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The Great Trials Podcast offers a series of laid-back, casual conversations with leading trial lawyers, taking listeners "behind the scenes" of America’s greatest trials. Hosted by acclaimed trial lawyers Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey, each podcast episode focuses on one important trial and includes in-depth, insightful interviews with the attorneys who successfully argued the case in front of a judge and jury.
Episodes
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
This week we're replaying a Great Trials Podcast classic episode that originally aired in January 2020 with guests William Applegate and Liam Duffy of Yarborough Applegate (https://www.yarboroughapplegate.com/).
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Case Details:
Yarborough Applegate attorneys William Applegate and Liam Duffy share how they secured the largest jury verdict in Colleton County, South Carolina history for the wrongful death of landscaper Jose Larios. While trimming palm trees on Edisto Island, South Carolina, Jose screamed in pain and fell from a 25-foot ladder. Further investigation revealed hidden power lines that shocked Jose, causing him to fall and suffer fatal injuries. In this wrongful death case where the defense disputed the cause of Jose’s injuries, the jury returned a verdict of $21 million in damages and assigned 90 percent of the responsibility to Dominion Energy South Carolina and 10 percent to Jose.
Click to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bios:
William Applegate
William is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law. As a law student, he received the Public Interest Law Society Grant to work in Washington, D.C., served as vice-president of the Pro Bono Board, and was a student member of the John Belton O'Neal Inn of Court. Following law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable James R. Barber, III, of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of South Carolina, before starting a private practice with Motley Rice, one of the largest plaintiff's firms in the country.
William has represented individuals and companies as plaintiffs throughout South Carolina and the U.S. and has achieved significant recoveries on their behalf. He has experience in a variety of different legal areas and has litigated cases covering a broad spectrum, ranging from Federal Employer's Liability Act relating to occupational disease and catastrophic injuries; Jones Act personal injury; Oil Pollution Act cases relating to oil spills from container ships and oil refineries; products liability relating to unsafe products and unsafe drugs; toxic spills from railroad companies; consumer fraud class actions; commercial litigation, as well as securities fraud, derivative, deal, and misrepresentation cases under the Securities and Exchange Act.
Liam Duffy
Liam is a Washington, D.C. native who has called Charleston home for more than a decade. He is a proud product of the College of Charleston and is a summa cum laude graduate of the Charleston School of Law.
While in law school, Liam earned several CALI awards (highest grade) and finished in the top five of his graduating class. He was champion of the school’s moot court competition and Symposium Editor of the Charleston Law Review, where he brought together the nation’s top legal and medical minds for a CLE program titled “Under Further Review: A Legal Look at the World of Sports.” He also served as an extern for The Honorable C. Weston Houck, U.S. District Judge for the District of South Carolina and was selected as a student member of the James L. Petigru Inn of Court.
Prior to joining Yarborough Applegate, Liam practiced with one of Charleston’s premier litigation firms, where he represented both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving unfair trade practices, partnership, and LLC disputes, construction litigation, truck tire failure, products liability, e-Discovery, will contests, breach of contract, catastrophic personal injury, copyright infringement, and a litany of other high-stakes litigation. He has substantial first and second-chair trial experience in multi-million dollar cases and has handled all facets of complex litigation in state and federal courts.
At Yarborough Applegate, Liam draws on his varied experience to advocate for the victims (and families of victims) of catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and other serious personal or business losses.
Liam is active in the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division, where he has been recognized for his leadership as Representative for the 9th Judicial Circuit. He was also previously appointed to serve as Chair of the ABA Young Lawyers Division’s Law Practice Management Committee. Liam is a member of the South Carolina Bar House of Delegates and Vice President of the Charleston Lawyers Club. Through these activities, he is actively involved with Special Olympics South Carolina, Make-A-Wish® South Carolina, and other community organizations.
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Tuesday May 25, 2021
Tuesday May 25, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Craig Milsten of John Martin of KJC Law Firm (https://www.kjclawfirm.com/).
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Episode Details:
Accomplished Massachusetts trial lawyer John Martin of KJC Law Firm discusses how he secured justice for paving contractor Brian Goodrich, who was tragically crushed by a Cimline MAGMA 110 Asphalt Melter/Applicator after a jack slipped, causing permanent, life-altering injuries. In April 2013, Brian used a jack to raise the asphalt melter, so he could perform required routine maintenance on the engine oil plug. The jack did not hold the asphalt melter in place, and the machine fell on top of Brian, crushing his skull. Today, Brian suffers from permanent disfigurement, blindness in one eye, and a significant loss of cognitive function, requiring round-the-clock care. Despite the fact that Garlock Equipment Company, Inc. and Cimline did not manufacture the jack that failed and evidence suggesting Brian was using marijuana while operating the machinery, trial lawyer John Martin convinced the jury that Garlock Equipment Company, Inc. and Cimline, Inc. did not provide the instructions and warnings the manufacturers of the jack intended to be given to consumers. In 2018, a Massachusetts District Court jury found Garlock Equipment Company, Inc. and Cimline, Inc. negligent and awarded Brian, his wife, and two daughters an $11,618,700 verdict.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bio:
John Martin
John T. Martin is a Partner at the KJC Law Firm, and he is proud to be a trial attorney who fights against powerful corporate and government interests on behalf of ordinary people. John represents clients who have been accused of criminal conduct, some of whom are innocent and others who have just made a bad decision. John also represents clients in civil cases, including those who have suffered personal injuries in a car crash, at the hands of a drunk driver, a doctor, a nurse, tripped and fell in a grocery store, or were mistreated at work because of their race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.
Top 100 BadgeJohn has won cases in front of juries and judges all across the Commonwealth and has been the lead attorney on some of the most high-profile criminal and civil cases in recent Massachusetts history. In his first civil jury trial when he was about two years out of law school, John achieved the highest award allowed by law for punitive damages in the United States Federal Court. John obtained the fourth largest verdict in New England for the year 2018 and his jury verdicts in sexual harassment cases have gained nationwide attention. John has also helped to mediate and settle many cases, including multiple confidential million-dollar settlements for personal injury cases, insurance bad faith, and discrimination at work. In recent years, John has been contacted by attorneys around the country to consult on cases in other states to help victims seek justice and is currently working on cases in several other states including Rhode Island, Utah, Illinois, Connecticut, and New York.
John argued successfully for the dismissal of claims against the first individual whose drug test was found to have been falsified by Annie Dookhan in the Massachusetts Drug lab scandal and received national notoriety thereafter when he successfully convinced courts across the Commonwealth to release prisoners who had been convicted based on similar false drug tests. John was featured on multiple local and national news programs.
John graduated from Suffolk University Law School with honors and was the New England Champion of the National Trial Competition, the nation's most prestigious mock trial competition, for two consecutive years. Prior to law school, John graduated from Saint John's High School in Shrewsbury Massachusetts, and from Nichols College where he obtained highest honors and was inducted into the Delta Mu Delta honor society. John is the parent of a disabled child and is particularly interested in advocating on behalf of other disabled children and their families.
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Tuesday May 18, 2021
Tuesday May 18, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Craig Milsten of KBG Injury Law (https://resultsyoudeserve.com/).
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Episode Details:
Million Dollar Advocates Forum member Craig Milsten of KBG Injury Law shares how he successfully represented an elderly man with limited vision who was blinded due to a fall on an unmarked step at a shopping center in York County, Pennsylvania. On July 3, 2012, William Waite, a U.S. Army veteran and retired president of an architectural products company with vision in only his left eye, tripped and fell face-first over a single step in the sidewalk at a shopping center owned by Argento Family Partnership. After the fall, William was immediately blinded in his one good eye and has been unable to see ever since, despite undergoing four surgeries, including a corneal transplant. Despite the fact that the primary defendant John Argento is an award-winning civil defense litigator, trial lawyer Craig Milsten secured justice on his client's behalf, citing experts and pointing out to the jury how much money John Argento was willing to spend on legal fees, but not the nominal fee it would have cost to paint the step a different color or to display a warning sign for customers. In March 2017, a York County, Pennsylvania jury found Argento Family Partnership negligent after less than an hour of deliberations and awarded $4,035,329.11 in damages to William in one of the largest personal injury verdicts in York County history.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bio:
Craig Milsten
Craig Milsten is an experienced trial attorney with numerous courtroom victories in both state and federal courts, including one of the largest personal injury verdicts in York County history. He is an AV-Preeminent rated attorney by his peers and has been awarded the Client Service award from Martindale-Hubbell in recognition of a record of excellent client satisfaction. He specializes in personal injury cases including automobile accidents, slip and fall injuries and wrongful death as well as nursing home negligence and insurance bad faith cases.
He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America, the United States District Courts for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the York County Court of Common Pleas. He has handled cases across seven counties in Pennsylvania. He has been admitted to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a prestigious forum reserved only for attorneys who have obtained civil verdicts or settlements in excess of one million dollars. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and has held numerous leadership positions within the York County Bar Association. He also maintains membership in the Pennsylvania Association for Justice.
Craig is a York County native with degrees from The American University in Washington, DC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in York County, prosecuting numerous criminal cases and gaining extensive courtroom and jury trial experience. He also practiced insurance defense law and commercial litigation prior to joining the team at KBG Injury Law, gaining valuable insight into the processes used by insurance companies to defend personal injury cases.
Craig is an active volunteer in the community having held positions on numerous boards of non-profit organizations. He chaired the steering committee of the York Health Foundation’s Double Creek cycling and running event for eleven years during which time the event raised more than a half a million dollars to benefit the Healthy Community Pharmacy. He is a past-President of the Board of Trustees of the York Jewish Community Center during which time he oversaw the JCC’s $5 Million capital campaign to expand its childcare, early childhood education and wellness capacities.
Prior to going to law school, Craig was a sportswriter for the Washington Post. During his days at law school in Pittsburgh, he covered stories of national interest involving the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins. He lives in York with his wife and two children.
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Tuesday May 11, 2021
Tuesday May 11, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview "Mickey" Mixson of Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP (https://www.bmelaw.com/).
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Episode Details:
Accomplished business torts lawyer H. Lamar "Mickey" Mixson of Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP discusses how he secured justice for Texas businessman David McDavid after his binding agreement to purchase 85% of the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) interest in the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers and the operating rights to Philips Arena (now State Farm Arena) in Atlanta failed due to breach of contract. On April 30, 2003, David and the David McDavid Group signed a letter of intent with TBS and reached an agreement three months later. Following the passing vote by the Board of Directors, the TBS chief negotiator breached his obligations to David and began secret discussions with Atlanta Spirit LLC, which was led by TBS principal Ted Turner's son-in-law and the son of a long-time Atlanta Hawks board member. A press conference was scheduled to publicly announce the sale to David until he was notified that an agreement had been reached with Atlanta Spirit LLC instead. In spite of the defense's claims that the signed letter of intent contained a 45-day exclusive negotiation period and that Turner could only be bound by a signed written agreement -- not an oral agreement -- the Fulton County, Georgia jury unanimously found for David on the breach of contract and promissory estoppel. Trial lawyer Mickey Mixson secured a $281 million verdict for David, resulting in the largest compensatory damage award in Georgia history and one of the nation's 10 largest verdicts of 2008.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bio:
Lamar "Mickey" Mixson
Mickey Mixson represents individuals and corporations in a wide variety of business disputes. He has successfully presented hundreds of complex commercial disputes to juries, arbitration panels and judges, gaining a reputation for success with cases considered “unwinnable” by others.
Mickey’s areas of focus include business torts, corporate governance, partnership and fiduciary disputes, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, attorney and accountant liability, RICO, tender offers, and proxy and securities litigation. In recent years, he has recovered awards and settlements for clients totaling well over $2 billion. He has an equally successful record on the defense side, having obtained summary judgments, dismissals and defense verdicts for numerous major claims.
Mickey is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and recognized by Chambers USA and Chambers Global as one of the highest-ranking trial lawyers in the United States, and among the top commercial litigators in Georgia. According to Chambers, he is a "creative and diligent trial lawyer" with "a superb touch with juries" and "has a fantastic record of success in complex commercial disputes and comes highly regarded for his work in business torts, corporate governance and fiduciary disputes." The most recent version of Chambers USA described him as "one hell of a lawyer."
Mickey is a frequent lecturer, and has published numerous articles on trial practice and business litigation issues such as the effective use of experts, presenting persuasive opening and closing arguments and the ACC Value Challenge. He is currently president of the Atlanta chapter of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms.
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
Co-counsel for the plaintiffs, Six Flags Over Georgia, in a breach of fiduciary duty case against Time Warner Entertainment which resulted in a $454 million jury verdict, the largest verdict ever awarded in Georgia (a verdict which was affirmed on appeal and paid in full).
Lead counsel representing David McDavid in obtaining a $281 million jury verdict against Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) for breaching an agreement to sell McDavid the Atlanta Hawks, the Atlanta Thrashers and the operating rights to Philips Arena.
Affirmed in full on appeal, the jury verdict is the largest compensatory damage award in Georgia history.
Lead counsel for the plaintiff class in Abdallah v. Coca-Cola Co., the largest private class action racial discrimination settlement in history, which settled for $192.5 million.
Achieved a settlement in a contract dispute case between a leading transportation company and a major supplier, resulting in $200+ million recovery for our client.
Represented several groups of individuals asserting related professional liability claims involving tax shelters, recovering more than $350 million through a combination of settlements and awards.
Successfully defended a major regional accounting firm from professional malpractice, fraud and RICO claims, winning summary judgment on all counts.
Successfully defended Farley Industries in a dissenters’ rights case before the Georgia Supreme Court, a decision of first impression which has become the seminal case on dissenters’ rights in Georgia.
Represented one of the largest real estate developers in the United States in the withdrawal of a major regional partner from hundreds of partnerships, including coordinating and successfully concluding simultaneous litigation in multiple forums.
Represented Novelis Corporation in a contract dispute with the consortium representing Coca Cola bottlers. Novelis, the world's leading producer of aluminum rolled products, supplies aluminum can sheets to Coke, which alleged that Novelis had violated the terms of their supply agreement's most favored nation provision. After three years of discovery and proceedings, the Superior Court in Fulton County, Georgia, granted summary judgment in favor of Novelis.
Successfully defended a major airline client in an international arbitration proceeding, recovering more than $40 million on its counterclaims.
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Tuesday May 04, 2021
Tuesday May 04, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Robert Mongeluzzi of Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky (https://www.smbb.com/).
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Episode Details:
Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame inductee Robert Mongeluzzi of Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky shares how he successfully represented the families of nine customers and employees who were killed or seriously injured in the collapse of a Salvation Army Thrift Store in Philadelphia on June 5, 2013. Nearly two weeks before the collapse of an unsupported four-story brick masonry structure onto the one-story store, Salvation Army officials were warned about the risks posed to the Thrift Store due to the ongoing demolition of neighboring properties. The Salvation Army chose to ignore the warnings and failed to notify customers or employees of the danger, resulting in seven fatalities and numerous injuries. After a high-profile 15-week trial, Robert Mongeluzzi convinced the Philadelphia jury that this was no accident, securing a liability verdict, with 75% of the liability for the customers assigned to the Salvation Army and the liability for the employees divided among property owner Richard Basciano, the architect and other parties. Following the liability verdict, Robert Mongeluzzi settled the case for $227 million in the damages phase.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bio:
Robert J. Mongeluzzi
Robert J. Mongeluzzi is one of the finest trial lawyers in America. He has the largest personal injury verdict affirmed on appeal in Pennsylvania history, the largest individual personal injury settlement in Pennsylvania history, the largest multi-plaintiff personal injury settlement in Pennsylvania history, the largest workplace injury verdict in Pennsylvania history, the largest verdict in a motor vehicle accident in Pennsylvania history and the largest dram shop verdict in Pennsylvania history. He has the largest settlement of a construction case in American history. He was one of the lead plaintiffs attorneys in the largest settlement of a railroad accident case in American history. He has the largest verdict for a construction worker in American history. He has the largest wrongful death settlement in Philadelphia County history. He has the largest settlement in Lehigh County history. He has handled six cases with verdicts or settlements of $100 million or more. He has had more than 400 verdicts and settlements in excess of a million dollars. He was inducted into the National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2018, was awarded the Legal Intelligencer Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 and was the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers 2019 Michael A. Musmanno Award honoree.
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Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
On this bonus episode of The Great Trials Podcast, Steve and Yvonne are interviewed by a potential law school student...our producer, Razz! We discuss the LSAT, choosing a school, tips for being successful in law school, the work/life balance of an attorney, and much more.
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Natalie Woodward of Shamp Jordan Woodward (https://www.sjwtriallaw.com/).
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Episode Details:
Shamp Jordan Woodward founding partner Natalie Woodward shares discusses how she secured justice for the former Chief of Police for the City of Braswell, Georgia after he was falsely arrested and maliciously prosecuted by the Mayor, City Manager and subsequent Chief of Police for the City of Braswell over a reimbursement dispute. In 2007, Robert Richard Lucas was initially told by the Mayor that he would be reimbursed for the purchase of used vehicles for the police department, but after five months of waiting, the Mayor and City Manager informed Robert that they considered the vehicle to be a non-reimbursable donation to the City. Unable to reach an agreement, Robert resigned as the Chief of Police and took possession of the vehicle, as the title was still in his name. The City of Braswell reported the car stolen and continued to pursue criminal prosecution with a warrant for Robert's arrest, despite a neighboring county officer's determination that the vehicle ownership dispute was a civil matter. Robert was unjustly placed in a holding cell with criminals who were likely well aware of his previous law enforcement position. In spite of the defense's attempts to utilize a reimbursement check that didn't materialize until after the lawsuit was filed, trial lawyer Natalie Woodward emphasized the lack of proper procedure and Georgia Bureau of Investigation involvement. In 2010, a Rome, Georgia jury returned a verdict in favor of Robert, awarding $1 million in compensatory and punitive damages against the defendants.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bio:
Natalie Woodward
Anyone who meets Natalie Woodward feels like they have known her their entire life. It is this ability to put people at ease that makes her such an effective trial lawyer. Indeed in her very first jury trial as lead counsel, she secured a $1 million verdict in a wrongful arrest case.
Natalie has extensive experience in personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, false arrest, and malicious prosecution.
A native of Powder Springs, Natalie is a venerable “Double Dawg.” She received undergraduate degrees in Journalism and Political Science. She then attended and graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law. While at UGA Law, she was the Chair of the Moot Court Board and a member of the champion Intrastate Moot Court Team.
Natalie is a member of the Executive Committee for the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, is a member of the Atlanta Trial Lawyers Society, and serves on several non-profit boards. She has chaired the Small Firm Practice Section of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia and was selected as one of the Best Young Lawyers in Georgia by Atlanta Magazine.
Prior to founding Shamp Speed Jordan Woodward, Natalie began her career at Brinson Askew Berry in Rome, Georgia. She also practiced at Commander & Pound, before starting her own firm in Roswell. She has also worked for both Federal District Court Judge Charles Pannell and Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Sears.
Natalie is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia, as well as all other trial and appellate courts in the State of Georgia.
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Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Rich Newsome of Newsome Melton Law Firm (https://www.newsomelaw.com/).
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Episode Details:
Orlando trial lawyer Rich Newsome of Newsome Melton Law Firm shares how he successfully advocated for the parents of deceased University of Florida student Abigail Dougherty after she was struck and killed by a Waste Corporation of America (WCA) garbage truck while riding her bicycle. On October 28, 2016, Abigail was riding her bike in the dedicated bicycle lane near 17th Street and University Avenue in Gainesville, Florida, when a 15-year veteran WCA driver made a right turn, striking the rear tire of Abigail's bike in the crosswalk. Abigail and her bicycle were pulled under the truck, dragged and crushed by the right rear tires of the 2,000-ton vehicle. Despite the defense's attempts to blame Abigail for this tragic collision, Rich convinced the jury that WCA was responsible due to its driver's negligent actions, including not checking the right-side mirrors and making a sharp turn at a high speed. In October 2018, an Alachua County, Florida jury assigned 80% of the blame for Abigail's death to WCA and awarded a sum of $12,500,000 in damages to each of Abigail's parents, Pat Dougherty and Anita Forester, resulting in a major $25 million verdict.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bios:
Rich Newsome
Rich Newsome is the senior partner of the Newsome Melton law firm and represents people and families in complex civil litigation.
After graduating from the University of Florida College of Law in 1989, Rich worked as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern and Middle Districts of Florida. Rich left the U.S. Attorney's Office in 1993 and went to work for a large product liability defense firm in Orlando, Florida where he represented manufacturers. After defending a manufacturer in a case brought by a family who lost a child, Rich felt compelled to leave the defense practice and began representing only families and individuals. Since then, for more than 25 years, Rich’s practice has focused on representing people who have suffered catastrophic or fatal injuries.
In 2001, Rich was appointed by the Florida Governor to the Fifth District Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Commission and served as the JNC’s Chairman during his term. He is a Past-President of the Orlando Federal Bar Association, Past-President of the Florida Justice Association, Past-Member of the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice, Past-President of the Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association, and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocacy.
Rich is a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer’s College and was invited to serve as a member of the College Faculty. Rich is a member of the Florida, Texas, New Mexico, and Oregon Bar Associations.
In 2016, Rich was selected as the “Orlando Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers, a peer-review publication. In 2015, Rich received the Steven C. Sharpe Public Service Award from the American Association for Justice, in recognition of his representation of Corey Burdick who was severely injured by a defective Takata airbag. The Steven C. Sharpe Award is awarded annually to one attorney and their client.
In 2017, Rich was appointed to the Constitution Revision Commission by Richard Corcoran, the Speaker of Florida’s House of Representatives. The 37 member Commission drafted and submitted 32 amendments to the Florida Constitution which were placed on the ballot and approved by Florida voters to be part of the Florida Constitution in November 2018.
In 2019, Rich was recognized by the National Law Journal as having won two of the Nation’s 100 largest verdicts in 2018.
Rich is a member of the Summit Council, a national group of America's best plaintiff trial lawyers. Membership is limited to less than thirty trial lawyers from across the country, is by invitation only, and is extended to lawyers who have a proven record of large jury verdicts and are recognized as leaders of the national plaintiffs bar.
Rich is a founding faculty member of Trial School, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that seeks to foster collaboration between lawyers on today’s best trial advocacy methods and to provide free education and practice for trial lawyers who exclusively represent people and families.
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Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Neama Rahmani of West Coast Trial Lawyers (https://westcoasttriallawyers.com/).
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Episode Details:
West Coast Trial Lawyers' President and co-founder Neama Rahmani looks back on his days as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and shares how he convinced a California jury that Laura Elana Trejo-Macias intentionally and knowingly tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border with more than nine pounds of methamphetamine in her car. In March 2011, a trained drug detection dog at the San Ysidro port of entry alerted Customs and Border Protection Officers of contraband in Laura's newly acquired 2003 Chevy Tahoe. U.S. border officials found nine packages of methamphetamine with a street value of $130,000 in a modified shell of the vehicle's radiator. In spite of the defense's attempts to portray Laura as a successful businesswoman who was tricked into being a blind mule by an employee who had access to the car the day before, Neama Rahmani presented evidence that convinced the jury that Laura was, in fact, guilty of trafficking methamphetamine. In 2012, Laura was sentenced to more than 12 years in jail.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bio:
Neama Rahmani
Neama is the President and co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers.
Neama graduated from UCLA at the age of 19 and Harvard Law School at the age of 22, making him one of the youngest graduates in the 200-year history of the law school. Upon graduation, Neama was hired by O’Melveny & Myers, the largest law firm in Los Angeles at the time, where he represented companies such as Disney, Marriott, and the Roman Catholic Church.
But Neama wanted to help ordinary people, not corporations, so he joined the United States Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted drug and human trafficking cases along the United States-Mexico border. While working as a federal prosecutor, Neama captured and successfully prosecuted a fugitive murderer and drug kingpin who had terrorized Southern California and was featured on “America’s Most Wanted.” Neama was then appointed to be the Director of Enforcement of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, an independent watchdog that oversees and investigates the elected officials and highest level employees of the City of Los Angeles, including the Mayor and City Council. He held that position until becoming a trial lawyer for the people.
Neama has extensive trial experience. He has led teams of more than 170 attorneys in litigation against the largest companies in the world. Neama has successfully tried dozens of cases to verdict as lead trial counsel, and has argued and won before both state and federal appeals courts. Over the course of his career, Neama has handled thousands of cases, obtaining many seven and eight figure settlements and judgments, and has helped his clients win more than one billion dollars.
Neama is a regular legal commentator on news and television and sits on the UCLA Political Science Board of Advisors. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, an attorney for foster children, son, daughter, and dog, Lola.
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