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Handling Tough Issues in Plaintiff's Personal Injury Actions

- Location -
New York State Nurses Association
11 Cornell Road
Latham, NY 12110
(518) 782-9400

Total 7.0 MCLE Credits
(6.0 credits in areas of professional practice, 1.0 credits in ethics)

Program Description

 Attorneys hope that their cases will proceed smoothly to verdict or settlement without detours. Unfortunately, in real world practice, this is the exception, especially in personal injury litigation. Bankruptcy of a party, death of a plaintiff or defendant, or the presence of an infant party all add complexity to the resolution of a personal injury action. In these trying economic times, plaintiff’s counsel must deal with the reality of more aggressive enforcement of liens asserted by both governmental entities, such as Social Services and Medicare, and private entities, such as health insurance companies and workers’ compensation carriers.

No-fault and SUM issues arise in everyday practice, and the personal injury attorney must also be prepared to represent clients before the Court of Claims.

This seminar is designed to provide a practical overview of the law and strategies involved in personal injury cases.  Seasoned practitioners will provide updates on the substantive law and insights on how to successfully deal with tough legal issues faced by plaintiffs personal injury attorneys.  The program will also offer a discussion of real life ethical injuries faced in personal injury practice.

The program will conclude with a pragmatic look at personal injury practice in difficult economic times; from case selection and cost-effective discovery, to jury selection and dealing with the problems presented by the instant communication age.

Agenda   

8:30-9:00 a.m.           Registration (outside of the meeting room)

9:00-9:10                    Welcome and Introduction

9:10 - 10:00

I.        Staying off the Third Rail and Keeping Clients Happy -- Ethical and Practical Considerations in Representing Clients in Personal Injury Litigation

            A.          The critical items to communicate to a client and when, how, and why they must be communicated   

            B.        The referring attorney relationship in the personal injury field – law and practice 

            C.        How to represent the client when competency and conflicts of interest arise and how to withdraw

            D.        Representing two or more clients in the same action or with limited coverage

            E.         Potential clients and potential client contacts

            F.         Handling the problem client or the client with unrealistic expectations

10:00 - 10:50

II.        Representing the Infant, Decedent, and Incompetent in the Supreme and Surrogate’s Court 

            A.        Update on the Infant Settlement Process and options available

            B.        The View from Surrogate’s Court--Letters of Administration, Probate and Choice of Administrator

            C.        Appointment of a Guardian to protect property or the person

                        1.         Guardian ad litem

                        2.         Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law

                        3.         Guardians under CPLR §1206-1210

            D.        Update on compromising the Wrongful Death Action

                        1.         Adequacy, Allocation and Distribution

                        2.         Approval of Attorneys’ Fees and Liens

            E.         The death of a party in litigation

10:50-11:05    Coffee Break

11:05-11:55

III.       Bankruptcy of a Party

            A.        Current issues in bankruptcy impacting personal injury actions

            B.        The Role of the Trustee in the personal injury litigation

            C.        Getting appointed as Special Counsel and what is expected

            D.        Litigating, settling and trying the personal injury action for a plaintiff in bankruptcy 

11:55-12:45

IV.       Government and Private Party Liens and Rights of Subrogation

A.        New York’s health insurance anti-subrogation statute GOL 5-335 and intervention

             B.        Medicare, MSAs, and conditional payment letters – dancing with the elephant in the middle of the room; Medicaid and Government Liens.  

             C.        ERISA plan litigation and practice – looking for daylight for a plaintiff threatened with loss of recovery from an ERISA plan  

D.        Putting it together in the tough economic climate of 2012 --  Steering the client through the lien/right of reimbursement morass

12:45-1:45      Lunch (on your own)

1:45-2:35

V.        Workers Compensation Liens

A.        2012 update on the law impacting personal injury actions

B.        A report on Burns partial future net credit and its effect on third party settlements

C.       Current issues and solutions for managing and negotiating the workers’ compensation lien in today’s world  

2:35-2:50        Break

2:50-3:40

VI.       SUM (Supplemental Uninsured/Underinsured)

A.        Update and practical strategies for handling SUM claims

B.        SUM notice issues

VII.     Litigating in the Court of Claims

            A.        Substantive and procedural update   

            B.        Successfully managing obstacles in the Court of Claims for the personal injury action 

3:40-4:30 pm

VIII.    The New Normal – The Personal Injury Case in 2012

A.      Case Selection, Mediation and Settlement

B.      Taking efficient and cost effective discovery in lean times

C.      Jury Selection in a different economic and political climate – deselecting the pool. 

D.      The trial – adapting to judicial budget cuts and a world of I Phones and instant visual communication

4:30                 Adjournment

                                                                                                                                    Overall Planning Chair
                                                                                                                                    Patrick J. Higgins, Esq.
                                                                                                                                     Powers & Santola LLP
                                                                                                                                                 Albany

 Local Panels 

Rochester:  Stephen G. Schwarz, Esq., (Chair), Faraci Lange, LLP, Rochester * Matthew F. Belanger, Esq., Faraci Lange, LLP, Rochester * Gina T. Crawford, LCR, Modica & Associates, Attorneys, PLLC, Rochester * Deborah M. Field, Esq., Morris & Morris Attorneys, Rochester * Laurie A. Giordano, Esq., Leclair Korona Giordano Cole LLP, Rochester * David D. MacKnight, Esq., Lacy Katzen LLP, Rochester * Jacqueline L. Thomas, Esq., Lacy Katzen LLP, Rochester.

Albany:  Patrick J. Higgins, Esq., (Chair), Powers & Santola, LLP, Albany * Scott W. Bush, Esq., Corrigan, McCoy &  Bush, PLLC, Albany * John Cattie, Esq., Garretson Resolution Group, Charlotte, N.C. * Carl D. Copps, Esq., New York State Bar Association, Albany * Robert T. DeCataldo, Esq., Chief Clerk, New York State Court of Claims, Albany * Hon. Cathryn M. Doyle,  Albany County Surrogate Court, Albany * Carolyn B. George, Esq., Friedman, Hirschen &  Miller, LLP, Albany * Paul A. Levine, Esq., Lemery Greisler LLC, Albany.

Long Island: W. Russell Corker, Esq., (Chair), Shayne, Dachs, Corker, Sauer & Dachs, LLP, Mineola * KimberlyKinirons, Esq., New York State Office of the Attorney General, Bayshore * Chris McDonough, Esq., McDonough and McDonough LLP, Garden City * Joan Lensky Robert, Esq., Kassoff, Robert & Lerner, Rockville Centre *   Troy G. Rosasco, Esq., Turley, Redmond & Rosasco, LLP, Ronkonkoma * David A. Smith, Esq.,  Law Office of David A. Smith, PLLC, Garden City * Harold M. Somer, Esq., Law Office of Harold M. Somer, P.C., Westbury.  

Buffalo:  J. Michael Hayes, Esq., (Chair), Law Office of J. Michael Hayes, Buffalo * Mark H. Cantor, Esq., Law Office of Mark H. Cantor, Buffalo * Thomas J. Gaffney, Esq. Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP, Buffalo * David M. Goodman, Esq., Cellino & Barnes, PC, Buffalo * Hon. Michael E. Hudson, New York State Court of Claims, Buffalo * Paul Isaac, Esq., Paramount Settlement Planning, LLC, Buffalo * Joseph M. Schnitter, Esq., Brown & Kelly, LLP, Buffalo * Jeanne M. Vinal, Esq., Vinal & Vinal, Buffalo.

New York City:  Gary B. Pillersdorf, Esq., (Chair), Law Office of Gary B. Pillersdorf, P.C., New York City * Robert E. Grey, Esq., Grey & Grey LLP, Farmingdale * Leslie D. Kelmachter, Esq., The Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Firm, LLP, New York City * Steven P. Lerner, Esq., Kassoff, Robert & Lerner, LLP, Rockville Centre * Robert Musso, Esq., Rosenberg Musso & Weiner, Brookyln * Mark E. Seitelman, Esq., Mark E. Seitelman Law Offices, PC, New York City * John M. Tomsky, Esq., Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo, P.C., New York City.

Directions

From the South/West Take Thruway to Exit 24 - Northway (I-87) Take the Northway (I-87 North) to Exit 6 Make left on to Rt. 7 (Troy-Schenectady Road) Follow approximately 2-3 miles, until you see Wendy's on your left Turn left at Wendy's onto British-American Blvd. Follow for ¼ mile to Cornell Road Make a Right onto Cornell NYS Nurses Association is 3rd driveway on right, before the cul-de-sac From the North Take the Northway (I-87) to Exit 6 Turn right onto Rt. 7 (Troy-Schenectady Road) Follow approximately 2-3 miles, until you see Wendy's on your left Turn left at Wendy's British-American Blvd. Follow for ¼ mile to Cornell Road Make a Right onto Cornell NYS Nurses Association is 3rd driveway on right, before the cul-de-sac From the East 1-90 to the end - follow signs to I-87 North Take Exit 6 Turn left onto Rt. 7 (Troy-Schenectady Road) Follow approximately 2-3 miles, until you see Wendy's on your left Turn left at Wendy's British-American Blvd. Follow for ¼ mile to Cornell Road Make a Right onto Cornell NYS Nurses Association is 3rd driveway on right, before the cul-de-sac PARKING IS NOT PERMITTED ON CORNELL ROAD, GRASSY AREAS OR IN EMERGENCY ZONES IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.

The last day to pre-register online was April 4, 2012.

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Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities:
NYSBA welcomes participation by individuals with disabilities. NYSBA is committed to complying with all applicable laws that prohibit discrimination against individuals on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of its goods, services, programs, activities, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations. To request auxiliary aids or services or if you have any questions regarding accessibility, please contact Cindy O'Brien at 800-582-2452 or cobrien@nysba.org.