Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice

Expert Analysis

• A Biz Strategy Model To Improve Lateral Atty Hiring Diversity

  

  Quantitative comparison tools commonly used by companies in evaluating merger targets will allow law firms to assess lateral hire candidates in a demographically neutral manner, help remove bias from the hiring process and bring real diversity to the legal profession, says Thomas Latino at Florida State University.

• 5 Steps To Successful Mass Tort Management

  

  When handling mass tort litigation, making strategic preparations before you're swimming in an ocean of data can maximize efficiency and increase the chances of delivering wins for your client, say Ryan Cobbs and Ashley Drumm at Carlton Fields.

• Smaller Firms Need Employee Wellness Programs, Too

  

  As we emerge from the pandemic, small and midsize firms — which offer an ideal setting for companywide connection — should follow in the footsteps of larger organizations and heed the American Bar Association’s recommendations by adopting well-being initiatives and appointing a chief wellness officer, says Janine Pollack at Calcaterra Pollack.

• Opinion

  Calif. Survival Damages Bill Would Cost Cos., Consumers

  

  California lawmakers should reject a pending bill that would add pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other damages to punitive and economic loss awards in survival lawsuits, because it would dramatically increase costs for businesses and local governments, say Mark Behrens and Mayela Montenegro-Urch at Shook Hardy.

• Stop Networking, Start Relationship Marketing

  

  USA 500 Clubs' Joe Chatham offers four tips for lawyers to get started with relationship marketing — an approach to business development that prioritizes authentic connections — and explains why it may be more helpful than traditional networking post-pandemic.

• What Attorneys Should Know About Fee Deferral

  

  Milestone Consulting’s John Bair explores contingency-fee structuring considerations for attorneys, laying out the advantages — such as tax benefits and income control — as well as caveats and investment options.

• Predictions On Pandemic's Lasting Impact On Legal Education

  

  The pandemic accelerated the pace of technological change for legal education, and some of the changes to how law school courses are taught and on-campus interviews are conducted may be here to stay, says Leonard Baynes at the University of Houston.

• 5 Steps Oil And Gas Cos. Can Take To Manage Cyber Risk

  

  In light of the recent ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, oil and gas companies should consider potential legal exposure from cybersecurity breaches, implement plans and procedures for dealing with such incidents, and review vulnerabilities related to external parties, says Valerie Hatami at Conner & Winters.

• Cos. Should Review Insurance Policies For PFAS Coverage

  

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s creation of a council on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances signals the federal government's intent to accelerate PFAS-related regulatory action and enforcement — so companies with relevant liabilities must understand what their insurance policies will and won’t cover, say attorneys at Lathrop GPM.

• Lawyer Perfectionism Is A Disease We Can Control

  

  The pursuit of perfection that is prevalent among lawyers can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health impacts, but new attorneys and industry leaders alike can take four steps to treat this malady, says Liam Montgomery at Williams & Connolly.

• Snapchat Case May Offer Opening For Design Defect Plaintiffs

  

  The Ninth Circuit's recent ruling in Lemmon v. Snap aligns with prior Communications Decency Act cases establishing internet platforms' immunity for third-party content, but may help plaintiffs who can show how a platform's design affected users negatively, say James Rotondo and Andrew Ammirati at Day Pitney.

• 5 Tips To Help Your 2021 Summer Associates Succeed

  

  Despite pandemic-related challenges this year, law firms can effectively train summer associates on writing and communicating — without investing more time than they ordinarily would, says Julie Schrager at Schiff Hardin.

• Opinion

  It's Time For States To Enact Effective Marijuana DUI Laws

  

  The increasing legalization of recreational marijuana spotlights the need for states to safeguard the public by developing laws to curb driving under the influence of drugs with uniform bright-line rules, along with more accurate testing and increased law enforcement training, say Laura Sedrish at Jacoby & Meyers and Victor Schwartz at Shook Hardy.

• Firms Should Use Surveys To Make Smart Legal Tech Choices

  

  The utility of legal technology innovations may be limited without clear data and objectives from the outset, but targeted surveys can provide specific insights that enable law firms to adopt the most appropriate and efficient tech solutions, says Tim Scott at Frogslayer.

• Insurance Ruling Clarifies Excess Coverage For Opioid Suits

  

  A Pennsylvania federal court's ruling this week in Giant Eagle v. American Guarantee Insurance, reversing an earlier finding that two excess insurers had duties to defend opioid injury suits, provides invaluable assurance to excess carriers that opioid defendants can’t use immense defense costs as a basis to leapfrog their primary coverage, says Adam Fleischer at BatesCarey.