66th Annual Convention

Seminar Program
General Convention Information
Accommodations
Cancellation Policy
Meetings and Social Events
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsorship, Exhibitor and Advertising Opportunities

Register Now!

Seminar Program

Featured National Speakers
Randi McGinn – You Don’t Have to Be “Cross:” Velvet Killer Cross Examination
A partner with the Albuquerque, New Mexico law firm of McGinn, Montoya, Love, Curry and Sievers, Randi McGinn is one the leading trial lawyers in the country. She was the first woman president of the Inner Circle of Advocates, the top 100 trial lawyers in America. She authored Changing Laws, Saving Lives: How to Take on Corporate Giants and Win for TrialGuides.

Marion Munley - Power of Persuasion
Marion Munley is a partner with Munley Law and works in the firm's Philadelphia office. She is a past president of the Melvin Belli Society, was the first woman to chair AAJ's Trucking Litigation Group, and a past chair of the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. She is the current secretary of the AAJ Board of Governors.

Jessie Hoerman - Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Industry: Why It Matters and How to Use It
A practicing attorney and CPA, Jessie Hoerman is the founder and CEO of SimplyConvert, a client-intake and management platform that also utilizes AI. It received a 2023 LegalTech Breakthrough Award for being the "Chatbot Solution of the Year." The award recognizes tech companies and products driving innovation in the legal industry.

Seminar Schedule
Thursday, June 6, 2024
8:50 – 9:00 a.m.
Welcome
Shawn Romano, WVAJ President

9:00 – 9:50 a.m.
Anatomy of a Case Overcoming Defense Challenges A - Z and Getting a $7 Million Verdict:
Estate of Adanela Santana v. F&R Cargo
Taylor Norman – Bailey, Javins and Carter, Charleston

9:50 – 10:40 a.m.
Med School for Lawyers: What You Need Know When Representing Clients with Permanent and Catastrophic Injuries
Dr. Nicholas Godby, MD - Physicians Life Care Planning

10:40 – 10:50 a.m.
Break

10:50 – 12:05 p.m.
Keys to Persuasion
Marion Munley – Munley Law, Philadelphia and Secretary, American Association for Justice

12:05 – 1:30 p.m.
WVAJ Membership Meeting & Luncheon (WVAJ Members Only)

1:30 – 2:20 p.m.
Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law: Why It Matters and How to Use It
Jessica Hoerman, Attorney and CEO – Simply Convert, Edwardsville, Illinois

2:20 – 3:10 p.m.
The New Playbook: The Revised Rules of Civil Procedure and What Practicing Attorneys Need
to Know (Part 1)
Invited Panelists: Casey Forbes, Clerk of the Court – West Virginia Supreme Court; Tom Hurney – Jackson Kelly, Charleston; Anthony Majestro – Powell Majestro, Charleston; The Honorable Joseph Reeder, Judge – 29th Circuit Court; Zak Ritchie – Hissham Forman Donovan Ritchie, Charleston; Amanda Taylor – New, Taylor and Associates, Beckley; Marc Williams – Nelson Mullins, Charleston

3:10 – 3:20 p.m.
Break Sponsored by Physicians Life Care Planning

3:20 – 4:10 p.m.
The New Playbook: The Revised Rules of Civil Procedure and What Practicing Attorneys Need
to Know (Part 2)

4:10 – 5:25 p.m.
Preparing for the Planned or Unplanned End of Your Legal Practice (Ethics and Law Office Management Session)
Kathryn Reed Bayless – Retired, Hilton Head, South Carolina; Trent Redman – Redman Mediation, Charleston; and E. William Harvit – Harvit Law Group, Charleston

Friday, June 7
8:15 – 8:20 a.m.
Welcome
Steven Broadwater, WVAJ President-Elect

8:20 – 9:10 a.m.
Beyond Structured Settlements: Available Options to Minimize Your Client’s Tax Burden
Eric SoHayda – Independent Life; Joseph Tombs – Eastern Point Trust; Chris Walters – Sage Settlement Consulting

9:10 – 10:25 a.m.
You Don’t Have to Be “Cross:” Velvet Killer Cross-Examination
Randi McGinn – McGinn, Montoya, Love, Curry and Sievers, Albuquerque, New Mexico

10:25 – 10:35 a.m.
Break

10:35 – 11:50 a.m.
When Criminal and Civil Law Collide: Handling the Civil Case and Securing Justice for Your
Client
Stephen P. New – Stephen New and Associates, Beckley; Travis Prince – Bailey Glasser, Morgantown; Kelly Reed – Law Offices of Kelly Reed, Morgantown

11:50 – 1:15 p.m.
WVAJ Board of Governors Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ Board Only)

1:15 – 2:05 p.m.
The View from the Top: West Virginia Supreme Court Update
The Honorable Tim Armstead, Chief Justice – Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

2:10 – 3:00 p.m. (Break-Out Sessions)
West Virginia’s Current Political and Legal Climate: How Has It Affected Employment Law?
Walt Auvil – The Employment Law Center, Parkersburg and Teresa Toriseva – Toriseva Law, Wheeling

Criminal Law and Digital Technology: Handing Discovery Challenges and Getting the Evidence You Need to Build Your Case
Traci Cook – Law Offices of Kelly Reed, Morgantown and the Honorable David Hammer, Judge, 23rd Circuit Court

3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
From Intake through Resolution: Strategies and Tactics for Handling Client Expectations Effectively and Ethically (ethics & law office management session)
Thomas P. Boggs – Duffield, Lovejoy and Boggs, Huntington and John Einreinhofer – Law Offices of John Einreinhofer, Charleston

Meet the Seminar Faculty

Continuing Legal Education
This program is worth 15.2 CLE hours, including 2.7 in ethics and law office management. In states with 60-minute CLE hours, the program is worth 12.6 hours, including 2.25 in ethics and law office management

Convention Fees
Review Convention Rates and Fees. An early registration discount is available through Tuesday, May 14. You will pay regular registration fees Wednesday, May 15 – Friday, May 31. The in-person registration fee is available for those who register at the convention.

Materials
Seminar materials are provided to registrants through online download or on a flash drive.

Register Now!

WVAJ Members! Register for the Annual Convention and Attend Special Member-Only Program for Free! (2.0 Additional CLE Hours)

"There is an art to advocacy, but a science to settlement." Aaron DeShaw
Join insurance industry software expert and TrialGuides founder Dr. Aaron Deshaw and settlement/demand letter consultant Charlette Sinclair for a virtual seminar on June 20. Learn how to prepare and present your cases to insurance companies more effectively and maximize settlements. This is a WVAJ members only session and is available only to WVAJ members registered convention. You cannot register for this session separately.

Not a member? If you are in private practice, you can join today. Note: To join, you must certify that your practice does not include the defense of personal injury claims, wrongful death claims, workers compensation claims and/or the representation of other interests adverse to consumers, workers, and the mission of the West Virginia Association for Justice. Membership applications are subject to review and approval.

General Convention Information
Accommodations
Embassy Suites is located at 300 Court Street, Charleston. A special rate of $134 per night is available through May 21. The hotel’s complimentary breakfast and manager’s reception are included in your room rate. Regular rates will apply for reservations made after May 21. To make your registration, use the link below or phone (304)347-8700. Your event code is 91C

Reserve Your Hotel Room Online

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 May 14. Requests received May 15 – 29 will receive refunds of 50 percent. There will be no refunds after May 29, but you will receive the convention materials. To cancel, email Debra Lee.

Questions?
Have questions about WVAJ’s 66th Annual Convention and Seminar? Email Debra Lee.

Meetings and Social Events
Wednesday, June 5
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
WVAJ & LAWPAC Meetings (WVAJ members only)
2024 Legislative Session Review
LAWPAC – Legislative Elections and Judicial Election Review

5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Evening Event - TBA

Thursday, June 6
12:05 – 1:30 p.m.
WVAJ Membership Meeting & Luncheon (WVAJ members only)

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
WVAJ Convention Party (open to all convention registrants, faculty, sponsors, and exhibitors)
Embassy Suites
Gold Sponsors
NFP Structured Settlements & Synergy
Bronze Sponsors
Huseby, Lexis Nexis & Physicians Life Care Planning

Friday, June 7
11:50 – 1:15 p.m.
WVAJ Board of Governors Meeting and Luncheon (Board Only)

Sponsors and Exhibitors

Physicians Life Care Planning

Synergy

Lexis Nexis

Huseby

Edgewood Productions

Sage Settlement Consulting

MDTimelines

Advocate Capital

NFP Structured Settlements

Saponaro Inc.

Boerger Investigative Services

FORGE

Netranom

Remote Legal

Market Your Products and Services
Sponsorship, Exhibiting and Advertising Opportunities
Want to market your products and services to West Virginia attorneys and paralegals? WVAJ’s Annual 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, and WVAJ can help you select the options that are best for your business goals. To learn more, download the vendor marketing package now. Questions? Email Debra Lee.

Register Now!

Shawn Romano, President

Convention Chairs
Thomas P. Boggs
John Einreinhofer
Cynthia Loomis Hardesty
Michelle Marinacci
Jason Pearson
Wesley Prince
George Sidiropolus

WVAJ AFFINITY PARTNERS