ForgeConsulting.com Harris, Lowry, and Manton – HLMlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 <a href='https://www.greattrialspodcast.com/
Tue, January 01, 2019
Tommy and Adam Malone | Yamada vs Northside Hospital | $16.5 Million Verdict
Today Steve and Yvonne interview legendary attorneys and father & son team, Tommy and Adam Malone of https://malonelaw.com Click Here to Subscribe Rate and Review The Great Trials Podcast in iTunes! Case Details: $16.5 Million MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE Representing compensatory damages for child who suffered liver failure requiring a liver transplant at age of 4 months caused by a failure of her health care providers to follow-up on an abdominal cyst detected on ultrasound early in the pregnancy. Brooke Yamada, A Minor, by and through her Guardian, Mina Leigh Yamada, and Takahiro Yamada and Mina Leigh Yamada, Individually vs. Northside Hospital, Inc., Northside Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, P.C. and Women’s Health Associates, P.C., State Court of Fulton County, Georgia, C.A.F. 2005VS076354G (2006). Click Here to Read/Download The Complete Trial Documents (Consolidated PTO, Summations, and Opening Transcript) Tommy Malone Thomas “Tommy” Malone is the founder of Malone Law. For more than 40 years he has litigated cases involving catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death throughout the State of Georgia. He has obtained a multitude of jury verdicts in excess of one million dollars, including a verdict in excess of $49 million for a 23-year-old student who suffered catastrophic traumatic brain injuries as the result of a road wreck involving two commercial truck drivers on a two-lane highway in San Jose, California. His record-setting $45 million verdict changed the way managed care providers operate. Tommy is the past President of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, the official certifying body sanctioned by the American Bar Association for certification of competency in handling professional negligence cases. Tommy's Full Bio Adam Malone Adam Malone is based in Atlanta, Georgia and dedicates his entire practice to helping families with issues involving brain injury, spinal cord injury, burns, amputation, and wrongful death throughout the state of Georgia. His efforts over the last two decades have produced over $500 million in compensation for injured victims and their families and have helped change careless corporate practices to keep us all safer. Adam has obtained record jury verdicts, including a $24.5 million verdict in a case involving an above-knee amputation for a young athlete which is reported to be the largest personal injury verdict ever returned in Albany, Georgia. In addition to his trial skills, Adam has also earned a reputation for excellence i
Bonus · Tue, January 01, 2019
Bonus Episode: Stages of Trial (Part 2)
The Great Trials Podcast presents Part 2 of our 2 part series on the "Stages of a Jury Trial". Hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey are joined by very special guests: Rebecca Franklin Harris - Founder of Franklin Law franklinlawllc.com Jeff Harris and Jed Manton - partners at Harris, Lowry, and Manton www.hlmlawfirm.com To see video of the podcast, go to www.greattrialspodcast.com/ Don't forget to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review
Bonus · Tue, January 01, 2019
Bonus Episode: Stages of Trial (Part 1)
The Great Trials Podcast presents Part 1 of our 2 part series on the "stages of a jury trial". Hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey are joined by very special guests: Rebecca Franklin Harris - Founder of Franklin Law franklinlawllc.com Jeff Harris and Jed Manton - partners at Harris, Lowry, and Manton www.hlmlawfirm.com To see video of the podcast, go to www.greattrialspodcast.com/ Don't forget to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here To Rate and Review
Trailer · Fri, December 14, 2018
Introduction to The Great Trials Podcast
Join Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey as they introduce The Great Trials Podcast! Click Here to Subscribe Rate and Review The Great Trials Podcast in iTunes! For more resources on each episode, go to https://www.greattrialspodcast.com/
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