On this episode of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Peter Taaffe and Kyle Herbert welcome attorney and mediator Leigh Lewis to discuss her transition from a successful insurance-defense practice to full-time mediation.

Leigh reflects on growing up in Midland, Texas, studying environmental management at Duke University, attending the University of Texas School of Law, and building a litigation career that included approximately 30 jury trials and 16 years with Walters, Balido & Crain.

The conversation includes some of Leigh's most unusual product-liability cases, the realities of preparing unpredictable clients for trial, and what plaintiff attorneys can do to improve their chances of reaching a favorable settlement at mediation. Leigh also offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on how defense attorneys and insurance carriers evaluate claims, witnesses, medical records, experts, venues, opposing counsel, and potential jury verdicts.

The episode concludes with a discussion about overwhelmed court dockets, Leigh's decision to leave litigation for mediation, and the growing opportunities and privacy concerns surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in legal cases.

00:00 — Introducing Leigh Lewis and Her Move to Mediation

03:34 — Growing Up in Midland and the Path to Law School

10:04 — Building a Career in Insurance-Defense Litigation

12:18 — Leigh's Most Unusual Product-Liability Cases

19:18 — Jury Trials, Client Preparation, and Unpredictable Witnesses

25:21 — How Plaintiff Attorneys Can Prepare for a Successful Mediation

37:01 — How the Plaintiff and Defense Bars Share Information Differently

47:26 — Leaving Litigation, Becoming a Mediator, and the Use of AI in Legal Cases

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe and Bill Ogden sit down with attorney Anthony Vessel of Marc Whitehead & Associates for a deep dive into a practice area many lawyers encounter but few truly understand: disability benefits, insurance denials, Social Security disability, veterans disability claims, and ERISA litigation.

Anthony walks through how he found his way from Beaumont, Texas, to Texas A&M, South Texas College of Law, and ultimately into the highly specialized world of disability and benefits law. The conversation breaks down the realities of long-term disability policies, the challenges claimants face when insurance companies deny benefits, and why ERISA cases can be so difficult for plaintiffs.

The discussion also covers life insurance disputes, Social Security disability hearings, veterans disability claims, administrative law judges, and the importance of building a strong record before a case ever reaches federal court. Anthony also shares how his firm uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System to manage teams, track progress, and keep cases from falling through the cracks.

The episode wraps with Anthony's passion for mediation, the value of trust in resolving cases, and why lawyers should know who to call when disability, VA, Social Security, or benefit denial issues come across their desk.

Major Topics Discussed

• 00:00:14 — Introduction to Anthony Vessel and Marc Whitehead & Associates

• 00:02:16 — Anthony's Beaumont background and early legal influences

• 00:05:00 — College, baseball, and the road to law school

• 00:09:00 — How Anthony entered disability and benefits law

• 00:12:25 — Long-term disability claims, ERISA, and insurance denials

• 00:15:14 — Life insurance claims and accelerated benefit disputes

• 00:22:41 — Social Security disability and private disability coverage

• 00:30:38 — Veterans disability claims and service-connected impairments

• 00:35:31 — Social Security hearings and administrative law judges

• 00:43:05 — Law firm leadership, EOS, and team organization

• 00:54:17 — Case value, referrals, and "triple threat" disability clients

• 00:56:09 — Anthony's mediation work and ADR background

• 01:00:20 — Mediation in disability cases and settlement strategy

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert sit down with Laura Hollingsworth, Dana Levy, Leah Graham, and Daniel Dutko for a deep dive into the civil case surrounding the tragic death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

The panel breaks down the facts behind the case, the role of Angels communications director Eric Kay, the evidence that revealed a broader culture of drug access inside the organization, and the uphill battle of proving negligence against a Major League Baseball franchise. From third-party subpoenas and deleted text messages to emotional witness testimony and a jury question that changed the trajectory of the case, the guests walk through what it took to fight for accountability on behalf of Tyler's family.

The conversation also touches on the Ken Paxton impeachment trial, the unique dynamics of a massive trial team, the personal responsibility defense, fentanyl in professional sports, and whether Major League Baseball has done enough to address the systemic issues exposed by the case.

Main Highlights:

• The largest guest panel in Dirty Verdict history
• Laura Hollingsworth, Dana Levy, Leah Graham, and Daniel Dutko join the show
• Behind-the-scenes stories from the Ken Paxton impeachment trial
• The origin of the Tyler Skaggs civil case
• How Eric Kay's role with the Angels became central to the litigation
• Evidence that Kay was providing opioids to multiple players
• The challenge of proving the Angels knew, or should have known, what was happening
• Why the case was not simply about "personal responsibility"
• The significance of the criminal trial and Kay's 22-year sentence
• The difference between an intentional overdose and a fentanyl poisoning
• The role of the Angels' team doctor and the opioid prescriptions connected to Kay
• Discovery battles, deleted texts, and third-party subpoenas
• Camilla Kay's testimony and the evidence found through her phone
• The structure of the trial team and each lawyer's role
• The three-and-a-half-month trial in Orange County
• The jury question about punitive damages that shifted settlement pressure
• The emotional burden on Tyler Skaggs' family
• How the trial exposed deeper questions about drug use in professional sports
• MLB, the players union, and opioid testing after Tyler's death
• Whether the Angels and Major League Baseball have truly learned from the case

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Kyle Herbert, Peter Taaffe, and Bill Ogden sit down with trial attorney Trey Barton for a wide-ranging conversation about his path from teacher and coach to plaintiff's lawyer, opening his own firm right as COVID hit, and building a practice largely through attorney referrals.

Trey walks through several recent verdicts, including a wrongful death/DWI case in Fayette County, a workplace foot-crush injury involving medical equipment, a commercial vehicle collision, and a bicycle injury case. Along the way, the group digs into trial strategy, jury selection, high-low agreements, damages arguments, corporate reps, deposition clips, and what makes a client's story connect with a jury

Topics Discussed

00:00:15 — Introduction to Trey Barton

00:02:05 — Growing Up in La Grange, Texas

00:04:39 — From A&M to Teaching and Coaching

00:06:53 — Deciding to Go to Law School

00:08:05 — Discovering Trial Work

00:08:24 — Working Full-Time During Law School

00:09:32 — Defense Work and Learning the Other Side

00:10:26 — Opening His Own Firm in 2020

00:13:28 — Starting a Firm During COVID

00:17:35 — Building a Referral-Based Practice

00:21:04 — Wrongful Death/DWI Case in Fayette County

00:23:06 — Jury Selection in a Small Community

00:26:36 — Talking About DWI, Damages, and Accountability

00:28:06 — A $6.95 Million Verdict and Closure for the Family

00:32:52 — Nurse's Foot-Crush Injury Case

00:36:13 — Medical Testimony and Proving Nerve Damage

00:38:40 — Trial Strategy with Witnesses and Liability

00:42:46 — $4.49 Million Verdict Without Economic Damages

00:43:10 — Per Diem Damages Arguments

00:45:19 — High-Low Agreements and Waiver of Appeal

00:47:09 — Commercial Vehicle Collision Case

00:48:27 — TBI, Herniations, and a Subsequent Accident

00:50:53 — Telling the Client's Story

00:52:03 — Handling Preexisting Mental Anguish

00:53:10 — Auto vs. Bicycle Injury Case

00:55:35 — $500,000 Bicycle Case Verdict

00:56:04 — Trey's Current Trial Docket

00:56:42 — Keeping Trials Short and Focused

00:58:29 — Final Thoughts and Contact Information

On this episode of The Dirty Verdict Podcast, hosts Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden welcome back Erica Rose and Chuck Sanders of Rose Sanders Law Firm for a wide-ranging, hilarious, and surprisingly thoughtful conversation.

The group catches up on Rose Sanders' expansion into California, the differences between handling injury cases across states, and the realities of building a multi-state law practice. From there, the conversation moves through Disney trips, law firm growth, AI in legal work, defamation cases involving major public figures, and the serious legal concerns around AI-generated explicit images involving minors.

Erica also shares updates on her advocacy work, her family's connection to the entertainment industry, and her daughter's experience filming a Christmas movie in Los Angeles. The episode closes with reality TV talk, Houston's entertainment potential, hiring challenges in law firms, and the usual Dirty Verdict mix of legal insight, sarcasm, and unfiltered banter.

00:00 – Welcome Back Erica Rose and Chuck Sanders

00:55 – Rose Sanders Expands to California

03:19 – Splitting Time Between Texas and California

04:17 – Disney, Dole Whip, and Theme Park Strategy

08:27 – Future Office Locations and Lifestyle Markets

10:59 – Notable Case Updates and a Daycare Bus Crash Case

12:06 – Social Media, Legal Branding, and Content Creation

12:50 – Hurricane Beryl MDL, Sanctions, and Bad Legal Filings

14:09 – AI in Legal Work and ChatGPT Risks

15:20 – Defamation Law and Anti-SLAPP Cases

15:56 – Gavin Newsom, Fox News, and High-Profile Defamation Litigation

17:46 – Alex Jones, Infowars, and The Onion

19:36 – AI-Generated Explicit Images and Child Safety Concerns

21:15 – Big Tech Liability and Legal Accountability

23:21 – The Power and Danger of AI

25:28 – Reality TV, Lawyers, and Entertainment Opportunities

28:27 – Erica's Daughter Films a Christmas Movie

31:48 – Kids in Acting, Modeling, and Following Creative Passions

34:11 – Behind the Scenes of a Feature Film Production

36:24 – Red Carpets, Carmen Electra, and Reality TV Culture

40:02 – The Future of Reality TV

42:25 – Houston vs. L.A. Culture and Creative Risk-Taking

45:30 – Final Thoughts and Rose Sanders Contact Info

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert sit down with Judge Christine Weems of the 281st District Court in Harris County, Texas for a wide-ranging conversation about law, trial work, mock trial, theater, and the unexpected path that shaped her career.

Judge Weems shares how she went from an English major at the University of Texas to South Texas College of Law, where mock trial helped her overcome a fear of public speaking and discover her love for advocacy. She talks about early trial experience, mass tort litigation, moving between Houston, Dallas, and New York, working document review while pursuing theater, and eventually returning to Texas to build a litigation career that led to the bench.

The conversation also covers what motivated her to run for judge, the importance of trial experience on the bench, and her continued work in the arts through Cone Man Running Productions, including lawyer-cast theater productions that even offer CLE credit.

• Judge Weems' unconventional path from English major to trial lawyer to district court judge
• How mock trial helped her overcome fear of public speaking and discover courtroom advocacy
• Early lessons from working as a law clerk and being handed real litigation responsibility
• The impact of tort reform on asbestos and silica litigation work in Texas
• Her time in New York pursuing acting, theater, and entertainment work while still practicing law
• Returning to Texas for Hurricane Ike litigation and rebuilding a trial-focused career
• Why trial experience matters for judges and how courtroom experience shaped her decision to run
• The story behind Cone Man Running Productions and its lawyer-led theater productions
• How legal professionals can participate in or attend theater productions while earning CLE credit

00:00 — Introduction to Judge Christine Weems 01:43 — College background, UT, English major, Spanish minor, and unusual classes 05:26 — Discovering mock trial and meeting Brett Dressler 07:02 — Growing up in Spring and the early pull toward law 07:57 — How mock trial helped her overcome fear of public speaking 08:43 — South Texas College of Law and early work with Robert Clark 09:22 — Choosing litigation over transactional law 10:29 — First jury verdict and early trial experience 11:12 — Moving to Dallas after 9/11 and working in asbestos litigation 12:39 — Missing the courtroom and returning to plaintiff-side trial work 14:08 — Houston theater, acting, and finding a creative outlet outside law 15:12 — Going to New York for acting conservatory 16:06 — Tort reform, asbestos/silica litigation, and a shifting job market 18:51 — Document review, theater work, and extra roles on 30 Rock and Law & Order 21:57 — Meeting her husband, family life, and deciding where to practice law 22:36 — Returning to Texas for Hurricane Ike litigation 23:30 — Personal injury work, board certification, and trying cases 24:12 — Judicial discretion, courtroom experience, and what sparked the idea of running 26:17 — Why she decided to run for judge 26:48 — The 2018 judicial race and life on the bench 29:51 — Founding Cone Man Running Productions 31:07 — Lawyer-cast theater productions and CLE credit 36:18 — Promoting And Then There Were None at Spring Street Studios

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict Podcast, Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert sit down with trial lawyer Alice Lima Lovchik for a wide-ranging conversation about law, trial work, immigration, civility, and heavy metal.

Alice shares her story of moving from Brazil to Houston, rebuilding her legal career from the ground up, learning English, working her way from file clerk to paralegal, and eventually passing both the New York and Texas bar exams. She also talks about her work in personal injury, immigration law, and why she feels called to serve Houston's immigrant community through her trial practice.

The conversation also gets into Alice's life outside the courtroom as a metal vocalist, her love for grindcore and thrash metal, and how her intense stage presence contrasts with the calm, measured way she handled a highly controversial trial incident involving opposing counsel. The hosts and Alice also discuss courtroom civility, trial nerves, lessons from losses, mentorship, and the kind of wisdom trial lawyers would give their younger selves.

Major Topics Discussed:

00:00 — Opening, host introductions, and Peter's son being drafted by the Miami Dolphins

02:19 — Introducing Alice Lima Lovchik and her reputation as both a trial lawyer and metal vocalist

03:01 — Thrash metal, death metal, grindcore, and Alice's former band Evocation

05:09 — Alice's background in Brazil, moving to Houston, and meeting her husband at a rock show

07:49 — Starting over in the U.S., learning English, and entering the legal field as a file clerk

09:42 — Earning her LLM, passing the New York bar, and later passing the Texas bar

11:59 — Alice's early legal career, working with Darrell Barger, and deciding insurance defense was not for her

14:03 — Working with Javier Marcos, moving into immigration law, and later returning to personal injury

16:20 — Marcos & Associates, trying cases frequently, and serving Houston's Hispanic and immigrant communities

18:43 — How Alice evaluates cases, prepares for trial, and manages a large litigation docket

21:06 — Trying 25 cases in 12 months and the rush of being in trial

23:12 — Judges, livestreamed courtrooms, and how public clips can shape perceptions

28:46 — The controversial trial incident involving opposing counsel taking a photo of Alice's notes

32:38 — How Alice handled the incident, why she chose restraint, and what civility looks like under pressure

38:18 — Maintaining professionalism with opposing counsel after serious conflict

43:13 — Houston's metal scene, White Swan, and Alice's next musical chapter

45:32 — Alice's book project collecting stories and lessons from trial lawyers

48:45 — The hosts and Alice answer questions about their best moments as trial lawyers

54:42 — Trial losses, humility, and advice for younger lawyers

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict Podcast, Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert sit down with trial lawyer Alice Lima Lovchik for a wide-ranging conversation about law, trial work, immigration, civility, and heavy metal.

Alice shares her story of moving from Brazil to Houston, rebuilding her legal career from the ground up, learning English, working her way from file clerk to paralegal, and eventually passing both the New York and Texas bar exams. She also talks about her work in personal injury, immigration law, and why she feels called to serve Houston's immigrant community through her trial practice.

The conversation also gets into Alice's life outside the courtroom as a metal vocalist, her love for grindcore and thrash metal, and how her intense stage presence contrasts with the calm, measured way she handled a highly controversial trial incident involving opposing counsel. The hosts and Alice also discuss courtroom civility, trial nerves, lessons from losses, mentorship, and the kind of wisdom trial lawyers would give their younger selves.

00:00 — Opening, host introductions, and Peter's son being drafted by the Miami Dolphins

02:19 — Introducing Alice Lima Lovchik and her reputation as both a trial lawyer and metal vocalist

03:01 — Thrash metal, death metal, grindcore, and Alice's former band Evocation

05:09 — Alice's background in Brazil, moving to Houston, and meeting her husband at a rock show

07:49 — Starting over in the U.S., learning English, and entering the legal field as a file clerk

09:42 — Earning her LLM, passing the New York bar, and later passing the Texas bar

11:59 — Alice's early legal career, working with Darrell Barger, and deciding insurance defense was not for her

14:03 — Working with Javier Marcos, moving into immigration law, and later returning to personal injury

16:20 — Marcos & Associates, trying cases frequently, and serving Houston's Hispanic and immigrant communities

18:43 — How Alice evaluates cases, prepares for trial, and manages a large litigation docket

21:06 — Trying 25 cases in 12 months and the rush of being in trial

23:12 — Judges, livestreamed courtrooms, and how public clips can shape perceptions

28:46 — The controversial trial incident involving opposing counsel taking a photo of Alice's notes

32:38 — How Alice handled the incident, why she chose restraint, and what civility looks like under pressure

38:18 — Maintaining professionalism with opposing counsel after serious conflict

43:13 — Houston's metal scene, White Swan, and Alice's next musical chapter

45:32 — Alice's book project collecting stories and lessons from trial lawyers

48:45 — The hosts and Alice answer questions about their best moments as trial lawyers

54:42 — Trial losses, humility, and advice for younger lawyers

57:04 — Balancing legal work, mental health, family, and professional ambition

58:54 — Where to find Alice online, her music, and her firm information

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden sit down with trial lawyer and settlement planner Dan Horowitz for a conversation that starts with classic Dirty Verdict chaos and eventually lands on some genuinely valuable guidance for lawyers handling serious personal injury cases.

Dan walks through his path from Bay City, Texas, to the University of Texas, South Texas College of Law, Abraham Watkins, and eventually opening his own firm. Along the way, the group covers law school networking, the realities of partnership points, going out on your own, and why relationships matter just as much as legal skill.

The second half of the episode shifts into Dan's current work in settlement planning, structured settlements, trusts, tax-free growth, fee deferrals, and how lawyers can better protect clients after a major recovery. Dan explains why settlement planning should not be treated as an afterthought, especially in cases involving minors, catastrophic injuries, long-term care needs, or clients receiving life-changing sums of money.

00:00 – Introduction / Meet Dan Horowitz

01:20 – Growing Up in Bay City, Texas

02:20 – Getting Expelled Senior Year

05:30 – Getting Into UT and Coasting Through the End of High School

07:00 – Driving Buses at UT / Early Work Stories

13:20 – Studying Business at UT

15:10 – Law School Path

16:20 – Biggest Law School Regret: Not Networking More

22:10 – Dan's Professional Background and Recognition

23:20 – Early Legal Career and Firm Progression

25:45 – Becoming an Equity Partner

28:45 – Leaving to Start His Own Firm

31:25 – Transitioning Into Settlement Planning

33:00 – Getting His Insurance License

35:30 – Getting His Securities License

37:15 – Structured Settlements Explained

38:40 – Downsides of Structured Settlements

40:30 – Inflation Risk and Long-Term Planning

42:00 – Planning for Minors and Catastrophic Injury Cases

46:00 – When Lawyers Should Bring in a Settlement Planner

48:30 – Deferring Attorney Fees

51:00 – Structures as Protection From Bad Decisions or Pressure

52:40 – Customizing the Plan for Each Client

The Dirty Verdict Hosts sit down with legendary lawyers, Dan Cogdell, Rusty Hardin and Erica Harris to discuss civility in the legal space.