West Virginia Association for Justice
2018 Mid-Winter Convention and Seminar
January 18 - 19, 2018
Embassy Suites Hotel
Charleston, West Virginia
15.6 hours of CLE credit, including 3.6 in ethics and law office management (pending)
Convention Chairs
Robert M. Bastress, III
Laura C. Davis
John Einreinhofer
Lynnette S. Marshall
Abraham J. Saad
Seminar Program
General Convention Information
Accommodations
Cancellation Policy
Meetings and Social Events
Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsorship, Exhibitor and Advertising Opportunities
Register Now
Download Brochure and Register by Mail
Seminar Program
Thursday, January 18
8:00 a.m.
Registration Opens
8:45 a.m.
Welcome
David M. Hammer, President
8:55 - 9:45 a.m.
Don't Overthink It: The Surprisingly Simple Rules You Need to Know to Litigate Your Medical Malpractice Case Successfully
Dr. Richard D. Lindsay and Richard D. Lindsay II
Tabor Lindsay and Associates, Charleston
9:45 - 10:35 a.m.
Break-Out Sessions (Choose One)
Deliberate Intent 2018: New Perspectives and Increasing Challenges
Timothy C. Bailey - Bailey, Javins and Carter, Charleston
Stephen P. New - Law Office of Stephen P. New, Beckley
New Lawyers Division Moving from the Classroom to the Courtroom: What Law School Didn't Teach You About the Practice of Law
Samuel D. Madia - Shaffer Madia Law, Clarksburg
Tammy Bowles Raines - Tammy Bowles Raines Law Office, Charleston
Abraham J. Saad - Saad Dixon Law Office, Huntington
10:35 - 10:50 a.m.
Break - Sponsored by Edd McDevitt, Esq.
10:50 - 11:00 a.m.
Meet the Exhibitors and Special Announcements
11:00 - 11:50 p.m.
Updates in ERISA Law: What You Need to Know Now
David Abney - David Abney Law, Frankfort, Kentucky
11:50 - 1:15 p.m.
WVAJ Membership Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ Members Only)
1:15 - 1:25 p.m.
Meet the Exhibitors and Special Announcements
1:25 - 2:15 p.m.
Winning Strategies on the Way to Trial: Playing Both Offense and Defense with Your Pre-Trial Motions
Kelly Elswick-Hall - The Masters Law Firm, Charleston
Jane E. Peak - Allan N. Karlin and Associates, Charleston
Kristina Thomas Whiteaker - The Grubb Law Group, Charleston
2:15 - 3:15 p.m.
Lawyer Advertising and Ethics: Marketing Your Law Practice Effectively Within the Ethics Rules
Jamie Bordas - Bordas and Bordas, Wheeling
Bobby Warner - Warner Law Offices, Charleston
3:15 - 3:30 p.m.
Break - Sponsored by Physician Life Care Planning
3:30 - 3:40 p.m.
Meet the Exhibitors and Special Announcements
3:40- 4:40 p.m.
If Not Us, Then Who?: Know the Signs and Protect Your Colleagues from Substance Abuse, Addiction, Depression and Suicide
The Honorable John Everett Williams, Judge - Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Huntingdon, Tennessee
4:40 - 5:30 p.m.
What's Going On Under the Capitol Dome: 2018 Legislative Preview
Sen. Charles S. Trump IV, Chair - Senate Judiciary Committee
Del. John Shott, Chair - House Judiciary Committee
Additional Panelists TBA
Friday, January 19
7:45 a.m.
Registration Opens
8:00 - 8:50 a.m.
How to Win Witnesses and Influence Outcomes: Utilizing Former Employees As Insider Fact Witnesses
Paul Littrell - Stratejic LLC, Atlanta
8:50 - 9:40 a.m.
Best Practices for Lawyers: What I've Learned from Litigators, Court Reporters, Courtroom Clerks and Judges
The Honorable James Seibert, Magistrate Judge - U. S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia
Paralegal Division Practical Tips for Paralegals: Handling Subrogation and Liens
Heather D. Harrison, CP - Stewart Bell, Charleston
9:40 - 9:55 a.m.
Break
9:55 - 10:05 a.m.
Meet the Exhibitors and Special Announcements
10:05 - 10:55 a.m.
Breakout Sessions (Choose One)
Turn Off Your Autopilot: Autonomous Vehicles, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Auto Accident and Negligence Claims
Troy Giatras - The Giatras Law Firm, Charleston
Consumer Law Section Novelties in Federal Consumer Law and Regulation: New Ideas You Can Use
Margot F. Saunders, Senior Counsel - National Consumer Law Center, Washington, D. C.
10:55 - 11:45 a.m.
Introduction to the Domino Theory: Dismantling the Defense Expert in Deposition and on the Stand
Edward P. Capozzi - Brach Eichler, Roseland, New Jersey
11:45 - 1:15 p.m.
WVAJ Board of Governors Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ Board Members Only)
1:15 - 2:05 p.m.
Introduction to the Domino Theory cont.
2:05 - 2:55 p.m.
Avoid the Slippery Slope: Don't Let the Open-and-Obvious Defense Cause Your Case to Fall Flat
Robert M. Bastress III - DiTrapano, Barrett, DiPiero, McGinley and Simmons, Charleston
Christopher J. Wallace - The Wallace Firm, Weirton
Paralegal Division Reputation Management for Law Firms: How Paralegals Can Help
Jonathan Clark - FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters Business
2:55 - 3:45 p.m.
The View from the Top: West Virginia Supreme Court Update
Edythe Nash Gaiser, Clerk of the Court - Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
Protect Yourself and Your Clients: How to Prevent a Ransomware Attack and What You Need to Do If It Happens to You
Matthew Perry, Network Administrator - The Masters Law Firm, Charleston
CLE
This seminar 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, it is worth 13 hours, including 3 in ethics, substance abuse 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 Attorney Seminar
The two-day WVAJ attorney seminar program is open 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 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 3, 2018. Your convention rate includes the hotel's complimentary breakfast and manager's reception. To reserve your suite, phone (304)347-8700 or reserve your room online. You must use the code "WJ1" when making your reservation to receive the convention rate. Regular rates will apply for reservations made after January 3.
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 Master Card, Visa, 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 18 and 7:45 a.m. on Friday, January 19.
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 7, 2018. For cancellations received January 8 - 11, you will be refunded 50 percent of your registration fee. There will be no refunds after January 11, 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. If you opt to attend one or both meetings, but are not registered for the convention, the cost is $25 for each. (There is no additional charge if you are registered for the convention.)
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 17
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Welcome Reception (open to all registrants, sponsors and exhibitors)
Black Sheep Burrito and Brews
702 Quarrier Street, Charleston
Thursday, January 18
11:50 - 1:15 p.m.
WVAJ Membership Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ Members Only)
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Convention Party and Legislative Reception (open to all registrants, sponsors, exhibitors and guests)
Partially Sponsored by Physician Life Care Planning
Friday, January 19
11:45 - 1:15 p.m.
WVAJ Board Meeting and Luncheon (WVAJ Board Members Only)
Sponsors and Exhibitors (through November 15, 2017)
Bailey, Javins and Carter
Nancy Cox, Legal Nurse Consultant
Counselor Capital
Filevine
FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters Business
Forge
Keystone Engineering Consultants
Lexis Nexis
Edd McDevitt, Esq.
Mills Group LLC
NFP Structured Settlements
Physician Life Care Planning
Realtime Reporters
Record Reform
Ripple Life Care Planning
Robson Forensic
Saponaro, Inc.
Security National Trust Company
Stratejic Relationships
Tanner Legal Nurse Consulting
The Settlement Alliance
TwoDogBlog
Wheelhouse Creative
WVU College of Law
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
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