Help Me Help You

A View from Insurance Adjusters and Defense Counsel 

November 12, 2021 

(only date available for this seminar will not be recorded)

6.0 CLE Hours (inc. 1.0 ethics hour) 

(approved for 2.0 CME hours)

Topics & Speakers

8:55 a.m. | Welcome and Introductions – Program Chairs

• Isaac Thorp, Thorp Law, Raleigh
• David Mason, Henson & Fuerst, PA, Raleigh

9 a.m.| How Defense Attorneys and Insurers Evaluate Cases

• Barry Cobb, Yates, McLamb & Weyher, LLP, Raleigh
  • How the defense works
  • What you need to know about insurance reserves
  • What plaintiffs’ attorneys should focus on in mediation presentations

9:45 a.m.| Ethics in Mediation: Navigating the Ethical Terrain in Mediation to Effectively Settle Cases (presentation approved for CME credit)

• Jacqueline Clare, Attorney and Certified Mediator, Raleigh
  • What are your ethical obligations when attempting to settle? 
  • Don’t make these mistakes!

10:45 a.m. | Break

11 a.m. | Mediator Panel Discussion (presentation approved for CME credit)

• Jacqueline Clare, Attorney and Certified Mediator, Raleigh
• Michael McDaniel, Attorney and Certified Mediator, Raleigh
• Walter Burton, Attorney and Certified Mediator, Walter Burton Law Firm, Greensboro

                              
12 p.m. | Arbitration – Evidentiary and other Common Issues

• Walter Burton, Walter Burton Law Firm, Greensboro
  • How much evidence is too much vs. not enough
    Arbitration and 414 medical expenses
  • Effective strategies 
  • Expert witnesses

12:50 p.m. | Lunch

1:50 p.m. | Views from the Defense Bar

• Kenny Rotenstreich, Teague Rotenstreich Stanaland Fox & Holt, PLLC, Greensboro
• Jodee Larcade, Sparkman Larcade, PLLC, Raleigh
• Blair Nelson, Broughton Wilkins Sugg & Thompson, PLLC, Raleigh

2:40 p.m.| Overcoming Roadblocks to Get Cases Settled

• Kenny Rotenstreich, Teague Rotenstreich Stanaland Fox & Holt, PLLC, Greensboro
  • What information defense attorneys need to provide insurers at various stages of the litigation process
  • Big mistakes to avoid in settlement negotiations
  • Effective approaches to settlement negotiations

3:25 p.m. | Break

3:40 p.m.| Adjuster Panel Discussion

• Guy Brilhante, Litigation Specialist, Allstate 
• Maria Nielsen, Geico Senior Claims Examiner 
• Jessica Tyndall, Nationwide Insurance Large Loss Director, Standard   Commercial Casualty Claims

4:40 p.m.| Adjourn

Thanks to Our Sponsors

CaseMetrix 

CaseMetrix, LLC is a real-time settlement and verdict database of personal injury cases which allows you to see exactly how much various insurers are voluntarily paying to settle cases.  Attorneys use the resource, consisting of 95% settlements and 5% verdicts, both as a reference and negotiation tool to make sure they never accept an offer that’s too low.  In addition to searching by specific injuries & treatment, CaseMetrix can address common defenses such as prior related injuries, allegedly conservative venues and medical causation issues.  Call Kim White at 404.849.6422 for a free online look at the database.

Milner Settlements

Milner Settlements | Bryan Milner is a Senior Structured Settlement Consultant with Milner Settlements through Sage Settlement Consulting. He has been working with attorneys and their clients in North Carolina for over 19 years, and continues to be a strong supporter of NCAJ. Bryan takes on a compassionate, comprehensive approach. He understands the important and complex financial decisions that face individuals and families who are receiving settlements. He provides creative structured settlement options and helps the attorney navigate the complexities of settlement-related issues such as Medicare Set-Asides, Trusts, Lien Resolution, etc. He also assists attorneys with designing fee structures for their contingency fees. Bryan is a committee member of the newly formed American Association of Settlement Consultants (AASC).

Physician Life Care Planning

Physician Life Care Planning is a full service, nationwide provider of damages valuation services that specializes in the formulation of Compensatory Economic Damages for attorneys, including future medical requirements, loss of earnings, and loss of household services for chronically and catastrophically ill/injured individuals.

Our Life Care Planners are Board Certified Physicians who specialize in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and possess the requisite capacity to independently and thoroughly formulate and defend a strong medical foundation for damages valuation.