ALFA International Publications

Using Day in the Life Videos to Defend Claims Both at Mediation and in Trial While the use of day in the life videos by plaintiffs in personal injury cases is nothing new, defendants are now exploring ways they can use the same type of documentary videos to bolster their cases before mediators and juries.  This article will address: The use of day in the life videos generally; Admissibility o…

Who Qualifies as Diverse? Although there are many notable exceptions, women and minorities are often under-represented at law firms and in-house law departments, particularly in leadership positions. They also often receive lower compensation than non-diverse attorneys and are excluded from, or overlooked for, other important law firm and law department roles, opportunities, and benefits. Man…

Introduction The importance of a positive business relationship between a corporation and its outside counsel cannot be overemphasized.  Corporations turn to outside counsel to address niche legal concerns or problems that require resources beyond its own capacity.  On the flipside of the coin, law firms cannot sustain themselves, let alone grow, without loyal corporate clients that perform the du…

The Reptile and the Mongoose Reptile Method: History and Implementation For the past fifteen years the “Reptile Method” has been one of the most popular trial techniques utilized by plaintiff’s attorneys and is believed to lead to “nuclear” multimillion-dollar jury verdicts in transportation cases.[i] The Reptile Method became well known after the publication of “Reptile: The 2009 Manual of the Pl…

Background Employee handbooks and driver qualification lists have long been utilized by the plaintiff’s bar to prove liability against both the driver and the company.  Whether these materials exist or not, they can become a potential source of liability against your client.  For example, if a driver fails to adhere to a specific policy appearing in an employee handbook or a driver qualification l…

In this article, we briefly discuss 5 strategies that can be employed to help manage medical expenses in personal injury and product liability cases. The five strategies cover (1) determination of attributable expenses, (2) assessing reasonable & fair market value, (3) examining medical necessity, (4) re-visiting life expectancy, and (5) dealing with medical funding, liens, & letters of pr…

Do the words “give up” mean anything to you? Not a thing. As lawyers, we are expected to be prepared in the event that our clients or our board rooms experience adversity, crises and, at times, even existential crises. It is what we have essentially trained for. But what about when our training takes us in an unexpected direction? What about when we face unexpected challenges from the inside? How…

In today’s global marketplace it is inevitable, and preferable, to develop intercultural relationships. With the internet, international supply chain, and growing economies all over the world the potential market for a company’s services, potential customers, vendors, suppliers, market partners, etc. is almost unlimited. Cultural Competence – What is it and why is it important? Cultural competence…

When the key to the case depends upon quality expert testimony, how do you make sure you choose the right professional for the job? And then, once selected how do you collaborate successfully to make sure that expert opinions are clearly presented to the trier of fact. Whether your expert is a medical professional, a real estate appraiser, a mechanical engineer or a wiz in some other field, you ne…

Global Landscape of Marijuana Legislation The legal status of marijuana and/or cannabis cultivation and usage has dramatically changed over time. In the early 20th century, cannabis was considered an illegal substance by most countries, primarily because of its perceived addictive potential and negative impact on productivity and societal order. In the 21st century, and particularly in recent year…