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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
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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Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Don Hinkle of Hinkle and Foran (https://www.hinkleforan.com/).
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Episode Details:
Million Dollar Advocates Forum member and accomplished Tallahassee, Florida attorney Donald Hinkle of Hinkle & Foran shares how he held the United States government responsible for the negligence of a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doctor who failed to promptly diagnose Vietnam War veteran Ronald Mathis' Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, resulting in his untimely death. In preparation for his annual exam, Ronald underwent routine blood tests, which revealed a white blood cell count twice the normal level. His doctor at the Veterans Affairs facility admitted that he overlooked Ronald's elevated white blood cell count and failed to promptly refer him to a hematologist for what was then a highly treatable condition. Without treatment, Ronald's condition worsened and developed into Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia. He was released to hospice care, where he died less than three weeks later in May 2018. Trial lawyer Donald Hinkle worked to secure economic and noneconomic damages for Ronald's surviving family members recognized under Florida's Wrongful Death Act, including his wife of 52 years, Grace, and his two grandchildren whom he had adopted and was raising as his own. Ultimately, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court - Northern District of Florida awarded $4,725,961.76 in economic and noneconomic damages to the Mathis family, ruling against the defendant.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bio:
Don Hinkle
Whether it's representing the injured or working with families who have experienced tragic losses, attorney Don Hinkle's track record of success in undeniable. When not representing clients, Don is often asked to lecture other attorneys regarding how to best handle serious automobile accidents, premises liability and medical malpractice cases.
Member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum for obtained verdicts of more than a million dollars in personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, automobile crash, premises liability and civil rights cases.
When not practicing law, Don enjoys golf, travel, collecting art and his three delightful children.
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Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Gilion Dumas (https://dumasandvaughn.com/).
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Episode Details:
Gilion Dumas, a partner at Dumas & Vaughn, LLC in Portland, Oregon and an experienced litigator in child sexual abuse cases, explains how she successfully represented former Boy Scout Kerry Lewis, who was sexually abused by an adult Boy Scout volunteer multiple times in the early 1980s. From 1982 to 1984, Kerry was mentored by Timur Dykes, who admitted to a Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -- the organization that sponsored Kerry's Boy Scout troop -- that he had abused 17 boys before January 1983. Despite this admission, the church, the Boy Scouts of America organization and the Portland-based Cascade Pacific Council allowed Dykes to remain involved in the organization and to work directly with children, failing to notify the parents of Boy Scouts, like Kerry, who unfortunately became another abuse victim following Dykes' admission. Through a groundbreaking use of the Boy Scouts of America's secret "perversion files" containing allegations of sex abuse within the organization, trial lawyer Gilion Dumas and her legal team were able to hold the Boy Scouts of America and local Cascade Pacific Counsel responsible for the abuse Kerry, who was 38 at the time of trial, suffered as a boy. In 2010, a Multnomah, Oregon jury awarded $1.4 million in non-economic damages, assigning 60% of the negligence to the Boy Scouts of America, 15% to the Cascade Pacific Council and 25% to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which settled before the trial began. In a separate six-week trial, a jury returned a punitive damages award of an additional $18.5 million against the Boy Scouts of America.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bio:
Gilion Dumas
Gilion Dumas is a partner at Dumas & Vaughn, LLC in Portland, Oregon. She has substantial litigation experience, most recently representing survivors of child sexual abuse and sexual assault. She is known for her diligent advocacy and compassion for her clients, bringing legal savvy, clear communication, and common sense to the stressful and often confusing experience of civil litigation. Gilion knows her way around the courtroom, having tried many cases, both on her own and as “second chair.” She obtained a judgment of over $4.5 million for a young Oregon woman who was sexually molested as a child. She was also one of the trial attorneys in the 2010 child sexual abuse trial in Portland against the Boy Scouts that resulted in a $19.9 million verdict for the plaintiff.
Gilion is currently involved in dozens of claims on the West Coast and around the country against schools, churches, and youth serving organizations that allowed children to be abused by employees or volunteers. She and her law partner Ashley Vaughn represent many alumni of Catlin Gabel, an elite private school in Portland, for claims of abuse dating back to the 1960s; over 60 men with claims in the Boy Scouts' bankruptcy; 12 men with claims for abuse in the Assemblies of God Royal Ranger program; and several cases involving adult women sexually assaulted by medical professionals.
Gilion graduated cum laude from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, where she was an editor on the law review. She is an active member of the state and federal bars in Oregon, Washington, California, and Idaho. She recently served on the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar’s Litigation Section, is a former Chair of the Oregon State Bar’s Business Litigation Section, and is a former President of the Oregon Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Gilion is active in her community, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Cascade Policy Institute. She is an avid reader and the author of a popular book blog, Rose City Reader.
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Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Micha Star Liberty (https://libertylaw.com/).
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Episode Details:
Award-winning California trial attorney Micha Star Liberty discusses how she successfully advocated for the grieving parents of 24-year-old Amelie Le Moullac after she was fatally struck by a commercial vehicle while riding in a San Francisco bike lane in 2013. A responsible bicyclist, Amelie wore her helmet and stayed in the designated bicycle lane, but neither action prevented her from being run over by a 13,000-ton Daylight Foods, Inc. box truck, which illegally crossed the bike lane to make a sudden right turn. Amelie died from her injuries, including a fractured skull and crushed torso. Micha Star Liberty helped secure key video footage of the crash from a nearby business security camera after the San Francisco Police Department failed to conduct a thorough investigation, which was later revealed to be part of a larger bias against bicyclists. Despite the defense's attempts to blame Amelie and to depict her as a reckless bicyclist, Micha Star Liberty invoked a California Vehicle Code statue, which underscored the fact that Amelie had the right to remain in her bike lane and treat it as a safety zone in the event of a turning vehicle, which trumped the defense's use of a more general statute. In January 2015, a San Francisco jury ruled that Amelie shared no responsibility in her tragic death, found the driver to be at fault and awarded Amelie's parents a total of $4 million in damages.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bios:
Micha Star Liberty
Micha Star Liberty is the owner Liberty Law Office, Inc. — a diverse legal practice primarily representing individuals who have suffered a serious injury or abuse, including child sexual abuse. The firm also represents employees who have been discriminated against or harassed in the workplace, and Micha has assisted businesses with finding a common ground when releasing an employee on best terms.
Ms. Liberty is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She has held the title of President and Vice President of multiple legal and political organizations, expanding her network of associates and resources, which often helps to expedite the legal process for the greater benefit of her clients.
“My clients come to me during a time of tremendous pain, anguish, and often confusion. They need help and a specialized kind of help. Someone to talk to who will listen; someone who can offer confidential protection under the law; someone with trial knowledge who has worked with similar experiences so they know they are not alone. Everyone needs help and compassion during hard times. My calling in life is to be that advocate for my clients, and I’m never one to back down from a fight for what is right.”
Ms. Liberty is a frequent lecturer and published author, focusing much of her public speaking on trial practice, discovery techniques, the importance of mentoring, and best practices for opening a law office and law office management.
In 2015, the Consumer Attorneys of California — an organization made up of more than 3000 lawyers in California alone — presented her with the Street Fighter of the Year award at their 54th annual convention held at The Palace in San Francisco. Ms. Liberty was granted the award after holding the Contra Costa County School District accountable for a child sexual molestation case in which school officials were aware of the abuse and took no action. Every year since 2005, she’s been given the Presidential Award of Merit. In 2005 and 2006 she was presented the Defender of Justice Award and the Outstanding Service Award, respectively. In 2018, she was awarded the Women’s Advocate of the Year Award for her had work on legislation and for prosecuting numerous cases dealing with the #me too era.
Ms. Liberty was a contributing author and editor for the following practice guides: California Client Communications Manual, and California Basic Practice Handbook, both published by Continuing Education of the Bar.
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Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Taylor Rayfield of Manly Stewart Finaldi (https://www.manlystewart.com/) and Tobin Lanzetta of Greene, Broillet & Wheeler, LLP (https://www.gbw.law/).
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Episode Details:
California trial lawyers Taylor Rayfield of Manly Stewart Finaldi and Tobin Lanzetta of Greene, Broillet & Wheeler, LLP explain how they successfully represented their client Delia Flores after she was injured in a head-on collision caused by a driver whose employer was ultimately held responsible for his reckless driving. On a clear October afternoon in 2016, Delia was driving a Toyota Camry when she was hit head-on by an Audi attempting and failing to pass an 18-wheeler going 50 mph on a two-lane road. The Audi was driven by ConvergeOne, Inc. IT engineer Lewis Rocchetti, who was on his way home from work at 5:30 p.m. Because Lewis was a salaried employee who never officially clocked out and was expected to use his personal vehicle to respond to service calls, trial lawyers Taylor Rayfield and Tobin Lanzetta were able to utilize the vehicle-use exception to the Coming and Going Rule, holding Lewis's employer ConvergeOne, Inc. liable for Delia's traumatic brain injury and numerous orthopedic injuries. The defense countered that Lewis was not working or providing a benefit to ConvergeOne, Inc. at the time of the crash. In March 2019, a San Bernardino, California jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, awarding Delia $2.6 million in damages, resulting in one of the top 50 personal injury verdicts in California in 2019.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bios:
Taylor Rayfield
Taylor Rayfield is a seasoned trial lawyer who has dedicated her practice to championing the rights of survivors, obtaining substantial trial verdicts and settlements in the process. Before joining Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, Taylor made a name for herself by obtaining incredible results on behalf of victims across a wide range of areas, including sexual assault, many times in difficult cases against considerable adversaries. Her practice is focused on representation of victims sexual abuse across a broad range of areas, including those abused by coaches, teachers, family members, mentors, and religious personnel.
Never one to back down from a confrontation, Taylor obtained a $2,600,000.00 jury verdict for a woman who was severely injured after being involved in a head-on collision, after successfully convincing the jury that the employer was responsible for the acts of its employee under an exception to the “going and coming rule”.
Taylor also demonstrated incredible tenacity and negotiation acumen by obtaining a $1,650,000.00 settlement, on the verge of trial, for a student-athlete who was sexually abused by his Torrance High School wrestling coach. This resolution secured an important benchmark for nearly 30 other sex abuse victims who had lawsuits slated for trial against the same defendants. Taylor represented the high school wrestler, who was molested by his coach—Thomas Snider—despite prior allegations that Snider had sexually assaulted an 11-year-old boy on a camping trip. The Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) awarded Ms. Rayfield with the 2018 “Street Fighter of the Year Award” for her achievements in this matter—an award given to attorneys who achieve significant results in a difficult case.
Playing a pivotal role on the trial team, Taylor won a hard-fought verdict against a California ski resort on behalf of a woman paralyzed in a catastrophic ski accident. The jury awarded the plaintiff a gross verdict of $22,000,000.00 against Mountain High Ski Resort. In another heavily contested case, Taylor assisted the trial team in securing a $6,300,000.00 settlement on behalf of a 14-year-old girl who was badly burned by a defective product at a family barbeque. The lawsuit uncovered a widespread danger after reports revealed more than 23 similar burn injuries, across the country, from these unsafe products.
As lead trial counsel, Ms. Rayfield, representing a woman who slipped and fell while walking up the front stairs of her apartment, obtained a jury verdict in a personal injury trial that quadrupled the highest offer made by the defense. At trial, Taylor successfully convinced the jury that the entryway stairs were a dangerous condition due to the tile used and lack of protective measures.
Taylor also helped obtain a $1,400,000.00 jury verdict in a personal injury lawsuit against a San Diego production company for failing to maintain the safety of its studio. The case involved Hollywood actress Tippi Hedren, who suffered significant injuries after she was injured due to a faulty roof.
Tobin Lanzetta
Tobin Lanzetta has devoted his career to fighting for public safety. His $100+ million in case victories have demanded accountability from corporate and governmental wrongdoers. Tobin was named a 2016 California Consumer Attorney of the Year along with his colleagues Bruce Broillet, Scott Carr and Molly McKibben for their Erin Andrews v. Marriott $55 million trial result.
Tobin’s trial areas include catastrophic injury, wrongful death, brain injury, product liability, heavy machinery/trucking, train incidents, and government liability. Recently, a Ventura County Superior Court jury awarded nearly $3.5 million to Tobin’s clients after a catastrophic forklift injury where the defendants took no responsibility.
In one of the defining cases of his career, Tobin played an instrumental role in the high-profile Santa Monica Farmers Market cases. After an elderly man mowed down victims at the weekly farmers’ market, the City of Santa Monica and other defendants paid $21 million to settle the lawsuits. Importantly, these cases led to the installation of protective barriers which ensures that the weekly farmers’ market will be a safer environment for every person who visits.
Tobin is a partner and has been named a “Super Lawyer” 2014-2018. He was also honored as a Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in 2005 and 2007-2013.
Tobin graduated from Santa Clara University, after originally attending Swarthmore College. He received his law degree from the University of San Diego.
Before Tobin attended law school he played baseball for the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations.
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Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview James "Bo" Bolus, Jr. of Bolus Law (https://www.boluslaw.com/) and personal injury lawyer Nick Mudd of Mudd Legal Group (https://www.muddlegalgroup.com/).
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Episode Details:
Kentucky Trial Court Review's 2020 Plaintiff Trial Lawyer of the Year James "Bo" Bolus, Jr. of Bolus Law and personal injury lawyer Nick Mudd of Mudd Legal Group explain how they successfully represented Carolyn Boerste, a woman who endured a life-altering below-the-knee leg amputation due to complications caused by a sponge left inside her following surgery. In 2011, Carolyn underwent vascular bypass surgery at Louisville's University Medical Center, but the nursing staff's failure to do a sponge count resulted in one 18x18 inch sponge being left inside Carolyn's abdomen. The sponge was not found until five years later, after Carolyn went to Louisville Emergency Medical Associates complaining of gastrointestinal problems. The sponge was removed at the Franciscan Health Care Center -- a lower-income, short-staffed medical center, where Carolyn had to use her heels to move herself around on the hospital bed to prevent bedsores. This movement resulted in infected heel blisters and a partial amputation of Carolyn's left leg in 2017. Trial lawyers Bo Bolus, Jr. and Nick Mudd faced an uphill battle trying this case in Jefferson County, Kentucky -- a county that had not seen a plaintiff medical malpractice verdict in five years -- and in a state that had not held a surgeon responsible in a retained sponge case since 1997. At trial, the defense attempted to blame Carolyn's already declining health and lifestyle choices for her amputation, but Bo and Nick countered with a bank of skilled medical expert witnesses. In December 2019, the jury returned a verdict in Carolyn's favor, awarding her $9,500,000 for medical expenses, pain and suffering as well as $1,000,000 in punitive damages against University Medical Center, which was found 60% liable for Carolyn's injuries.
Click Here to Read/Download the Complete Trial Documents
Guest Bios:
James "Bo" Bolus, Jr.
Many consider Nicholas C. Rowley, founder of Attorney s for Justice and Partner at Carpenter, Zuckerman, & Rowley, to be the most accomplished trial lawyer of his generation having won more than $1.5 Billion in verdicts and settlements for injury victims and families across the country.
Winner of the 2018 Attorney of the Year and five time finalist, he is one of the youngest trial lawyers in history to be presented with the award. He has extensive courtroom experience representing victims of serious injuries and medical malpractice, especially those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and chronic pain.
Nick has been recognized by dozens of publications for his record-breaking verdicts and work for injury victims and their families. In 2018, Nick was named to The National Law Journal’s Elite Attorney s for having a top 50 verdict in the nation. He was also named “Los Angeles Top Litigators in 2018” by the Los Angeles Business Journal. In 2015, Nick was listed in TopVerdict.com’s Top 100 Largest US Verdicts in the nation. In 2012, Nick was a finalist for the “Consumer Attorney of the Year” award, given by Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC). Nick was recognized by the Los Angeles Daily Journal for winning a “Top Verdict of 2010” for his $31.6 million jury verdict for the victim of a traumatic brain injury. In 2009, the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego awarded Nick its “Outstanding Attorney ” award. In 2013, Nick was honored with the organization’s top award – “Outstanding Attorney of the Year''.
Some of Nick’s other recent successes include a record setting $131,000,375 verdict for the victim of a car accident after the driver was over served at a bar, a record setting $74,525,000 verdict for a victim of medical malpractice, $40,000,000 for two parents whose 33 year old son was negligently killed due to corporate negligence, a $38,600,000 verdict for a young man who fell from a hotel balcony while intoxicated, a $17,000,000 win for a woman who suffered a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a fall from a hotel window, $16,500,000 for a young girl who was a birth injury victim, a $13,860,000 win for a mild traumatic brain injury caused by an automobile crash, $10,250,000 for a man who suffered a below knee amputation, $10,000,000 for an Iowa family in a wrongful death lawsuit, and $10,000,000 for a child with a mild traumatic brain injury.
Nick Mudd
Nick Mudd is best known for his record setting hot streak when he won 5 murder trials in 4 months. No lawyer in Kentucky has even come close to touching this streak in the last 20 years. But he didn't stop there. He started expanding his practice to handle personal injury and medical malpractice cases and in December 2019 won a record setting medical malpractice verdict of $10.5 MILLION in damages after a doctor left a surgical sponge in a patient during a routine heart surgery. Now Nick Mudd brings that experience, expertise, and diligence to your case.
Nick Mudd has handled someone of the nation’s most prominent and high-profile cases. His cases have been featured in news media outlets around the world, including ABC World News, U.S. News and World Report, USA Today, and the Washington Times. He has been featured as a guest commentator on numerous criminal, civil, and social issues with several news media outlets. He even made his Hollywood debut on an episode of "Fear Thy Neighbor."
His goal is simple: to be “The Best.” Each time. Every time. For every single client, no matter what issues they are facing. Call him now for help with your case.
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Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
This week, your hosts Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey interview Nick Rowley and Steve Halteman of Carpenter, Zuckerman, & Rowley, (https://czrlaw.com/).
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Episode Details:
Award-winning trial lawyer Nick Rowley -- a U.S. Air Force and Army veteran and one of the youngest trial lawyers to be named Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles' Trial Lawyer of the Year -- explains how he represented grieving mother Carmen Jordan after her 33-year-old son Orlando Jordan was stabbed and killed in a Riverside, California TGI Fridays restaurant by an intoxicated minor and his friend. Steve Halteman, jury consultant and Nick’s co-author of the book, Trial By Human, assisted with the case and joins Steve and Yvonne to discuss this trial. In January 2009, Orlando was enjoying a date with his girlfriend when her son Michael Castillo, 20, and his friend Louis Martinez, 27, arrived at the restaurant. Already intoxicated, Michael and Louis ordered 12 servings of alcohol in the span of 30 minutes without being asked for identification. Michael proceeded to get into a heated argument with Orlando and stabbed him. Orlando later succumbed to his injuries. Despite TGI Fridays restaurant operator Briad Group's attempts to deny any responsibility, the family’s allegations were supported by the head bartender, who testified that Briad Group made a deliberate decision to not card minors in order to increase profits on Fridays and Saturdays. A Riverside County, California jury awarded Orlando's parents $40 million in damages and assigned 55% of the blame to Briad Group. Michael and Louis were both convicted in separate criminal trials and sentenced to serve time in state prison.
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Guest Bio:
Nicholas C. Rowley
Many consider Nicholas C. Rowley, founder of Attorney s for Justice and Partner at Carpenter, Zuckerman, & Rowley, to be the most accomplished trial lawyer of his generation having won more than $1.5 Billion in verdicts and settlements for injury victims and families across the country.
Winner of the 2018 Attorney of the Year and five time finalist, he is one of the youngest trial lawyers in history to be presented with the award. He has extensive courtroom experience representing victims of serious injuries and medical malpractice, especially those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and chronic pain.
Nick has been recognized by dozens of publications for his record-breaking verdicts and work for injury victims and their families. In 2018, Nick was named to The National Law Journal’s Elite Attorney s for having a top 50 verdict in the nation. He was also named “Los Angeles Top Litigators in 2018” by the Los Angeles Business Journal. In 2015, Nick was listed in TopVerdict.com’s Top 100 Largest US Verdicts in the nation. In 2012, Nick was a finalist for the “Consumer Attorney of the Year” award, given by Consumer Attorney s of California (CAOC). Nick was recognized by the Los Angeles Daily Journal for winning a “Top Verdict of 2010” for his $31.6 million jury verdict for the victim of a traumatic brain injury. In 2009, the Consumer Attorney s of San Diego awarded Nick its “Outstanding Attorney ” award. In 2013, Nick was honored with the organization’s top award – “Outstanding Attorney of the Year”.
Some of Nick’s other recent successes include a record setting $131,000,375 verdict for the victim of a car accident after the driver was over served at a bar, a record setting $74,525,000 verdict for a victim of medical malpractice, $40,000,000 for two parents whose 33 year old son was negligently killed due to corporate negligence, a $38,600,000 verdict for a young man who fell from a hotel balcony while intoxicated, a $17,000,000 win for a woman who suffered a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a fall from a hotel window, $16,500,000 for a young girl who was a birth injury victim, a $13,860,000 win for a mild traumatic brain injury caused by an automobile crash, $10,250,000 for a man who suffered a below knee amputation, $10,000,000 for an Iowa family in a wrongful death lawsuit, and $10,000,000 for a child with a mild traumatic brain injury.
Steven Halteman
Steven Halteman lives in Los Angeles with his significant other and her two lovely children. He is also a trial strategist and jury consultant for a number of attorneys including Nick Rowley. In his career, Mr. Halteman has consulted on cases resulting in verdicts of more than $600 million in total. His trial philosophy demands that lawyers relentlessly narrow their case to its heart, eliminating ancillary issues that distract jurors from the truth. Mr. Halteman often analogizes his trial strategy to furniture building, his hobby. The strongest and most elegant chair or table has no unnecessary parts or flourishes. Likewise, he believes that every component of a trial must have an important purpose, or it must be shed. Mr. Halteman credits his unclouded perspective of what jurors and judges really want with having lived overseas for most of his adult life, his travels through over 100 countries, and having himself served as a court commissioner in Maryland. In his spare time, he has completed six marathons, a couple of ultramarathons, and hiked both the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail and 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail. But his greatest accomplishment is having a 15-year-old daughter who still speaks to him with a measure of fondness.
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