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

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. UNDERSTANDING THE LAW OF DAMAGES
   9:00 - 10:00, Kevin B. Burgess and Peter H. Wayne
   1. Economic Damages
   2. Non-Economic Damages
   3. Wrongful Death and Survival Claims
2. BASICS OF CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
   10:15 - 12:00, Kevin B. Burgess
   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
   1:00 - 2:00, Peter H. Wayne
   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
   2:00 - 3:15, Peter H. Wayne
   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
   3:30 - 4:30, Kevin B. Burgess
   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

KEVIN B. BURGESS is a member of the law firm of Hamilton, Burgess, Young & Pollard P.L.L.C., where he practices in the areas of litigation and personal injury. Mr. Burgess earned his B.A. degree from the University of Virginia and his J.D. degree from West Virginia University. He is a member of the Fayette County, West Virginia and American bar associations, the West Virginia State Bar, the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, The American Association of Justice and The Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

PETER H. WAYNE serves as a Kentucky licensed settlement planning consultant for FORGE Consulting, LLC. He also is the company's general counsel. He earned his B.S. degree from Miami (of Ohio) University and his J.D. degree from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law. While in law school, Mr. Wayne worked for both The Garretson Law Firm and the Settlement Services Group in Cincinnati, Ohio, managing the Qualified Settlement Fund Administration practice and providing counsel in tax advisory, government benefit preservation and health lien resolution. Following his graduation, he returned to Louisville to open a regional office for both The Garretson Law Firm and The Settlement Services Group, enabling both firms to better serve their Kentucky and Southeastern clients. In 2009, Mr. Wayne was offered and accepted a position as The Settlement Services Group's general counsel. Then, in March, the Settlement Services Group merged with FORGE Consulting, LLC. In addition to continuing to serve as general counsel for FORGE Consulting, LLC, he also is now providing settlement planning services for attorneys and their clients in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio. As general counsel, Mr. Wayne relies on his years of experience gained as an attorney with the firm in order to help advise his clients and fellow brokers at FORGE Consulting, LLC, on how best to utilize their settlement monies for both their long and short term needs. He also is the author of several articles that concentrate on qualified settlement funds and health-lien subrogation, a few of which have been published in AAJ's TRIAL Magazine, KJS's The Advocate, and the Journal of Taxation and Regulation of Financial Institutions. Additionally, Mr. Wayne often speaks at seminars for National Business Institute, Kentucky Justice and Louisville bar associations. He was recently appointed to serve as the president of the Young Lawyers Section of the Louisville Bar Association from January 2009 to December 2010.

Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am - 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com