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Author: Paul Luvera

Luvera practiced plaintiff law 55 years. He is past President of the Inner Circle of Advocates & Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. Member ABOTA, American College of Trial Lawyers, International Academy, International Society of Barristers and the American Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame. Book Luvera on Advocacy available at Trial Guides Publishing Email paul@luvera.org
Letter to CDC: Need ICD Code for Medical Errors

Letter to CDC: Need ICD Code for Medical Errors

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Carl Bettinger is a physician and plaintiff lawyer  and a long time friend. He alerted me to a 2016 letter sent by Johns Hopkins University hospital to the CDC pointing out the need for a separate code to identify the frightening number of medical errors so they can be properly counted. It is a helpful resource and this is where the letter can be found:  https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2822345/Hopkins-CDC-letter.pdf   : Methodology used for collecting national health statistics We are writing this letter to respectfully ask…

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USING THE AMA CODE OF MEDICAL ETHICS

USING THE AMA CODE OF MEDICAL ETHICS

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The American Medical Association has adopted a code of medical ethics. Many of the administrative bodies of medical specialties have also adopted a code of ethics which apply to their members. Some of the codes contain provisions which can be used in cross-examining defense medical experts who are subject to the code. In some cases, the code contains provisions which make it clear that testimony on behalf of the plaintiff is discouraged. That kind of language may be useful in cross examination.  Other language…

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THE BENEFITS OF BEING THE REAL YOU IN TRIAL

THE BENEFITS OF BEING THE REAL YOU IN TRIAL

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The topic is inspired by my reading of a trial transcript involving a plaintiff’s lawyer who clearly is continually thinking about themselves and not the jury. Being self centered is counterproductive and appearances are not deceiving when we are talking about jurors. We need to remind ourselves as plaintiff trial lawyers, that the decision about our case will be made by the jurors and that decision will be based upon their impression. Greatly influencing that impression will be us. Jurors…

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