West Virginia Association for Justice 57th Annual Convention and Seminar
Preparing for New Challenges and Ensuring Justice for All
June 4 – 5, 2015
Embassy Suites
Charleston, West Virginia
This program is worth 15.6 hours of CLE credit, including 3.6 in ethics and law office management (pending).
Anthony J. Majestro, President
Seminar Chairs
Robert M. Bastress III
Laura C. Davis
Allan N. Karlin
Mitchell L. Klein
Chad S. Lovejoy
Seminar Program
Meetings and Social Events
General Information
Accommodations
Cancellation Policy
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsorship, Advertising and Exhibiting Opportunities
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
Seminar Program
Thursday, June 4, 2015
8:00 a.m.
Registration
8:50 – 9:00 a.m.
Welcome
Anthony Majestro, President
9:00 – 9:50 a.m.
Navigating the New Federal Discovery Rules: Don’t Let Them Sink Your Case
Charles R. DiSalvo – West Virginia University College of Law
9:50 – 11:05 a.m.
Deconstructing Damages
Howard Nations – The Nations Law Firm, Houston, Texas
11:05 – 11:20 a.m.
Break
11:20 – 12:10 p.m.
Deposing (and Exposing) the Defense Medical Examiner
Paul J. Scoptur – Aiken and Scoptur, Milwaukee
12:10 – 1:30 p.m.
Membership Meeting and Luncheon (members only)
1:30 – 2:20 p.m.
Advanced Deposition Techniques: Restatement, Summarization, Boxing In and Exhaustion
Paul J. Scoptur – Aiken and Scoptur, Milwaukee
2:20 – 3:10 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
Tort Law 2015: Legislative Changes and How They Affect Your Practice Part 1
Comparative Fault - Anthony Majestro, Powell and Majestro, Charleston
Deliberate Intent - Timothy C. Bailey, Bucci, Bailey and Javins, Charleston
West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act - Jason Causey, Bordas and Bordas, Wheeling
Identifying Issues and Litigating Under the Family Medical Leave Act: When You Should Consider Bringing a FMLA Case
Hoyt Glazer – Sheridan, Klein and Glazer, Hurricane
Jane E. Peak – Allan N. Karlin and Associates, Morgantown
3:10 – 3:25 p.m.
Break
3:25 – 4:15 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
Tort Law 2015: Legislative Changes and How They Affect Your Practice Part 2
Nursing Homes, Pharmacies and the Revised MPLA - Ben Salango, Preston and Salango, Charleston
General Liability Law Changes - Chad Lovejoy – Duffield, Lovejoy, Stemple and Boggs, Huntington
Employment Law Changes - David Hammer, Hammer, Ferretti and Schiavoni, Martinsburg
Asbestos - William K. Schwartz, Harvitt and Schwartz, Charleston
Don’t Let Workers Compensation Become an Oxymoron: What the Plaintiff's Lawyer Needs to Know to Represent the Injured Worker
Linda Garrett – Bucci, Bailey and Javins, Summersville
William B. Gerwig III –Gerwig Law Office, Charleston
Robert L. Stultz – Bailey, Stultz, Oldaker and Greene
4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
Know the Amended Rules of Professional Conduct: What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You
Rachael Fletcher-Cipoletti, Chief Lawyer Disciplinary Counsel – West Virginia Office of Disciplinary Counsel
J. B. Akers – Akers Law Office, Charleston
Friday, June 5, 2015
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: Using Your Law Office Technology for Effective Settlement Presentations
Jim Bordas and Geoff Brown – Bordas and Bordas, Wheeling
9:00 – 9:50 a.m.
Breakout Sessions
Federal Court Update: The Cases You Need to Know
Allan N. Karlin – Allan N. Karlin and Associates, Morgantown
New Lawyers Division
Make Every Minute Count: Tips and Tools to Improve Your Productivity and Time Management
Dave Duffield – Duffield, Lovejoy, Stemple and Boggs, Huntington
Paralegal Division
The Rules of Evidence and Notary Guidelines: What You Need to Know
Brian Pasciak – Bordas and Bordas, Wheeling
9:50 – 10:05 a.m.
Break
10:05 – 11:20 p.m.
Seeking Justice for Crime Victims: Compensation and Accountability in the Civil Courts
Jeff Dion, Director – National Crime Victims Bar Association, Washington, D. C.
11:20 – 1:00 p.m.
Board Meeting and Luncheon (board only)
1:00 – 2:15 p.m.
Playing the Game by Their Rules: How Big Insurance Is Handling Claims and What You Need to Know to Represent Your Clients Effectively
Laura C. Davis - Skinner Law Firm, Charles Town
George N. Sidiropolis – Sidiropolis Law Office, McMechen
Stuart J. Setcavage – Grant Street Claims, Pittsburgh
2:15 – 3:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
Don't Get Buried Alive: What the Civil Attorney Should Know About Estate Law
Raymond Keener and Jared Jones – Lewis, Glasser, Casey and Rollins, Charleston
Consumer Law Practice Section
Fair Credit Reporting Act: A Primer
Leonard A. Bennett and Matthew J. Erausquin – Consumer Litigation Associates, Newport News, Virginia
Paralegal Division
Dealing with Difficult People: Keeping Your Cool While Others Lose Theirs
Sherry Cooke, Assistant - Office of the Honorable James Stuckey, 13th Circuit Court
Shelly Kelley, Court Reporter - Office of the Honorable William S. Thompson, 25th Circuit Court
Jonathan R. Mani - Mani, Ellis and Layne, Charleston
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
When the News Spotlight Is on You and Your Client: Legal Ethics and Working with the Media Effectively
Kathy Brown – Kathy Brown Law, Charleston
Jeff Jenkins, News Director – West Virginia Metro News
Kate White, Reporter – Charleston Gazette
Paralegal Division
Keep Your Guard Up: Staying Safe When Working Late
J. David Gardner
CLE
This program is worth 15.6 hours of CLE credit, including 3.6 in ethics and law office management for the West Virginia Bar. In states with 60-minute credit hours, the program is worth 13 hours with 2 hours in ethics. (Pending)
Convention Materials
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 $25.00.
Paralegals Now Attend Attorney Seminar
The two-day WVAJ attorney seminar program s open to legal assistants who are employed by WVAJ member attorneys. In addition to the seminar program, two special paralegal breakout sessions are scheduled. The regular registration fee of just $70 for both days is available to a legal assistant who registers in conjunction with an attorney; the late registration fee is $90.
Seminar Fees
Register Now
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
Wednesday, June 3
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
New Lawyers Party (open to all registrants, sponsors and exhibitors)
Celsius – 212 Hale Street, Charleston
Partially sponsored by Robson Forensic
Thursday, June 4
12:10 – 1:30 p.m.
WVAJ Membership Luncheon and Annual Meeting (WVAJ members only)
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
WVAJ Annual Convention Party (open to all registrants, sponsors, exhibitors and guests)
Music sponsored by Structured Financial Associates
Friday, June 5
11:20 – 1:00 p.m.
WVAJ Board of Governors Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ board only)
The WVAJ Convention Hospitality Suite is sponsored, in part, by Crash and Safety Consultants.
General Convention Information
Accommodations
The Embassy Suites Hotel is located at 300 Court Street, Charleston. Special rates of $124 per night for a single and $134 for a double are available through May 6, 2015. The hotel’s complimentary breakfast and manager’s reception are included with your suite. To reserve your suite, phone (304)347-8700, ext. 5440 or go 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 May 6, 2015.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be sent to the WVAJ office in writing. For a complete refund, less a $25 processing fee, your cancellation must be received no later than May 24. For cancellations received May 25-28 you will be refunded 50 percent of your registration fee. There will be no refunds after May 28, but seminar materials will be sent to you.
Attention WVAJ Members
If you plan to attend the membership and/or the board meeting and luncheon during the convention, please RSVP when you register or email Debra Lee.
Questions?
Call WVAJ at (304)344-0692 or email Debra Lee.
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Bucci, Bailey and Javins
Crash and Safety Consultants
FindLaw
Garretson Resolution Group
Keystone Engineering
Leading Technology
McKinley Carter Wealth Services
MedMal Consulting
National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
NFP Structured Settlements
Orion Strategies
Robson Forensic
Saponaro, Inc.
Streski Reporting and Video Services
Stratejic, Inc.
Structured Financial Associates
Superior Settlements
Synergy Settlement Services
Tony the Tailor
Vocational Economics, Inc.
West Virginia Radio Corp.
Market Your Products and Services
Convention Sponsorship, Exhibitor and Advertising Opportunities
Sponsorship, exhibitor and advertising opportunities are available for your business at the 57th 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
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