West Virginia Association for Justice
2019 Mid-Winter Convention and Seminar
January 31 - February 1, 2019
Embassy Suites Hotel
Charleston, West Virginia
15.0 CLE hours, including 3.0 in ethics and law office management
Seminar Program
General Convention Information
Accommodations
Cancellations Policy
Meetings and Social Events
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsorship, Exhibitor and Advertising Opportunities
Register Now
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
2019 Convention Committee
Laura C. Davis
John Einreinhofer
Clayton Fitzsimmons
Lynnette S. Marshall
Abraham J. Saad
Seminar Program
Thursday, January 31
8:00 a.m.
Registration Opens
8:45 a.m.
Welcome
Stephen P. New, President
8:50 - 9:40 a.m.
Hard Facts about Soft Tissue Injury Cases: Valuing Neck and Back Injury Claims
Joseph R. Ferretti - Ferretti Law Office, Martinsburg
9:40 - 10:30 a.m.
Dangerous Road Ahead: Driverless Vehicles and Accident Liability
Daniel Hinkle, Senior State Affairs Legal Counsel - American Association for Justice, Washington D. C.
10:30 - 10:40 a.m.
Break - Sponsored by Edd McDevitt
10:40 - 10:50 a.m.
Meet the Exhibitors and Announcements
10:50 - 12:05 p.m.
Litigating Truck Accident Cases: Getting to the Logical Core Truth
Michael Jay Leizerman, Co-Founder - Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA), Toledo, Ohio
12:05 - 1:30 p.m.
WVAJ Membership Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ Members Only)
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Make Your Practice Look More Like Mediation and Less Like a Cage Match: Strategies to Manage Stress and Improve Personal Well-Being
Elliot G. Hicks - Hicks Resolutions, Charleston
Brenda Waugh - Brenda Waugh Attorney at Law, Martinsburg
3:00 - 3:10 p.m.
Break
3:10 - 3:20 p.m.
Meet the Exhibitors and Announcements
3:20 - 4:10 p.m. (Choose One)
The Do's and Don'ts of Civil Litigation Strategies for Criminal Cases: What to Use and What to Avoid When Representing Criminal Defendants
J. Timothy DiPiero - DiPIero, Simmons, McGinley and Bastress, Charleston
Matthew Stonestreet - The Giatras Law Firm, Charleston
New Lawyer Division
What I Know Now That I Wish I Knew Then: Critical Lessons Learned and Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Legal Practice
Laura C. Davis - Skinner Law Firm, Charles Town
Erika Klie Kolenich - Klie Law Offices, Buckhannon
Jonathan R. Mani - Mani, Ellis and Layne, Charleston
4:10 - 5:00 p.m.
What's Going On Under the Capitol Dome: 2019 Legislative Session Update
Invited Panelists
Senate President Mitch Carmichael
House Speaker Roger Hanshaw
Sen. Charles Trump, Chair - Senate Judiciary Committee
Del. John Shott, Chair - House Judiciary Committee
Other Panelists TBA
Friday, February 1
8:00 - 8:50 a.m.
The Impossible IS Possible: The Playbook You Need to Win Your Arbitration Case
Charles M. Love IV - Love Law Firm, Charleston
8:50 - 9:40 a.m.
Cross Examination for the Faint of Heart: Truth or Consequences?
Allan N. Karlin - Allan N. Karlin and Associates, Morgantown
Paralegal Division
Rules of Civil Procedure That Every Paralegal Should Know
Charles R. DiSalvo - West Virginia University College of Law
9:40 - 9:50 a.m.
Break
9:50 - 10:00 a.m.
Meet the Exhibitors and Announcements
10:00 - 11:40 a.m.
Winning at the Beginning: The Untapped Power of Voir Dire, Opening and Beyond
Keith R. Mitnik, Senior Trial Counsel - Morgan and Morgan, Orlando, Florida
11:40 - 1:15 p.m.
WVAJ Board of Governors Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ Board Only)
1:15 - 2:30 p.m.
Lights, Camera, Justice! Creating Video Settlement Brochures That Get Results for Your Clients
Jamie Bordas - Bordas and Bordas, Wheeling
Joe Monahan, Video Production Specialist - Wheelhouse Creative, Wheeling
2:30 - 3:20 p.m. (Choose One)
#Me Too in the Courtroom: Getting Justice for Victims of Sexual Harassment
Tammy Bowles Raines - Tammy Bowles Raines Law Office, Charleston
Stephen P. New - Law Office of Stephen P. New, Beckley
Consumer Law Division
Consumer Law Update: What You Need to Know Now to Protect Your Clients
Stephen R. Broadwater Jr. - Hamilton, Burgess, Young and Pollard, Fayetteville
Jonathan Marshall - Bailey and Glasser, Charleston
Benjamin Sheridan - Klein Sheridan, Hurricane
Jennifer Wagner - Mountain State Justice, Clarksburg
Paralegal Division
Survival Tips for Paralegals: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Difficult People
David A. Clayman Ph.D. - Clayman and Associates, Charleston
3:20 - 4:20 p.m.
Be Sure That You're Covered: Legal Malpractice Insurance and Other Insurance Options Your Law Practice Needs
Greg Cooke, Vice President of Sales and Client Management - USI Affinity, Philadelphia
CLE
This program is worth 15 CLE hours, including 3 in ethics and law office management. In states with 60-minute CLE hours, the program is worth 12.5 hours, including 2.5 in ethics and law office management.
Convention Materials
All seminar materials are provided to convention registrants electronically free of charge. You may select either a flash drive or internet download. If you want printed materials, a convention notebook is available for an additional charge of $30. Please note that if you prefer a notebook, it is best to pre-register for the convention. A very limited number of extra convention notebooks will be available for those who register onsite.
Paralegals Attend the Attorney Seminar
The two-day WVAJ attorney seminar program is open to legal assistants who are employed by WVAJ members. In addition to the regular seminar program, special paralegal breakout sessions are scheduled. An early registration fee of just $70 for both days is available to a legal assistant who registers in conjunction with an attorney; the regular registration fee is $90.
Registration Fees
Register Online Now
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
General Convention Information
Accommodations
The Embassy Suites Hotel is located at 300 Court Street, Charleston. A special convention rate of $129 per night is available through January 8, 2019. To reserve your suite, call (304)347-8700 or reserve your room online. You must use the code ASJ when making your reservations to receive the convention rate. Regular rates will apply for reservations made after January 8, 2019.
Registration
If you plan to pay by check, please download the brochure and register by mail. If you plan to pay by credit card, please register online. WVAJ accepts Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover. In addition to pre-registration, you may register onsite at the convention. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 31 and at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, February 1
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be sent to the WVAJ office in writing. For a refund, less a $25 processing fee, your cancellation must be received no later than January 20. For cancellations received January 21 - 24, you will be refunded 50 percent of your registration fee. No cancellations will be accepted after January 24, but seminar materials will be sent to you.
Attention WVAJ Members
If you plan to attend the membership and/or board meeting(s) during the convention, please RSVP to Debra Lee.
Questions?
Call WVAJ at (304)344-0692 or email Debra Lee.
Register Now
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
Meetings and Social Events
Wednesday, January 30
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Welcome Party (open to all registrants, sponsors and exhibitors)
Bar 101 - 101 Capitol Street, Charleston
Sponsored by Physician Life Care Planning
Thursday, January 31
12:05 - 1:30 p.m.
WVAJ Membership Meeting and Luncheon
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Convention Party and Legislative Reception (open to all registrants, sponsors and exhibitors)
Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences - 1 Clay Square, Charleston
Partially sponsored by Physician Life Care Planning and Advocate Capital
Coaches will shuttle registrants, sponsors, exhibitors and guests between the hotel and the Clay Center
Friday, February 1
11:40 - 1:15 p.m.
WVAJ Board of Governors Meeting and Luncheon
Sponsors and Exhibitors (through December 11, 2018)
Advocate Capital
Bailey, Javins and Carter
Cattie Law PLLC
Charleston City Reporters
Edward Jones
Keystone Engineering Consultants
Lexis Nexis
NFP Structured Settlements
Netranom
Physician Life Care Planning
Robson Forensic
RPI Legal Investigations
Sage Settlement Consulting
Sargent's Court Reporting
Tanner Legal Nurse Consulting
The Legal Wizards LLC
TwoDogBlog
Market Your Products and Services
Convention Sponsorship, Exhibitor and Advertising Opportunities
Need to market your products and services to attorneys practicing in West Virginia and surrounding states? The WVAJ Mid-Winter Convention and Seminar provides you with exceptional sponsorship, exhibitor and advertising opportunities. To learn more, download the Mid-Winter Convention Sponsorship, Exhibitor and Advertising Package. If you have questions, contact Debra Lee at (304)344-0692 or email her.
WVAJ AFFINITY PARTNERS
CONTACT WVAJ
Telephone: (304) 344 - 0692
Fax: (304) 343 - 7926
WVAJ OFFICE
208 Capitol Street, Suite 100
Charleston, WV 25301