Retreat Schedule
| Sunday, February 24th – 12:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. | |
| 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Trial as Theatre, Not a Movie: Understanding Where the Witnesses Belong on the Stage and What They Add to the Production Mark DiCello, The DiCello Law Firm |
| 1:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. | Witnesses Tell the Story Better than Any Lawyer: Learn How to Develop All Witnesses to Find the Theme and Tell the Story Courtney Yoder, The Law Offices of Courtney Yoder; Mark DiCello, The DiCello Law Firm; Kent Spence, The Spence Law Firm |
| Monday, February 25th – 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. | |
| 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. | Hard Cross vs. Soft Cross vs. Not Even Looking at the Witness: Is This the Secret to Cross Examinations? Jude Basile, The Basile Law Firm |
| 10:00 a.m. | Skiing Break |
| 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. | Deposing and Cross Examining IMEs and other Medical Professionals Cal Warriner, Searcy Denney |
| 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Deposition Strategy: How to Win the Non-Winnable Deposition Jim Ronca, Anapol Schwartz |
| Tuesday, February 26 - 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. | |
| 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. | Directing the Dialog Between the Witness and the Lawyer to Get the Jury the Information They Need from Each Witness Jim Bartimus, Bartimus, Frickleton |
| 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Deposing the Corporate Machine: How to Win Against the Best-Schooled Corporate Executive Adam Levitt, Grant & Eisenhofer |
| 10:00 a.m. | Skiing Break |
| 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Witness Preparation: It Must Be More Than a Quick Meeting with the Witness, All Witnesses Phillip Sanov, The Lanier Firm |
| Wednesday, February 27 - 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | |
| 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Discovering What the Jury Needs to Hear from Each Witness Joshua Karton |
Retreat Faculty
Mark A. DiCello, The DiCello Firm, Mentor, OH, is a nationally recognized leader in Trucking Litigation, serving as co-lead counsel in one of the nation’s largest chain reaction trucking collisions involving more than 40 vehicles in a disputed liability catastrophe with multiple fatalities. Mr. DiCello was recently appointed co-lead counsel in the Mentor Corp. ObTape Transobuturator Sling Products Liability Litigation, and the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Propecia (Finasteride) Product Liability Litigation.
Jim Bartimus, Bartimus, Frickleton Robertson & Gorny, Leawood, KS, was voted “Best Medical Negligence Lawyer” in Missouri in 2007, and has consistently been listed in The Best Lawyers in America. He was selected “Litigator of the Year Kansas City” 2010 by Best Lawyers. He is a past president of the Civil Justice Foundation and the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. He has served on the national board of American Board of Trial Advocates and the American Association for Justice.
Jude Basile, The Basile Law Firm, San Luis Obispo, CA, labeled by Gerry Spence as “one of America’s finest,” was invited in 2012 to be a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an exclusive association of 100 of the most successful personal injury trial lawyers in the country. He received the Consumer Attorneys of California Champion of Justice Award in 2007 and the Presidential Award of Merit in 2005. Mr. Basil has also been named the Trial Lawyers of the Year for both the San Diego and the Central Coast (three times) Trial Lawyer Associations. He is currently the President of the Trial Lawyers College, an education and training program developed by Gerry Spence.
Vance Countryman, Lander, WY has been a part of numerous multi-million dollar cases in Wyoming in the areas of medical malpractice, truck litigation and construction site injuries. In addition, he has pursued civil rights claims against nursing homes that allowed the continued employment of persons identified as having assaulted clients. Mr. Countryman has attended Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer College.
Joshua Karton, President of Communication Arts, Santa Monica, CA, specializes in teaching litigators how to apply the personal communication skills and techniques of theatre/film/television to the art of trial advocacy. He serves on the faculties and develops curriculum for AAJ’s Ultimate Course, the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer’s College, NITA, the JAG Corps, ABA, NACDL, National Criminal Defense College, Loyola and California Western Schools of Law, as well as maintaining a professional practice of individual case consultation and witness preparation. His 30 years of work in this field culminated in his preparation of the presentation of the winning oral argument to the U.S. Supreme Court in Hamdan v Rumsfeld.
Adam J. Levitt, Grant & Eisenhofer, Chicago, IL, recently opened the firm’s Chicago office. His practice is focused on complex commercial litigation and class action practice on both the trial and appellate court levels, in federal and state courts nationwide, in the areas of consumer protection, antitrust, securities, technology, and agricultural law. Since 1993, Mr. Levitt has served as lead counsel, co-lead counsel, or in other leadership positions in numerous class and other complex litigations throughout the United States.
James R. Ronca, Anapol Schwartz, Harrisburg, PA, was named in the 2012 Edition of Pennsylvania Super Lawyer as one of the Top 10 Pennsylvania Attorneys. He is a former President of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and former Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Civil Litigation Section. In 1998, Mr. Ronca was awarded the Musmanno Award by the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association for achievements in his career as an outstanding litigator, fearless leader and dedicated defender of the rights of the innocent and injured.
Phillip N. Sanov, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston, TX, works in all areas of civil litigation with a primary focus on the firm’s commercial litigation cases involving bad faith insurance claims, intellectual property, and other commercial disputes. Mr. Sanov and his team have extensive experience representing policyholder clients focused on insurance law.
Kent W. Spence, The Spence Law Firm, Jackson, WY, has successfully taken on big corporations and local, state, and federal governments in civil rights, personal injury, wrongful death, industrial accident, oil field accident, trucking accident, and other cases. Past President of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association and permanent board member, Mr. Spence recently obtained a $3 million verdict in a civil rights wrongful death case against the police in Texas.
C. Calvin Warriner III, Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, West Palm Beach, FL, joined the firm in 1988 as a seasoned attorney, with experience defending personal injury cases that included medical malpractice and products liability. He is Board Certified in Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Florida Bar. Mr. Warriner is currently serving on the Florida Bar Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, and as co-lead counsel in the Mentor OB Tape multi-district litigation.
Courtney Yoder, Law Offices of Courtney Yoder, Santa Cruz, CA, is both a trial lawyer and trial consultant. Ms. Yoder handles both civil and criminal cases. She also serves as an instructor at The Trial Lawyers College, Gerry Spence’s nationally recognized trial skills program dedicated to training and educating lawyers who are committed to representing and obtaining justice for individuals. Ms. Yoder earned $7.5 million for pain and suffering for a motorcyclist hit by a car-dealership courtesy shuttle.
Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole, WY
The Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole — Enjoy Four Seasons luxury with ski-in/ski-out access in Wyoming’s spectacular Teton Mountains. Breathe in the fresh alpine air. Marvel at a sky full of stars. And savour exquisite dining wrapped in panoramic mountain views. The Resort also boasts a full-service spa inspired by the serenity of the tranquil streams and expansive valleys of the mountain wilderness. The Alpine Spa provides a comprehensive range of massages and spa treatments to promote relaxation, invigorating and renewal. “In winter, the ski-in/ski-out Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole is arguably the top slopeside hotel in the nation,” Elite Traveler, April 28, 2009. Forbes Magazine classifies Jackson Hole and the #1 Ski Resort in the United States and “gets more snow than anywhere not called Alta.
Conference Room Rates — 360 Advocacy Institute has secured a limited block of rooms on a first-come, first-serve basis at the group rate of $375 single/double room per night. Our room block will be held until January 24, 201 or until the room block is sold out. After the room block is filled, rooms will be on a space and rate available basis only. For reservations call 1.307.732.5000 and ask for the 360 Advocacy Institute Block to receive the group rate.
Continuing Legal Education
CLE — A uniform application for accreditation for continuing legal education credit (approximately 19.00 general credit hours for 60 minute states and approximately 22.80 general credit hours for 50 minute states) has been submitted to all mandatory CLE states. Number of credits awarded will vary based on state regulations. Please bring your license and/or bar information with you to the program. 360 Advocacy is offering a 3.0 hour Ethics Webinar on DVD. Access to the Webinar and the CLE Credits will be available to all registrants of the Trial Skills Retreat following the conference.