2012 WVAJ Mid-Winter Convention and Seminar
February 9 – 10, 2012
Embassy Suites Hotel
Charleston, West Virginia
14.8 hours of CLE credit, including 3.3 in ethics and law office management (pending).
Seminar Chairs
Robert M. Bastress, Jr.
Kelly Elswick-Hall
Allan N. Karlin
Chad S. Lovejoy
Anthony J. Majestro
New This Year!
The WVAJ attorney seminar program is open to legal assistants who are employed by WVAJ member attorneys. In addition to the seminar program, two special breakout sessions have been planned for legal assistants. The regular registration fee of just $50 for both days is available to a legal assistant who registers in conjunction with an attorney; the late registration fee is $60. Paralegal registration for legal assistants who register without an attorney is $90; the late registration fee is $100.
Convention Sponsors and Exhibitors
Thursday, February 9, 2012
7:45 – 8:50 a.m. Registration
8:50 – 9:00 a.m. Welcome
Paul T. Farrell, Jr., President
West Virginia Association for Justice
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Pitfalls, Spring Guns and Snares: How and Why Lawyers Get Into Ethics Hot Water
J. Michael Benninger – Benninger Law, Morgantown
Jessica H. Donahue Rhodes, West Virginia Office of Disciplinary Counsel
10:00 – 10:50 a.m. Your Client or the Defendant Has Filed for Bankruptcy: What You Need
to Know to Represent Your Client, Avoid Malpractice and Properly Pursue Your Case
Spencer D. Elliott – Lewis, Glasser, Casey and Rollins, Charleston
10:50 – 11:05 a.m. Break
11:05 – 11:55 a.m. You Too Can Practice Law At the Speed of Light: Technology for Trial
Lawyers in the 21st Century
L. David Duffield, Chad S. Lovejoy and Thomas P. Boggs
Duffield, Lovejoy and Stemple, Huntington
11:55 – 12:25 p.m. Preventing Alcohol and Drug Abuse: Know the Warning Signs
and When to Seek Professional Assistance
Mary Aldred-Crouch – WV Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
12:25 – 1:45 p.m. WVAJ Membership Luncheon
Featuring Susan Saladoff, producer & director of the documentary, Hot Coffee
1:45 – 2:35 p.m. The Never Ending Story: Dealing with Medicare Subrogation
Sylvius H. von Saucken – Garrettson Resolution Group, Cincinnati, Ohio
2:35 – 3:50 p.m. When Clients Threaten to Harm Themselves or Others: An Attorney’s
Moral, Ethical and Legal Obligations
Dr. Jeffrey Harlow Ph.D., Charleston
Dr. Christi Cooper-Lehki D.O. – West Virginia University
Rachel Cipoletti, West Virginia Office of Disciplinary Counsel
3:50 – 4:00 p.m. Break
4:00 – 5:15 p.m. What’s Going On Under the Capitol Dome: Legislative Update
Invited Panelists
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin
Senate President Jeff Kessler
House Speaker Rick Thompson
Senate Judiciary Chair Corey Palumbo
House Judiciary Chair Tim Miley
Friday, February 10, 2012
8:45 – 10:00 a.m. Don’t Whine About Jury Bias: Using Focus Groups to Overcome Juror
Prejudice and Maximize the Outcome of Your Client’s Case
Jim Lees – Hunt and Lees, Charleston
10:00 – 10:50 a.m. The Law of Torts and Insurance: 2012 Update
Professor Thomas C. Cady – West Virginia University College of Law
Paralegal Break-Out Session
Deliberating the Deliberate Intent Claim: How to
Effectively Assess Whether All Case Criteria Are Met
Timothy C. Bailey and Terri Bowen
Bucci, Bailey and Javins, Charleston
10:50 – 11:05 a.m. Break
11:05 – 11:55 a.m. Demonstrative Evidence for Every Budget: The Free, the Cheap and
the Expensive
Scott S. Segal – The Segal Law Firm, Charleston
11:55 – 1:35 p.m. WVAJ Board of Governors Meeting and Luncheon
1:35 – 2:25 p.m. The View from the Top: West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Update
TBA
Paralegal Break-Out Session
Facebook, My Space and Twitter: What You Need to Know About
the Discovery and Admissibility of Social Media
Jane E. Peak – Allan N. Karlin and Associates, Morgantown
2:25 – 3:40 p.m. What the Mediator Really Thinks: Preparing For
and Conducting a Successful Mediation
Thomas V. Flaherty – Flaherty, Sensabaugh and Bonasso, Charleston
David K. Hendrickson – Hendrickson and Long, Charleston
Vincent J. King, Charleston
Anthony J. Majestro, moderator
3:40 – 4:30 p.m. A View from the Trenches: The Facts, Evidence and Strategies
That Have Led to Successful Nursing Home Litigation in West Virginia
Michael J. Fuller and Amy J. Quezon
McHugh Fuller Law Group - Charleston and Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Registrants have the option of receiving their convention materials in a bound notebook or on a flash drive. Please check the appropriate box on your registration form.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. New Lawyers Party
Vandalia Lounge – 212 Hale Street, Charleston
Sponsored by the American Association for Justice
Thursday, February 9, 2012
12:25 – 1:45 p.m. WVAJ Membership Luncheon
Featuring Susan Saladoff, producer and director of Hot Coffee
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Cocktail Party and Legislative Reception
Sponsored by the American Association for Justice and Structured Financial Associates
Friday, February 10, 2012
11:55 – 1:35 p.m. WVAJ Board of Governors Meeting and Luncheon
Accommodations
The Embassy Suites Hotel is located at 300 Court Street, Charleston. Special rates of $124 for a single and $134 for a double are available through January 25, 2012. The hotel’s complimentary breakfast and manager’s reception are included with your suite. To reserve your suite, phone (034)347-8700, ext. 2035 or go online to www.embassysuitescharlestonwv.com. You must use the three-letter code ASJ when making your reservation to receive the special rate; online you will enter ASJ in the group/convention code space. Regular rates will apply for reservations made after January 25, 2012.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be sent to the WVAJ office in writing. For a complete refund, your cancellation must be received no later than February 1. For cancellations February 2 – 6, you will be refunded 50 percent of the registration fee. There will be no refunds after February 6, but seminar materials will be sent to you.
Sponsors and Exhibitors (through 1/5/2012)
A&F Financial Advisors
American Association for Justice
Bucci, Bailey and Javins
Crash and Safety Consultants
Counsel Capital
First Choice Services/Problem Gamblers
Guardian Insurance
Lapina and Associates
Leading Technologies
National Settlement Consultants
Prevail Case Management
Robson Forensic
Saponaro, Inc.
Structured Financial Associates
Superior Settlements
Questions? Phone (304)344-0692 or email debra.lee@wvaj.org
WVAJ AFFINITY PARTNERS
CONTACT WVAJ
Telephone: (304) 344 - 0692
Fax: (304) 343 - 7926
WVAJ OFFICE
208 Capitol Street, Suite 100
Charleston, WV 25301