Defense Digest 

On The Pulse... Other Notable Achievements...

Bruce Morrison (Philadelphia) recently spoke at the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA) opening presentation in Dublin, Ireland, for their annual meeting.  Bruce's topic was Bad Faith Rules and Remedies.  Bruce also recently spoke at the Insurance Bad Faith Seminar hosted by the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (PaTLA).  His topic was The Statute of Limitations.

Chuck Craven (Philadelphia) and the Honorable Robert Graci, the founding co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Post-Trial and Appellate Practice Committee, received Special Achievement Awards from the PBA's Board of Governors at the PBA's Annual Meeting in Hershey, PA.  Chuck recently spoke regarding Requesting Reconsideration from the Appellate Courts; Taking a Second Appeal; Seeking Appellate Costs at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's Appellate Practice & Procedure in the Pennsylvania Courts seminar in Philadelphia, PA.

Denis Dice (Philadelphia) recently spoke at the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) spring conference in Baltimore, MD.  Denis was the industry representative counsel on a panel that discussed issues regarding securities arbitration and mediation.

Frank Brennan (Cherry Hill) and Ed Tuite (Philadelphia) recently presented a Medical Fraud in Pennsylvania seminar for the Delaware Valley Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigations Units.  Frank and Ed spoke on recent developments and tactics in overcoming medical care provider fraud and the use of both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Insurance Fraud Statutes.  Frank also recently spoke at the Insurance Society of Philadelphia's seminar Insurance Fraud.  This seminar covered such topics as application fraud, medical fraud, auto/property fraud, solutions to insurance fraud, and bad faith avoidance.  Ed also recently spoke at the National Business Institute's seminar entitled Trying the Wrong Death Case in Pennsylvania.  Ed's topic was Defense Planning for the Wrongful Death Case. 

Gary Alderson (Wilmington) was part of a panel that presented a seminar entitled Mental Stress Claims in Delaware to attorneys, risk managers and adjusters.  Also on the panel was a plaintiff's attorney, another defense attorney, a psychiatrist and a psychologist.

Jack Slimm (Cherry Hill) was recently a featured speaker at the New Jersey State Bar Association annual meeting in Atlantic City, N.J.  Jack's topic was Protecting your Practice - What Every Attorney Must Know About Lawyer's Professional Liability Insurance.  Joining Jack on the panel were the major brokers who write and place legal malpractice coverage in New Jersey.  The program included an update by Jack on recent developments in the law of legal malpractice in New Jersey.

James Pocius (Scranton) recently spoke at the Central Ohio Self-Insured's Association regarding Medicare Set-Asides and workers' compensation settlements.  Jim also spoke for Professional Educational Systems regarding the Top Twenty Workers' Compensation Cases of 2003, as well as the National Risk and Insurance Management Society in San Diego, CA, regarding Medicare Set-Asides in workers' compensation settlements.  Jim and Jennifer Callahan (Scranton) recently presented a seminar at the Lehigh Valley Industrial Hygiene Conference as to successful strategies in workers' compensation litigation.

Mike McGirney (Tampa) recently spoke at two seminars in Miami: an American Bar Association sponsored seminar on the issue of The Perils of Practicing Law on the Internet and a seminar sponsored by the University of Miami on Liability Insurance for Lawyers.  Finally, Mike spoke to a Miami chapter of the American Society for Home Inspectors on the issue of The Effect of Liability Limitation and Arbitration Clauses in Home Inspector's Contracts.

Jeff Albinson (Tampa) has been appointed by Kelly Overstreet Johnson, the 2004-2005 President of The Florida Bar, to serve on both the Aviation Law Committee and the Quality of Life and Career Committee.  Also, Jeff was recently sworn in as a member of the United States Supreme Court.  In addition, Jeff spoke at a joint meeting of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and Clearwater Bar Association.  The joint meeting is the annual Bar Leaders Leadership Conference, and he spoke regarding The Authorship of Scholarly Articles for Local Bar Publications  Finally, Jeff recently spoke at a seminar to the Palm Beach County Bar Association addressing Stress Relief For Lawyers.  His segment was Liars and Tyrants and Boors:  Oh Why?  A Seminar Dealing With The Bad Behavior of Counsel, Clients, Witnesses and Others.

Jennifer Callahan (Scranton) recently presented a seminar to The  Occupational Nurses Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania regarding how to be an effective witness as an occupational nurse in a deposition.  Jennifer previously presented a seminar for industrial nurses as well.

Lary Zucker (Philadelphia) recently spoke and participated in a mock trial at the Roller Skating Association International Annual Trade Show in Las Vegas, NV.  Lary's topic was the New Risk Management Program.

Patricia Monahan (Pittsburgh) presented PHRC Practice and Procedure at PBI's seminar What Every Municipal Solicitor Should Know About Labor and Employment Law in Pittsburgh, PA.

Sam Casolari recently received special recognition by the Board of Trustees of the Marva Collins Preparatory School for service both on the Board as Treasurer as well as the school.  The school provides a private, affordable education primarily to inner city youth in the Greater Cincinnati area.  The recognition occurred at the recent meeting of the MCPS Board in Cincinnati, Ohio during commencement weekend.

Scott Gemberling (Philadelphia) was a featured speaker at the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association's Annual Symposium on Alcohol Beverage Law held in Washington, D.C.

Tim McMahon (Harrisburg) recently presented the PBA's annual professional liability malpractice avoidance program to the Adams County and Franklin County Bar Associations.  The program focused upon legal malpractice exposure arising from representing clients in transactional matters.  The program was developed and coordinated by the PBA's professional liability committee of which Tim is a member.