56th Annual
West Virginia Association for Justice
Annual Convention and Seminar
June 5 – 6, 2014
Embassy Suites
Charleston, West Virginia
14.9 hours of CLE credit, including 2.4 in ethics and law office management
Bernie Layne, President
Seminar Chairpersons
Robert M. Bastress, III - Charleston
Laura C. Davis - Charles Town
Allan N. Karlin - Morgantown
Chad S. Lovejoy - Huntington
Seminar Program
Meetings and Social Events
General Convention Information
Hotel Accommodations
Cancellation Policy
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsorship, Exhibitor and Advertising Opportunities
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
Annual Convention Seminar Program
Three Ways to Receive 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 Seminar 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 register without an attorney is $90; the late registration fee is $120.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
8:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 – 9:10 a.m. Welcome
Bernie Layne, President
9:10 – 10:25 a.m. Expansion of Arbitration Law
The Honorable Menis E. Ketchum, Justice
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
10:25 – 11:15 a.m. Five Secrets for David to Take On Goliath
Troy Giatras - Giatras Law Firm, Charleston
11:15 – 11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 – 12:45 p.m. Effective Jury Selection: Keys to Successful Voir Dire
Lisa Blue - Baron and Blue, Dallas
12:45 – 2:00 p.m. WVAJ Membership Luncheon and Annual Meeting (members only)
2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Crafting and Using the “Rules of the Road” to Win Your Case
Patrick A. Malone - Patrick Malone and Associates, Washington D. C.
3:15 – 4:05 p.m. Protecting Your Clients from Defendants’ Latest Strategies
in Chapter 11 Bankruptcies
Todd E. Phillips and James P. Wehner, Caplin and Drysdale, Washington, D. C.
NEW LAWYERS DIVISION BREAKOUT SESSION
Managing Your Practice: What You Didn’t Learn in Law School
About the Business of Law
Charles M. Love IV - The Love Law Firm, Charleston
Kelly R. Reed - Law Offices of Kelly R. Reed, Morgantown
4:05 – 4:15 p.m. Break
4:15 – 5:05 p.m. The New Insurance Playbook: What You Need to Know to Hit a Home
Run in Your Auto Case
James G. Bordas III - Bordas and Bordas, Wheeling
Truman Griffith - Warner Law Offices, Charleston
Friday, June 6, 2014
8:30 – 9:20 a.m. Before the Tax Man Cometh: What You Need to Know About
Taxes on Personal Injury Awards
Martin H. Abo - Abo and Associates, Mount Laurel, New Jersey
9:20 – 10:35 a.m. Deposition Techniques: Asking What’s Important, Exhaustion, Restating
and Summarizing
Phillip H. Miller - Miller Law Offices, Nashville
10:35 – 10:50 a.m. Break - Sponsored by Superior Settlements
10:50 – 12:05 p.m. Establishing Rules from the Mouths of Opposition Witnesses:
'The Miller Mousetrap’ and Rules That Make a Difference in
Case Value and Outcome
Phillip H. Miller - Miller Law Offices, Nashville
PARALEGAL DIVISION BREAKOUT SESSION
Medicare and Medicaid Subrogation: What Paralegals Need to Know
Scott S. Blass - Bordas and Bordas, Wheeling
12:05 – 1:45 p.m. WVAJ Board of Governors Luncheon and Meeting (board only)
1:45 – 2:35 p.m. West Virginia Courts Go Digital: An Introduction to the New E-Filing
System by Those Who Designed It
Michael L. Manley, President - Software Systems, Inc.
Barbara A. Core - Retired Circuit Court Clerk, Marion County
2:35 – 3:35 p.m. The Unholy Trinity: Anxiety, Substance Abuse and Depression
Yvette Hourigan, Director - Kentucky Lawyer Assistance Program
PARALEGAL DIVISION BREAKOUT SESSION
The DISC Assessment: Strategies and Tools to Help with Every Client Situation
Lynn Eldridge, Director of Clinical Services, Process Strategies, Charleston
3:35 – 4:35 p.m. Don’t Let Your Marketing Strategy Cost You Your Law License:
The Ethics of Online and Social Media Marketing
Rachael Fletcher Cipoletti, Chief Lawyer Disciplinary Counsel
West Virginia Office of Disciplinary Counsel
CLE
The program is worth 14.9 hours of CLE credit, including 2.4 in ethics and law office management for the West Virginia Bar. In states with 60-minute credit hours, it is worth 12.41, with 2.0 in ethics. (Pending)
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. New Lawyers Party (open to all registrants)
212 Hale Street - Charleston
Thursday, June 5, 2014
12:45 – 2:00 p.m. WVAJ Membership Luncheon & Annual Meeting (members only)
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. WVAJ Annual Convention Party
Partially sponsored by Saponaro, Inc.;
the music is sponsored by Structured Financial Associates
Friday, June 6, 2014
12:05 – 1:45 p.m. WVAJ Board of Governors Luncheon and Meeting (board only)
The WVAJ Convention Hospitality Suite is partially sponsored by FORGE Consulting and FindLaw
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 16, 2014. 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 16.
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 20. For cancellations received May 21-25 you will be refunded 50 percent of your registration fee. There will be no refunds after May 25, but seminar materials will be sent to you.
Attention WVAJ Members
If you plan to attend the membership and/or board meeting during the convention, please RSVP with the WVAJ office. Call (304)344-0692 or email Debra Lee.
Questions?
Please call WVAJ at (304)344-0692 or email Debra Lee.
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
Sponsors and Exhibitors (through April 14)
Alford Home Solutions
Bucci, Bailey and Javins
Crash and Safety Consultants
FORGE Consulting
FindLaw
Garretson Resolution Group
Keystone Engineering
Leading Technology
Med-Mal Consulting
NFP Structured Settlements
Robson Forensic
Saponaro, Inc.
Stratejic
Structured Financial Associates
Superior Settlements
Thomson Reuters
Tony the Tailor
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, contact Debra Lee.
WVAJ AFFINITY PARTNERS
CONTACT WVAJ
Telephone: (304) 344 - 0692
Fax: (304) 343 - 7926
WVAJ OFFICE
208 Capitol Street, Suite 100
Charleston, WV 25301