2025 WVAJ Mid-Winter

14.9 CLE hours including 2.4 in ethics, substance abuse, and law office management

Seminar Program

General Convention Information

Accommodations

Cancellation Policy

Meetings and Social Events

Sponsors and Exhibitors

Sponsorship, Exhibitor, and Advertising Opportunities

Register Now

Seminar Program

Thursday, February 13

9:00 – 9:10 a.m.

Welcome

Steven Broadwater, WVAJ President

9:10 – 10:00 a.m.

Making Your Case Bigger Than the Truck: How to Maximize Results Against Commercial Carriers

Jamie Bordas – Bordas and Bordas, Wheeling

Christopher McCabe – Bordas and Bordas, Pittsburgh

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Resilience in Recovery: A Story of Addiction, Redemption, and Rebuilding a Legal Career*

L. Dante’ diTrapano – Calwell, Luce, diTrapano, Charleston

11:00 – 11:10 a.m.

Break Sponsored by EmotionTrac Legal

11:10 – 12:00 p.m.

Beyond the Brain: Diagnosing and Treating All Medical Issues in Head Trauma Cases

Randall Benson, M.D., President and Clinical Director – Center for Neurologic Studies, Boca Raton, Florida

12:00 – 1:15 p.m.

WVAJ Membership Meeting and Lunch (WVAJ Members Only)

1:15 – 2:30 p.m.

Risk and Rigor: Why and How Lawyers Can Use Decision Tree Analysis When Assessing Cases and Advising Clients

Marjorie Aaron, Professor of Practice Emeritus – University of Cincinnati College of Law

2:30 – 3:20 p.m.

Breakout Sessions (Choose One)

Practice Applications in Decision Tree Analysis for More Complex Litigation and Client Strategies

Dr. Marjorie Aaron

Protecting the Record: Preserving Errors and Other Issues for a Successful Criminal Appeal

Matthew Brummond and Gary Collias - West Virginia Public Defender Services, Charleston

The Privacy Puzzle: Consumer Rights in the Age of Surveillance

Matthew Stonestreet – The Giatras Law Firm, Charleston and Steven Broadwater - Broadwater Law Group, Oak Hill

3:20 – 3:35 p.m.

Break

3:35 – 5:15 p.m.

Juryball & the Big Data Revolution: The Power of Big Data in Litigation and Trial Law

Sean Claggett – Claggett and Sykes, Las Vegas, Nevada

Friday, February 14

8:30 – 9:20 a.m.

The Emotional Blueprint of Personal Injury Litigation: Leveraging Trial Science for Success

Shelli Garson, Senior Vice President and Director of Research and Analytics – EmotionTrac Legal, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

9:20 – 10:20 a.m.

Counseling Clients Through Bad News and Other Legal Realities*

Dr. Marjorie Aaron

10:20 – 10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30 – 11:20 a.m.

Trial Strategies: Catching the Defense Expert Red Handed

Ben Salango – Salango Law, Charleston

11:20 – 12:10 p.m.

AI and the Plaintiffs’ Bar: What We Are Seeing in Policy and Practice

Daniel Hinkle, Senior Counsel for Policy and State Affairs – American Association for Justice

12:10 – 1:30 p.m.

WVAJ Board Meeting and Lunch (WVAJ Board Members Only)

1:30 – 2:20 p.m.

Unlocking the Truth: Black Box Downloads and Harnessing the Data to Build Your MVA Case

David Harris – West Virginia Crash Investigation/Harris Enterprises, St. Albans

2:20 – 3:10 p.m.

Mastering Premises Liability: Using 30(b)(6) Depositions to Uncover Key Evidence and Maximize Damages

Jordan Laird – Laird Law, Wheeling

3:10 – 4:00 p.m.

Judicial Perspectives on Discovery: Navigating Requests, Challenges, and Best Practices

Judge Jennifer Bailey – 8th West Virginia Circuit Court

Judge Phillip M. Stowers – 7th West Virginia Circuit Court

Meet the Seminar Faculty

Convention Registration Fees

CLE Hours

This program is worth 14.9 CLE hours, including 2.4 in ethics, substance abuse, and law office management. In states with 60-minute CLE hours, the program is worth 12.4 CLE hours, including 2.0 in ethics, substance abuse, and law office management.

Convention Materials

Written materials are provided electronically by Internet download. You Please select how you wish to receive materials when you register.

Register Now

General Convention Information

Accommodations

Embassy Suites is located at 300 Court Street, Charleston. A special rate of $149 per night is available through Sunday, January 19, 2025. The hotel’s complimentary breakfast and manager’s reception are included in your room rate. Regular rates will apply for reservations made after January 19. Make Your Hotel Reservation

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be provided to WVAJ in writing. For a refund, minus a $25 processing fee, your request must be received no later than January 21, 2025. Requests received January 22 – February 4 will receive refunds of 50 percent. There will be no cancellations after February 4, but you will receive convention materials. To cancel, email Debra Lee.

Questions?

Have questions about the 2025 WVAJ Mid-Winter Convention and Seminar? Email Debra Lee.

Meetings and Social Events

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

WVAJ Legislative Lookahead (WVAJ Members Only)

5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Convention Kickoff Tailgate Bash (Open to all Registrants, Sponsors, and Exhibitors)

Thanks to Our Silver Event Sponsor Tavrn

Thanks to Our Bronze Event Sponsor Focus Graphics

7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

State of the State Watch Party (WVAJ members only)

Thursday, February 13, 2025

12:00 – 1:15 p.m.

WVAJ Membership Meeting & Luncheon (WVAJ members only)

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

2025 WVAJ Legislative Reception & Mid-Winter Convention Party

Thanks to Our Gold Event Sponsors Clio, Esquire Bank, Justice for Life and Synergy

Thanks to Our Bronze Event Sponsor West Virginia University College of Law

Friday, February 14, 2025

12:10 – 1:30 p.m.

WVAJ Board of Governors Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ Board Only)

Sponsors and Exhibitors

Advocate Capital

Clio

Edgewood Productions

EmotionTrac Legal

Esquire Bank

Focus Graphics

The Forge Companies

Harris Enterprises

Justice for Life

Lexis/Nexis

MD Timelines

NFP Structured Settlements

Physicians Life Care Planning

Robson Forensic

Sage Settlement Consulting

Saponaro, Inc.

Smart Advocate

Synergy

Tavrn

WVU College of Law

Market Your Products and Services

Sponsorship, Exhibitor, and Advertising Opportunities

Want to market your products and services to West Virginia lawyers and paralegals? WVAJ’s 2025 Mid-Winter Convention and Seminar is the biggest and best event to connect you with the West Virginia legal professionals your business needs. Sponsorship, exhibitor, and advertising opportunities are available. WVAJ can help you select the best options for you to meet your business goals. To learn more, download the vendor marketing package now. Questions? Email Debra Lee.

Register Now!

Steven R. Broadwater Jr., President

Convention Chairs

Thomas P. Boggs

John Einreinhofer

Cynthia Loomis Hardesty

Wes Prince

George Sidiropolis

WVAJ AFFINITY PARTNERS