In this conversation, Sean Claggett shares his journey as a trial lawyer, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's 'why' in legal practice. He discusses how big data and focus groups have transformed his approach to trial strategy, allowing him to achieve significant verdicts, including a notable $480 million case. Claggett advocates for financial responsibility among lawyers to make better decisions for their clients and stresses the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the legal field. He provides valuable advice for young attorneys on how to improve their skills and understanding of the law.

David Bergen from the Buzbee law firm discusses a case involving a mining accident that resulted in a wrongful death. Initially, the defense claimed it was operator error and blamed the deceased for the accident. However, through extensive investigation and depositions, Bergen discovered evidence that the brakes on the truck had been systematically failing. He also found witnesses who testified to the company's negligence in addressing the brake issue. The case ultimately resulted in a settlement with the company tendering all of their insurance and issuing a letter of apology to the family. In this conversation, David Bergen discusses two different cases and the strategies he used to achieve successful outcomes. In the first case, he talks about a wrongful death lawsuit involving a trucking accident. Despite facing challenges with liability and limited damages, Bergen was able to secure a settlement of nearly $22 million by uncovering hidden evidence and presenting a compelling case to the jury. In the second case, Bergen shares how he turned a seemingly minor rear-end car accident into a significant lawsuit by focusing on the defendant's negligence in sending an inexperienced driver from Australia to Houston. He emphasizes the importance of digging deep, finding evidence, and creating a strong narrative to maximize the value of a case.

Michael Takla went on the Dirty Verdict's Podcast to discuss his background, why he became a plaintiff lawyer, and how he gets cases resolved.

Main Topics Discussed:

We sat down with Michael Cowen, Partner of Cowen Rodriguez Peacok, author of Big Rig Justice, and host of Trial Lawyer Nation. We spoke about trucking cases and his most recent verdict of $4 million dollars on a tough liability trucking case.

Want the book? Use promo code BLWF10 at Trial Guides to get 10% off your purchase.

Shane McGuire shares a case where he turned a default judgment of $500,000.00 into a $2.5 million settlement.

Sea Harbor, the insurance company, failed to show up at trial, resulting in a default judgment. Shane used the DTPA action instead of the utilizing the Stowers assignment option.

During depositions, he uncovered evidence of the insurance company's refusal to pay claims. Ultimately, Shane negotiated a $2.5 million settlement for his client. In this conversation, the speaker discusses a case involving an insurance company and the strategies used to maximize the settlement. The speaker highlights the importance of understanding the insurance company's structure and policies, as well as leveraging the weaknesses in their defense.

We sat down with Tod Clement to discuss distracted driving and how to pin down use of a cellphone while driving.

Have a case you want to work Todd Clement. Email him at [email protected]

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Welcome to the sixth episode of Bad Law Worse Facts! With our host, Michael Takla, and guest, Michael Alder, Owner & Senior Trial Attorney at AlderLaw. The episode explores the theme of stepping outside one's comfort zone in the legal profession, shedding light on the growth and success that often follows such bold moves. Alder shares personal anecdotes, including the planting of seeds that eventually led to significant achievements. The discussion delves into the learned skills required for courtroom presence, the importance of finding the right people in the legal field, and the continuous pursuit of self-improvement.

Welcome to the fifth episode of Bad Law Worse Facts! With our host, Michael Takla, and guest, Dan Ambrose, Chancellor of Trial Lawyers University. Michael and Dan deep dive into what TLU is all about, how Dan got into case analysis, and the importance of putting in the work. You don’t want to miss this informative discussion!

Hosts: Michael Takla

Guest: Dan Ambrose, Chancellor of Trial Lawyers University

Time Stamps & Show Notes:

(00:00 - 00:47) Introduction

(00:48 - 03:27) About Dan & His Start

(03:28 - 05:44) The Common Denominator Behind Big Verdicts

(05:45 - 12:11) Connection & Communication

(12:12 - 15:43) The Bootcamps

(15:44 - 21:58) How Dan’s Case Analysis Started

(21:59 - 23:32) A Remarkable Trial Success on Zoom

(23:33 - 25:27) Wrapping Up Case Analysis

(25:28 - 30:50) The Structure of Trial Lawyers University

(30:51 - 32:31) TLU Beach

(32:32 - 34:17) Building Community & Sharing Stories

(34:18 - 38:20) More On Huntington Beach

(38:21 - 42:39) An Anecdote, Getting Verdicts, & Presentations

(42:40 - 45:01) A Complimentary TLU Opportunity

(45:02 - 54:13) The Importance of Practicing & Putting in the Work

(54:14 - 55:22) Huntington Beach Conference & A Small Class

(55:23 - 58:20) Final Thoughts & Closing

Welcome back to the fourth episode of Bad Law Wosre Facts! With our host, Michael Takla, and guest, Bill Ogden, Partner at Farrar & Ball, LLP. They discuss Bill’s part in the infamous Alex Jones case, diving deep into how he and his team prepared for the case, the power of dropping the outline in the deposition, and the key role that a few impressive lawyers held during this trial—listen in to hear the details of this case and also how you can be a better lawyer. You won’t want to miss this story!

Hosts: Michael Takla

Guest: Bill Ogden, Partner at Farrar & Ball, LLP

Time Stamps & Show Notes:

(00:00 - 01:20) Introduction

(01:21 - 02:35) Getting to Know Bill Ogden

(02:36 - 05:29) The Intricacies of Product’s Liabilities

(05:30 - 15:17) The Alex Jones Case

(15:18 - 27:42) Alex Jones Takes the Stand

(27:43 - 33:12) The Powerhouse Lawyers

(33:13 - 35:03) Dropping the Outlines

(35:04 - 37:03) The Three Rules

(37:04 - 43:39) The Grind of Prepping for Trial

(43:40 - 44:50) Stop Monetizing Mistruths

(44:51 - 50:30) A Difficult Trial for All

(50:31 - 53:30) Final Verdict

(53:31 - 54:49) Key Takeaways

(54:50 - 55:59) Closing

Welcome to "Bad Law Worse Facts," hosted by Michael Takla, where insightful legal discussions meet compelling narratives. In full and interesting this episode, we dive deep into what our guest Bill Marler, a food safety lawyer and attorney, does. We start the show by discussing the Netflix documentary ‘Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food: Everything You Need to Know.’ The documentary unwraps the stomach-churning flaws in America’s food industry. We then move on to why Bill does what he does and what it means to him to be a lawyer. Michael and Bill talk all about huge and interesting cases, starting as a young lawyer, politics, and much more.