55th Annual
West Virginia Association for Justice
Convention and Seminar
June 6 – 7, 2013
Embassy Suites Hotel
Charleston, West Virginia
Scott S. Blass, President
Seminar Chairpersons
Robert Bastress III - Charleston
Kelly Elswick-Hall - Charleston
Allan N. Karlin - Morgantown
Chad S. Lovejoy - Huntington
Early Registration Discount Now Extended Through Thursday, May 30!
Seminar Program
Meetings and Social Events
General Convention Information
Hotel Accommodations
Cancellation Policy
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Convention Sponsorship, Advertising and Exhibiting Opportunities
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
Annual Convention Seminar Program
Three Ways to Receive Seminar Materials
You now have three options for how you receive your seminar materials--a bound notebook, flash drive or online download through Dropbox. Please check which option you prefer on your registration form. (Select one).
Attorney Program Open to Legal Assistants
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 $60 for both days is available to a legal assistant who registers in conjunction with an attorney; the late registration fee is $90. Paralegal registration for legal assistants who registration without an attorney is $90; the late registration fee is $120.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome
Scott S. Blass, President
9:15 – 10:05 a.m. Don’t Let Your Case Crash and Burn: Successful Tips and
Strategies to Prepare Your Clients for Deposition
Kelly Elswick-Hall – The Masters Law Firm, Charleston
Joanna I. Tabit – Steptoe and Johnson, Charleston
10:05 – 10:55 a.m. Staying Ahead of the Curve: Changes in Federal Law and
Procedure You Need to Know
Larry Tawwater – The Tawwater Law Firm, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
10:50 – 11:10 a.m. Break
11:10 – 12:25 p.m. The Art and Practice of Judo Law: Advanced Strategies for
Skewering the Defense on Its Own Tactics (Part I)
Gary C. Johnson – Gary C. Johnson P.S.C., Pikeville, Kentucky
12:25 – 1:45 p.m. WVAJ Membership Luncheon (WVAJ Members Only)
1:45 – 3:00 p.m. The Art and Practice of Judo Law: Advanced Strategies for
Skewering the Defense on Its Own Tactics (Part II)
3:00 – 3:50 p.m. The View from the Top: West Virginia Supreme Court of
Appeals Update
Rory L. Perry II, Clerk of the Court
3:50 – 4:05 p.m. Break
4:05 – 4:55 p.m. The Brief That Appeals to the Court: The Art and Science
of Writing Effective Appellate Briefs
Anthony J. Majestro – Powell and Majestro, Charleston
Friday, June 7, 2013
8:00 – 9:15 a.m. Don’t Exhaust Your Litigation Budget: Creating Quality Demonstrative
Evidence with the Law Office Technology You Have
Lawrence M. Simon – Javerbaum, Wurgaft, Hicks, Kahn, Wikstrom & Sinins,
New York, New York and Springfield, New Jersey
9:15 – 10:05 a.m. Civility and the Civil Lawyer: Maintaining Your Cool When
All About You Are Losing Theirs
Donald C. Moore, Jr. – The Moore Law Firm, Cincinnati, Ohio
Paralegal Breakout Session
Taking Charge of Difficult Situations and Impossible People
David A. Clayman, Ph.D. – Clayman and Associates, Charleston
10:05 – 10:20 a.m. Break
10:20 – 11:35 a.m. Will Your Client’s Settlement or Verdict Be Snatched Away by
Health Care Subrogation Claims: ERISA and Medicaid
Subrogation Update
David H. Abney – David Abney Law Offices, Frankfort, Kentucky
Scott S. Blass – Bordas and Bordas, Wheeling
11:35 – 1:05 p.m. WVAJ Board Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ Board only)
1:05 – 2:20 p.m. The Do’s and Don’ts of Effective Litigation: Tips from the Bench
The Honorable Omar J. Aboulhosn – Judge, Ninth Circuit Court
The Honorable J. D. Beane – Judge, Fourth Circuit Court
The Honorable Phillip M. Stowers - Judge, Twenty-Ninth Circuit Court
The Honorable William S. Thompson – Judge, Twenty-Fifth Circuit Court
Paralegal Breakout Session
Techniques to Improve Your Efficiency and Productivity: A
Facilitated Discussion with You and Your Legal Assistant Peers
Leslie S. Stone – Stone Strategies, Charleston
2:20 – 3:20 p.m. Market Your Firm Effectively without Losing Your Law License:
Legal Ethics and Online and Social Media Marketing
Jonathan Clark – FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters Business
Christopher J. Regan – Bordas and Bordas, Wheeling
Allan N. Karlin – Allan N. Karlin and Associates, Morgantown
3:20 – 4:10 p.m. The Affordable Care Act and its Impact on Your Law Firm and
Your Employees: Blessing or Curse?
Perry Bryant, Director – West Virginians for Affordable Health Care
CLE Credit
This program is worth 14.9 hours of CLE credit, including 3.9 in ethics and law office management from the West Virginia Bar (pending). For states with full 60-minute credit hours, the program is worth 12.41 with 2.0 in ethics (pending).
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. New Lawyers Party (open to all registrants)
Vandalia Lounge – 212 Hale Street, Charleston
Event partially sponsored by the American Association for Justice
Thursday, June 6, 2013
12:25 – 1:45 p.m. WVAJ Membership Luncheon and Annual Meeting (members only)
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Annual Convention Party (open to all registrants)
Event partially sponsored by Robson Forensic
Music sponsored by Structured Financial Associates
Friday, June 7, 2013
11:45 – 1:15 p.m. WVAJ Board of Governors Luncheon and Meeting (board only)
The convention hospitality suite is sponsored by FORGE Consulting.
General Convention Information
Hotel 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 May 23, 2013. The complimentary breakfast and manager’s reception are included with your suite. To reserve your suite, phone (304)347-8700 or register online to www.embassysuitescharlestonwv.com. You must use the three-letter code “AJU” when making your reservation to receive the special rate; online you will enter “AJU” in the group/convention code space. Regular rates will apply for reservations made after May 23, 2013.
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 May 27. For cancellations received May 28 - 31, you will be refunded 50 percent of your registration fee. There will be no refunds after May 31, but seminar materials will be sent to you.
Attention WVAJ Members
If you plan to attend the board meeting and/or the membership meeting during the convention, please RSVP with the WVAJ office. Call (304)344-0692 or e-mail Debra Lee.
Questions?
Please call WVAJ at (304)344-0692 or e-mail Debra Lee.
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
Sponsors and Exhibitors (through May 10)
Alpha Technologies
American Association for Justice
Berkeley Research Group
Bucci, Bailey and Javins
Comprehensive Medical
Crash and Safety Consultants
FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters Business
FORGE Consulting
Garretson Resolution Group
Keystone Engineering
LawCall
Leading Technologies
Med-Mal Consulting
medQuest
Merrill Lynch
Netranom Communications
Neurological Case Management Associates
NFP Structured Settlements
Providio MediSolutions LLC
Realtime Reporters
Robson Forensic
Saponaro, Inc.
Structured Financial Associates
Superior Settlements
Thomson Reuters
Market Your Products and Services
Convention Sponsorship, Exhibitors and Advertising
Sponsorship, exhibitor and advertising opportunities are available for your business at the 55th Annual WVAJ Convention and Seminar. Our convention provides you with an excellent opportunity to market your products and services to attorneys practicing throughout West Virginia and in surrounding states. To learn more, download the Annual Convention Sponsorship, Exhibitor and Advertising package. If you have questions, email Debra Lee.
WVAJ AFFINITY PARTNERS
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