For The Defense, December 2011 - DRI Today
For The Defense, December 2011 - DRI Today
For The Defense, December 2011 - DRI Today
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Whenever I go to a conference, reception, or similar event,<br />
I set a simple goal: learn one new idea and meet one new<br />
friend. Sounds simple, right? As lawyers, we are all busy.<br />
In fact, we pride ourselves on being busy. When you ask<br />
someone how they are doing, the common<br />
response is “I’m really busy,” to which we<br />
generally reply by telling them how busy<br />
we are as well. It is as if the busiest person<br />
wins. Well, 2012 is the perfect time for you<br />
to slow down and focus on learning one<br />
new idea and making one new friend in the<br />
Trucking Law Committee.<br />
Speaking of new ideas, the Trucking Law<br />
Committee has been hard at work planning<br />
the 2012 Trucking Law Seminar: Road<br />
Warriors 2012—Reshaping Trucking Litigation,<br />
to take place February 16–17 at the<br />
fabulous Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale,<br />
Arizona. M.J. Dobbs, Program Chair,<br />
and Brett Ross, Program Vice Chair, and<br />
their steering committee have put together<br />
an incredible, not-to-be-missed program.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2012 seminar features a keynote<br />
speech by David Osiecki of the American<br />
Trucking Associations about the upcoming<br />
legislative and regulatory agenda affecting<br />
the trucking industry. In addition, there<br />
are practical segments on voir dire in a<br />
trucking case, handling the nontraditional<br />
trucking case, handling damages after stipulating<br />
to liability, and defending the driver’s<br />
history. <strong>The</strong>re are breakout sessions<br />
for new- to- trucking attorneys on medical<br />
issues and advanced sessions on loading/<br />
unloading, trucking employment issues,<br />
and the ever- evolving CSA. Finally, the<br />
seminar will introduce two live features: a<br />
driving simulation and a live independent<br />
medical exam (IME). This is truly a seminar<br />
where you will learn much more than<br />
just one new idea.<br />
On the “meet one new person” goal,<br />
the 2012 seminar offers numerous opportunities<br />
to network with trucking attorneys<br />
from around the country at breakfast<br />
gatherings, cocktail receptions, and the<br />
ever- popular dine-arounds. <strong>The</strong> last seminar<br />
hosted nearly 650 attendees, including<br />
numerous industry representatives, and<br />
the up- coming seminar expects to be even<br />
grander. If you cannot meet one new per-<br />
son in this venue, you are not trying very<br />
hard.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Trucking Law Committee offers<br />
many more opportunities to learn new<br />
ideas from our quarterly newsletter, In<br />
Transit, and this issue of <strong>For</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Defense</strong>.<br />
Thanks to Publications Chair Stephen<br />
Pesarchick and Publications Vice Chair<br />
John Lomax Anderson for their efforts in<br />
putting these materials together. <strong>The</strong> committee<br />
publications offer an excellent way<br />
to get involved in the committee and share<br />
your knowledge and experiences. If you<br />
have an article or an idea, let us know and<br />
we will work to get you published.<br />
Combining new ideas and new friends,<br />
2012 will continue the development of<br />
the Trucking Law Specialized Litigation<br />
Groups (SLGs). <strong>The</strong>se subgroups include<br />
Biomechanics/Accident Reconstruction,<br />
Cargo Claims, Insurance Coverage,<br />
Logistics, New Trucking Attorney/Young<br />
Lawyers, and Regulatory/Governmental<br />
Affairs. SLG Chair Pat Sweeney and<br />
SLG Vice Chair Sara Turner are recruiting<br />
members to each of these groups to<br />
get more people involved in the committee<br />
and we hope you will join one or more of<br />
the SLGs. <strong>The</strong> more people get involved the<br />
more productive these groups will become,<br />
leading to more new ideas and more new<br />
friends.<br />
As you read through the following pages<br />
of excellent articles, written by experienced<br />
trucking practitioners, strive to learn one<br />
new idea that you can put into your practice<br />
today. And as you prepare for 2012,<br />
strive to make the one new friend in the<br />
Trucking Law Committee. In the end, you<br />
will find that the new idea/new friend idea<br />
is a way to grow your practice professionally<br />
and personally. Good luck, and I look<br />
forward to making many new friends at the<br />
2012 seminar in Scottsdale.<br />
<strong>For</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Defense</strong> ■ <strong>December</strong> <strong>2011</strong> ■ 49