Personal Injury Defense Seminar
August 28, 2009
State Auto Insurance Companies
518 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Download Registration Form
Complete the form and fax or mail w/payment

Seminar Registration Fees
Member $195/Non-member $250 (includes continental breakfast, beverage breaks and lunch)

Cancellations:
Cancellations must be made by Friday, August 14, 2009, to receive a full refund. Cancellations after that date will be charged a $50 service fee.

Parking:
BoMA (The Bar of Modern Art), 583 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Parking is available in the lot behind BoMA (The Bar of Modern Art, in a former church) BoMA is located across the street from State Auto, on the south side of Broad Street. Enter the drive way on the west side of the BoMA building and park behind BoMA. BoMA has given permission for this event parking.

Hotel Reservations:
Hotel Rooms are available at a discounted rate of $129 at The Westin Columbus, 310 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. To make a reservation, call The Westin Columbus at 614-228-3800 and request the OACTA rate.

Continuing Legal Education
This seminar is pending 5.75 total CLE hours (including 1 hour Professionalism CLE credit) with the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education.

Questions?
Call Cami Collingwood at (614) 221-1900 or e-mail OACTA@AssnOffices.com.

Program
8:00 - 8:25 am
Registration / Continental Breakfast / Exhibits Open

8:25-8:30 am
Welcome
Gretchen Koehler Mote, Esq., OACTA President

8:30 - 9:00 am
“The Presence of Third Parties and Videotaping of Independent Medical Examinations”
Matthew J. Smith, Esq., Smith, Rolfes & Skavdahl Co., LPA

Cincinnati attorney Matthew Smith will present a discussion of the issues relating to the Plaintiff’s attorney’s efforts to record the examination of Plaintiff during the independent medical examination. With digital video, the issues relating to patient privacy and the admissibility of out of court videotaping, present unique, new issues for today’s defense lawyer.

9:00 - 9:30 am
“Tips and Traditions in Personal Injury Defense”
Terrence J. Kenneally, Esq., Terrence J. Kenneally & Associates

A defense trial attorney for over 30 years, Terry Kenneally has tried perhaps as many jury cases as any lawyer in the the State of Ohio. Terry will share his inside tips and comment upon trial court practices one may find both written in and NOT written in the Civil Rules and Rules of Evidence. The program will enhance the trial skills of even the most experienced civil trial lawyers.

9:30 - 10:00 am
“Tort Reform in Ohio—an Update”
Victoria D. Barto, Esq., Sutter, O’Connell, Mannion & Farchione

Ohio’s latest series of Tort Reform Statutes are just now becoming ripe for decisions regarding their constitutionality, impact and effect. Victoria Barto of Cleveland will provide updates regarding recent case law interpreting and applying the changes made by Tort Reform efforts since 2004.

10:00 - 10:15 am
Break with Exhibitors

10:15 - 10:45 am
“Investigating the Personal Injury Claim”
Robert Friedrick, Friedrick & Associates, Inc.

Robert Friedrick, a licensed private investigator will provide an overview of the retention of a private investigator to provide tips and pointers on determining if a private investigator is needed, selecting a private investigator, the effective uses of private investigators, and investigation techniques in personal injury litigation.

10:45 - 11:15 am
“Personal Injury Litigation Ethics”
Lawerence A. Sutter, III, Esq., Sutter, O’Connell & Farchione

Ohio Super Lawyer Larry Sutter will provide a discussion of the ethics that are especially relevant and unique to the practice of personal injury defense in Ohio.

11:15 - 11:45 am
“Civility in Personal Injury Practice—A View from the Other Side”
Donald C. Moore Jr., Esq., The Moore Law Firm

Ohio Super Lawyer and prominent Cincinnati Plaintiff’s attorney Donald Moore will call upon his experiences as a claims adjuster, civil defense lawyer and Plaintiff’s catastrophic injury lawyer to discuss how we can, as Will Shakespeare once wrote, “…strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.” Mr. Moore is a nationally prominent trial lawyer and speaker, who will address the topic of professionalism and civility between opposing sides in personal injury litigation.

Noon - 1:00 pm
LUNCH - Derby Court, Columbus Museum of Art
Luncheon Address: Justice Maureen O’Connor, Supreme Court of Ohio

1:15 - 2:00 pm
“The Art and Science of Civil Litigation—A View from the Bench”
Honorable Christopher Collier, Medina County Court of Common Pleas

Judge Collier has handled perhaps more jury trials in the past 10 years than any other jurist in Ohio. He will share his unique perspective and viewpoint on how lawyers ply their trade in the courtroom—for better or for worse.

2:00 - 2:30 pm
“Personal Injury Litigation Strategy and Tactics”
Richard Kerger, Esq., Kerger & Hartman, LLC

Prominent Toledo Attorney Rick Kerger has a practice that ranges from injury Plaintiffs, to civil defense to white-collar criminal defense. Mr. Kerger will speak from a career as a trial attorney spanning 30 years of practice. His presentation will focus on the “big picture” of trial theory and philosophy, rather than the nuts of bolts of procedure and evidence. He will speak to the “policy” which results in good trial outcomes and leave the “implementation” of that policy up to the individual trial lawyers.

2:30 - 3:00 pm
“Personal Injury News from the Statehouse”
Brian P. Riley, Esq., Weston Hurd, LLP
Jon Allison, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company

OACTA Legislative Committee Chair Brian Riley and State Auto Government Affairs Office Jon Allison will give an update of issues pending before the Ohio legislature that may affect or impact the practice of tort law in Ohio.

3:00 - 3:15 pm
Break with Exhibitors

3:15 - 3:45 pm
“The View from Claims—What We Want From Defense Counsel”
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Steve Miller, State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company
Steve Popelsky, Esq., Motorists Mutual Insurance Companies
Barbara Brown, Motorists Mutual Insurance Companies
Randy Anderson, State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Company

A panel of claims professionals with an aggregate of over 100 years in the casualty claims litigation business will lead an open-ended discussion of the relationships and expectations between insurance claims executives and their chosen defense counsel.

3:45 - 4:15 pm
“Independent Medical Examination—Its Uses and Limits”
Manuel A. Martinez, M.D., Orthopedic Associates

Cleveland Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Manuel Martinez will provide an insightful review of the process of having an injury plaintiff medically examined by an Orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Martinez will review the mechanics of the examination as well as the purpose of the medico-legal evaluation. He will share ideas and experiences gained from several years of performing balanced and even-handed evaluations of injury claims.

4:15 pm
Adjourn