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. Understanding the Law of Damages
2. Basics of Civil Practice and Procedure
3. Ethical Considerations for the Plaintiff's Attorney
4. Personal Injury Settlements
5. Trial of the Plaintiff's Personal Injury Case

1. UNDERSTANDING THE LAW OF DAMAGES
   8:30 - 9:15, Ethan T. Vessels
   1. Economic Damages
   2. Non-Economic Damages
   3. Wrongful Death and Survival Claims
2. BASICS OF CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
   9:15 - 10:15 and 10:30 - 11:40, Ethan T. Vessels
   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
3. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY
   12:40 - 1:40, William Mann
   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
4. PERSONAL INJURY SETTLEMENTS
   1:55 - 3:10, William Mann
   1. Negotiation Techniques
   2. Mediation as a Settlement Tool
   3. Subrogation Interests
   4. Structured Settlements
   5. Understanding the Joint Tortfeasor Release and Other Releases
5. TRIAL OF THE PLAINTIFF'S PERSONAL INJURY CASE
   3:10 - 4:40, Terry V. Hummel
   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

TERRY V. HUMMEL is an attorney with the law firm of Scott W. Schiff & Associates. Mr. Hummel has been an attorney for more than 29 years and focuses his practice in the area of plaintiff's personal injury. His practice and experience has involved thousands of personal injury and death claims in state and federal courts throughout Ohio and neighboring states, including Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Mr. Hummel is a member of the Central Ohio Association for Justice, the Ohio Association for Justice, and the Ohio State and Columbus bar associations. He earned his B.A. degree and his J.D. degree from Capital University.

WILLIAM MANN is of counsel to the law firm of Mitchell & Pencheff, Fraley, Catalano & Boda Co. LPA, with offices in Columbus and Mansfield. Mr. Mann concentrates his practice in the areas of personal injury litigation and legal ethics and disciplinary matters. He has served on the UD Law School's Alumni Board of Trustees and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. Mann is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association's Legal Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee (1987 to present) and was a member of the Ohio Supreme Court's Professionalism Commission (1997 to 2002). Mr. Mann has been a law clerk at the Huron County Court of Common Pleas, the 6th District Ohio Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Ohio. He was president of the Franklin County Trial Lawyers Association (2001 to 2002); and received the FCTLA's President's Award in 1996 and again in 1997, and its Slugger's Award in 2002. While Mr. Mann was FCTLA president, the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers named that organization The Best Local Bar Association in Ohio. Mr. Mann is board certified as a civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He earned his B.A. degree from Case Western Reserve University and his J.D. degree from the University of Dayton School of Law.

ETHAN T. VESSELS is a partner in the Marietta law firm of Fields Dehmlow & Vessels, L.L.C.  Mr. Vessels limits his practice exclusively to civil disputes, primarily cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, insurance disputes, employee benefits litigation and business litigation. He is licensed to practice in Ohio and West Virginia, including all of the federal district courts in each state. He is a member of the Ohio Association for Justice and the American Bar Association. Mr. Vessels is also a past president of the Washington County Bar Association. He is a life member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization of trial lawyers whose membership is limited to attorneys who have won verdicts or negotiated settlements of $1 million or greater. Mr. Vessels has also authored a book, I have been injured. What are my legal rights? Mr. Vessels earned his B.S. degree from the United States Military Academy and his J.D. degree from The Ohio State University, Michael E. Moritz College of Law.

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Phone: 866-240-1890

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