An injury can impact the quality of someone's life for years to come - or permanently. Representing an injured party is an enormous responsibility. The techniques you use during a case will impact both your client's future well-being and your viability as a competent practitioner. Do you have the knowledge you need to ensure a favorable outcome?

Build your skills from the convenience of your desk! You'll learn best practices for assessing a variety of personal injury cases. Take a closer look at the statutes that affect liability evaluation, as well as the laws of damages. Walk through the basics of civil practice and procedure, so you'll know what to do. Discover when it's in your client's best interest to settle, and when you'll need to go to trial. Order today!

1. Statutes Which Affect Liability Evaluation
2. Understanding the Law of Damages
3. Trial of the Plaintiff's Personal Injury Case
4. Basics of Civil Practice and Procedure
5. Ethical Considerations for the Plaintiff's Attorney
6. Personal Injury Settlements

1. STATUTES WHICH AFFECT LIABILITY EVALUATION
   8:30 - 9:30, Tonya L. Melnichenko
   1. Statutes of Limitation
   2. Automobile Accident Statutes
   3. Injuries on Recreational Lands
   4. Sovereign Immunity
2. UNDERSTANDING THE LAW OF DAMAGES
   9:30 - 10:15, Darin L. Schanker
   1. Economic Damages
   2. Non-Economic Damages
   3. Wrongful Death and Survival Claims
3. TRIAL OF THE PLAINTIFF'S PERSONAL INJURY CASE
   10:30 - 11:45, Darin L. Schanker
   1. How to Avoid the Most Common Mistakes Made by New Attorneys
   2. Jury Selection - Voir Dire and Jury Questionnaires
   3. The Basics of an Opening Statement
   4. Presentation of Evidence
   5. Direct and Cross- Examination of Witnesses
   6. Proving Economic and Non-Economic Damages
   7. Delivering a Powerful Closing Argument
   8. Post-Trial Relief
4. BASICS OF CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
   12:45 - 2:45, Kenneth B. Pennywell
   1. Assessment of Particular Case Types - Interviews and Investigation
      1. Automobile Accident Cases
      2. Slip and Fall Cases
      3. Product Liability Cases
      4. Others
   2. The Discovery Process
      1. Written Discovery
      2. Informal Discovery Including Public Sources of Information
      3. Taking and Defending Depositions
   3. Initial Court Filings
   4. Preparing Evidence Prior to Trial
      1. Understanding the Rules of Evidence
      2. Documentary Evidence
      3. Testamentary Evidence
      4. Demonstrative Evidence
5. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY
   3:00 - 4:00, Kenneth B. Pennywell
   1. The Contingent Fee
   2. The Costs of Litigation - What is a Legitimate Cost?
   3. Advertising Legal Services
   4. Candor Toward the Tribunal
   5. Meritorious Claims and Contentions
6. PERSONAL INJURY SETTLEMENTS
   4:00 - 4:40, Tonya L. Melnichenko
   1. Negotiation Techniques
   2. Mediation as a Settlement Tool
   3. Subrogation Interests
   4. Structured Settlements
   5. Understanding the Joint Tortfeasor Release and Other Releases

TONYA L. MELNICHENKO is an attorney with the law firm Franklin D. Azar & Associates, P.C., where she practices in the areas of personal injury and mass torts. Ms. Melnichenko earned her B.A. degree from the State University of New York at Oswego and her J.D. degree from the Albany Law School. She is a member of the Colorado Bar Association.

KENNETH B. PENNYWELL is an attorney in the law firm of Franklin D. Azar & Associates, P.C., where he practices in the areas of personal injury, civil litigation and attorney ethics. He formerly served as an assistant district attorney for the 1st Judicial District in Shreveport. Mr. Pennywell worked for seven years with the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation as a trial attorney, handling ethical violations on the part of Colorado licensed attorneys. He earned his B.A. and J.D. degrees from Southern University. Mr. Pennywell is a member of the Colorado and Louisiana bar associations, and a former member of the National District Attorney Counsel.

DARIN L. SCHANKER is a shareholder in the Denver firm of Bachus & Schanker, LLC, where he practices in the areas of personal injury, insurance, product liability and medical negligence. He has lectured to various groups on areas related to his practice. Mr. Schanker earned his B.S. degree from Wheaton College and his J.D. degree from the University of Denver. He is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Denver Bar Association, the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (officer and past president) and the American Association for Justice. Mr. Schanker was named "Young Trial Lawyer of the Year" for 2003 by the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. He was selected as a Colorado SuperLawyer for 2007 through 2010. The American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) selected Mr. Schanker as one of the "Top 100 Lawyers" in Colorado in 2009 and 2010.

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