We Win

educate
socialize
reconnect
Together
We Win
The 57th Annual Convention of the
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
March 31-April 3, 2016
The Homestead
12 CLE credits
includes 2 ethics credits, pending
2016 Convention
General Information
Hotel
Enjoy The Omni Homestead and
all she has to offer! VTLA’s room
rates include The Homestead’s
outstanding dinner and breakfast
each day. (There is a surcharge for
some items at the restaurants.)
Enjoy a wide array of activities
or just take in the incomparable
scenery. The deadline for room
reservations is March 9, 2016.
Convention Registration
Register for the Convention
by completing the form in this
brochure, or go online to
www.vtla.com. The deadline for
the deepest discounts is
March 8. Spouse/guest
registration includes access to all
Convention receptions.
Other Activities
The Homestead features all kinds
of activities for you and your
family, including some exclusive
to VTLA members this year.
We encourage you to make
reservations for the spa and other
activities, including dining, as
soon as possible to be sure you
get the times you want. For other
activities, please see the Activities
page in this brochure or online.
CLE Credit
The Convention programs will
be submitted to the Virginia
MCLE Board for approval and
are expected to provide 12 hours,
including 2 in ethics. To ensure
your credit, watch for the course
number or form in your
materials at convention.
Welcome to the VTLA Convention!
I am delighted to welcome you to the 57th Annual Convention of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association! Here, you will have
access to the highest-quality continuing legal education anywhere and
to fulfilling and helpful professional relationships. You will emerge
from this weekend with inspiration and real tools that you will find
immediately useful in your practice. It has been my experience that
the VTLA is simply indispensable to the growth and success of our
practices and, most importantly, to the protections of those we have
the privilege to represent.
Again, welcome! I look forward to seeing you throughout the
convention!
John E. Lichtenstein
President, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
Together We Win Agenda
Thursday, March 31, 2016
1:00 pm Registration and Exhibit Hall Open
Networking/Coffee Break
3:00 pm Convention Opening Remarks and Welcome
John E. Lichtenstein, VTLA President
Lichtenstein Law Group, Roanoke
Craig B. Davis, Convention Chair
Reinhardt l Harper l Davis, Richmond
3:15-
Combat Ethics:
5:15 pm Secrets of the Virtuous Trial Lawyer
This two hour rapid-fire, interactive and up-tothe-minute ethics seminar explores the most
significant, challenging and perplexing legal
ethics issues facing trial lawyers today. Among
the topics covered: witness preparation; settlement negotiations; courtroom misrepresentations; trial tactics; the limits of zealous representation; and more. All will be presented in
challenging hypotheticals, along with relevant
cites and useful ethics problem solving tools.
Jack Marshall, ProEthics, Alexandria
5:15 pm Women’s Caucus Reception
5:30 pm Friends of Bill W.
6:30-8 pm Welcome Reception
10:00 pm Young Trial Lawyers Social
Friday, April 1
Ken Feinberg
9:45 am Children as Witnesses
Julie E. McConnell, Director, Children’s Defense
Clinic and Associate Clinical Professor of Law,
University of Richmond
Probably best known as the
Special Master of the Federal
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, Ken Feinberg
has directed compensation
plans for numerous catastrophes in our time. He has since
served as administrator of the
BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund,
and administrator of One Fund
– the victim assistance fund
established after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Most
recently, Feinberg was retained
by GM to assist in their recall
response and by Volkswagen to
oversee their U.S. compensation of diesel owners affected
by their emissions scandal. In
one of his books, Feinberg says
that he believes these funds
should be rare because they set
up “special rules for a select few.
... The American legal system,
with its emphasis on judges,
juries and lawyers all participating in adversarial give-and-take,
works well in the great majority
of cases.”
10:30 am Networking/Coffee Break
Marjorie Russell
7:15 am
Law Office Management Interchange
Adapting to Change in Your Practice
Open idea exchange on the business of a law
practice, including ways to meet Virginia’s new
Rules that impose an ethical obligation to use
“reasonable information security practices” to
protect client confidentiality.
Stephen T. Harper, Reinhardt l Harper l Davis,
Richmond
Robert E. Dean, Rob Dean Law, Roanoke
8:15 am
Annual Meeting
8:30 am
Cracking the Code of the
Workers’ Comp Bar
Cory R. Ford, WilliamsFord, Leesburg
9:00 am
Unconventional Responses to Unique
Catastrophes: Tailoring the Law
to Meet the Challenges
Kenneth R. Feinberg, Law Offices of
Kenneth R. Feinberg PC, Washington, DC
10:45 am Together We Do Justice:
A Personal Reflection
A focus on our obligations as lawyers to serve
those who need our assistance.
The Hon. William C. Mims,
Supreme Court of Virginia
11:30 am Be the Fairest of Them All - How to Win by
Validating “Negative” Values and Beliefs
How to move toward and make use of the
“bad” from jurors, opponents and their witnesses, instead of wrestling against them.
Achieving that goal creates a result where
outrage is activated against the bad behavior
of your opponents for their failure to honor
the values and beliefs they espouse, betraying
jurors’ expectations.
Marjorie Russell, MARJury Consulting,
Mason, MI
Marjorie Russell serves
frequently as a case development,
jury and trial consultant for
plaintiffs in civil claims of all
kinds, as well as for the accused
in multi-defendant federal
prosecutions, including death
penalty, murder and white collar
crimes; and in state court capital
and life felonies, and claims
of sexual assault and abuse.
Whether in active cases or in
continuing education seminars,
her perspective on case and trial
preparation employs a blend
of action methods, storytelling
techniques, brain science, and a
good dose of humanity. She is
a specialist at finding the story,
values and connections that move
jurors to action.
The Hon.Tim Kaine
A missionary, civil rights lawyer,
teacher and elected official,
Sen. Kaine really needs no
introduction to VTLA members
He was elected to the Senate in
2012 and serves on the Armed
Services, Budget, Foreign
Relations and Aging Committees.
Sen. Kaine spent much of his
legal career fighting for affordable,
non-discriminatory housing
policies. In 1984, he led the
first meeting of the Virginia
Coalition to End Homelessness
and represented Housing
Opportunities Made Equal,
Inc. (HOME) in their historic
suit against Nationwide Mutual
Insurance for industry-wide
redlining practices in the issuance
of homeowners insurance. A
tidbit maybe you didn’t know?
He is one of only 20 people in
American history to have served
as a Mayor, Governor and U.S.
Senator.
Share your
Convention
thoughts/photos
#VTLA2016
12:15 pm Section Luncheons
Contributor Luncheon
The Hon. Ralph S. Northam
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Family
Building Trust – Special Issues in Setting
Support for Disabled Persons
Joanna L. Suyes, Marks & Harrison, Richmond
Kelly A. Thompson, Thompson Wildhack, Arlington
Criminal
‘A Beautiful Mind’...Or Is It?
Is Virginia ready to have a conversation
about Diminished Capacity?
Shannon L. Taylor, Henrico County
Commonwealth’s Attorney
Workers’ Compensation
National Trends in Workers’ Compensation
Charles R. Davoli, Moore, Thompson, & Lee,
Baton Rouge, LA
Combined Sections
Pooled Special Needs Trusts
J. Penn Crawford, Marks & Harrison, Richmond
Joanne Marcus, Executive Director,
Commonwealth Community Trust
Young Trial Lawyers
Practice Tips for All Ages
The Hon. Joel Hoppe, U.S. Magistrate Judge,
Western District of Virginia
1:45 pm RGR v. Settle: Pleading a General Duty
Owed to Mankind
David Irvine, Allen Allen Allen & Allen,
Charlottesville
2:00 pm What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Case Selection Through the Eyes of Aristotle,
Neal DeGrasse Tyson and Tina Turner
Robert T. Hall, Hall & Sethi, Reston
2:45 pm MedPay: Confronting ERISA & health
insurance hurdles
Brody H. Reid, ReidGoodwin, Richmond
3:00 pm Somewhere Uber the Rainbow –
Finding the Pot of Gold
Jessica L. Sura, Blankingship & Keith, Fairfax
3:15 pm Networking/Coffee Break
3:30 pm Analyzing Police-Involved Shootings
Look into the statistics and demographics
of police-involved shootings in the Commonwealth as well as what is involved when
deciding on charges, how investigations are
conducted, and what happens in the public
relations world. From that, explore the line
between criminal and civil negligence.
Michael Herring, City of Richmond
Commonwealth Attorney, Richmond
4:15 pm
Judges’ Panel:
Admissibility of Expert Testimony
The Hon. Lynn S. Brice, Chesterfield Circuit Court
The Hon. John C. Kilgore, Scott Circuit Court
The Hon. Joi J. Taylor, Richmond Circuit Court
The Hon. Louise M. DiMatteo,
Arlington Circuit Court
Kyle McNew, MichieHamlett, Charlottesville,
Moderator
5:00 pm Adjournment
5:30 pm Friends of Bill W.
6-8:00 pm Allen Party
Saturday, April 2
8:00 am
Coffee with the Judges
8:45 am
Discrimination in Housing Working to Right the Wrongs
The Honorable Timothy M. Kaine
U.S. Senator
9:15 am
Tort Law Update
Stephanie E. Grana, Cantor, Stoneburner, Ford,
Grana & Buckner, Richmond
Lee Livingston, MichieHamlett, Charlottesville
10:15 am Networking/Coffee Break
10:30 am Amicus Curiae Update
10:45 am Presentation of VTLA-VADA Civility &
Professionalism Award to Richard E. Ladd, Jr.
Richard Cohen
While changing the world from
Alabama with the Southern
Poverty Law Center, Richard
Cohen will be returning to
Virginia for our Convention. He
is a graduate of the University
of Virginia School of Law, and
we are pleased to be welcoming
him back to the Old Dominion.
He joined the SPLC in 1986
as its legal director. Under his
guidance, the SPLC won a series
of landmark lawsuits against some
of the nation’s most violent white
supremacist organizations. He
also successfully litigated a wide
variety of important civil rights
actions – defending the rights of
prisoners to be treated humanely,
working for equal educational
opportunities for all children, and
bringing down the Confederate
battle flag from the Alabama
State Capitol. Prior to becoming
SPLC president in 2003, Cohen
served as its vice president for
programs, which include the
Intelligence Project and Teaching
Tolerance.
Rick Ladd is the first recipient
of the new VTLA-VADA
Civility & Professionalism
Award. Ladd, with PennStuart,
is a former president of the
Virginia Association of
Defense Attorneys and a
lifelong champion of civility in
the profession.
Distinguished Service Award
Jack L. Harris
At the Annual
Banquet, VTLA
will honor one of
our own with a
very special presentation of the
Distinguished Service Award to
our retiring Executive Director,
Jack L. Harris. Jack came to
VTLA in December 1989 and
since then, working with our
outstanding volunteer leadership,
has directed the remarkable
growth and development of this
Association, Political Action
Committee and Foundation. Prior
to coming to VTLA, he served
as the Executive Director of the
Legal Services Corporation of
Virginia and as the first Executive
Director of the Virginia Poverty
Law Center. His service to the
bar in the Commonwealth at
large, and to the communities
which they serve has been
extensive and long standing. He
also served for a number of years
on the Executive Committee of
the National Association of Trial
Lawyer Executives. Countless
VTLA members have received
wise counsel from Jack over his
tenure and certainly his hand
will continue to guide our future
course. Please be sure to stay with
us at this year’s Banquet to honor
Jack!
11:00 am New Frontiers in LGBT Law
Richard Cohen, President, Southern Poverty
Law Center, Montgomery, AL
11:45 am The Below Average Defendant:
Establishing BAC Evidence in DUI Cases
Kevin M. Duffan, Shapiro, Appleton & Duffan,
Virginia Beach
11:45 am Family Law Reception
12:00 pm Shadow Boxing Empty Chairs, Superseding
Cause and Defendant’s Burden of Proof?
Mary Lynn Tate, TateLaw PC, Abingdon
12:15 pm Legislative Update
1:00 pm Women’s Caucus Luncheon
The Honorable Jane Marum Roush
1:30 pm Golf Tournament
This year, join us for our first 9-hole scramble.
You don’t have to be a golf pro!
1:30 pm Sporting Clays Shoot
A fun and scenic journey through the woods
with various types of targets.
3:00 pm <3 Mile Fun Run
Bring the family out to a scenic (and short) fun
run! We’ve changed the hour of the run this
year to accommodate all!
2-4:00 pm Ethics Video Replay
If you missed Thursday’s live presentation,
catch it here on video.
5:45 pm Friends of Bill W.
6:00 pm Reception
7:00 pm Banquet
VTLA’s traditional banquet will have a few
slight twists! Be sure to stick around.
The Convention is more than just CLE...
VTLA will feature special events throughout the Convention
for families, spouses and friends. Sign up now to be part of the fun!
Gourmet Safari - NEW!
A special for VTLA attendees and guests only – join The Homestead’s culinary team for a delicious
trip through the resort’s culinary venues – the wine room, the main kitchen, pastry shop, making
cocktails/selecting wines and more.
* Friday at 1 pm
* Saturday at 1 pm
Space is limited, so sign up early through VTLA - online or on our registration form. The cost is
$55 per person (plus service charge and tax) and will be added to your room bill.
VTLA Fun Family Run - CHANGES!
No more frost-on-the-pumpkin mornings for the Fun Run!
The fun run, less than 3 miles, will be held at 3 pm on Saturday and is suitable for ALL AGES!
Only $20 for adults and $10 for kids under age 15. Sign up through the VTLA registration process
VTLA Golf - CHANGES!
This year, we will be hosting a 9-hole scramble instead of the traditional 18-hole course on Saturday
afternoon. So cold weather, beware! We’re ready for you this year! Bring along spouses and children.
Sign up through the VTLA registration process.
VTLA Sporting Clays
Back by popular demand, we will be offering sporting clays shooting on Saturday afternoon. This is
a scenic course with various targets. (If you’re new to this, you should consider a lesson through The
Homestead first!) Sign up through the VTLA registration process.
The Path to College - NEW!
Is college looming on the horizon in your family?
Come listen to Washington & Lee representatives about college admissions, law school admissions,
and more in an informal chat. Have questions about what colleges are looking for, how to prepare
for college, etc.? Bring your questions to the PAC Suite on Friday morning. Watch for more details.
Homestead Spa
Call The Homestead Spa early for appointments at 877-479-8517.
Other Homestead Activities
Contact The Homestead at 800-838-1766 to reserve activities such as Cascades Gorge hike, new
Segway tours, horseback riding, archery, kayaking/canoeing, and much more.
Dinner Reservations
To make sure you dine when and where you’d like, reserve as early as possible by calling The
Homestead at 800-838-1766.
Kid’s Club
The Homestead Kid’s Club will be available all day Friday and Saturday, from
9 am until 5 pm, for kids ages 3-12. Reservations are required and can be done
through The Homestead at 540-839-7956.
Kid’s Night Out
The Homestead will host kids only on Friday and Saturday evenings, from 6:30-10:30, for only $57
per child, per night. Reservations are required and can fill up! Call 540-839-7956 to reserve a spot
for your child today.
Babysitting Services
The Homestead can provide babysitters at any point during the convention, but they are limited!
Please be sure to call early to ensure avaialablity. Call 540-839-7956.
Annual Convention Sponsors
The financial support of these sponsors is vital to the success of the VTLA Convention.
Heartfelt thanks to all!
THURSDAY, MARCH 31
Welcome Reception
Bangel, Bangel & Bangel, LLP
Curcio Bergeron
Health Information Resources, Inc.
MartinWren, PC
Patten, Wornom, Hatten &
Diamonstein, LC
Reinhardt l Harper l Davis, PLC
VTLA Executive Council
John Lichtenstein
Stephanie Grana
Bryan Slaughter
Lee Livingston
Jason Konvicka
Elliott Buckner
Craig Davis
Tom Curcio
YTL Social
Planet Depos
FRIDAY, APRIL 1
Law Office Management Interchange
Burnett & Williams
Contributor’s Luncheon
Breit Drescher Imprevento
Brown & Jennings, PLC
Crandall & Katt
Family Law Section Luncheon
Mullet, Dove, Meacham &
Bradley, PLLC
Broughton Associates
Combined Section Luncheon
Commonwealth Community Trust
Workers’ Compensation Section Luncheon
Summit Pharmacy
ChasenBoscolo Injury Lawyers
Young Trial Lawyers Luncheon
American Association for Justice
The Law Office of Dale W. Pittman
Synergy Settlement Services
The Allen Party
Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen
SATURDAY, APRIL 2
Coffee with the Judges
Gerald A. Schwartz & Karen A. Hainer
Owen & Owens, PLC
Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Family Law Reception
ShounBach
The Susan Hicks Group, PC
Owen & Owens, PLC
Women’s Caucus Luncheon
Regan, Zambri & Long, PLLC
Family Fun Run
Steve Garver, Garver Law Offices, PC
Sporting Clays Fun Shoot
Synergy Settlement Services
Final Four Basketball TV
Nichols Zauzig Sandler, PC
Banquet
The McCammon Group
Coffee Breaks
JMW Settlements, Inc.
General sponsors
Koonz, McKenney, Johnson,
DePaolis & Lightfoot, LLP
WilliamsFord
Hotel Reservation Form
(800) 838-1766
Return this form to:
The Homestead Group Reservations • P.O. Box 2000 • Hot Springs, VA 24445
Fax requests may be sent to (540) 839-7670
OR reserve online http://bit.ly/1kDHUlk
Rates are Per Room, Per Day based on the Modified American Plan (Breakfast and Dinner included)
Please indicate your preferred rate:
ROOMS:
Standard
Deluxe
Deluxe View
Premier
Premier View
___
___
___
___
___
Single $309
Single $329
Single $339
Single $359
Single $369
___
___
___
___
___
Double $399
Double $419
Double $429
Double $449
Double $459
Young Trial Lawyer Rates
Standard
___
Deluxe
___
Deluxe View
___
Premier
___
Premier View
___
Single $250
Single $270
Single $280
Single $300
Single $310
___
___
___
___
___
Double $340
Double $360
Double $370
Double $390
Double $400
SUITES: (based on availability)
Executive Studio ___ Single $425
___ Double $515
Homestead Exec. ___ Single $525
___ Double $615
Luxury Landmark Suite Available upon request
Luxury Presidents Suite Available upon request
Young Trial Lawyers Rates
Executive Studio ___ Single $370
___ Double $460
Homestead Exec. ___ Single $470
___ Double $560
Luxury Landmark Suite Available upon request
Luxury Presidents Suite Available upon request
Children sharing room with parents: 0 to 12 years are complimentary; 13 to 17 are $90; 18 and up are $74 pp/day
* Apply a $40 per night discount for full-time judges, legal aid or public defender attorneys, or local or state government attorneys.
All rates are subject to 15% resort fee. Package prices are subject to applicable state and local taxes (currently 9.3%) in effect at the time of check-in.
Reservation
Payment
Name _____________________________________________________
An advance deposit equal to one night’s room rate plus resort charge
and tax is required to guarantee your reservation. Early mailing of
reservations is highly recommended. Confirmed reservations are
based on room availability. Reservations must be received by March
9, 2016, or until room block has been filled. Deposit may be made
with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diner’s Club, or Discover,
which will be charged when reservation request is received. If deposit
is by check, payment must be received with this reservation request.
Changes or cancellations may be made to your reservation without
any penalty until 7 days prior to your arrival. Changes or cancellations
made within 7 days of arrival will result in forfeiture of the deposit.
Failure to show on the first night of stay will cause cancellation of
all activities and dining reservations for the entire stay.
Number of adults ______
Roommate (if applicable) ______________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
City _ _________________________ State _______ Zip ____________
Telephone __________________________________________________
Fax _______________________________________________________
Email _____________________________________________________
Children’s names and ages:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Arrival Date ______________ Departure Date ____________________
Check-in time is after 4 p.m. Check out time is before 12 noon.
■ Visa
■ Discover
■ MasterCard
■ Diner’s Club
■ American Express
Credit Card No. _______________________________________
Exp. Date __________
Name on Card ________________________________________
Advance reservations and appointments are required for all evening dining and recreation to ensure preferred times.
Please call 1-800-838-1766.
Dress: During the day, casual attire is preferred. Jeans and bathing suits are discouraged in The Great Hall. In the evening, jacket and collared shirt, and dress shoes,
are required in the Dining Room. Tie optional in Dining Room. Resort casual elsewhere.
Reservation request made by: ______________________________________________________
Date: _______________
Together We Win Registration
Registration is also available online at www.vtla.com
registrant name __________________________________________
firm name _______________________________________________
address _________________________________________________
city/state/ZIP ____________________________________________
day phone no. ____________________________________________
<3 Mile Family Run Registration
■ I will participate in the Fun Run, Saturday at 3 p.m.
Name(s) ________________________________________________
Before 3/6
VTLA Member
■ $375
■ $430
First-Time Attendee (Members only) ■ 275
■ 335
Young Trial Lawyer (Members only)* ■ 220
■ 270
Non-Member
■ 420
■ 475
Spouse/Guest
■ 65
■ 85
Name ____________________________________________
Paralegal/Office Support Staff
Member
■ 160
■ 190
Non-Member
■ 185
■ 215
Law School Student, full-time
■ 70
■ 70
________________________________________________
Golf Tournament - 9-Hole Scramble Registration
■ The $70 golf tournament fee must accompany your convention registration. You may sign up alone and be placed with a foursome, or
indicate the players in your foursome on this form.
email ___________________________________________________
2016 Registration Fees
Please enclose the fees with your convention registration.
Name ___________________________________________________
Other Players in Foursome _ _________________________________
_ ____________________________________________________
_ ____________________________________________________
Sporting Clays Fun Shoot Registration
■ I will participate in the Sporting Clays Fun Shoot, Saturday at 1:30
p.m. Please include the $150 fee with your convention registration.
(This includes 50 clays, gun, shells, safety equipment.)
Name(s) ______________________________________________
Gourmet Safari Registration
Registration Fees: $ ________ ■ Friday, 11 am
NOTE: Registration fee members of a Legal Aid or a Public Defender program
or a full-time local, state or federal government employee, including judges, is
one-half the standard fee.
Additional Fees/Activities
Please see additional information required for these offerings.
<3 Mile Family Run / $20 adult
$ ___________
Golf Tournament / $70 per person
$ ___________
<3 Mile Family Run / $10 under 15
Sporting Clays Fun Shoot / $150 per person
Gourmet Safari / $55 per person
Extra Banquet Tickets / $65 per person
(add registration fees and additional fees)
+
Path to College family program
$ ___________
$ ___________
billed to room
no charge
$ ___________
Total Fees Enclosed $ ___________
* Attorneys 35 years of age or younger, or who have practiced law for 3 years or less.
All Convention Registration Fees Cover: Seminars, great electronic materials,
useful convention guide including full table of contents, Welcome Reception, Allen
Party, Lexis Reception, Banquet, and exhibits. Pre-registration is encouraged, however,
daily registration will be available at the door at $125 for Thursday, $185 for Friday
and $175 for Saturday (regardless of membership status).
Cancellation Policy: Refunds, less a $50 administrative fee, will be given only if
written request is received before March 24. There are no refunds after that date.
■ Saturday, 11 am
You do not pay VTLA - the $55+ fee will be charged to your room.
Name(s) ______________________________________________
Path to College Registration
■ Friday morning
No charge - just let us know you’re coming!
Name(s) ______________________________________________
Payment Options
■ Check enclosed or
Bill my: ■ MasterCard
■ VISA
■ American Express
Card # _ __________________________________________
Exp. Date: _________________ billing zip code: ________
Cardholder: _ ______________________________________
Signature: _________________________________________
Please make checks payable to and mail:
VTLA • 919 East Main Street, Suite 620 • Richmond, VA 23219
OR
register by fax (804)343-7124, phone (804)343-1143/(800)267-8852,
online at www.vtla.com with your credit card