Litigation

Brain Injury Conferences

By Michael Kaplen

October is shaping up to be a busy month for me.  I have been privileged to participate as an invited speaker at many brain injury conferences and brain injury events to be held this month.

I am on my way to New Orleans where I will be speaking on Friday at the North American Brain Injury Association (NABS) legal conference. This is one of the most widely attended brain injury conferences in the nation.  In addition to a legal track, there is also a comprehensive medical track.  My topic this year, Use of Medical Texts to Cross Examine the Defense Expert, is chock full of great information for practitioners on all levels.  I have found time and time again that is is incumbent on brain injury attorneys to keep up with the medical literature and be prepared to show juries that the propositions that they are expounding are grounded in good medical science.  On the other hand, when experts bought and paid for by insurance companies come up with absurd statements such as you must lose consciousness in order to have sustained a brain injury or a concussion or that without radiological proof of brain damage, they cannot agree that you client had a brain injury or that all persons who have sustained a concussion get better after several months, the prepared brain injury lawyer must be prepared to show a jury that these statements are false.

On October 16, 2008, I will be in Albany, New York participating in the Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Best Practices Conference sponsored by the New York State Department of Heath. As Chair of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Council, I will be conducting a workshop on how New Yorkers who have sustained traumatic brain injury can be better served. For more information on this conference contact the TBI Waiver Program at 518 474 6580 or by email.

On October 21, 2008, The National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN) is presenting its 2nd Forensic Pre-Conference to be held on October 21, 2008 in mid-town Manhattan at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers to  be held in conjunction with the Academy of Neuropsychology annual conference. I have been asked by the Academy to be the lead off speaker to this group of attorneys and neuropsychologists on the following topic:  Neuropsychologists and Attorneys: Working Collaboratively to Help Patient/Clients on the Path to Recovery.

The day long event is designed to inform attorneys about the use of neuropsychological evidence in the forensic arena.  The program description and learning objectives can be obtained by clicking here.  You can register on line and get additional information by clicking here or by telephoning NAN at 303 691 3694.

On October 23, 2008, I will be heading up the program in New York City entitled Fundamentals of Brain Trauma sponsored by the Lorman Group.  My topic, Public Perception of Brain Injury is designed to explore where the general public is receiving its information on brain damage and the types of information that is being presented to the average person.  To understand how a jury perceives a person with a brain injury, it is vital that a competent practitioner have an understanding of prevailing beliefs.  In this presentation I explore popular literature, popular movies and current events to see what the American public has been exposed to. You can register for this seminar by clicking here.

I was recently appointed to the Advisory Board of the Association of Interstate Trucking Attorneys of America.  In the past, I have frequently been called on to represent victims of interstate truck accidents and I am honored to have been asked to join their advisory counsel. The group is holding its annual meeting in Atlanta on October 24th - October 25th.  Traumatic brain damage is a frequent injury following a truck wreck and I have been asked to educate group members on how to properly handle a traumatic brain injury case.  I look forward to working with this group of fine attorneys who are some of the best Interstate Trucking Accident Lawyers in the country. 

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on October 01, 2008 (boomark / email).