Thursday, February 10, 2005
HOOD LAW FIRM WINS ALTEC'S AND INDUSTRY'S FIRST BOOM TIP CONTINUITY VERDICT
Syracuse, New York – On January 7, 2005, Bobby Hood, Bobby Hood, Jr. , and Jamie Hood of the Hood Law Firm, and Bob Smith of Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC (Syracuse, NY), obtained a unanimous defense verdict for Altec Industries, Inc. in a boom tip continuity lawsuit brought by the wife of a Niagara Mohawk lineman who died on May 8, 2000 from electrocution.
Decedent, an experienced lineman, was electrocuted when the Defendant's insulated aerial lift device that he was operating contacted an uncovered energized line and electricity flowed from the point of contact to the unit’s control handle, on to the lineman and then to a grounded de-energized line held by the Decedent. Plaintiff alleged that Defendant's equipment was defective due to (1) the presence of uncovered metal at the boom tip; (2) the lack of an isolated and insulated control handle; (3) the existence of a bonding strap electrically connecting the control handle to the other metal at the boom tip; and (4) inadequate warnings.
After three weeks of trial, the jury with special interrogatories found that the design and manufacture of the insulated aerial device was not defective, that defendant was not negligent in its design of the truck, and that defendant's warnings were adequate. Plaintiff, represented by Alabama lawyer Joe Lane of Cochran, Cherry, Givens & Smith, P.C.
and Syracuse-based DeFrancisco Law Office, claimed substantial compensatory damages and sought punitive damages.
Altec defended the case by proving that its unit was reasonably designed, was a safe product when properly used and that its design and warnings met or exceeded ANSI standards. Altec also established that the decedent failed to adhere to his employer’s safe work practices and violated OSHA regulations by failing to wear his personal protective equipment.
The jury deliberated for more than five hours before returning a unanimous defense verdict. This is the first known boom tip continuity defense verdict in the industry.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
"IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AN ARGUMENT, YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE."
Alschuler Grossman Stein and Kahan LLP Launches New Website
"Negotiation. Litigation. Whatever works."
"We can work it out.
"We can duke it out."
"Reasonably Relentless.
"Relentlessly Reasonable."
"Meet around the conference table. Go to the mat. We do both."
Those are some of the messages marking Alschuler Grossman's new website, arguably communication art in addition to a different and compelling law firm website, launched earlier this week. Kudos.
BEIRNE MAYNARD & PARSONS LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
Black and white is the website, and clear as day the message. "Texas' largest litigation-only law firm" (sm) has just launched its updated website.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
DYKEMA'S WEBSITE EARNS SILVER IN 2004-05 IMA RANKINGS
Strongest Competition Ever in Third Annual IMA Review of Nation's Largest Law Firms' Websites
Dykema Gossett's web site was recognized as one of the top 30 law firm web sites in in the 2004-05 web site ratings and review of the 250 largest law firms in the United States. The independent survey was conducted by marketing attorney Micah Buchdahl of InternetMarketingAttorney.Com and based on five criteria: design, content, usability, interactivity and intangibles. Websites were awarded up to 10 points for each measure, for a maximum total score of 50. The high score was 46. Thirty firms rated a 36 or better received platinum, gold or silver honors in the U.S. large firm category. Dykema Gossett's score of 37 secured us placement in the silver category.
Monday, February 07, 2005
NETWORK FIRMS SPONSOR INVITATION-ONLY DINNER AT DRI PRODUCT LIABILITY CONFERENCE
Twelve member firms of The Network of Trial Law Firms are co-sponsoring a dinner for invited guests at Cafe Mystique in the Westin Century Plaza Hotel (Century City, Los Angeles, California) at 7:00 p.m. next Wednesday evening, Feb. 16. Sponsoring firms are:
Beirne, Maynard & Parsons
Blake, Cassels & Graydon
Corr Cronin Michelson Baumgardner & Preece
Dykema Gossett
Halleland, Lewis, Nilan & Johnson
Hecker, Brown, Sherry and Johnson
Lightfoot, Franklin & White
Morgenstein & Jubelirer
Rome McGuigan
Sandberg, Phoenix & von Gontard
Thompson Hine
Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial
Cafe Mystique is located near the spa on the main level of the hotel near the north tower. The menu is:
Open Bar
Raw Bar with Oysters, Clams, Shrimp
California Sushi Bar: Assorted sushi, sashimi
and non-fish sushi delicacies
Vine Ripened Tomatoes with Buffalo Mozzarella
and Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette
Carved Roast Turkey
Garlic Crusted Prime Rib of Beef
Carved Corned Beef
Cheese and Salad Station
with Assorted Pates, Galantines, Terrines, Breads and Crackers
Cheese Tortellini, Strazopretti Pasta, Fusilli, Ravioli with Smoked Duck
Black Pepper Linguini with Smoked Salmon
Spicey Italian Sausage
Red Clam, White Clam, Pesto, Marinara, Alfredo
and Tomato Vodka Sauces
French pastries, miniature fresh fruit tarts, chocolate confections
Coffee and Tea
All Network attorneys and invited guests are welcome to join us. Network attorneys are welcome to request printed invitations here.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
SNELL & WILMER EARNS TWO SPOTS AMONG TOP TEN DEFENSE VERDICTS OF 2004
Honor Marks Second Year That Firm Is Recognized With State’s Top Defense Counsel
For the second consecutive year, 
Snell & Wilmer, LLP attorneys were recognized by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal Extra's Top 10 Defense Verdicts – this year for two separate verdicts.
Serving as defense counsel for Tickets.com, Snell & Wilmer attorney William O'Hare was recognized for the April verdict against two former company shareholders. And, Snell & Wilmer attorneys Ellen Darling and Hoot Gibson were recognized for their successful defense of Allergan, Inc. in the first trial involving Botox.
Following a two-month civil trial, O’Hare’s verdict favoring Tickets.com originated from a lawsuit filed by former shareholders R4 Holdings and Hill International regarding a 1998 contract. The plaintiffs claimed, among other items, breach of contract and fraud by the company and its board of directors. The plaintiffs claimed $90 million in damages.
The Tickets.com verdict marked O’Hare’s second placement on the Top 10 list after being recognized in 2003 for his successful defense of Advanced MP Technology, Inc. in a verdict against Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd.
In the Irena Medavoy vs. Arnold Klein, M.D. and Allergan, Inc. trial, Darling and Gibson won a defense verdict in favor of Allergan Inc. following a six-week trial. There plaintiff claimed that she suffered life-altering ailments and symptoms following treatment with BOTOX® for cosmetic purposes and for migraines. Both treatments were off-label uses of BOTOX®. In her complaint, plaintiff alleged claims for negligence, product liability, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, improper promotion of unapproved uses of BOTOX®, intentional misconduct and violations of sections 17200 and 17500 of the California Business & Professions Code against Allergan, Inc.
The defense used a multi-tiered strategy that included jury education regarding "off-label" terminology and use, analysis of plaintiff's medical history, and examination of clinical studies involving BOTOX®. After six weeks of trial, the jury returned a defense verdict for Allergan, Inc. and Dr. Klein.
