2023 Annual Conference - Steamboat Springs CO. July 23-25 - 07/23/2023 to 07/25/2023Workshops for 2023 Annual Conference - Steamboat Springs CO. July 23-25 Lunch & Learn - Case Law Update
General Session
Workshop Materials
| Against All Tides: The Untold Story of the USS Kitty Hawk Race Riots (a Defense Attorney’s Perspective) (Ethics)
Against All Tides: The Untold Story of the USS Kitty Hawk Race Riots (a Defense Attorney's Perspective) (Ethics) . Marv Truhe, Author, Former US Navy JAG Lawyer This presentation is inspired by Mr. Truhe's book, Against All Tides, The Untold Story of the USS Kitty Hawk Race Riot. The book exposes the racial injustices perpetrated against 25 Black sailors who were charged with rioting aboard the Kitty Hawk in 1972 while it was conducting bombing runs into North Vietnam. Mr. Truhe's first-person account chronicles the incident and his defense of several of those sailors at their courts-martial trials. Mr. Truhe's presentation will draw from those experiences to discuss ethical dilemmas in the legal practice when answering to superiors and interplay with rules of professional conduct, as well as issues related to unconscious racial bias.
General Session
Workshop Materials
| Developing your Employment Case at the Administrative Level
Employment Law
| Farewell Reception
General Session
| Fundamental Considerations for Conducting and Interpreting Neuropsychological Testing
Fundamental Considerations in Neuropsychological Assessment
Brent Van Dorsten PhD
Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, Steamboat Springs CO
July 24, 2023
I. Introduction to Neuropsychological Testing (5 minutes)
A. General Purposes
B. Goals/Objectives
C. Result Uses
II. Injuries to the Head, Diagnosis, Prognosis (10 minutes)
A. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 1993, 2023
a. Concussion – grading
b. Traumatic Brain Injury
i. Mild, mild complicated, Moderate, Severe
c. Closed Head Injury
d. Post-Concussive Syndrome
B. Prognosis for Recovery
a. Mild vs. Moderate injury prognosis
C. Factors Influencing Recovery
a. TBI Severity – Multiple in close proximity, severity,
b. Multiple injuries to the head (severity, proximity, recovery)
c. Age
d. Neurological Disorder - MS, SLE/Lupus, CVA/MI with hypoxia/anoxia, TIA, seizure disorder, ADD/ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, liver disease, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s/dementia, Parkinson’s disease, aneurysm, HIV infection/AIDS, meningitis/encephalitis, tumor
e. Low levels of education – Level, grades/GPA, MR/DD/LD, learning disabilities.
f. Motivation/Secondary gain (litigation, disability incentives/seeking disability, worker’s compensation, overt or covert incentives for persistent impairments
g. Mood, high levels of somatization or emotional distress
III. Common Components to Evaluation (5 minutes)
A. Record Review and Clinical Interview
a. Prior injuries to head
b. Education, grades, achievement
i. Special education, remedial education
c. Medical history
i. Acute medical evaluation/EMT/ambulance ER findings, MRI/CT, GCS scores
ii. Neurological disease, sleep disorders/OSA
iii. Pain issues, substance abuse
d. Mood/Cognitive history
i. Mood disorders, diagnosis/treatment, ADD/ADHD
e. Prior Neuropsych/SLP/cognitive testing results
IV. Neuropsychological Testing (8 minutes)
A. Administration in Person, Computer, Length
a. Fixed vs. Flexible Battery/Hypothesis Testing
b. Most Common Areas Assessed
c. Multiple tests used in each area – verbal, non-verbal
i. Memory (visual, verbal, working, non-verbal) *
1. Immediate, Delayed
ii. Concentration/Sustained Attention
iii. Processing Speed*
iv. Language
v. Visuo-Spatial
vi. Executive Function*
vii. Psychomotor speed
B. Performance and Symptom Validity Testing (8 minutes)
a. Purpose/Intent
b. Frequency of invalid responding
c. Standard of Practice – number, number for “invalid” determination
d. Interpretation, report writing
V. Interpretation of Neuropsychological Testing Results (8 minutes)
A. “Normal Range” for Age, Education norms
i. High score variability is the NORM not the EXCEPTION
ii. Education and variability
iii. Pattern recognition (memory/concentration/attention)
B. Validity Determination – Opinion versus Valid Opinion
C. Factors Shown to Adversely Affect Neuropsychological Test Scores
i. Injury to Brain
ii. Mood – depression*, anxiety*, PTSD*, bipolar disorder, psychiatric conditions
iii. Medications*, medication side effects* – Opioid, sleep, neuroleptic meds
iv. Substance use*, abuse, withdrawal – Marijuana*, alcohol*, others
v. Orthopedic injuries*, severity*, chronicity, site
vi. Neurological conditions, vision*, hearing*, dizziness*,use of dominant hand*
vii. Sleep disorders, fatigue*, non-restorative sleep*, Obstructive Sleep Apnea*
viii. Motivation*, adherence vs resistance (timed tasks, memory tasks)
D. In order to determine injury/TBI as the explanation for impaired results, neuropsychologist must reasonably “rule out” the contribution of each of these factors as a potential contributor
VI. Summary (5 minutes)
A. Standard questions to Neuropsychology
B. Constructing the Test Battery to Answer the Question at Hand
C. Validity Determination
D. Scoring/Interpretation for Patterns in Comparison to Clinical Complaints
E. Determining prognosis for recovery/need for retesting
F. Clearly stating what neuropsychological WILL tell us and what it WON’T tell us
Professional Liability
Workshop Materials
CV
| Golf - Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club
| Guided Gourmet Hike
Your journey starts with a ride up the Steamboat Gondola, where the views of the Yampa Valley will be on full display. From there, your mountain Ambassador will lead you on a one-mile hike with vistas, forests and hopefully an animal sighting, all while learning about the mountain and surrounding areas. After the hike you will have lunch at the Oasis Sundeck at the Thunderhead Lodge, where you will be able to choose from variety of menu options.
Plan on two-hours for your hiking and lunch adventure. Wear sturdy shoes and be sure to bring water and a light jacket. The hike is not difficult although the elevation is slightly above 9K feet.
Guided Hike View
Guided Hikes will be available Fridays and Sundays starting June 16. Meet at the base of the Steamboat Gondola at 10:30am. Reservations are required. Reserve your spot by calling (800) 922-2722. For same day bookings, purchase on site by 10:00am.
https://www.steamboat.com/things-to-do/activity-details/guided-hike-and-lunch
| Insta-What?: Leveraging Social Media and Law Firm Marketing Ethics (Ethics)
General Litigation
| Judges Panel - New Paths in the Courtroom *
General Session
| Knowing When to Ask for Help: Early, Effective Use of Expert Witnesses in Construction Defect Disputes
With construction practices in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region growing increasingly complex, expert witnesses are more important than ever in preparing for an effective defense in the event of a claim. This presentation will focus on identifying construction defect issues early for which expert testimony may be necessary, selecting the appropriate expert for the subject matter, and effectively utilizing expert involvement at early stages to maximize benefit. Specific attention will be given to how to best use expert review in early resolution efforts, including mediations and negotiated settlements.
Construction Defect
Workshop Materials
CV
| Lessons from Darrow: Ethics and Advocacy in the Courtroom* (Ethics)
Lessons from Darrow: Ethics and Advocacy in the Courtroom*
This CLE workshop features a series of vignettes from the play “Clarence Darrow: A One-Man Play” (by David Rintels). Our Moderator, Meredith McDonald, will set the scene for each of these vignettes where Sandy Brook will perform as Clarence Darrow. The vignettes will be followed by commentary from our Panelists, seasoned trial attorneys Frank Patterson and Karen Wheeler, moderated by Meredith McDonald. Drawing from the vignettes, they will examine various examples of effective courtroom advocacy as well as ethical considerations that arise from Darrow’s advocacy, examining closing arguments, cross and direct examinations, and commentary on Darrow’s influences in his life as a lawyer.
Clarence Darrow (1852-1938)
“Our country, our civilization, our race is based upon the belief that for all his weaknesses, there is still in man that divine spark that will make him reach upward for something higher and better than anything he has ever known.”
Clarence Darrow is widely recognized as the best and most influential trial lawyer of the 20th century. Darrow’s work in the courtroom addressed head on the most controversial issues of the day long before these causes were accepted or popular. In a series of landmark cases, Darrow advocated for racial equality, the rights of workers, the teaching of evolution, and the abolishment of the death penalty.
The late United States Supreme Court Justice William 0’ Douglas wrote, “Darrow represented the weak against the strong and he always met bigotry head on.”
Over a fifty-year legal career, Darrow is most widely known for representing John T. Scopes in the Scopes “Monkey” Trial, in which he opposed Reverend William Jennings Bryan (three-time presidential candidate) in advocating for the right to teach evolution in public schools. Other notable cases include his condemnation of the death penalty in the defense of two young “genius” thrill killers, Leopold and Loeb; his representation of Eugene Debs, whose Railway Workers Union went on strike to protest intolerable working conditions; and his representation of Dr. Ossian Sweet, an African American accused of murder in defending his home against an angry crowd of racists. In total, Darrow tried 102 capital murder cases. Not one of his clients was put to death.
Darrow believed that his client’s circumstances arose from larger philosophical and social wrongs. Darrow defended these cases not only for his clients, but also for the hearts and minds of the American people. Since his death in 1938, two bestselling books, dozens of articles, and a Chair at the University of Michigan Law School honor him.
General Session
Workshop Materials
| Lunch & Learn: Legislative Update
The good, the bad and the ugly. What has Colorado’s Legislature been up to during the 2023 Legislative Session? Grab a sandwich and find out. This Lunch and Learn program will provide an overview of Colorado’s November 2022 elections and its immediate impact on the 2023 Legislature’s policy-making decisions. This session will discuss CDLA’s efforts during the past year to support and thwart new legislative measures impacting CDLA membership. This program will include a discussion and overview of new legislative measures that may impact case handling and strategies for those in the defense bar.
General Session
| Med Mal Expert Witness Issue Review: Update and Tips
This presentation will discuss the below issues related to endorsement of medical providers as retained and non-retained experts, issues in the context of medical malpractice litigation:
• Retained expert endorsements
o Rule 26 requirements
o CMO language
o Deposition v. endorsement
o Fees
o District court orders
• Non-retained expert endorsements
o Rule 26 requirements
o CMO language
o District court orders
• Ex parte meetings with treating providers
o Authority
o CMO language
o Meetings/records/standard of care opinions
o Challenge to sufficiency of endorsement
o District court orders
Professional Liability
Workshop Materials
| Mosquitos and Sledgehammers …and Other Impacts of Unconscious Bias (EDI Credit)
General Session
Workshop Materials
| Mountain Bike Trail Ride
Your journey starts with a ride up the Steamboat Gondola, where the views of the Yampa Valley will be on full display. From there, your mountain Ambassador will lead you on a one-mile hike with vistas, forests and hopefully an animal sighting, all while learning about the mountain and surrounding areas. After the hike you will have lunch at the Oasis Sundeck at the Thunderhead Lodge, where you will be able to choose from variety of menu options.
Plan on two-hours for your hiking and lunch adventure. Wear sturdy shoes and be sure to bring water and a light jacket. The hike is not difficult although the elevation is slightly above 9K feet.
Guided Hike View
Guided Hikes will be available Fridays and Sundays starting June 16. Meet at the base of the Steamboat Gondola at 10:30am. Reservations are required. Reserve your spot by calling (800) 922-2722. For same day bookings, purchase on site by 10:00am.
| Opening Reception - Timber & Torch
General Session
| Premesis Liabilty Act II: Advanced Issues and Strategies
General Litigation
Workshop Materials
| Premises Liabilty Act I: Brush up on Basics
General Litigation
| Reception Dinner - Thunderhead Lodge - (Ride the Gondola) @5:30
General Session
| Reptile Theory, Runaway Verdicts, and Punitive Damages*
General Session
Workshop Materials
CV
| The Art of Jury Selection*
General Session
Workshop Materials
CV
| The Island of Misfit Lawyers
The Island of Misfit Lawyers:
Creating Professional Communities Where Everyone Can Thrive
A lawyer’s experience in the legal profession conjures different emotions, experiences, and attitudes based on factors related to one’s identities. These identities, both personal and professional, will ultimately be embraced or rejected by the cultural and leadership norms of the profession. When their identities are rejected, some lawyers simply feel as though they don’t belong. They become legal misfits. Colorado’s legal community has many self-proclaimed misfits. Each of them seeking community, opportunity, and authenticity. Together, we form places of refuge, small islands, where those who don’t fit the mold can find belonging.
This presentation will explore cultural and leadership pain points that undermine belonging in the legal profession. We will also examine the ways in which small habits that every lawyer and organizational leader can employ to build bridges across the islands of misfit and join in the work of creating professional communities and cultures where everyone can thrive. Afterall, discovering your unique gifts is part of what makes this journey worth the effort. Welcome to the island!
Agenda
5 mins. Introduction
1) About Ryann, logistics, and training expectations.
20 mins. PART 1: Professional Pain Points & The Value of Belonging
1) A discussion about “lawyer professional identity”: how it is formed, challenges and benefits of identity, and the ways in which identity is accepted or rejected by traditional legal profession norms and expectations.
2) The ways in which belonging and uniqueness are cultivated in legal organizations based on professional identity.
3) Leadership styles that impact feelings of belonging in the legal profession.
4) The ways in which culture impact feelings of belonging in the legal profession.
20 mins. PART 2: The Atomic Legal Organization
1) Why “Atomic”? In a sense, lawyers and legal employers are like the atoms of our profession. They are fundamental units that combine into the overall system and culture that make up our professional world.
2) Six Steps to Generating Belonging for Legal Misfits
3) Measuring the Impact of Bias & Motivating Institutional Change
a. Examining Organizational Culture
b. Analyzing Organizational Culture
5 mins. Question & Answer
General Session
Workshop Materials
| The New Age of Remote Proceedings - Pitfalls, Pros, and Cons*
General Session
Workshop Materials
| The Wild, Wild West: Battles in Property Damage Bad Faith and Appraisals
Construction Defect
Workshop Materials
| Trial Skills Refresher Series: Expert Cross Exam*
General Litigation
| Trial Skills Refresher Series: Jury Instructions and Conferences*
General Litigation
Workshop Materials
| Trial Skills Refresher Series: Preserving Your Record -Trial and Appellate Perspectives*
General Litigation
Workshop Materials
| Vendor Raffle Drawing
General Session
| Welcome & Announcements
General Session
| Worker's Comp Update: Navigating New DIME Rules
Workers' Compensation
Workshop Materials
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