Plaintiff's Guide: Florida Personal Injury From Start to Finish

Agenda / Content Covered

1. STATUTES WHICH AFFECT LIABILITY EVALUATION
   9:00 — 10:00, Barbara Perez
   1. Statutes of Limitation
   2. Automobile Accident Statutes
   3. Injuries on Recreational Lands
   4. Sovereign Immunity
2. UNDERSTANDING THE LAW OF DAMAGES
   10:00 — 11:00, Barbara Perez
   1. Economic Damages
   2. Non-Economic Damages
   3. Wrongful Death and Survival Claims
3. BASICS OF CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
   11:15 — 12:30, Jeffrey Davis
   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. Initial Court Filings
   3. The Discovery Process
      1. Written Discovery
      2. Informal Discovery Including Public Sources of Information
      3. Taking and Defending Depositions
      4. Social Media and Discovery
   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
   1:30 — 2:30, Jeffrey Davis
   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. Conflicts of Interest in Plaintiff Cases
   7. Ethical Dangers of Using Social Media
5. PERSONAL INJURY SETTLEMENTS
   2:45 — 3:30, T. Kevin Knight
   1. Negotiation Techniques
   2. Mediation as a Settlement Tool
   3. Subrogation Interests
   4. Medicare Set-Asides
      1. CMS Update
      2. Recent Case Law
      3. Tips for Communicating with CMS
      4. Speeding up the Approval Process
   5. Structured Settlements
   6. Understanding the Joint Tortfeasor Release and Other Releases
6. TRIAL OF THE PLAINTIFF'S PERSONAL INJURY CASE
   3:30 — 4:30, T. Kevin Knight
   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. Use of Expert at Trial
   7. Proving Economic and Non-Economic Damages
   8. Delivering a Powerful Closing Argument
   9. Post-Trial Relief

Accreditation Details:

Jeffrey R Davis has practiced in the area of plaintiff's personal injury, wrongful death and medical malpractice exclusively. After working as an associate in a plaintiff's injury firm, Mr. Davis formed his own practice in 1997. Jeffrey R. Davis, P.A., represents victims of negligence, medical malpractice, product liability, dog bites, motor vehicle accidents, boating accidents, and premises liability. He earned his undergraduate degree, with high honors, from the State University of New York at Stony Brook; and his J.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Law. Mr. Davis is admitted to practice in Florida. As a practicing lawyer, he has served on various committees of The Florida Bar, including several grievance committees and committees on the unauthorized practice of law. Mr. Davis has held memberships in several local, state, and national lawyer organizations; and is admitted to practice law in both federal and state courts. He is an associate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and was recently named membership chairman for the Miami Chapter. Mr. Davis is a frequent lecturer for National Business Institute and other educational organizations.

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.

Barbara Perez is a partner in the Miami law firm of Aronovitz Trial Lawyers where her practice is concentrated in the areas of class actions, medical malpractice, and complex personal injury. Ms. Perez earned her B.S. degree from Florida International University and her J.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Law. She is a member of the Dade County (member and past president, Young Lawyers Section) and American bar associations, The Florida Bar (former member of the Board of Governors of the Young Lawyers Division), and the Cuban American Bar Association.