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By Rahul Ravipudi, Ben Gideon
4.8
4343 ratings
The podcast currently has 90 episodes available.
Join Ben for his conversation with Dylan Ruga, trial lawyer and co-founder and President of Steno, a long-time sponsor of the pod. Dylan updates us on the new functionality and services offered by his innovative court reporting service, Steno. Steno allows plaintiff attorneys to defer costs of court reporting and videographer services until the end of the case. In states that allow it, these deferred costs can be non-recourse. Steno now operates through the Zoom platform but offers an app that integrates with Zoom and makes collating, marking, annotating, and saving exhibits at depositions seamless. Steno also offers videographer services that enable recording of the witness and exhibits and post-production editing so that witnesses and exhibits can be presented in optimal fashion without requiring substantial attorney time or other vendor for editing. Dylan also discusses the roll out of a new product, Transcript Genius, which uses AI that has been specifically training to understand and interpret deposition transcripts to enable lawyers to query one or multiple transcripts to quickly identify key admissions, information, or contradictions in witness testimony. If you are a trial lawyer who handles a volume of depositions, you will gain a lot of insight and value from this episode.
Dylan is the Co-Founder, President and Chief Legal Officer at Steno, where he stewards business development initiatives and forges new partnerships. Dylan is also a founding member of Stalwart Law Group, recognized as one of California's top 20 litigation boutiques. He is a practicing trial lawyer with more than 15 years of experience in intellectual property, professional liability, and commercial litigation.
Join Ben and Rahul for their interview of famed Los Angeles trial lawyer, Arash Homampour. Arash has perfected the ability to trial difficult liability and damages cases to outlier high verdicts. Arash explains how he channels his innate connection with his clients and abilities as a trial lawyer to achieve these results. Arash discusses his upbringing as the child of first-generation Iranian immigrants and how he went from failing the bar examination to being one of the most accomplished and successful trial lawyers in California and the United States. You don’t want to miss this episode!
About Arash Homampour
https://www.homampour.com/
Arash Homampour Has Obtained Over $1 Billion Dollars in Settlements, Verdicts and Judgments for His Clients.
He is a trial attorney who in the last five years alone has obtained many successful trial results (ranging from $2.5 million to $60 million) against Sunbeam Products, the State of California, Costco Stores, Farmers Insurance Exchange, Allstate Insurance, and Louisville Ladder in a wide array of cases involving dangerous roads, dangerous ladders, dangerous premises, and unlawful employment practices.
In 2023, he has been named one of Daily Journal’s Top Plaintiff Lawyers In California.
In 2023, he has been named one of Daily Journal’s Top 100 Lawyers In California.
In 2023, he has been named one of the Top 10 Southern California Super Lawyers, 3 consecutive years.
In 2023, he has been named the Best Lawyers® 2023 Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year” in Los Angeles.
In 2023, he has been recognized by the Los Angeles Times as a legal visionary.
In 2022, Homampour Law Firm was honored to be one of Top Verdict’s Top 10 Verdicts in California.
In 2002, Homampour Law Firm was honored to be one of Top Verdict’s Top 20 Verdicts in California.
In 2022, Homampour Law Firm was honored to be one of CVN’s Top 10 Most Impressive Plaintiff Verdicts of the year.
In 2022, he recovered a verdict of $60 million.
In 2022, he recovered a verdict of $34 million.
In 2022, he recovered a verdict of $36 million (wrongful death)
In 2022, he recovered a settlement of $23 million (dangerous condition of public property)
In 2022, he recovered a settlement of $15.92 million (dangerous condition of public property)
In 2022, he recovered a settlement of $10 million (dangerous condition of public property)
In 2022, he recovered a settlement of $8 million (dangerous condition of public property)
In 2022, he has been named one of the Top 10 Southern California Super Lawyers.
In 2022, he has been named one of Law360°’s Titans Of The Plaintiffs Bar.
In 2021, he recovered settlements of $24 million (dangerous condition of public property) and $8 million (dangerous condition of public property)
In 2021, he has been named one of the Top 10 Southern California Super Lawyers.
In 2021, he has become an Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor.
In 2020, he recovered verdicts of $32 million (single plaintiff settlement premise and product liability case), $5.3 million (confidential settlement) and $5 million (disputed policy limits settlement).
In 2019, he recovered a verdict of $30 million (wrongful death of driver that hit improperly parked truck), $12 million (wrongful death) and $5 million (liability and damages settlement)
In 2018, he received the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA’s) Ted Horn Memorial Award presented to the lawyer who has provided outstanding service to the Association and the legal community.
In 2018, he received the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association Top Gun/Trial Lawyer of the Year award in Products Liability.
In 2018, he recovered verdicts of $12.25 million (wrongful death of man at swap meet) and $10 million (fatal vehicle versus motorcycle) and was named in the Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers for the 7th year in a row.
In 2017, he recovered settlements & verdicts of $14.5 million (insurance bad faith), $14.25 million (wrongful death of a motorcyclist) $4.5 million (auto vs. truck).
In 2016, 2018 and 2019, he has been named one of the Top 30 Plaintiff’s attorneys in the State by the Daily Journal.
In 2016, he was awarded the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association Trial Attorney of the Year award.
In 2015, he recovered verdicts of $16.2 million (motorcycle rider suffered a head injury), $5.6 million (wrongful death of 83 year old), $60 million (wrongful death of mother in fire started by a defective space heater), $14.2 million (dangerous condition wrongful death case for lack of warning signs against Caltrans) and $14 million (bad faith claim against Allstate Insurance Co.).
In 2010, he was named by the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) as its Trial Attorney of the Year. CAALA is the largest plaintiff attorney group in the country.
In 2007, he was named one of the Top 20 Attorneys Under the Age of 40 in the State of California by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. Every year since 2004, he has received nominations for Trial Attorney of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys of California and/or CAALA.
Since 2005, he has been designated a Super Lawyer by Los Angeles Magazine and Law & Politics.
Since 2010, he has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers which is based on the lawyers who received the highest point totals in the Southern California nomination, research and blue ribbon review process.
He has also successfully briefed and argued many appeals, including a recent California Supreme Court victory in Cortez v. Abich (2011) 51 Cal. 4th 285.
Arash frequently lectures throughout the state on all matters related to trial practice and has published many articles. You can find copies of those articles or videos of his presentations at www.caala.org or www.caoc.org
Areas of Practice
Litigation Percentage
Bar Admissions
Education
Join Ben for this conversation with John and Johnny Simon and Tim Cronin of the Simon Law Firm. This episode covers discussion of two fascinating recent cases in which the Simon firm obtained more than $ 1 billion in combined verdicts on behalf of a client killed by a driver high on nitrous oxide and a rape victim in a psychiatric hospital. Learn about John, Johnny and Tim expertly built these cases around themes of corporate malfeasance, greed, neglect, and punitive damages. Both verdicts are huge landmark accomplishments that will create positive change for society.
The Simon Law Firm, P.C. | Over $1 Billion Won (simonlawpc.com)
About John Simon
John G. Simon’s work as Managing Partner at the firm has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars for past clients. Well-respected in his field, John’s career includes several published works, frequent community involvement, and the role of adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Law
For 30 years, John Simon has devoted himself to fighting for the victims of negligence in St. Louis and across the nation. Because of his unparalleled skill and belief in the power of the law, John has secured over 150 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million or more for his clients.
John’s practice is among the most accomplished in the nation:
Fighting for Plaintiffs Across the United States John’s conviction and passion for the law form the cornerstone of our practice. His belief in the power of hard work, persistence, and dedication allows him and his fellow attorneys to achieve incredible results. Above all, he knows that a group of committed individuals working together can accomplish great things—that’s the heart of his firm.
About Johnny Simon
By joining The Simon Law Firm, P.C. in 2015, Johnny continues a proud tradition of excellence in the art of advocacy on behalf of people and businesses in need. A tradition that was established by his father—a tradition he intends to uphold.
Ask Johnny Simon, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, what he does for a living, and he will tell you very simply: a trial lawyer. Trying cases to juries, to verdict, is what he does. Practicing law, he will tell you, is not job, but a vocation—a privilege that he takes very seriously. Johnny focuses his practice on a diverse array of personal injury cases, including litigating cases involving defective products and product liability issues, medical malpractice claims, 1983 excessive force cases, and trucking/auto accidents, business litigation, and consumer fraud. Johnny graduated from Marquette University obtaining a degree in business, finance, and economics. He obtained a law degree from Boston College law school.
Johnny has litigated against some of the largest companies and hospital systems in the country. He is proud to represent clients from in need of top-notch legal representation and knows that he has the resources and experience to even the odds. He has tried cases in state, federal, and appellate courts across the country. With every case, Johnny brings the same tenacity and drive in order to achieve the best results for his clients. He is always eager to tell the story of his clients to a jury, members of the community, and expose improper and unlawful conduct which caused devastating and life altering injuries.
Outside of the Courtroom, Johnny is a husband, father, son, brother, and nephew. His hobby: thinking of ways to make a client’s case better.
About Timothy Cronin
Tim Cronin is a skilled and experienced personal injury trial attorney, including product liability, medical malpractice, premises liability, and trucking litigation, serving clients nationwide from our St. Louis office. He has recovered over 750 million dollars for injury victims, received numerous legal accolades, and offers compassionate counsel to his clients.
Timothy M. Cronin is a skilled trial attorney that focuses his practice on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, premises liability and trucking litigation involving catastrophic injuries or death.
Tim devotes himself to uncovering wrongdoing and seeking justice for his clients. His goal in every case is to help repair the lives of his clients that have been devastated by the reckless conduct of others, to do everything possible to ensure it never happens again to anyone else, and to make the litigation process as easy and stress-free for his clients as possible. He has tried many cases, and prepared countless others that settled on the courthouse steps. Tim has obtained verdicts exceeding ten million dollars on four separate occasions, along with a recent $535 million verdict that is the largest in Illinois state history for a single plaintiff. He has also obtained settlements or verdicts exceeding a million dollars for his clients on nearly fifty separate occasions, recovering in excess of four million dollars or more on over half of those cases.
When Conal Doyle started his plaintiff’s practice, he faced long odds and daunting obstacles. But as one born without one of his legs who went on to become a ski racer, long odds and obstacles were nothing new to Conal. Join Ben and Rahul for their discussion with Conal about how he bet on himself and his clients time and again, achieved monumental verdicts and changes to the legal system on his way to becoming one of California’s most successful trial lawyers.
About Conal Doyle
https://conaldoylelaw.com/
Conal Doyle is an award-winning trial lawyer who has received national recognition for his courtroom victories that have had broad reaching impact on society. He is one of the few attorneys in history to argue before the United States Supreme Court and obtain multiple seven and eight figure jury verdicts.
His international human rights victory in Castaneda v. United States was a catalyst for the reform of the United States immigration healthcare system, and garnered widespread acclaim from his peers, legal publications and the international media.
For example, he received the 2012 California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) Award in Human Rights, and the 2011 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA). He has been listed in both Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers for the past ten consecutive years, and his courtroom victories have been chronicled in newspapers around the world, including a piece on the CBS news magazine “60 Minutes.”
Conal’s reputation as one of the finest trial attorneys in America was further cemented with two stunning back-to-back verdicts in Kern County, California, one of California’s most “conservative” jurisdictions.
In December 2013, Conal obtained as lead trial counsel a $26.8 million medical malpractice jury verdict in McKnight v. Spain. This result was the largest medical malpractice verdict in County history and was recognized by The Daily Journal as a Top 10 Verdict in California for 2013. The National Law Journal recognized the verdict as a Top 100 Verdict nationally and the Consumer Attorneys Association of California (CAOC) named him a Finalist for the 2014 Consumer Attorney of the Year Award. The highest pre-trial offer by the defense was $300,000.
In March 2014, Conal obtained as lead trial counsel a $3.8 million jury verdict in Doe v. Jack In The Box. In this premises liability case, the highest pre-trial offer was $200,000.
The foundation of this success is a passion for justice and a commitment to client service. Conal was born without his right leg, and like many of his clients, has overcome great obstacles and endured daily struggles. These experiences provide him a unique insight into his clients’ challenges and help him guide his clients through difficult times.
Conal’s personal experience has led him to focus on the representation of amputees in both first party bad faith and personal injury claims. The Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) honored Conal as the 2020 Street Fighter of the Year for his work on behalf of amputees in Trujillo v. United Healthcare, a national ERISA health insurance class action. The case required the nation’s largest health insurer to change its claims practices and reprocess claims related to the denial of prosthetic devices to amputees. Conal is also prosecuting two other class actions for wrongful denial of prosthetics-against Anthem and Blue Shield of California, among numerous individual bad faith claims for wrongful denial of prosthetics.
Conal is well known as an advocate for amputees in injury and bad faith insurance claims. His article, “Glimpsing the Future for an Amputee,” is used as a guide for litigating limb loss cases by attorneys across the country.
Conal has never backed down from a challenge or started a fight that he couldn’t finish. When he isn’t challenging corporate giants in the courtroom, Conal enjoys skiing the Rockies, a remnant from his past as an alpine ski racer.
Honors & Awards
2020 Consumer Attorneys Association of California (CAOC) Street Fighter of the Year Award
2014 Finalist-Consumer Attorney of the Year-Consumer Attorneys Association of California (CAOC)
The National Law Journal Top 100 Verdicts, 2013
The Daily Journal Top 10 Verdicts, 2013
2012 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award
2011 Trial Lawyer of the Year-Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA)
2011 Attorney of the Year-The Recorder
The Best Lawyers in America, 2012 – Present
Finalist-2011 CAOC Consumer Attorney of the Year
2011 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America
The National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100, 2008 – Present
The Daily Journal – Top 20 Under 40 in California, 2010
Super Lawyers-Southern California Superlawyer, 2012 – Present
The Daily Journal – Top 10 Verdicts, 2010
Martindale Hubbell – AV Rating, 2007 – Present
San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association – 2011 Civil Justice Award
The National Law Journal-Appellate Lawyer of the Week, 2010
2011 Public Justice Achievement Award-Public Justice Foundation
Public Service
Conal devotes a significant portion of his practice to public interest work and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Justice Foundation, a non-profit public interest law firm. Mr. Doyle frequently acts as “lead cooperating counsel” on cases with Public Justice, where he donates a portion of his fees as a pro bono contribution to the organization.
Prior Work History
Conal comes from a “big firm” background, where he served as a trial attorney for six years at one of Florida’s largest and most respected law firms. Conal won his first federal jury trial in a civil rights excessive force case at age twenty-seven. By age thirty-one, he was lead trial counsel of an eleven-hundred-member law enforcement agency, where he litigated civil rights, torts, class actions, and employment cases.
Conal participated in a dozen jury trials as a defense attorney, winning eleven of them. His jury trial experience includes cases involving medical malpractice, breach of contract, insurance coverage, premises liability, negligent security, 42 U.S.C. 1983 civil rights violations, excessive force, false arrest, automobile negligence, traumatic brain injury, wrongful death, and employment law.
Personal
Mr. Doyle is a right leg amputee. He is an avid alpine skier and has competed in Giant Slalom and Slalom alpine races against the best disabled athletes in the world, including the U.S. Ski Team, Canadian Ski Team, and Australian Ski Team. He is a former member of the Board of Directors (1998-2002) of Self-Reliance, Inc. and is active in community efforts to improve the lifestyles of Americans with disabilities. He regularly draws on his unique life experiences in representing clients who have sustained significant injuries or have suffered discrimination due to their disabilities.
Public Speaking
Mr. Doyle is a frequent lecturer and author on the topics of civil trial practice, civil rights, and personal injury litigation at law schools, Continuing Legal Education seminars, and the FBI NAA National Convention, where he has been recognized as an expert in civil rights litigation. He has also been quoted and featured frequently in national newspapers, radio, and television regarding constitutional law issues and civil rights.
Bar Admissions
California, 2003
Florida, 1997
New York, 2006
District of Columbia, 2006
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
U.S. District Court Central District of California
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court Southern District of California
U.S. District Court Northern District of California
Education
Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, Florida
Juris Doctor cum laude – May 1997
Book Awards: Trial Practice, Litigation Seminar
Florida House of Representatives-Legislative Internship/Scholarship
Florida Bar Scholarship-Top 10 Law Students in State 1996
Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida
First Year of Law School – 1994
Class Rank: 1/159
West’s Outstanding Scholar Award-#1 ranked first year law student
Book Award-Torts
Book Award-Civil Procedure
Book Award-Criminal Law
Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida
B.A. – 1993
Before he became a trial lawyer, Colorado lawyer Kurt Zaner wanted to be an actor. But rather than just play a role, Kurt decided that he wanted to be a real-world champion and decided to become a trial lawyer. Now, Kurt applies lessons about presence, storytelling and drama from the stage to help achieve landmark verdicts for his clients. Join Ben for his wide-ranging discussion with Kurt that covers how a trial lawyer can use acting skills to enhance courtroom impact; strategies that have enabled Kurt to achieve several eight-figure verdicts against considerable odds; and even what modern day lawyers can learn from reading Cicero.
About Kurt Zaner
https://zanerhardenlaw.com/
Kurt Zaner has dedicated his legal career to representing folks against the modern-day Goliaths. In battling corporations that refuse to take responsibility, Kurt enjoys the challenge of standing up for people that seemingly have the odds overwhelmingly stacked against them.
A sought-after national speaker, Kurt frequently lectures on his winning trial techniques, effective legal writing strategies, and iconic discovery tactics that force top-value settlements. Kurt has secured the largest premises liability verdict in the history of Colorado ($16,000,000.00).
He has appeared on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and every local media outlet including the Denver Post and local CBS, ABC, and Fox affiliates. He is a published author of Federal and State case law, including Colorado law establishing the right to punitive damages for victims of drunk drivers; he also authored legal articles on distracted driving as well as articles on ancient Roman trial methods.
As a trained stage actor, Kurt credits much of his trial success to his theatrical training in college and in Los Angeles prior to law school.
After graduating law school near the top of his class and receiving the American Bar Association’s and American Law Institute’s Best Graduate Award – awarded to the one student of the graduating class who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership – Kurt went on to clerk for United States District Judge Ken Marra.
Working side by side with a Federal Judge on one of the largest caseloads in the country, Kurt learned the art of persuasive advocacy both through legal writing and courtroom theatrics.
Most importantly, he learned how cases are won from behind the bench.
Prior to co-founding Zaner Harden Law, LLP, Kurt practiced with some of the best-known trial lawyers in the country. Kurt has successfully represented hundreds of clients across the State of Colorado, trying and winning cases at every level of Colorado State Court, including several million and multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements.
In 2017 he and his partner were recognized as having two of the largest verdicts of the year across all practice areas, including a 1,700,000.00 verdict against an oil company’s distracted driver as well as a $2,500,000 verdict against a drunk driver that killed his client’s son and then fled the scene.
This drunk driving verdict landed on the front page of the Denver Post as the community was fed up with these kinds of reckless drivers avoiding accountability by running away.
Kurt defended this verdict all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court. In 2018, Kurt secured the largest premises liability verdict in the history of Colorado – $16,000,000.00 in Boulder for a father of three who was diagnosed with the crippling neurological condition CRPS after a temporary electrical box exploded.
A few years later, Kurt secured a verdict on another electrocution case where his client also developed CRPS, with a Denver jury delivering a $10,600,000.00 verdict (with interest). A year after that, Kurt secured a $4,300,000.00 verdict for a client hurt in a trucking crash.
No matter how big or small the case, Kurt takes great pride in helping those that entrust their most significant legal problems to his law firm.
Kurt is very active in the Trial Lawyer community, both locally and nationally. Locally, he was recently elected to the Board of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) for his fifth consecutive year and serves on several committees.
Nationally, after serving as President of the New Lawyers Division for the American Association of Justice (the 5,000 member NLD division of the most pre-eminent national trial lawyer organization in the Country), Kurt now serves on the Budget Committee of the entire 20,000-member organization as well as the Board of Governors.
He also acts as a certified End Distracted Driving (EndDD Program) presenter, donating his time in high school classrooms in Colorado educating the next generation of drivers on the dangers of distracted driving.
Kurt is invited to speak across the country on novel legal strategies and methods that he has developed – techniques that have resulted in unprecedented successful results for his clients.
He has been a regular speaker for the American Association of Justice, having spoken in Boston, Palm Springs, Denver, Los Angeles, and Montreal on a variety of topics including trial techniques, writing strategies, and insurance bad faith. He also speaks regularly for Trial Lawyers University (formerly Trojan Horse) as well as The National Trial Lawyers’ national trial seminars.
On the State level, Mr. Zaner regularly teaches for the Colorado Trial Lawyers at their state convention, statewide CLEs, and for CTLA’s new lawyer bootcamps,
He has also spoken at several State Seminars around the Country, including the prestigious Arkansas Trial Lawyers College on one of his favorite topics: transplanting 2,000-year-old trial techniques from the Roman trial lawyer Cicero and demonstrating how they can be effective in today’s trials.
When not practicing law, Mr. Zaner spends much of his time with his wife and two young boys, outdoors in the mountains or on the stage in a local theater production.
Licensed in Florida and Colorado.
Publications
Warembourg v. Excel, 471 P.3d 1213 (Co. Ct. App. 2020) – 63-page, 3-0 published opinion that affirmed the firm’s record-breaking 16-million-dollar electrocution verdict. This opinion creates significant new law in the area of spoliation of evidence, setting new standards for when parties must hold onto evidence and how they may be punished if they do not preserve such evidence (blessing an irrebuttable presumption of liability and causation punitive sanction). Case settled for 15.7 million shortly after this opinion.
“Lessons From Cicero” – Good Counsel, April 2017
Alhilo v. Kleim, 413 P.3d 902 (Co. Ct. App. 2016), cert denied (Colo. June 26, 2017) – published opinion that affirmed the firm’s multi-million dollar motorcycle verdict and created helpful case law for victims of drunk drivers (allowing for prior DUIs to come in as evidence) and for those who have lost loved ones in a wrongful death case (clarifying the damage cap to afford survivors the maximum benefit).
Spotlight, “Overcoming Liability Roadblocks in Bicycle Accident Case” American Association for Justice, Trial Edition (July 2015)
“Sad But Preventable – a Trial Lawyer’s Quest to End Distracted Driving and Save Lives” The Colorado Trial Lawyers’ Association publication Trial Talk, Volume 62, Issue 3, April/May 2013 publication at p. 26 (sole author).
“Driving While on the Cell Phone; Punitive Damage Awards Should Come Through Loud and Clear” ABA’s The Brief, Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. Sec., Summer 2007, Vol. 35, No.4 (co-author), republished in The Colorado Trial Lawyers’ Association publication Trial Talk, Volume 62, Issue 3, April/May 2013 publication at p. 41.
“National Security Policy and Ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty” 32 Houston Journal of International Law 1 (2009) (contributing author).
Vidinliev v. Carey, 581 F.Supp. 2d 1281 (N.D. Ga. 2008) – created federal case law in the area of worker’s FLSA rights.
Bar Leadership
NATIONAL
American Association of Justice – Board of Governor, 2018-2020; 2022-2025.
American Association of Justice – Executive Committee Member 2019-2020.
American Association of Justice – Budget Committee Member 2020-2023
American Association of Justice – Elected National President of NLD Division 2016.
American Association of Justice – Elected National Vice President of NLD Division 2016.
American Association of Justice – Elected National Treasurer of NLD Division 2015.
American Association of Justice – Elected National Secretary of NLD Division 2014.
American Association of Justice – Appointed Board of Governor on New Lawyers Division, June 2013.
American Association of Justice – Appointed Chair of the Publications Committee for the NLD quarterly national publication, the Sidebar, July 2013.
STATE
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Elected to serve as Board Member 2016-present
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Appointed to serve on Executive Committee and Legislative Committee 2016-17, 2021-2022
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Appointed to serve on Board as Board Member 2015-16.
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Appointed Membership Chair November 2012 -2015.
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Appointed New Lawyer Chair November 2013.
Community Involvement
Actor (Len), A One Night Stand at the Vintage Theater, Don’t Throw the Cheese by Mark Ogle.
Actor (Reverend Parris), The Crucible at Red Rocks Community Theater.
Presenter, End Distracted Driving Campaign; presents programs to high school students to warn them of the dangers of distracted driving.
Board of Director, Denver Athletic Club.
Join Ben and Rahul for their discussion with top Alaska trial lawyer, Meg Simonian. Meg shares her journey from growing up as one of seven children with parents who did not graduate from high school to attending law school and becoming one of the nation’s best trial lawyers. After graduating from law school, Meg worked as a Federal public defender and then joined the practice of legendary trial lawyer, Rick Friedman. Meg shares lessons learned during her time working with Rick before leaving to join an Alaska-based medical malpractice firm. Meg talks about how she has worked to turn bad case facts into good facts that have helped her win and achieve significant verdicts for her deserving clients.
About Meg Simonian
Dillon Findley & Simonian, P.C. | Anchorage Attorneys Serving Alaska
Meg Simonian is one of Alaska's top trial lawyers devoting her practice to representing people who have been injured or wronged. She has obtained several of the largest jury verdicts and settlements in Alaska history in both state and federal court.
Meg was born and raised in Anchorage and went to law school because she believed law could be a force of good. After clerking for the Alaska Superior Court, she has been practicing law for over 20 years sharpening her courtroom skills and winning trials as a felony trial lawyer at the Alaska Public Defender Agency and Office of Public Advocacy. Meg started her civil career at Friedman Rubin, representing people harmed by insurance bad faith.
Meg's work is focused on medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, complex litigation and representing people who have been injured or need help in their most vulnerable times. She is a relentless advocate who uses her skills in the courtroom, dedication, and creativity to ensure her client's story is told with truth and power. She is one of the few woman lawyers inducted into the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates (an invitation only group of the 100 best trial lawyers in the U.S.). Meg is also recognized by both Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers. She was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court to serve on the Alaska Civil Pattern Jury Instruction Committee.
Meg has successfully handled many appeals before the Alaska Supreme Court, including setting important precedent in Knolmayer v. McCollum, and Harrold-Jones v. Drury.
When she is not battling in the courtroom, Meg loves to be with her family cooking, traveling, or dragging one of her five kids to hike, ski, or play outside.
Education
Past Positions
Professional Associations
Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
With 37 verdicts of more than a million dollars, few lawyers in America can match the track record of success of New York trial lawyer Judy Livingston. What’s more, many of Judy’s verdicts came at a time when few women were trial lawyers. Join Ben and Rahul for their in-depth interview with Judy in which they explore the sources of the courage and fortitude that fueled her success. Judy shares accounts of her early trial practice, where she literally had to create a new mold as a woman in the courtroom. Judy discusses her approach to trying complex medical malpractice cases and connecting with a jury. She talks about juggling life and the demands of raising a family with a husband who, like her, is a renowned trial lawyer. If you are a trial lawyer or aspire to be, there is no way you can listen to this episode without feeling inspired.
About Judy Livingston
Top Personal Injury Attorneys | Kramer Dillof Livingston & Moore (kdlm.com)
Judith A. Livingston has long been one of the most successful plaintiff’s attorneys in the United States. Reserved, methodical and precise, Ms. Livingston has been called “A Legal Legend” by Law Dragon and named one of “The 50 most influential women lawyers in America” by New York magazine. She has been a partner at the law firm of Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore since 1989.
Ms. Livingston has won 37 trials with verdicts in excess of $1 million and has negotiated hundreds of settlements that have resulted in payments to her clients of almost a half-billion dollars. She specializes in medical malpractice and personal injury cases. Ms. Livingston is the current President of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation-only group limited to 100 of the best plaintiff lawyers in the United States who possess exceptional qualifications, are experienced and skillful in the handling of courtroom litigation, and who are respected among their peers. She was the first female, and youngest member invited to be a part of this prestigious organization.
Judith A. Livingston has the distinction of being named in Best Lawyers magazine for 2011 and 2013 as the New York Medical Malpractice “Lawyer of the Year.” She was cited by the National Law Journal as one of “40 lawyers who have made their mark in the area of health care law,” and she has been listed yearly by New York magazine and Super Lawyers magazine as one of the best lawyers in New York. New York magazine also cited her as one of “the 50 most influential women lawyers in America.” And in every listing, since Lawdragon began recognizing the top 500 lawyers in the United States, Ms. Livingston has been selected as one of the country’s top lawyers.
In 2022, Judith was inducted into the Maurice A. Deane School of Law Hall of Fame at Hofstra University. Hofstra Law established the Hall of Fame “to honor alumni whose exemplary careers and extraordinary service to the betterment of society have significantly impacted the Hofstra Law community and beyond.” She received the Presidential Medal from Hofstra University and the Fordham Founder’s Award in 2014. The former is awarded to “distinguished persons in recognition of outstanding career achievement and professional leadership.” The latter “recognizes individuals whose personal and professional lives reflect the highest aspirations of the University’s defining traditions, as an institution dedicated to wisdom and learning in the service of others."
A fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Judith Livingston has participated nationally in lectures and seminars on subjects ranging from trial strategy to women in the courtroom.
Ms. Livingston sits on the Board of Directors of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association. She is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers; the International Society of Barristers; the Bar Association of the City of New York; the American Association of Justice, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
From 2006 through 2009, Ms. Livingston was co-president of the Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA.) She continues on the JALBCA Board of Directors, helping to educate women in the fight against breast cancer.
Judith A. Livingston graduated from The State University of New York, Stony Brook, with high honors; and from Hofstra University School of Law in 1979, where she received a J.D. degree and an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 1998. In 2014, Ms. Livingston gave the Commencement address at Hofstra University School of Law, the second time she was given that honor.
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Location: New York, New York
Join Ben for his conversation with legendary Kentucky trial lawyer, Peter Perlman. Peter talks about how his upbringing, as the son of a 5 and 10 cent store owner, shaped his values and taught him the importance of finding ways to help others. During his long and successful career as a trial lawyer, Peter applied these lessons in cases that helped his individual clients and led to larger industry-wide changes that have helped countless others. These cases span a wide range of practice areas, from auto defect litigation, aviation, personal injury, and even a Title IX case brought to keep the door open for female college athletes. Through his own practice, and terms as President of AAJ and the Civil Justice Foundation, few trial lawyers have done more to promote and enhance the cause of individual victims and social justice than Peter Perlman.
About Peter Perlman
https://peteperlman.com/
Experience
In his lengthy career as a trial lawyer, Peter has earned more than 60 multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in personal injury, product defect and wrongful death cases. He was inducted into the Inner Circle of Advocates in 1985. This is an elite organization limited to the top 100 trial lawyers in this country. The Kentucky Justice Association’s highest honor, “The Peter Perlman Outstanding Trial Lawyer,” has been presented each year since 1994.
Throughout his career, Peter has maintained a close relationship with his alma mater, the University of Kentucky. He was an Adjunct Professor in the law school for 25 years, and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame and U.K’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni. In 1999, Peter created an Endowment Fund. This has provided annual scholarships to students who have shown, “a concern for providing equal justice under the law.”
Complications from an eye injury, have led to some changes in Peter’s practice. He now serves as a consultant on a limited case-by-case basis.
Over the years, Peter has given numerous talks to civic and legal groups and continues to do so. In his trials, Peter stressed the power of America’s juries, and the difference jurors make through their collective verdicts. His current presentations emphasize these themes.
Awards & Honors
Join Ben for his discussion with attorneys Taylor Asen and Trevor Savage about their recent $2.4 million verdict in Bangor, Maine in a case involving a surgical mal positioning that caused an arm injury and CRPS. Taylor and Trevor explain how they worked closely with the client to get her to the right specialist who could diagnose her medical condition. They talk about the challenges of presenting a CRPS injury at trial. They discuss how they resisted the defense effort to stipulate to liability and were able to present compelling evidence of corporate indifference and system failure in the lack of safeguards or systems to make sure that the surgery was done safely, and the lack of follow through, investigation, or changes that came out of this incident. They discuss how they responded to the defense’s 11th hour surprise surveillance video, which the judge allowed into evidence over objection. They used the surveillance to further polarize the case and show the lie in the hospital’s claim to be taking responsibility for its actions. They discuss the use of data analysis to recognize the true value of the case and to formulate the amount asked for in closing.
About Taylor Asen
www.gideonasen.com
Taylor specializes in medical malpractice cases, trucking accident cases, and other complex personal injury cases. He has recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients.
Taylor possesses a unique combination of intellect, competitive drive, and human empathy that makes him a powerful advocate for his clients. Taylor has dedicated his career to championing the interests of individuals who have suffered harm or injury from corporate misconduct, individual negligence, and bad medical care. Taylor’s efforts on behalf of injured Mainers have resulted in several of the largest case settlements in Maine history. Recently, Taylor and his colleague Meryl obtained one of the largest jury verdicts in a child sex abuse case in Maine’s history.
Taylor has been recognized as one of Maine’s leading plaintiff’s attorneys. He is only one of two lawyer from Northern New England listed in Lawdragon’s list of the top 500 plaintiff’s attorneys in the nation—the other lawyer from Northern New England is his partner, Ben Gideon. Taylor is also included in Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch and Super Lawyers Rising Stars; these designations are given to attorneys that distinguish themselves during their first decade of practice.
“Nobody is more committed to his clients than Taylor,” said Ben Gideon. “His mind is always working. It’s not unusual for me to receive a call after midnight from Taylor, wanting to brainstorm about a thorny problem or about case strategy. Taylor is also a gifted legal writer, enabling our clients to gain the upper hand in motions and briefs submitted to the courts. When it comes to the full range of personal qualities and skills needed to achieve extraordinary client results, there are few lawyers I’ve met who can match Taylor.”
Taylor is on the Board of Governors of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association and has served as Co-Chair of the MTLA’s Legislative Committee for the past three years. Taylor has testified in the Maine Legislature on numerous occasions, and played a critical role in the fight to raise Maine’s cap on wrongful death damages in 2019.
Taylor also has experience litigating class action cases on behalf of employees, consumers, and victims of civil rights abuses. From 2019 to 2020, he co-counseled a class action on behalf of Maine prisoners who were denied treatment for Hepatitis C. That lawsuit resulted in a historic settlement with the Maine Department of Corrections, under which the DOC agreed to treat all incarcerated individuals who have chronic Hepatitis C.
Taylor is an Adjunct Professor at Maine Law School, where he co-teaches Trial Advocacy.
A native of Maine, Taylor is a graduate of Yale Law School. At Yale, Taylor worked in the Veterans Legal Services Clinic, representing veterans who were improperly denied disability benefits. After graduating from law school, Taylor clerked for federal judges in New York City and Newark, New Jersey. Taylor began his career at a law firm in New York, before returning to Maine to represent individual plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits.
Taylor’s wife, Becca, is the Director of Recruiting and Professional Development at Bernstein Shur. Taylor and Becca live in Cumberland County with their three children, Davida, Vivienne, and Leon.
What Clients Say About Taylor
“The most fantastic Lawyer I have ever met. Caring considerate and great results.” – Hilarie B.
“Taylor went above and beyond during the entire case. I felt valued, respected and as if I was the #1 and only client he had.” – Adam D.
“Taylor was there, step by step, fighting for what is right and just, making sure we understood each process. He helped my family get the best outcome to move forward with our lives without regret.” – Cheri H.
“Taylor Asen was everything we needed in a lawyer: professional, communicative, straight forward and determined. He also was everything we didn’t expect: personable, always available, kind and thoughtful. We highly recommend his services.” – Arianna S.
“Taylor Asen is the ultimate professional. He navigated us through the toughest time in our lives and handled our medical malpractice case with mastery. . . Most of all, he was human. His confidence and his friendly demeanor put us at ease and his empathy towards our situation made us feel like we wanted to win this case not just for us, but for him.” – Lisa H.
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About Trevor Savage
www.gideonasen.com
Trevor is a skilled trial attorney who represents clients in claims involving medical malpractice, wrongful deaths and other complex personal injury cases.
After completing a clerkship with the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Trevor began his career at a large firm in Portland, representing medical providers, businesses, and insurance companies.
Trevor’s experience as a defense attorney gives him a unique perspective that he uses to give Gideon Asen’s clients an advantage during litigation with insurance companies.
A native of Maine, Trevor is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and then the University of Maine School of Law. At Maine Law, he served as Managing Editor of the Maine Law Review and as a legal writing teaching assistant for first-year students.
During law school—alongside his then-classmate and current colleague, Meryl Poulin—he distinguished himself as one of two “Prize Arguers” of their class and argued before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He and Meryl Poulin—another Gideon Asen attorney—later competed nationally as teammates on the Maine Law Moot Court Team, finishing in the top three of a competition of more than forty teams.
While at law school, Trevor interned with the Appellate Division of the United States Attorney’s Office and then with Judge Kermit V. Lipez of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. He also worked as a Student Attorney at the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office (winning his first two jury trials as a second-year law student).
Trevor lives in North Berwick, Maine, with his wife, Amy, and two children, Jacob and Will.
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Join Rahul and Ben for their conversation with Canadian trial lawyer, Paul Miller, who shares the fascinating account of his effort to find justice for Canadian diplomats impacted by Havana Syndrome. Paul explains the mounting evidence showing that Canadian and American diplomats posted in Cuba, England, Russia, Vietnam, and China have been targeted by weapons that use microwave or similar technology that is invisible but can cause brain damage, leading to a variety of life-long injuries and symptoms. The story is somewhere between science fiction and spy novel, but much more troubling because the human victims are real people, including diplomats and their families.
About Paul Miller
https://hshlawyers.com/
“I became a personal injury lawyer because I wanted to ensure that people, when devastated by injuries had access to not only benefits and compensation, but access to the courts in order to seek out justice for injuries they have suffered.”
A dedicated advocate for people who have suffered personal injuries, Paul has 20 years of experience involving cases of defective products and medical devices and fighting for those denied justice.
Paul has proven experience with high profile cases including serving as co-counsel for Canadian Diplomats in Cuba affected by Havana Syndrome, co-counsel representing Canadian Veterans affected by Mefloquine, co-counsel representing B.C. in its class action lawsuit against opioid drug companies, co-lead counsel for the victims of the 2005 Air France crash at Toronto’s Pearson airport, and as representative for 23 Canadians involved in litigation surrounding the events of September 11, 2001.
His passion for helping those wronged by negligence led to his dedicated work on the MK Airlines Halifax Plane Crash, TVM Litigation, and presently, the Ethiopian Airline Crash, Hernia Mesh Litigation and Essure.
A Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation, Paul has been nominated twice for Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers and recognized in Best Lawyers for his work in Product Liability Litigation. He’s a past board member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (2004–2006) and a current board director with the US-based organization Public Justice.
Paul is an avid golfer. When not tirelessly working on cases or spending quality time with his wife and four children, you’ll likely see him out on the green.
Professional Success
Settlements and Verdicts
Past results are not predictive of future results and each situation is unique and requires individual and independent legal advice.
$5.55 Million*
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