Looking back on this month’s TLU Beach, Joe Fried says attendees and even vendors declared it the best program yet. The renowned trucking attorney from Fried Goldberg joins host Dan Ambrose to reflect on the event’s success and preview their five-day Trucking Bootcamp in August. That event will combine Joe's 20-plus years of trucking expertise with Dan's performance skills training, guiding trial lawyers through intensive hands-on practice.

The Trucking Bootcamp will be held Aug. 12-16 in Huntington Beach, CA. Learn more here.

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• TLU Beach 2025 achieved universal acclaim with balanced teaching, fellowship, and entertainment at the Pasea Hotel in Huntington Beach, California.
• Joe's three-hour trucking masterclass featured intimate group discussions and individual case problem-solving.
• The upcoming August bootcamp combines trucking expertise with performance skills through small group intensive training.
• Six pre-bootcamp Zoom sessions will establish foundational knowledge before the in-person intensive practice.
• TLU’s performance skills training focuses on eye contact, emotional state control, and creating courtroom illusions.
• Every participant will be on their feet every hour practicing cross-examination and presentation techniques.
• Dan emphasizes connection-building through monthly Zoom meetups leading to TLU Beach 2026.

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Working on the Golden State Killer Task Force, which prosecuted a notorious California serial killer, was a career highlight for Bobby Taghavi. But, after serving in a prosecutor’s office, “the next step is to be a manager until you run for a judge” – and Bobby was “way too young to run for judge.” He made the leap into personal injury law. Now managing partner at Sweet James Accident Attorneys, Bobby has secured three consecutive multi-million dollar verdicts. With host Dan Ambrose, he recaps his victories and previews his session at TLU Beach (June 4-7), where he’ll teach trial lawyers how to make non-economic damages tangible and relatable to jurors.

☑️ Bobby Taghavi | LinkedIn

☑️ Sweet James Accident Attorneys | LinkedIn | Instagram |  Facebook | X | YouTube

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• Bobby immigrated from Iran during the revolution at age 14, not speaking English; his first assigned book, "To Kill a Mockingbird," inspired his legal career.
• After graduating from University of San Diego Law School, Bobby joined the Orange County DA's office in 2006, trying close to 90 cases including sexual assault, homicides, and the Golden State Killer investigation
• Inspired by a Steve Jobs’ commencement address, Bobby left prosecution after 13 years when he realized he was spending energy on management tasks rather than trials.
• Since joining Sweet James in 2020, Bobby has helped grow the firm from 30 to 40 employees to over 400, with 60+ attorneys
• Bobby's three civil jury trials have resulted in verdicts of $23.7 million (wrongful death), $17.4 million (elderly sisters car accident), and $3.9 million (hospital slip and fall)
• Bobby credits his athletic background with teaching him preparation routines, sportsmanship, and maintaining professionalism even during heated litigation.

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Born without his right leg, Conal Doyle is an accomplished athlete who refuses to let challenges get in his way. “And I've carried that through my legal career, taking really tough cases to trial.” With host Dan Ambrose, Conal shares his journey from defense attorney to a leading plaintiff’s attorney in California. The founder of Doyle Law, Conal handles only 5 to 10 high-value amputation and TBI cases at a time, and his results include a record-setting $26.8 million medical malpractice verdict and a recent $100 million shareholders' rights victory. At TLU Beach (June 4-7), he’ll teach a TBI masterclass, covering everything from case intake to trial strategy.

☑️ Conal Doyle | LinkedIn

☑️ Doyle Law | Facebook | YouTube

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• Conal started his career at Florida's largest law firm, trying 11 to 12 jury trials in his first five years as a defense attorney representing government entities and hospitals.
• After six years in defense work, he moved to California in 2003, eventually starting his own firm 20 years ago.
• An appearance on 60 Minutes, regarding a client who died of penile cancer after government health agencies wouldn’t provide a biopsy to rule out cancer, propelled his practice and led to his arguing before the US Supreme Court.
• He focuses on 5 to 10 high-value cases at a time, specializing in amputation injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
• In 2014, Conal achieved a historic $26.8 million medical malpractice verdict in conservative Bakersfield, California - the highest in county and state history at the time
• His recent shareholders' rights case victory in Delaware Chancery Court will exceed $100 million after interest, making it his first nine-figure result
• Conal has competed in paralympic ski racing and played basketball and volleyball against able-bodied athletes
• At TLU Beach, Conal will present a TBI Masterclass covering case identification, workup strategies, and trial presentation

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To effectively talk with a jury about non-economic damages, you need a star witness – usually not your client – who can communicate how an injury affected your client. In this conversation with host Dan Ambrose,  Ashkahn Mohamadi discusses how he leveraged his technique in recent trials to secure multi-million-dollar verdicts. He’ll teach the formula at TLU Beach (June 4-7).

☑️ Ashkahn Mohamadi | LinkedIn

☑️ Sweet James Accident Attorneys | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | X | YouTube

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• Ash’s mom gave him three options for a career. Doctor and engineer were “against the grain” – but he could always talk, and he loved to argue.
• At Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, Ash interned at the district attorney’s office, but he says his substantive training started when he started practicing law.
• As a young lawyer, Ash was lead or co-counsel on about five trials, including 12 that went to verdict.
• Ash describes the pivotal moment at trial when a partner asked if he wanted to examine a witness. “I looked at him and I immediately said, ‘Yes.’ And then I could see him kind of reeling.”
• At TLU Beach, Ash will present on how to communicate non-economic damages, breaking down each element and finding the “magic sauce”: your star witness.
• In a recent slip-and-fall case against a hospital, Ash secured a $3.9 million verdict after proving the hospital's floor polishing created an unsafe surface.
• For a wrongful death case involving a developmentally disabled woman, Ash used the mother's book to show the value of their relationship, resulting in a $22.5 million verdict.
• In a Central California auto case, Ash turned down a $7.65 million offer and secured a $17.4 million verdict for two elderly sisters by demonstrating how the crash stole their hard-earned independence.

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About 25 years ago – years after stints as a professional pilot, steel worker, and certified public accountant – Randy Calvert discovered focus groups. “I just saw the value, and then, the more you do it, the more value you see in it,” he explains to host Dan Ambrose. Tune in to learn how Randy’s methodical approach—such as using statistically representative participants rather than recruits from Craigslist—has transformed his practice. At TLU Beach (June 4-7), he will guide attorneys in designing, implementing, and analyzing focus group results that unlock maximum case value.

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• Randy began his career as a professional pilot and flight instructor, later working as a steel worker and CPA before becoming a trial lawyer at age 32.
• As a high school debater, Randy developed foundational skills in research, organization, and public speaking that would later serve him in the courtroom.
• After Shell Oil refused a $3 million settlement offer, Randy secured an $83.6 million verdict, defeating seven major law firms through years of litigation.
• Randy emphasizes conducting focus groups early in a case—before depositions—to understand juror perspectives and craft effective deposition strategies.
• Instead of finding participants through Craigslist or unemployment agencies, Randy created a company that solicits focus group jurors through direct mail to active voters across all precincts.
• Randy's focus groups are conducted at neutral locations without revealing which side he represents to allow for unbiased feedback.
• For Randy, the key to effective focus groups is finding the right jurors, understanding what information they need, and refining the case strategy based on their reactions.

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After suffering two trial losses, Tim Felice wondered if he wanted to put himself out there again. But as he read about a new case, and spoke with the client, “I just started getting fired up more and more and more.” In this case break-down with host Dan Ambrose, Tim discusses how he represented a musician who was catastrophically injured by a drunk truck driver. The verdict—$77.3 million in compensatory and $15 million in punitive damages—resulted from masterful legal maneuvering that allowed jurors to hear evidence about the client's psychological trauma from being falsely accused of killing her passenger. Tim will highlight this record-setting case at TLU Beach (June 4-7).

☑️ Tim Felice | LinkedIn

☑️ Felice Trial Attorneys | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

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• Tim's journey includes pivoting from insurance defense to plaintiff's work after witnessing an adjuster's callous treatment of a legitimately injured client.
• After two trial defeats, Tim cleared his mind before tackling the catastrophic injury case of a musician whose minivan was struck by a drunk truck driver.
• The $92 million verdict included $77.3 million in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages against a driver with a 0.196 BAC seven hours after his last drink.
• Tim's strategic pleading of comparative negligence enabled him to introduce crucial evidence about the defendant and his client. 
• In conservative Suwanee County, Florida, an all-white jury awarded the substantial verdict to Tim's Black client, reinforcing his belief that jurors should never be stereotyped or pigeonholed.
• At TLU Beach (June 4-7), Tim will conduct a live case analysis of his verdict, breaking down the legal maneuvering that led to success.

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"When you get a verdict, you have till midnight to either celebrate or to sulk," observes John Romano. With 51 years of trial experience, John reflects on his journey from military JAG prosecutor with 125 trials under his belt to becoming one of America's most prolific trial advocacy teachers. Tune in to this conversation with host Dan Ambrose for John’s breakdown of a spine injury case where he secured a $5 million verdict on a $50,000 offer. At TLU Beach (June 4-7), he will teach his OSPA (Opposition Strategy Prediction Assessment) technique, showing lawyers how to anticipate defense tactics and communicate damages effectively.

☑️ John Romano | LinkedIn

☑️ Romano Law Group | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

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• John has been a trial lawyer for 51 years, trying his first case just three days after being sworn in as an attorney
• After earning a football scholarship to Florida State, John joined the Marines through the Platoon Leaders Class program while attending law school
• During three years in the Marines, John tried approximately 125 cases (50 jury trials) as both a defense attorney and prosecutor
• John recently secured a $5 million verdict in an underinsured motorist case where the insurance company offered only $50,000 for a client with cervical fusion and lumbar laminectomy
• At TLU Beach, John will teach how to apply the OSPA (Opposition Strategy Prediction Assessment) method to anticipate defense strategies
• John believes most spine cases are lost in the first 24 to 72 hours when critical evidence isn't preserved and patients aren't directed to proper medical care
• John practices law with his sons Eric and Todd and credits teaching and mentoring other lawyers as his greatest professional accomplishment.

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"I lost a huge trial and it was a very sobering and depressing, challenging verdict to receive," recalls Kurt Zaner in a candid conversation with host Dan Ambrose. After 20 consecutive civil trial victories, Kurt shares the hard lessons from his first defense verdict in a six-week ethylene oxide exposure case. Tune in for his insights about how even elite trial lawyers must continually refine their approach to cross-examination, witness sequencing, and jury selection. He will teach these refined techniques at TLU Beach (June 4-7), leading a premises liability masterclass and interactive workshops on creating courtroom drama.

☑️ Kurt Zaner | LinkedIn

☑️ Zaner Harden Law | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube

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• After 20 consecutive civil trial victories, Kurt faced his first loss in a six-week toxic tort case involving ethylene oxide exposure from a medical equipment sterilization facility.
• The defendants' regulatory compliance defense proved challenging as jurors were swayed by evidence that Terumo followed government requirements.
• Kurt identified key areas for improvement, including more focused cross-examinations, better witness control, and spending more time probing regulatory compliance issues during voir dire.
• For his next trial in the series, Kurt plans to streamline the case from six weeks to three weeks, believing that longer trials can lead to jury fatigue and forgotten testimony.
• Kurt emphasizes the importance of relying more on co-counsel rather than taking on 80% of the witnesses, which left insufficient preparation time between witnesses.
• Kurt will teach a premises liability masterclass at TLU Beach, covering case selection, expert witness identification, deposition strategy, witness sequencing, and creating drama in trial presentations.
• Kurt sees the defeat as an opportunity for growth, quoting former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink: "You missed something? Good. You lost a trial? Good."

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Kenny Berger is fighting tort reform in South Carolina, so he has advice for lawyers who are joining similar fights: “Have themes and principles that transcend party.” The founder of The Law Offices of Kenneth Berger, Kenny visits with host Dan Ambrose for a conversation about his political work and his legal practice. He also previews his session at TLU Beach (June 4-7), where he will teach how to visually connect defendant misconduct directly to plaintiff damages and secure record verdicts.

☑️ Kenny Berger | LinkedIn

☑️ The Law Offices of Kenneth Berger | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | X | YouTube

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• After working at a small PI firm for 18 months post-law school, Kenny started his own practice at age 28, using grassroots marketing strategies and creating content that answered common client questions.
• Kenny recognized early on that he wanted to focus solely on bringing in cases and practicing law, so he hired a chief operating officer to handle the firm’s business side.
• After meeting attorney Brian Ward at a Trial By Human workshop, Kenny formed a collaboration that led to working with Nick Rowley on a case involving a child who suffered severe chemical burns at a resort pool.
• The team's "relentless pursuit of trial" approach and unwavering commitment to their demand led to a $26 million settlement that exhausted all available insurance coverage.
• Kenny is working to prevent tort reform legislation in South Carolina that would not only reform liquor liability laws but also eliminate bad faith claims and add non-parties to verdict forms.
• At TLU Beach, Kenny will teach how to visually connect defendant misconduct directly to plaintiff damages by using arrows and demonstrative exhibits.

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"By getting the first impression on a topic—whether good or bad—you create something that sticks, making it much harder for the defense to change it later," explains Stephen Burg in conversation with host Dan Ambrose. From surviving the Columbine tragedy to overcoming a rugby injury that left him with a traumatic brain injury, Stephen shares the moments of personal adversity that shaped his advocacy for clients. He discusses his strategic "First to Frame" approach for defusing problematic facts in jury selection, resulting in multiple seven-figure verdicts including an $18.1 million award for a client with addiction issues. Stephen and his father, Michael, will teach these framing techniques at TLU Beach (June 4-7), where they will coach trial lawyers on how to seize control of case narratives from the start.

☑️ Stephen Burg | LinkedIn

☑️ Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C. | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | YouTube

☑️ TLU Beach

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• Stephen was a student at Columbine High School during the 1999 school shooting, a pivotal moment that shaped his desire to help people who have experienced trauma.
• During a University of Wyoming alumni rugby game, Stephen suffered a brain injury that required two and a half years of cognitive therapy, giving him unique insight into his clients' experiences.
• In 2022, Stephen shattered his leg in a skiing accident that left him in a wheelchair for months, further deepening his understanding of loss of freedom and mobility that many clients face.
• Stephen has tried about 14 cases to verdict at Burg Simpson, the firm co-founded by his father, renowned trial attorney Michael Burg.
• His "First to Frame" method focuses on getting ahead of defense tactics by addressing problematic facts early in jury selection.
• Stephen recently secured a $5.3 million verdict in a case where the defense blamed his client for not looking both ways before entering an intersection on a green light.
• He effectively neutralized a client's history of drug use and addiction in jury selection, helping secure an $18.1 million verdict.
• Stephen emphasizes the importance of entertaining and educating jurors, including using demonstrative evidence like his electrical circuit demonstration that disproved defense theories in a recent case.
• At TLU Beach, Stephen and Michael Burg will present their "First to Frame" approach in both lecture and workshop formats.

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