Printable Seminar Registration Form
Sponsorship/Expo Information
Summer Seminar Program Chairs and Moderators
Kristen S. Scheuerman
Herrling Clark Law Firm, Ltd
Noah D. Domnitz
Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.
Summer Seminar CLE Schedule
Friday, July 20, 2018
7:30 AM:
Breakfast Buffet with the Exhibitors: Included with Registration
- Women's Caucus Breakfast Meeting (Friday, July 20)
- Worker's Comp Committee Breakfast Meeting (Friday, July 20)
8:30 AM:
Welcome & WAJ Update
Heath P. Straka, WAJ President
Heath Straka is a partner at Gingras, Cates & Wachs. His practice focuses on personal injury, medical malpractice, bad faith insurance claims and also complex litigation and class actions involving wage and hour violations. Heath received his law degree from the UW Law School in 2000. He has litigation experience in the State and Federal Courts of Wisconsin and has practiced in the successful resolution of numerous Civil Rights and Personal Injury cases. Heath has successfully argued two cases in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, both involving medical malpractice; Otto v. PIC and Bubb v. Brusky, et. al. As a member of the Wisconsin Association for Justice, Heath serves as President of the Wisconsin Association for Justice and is past chair of the Program Committee and New Lawyers Section.
8:30 to 10:00 AM:
Panel Discussion: Translating Injury to Damages - Building Your Damage Claim from the Ground Up
Synopsis: Dr. Thomas Wilkins of BayCare Clinc, Green Bay, a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Expert; Todd Andres of Andresource, a Functional Capacity Evaluator and Michele Albers of Vocational Diagnostics, Inc. a Vocational Consultant/ Life Care Planner, discuss back injuries and the development of medical reports, long term restrictions, LOEC and future care plans. A panel presentation and discussion.
Panel Moderator: Bruce R. Bachhuber, Hanaway Ross Law Firm
Bruce R. Bachhuber is the senior partner at Hanaway Ross Law Firm. A Wisconsin native, he graduated from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, with honors, in 1978, and from University of Wisconsin Law School, with honors, in 1983. Bruce has tried numerous complex civil litigation cases, and over the course of more than 30 years of experience has helped individuals and their families cope with injuries or death resulting from automobile accidents, defective products, unsafe premises, and civil rights violations.
Bruce served as President of the Wisconsin Association for Justice (WAJ – formerly Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers) in 2004, and has served on the executive, program and legislative committees and as a regional officer for WAJ. He remains a member of the WAJ Board of Directors.
He is the 2015 Chairman of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, a group composed of an equal number of plaintiff and defense lawyers interested in the development of tort and insurance law, and dedicated to the continued success of trial by jury.
Dr. Thomas J. Wilkins, BayCare Clinic Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Dr. Thomas Wilkins, MD is a board certified physiatrist with BayCare Clinic since 2004, Dr. Thomas Wilkins has special interests in musculoskeletal ultrasound, spine medicine and rehabilitation, electrodiagnostic testing, as well as orthopaedic and sports injuries.
Dr. Wilkins is a native of Buffalo, New York and received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in Madison, WI. He completed his internship at Gunderson Lutheran Hospital and Clinics in LaCrosse, WI and his residency at the UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison, WI. Dr. Wilkins also holds the Pioneer Registered in Musculoskeletal (RMSK) Sonography certification. He maintains an active membership of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Wisconsin Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
Todd M. Andres, OTR, AndResource, LLC
Todd is a Wisconsin native and 8 year veteran of the United States Navy. He served on a ballistic missile submarine as a missile technician and deep sea salvage and rescue ship as an electrician where he operated and maintained electric, electronic, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems (the same systems used in civilian manufacturing and industry) except in weapons and propulsion applications. After an honorable discharge Todd used his veteran's benefits to get his degree, starting at the University of Hawaii - Pearl Harbor and finishing at the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1996. In his first positions as an OT, he treated hundreds of patients in outpatient orthopedic settings and on-site in business and industry focusing on work injury rehab, functional testing, and ergonomics. In 2000, Todd was brought to Green Bay by Bellin Health, to develop the industrial rehab and ergonomics program but in 2007, Todd left Bellin Health to take a shot at the dream of owning his own company...AndResource, LLC where he has successfully practiced independently for the last 11 years. Over his 22 years of practice, he has attained certification training in some of the top industrial rehab methodologies including: Isernhagen, ErgoScience, Matheson, Blankenship and Occupro. He has also done both ergonomic and quantitative job analysis on hundreds of jobs in virtually every type of industry which together with his naval and other life experience make him highly qualified in the field of occupational rehab, functional testing and ergonomics.
Michele J. Albers, M.S., L.P.C., C.R.C., C.L.C.P.
Senior Vocational Consultant/Life Care Planner
Vocational Diagnostics, Inc.
Michele Albers has been involved in the field of rehabilitation since 1995. She received a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Psychology from UW-Madison in 1997. Michele then worked as a vocational consultant in Phoenix, Arizona for six years. She moved back to the Madison area in August of 2003 and continues to work as a vocational consultant and life care planner. Her current caseload is varied and includes litigated work in personal injury, worker’s compensation and family law. She provides case management to individuals participating in the vocational rehabilitation process. Michele also provides expert testimony for the Social Security Administration Office of Disability, Adjudication & Review. She maintains an active role in the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals and recently served as President of the WI-IARP Chapter. She recently served on a committee through IARP that was developed to create a forensic mentoring program and to increase membership retention. She guest lectures at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Rehabilitation Psychology & Special Education program. She has also been involved in mentoring practicum students pursuing their Master’s degree at UW-Madison.
10:00 AM to 10:30 AM:
Dereliction of Duty at Copper Lake School For Girls – The Tale of the Sydni Briggs Case
Synopsis: This session will provide insight into successful deposition strategies and techniques by looking at excerpts from the Briggs case. It will also discuss the negotiation tactics used which helped to maximize settlement value.
Attorney Eric J. Haag is a partner at Atterbury, Kammer & Haag, S.C., in Middleton, Wisconsin. His primary areas of practice are plaintiff personal injury litigation, class action litigation, and fire loss claims. Eric has tried personal injury, medical malpractice, and civil rights cases throughout state and federal courts in Wisconsin. Earlier this year he obtained the largest civil rights settlement ever paid by the State of Wisconsin. Eric received his bachelor’s degree from Duke University in 1993 and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1996.
Eric is a volunteer firefighter with the Middleton Fire Department and has received his Firefighter I and Firefighter II State Certifications. He has also participated in multiple fire trainings and studies with his fire department and with the ATF. Eris is an avid bow hunter, fly fisherman, runner, and above all enjoys watching and coaching his children’s youth sports.
10:30 to 10:45: Break with Exhibitors
10:45 AM to 12:00 PM: 2018 Tort Update
Edward E. Robinson, Attorney, Cannon & Dunphy, SC
Synopsis: Stay up-to-date with this quick-hitting session which will survey the most important supreme court and appellate court decisions from this past year on a wide range of topics that may impact your practice.
Edward E. Robinson is a partner at Cannon & Dunphy, D.C. in Brookfield. He specializes in vehicle accidents, animal injuries, products liability, and medical malpractice. He received his J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1995. Ed is active in WAJ serving as its President-Elect and on the editorial board of The Verdict. He previously served on the Amicus Curiae Committee, where he authored or co-authored 17 briefs on behalf of WAJ submitted to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and Wisconsin Supreme Court. Since 2011, he has been selected annually for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America
Starting at 12:00 PM on Friday:
Starting at 5:30 PM on Friday:
- Join us for Dinner (see details below with special pricing for kids)
- Your ticket is included with the seminar registration (be sure to register those joining you for dinner when you register for the seminar)
SATURDAY SESSION SPEAKERS
7:30 AM: Breakfast Buffet with the Exhibitors: Included with Registration
- New Lawyers Section Breakfast Meeting (Saturday, July 21)
8:30 AM:
Opening / Good Morning
Heath P. Straka, WAJ President
Heath Straka is a partner at Gingras, Cates & Wachs. His practice focuses on personal injury, medical malpractice, bad faith insurance claims and also complex litigation and class actions involving wage and hour violations. Heath received his law degree from the UW Law School in 2000. He has litigation experience in the State and Federal Courts of Wisconsin and has practiced in the successful resolution of numerous Civil Rights and Personal Injury cases. Heath has successfully argued two cases in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, both involving medical malpractice; Otto v. PIC and Bubb v. Brusky, et. al. As a member of the Wisconsin Association for Justice, Heath serves as President of the Wisconsin Association for Justice and is past chair of the Program Committee and New Lawyers Section.
8:30 to 10:30 AM
The Domino Theory: Proving Proximate Cause and Damages
Edward P. Capozzi, Brach Eichler LLC, New Jersey
"Ed Capozzi found an ingenious way to drain the verbal swamp of proximate cause and make the concept as clear and easy for the jury as a row of falling dominoes. The proof of its merit is that it seems so obvious in hindsight. I said to myself, ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’—the mark of a really good idea.”
—Patrick Malone, member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, coauthor of Rules of the Road, author of The Fearless Cross-Examiner
“With brilliant simplicity, Ed Capozzi presents an intuitive and logical approach that allows jurors to hear and see how the accident cause connects to the injury evidence, enabling them to ‘get it.’ The Domino Theory is a plaintiff lawyer’s roadmap to success. Ed takes the reader through a methodology that, if followed faithfully, will bring success beyond imagination. I have been trying personal injury cases for forty-two years, and Ed brings a rarely encountered wisdom to so-called ‘garden variety’ soft-tissue cases. Once you adopt and practice the domino theory, you will never ever call a soft-tissue case ‘garden variety’ again, and nor will your adversaries.”
—Michael Maggiano, past president of the NJ Association for Justice and the Melvin Belli Society, and member of the Million Dollar Forum
Edward Capozzi is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a civil trial attorney. He is a published author and lectures nationally on trial techniques and cross-examination of defense medical experts. In 2014, Mr. Capozzi received the New Jersey Law Journal’s Personal Injury Hall of Fame Award for receiving the largest verdict in the state in a products liability case and in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 received at least one, and as many as three, of the state’s top 20 verdicts or settlements. He is a vice president of the New Jersey Association for Justice (NJAJ), a Leaders Forum member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), an advocate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a member of the Association of Plaintiff’s Interstate Trucking America (APITLA), a lifetime member of the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum and a fellow of the Melvin Belli Society. Mr. Capozzi exclusively handles auto, trucking, NJ Transit, products liability, and other catastrophic personal injury cases only. He is married with four children and resides in Kinnelon, New Jersey.
9:30 to 9:45 AM: Break with Exhibitors
10:30 to 11:00 AM
Proving Brain Damage after Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Attorney Gordon Johnson, The Brain Injury Group Law Group
Synopsis: You hear about the tragedy of carbon monoxide poisoning when someone dies, but for everyone who dies, there are dozens who suffer permanent brain and other organ damage from CO. Proving a CO case is in many ways easier than other brain injuries, but it does involve a whole new area of science, including combustion analysis, negative pressure, ambient air concentrations, COHb levels and complicated diagnostic processes. More often than not there are large insurance policies and clear cut fault. If you can close the causation loop, these cases can work. ER diagnosis always understates the long-term risk factors. Nearly half of those discharged home on the day of the poisoning will have recurrent symptoms and permanent brain damage.
Attorney Gordon Johnson is the author of http://carbonmonoxide.com and hundreds of blogs on the topic. He has represented more than 100 people injured in carbon monoxide poisoning including several mass poisoning events.
Attorney Johnson is one of the nation's leading brain injury advocates. He is Past-Chair of the TBILG, a national group of more than 150 brain injury advocates. He has spoken at numerous brain injury seminars and is the author of the most read brain injury web pages on the internet, including waiting.com and tbilaw.com. When Attorney Johnson talks about "recovery", he isn't talking about what a survivor recovers in litigation, but about getting better from a brain injury.
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Ethics Presentation: Legal Ethics and The Movies
Judge Michael J. Aprahamian
Synopsis: Judge Aprahamian will use vignettes from legal-themed movies as a springboard to discuss several rules of professional responsibility.
Judge Aprahamian is a Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge and teaches Law Governing Lawyers at Marquette Law School. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Aprahamian was a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, where he was a civil trial lawyer and the firm's partner in charge of ethics training. Prior to joining Foley, he clerked for the Honorable Richard D. Cudahy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
12:00 PM: Seminar Concludes
Seminar Information:
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Included with Registration:
- Breakfast Buffet (7:30 am to 8:30 am)
- Women's Caucus Breakfast Meeting (Friday, July 20).
- Worker's Comp Committee Breakfast meeting (Friday, July 20)
- FRIDAY MORNING CHILDREN's ACTIVITY
- New Lawyers Breakfast Meeting (Saturday, July 21)
- Weblink to Seminar Materials
- Break Refreshments & Snacks
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Available for Purchase:
Hard Copy Seminar Materials:
- Member Pricing: $49
- Non-Member Pricing: $150
Golf: $85 (Clubs are also available to rent)
Kids and Guest Friday Night Dinner (see registration page)
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CLE Credit (Pending Approval)
WI: APPROVED FOR XX CLE CREDITS, 1.0 ETHICS CREDIT
MN: APPROVED FOR XX CLE CREDITS, 1.0 ETHICS CREDIT
PARALEGAL: APPROVED FOR XX CLE CREDITS
Women's Caucus Breakfast
The WAJ Women's Caucus will meet for breakfast at the Summer Seminar. The discussion will be free-flowing, from responding to improper listserv messages to interesting or difficult issues you have faced in one of your recent cases. Attendees are encouraged to share their experiences at breakfast. Please be sure to RSVP on the registration form if you plan to attend!
New Lawyer's Section Saturday Breakfast
The WAJ New Lawyers Section will meet for Breakfast at the Summer Seminar on Saturday. This networking event is open to all new lawyers and law students. Please be sure to RSVP on the registration form if you plan to attend!
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Join us for dinner on Friday Night!
Food, Drinks and Entertainment!
5:30 PM start outside Landmark Hotel's
Carrington Pub & Grill (bar and bonfire will be in front of the building)
Open to the whole family!!
Fish Boil, Bonfire (s'mores), Networking
Sponsored Bar
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WAJ Golf Tournament: Friday @ 1:00pm
The Orchards at Egg Harbor
$85/golfer Includes: 18-Hole Scramble, Cart, Drink Cart Tickets, and Box Lunch.
Activities for Non-Golfers:
Explore & Experience Door County
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