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. Basics of Civil Practice and Procedure
4. Ethical Considerations for the Plaintiff's Attorney
5. Personal Injury Settlements
6. Trial of the Plaintiff's Personal Injury Case

1. STATUTES WHICH AFFECT LIABILITY EVALUATION
   8:30 - 9:15, Robert G. Rikard
   1. Statutes of Limitation
   2. Automobile Accident Statutes
   3. Injuries on Recreational Lands
   4. Sovereign Immunity
2. UNDERSTANDING THE LAW OF DAMAGES
   9:15 - 10:00, Robert G. Rikard
   1. Economic Damages
   2. Non-Economic Damages
   3. Wrongful Death and Survival Claims
3. BASICS OF CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
   10:15 - 12:00, Mario A. Pacella
   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
4. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY
   1:00 - 2:00. Mario A. Pacella
   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
5. PERSONAL INJURY SETTLEMENTS
   2:00 - 3:10, Rhett D. Klok
   1. Negotiation Techniques
   2. Mediation as a Settlement Tool
   3. Subrogation Interests
   4. Structured Settlements
   5. Understanding the Joint Tortfeasor Release and Other Releases
6. TRIAL OF THE PLAINTIFF'S PERSONAL INJURY CASE
   3:25 - 4:40, Larry C. Brandt
   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

LARRY C. BRANDT is a sole practitioner in Walhalla, South Carolina, where his practice areas include medical malpractice, product liability, personal injury and workers' compensation. He is admitted to the South Carolina Bar. Mr. Brandt is a member of the Oconee County Bar Association (former secretary-treasurer; former president), Litigation Counsel of America Trial Lawyer Honor Society, South Carolina Bar, South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association For Justice. He has been selected for the Best Lawyers in America for 2010 and is listed as a South Carolina Super Lawyer for 2010. Mr. Brandt earned his B.S. degree and J.D. degrees from the University of South Carolina.

RHETT D. KLOK is a partner with Klok Law Firm LLC, where he represents individuals in crisis. His practice includes products liability, injury, qui tam/whistleblower, domestic and family law cases. As a U.S. citizen raised in Mexico City, Mr. Klok is not only bilingual, but has a multicultural world view that has served him well when representing the diverse needs of plaintiffs. He possesses an interdisciplinary background and has the flexibility and know-how to successfully tackle a client's problems. Mr. Klok's hands on approach, along with pursuing each case through an interdisciplinary approach, has served his clients well throughout the years. Prior to founding the Klok Law Firm LLC, he worked on complex litigation. Mr. Klok was an adjunct professor at the Charleston School of Law for the summer of 2011 teaching entertainment law. He has litigated cases involving railroad crossings, medical prescription errors, nursing homes, medical devices, medical malpractice and pharmaceuticals. Mr. Klok also has litigated cases involving aviation, asbestos, tobacco and vehicle and tire defects. He has served as vice chair of the American Association for Justice's Preemption Law Litigation Group. He also is a regular speaker at legal seminars on a variety of topics such as settlement, litigating personal injury cases, and preemption. Mr. Klok is a volunteer Guardian Ad Litem. He is licensed in South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and the District of Columbia. Mr. Klok is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit, and the U.S. District Court (District of South Carolina, District of Colorado, Eastern and Western districts of Louisiana, District of New Mexico and the Eastern District of Texas). He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Tulane University and his J.D. degree from Loyola University School of Law.

MARIO A. PACELLA is an attorney with the Strom Law Firm, LLC, where he practices in the areas of class actions, complex civil litigation (litigation and appeals), criminal law, Social Security disability, civil rights and administrative law. Mr. Pacella has been an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law teaching legal writing for the past 3 years. He has served as special counsel to the Center of Prisoners Legal Assistance P.C. Mr. Pacella is a member of the American Bar Association and The American Association for Justice. He earned his B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary and his J.D. degree from the College of William and Mary School of Law.

ROBERT G. RIKARD practices at Rikard & Protopapas LLC in Columbia, South Carolina. He has been awarded the AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Rikard has handled a wide range of complex civil and criminal cases all over the U.S. Today, his practice focuses on complex civil, criminal and business litigation. Mr. Rikard is admitted to the South Carolina Bar; U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina; U.S. Court of Appeals; and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. He earned his B.A. degree and J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Rikard is a member of the Moot Court, Order of the Barristers; Richland County Bar Association; South Carolina Bar; South Carolina Association of Justice (Board of Governors); and American Association of Justice. He is currently serving on the Board of Governors of the South Carolina Association of Justice and is the past co-chairman of the Public Education Committee for AAJ. In 2004, Mr. Rikard was appointed to the national Ephedra MDL Plaintiffs Coordinating Committee (MDL 1598) by the Honorable Jed Rakoff, District Court Judge Southern District of New York. He was also elected by his peers to co-chair the negotiations relating to the Muscletech/Hydroxycut Bankruptcy proceedings in New York. Mr. Rikard also served as co-lead counsel in the F-150 Radiator Class Actions throughout the country. He has also litigated and resolved cases involving serious injuries resulting from tractor trailer accidents, pharmacy misfills, securities violations, medical and legal malpractice, and many other types of complex civil matters involving business disputes. In addition to his civil practice, Mr. Rikard has litigated and resolved a wide range of criminal issues for clients. He has represented clients in cases ranging from white collar fraud and securities violations to serious felonies including murder and drug distribution.

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