2012 Primerus Defense Institute Transportation Seminar

March 1-2, 2012 Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino

Las Vegas, Nevada

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF PRIMERUS LAW FIRMS?

Welcome to Primerus, an international society of the world’s finest independent boutique law firms. Meeting our rigorous standards is not easy, so you can be sure any of our nearly 2,800 lawyers from 190+ member law firms can meet your needs. Our International Society of Lawyers based in 125 cities and over 35 countries around the world has just the attorney you are looking for.

Primerus has become the size of some of the world’s largest law firms. However, unlike most large law firms, Primerus is growing at an unprecedented pace, and is expanding throughout Europe, Asia, and elsewhere around the globe. In every country, the top lawyers of Primerus have the skill and experience to advise clients on the international aspects of their transactions. Primerus lawyers deliver high quality legal services at reasonable fees; that’s how Primerus lawyers work for you. To learn more about the world’s top lawyers at Primerus and the trusted legal services our law firm association provides, visit www.Primerus.com or call us at (800) 968-2211.

About the Primerus Defense Institute The Primerus Defense Institute (“PDI”) is a collaborative endeavor engaging Primerus defense attorneys and corporate defense representatives for the purpose of lowering business litigation costs and reducing exposure to liability. Participating corporate clients are leaders in their respective industries. Participating defense lawyers meet the high standards of excellence required of membership in the International Society of Primerus Law Firms.

The PDI provides continuing legal education in the areas of liability avoidance and litigation management. Corporate defense counsel and their clients participate in an annual Convocation to explore, discuss and share best practices in reducing risk, handling claims, and defending lawsuits.

The Primerus Defense Institute is a valuable resource for corporations seeking outside counsel in distant jurisdictions. That’s because the PDI is an international society of over 1,000 of the finest independent defense lawyers with expertise in nearly every aspect of corporate defense litigation. The Primerus Defense Institute makes it easy to find highly skilled, seasoned litigation counsel across the country. Search our online database at www.Primerus.com or call us at (800) 968-2211.

Timon V. Sullivan, Esq. PDI Chair Ogden & Sullivan, P.A. 113 South Armenia Avenue Tampa, FL 33609 Phone: (813) 223-5111 tsullivan@ogdensullivan.com www.ogdensullivan.com

Vanessa Crocetto Director of Member Services Primerus Law Firms 171 Monroe Avenue NW, Suite 750 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Phone: (616) 454-9939 vcrocetto@primerus.com www.Primerus.com

About the Primerus Transportation Practice Group The Transportation Practice Group focuses on assisting the transportation and trucking industry in the defense of wrongful death, personal injury, property damage and cargo claims. Primerus member firms are prepared to assist with accident investigations and assessments on an immediate basis. The group has the ability to perform these tasks throughout the United States. Primerus Defense Institute (PDI) Attorneys participating in the Transportation Practice Group meet and adhere to the following standards:

Actively practice law for a minimum of 10 years

Significant portion of practice dedicated to transportation defense work within the last 2 years

Minimum of 5 years experience in the practice area of transportation defense

Actively pursue continuing legal education in transportation defense, including federal and state regulations and mandates

Significant trial experience in general defense litigation Group Initiatives:

Annual PDI Transportation Practice Group Seminar

Periodic webinars focusing on current transportation specific issues

National directory of PDI attorneys who meet or exceed the standards for participation within the Transportation Practice Group

2012 Primerus Transportation Practice Group: Executive Committee

Scott D. Hofer, Esq. Chair Foland, Wickens, Eisfelder, Roper & Hofer, P.C. Kansas City, Missouri

Thomas J. Dargan, Esq. CLE Chair Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles L.L.P. New York, New York

Jay R. Downs, Esq. Immediate Past Chair Downs. Stanford, P.C. Dallas, Texas

Brian H. Buddell, Esq. Vice Chair Brydon Hugo & Parker San Francisco, California

Jason C. Palmer, Esq. Member at Large Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C. Des Moines, Iowa

PRIMERUS DEFENSE INSTITUTE STAFF:

Ruth E. Martin, Esq.

Senior Vice President & General Counsel - Primerus

Vanessa M. Crocetto

Director of Member Services - Primerus

2012 PDI Transportation Seminar Agenda

Thursday, March 1, 2012 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception

Friday, March 2, 2012 8:00-8:45 a.m. Continental Breakfast 8:45-9:30 a.m. Welcome & Introductions

Scott D. Hofer, Esq., Transportation Group Chair (Foland, Wickens, Eisfelder, Roper & Hofer, P.C. – Kansas City, MO)

9:30-10:30 a.m. Biomechanical Engineers: What a Qualified BE Can Lend to Your Defense

Kirk L. Thibault, PhD (Biomechanics, Inc. – Exton, PA)

10:30-10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m.-Noon Pre-Lawsuit Investigations for Trucking Accidents

Jason C. Palmer, Esq.

(Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C. – Des Moines, IA)

Tim Oliver (Covenant Transport – Chattanooga, TN)

Noon-1:15 p.m. Lunch

1:15-2:00 p.m. Trying “Small” Cases & Keeping it Affordable

Jay R. Downs, Esq. (Downs.Stanford, P.C. – Dallas, TX)

Elizabeth Vaughn (BlueLinx Corporation – Atlanta, GA) 2:00-2:45 p.m. CSA Update & Using Driver Applicant PSP Reports

Thomas J. Dargan, Esq. (Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, L.L.P. – New York, NY)

2:45-3:30 p.m. Jury Selection for Trucking Cases: Overcoming a Sympathetic Jury

Aaron M. Pool, Esq. (Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool, P.C. – Houston, TX) 3:30 p.m. Seminar Wrap-Up & Closing Remarks

“Biomechanical Engineers: What a Qualified BE Can Lend to Your Defense”

March 2nd, 2012 (9:30a.m.-10:30a.m.)

Presented by:

Kirk L. Thibault, PhD – Biomechanics, Inc. (Exton, PA)

I. BIOMECHANICS 101 – AN INTRODUCTION

A. Background and Training B. Human Injury Biomechanics - Examples C. Engineer versus Clinician

II. BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS – THE FUNDAMENTALS

A. Three Phases of Biomechanical Analysis i. Loading environment

ii. Injury mechanism iii. Injury tolerance

B. Data Requirements for Biomechanical Analysis i. Scene, site and event data

a. Police report b. Scene photographs c. Scene/site measurements d. Documentation of damaged vehicles, vehicle

inspection, equipment inspection e. Witness statements, depositions

ii. Medical record data a. Prior medical history b. Acute, emergent medical record c. On-going medical record

C. Results of a Biomechanical Analysis i. Test the validity of a claim of injury given the event data

ii. Determine the probable mechanism of injury in the context of the event

iii. Evaluate the differential outcome of a hypothetical intervention (seatbelt, helmet, etc.)

III. BENEFITS OF BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS

A. Evidence-based analysis of project data B. Quantitative, physical basis for analysis and conclusions C. Dovetails with other expert analyses (Accident Reconstruction,

Clinical, Engineering) IV. CASE STUDIES

A. Truck versus Automobile B. Truck versus Pedestrian C. Mining Truck Fatality

V. CONCLUSION

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Speaker Biography

Honors & Awards

Benjamin Franklin Scholar, University of Pennsylvania

Young Engineer Award, Engineer’s Club of Philadelphia,

ASME

Hexagon Senior Society, University of Pennsylvania

Pi Tau Sigma, Mechanical Engineering Honor Society

Scholarships Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National

Centers for Injury

Prevention and Control, Research Fellow

University of Pennsylvania, University Fellow

Administrative Responsibilities

1990-1991 Vice President, Hexagon Senior Society,

University of Pennsylvania

1993-1994 President, Graduate Association of

Bioengineers, University of Pennsylvania

Member

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Society of Automotive Engineers

Education

B.S., University of Pennsylvania, 1991 (Benjamin Franklin

Scholar)

M.S., University of Pennsylvania, 1993

Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1997

Thesis

Thesis - “Pediatric Head Injuries: The Influence of Brain

and Skull Mechanical Properties.” University of

Pennsylvania, 1997 (Experimental skull, suture and brain

property data combined with a finite element model of the

pediatric skull/brain – designed to analyze age-dependent

injury potential from impact loading.)

Kirk L. Thibault, Ph.D. Biomechanics, Inc. Stonebank Offices, Suite 400 967 East Swedesford Road Exton, Pennsylvania 19341 (484) 318-8025 Phone (484) 318-8027 Fax kthibault@biomechanicsinc.com

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF PRIMERUS LAW FIRMS

Bibliography

Meaney, D.F., Thibault, K.L., Gennarelli, T.A. and

Thibault, L.E. “Experimental Investigation of the

Relationship Between Head Kinematics and Intracranial

Tissue Deformation.” ASME Bioengineering Conference,

BED-Vol. 24, 1993.

Thibault, K.L., Radin, A. and Margulies, S.S. “Age-

Dependent Properties of Porcine Skull.” CDC Sixth Injury

Prevention Through Biomechanics Symposium, Detroit,

MI, 1996.

Thibault, K.L. and Margulies, S.S. “Material Properties of

the Developing Porcine Brain.” IRCOBI International

Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact, Dublin,

Ireland, 1996.

Thibault, K.L., Kurtz, S.M. and Margulies, S.S. “Effect of

the Age-Dependent Properties of the Braincase on the

Response of the Infant Brain to Impact.” ASME IMECE97,

Dallas, TX, 1997.

Arbogast, K.B., Thibault, K.L., et al. “A High-Frequency

Shear Device for Testing Soft Biological Tissues.” J.

Biomechanics 30:757-759, 1997.

Thibault, K.L., and Margulies, S.S. “Age-Dependent

Material Properties of the Porcine Cerebrum Affect

Pediatric Head Injury Criteria.” J Biomech. Dec (12):1119-

26, 1998.

Runge, C.F., Youssef, A., Thibault, K.L., Kurtz, S.M.,

Magram, G. and Thibault, L.E. “Material Properties of

Human Infant Skull and Suture: Experiments and

Numerical Analysis.” CDC Eighth Injury Prevention

Through Biomechanics Symposium, Detroit, MI, 1998.

Kurtz, S.M., Thibault, K.L., Giddings, V.L., Runge, C.F.

and Thibault, L.E. “Finite Element Analysis of the

Deformation of the Human Infant Head Under Impact

Conditions.” CDC Eighth Injury Prevention Through

Biomechanics Symposium, Detroit, MI, 1998.

Kurtz, S.M., Thibault, K.L., Kothari, M., Giddings, V.L. and

Thibault, L.E. “Structural Response of the Infant

Braincase to Multidirectional Impacts.” World Congress of

Biomechanics, Japan, 1998.

Thibault, K.L., Kurtz, S.M., Runge, C.F., Giddings, V.L.

and Thibault, L.E. “Numerical Assessment of Skull

Fracture, Diffuse Brain Injury and Subdural Hematoma

Risk for the Pediatric Population.” CDC Ninth Injury

Prevention Through Biomechanics Symposium, Detroit,

MI, 1999.

Thibault, K.L., Kurtz, S.M., Runge, C.F., Giddings, V.L. and

Thibault, L.E. “Material Properties of the Infant Skull and

Application to Numerical Analysis of Pediatric Head Injury.”

IRCOBI International Conference on the Biomechanics of

Impact, Sitges, Spain, 1999.

Margulies, SS and Thibault, K.L. Infant skull and suture

properties: measurements and implications for mechanisms of

pediatric brain injury. J Biomech Eng. Aug;122(4):364-71, 2000.

Leestma JE and Thibault KL. “Chapter 6 - Physical Injury to the

Nervous System.” Forensic Neuropathology, 2nd Edition. Ed.

Jan E. Leestma. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2009. 399-560.

VanEe C, Moroski-Brown B, Raymond D, Thibault K, Hardy W

and Plunkett J. Evaluation and Refinment of the CRABI-6

Anthropomorphic Test Device Injury Criteria for Skull Fracture.

IMECE2009-12973. Proceedings of the ASME 2009

International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition

IMECE2009 November 13-19, 2009, Lake Buena Vista, Florida,

USA.

VanEe C, Raymond D, Thibault K, Hardy W and Plunkett J.

Child ATD Reconstruction of a Fatal Pediatric Fall.

IMECE2009-12994. Proceedings of the ASME 2009

International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition

IMECE2009 November 13-19, 2009, Lake Buena Vista, Florida,

USA.

“Pre-Lawsuit Investigations for Trucking Accidents”

March 2nd, 2012 (10:45a.m.-Noon)

Presented by: Jason C. Palmer, Esq. - Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C.

(Des Moines, IA)

Tim Oliver - Covenant Transport (Chattanooga, TN)

I. BEING PREPARED

A. Team in Place i. If hired by the Insurance Carrier

ii. If hired by the Motor Carrier

II. INTERNAL OPERATIONS OF CARRIER/INSURANCE COMPANY IN HANDLING CLAIM A. Response Triage B. On-Call Response Team C. Initial Assessment/Internal Notifications

III. ISSUES ARISING FROM THE INTERACTION WITH THE DRIVER

A. Advising the driver regarding speaking with law enforcement B. Potential criminal charges C. Separate Counsel

i. Conflict between Motor Carrier and driver’s interests – civil liability – punitive damages

ii. Defend or Plea iii. Completion of internal accident

reports/Preventability/Self-Critical Analysis

IV. WITNESSES A. Taking Statements B. Private Investigators

V. GATHERING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

A. Accident Re-constructionist B. Downloading onboard computers/GPS Data/Qualcomm C. Cell Phone and Text Messaging D. DOT Drug/Alcohol Tests E. Investigation “holds” by law enforcement F. Preservation of evidence

i. For client ii. Preservation letters to others

VI. EMPHATIC APPROACH TO SETTLEMENT

A. When and How often B. Un-represented persons

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INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF PRIMERUS LAW FIRMS

Speaker Biography

Practice Areas

• Commercial Litigation

• Construction Law and Litigation

• Litigation and Trial Law

• Product Liability

• Transportation Law and Litigation

Admitted to the Bar

• Wisconsin State Bar, 1997

• Iowa State Bar, 1998

• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa

• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa

• U.S. Tax Court

Biography

• Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C.

Member

• Conference of Freight Counsel

• Defense Research Institute

• Iowa Defense Counsel Association

• Iowa State Bar Association

• Polk County Bar Association

• Transportation Law Association

• Trucking Industry Defense Association

• (Primerus) International Society of Primerus Law Firms

Education

• University of Iowa, B.S., 1994

• Drake University Law School, J.D. with honors, 1997

Jason C. Palmer, Esq. Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C. 801 Grand Avenue, Suite 3700 Des Moines, Iowa 50309 (515) 243-4191 Phone (515) 246-5808 Fax palmer.jason@bradshawlaw.com www.bradshawlaw.com

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF PRIMERUS LAW FIRMS

Speaker Biography

Biography

Married to Melanie (School Teacher)

Father of two sons, Brock (22) & Bryn (19)

Formerly Employed with State Farm - Auto Claim

Department (1985 - 2008)

Currently Employed with Covenant Transport Group -

Senior Examiner (2008 - Present)

Education

University of Tennessee (Chattanooga) 1985

Tim Oliver Covenant Transportation, Inc. 400 Birmingham Highway Chattanooga, TN 37422 (423) 463-3455 Phone olitim@covenanttransport.com www.covenanttransport.com

“Trying ‘Small’ Cases & Keeping it Affordable”

March 2nd, 2012 (1:15p.m.-2:00p.m.)

Presented by: Jay R. Downs, Esq. - Downs.Stanford, P.C. (Dallas, TX) Elizabeth Vaughn - BlueLinx Corporation (Atlanta, GA)

I. DEFINING A “SMALL” CASE

II. IDENTIFYING THE CASE FOR WHAT IT IS EARLY IN THE GAME

III. DECIDING WHERE TO SPEND MONEY AND WHERE TO NOT SPEND MONEY

IV. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COUNSEL AND CLIENT THAT WILL HELP POSTURE THE

CASE FOR TRIAL

V. NOT TAKING THE BAIT AND MAINTAINING THE EVALUATION THROUGHOUT THE

LIFE OF THE CASE

VI. THE TRIAL

VII. AFFIRMING WHAT YOUR COMMON SENSE WAS TELLING YOU ALL ALONG

VIII. EVEN A BLIND HOG FINDS AN ACORN NOW AND THEN

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Speaker Biography

Practice Areas

• Personal Injury

• Insurance Defense

• Products Liability

• Civil Litigation

• Commercial Litigation

Admitted to the Bar

• State of Texas (1982)

• United States Supreme Court

• United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

• United States District Court—Northern, Southern,

Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas

Biography

• A founder and shareholder of Downs.Stanford

Member

• College of the State Bar of Texas

• Dallas Bar Association

• Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow

• State Bar of Texas

• Texas Association of Defense Counsel

• Defense Research Institute

• Trucking Industry Defense Association

• International Society of Primerus Law Firms

(Primerus) - Co-Chairman, Primerus Defense Institute,

Transportation Section, 2009-2010

Education

• Baylor University, B.A., 1976

• Baylor University, J.D., 1982

Jay R. Downs, Esq. Downs.Stanford, P.C. 2001 Bryan Street, Suite 4000 Dallas, Texas 75201 (214) 748-7900 Phone (214) 748-4530 Fax jdowns@downsstanford.com www.downsstanford.com

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF PRIMERUS LAW FIRMS

A founder and shareholder of Downs.Stanford, Mr. Downs

oversees the firm’s defense of personal injury and wrongful

death cases, business litigation, employment law and family

law practices. He is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and

Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal

Specialization and a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by

the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He offers more than 25

years of experience in areas including the defense of complex

tort cases involving catastrophic injuries and death; significant

commercial disputes and family law cases involving intricate

property and child-related issues. With experience including

more than 100 trials to verdict in seven states, he regularly

represents businesses and individuals in county, state and

federal courts. Mr. Downs is a trained mediator and is also

known as an entertaining speaker for clients and bar

organizations on various legal topics including ethics. He is

credited with a number of published articles in periodicals

such as The Insurance Journal, For the Defense, Trial

Lawyers’ Forum and Today’s CPA.

Certifications and Pro Hac Vice Admissions

• AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

• Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy

• Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

• Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal

Specialization

• Pro HAC Vice Admissions: California, Montana, Kansas,

Michigan, Illinois, and Mississippi

• Super Lawyers 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Publications

• Columnist, Insurance Journal, 1996-1998.

• "Unlearning Old Falsehoods About Trial," Insurance

Journal, Volume 3, Number 14, September, 1997.

• "A Guide to the Statute of Limitations in Professional

Liability Suits," Insurance Journal, Volume 2, Number 7,

July, 1996.

• "Declaratory Judgment Actions: Who Pays the Insured's

Legal Fees?" For the Defense, Volume 38, Number 2,

February, 1996.

• "The Phenomenon of Zinc Whisker Growth and the

Rotary Switch," Metal Finishing Magazine, Volume 92,

Number 6, August, 1994.

• "Ten Ways a CPA Can be Sued," Today's CPA,

November, 1992.

• "The Affirmative Defense of Inability to Pay," Trial

Lawyers Forum, June, 1992.

• "Finding the Hidden Party," Trial Lawyers Forum, June

1992.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF PRIMERUS LAW FIRMS

Speaker Biography

Biography

Formerly employed as a Risk Manager for RTM

Restaurant Group (Arby’s, Mrs. Winners’, and Shoney’s)

Senior Claims Adjuster for Sedgwick CMS and Liberty

Mutual Insurance Company.

Currently employed as the Risk Manager for BlueLinx

Corporation (2006 – present).

Education

University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL – BA, 1993

University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL – MA, 1995

Associate in Risk Management (ARM) – 2008

Elizabeth Vaughn BlueLinx Corporation 4300 Wildwood Parkway Atlanta, Georgia 30339 (770) 221-2851 Phone elizabeth.vaughn@bluelinxco.com

www.bluelinxco.com

“CSA Update & Using Driver Applicant PSP Reports”

March 2nd, 2012 (2:00p.m.-2:45p.m.)

Presented by: Thomas J. Dargan, Esq. - Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, L.L.P. (New York, NY)

I. INTRODUCTION

A. The primary goal of CSA is the commencement of the Safety Measurement System (SMS), which will compile and analyze all safety-based violations from inspections and crash data to attempt to reach a determination of a commercial carrier’s on-road performance. The new CSA is an effort to enable the FMCSA to reach more carriers early and deploy a range of corrective interventions to address specific safety problems. As of January 3, 2011, limited CSA Safety Measurement System data was publicly available online1.

B. The purpose of this CLE program is to provide a brief overview of the CSA measures implemented by the federal government, to discuss compliance issues, and to take a look at several anticipated litigation implications.

C. A second component of this lecture involves employer use of

PSP reports for applicant drivers.

II. OVERVIEW – THE SAFETY MEASUREMENT SYSTEM A. The SMS provides seven (7) safety improvement categories

called BASICs to examine a carrier’s on road performance and potential crash risk. The BASICs are as follows2:

1 FMCSA – Analysis & Information online: Safety Measurement System, http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms/Default.aspx 2 FMCSA – CSA: Safety Measurement System, http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/basics.aspx

i. Unsafe driving - Operation of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) by drivers in a dangerous or careless manner. Example violations: Speeding, reckless driving, improper lane change, and inattention.

ii. Fatigued driving (Hours-of-Service) - Operation of CMVs by drivers who are ill, fatigued, or in non-compliance with the Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations. This BASIC includes violations of regulations pertaining to logbooks as they relate to HOS requirements and the management of CMV driver fatigue. Example violations: Exceeding HOS requirements, maintaining an incomplete or inaccurate logbook, and operating a CMV while ill or fatigued.

iii. Driver fitness - Operation of CMVs by drivers who are

unfit to operate a CMV due to lack of training, experience, or medical qualifications. Example violations: Failure to have a valid and appropriate commercial driver’s license (CDL) and being medically unqualified to operate a CMV.

iv. Controlled substances/alcohol - Operation of CMVs by

drivers who are impaired due to alcohol, illegal drugs, and misuse of prescription or over-the-counter medications. Example violations: Use or possession of controlled substances/alcohol.

v. Vehicle maintenance - Failure to properly maintain a

CMV. Example violations: Brakes, lights, and other mechanical defects, and failure to make required repairs.

vi. Cargo related - Failure to properly prevent shifting loads, spilled or dropped cargo, overloading, and unsafe handling of hazardous materials on a CMV. Example violations: Improper load securement, cargo retention, and hazardous material handling.

vii. Crash indicator - Histories or patterns of high crash

involvement, including frequency and severity. It is based on information from State-reported crashes.

B. By reviewing violations in each of the above-enumerated

categories, the intention of CSA is to permit the FMCSA and State law enforcement to be more equipped to identify carriers with patterns of high-risk behaviors. The FMCSA can then apply interventions that provide carriers the information necessary to change unsafe practices. Interventions include early warning letters, targeted roadside inspections and focused compliance reviews that concentrate enforcement resources on specific identified issues.

III. USING PSP REPORTS

A. What is the Pre-Employment Screening Program? The Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) is a screening tool that allows motor carriers and individual drivers to purchase driving records from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). Records are available for 24 hours a day via Web request.

B. What information does the Driver Information Resource record (DIR) contain?

Driver Information Resource records purchased through PSP contain the most recent 5 years of crash data and 3

years of roadside inspection data from the FMCSA MCMIS system.

C. Is information from traffic tickets going to be posted prior to the court date or will the information only be posted if there is a conviction?

No. The PSP only contains MCMIS information.

D. Why did FMCSA develop the PSP? Developing a system to make safety performance information electronically available for pre-employment screening purposes was mandated by Congress in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, Title 49 U.S. Code, section 31150 Public Law 109-59 Section 4117. FMCSA believes that making this driver data available to potential employers and operator-applicants will improve the quality of safety data and help employers make more informed decisions when hiring commercial drivers. The PSP provides more rapid access to commercial driver safety performance information than was previously available under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act requests.

E. Is the operator-applicant informed when this data is released?

No, the operator-applicant will not receive separate notice from NIC that the information was released. However, it is mandatory that the motor carrier receive the operator-applicant's written consent prior to the data being released.

F. How does an operator-applicant know that their information was not released without his/her consent? Is the operator-applicant notified each time information is released?

NIC is subject to routine audits by FMCSA to ensure compliance with applicable Federal laws and regulations and compliance with the contract terms. Motor carriers are subject to random audits by NIC and/or FMCSA to ensure that operator-applicant written consent is obtained and those records of consent are maintained. As stated previously, since operator-applicants are consenting to the release of the information either through a prospective employer or through the PSP system themselves, there is no independent notice provided to operator-applicants.

G. Does a motor carrier have to use the PSP for hiring drivers? No, the PSP is a voluntary program for carriers.

H. How do motor carriers obtain the data? FMCSA is working with a contractor, National Information Consortium Technologies, LLC (NIC Technologies), to provide the data to motor carriers with the operator-applicant’s written consent. The motor carrier must enroll to participate in the PSP program. Then, the motor carrier will be provided credentials to access the PSP online service. A carrier needs an Internet connection and a Web browser to access PSP.

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Speaker Biography

Practice Areas

• Commercial Litigation

• Casualty Defense Litigation

• Catastrophic Trucking Accidents

• Construction Accidents

• Products Liability

• Dram Shop Actions

• Premises Liability

Admitted to the Bar

• State Bar of New York, 1997

• United States District Court for the Southern and

Eastern Districts of New York, 1998

Biography

Partner, Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles L.L.P.

Member

• Transportation Lawyers Association

• Defense Research Institute - Trucking Committee

• (Primerus) International Society of Primerus Law

Firms

Education

• Providence College, B.A., 1993

• Hofstra University School of Law, J.D., 1996

Thomas (Tom) J. Dargan, Esq. Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles L.L.P. 61 Broadway, Suite 2000 New York, New York 10006 (212) 233-7195 Phone (212) 233-7196 Fax tjdargan@lewisjohs.com www.lewisjohs.com

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF PRIMERUS LAW FIRMS

Tom Dargan's practice focuses on the representation of commercial clients in transportation law and complex civil litigation. He defends numerous corporate and commercial clients in state and federal courts involving commercial litigation and casualty defense litigation, including catastrophic trucking accidents, construction accidents, products liability, dram shop actions and premises liability. Tom is a member of the Lewis Johs Catastrophic Loss Response Team. Tom represents self-insured trucking companies and transportation companies directly and through their insurance carriers. He advises commercial specialty units of several insurance carriers with respect to topics including first and third party claims, personal injury and accident claims, regulatory compliance issues, environmental concerns, long-haul trucking claims, cargo and product liability matters. He is experienced in assisting clients during the critical early hours of trucking accident investigations. He developed the Catastrophic Loss Response Manual for the benefit of the firm’s clients. Tom has lectured to corporate clients and insurance organizations on a variety of topics, including transportation losses, crisis communications planning and investigation procedures for significant casualties. Additionally, he acts as regional counsel to an international insurer for the trucking industry as part of their catastrophic loss response team. Tom specializes in counseling the firm's clients with respect to crisis management and communications strategies. Tom was admitted to practice law in the State of New York in 1997 and the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York in 1998. He is an executive committee member of the Primerus Transportation Practice Group and he frequently speaks at the Primerus Transportation Law conference. He is a member of the Transportation Lawyers Association and the Defense Research Institute ("DRI"). He is a member of DRI's Trucking Committee and a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC). Tom is active with the Three Village Chamber of Commerce. He performs pro bono work on behalf of the Baldwin Union Free School District and the New York School Bus Contractors Association. His articles have been published both in the Nassau Lawyer and Suffolk Lawyer publications. In 1996, Tom Dargan received his Juris Doctor degree from Hofstra University School of Law, where he served as the Research Editor of the Hofstra Labor Law Journal. In 1993, he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree, cum laude, in English

Literature from Providence College.

“Jury Selection for Trucking Cases: Overcoming a Sympathetic Jury”

March 2nd, 2012 (2:45p.m.-3:30p.m.)

Presented by:

Aaron M. Pool, Esq. - Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool, P.C. (Houston, TX)

This section will contain a discussion of topics to cover with a jury panel, ways to identify and “draw out” unfavorable jurors, using unfavorable jurors to make “points” with other potential jurors, and methods to commit unfavorable jurors to positions that will make them difficult to rehabilitate. At times, this section will involve interaction with the audience as if the audience is a venire panel.

I. JURY SELECTION – WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON HERE?

Jury “selection” is a misnomer. We are really trying to get unfavorable jurors eliminated from the panel. Hopefully, we can get enough “unfavorables” eliminated so we have enough peremptory strikes left to eliminate those who were not excused for cause.

II. GOALS – WHAT DO WE WANT TO LEARN? WHAT DO WE WANT TO

ACCOMPLISH? A. Inoculate Against Bad Facts B. Find Out Who Is Sympathetic C. Find Out Who Is Empathetic D. Find Out Who Is Angry E. Find Out Who Is Biased F. Learn Who Is Receptive To Your Message (Hopefully Without

Revealing To The Other Side) G. Don’t Forget To Argue Your Case

III. IDENTIFYING AND OBTAINING INFORMATION FROM UNFAVORABLE JURORS A. The “Stereotypical” Unfavorable Juror – Is There Such A Thing? B. Make Them Talk – Still Waters Can Run Deep

IV. MAKING/TESTING YOUR ARGUMENTS THROUGH UNFAVORABLE JURORS

A. Push Them Away and See Who Comes Back B. Using the Crackpot Who Is Throwing Bean Balls C. Personalize the Situation D. “Floating” Your Arguments to the Panel

V. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION WITH THE JURY PANEL

A. Trucks and Trucking B. Bad Drivers C. Everything Got Here By Truck D. Corporate Negligence E. Individual Justice F. Corporate Justice G. Underdog Phenomenon H. Sympathy vs. Empathy I. Anger J. Personal Experiences (with trucks and with damages) K. Effect of Bad Facts on Ability to Evaluate the Evidence L. Effect of Photos/Video on Ability to Evaluate the Evidence M. Anything Been Said That Bothers You???

VI. COMMITTING UNFAVORABLE JURORS

A. Cannot Be Fair? – Does this EVER work? B. Starting Line Analogy C. Rose Colored Glasses D. Just Not Right for the Case

VII. USING JURY CONSULTANTS – WHAT IS USEFUL? WHAT IS NOT?

VIII. CONCLUSION

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Speaker Biography

Practice Areas

Trucking/Transportation Defense

Product Liability Defense

Premises Liability Defense

Construction Defect Defense

Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith

Large Loss Subrogation

Admitted to Practice

• Texas, 1990

• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1991

• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1995

• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 2000

• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1991

Supreme Court of the United States of America, 2005

Biography

• Shareholder in firm

• Aaron Pool has tried to verdict many cases and has

participated in many appeals in both state and federal

courts.

Member

• Houston Bar Association

• State Bar of Texas - Litigation Section, Construction Law

Section, Insurance Coverage Section

• International Society of Primerus Law Firms

(Primerus)

• American Board of Trial Advocates (2010)

Education

• Texas A&M University, 1987, B.B.A. Finance

• University of Houston Law Center, Houston, Texas, 1990

J.D.

Aaron M. Pool, Esq. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool, P.C. 3200 Southwest Freeway, Suite 2300 Houston, Texas 77027 (713) 877-1112 Phone (713) 877-1138 Fax apool@donatominxbrown.com www.donatominxbrown.com

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF PRIMERUS LAW FIRMS

Aaron’s practice is devoted almost entirely to civil litigation.

Approximately 70% of his practice involves the defense of bodily

injury cases. The balance of his practice involves the

prosecution of large subrogation cases, insurance coverage

opinions/litigation and general civil litigation (i.e. business

litigation). Aaron has tried more than 40 cases to verdict. In

addition, he has successfully handled numerous appeals in State

and Federal courts (all on behalf of the Appellee). Aaron and his

firm are frequently called upon to step into cases shortly before

trial. They also have a great deal of experience in conducting

immediate, on-scene investigations of vehicular accidents,

product failures, and gas explosions/fires.