Lost Earning Capacity, Pain, Suffering, and Other Complex Damages in Auto Injury

Agenda / Content Covered

All times are shown in Eastern time.

1. Calculating Lost Earning Capacity
   10:00 - 10:30, Kelly L. Centofanti
   1. Lost Earning Capacity for the Sporadically- or Self-Employed
   2. The Minor With Little to No Work Experience
   3. Unemployed or Stay-at-Home Parents
   4. Work-Life Expectancy Disagreements
   5. Accounting for Lost Promotions, Bonuses, Raises, and Job Changes
   6. Resources and Practice Tips
2. Pain and Suffering Damages: Plaintiff vs. Defense Perspectives
   10:30 - 11:15, Douglas R. Horn
   1. Quantifying the Unquantifiable
   2. Documentation and Evidence Tips
   3. Negotiating Pain and Suffering Damages
   4. Defense Tactics to Reduce or Eliminate Pain and Suffering Damages
   5. Trial Pointers for Plaintiffs - Maximizing Pain and Suffering Awards
3. The Problems With Medical Expenses and Liens
   11:30 - 12:00, Douglas R. Horn
   1. "Reasonableness" of Medical Services and Expenses
   2. Applying the Collateral Source Rule
   3. Challenges in Calculating Future Medical Costs and Life Care Plans
   4. Medical Liens and Set-Asides: Key Issues and Solutions
4. Damages in the Wrongful Death Auto Accident
   12:00 - 12:45, J. Gregory Marks
   1. Proving the Life Expectancy of the Deceased
   2. Calculating Lost Income, Benefits, and Services
   3. Valuing the Loss of Spousal/Parental Consortium
   4. Damages for the Death of a Child
   5. Proving Conscious Pain and Suffering
   6. Litigating Claims for Punitive Damages: Overcoming Key Challenges
5. Tips for Deposing and Cross-Examining Doctors, Vocational, and Economic Damages Experts
   12:45 - 1:15, T. Kevin Knight
   1. Investigation Tips and Expert Reports: Finding Dirt
   2. Critical Questions You Must Ask
   3. Areas of Questioning and Questions to Avoid

Accreditation Details:

KELLY L. CENTOFANTI is the managing partner of Centofanti Law, S.C., where her practice focuses on personal injury litigation on the plaintiff's side. Ms. Centofanti handles cases involving medical, legal and other professional negligence; malpractice; nursing home neglect and abuse; insurance bad faith; motor vehicle and boating accidents; and premises liability. She has lectured at numerous seminars, CLE programs, and classes at Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin Law School. In addition, Ms. Centofanti has served on the faculty of six National College of Advocacy Trial Skills colleges (essentials, Houston; medical malpractice, Safety Harbor; depositions, Atlanta; direct and cross-examination, Phoenix and Knoxville; advanced depositions, Denver). She has spoken at two American Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) national conventions. Ms. Centofanti edited a chapter in the State Bar of Wisconsin book, The Law of Damages in Wisconsin, and has appeared on the State Bar of Wisconsin's Law Talk cable show, both as a guest and host. She has served as chair of numerous state bar committees, and has been involved in many other committees and boards. Ms. Centofanti has served as president of the Milwaukee Bar Association; secretary of the State Bar of Wisconsin; president of the Association for Women Lawyers; and chair of the Milwaukee Bar Association Litigation, Civil Bench/Bar and Judicial Selection committees. Ms. Centofanti earned her undergraduate degree from Marquette University and her Juris Doctorate degree, magna cum laude, from Marquette University Law School.

DOUGLAS R. HORN is the lead attorney of Horn Law. Since 1991, Mr. Horn has focused his practice in plaintiff's personal injury, concentrating in cases involving motor vehicle collisions, work-related accidents, medical/medication error, and catastrophic injury, handling cases in Missouri, Kansas, and throughout the Midwest. Mr. Horn is a regular National Business Institute CLE contributor, emphasizing his presentations in personal injury case development strategies. He earned his B.A. degree from Wittenberg University and his J.D. degree from Capital University Law School.

T. KEVIN KNIGHT is a partner in the law offices of DSK Law. Mr. Knight is board certified as a trial lawyer by both The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Over the course of his practice, he has generally focused on personal injury litigation. Mr. Knight earned his B.S.B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Central Florida and his J.D. degree from Stetson University College of Law.

J. GREGORY MARKS is an attorney with Slack Davis Sanger in Dallas. Mr. Marks has dedicated his law practice to helping victims who have been injured as a result of negligence, defective, and dangerous products; and by the conscious disregard of safety protocols. He is board certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board for Legal Specialization, and has done extensive legal work in exposing vehicle and product defects and enacting changes that ultimately save lives. He has been recognized by U.S. World Report as Lawyer of the Year for his work in product liability litigation, a Top 100 Trial lawyer, and has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer every year since 2004. Mr. Marks is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Million Dollar Advocates' Forum, the American Association of Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers association, as well as the American Bar Association. He has been admitted to practice law before all state and federal courts in Texas, the Northern District of Indiana, the Western District of Louisiana, the Southern District of New York, and the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Mr. Marks earned his B.S. degree from Texas A&M University and his J.D. degree from Dedman University School of Law at Southern Methodist University.