These are jury selection thoughts thoughts based on Carl Rogers, On Becoming a Person (1961).

“In my relationships with persons I have found that it does not help… to act as though I were something that I am not.”

The first step in becoming one with the jury is to be real. Being real is being honest. Honest about the bad as well as the good.  We discuss the essence of our case especially the bad facts and problem areas. When this is done we reveal how we  feel. Jurors intuitively recognize this and respond by revealing feelings.

“I have found it of enormous value when I can permit myself to understand another person.”

Carl Rogers reveals the essence of  jury selection with this quote. We bound with jurors by listening and accepting. Listening and accepting leads to bonding. Understanding must be unconditional-even when we do not agree. We can understand without agreement. When we have understanding we have a bound.

“I have found it highly rewarding when I accept another person.”

Here Rogers tells us we benefit by accepting unconditionally the members of the jury panel. The panel has bounded to some extent before we meet in jury selection. They have accepted each other at various levels. They know when we accept them. And when we accept them when we are not in agreement they will more readily accept us when they are not initially in agreement. In essence they accept the possibility we may be right. We may be the exception to their initial reaction. Every rule has an exception.

“The facts are friendly.”

Stated another way the truth is friendly. We never forget this maxim in jury selection. The truth rings with authenticity, and jurors know it. Jurors understand problems and bad facts when we deal with them openly seeking their input. We have bonded and we have to accomplish fairness together. To accomplish fairness we must together face the hurdles.

“Life at its best, is a flowing, changing process in which nothing is fixed.”

To relax and be fluid is essential, as we can flow with the jury panel. To do this nothing can be fixed. To set anything in concrete is to have an agenda and this will kill us. We must be our natural self. We must move with the natural dynamic of the jury panel. When we do this by way of the Carl Rogers maxims we will be in jury selection at its best. The panel will likely respond favorably.

We all have fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of success. To have fear is to be alive. To have fear is to understand risk. To have fear is to know something is at stake.

As a trial lawyer I have fear. Most trial lawyers have fear, especially going into trial. Accept fear as a good thing. When we lose fear we lose a valuable emotion. An emotion that makes us better. Better assuming we continue to walk into our fear.

While at Trial Lawyers College I wrote this poem for my son:

Walk Toward Fear

Is not fear my friend.

For without fear my life should end.

All that is unknown brings fear.

Facing fear makes the unknown clear.

The fear of failure causes stagnation.

But to venture forward brings origination.

Nothing new happens without walking toward fear.

And growth comes from moving near.

So embrace fear as a gift.

A gift that gives life its lift.

Facts are subjective or objective. “Both things and events are objective facts. They exist in the public domain and are in principle accessible to all.”  D. Q. McInerny, Being Logical (Random House paperback 2005) at 5. But there is a difference between a subjective fact and an objective fact. A headache is an example of a subjective fact. Id. at 6. The headache sufferer has direct evidence of the headache. Id. When it is another person who is hearing about the headache it can only be indirectly established. “Establishing the reality of subjective facts depends entirely on the trustworthiness of those who claim to be experiencing them.” Id. When the fact is an existing thing to which the listener has access to view it becomes objective and we need not “trust” the speaker.

What about a fact demonstrated through show and tell. When we show and tell we eliminate communication problems that occur when our spoken word is not interpreted in the way we mean to convey. When we show and tell the listener sees our subjective fact closer to an objective fact. This is because our listener is given visual cues about the fact.

When we have our witness at trial show and tell what has occurred rather than tell what has occurred the facts rise to a higher level. This is because the jury is able to experience the facts rather than just hear the facts. The facts come to life through the witness as she speaks in the present tense and recreates the event by showing and telling what occurred. 

This may be done the traditional way from the witness stand. If movement is helpful the witness may be allowed to go into the well of the courtroom. There witness explains the scene to the jury. She may use props such as council table, chair or books to set the scene. She then relives the scene in a show and tell fashion.  As the saying goes seeing is believing and the jury is allowed to see through witness show and tell.

This post takes from my last three trials, Trial Lawyer’s College, The Tao Of Pooh, and The Tao of Physics.

Preparation. In any phase of trial from voir dire to closing argument it is important to prepare. The great Clarence Darrrow memorized poems and quotes he planned on reciting during argument. It is foolhardy to go into any phase of trial without at least a preliminary outline on what needs to be covered. In my trials I write out my opening statement, my direct and cross examination questions and my closing argument.

Plastic v. Spontaneous. Although having a planned presentation or preconceived idea of how a phase of trial will go makes sense, to blindly stick to the script is plastic. It is living outside the moment of trial. Most important sticking strictly to a prepared script results in trying the case without being able to move to where the jury is at the moment. To try the case where the jury is at the moment we must also be in the moment. This can only be done if we spontaneously live in the moment with the jury.

The Way of the Tao. When we try the case in the way of the Tao we recognize the concept of change. We recognize the changes in a trial do not usually occur because of our plastic presentation. “[R]ather [the changes in trial occur] as a tendency which is innate in all things and situations.” F. Capra, The Tao of Physics at 116 (5th Ed. 2010). The moments ot the Tao are not forced, but occur naturally and spontaneously. Id. “Spontaneity is the Tao’s principle of action, and since human conduct should be modeled on the operation of the Tao, spontaneity should also be characteristic of all human actions.” Id. 

Acting in Harmony with the Trial.  For the Taoist, acting in harmony with the trial means acting spontaneously according to our true nature. This means trusting our intuitive intelligence which is innate and in the moment. We do not force ourselves. Rather we adapt our action to the trial moment. “In the words of Huai Nan Tzu, Those who follow the natural order flow in the current of the Tao.” Id. at 117.

Prepare and Forget.  To try the case at the highest level we discover our client’s story and show the story at trial. In each phase of  trial we have imaged the phase and prepared accordingly. Once we get to the phase we forget who we are (meaning any plastic presentation), live in the moment and believe in our innate intuitive nature. We include the jury as we live in the trial moment.

Here is procedure, taken from Howard Nations, on using prior statement to impeach:

1. Illicit.  Get the witness to state the contradictory testimony. (Standing so witness must face jury to answer).

2. Set Predicate.  Have witness agree to prior sworn statement. (Date, place, to whom).

3. Produce. Hand clerk the prior statement and have it marked as exhibit. (Give copies for judge and opposition counsel).

4. Witness Reads. Hand marked prior statement to witness and have witness read.

5. Dangle Witness. Go to counsel table and futz around while witness has to either continue looking at jury or look away.

6. Return. After letting witness dangle (until judge asks you to resume) return to cross but to a new area of questioning.

(This is because we do not want the witness to return to impeached topic to rehabilitate through answer to similar line of
questioning).

Recently we settled a significant personal injury case where we addressed the issue of a Medicare Set Aside (MSA). The issue was raised by defense during settlement negotiations. Defendants argued they could be held liable by Medicare as could we if we ignored the MSA issue. They initially attempted to control what portion of the settlement funds would be used for a MSA. This post discuses how we handled the MSA issue.

Medicare and Medicad Liens. The Medicare program was established by Congress in 1965 in the Social Security Act. 42 U.S.C. sec. 1395 et seq. Medicare provides medical payments for Medicare eligible people (people receiving Social Security benefits). Under federal law Medicare has a super lien for reimbursement of Medicare benefits paid for the injured Medicare recipient’s medical specials. Nonetheless, federal regulations require Medicare to reduce the amount of its recovery to take into account the cost of procuring the settlement when the claim is disputed and the recovering party has borne cost in obtaining the recovery. In re: Zyprexa Products Liability Litigation, 451 F. Supp.2d 458(E.D.N.Y. 2006)(analysis of Medicare and Medicade liens). Federal law also recognizes Medicad (state version of Medicare) liens, and provides federal authority for collection of Medicad liens.  See Arkansas Dept. of Health and Human Services v. Ahlborn, 547 U.S. 268 (2006)(Arkansas Medicare statute for plenary lien held invalid, must recognize injured plaintiff).

Medicare Set Aside. A MSA is a fund separately identified from the settlement proceeds to be paid to Medicare for the injured plaintiff’s future medical needs. Recently defendants (insurance companies for defendants) have been arguing the settlement must include a MSA. This argument is made even when the injured plaintiff is not yet and may never be a Medicare recipient. Defendants also try to dictate  the amount of a MSA. In personal injury cases, these arguments must be resisted  to the point of litigating the MSA issue.

Federal Authority. “No federal law requires set-aside arrangements in personal injury settlements for future medical expenses.” Sipler v. Trans Am Trucking, Inc., (D.N.J. 2012). As recognized by the Sipler court, tort cases involve non-economic damages which are not determined by an established formula. See Zinman v. Shalala, 67 F.3d 841,846 (9th Cir. 1995). “[T]o require personal injury settlements to specifically apportion future medical expenses would prove burdensome to the settlement process, and, in turn, discourage personal injury settlements.” Sipler; cf. Ahlborn,  587 U. S. at 268  (in context of Medicad).

Solution. Our solution is plaintiff will consider the need for a MSA after consulting with a  MSA law firm, but plaintiff has the responsibility and discretion to determine the final set aside (if any). The terms of the settlement order  give plaintiff control over the MSA issue. Below is the relevant language:

Finding of Fact-Establishment of Qualified Settlement Fund. The parties have agreed to use a Qualified Settlement Fund  (QSF) established pursuant to section 468B of the Internal Revenue Code for purposes of holding the settlement funds and the disbursement of such funds pursuant to orders of this court.

Conclusion of Law-Orders of Disbursement. Orders of disbursement from the QSF will be made to ensure Medicare conditional payments are reimbursed, that a Medicare Set-Aside (if needed) will be properly funded by plaintiff out of the settlement proceeds, and that plaintiff receives the full benefit of this settlement.

Order. Plaintiff’s counsel shall promptly engage the services of Garretson Resolution Group, a professional firm that specializes in Medicare Secondary Payer compliance, to evaluate the case, determine whether a Medicare Set-Aside (MSA) is recomended, and if so, to present a proposed MSA Allocation. Plaintiff’s counsel and the QSF Payment Administrator shall take into account the MSA recommendation of Garretson to determine if a MSA is appropriate and if so the amount needed to fund the MSA.

A quality opening statement requires becoming one with our client’s story. Becoming one with our client’s story means feeling the emotion of our client’s story. To accomplish this we follow the following steps:

Listen. We begin by asking our client to show us her story in the first person present tense. We listen to our client. The tendency is to project our story into our client’s story, rather than listening and identifying with our client’s emotions. After we listen to the story we probe our client by asking her what she feels as she relives the events in the first person present tense.

Role Reverse. Next we role reverse and become our client. As Atticus Finch tells daughter Scout: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view — until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Through role reversal we feel the emotion of our client. This allows us to  understand and relate to our client at the highest level.

Doubling. Once we feel our client’s story we go deeper into the story through doubling. We  sit or stand behind our client as she tells the story in first person present tense. When we feel something deeper in the story we speak to our client from behind by becoming our client’s voice. We coordinate this so our client adds our input into the story if it fits how she feels if not our input is ignored. When doubling works our client is assisted in getting to a deeper emotional level.

Recreate Scenes. Seeing is believing and seeing can cause a subjective (spoken) fact to rise to the level of an objective (visualized) fact. Thus we recreate key scenes in our client’s story using props. Props are as simple as office chairs to represent a room where the scene occurred. We can also use people in our office to play the role of others in the scene. We assist our client in reliving the scene by directing the scene. Once the scene is created another person can play our client as she observes the scene, verifies accuracy and gets in touch with her emotional response.

Identify Emotional Power. Now that we have recreated what we feel are key scenes we and our client can identify scenes that contain emotional power in the story. This emotional power is felt at a deep level by both attorney and client. We have now discovered where the emotional power will come in our opening statement. Cases are won when the  emotions of our client flow into the courtroom.

Thomas Merton in THE WAY OF CHUNG TZU discusses the classic Ju philosophy of Confucius. A philosophy “built on basic social relationships and obligations that are essential to a humane life and … develop the human potentialities of each person in his relationship to others.” Merton, THE WAY OF CHUNG TZU at 17-18 (New Directions 1965).

By fulfilling the commands of nature which are commands of love we develop an “inner [subconscious] potential for love, understanding, reverence and wisdom.” Id. at 18. Here we live at the highest level. (According to Merton, Confucius claims that it took until he was 70 to reach this level).

When we apply Ju philosophy to the practice of law we practice law at the highest level.  Merton outlines three steps to accomplish this:

Compassion. We must have a “compassionate and devoted love, charged with deep empathy and sincerity, that enables [us] to identify with the troubles and joys of others as if they were [our] own.” Id. As lawyers this means we must have a compassionate and devoted love charged with sincerity and empathy for our client and our jury. We must feel our client’s plight and have a feeling of love and acceptance for the jury panel. This requires internalizing compassion into our subconscious mind before the trial begins.

Sense of Justice. We must have a sense of justice, responsibility, duty and obligation to others and society. As lawyers this means we stand for fairness for our client. When we can get fairness through negotiation we negotiate. When we cannot get fairness through negotiation we try the case. Before trial we must internalize the reality that fairness for our client can only be accomplished through trial. This must be seeded into our subconscious mind so it is our natural state or presence.

Disinterest. We must be completely disinterested in ourself. “The mark of the ‘Noble Minded Man’ is that he does not do things simply because they are pleasing or profitable to himself, but because they flow from an unconditional moral imperative.” Id. This moral imperative is justice which, as I interpret Merton, is good in itself. “Hence, anyone who is guided  by the profit motive … is not capable of [being genuine].” Id.

If I am at “the Merton level” in a jury trial good things are likely to happen. I am before the jury with deeply seeded love in my heart. I love my client, and I go into voir dire with love and acceptance for the panel. My mindset/feeling is recognized by the panel as acceptance. Since I am in trial only because justice demands it, my words and body language demonstrate my pursuit of fairness. Being disinterested the panel recognizes my pursuit of justice as pure rather than tainted by a profit or a for me motive. The panel is likely to respond favorably as jury members also desire fairness and they have the ability to ensure it with their verdict.

This is how we advise our client in a personal injury case: First, fair value cannot be obtained from the insurance company unless we can and will try the case.  Second, all trials are plays, and the theatrical genre that fits a personal injury case is the Greek Tragedy. Third, the formula for successful tragedy is: a hero, who sustains adversity, does everything in his power to overcome the adversity, but fails to overcome the adversity.

Once this is understood our client is advised to do the following:

Always Tell the Truth. The truth and nothing but the truth is our client’s story. We never deviate from the truth. Any detour from the truth is death to our case. So rule number one is tell the truth. Now when our client tells the truth he does so in strong language. This means nouns and verbs. Forget adjectives and adverbs. Forget weak phrases and words like “pretty sure,” “I think,” “maybe,” “little.” Just tell it like it is from the heart.

Follow Doctors Orders. The adversity our client is dealing with is his injury. For his injury he needs to go to his doctor and listen to his doctor. If our client asks what he should do for his injury we respond do what the doctor orders. If the  doctor says physical therapy go to physical therapy. If the doctor says get an MRI then get an MRI. If our client wants to try other treatment like chiropractic then he goes to his doctor and his doctor directs chiropractic treatment.

Overcome Adversity. We push our client to move through the treatment steps. We push our client to do everything possible to recover. On work we have our client take direction from the doctor. Whenever possible keep working. Working gives our client needed income and allows for a positive self image which means faster recovery. This assumes work is not aggravating the injury which is where the doctor needs to weigh in. Again we have our client listen to his doctor.

Activities. As with work we advise our client to get back into his pre-injury activities as soon as possible. Again our client needs to take direction from his doctor. Activities are an important barometer on recovery. If our client cannot get back to his pre-injury level of activities he has a permanent injury. Often he has residual strength deficits and/or range of motion limitations which prevent a resumption of pre-injury activity level. We  address permanent pain our client is left with.

Making the Case. Once treatment is complete we have our case. Assuming our client has followed our advise and done everything he can to overcome his injuries he need only tell it like it is from the heart. It sounds simple and it is as the truth rings with the authenticity of a quality case.

Decisions are made using our conscious mind and our subconscious mind. Emotional decisions are made at the subconscious level, then justified by the conscious mind. To ignore the subconscious mind when working with others on making decisions is to ignore the decision making part of the group mind. 

In Medical Hypnotherapy (Peaceful Planet Press 2007) Tim Zimmerman Sierra outlines nine rules for effective communication  with the subconscious:

1. Speak in Positive Terms.  This is because the subconscious does not register a negative.  Rather it forms pictures and responds to imagery. Although we consciously understand a negative, our subconscious mind only understands the picture formed. Thus, when speaking in negative terms the subconscious mind only registers a picture and responds to the imagery of the picture. For instance if a golfer tells himself “I don’t want to hit my ball into the water” the subconscious mind pictures the water and images hitting the ball into the water. Id. at 111.

2. Speak in the Present Tense. The subconscious mind is effectively moved if the goal is occurring now.  Mr. Zimmerman Sierra says word  therapeutic suggestions so that the client sees the desired goal happening now. 

3. Paint Pictures. Here we tell our story in a descriptive way calling into play the listeners past similar experience. Then her subconscious mind accesses her picture of a similar experience as she follows us based on her imagery.

4. Give a Reason. The suggestion is more likely to be accepted by the critical faculty of the conscious mind “and passed to the subconscious mind when it is linked to something that seems logical.” Id. at 112. “The subconscious is constantly making associations, and is primarily interested in two types of information-meaning (A means B) and causality (B occurred because of A). Therefore, you give the subconscious what it is looking for by using reasons in your suggestions.”

5.  If too great, make it incremental. To be effective our suggestion must be believable. Thus, if the suggestion seems too big or too far off use incremental suggestion language that indicates change over time: “more and more now,” “every day and in every way,” “becoming,” “growing,” and “greater.”

6. Include Timing. Avoid words like “will,” “soon,” and “tomorrow.” These future words are meaningless to the subconscious.  This is because to the subconscious mind the only time is now in the present moment. “Whenever possible, include specific information about when or under what circumstances the… [suggestion takes place].” Id. at 114.

7.  Suggest Action.  Here we are instructed to suggest to our listener’s subconscious- take action to accomplish what needs to happen. “When suggesting  action, be sure to connect taking the action with achieving the goal… .” Id. 

8. Use Positive Emotions. Strong emotional words help to open the conscious mind and lead to a more powerful impression on the subconscious. Thus, we are to “[u]se words that generate compelling positive images.” Id. at 114. This creates positive imagery that is “emotionalized.” Id.

9.  Specific and Short. Use common easily understood language. Be specific and clear on what the goal is. Refrain from language that is too general. Rather be specific and avoid generalizations. 

Representing a developmentally disabled (DD)  client brings considerations beyond what we typically encounter. Here is how I address the deposition without first getting a protective order.

DD Defined. RCW 71A.10.020(4)  provides in part: “Developmental disability” means a disability attributable to an intellectual disability…[which] originates before the individual attains age eighteen, which has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely, and which constitutes a substantial limitation to the individual.”

Competent to Testify. The DD client is competent to testify so long as he is capable of speaking the truth, receiving an accurate impression of it, has sufficient memory to retain it, has the capacity to express it in words, and can understand simple questions about it. Understanding and answering simple questions is key when the DD client must be examined.  In a deposition we have competing issues-the right to conduct legitimate discovery verses the right to protect our DD client from discovery abuse.

Witness Preparation. For the DD client  preparation is minimal. First hear the key elements of the story. Do not rehash the story. Tell the DD client the lawyer on the other side will ask questions about what happened: “Listen to the question.”  “Answer the question.” “Always tell the truth.”

Open and Close Door. We must allow opposition to engage in legitimate discovery. We must leave the door open so long as this is occurring. Once an area has been explored, we are confident the record reveals this, and further inquiry is oppressive, I close the door as follows:

CR 26 (i) Conference. With the DD client out of the room I begin a separate record: “Pursuant to Cr 26(i) counsel must confer before the court will entertain any motion or objection regarding rules 26 through 37. This is a CR 26(i) conference.”

Court has Discretion to Protect. “While [DD Client] is competent to testify he is developmentally disabled. Pursuant to CR 27(a)(2) the court shall make such order as appropriate for the protection of the developmentally disabled party. Additionally as his attorney I have an obligation to protect [my client] from discovery abuse.”

CR 30(d). “An instruction not to answer is proper when made pursuant to CR 30(d).” “Pursuant to CR 30(d), at any time during the taking of a deposition upon a showing the examination is being conducted in such a manner as to unreasonably annoy, embarrass, or harass the party the court may order the deposition cease.” “Upon demand of the objecting party the deposition shall be suspended for the time necessary to make a CR 26(c) protective order motion.”

CR 26(c). “The court may make an appropriate order to protect a party from annoyance, embarrassment, or oppression. At this point in the deposition further questions concerning [area where we are closing door] constitute oppression [of DD Client].”

Instructing Not to Answer.  “I am instructing you [my client] will not  answer further questions (set forth area[s] where you are closing the door as you are confident the judge will grant a protective order prohibiting further discovery). I am doing this outside of his presence because I do not want to chill further legitimate discovery.”

Your Choice Counsel. “Counsel if you chose we will proceed to court now to discuss a protective order. Alternatively, continue to explore other areas of discovery. If you deem it necessary to seek further discovery into the area I am instructing my client not to answer we can cooperate on scheduling a protective order hearing at a later date.”

This cross examination discussion is from my cross examination notes in a survival action economic loss case.

Forensic Economist. Agree you develop estimates for numerous variables that affect the recovery in tort cases. Agree in a survival action these variables are: 1) Base Earnings; 2) Earnings Growth Rate; 3) Fringe Benefits; 4)  Personal Consumption; and 5) Discount Rate.

Base Earnings Rate. Defense forensic economists will start as low as possible. When they begin too low cover how the low base rate was arrived at and why a low base rate will lead to a lower economic loss amount. Demonstrate the rate of pay at which the economist should have started.

Earnings Growth Rate. Another way the defense economist can understate economic damages is through the “earnings growth rate.” Earnings do not grow in a linear manner until retirement. Typically they peak about ten years before retirement. Here time must be spent with our economist to determine and understand a fair economic growth rate. When the defense economist fails to do this and understates the growth rate demonstrate in cross examination this leads to an understatement of economic damages.

Fringe Benefits. The defense economist will start with a low base income rate and fail to add fringe benefits. “Data from the last few decades reveals that fringe benefits have increased significantly as a percentage of overall compensation. These benefits now account for almost 30%… of total compensation. ,,, Damage calculations must therefore include a valuation of fringe benefits.” David Gordon, A Forensic Economics Primer (Journal of Comprehensive Research).

Consumption. The defense economist may try to overstate personal consumption. This is because the amount of personal consumption is deducted from lifetime earnings before the discount rate is used to arrive at net economic loss. Future earnings of the deceased are adjusted for his consumption. See id. at 44-45. Consumption covers expenditures on goods and services, but does not include joint family expenditures. When possible the economist will look to actual expenses, but this does not work in the case of a young decedent. Have an understanding of how your economist is addressing personal consumption, and make sure it is solid. Hold the defendant economist to a similar analysis to prevent getting away with overstating consumption which results in understating net economic loss.

Discount Rate. The United States Supreme Court in Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. v. Pfeifer, 462 U.S. 523 (1983) addressed the issue of the proper discount rate in a personal injury case involving future economic loss. The Court reasoned in all personal injury cases involving future economic loss “it is reasonable to suppose that interest may safely be earned upon the amount that is awarded. Id. at 537. Thus, the ascertained future benefits should be discounted. The Court pointed out the discount rate should be one earned on the best and safest investments. Id. The injured plaintiff is “entitled to a risk-free stream of future income to replace his lost wages; therefore, the discount rate should not reflect the market’s premium for investors who are willing to accept some risk of default.” Id. The Court concluded the amount of future economic loss must encompass the amount the injured plaintiff would have earned during each year he could have worked but for his injury and the appropriate discount rate “reflecting the safest available investment.” Id. at 538. Have  the Jones case when cross examining the defense economic expert. This is because the defense expert will likely use a high discount rate arrived at at least partially from stock market return rates. Remember, the higher the discount rate the lower the net economic loss amount. The use of the high discount rate deflates economic loss contrary to our Supreme Court.

“The human energy system is an energetic webbing that permeates the entire body. It is the system that empowers the body and energizes and enlivens the mind, providing the energetic foundation upon which the body is built. It is the network through which all life energy flows.” Kilham, The Five Tibetans (1994) at 10. Kilhan points out we are incarnate beings meaning we are beings who live in bodies.

For the highest form of existence we coordinate our body and mind. To do this takes practice and exercise. For example the practice of yoga teaches to be in tune with the energy currents of our body. In this way we consciously unite mind and body.

In the 1920s an American geographer, Edwin Dingle, lived in Tibet studying with Tibetan Monks. His studies included a series of five exercises known as the Five Tibetans. These exercises, yoga in nature, increase strength, energy and mental alertness. They open up the body/mind energy system and balance energy.

I have been doing the five Tibetans as part of my morning routine for years. Start slow. Work up to 21 reputations each. Keep doing the Tibetans on a regular basis. You will be pleased with the result. 

Settling a personal injury case requires understanding how an insurance company views a personal injury risk. This is what I have learned in dealing with insurance companies

Two Values. A personal injury case has two values. One, the most the insurance company will pay for the case. Two, the amount a jury will award for the case. When we settle a personal injury case we make sure our client receives the most the insurance company will pay for the case short of a jury verdict.

How the Insurance Company Decides Value. Most insurance companies evaluate case value like they set premiums-based on statistics and risk. They evaluate the injured person. The more solid and appealing the person the better the case. They evaluate the mechanism of the injury. The more clear cut and understandable the better the case. They evaluate past and future medical treatment. The more medical doctor treatment and clear future treatment the better the case. They evaluate economic past and future loss looking for documentation that supports the loss. Most insurance companies have a more difficult time with general damages such as pain and suffering, disability, loss of enjoyment and disfigurement. This is why the lawyer is important.

The Lawyer. The insurance company evaluates the lawyer who has the case. The more likely the lawyer is to try a case the more risk the insurance company sees. A trial lawyer presents risk-the risk a jury will like the case with a verdict more than the mean result.

Offering Mean Value. Based on their evaluation, the insurance company arrives at a bell curve value. The bell curve is the result of insurance calculations on the range within which the jury will award the majority of the time. There is low range and high range value within this bell curve. The insurance adjuster is given authority to settle within this range and this is where the final offer will be. The first offer will be low and the negotiation goes from there.

He Who Speaks First Loses. After the insurance adjuster has evaluated the claim and received his authority he contacts the plaintiff lawyer with the insurance company’s first offer. This is often low and it is  less than the insurance company will ultimately pay. This is where the negotiation starts- the high of great day jury value against the low of  a minimal jury result. In negotiating with the adjuster we know the reasonable settlement value of the claim. Reasonable settlement value is the amount a jury will most often award for the case. The key is to get all of the adjuster’s authority (which is the most the insurance company will pay) and then determine if this is within the average jury range.

In getting there remember the maxim-He Who Speaks First Loses. Put simply when negotiating always remain silent after presenting an offer or counter offer. Resist all temptation to keep talking after giving your number. Do not say anything until the adjuster gives his next number.

Decline the Low Ball. Some insurance companies, particularly in a difficult economic climate, will never get to a fair settlement proposal. Often these companies have a corporate policy of using an impersonal computer evaluation that dictates a low ball offer the adjuster is stuck with. Knowing fair settlement-the amount a jury will usually pay-allows for recognition of a low ball unacceptable offer. When this occurs we advise our client to decline the offer and try the case.

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Once we have agreed to settle with the negligent party’s insurance company we address the settlement proceeds. Here we deal with potential subrogation interests of our client’s insurance company. In a personal injury case a subrogation interest arises when our client’s insurance company has made payments for accident related expenses.

Components of Case Value. To understand subrogation we must recognize a personal injury case recovery is usually based on different components that added together equal case value. These components include our client’s past and future medical bills, past and future economic loss, and general damages (disability, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and disfigurement). The components that may give rise to a subrogation interest are past medical bills and past wage loss.

If our client’s insurance company has made payments for medical bills and/or wage loss it will make a subrogation claim for the return of of its payments from the case recovery. It is not automatic our client’s insurance company will have an enforceable subrogation interest.

Made Whole Doctrine. First our client must be “made whole” before a right of subrogation arises. This means our client must receive the full value of all case components that are unique to her alone. These are the general damage components. To illustrate if our client’s case has a total value of $150,000 with past medical bills of $30,000 and lost wages of $15,000 this means the combination of future medical, future wage loss and general damages total $105,000. If the negligent party has only $100,000 in insurance coverage there is insufficient insurance to pay the $105,000 necessary to “make our client whole.” When this happens there is often no subrogation right for our client’s insurer.

Insurer Stands in Shoes of Client. The subrogation right of our client’s insurance company can be no better then our client’s right of recovery against the negligent party’s insurer. When our client’s recovery is reduced by the comparative negligence percentage of our client then the subrogation amount must be reduced by the same percentage.

PIP IME. Often our client’s auto insurance company has done a PIP IME. When the PIP IME doctor states our client received medical care that was unnecessary and/or not accident related then we use the IME against our client’s insurance company. We discount its subrogation interest by all amounts its IME doctor states were not necessary for treatment.

ERISA. The Employment Income Security Act (ERISA) is federal law that often gives absolute subrogation rights to the client’s health insurance company. Before agreeing a ERISA plan has absolute subrogation rights we get the plan language. We read the plan to see if the made whole doctrine applies under the plan, or if there is language allowing a credit for attorneys spent by our client. Even when there is a rock solid ERISA plan allowing for complete recovery of the subrogation interest we request the plan review our case and agree to payment of attorney’s fees.

Attorney’s Fees. Washington and many other states require the insurance company with a subrogation interest to pay a portion of the client’s attorney’s fees. This translates to a discount of about one third of the subrogation interest. We pass this discount to our client so she receives a greater recovery. In all cases our goal is to maximize the net recovery to our client. This can only be done by thoroughly dealing with the subrogation claim of our client’s insurance company.

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Although many lawyers choose to practice law in casual attire. For court appearances and most matters I dress like a lawyer. This means professional attire that inspires confidence-as in a client seeing me as their lawyer. As in a client thinking he looks like a professional who knows what he is doing. As in a client thinking damn I’m glad he’s my lawyer.

Generally this begins with the first impression. Like it or not first impressions are made on how we appear, and this means how we dress. Below are my maxims for a professional appearance:

Always Neat. Take time in the morning to address personal hygiene. I give thought to what I am wearing so when I leave the house I have consciously chosen my outfit. I present a decent appearance. I present in a way I will be able to meet a new client even if I do not expect this to happen.

Hair. My hair is professionally styled.  What is important is my hair is neat and clean. It appears I have put some thought on making sure it looks professional.

Shirt. Generally this means a dress shirt. For me this translates to a button down all cotton professionally laundered white or light blue shirt. I wear Gitman Brothers shirts which are high quality and look high quality.

Suit/Sport Coat. I wear a suit or sport coat and slacks 80% of the time. The suits are quality and I buy them at Nordstrom Rack stores or at outlet malls. At these venues I pay about 50% of the original price. I buy classic suits and sports coats that never go out of style. Suits are often Hickey Freeman. Sports coats are Harris tweed or tasteful low key wool patterns. Liking the Ivy League look, I a blue blazer worn with tan or gray slacks.

Tie. Ties are silk, usually purchased at the Nordstrom Rack where a $75 tie sells for $25. I favor ties that are mostly blue or mostly red. These are power colors. I like classic stripe ties and conservative pattern ties. My tie matches my shirt and suit/sport coat. I almost always tie a half windsor knot. The tie always descends to the belt.

Shoes. Here I go with quality leather dress shoes. My favorite shoes are made by Allen Edmunds.  I have black, cordovan and brown. I wear classic styles with my favorite being cap toes. My shoes are always shined. Never skimp on shoes. Good shoes aren’t cheap and cheap shoes aren’t good.

Belt and Socks. I always wear a belt. My belt matches my shoes. I almost always wear socks. My socks match my slacks.

Watch. I have a Rolex Explorer white face. I used to wear a cheap watch to trial. But this is phoney so now I wear the Rolex, and at times a Hamilton. Both are simple but classic. 

Casual Friday. On Fridays and days where I chose to go casual I dress like a golf pro. This means cotton khaki slacks with a collared shirt.

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Being a quality lawyer is like being a duck:

Calm on the Surface. A duck is calm on the surface but underneath the duck is paddling to keep up. Calm on the surface is the key. The quality lawyer remains cool and collected in adversity. For instance in a jury trial when a witness’s testimony is damaging the quality lawyer shows a calm reaction. The jury looking at the lawyer’s body language for cues on the significance of the testimony sees the body language of a non event as in this is nothing to be concerned about.

Active Underneath the Surface. The duck’s work is underneath the surface in the form of paddling.  This allows the duck to stay calmly afloat while making progress. This is the trait of a quality trial lawyer. Thinking calmly on his feet he rapidly calculates his next move and goes there moving the trial forward. In the office the quality lawyer works the amount of time it takes to draft pleadings that show a well thought, organized argument.

Loyal. Ducks are loyal. They are said to mate for life. The female is fiercely protective of her young showing them how to get to water and how to grow to a mature duck. The quality lawyer bonds with her client. The quality lawyer protects her client. The quality lawyer leads the way for her client to progress successfully through his case.

Know When to Migrate. Ducks instinctively know when to migrate. This means they know when to move. The quality lawyer has an instinctive ability to move the proper direction in a case. This means when to settle, when to file, when to interview witnesses, when to schedule depositions, when to schedule witnesses,  and when to move into positions and arguments in trial.

Let the Water Roll Off. In a rain storm when humans and animals seek cover the duck stays in the rain and lets the water run off. The duck is unfazed by the adverse element of rain. The quality lawyer weathers adversity in the same way. Adversity is part of the job. Sometimes it rains. So what. The quality lawyer does not run for cover. The quality lawyer weathers the adversity, unfazed, and continues to move forward.

Duck Looks Like a Duck.  As the saying goes: “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.” When a lawyer is accepting, looks like a lawyer, moves like a lawyer, and speaks in concrete terms using nouns and verbs, then the person is probably a quality lawyer.

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This post discusses lessons I have learned from wise people to make me a better lawyer.

James A. von der Heydt. Patience and a calm demeanor. A recognition the answer is found with an understanding of the facts and meticulous research.

Lewis Gordon. Keep a sense of humor. Law is hard enough so learn to laugh. Remember the environment and advocate for it whenever possible.

Simon Rifkind. All trials are plays. Cast your client as the hero. If client must be the villain cast as a lovable villain. Judge trials are the same as jury trials except judge is a sophisticated theatre goer. Never waive opening statement.

Phil Carter. Professionalism. Look like a lawyer and act like a lawyer. Never underestimate your opponent.

Robert Tjossem. The best defense is a strong offense. Analogy is that of a bullet train. With your argument stay on your track, go at full speed to the station. Watch as the other side moves to your track and gets run over.

Charlie Burdell. Graciousness with confidence. A non ending sense of fairness. The quality of being a friend to many.

Rod Pierce. Fearless and unflappable advocacy. Unfazed in defeat; one battle does not make the war. Prepare for the next battle.

John Strauss. A fierce belief in the case. Strike first. Unwavering confidence in winning the case.

Rob Kornfeld. Accept the winners turn down the losers. Never rest on success. Stay on the horse and ride into the next one.

Scott Bowen. Reasonableness in attorney’s fees. Help those that need help. Firmness with compassion.

Steve Lingenbrink. Community involvement. Involvement by helping others with collateral benefit of attracting clients.

Bob Dawson. Think outside the box. Big defendants only respect the power of a quality well prepared case. Try the case and tell the story.

My Wife. Kindness to others, especially clients and staff.  A confident and happy legal assistant is a quality legal assistant. Nice to all without pretense.

Still Learning. I continue to learn from others. The day I stop learning and growing as a lawyer is the day I retire. At my rate this will be a long time.

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In 2010 I posted a Thought of the Week termed Philosophy of Navy Squash. This philosophy has become my mantra. I personally go through the Navy Squash motto on a regular basis, especially before and during a trial.

Prepare for Your Mission. To try the case we must know the case. This means knowing our client’s story. Our client’s story starts with knowing our client’s background, unique activities, especially those impacted by her injuries, the mechanism of injury, her treatment and our client today. Once we have internalized our client’s story and can discuss it from the heart we are prepared for our mission.

Believe in Yourself. To succeed in trial we must have confidence in our ability to advocate our client’s case. We must believe as in know we can do the job. This comes from a combination of thorough preparation and self acknowledgment of being a capable and effective trial lawyer.

Accept the Possibility of Failure. It took me a while to understand  this third prong of the Navy Squash motto. We are programmed to prepare to win and think we will win. But to win we must be ourselves. To be ourselves we must overcome the natural fear of being disliked by the jury. Accepting the possibility of failure allows us to relax and try the case naturally. Stated another way accepting the possibility of failure divorces us from being result orientated during trial. We are at our best when we forget about possible results and focus on the trial moment doing the best we can in the trial moment. Before a trial I have a silent communion with myself in essence a mediation where I acknowledge and internalize the possibility of failure. This is an important step in reaching the state I need to be in in trial-freely living in the trial moment.

Give Your Best Effort. This is different than believing in yourself. This is the doing part of the equation. This means living the trial from start to finish. Although it is essential to prepare for the trial, all trial lawyers know a trial takes a life of its own. We must adapt as this occurs. Adaptation means fine tuning and at times retooling in the day during trial and at night before the next trial day. Giving our best effort means a solid focused work effort from start to finish.

Never, Never Quit on Yourself. The great trial lawyer Paul Luvera teaches trial is a battle. There will be times when the other side is scoring points. There will be times when things do not go as planned. There may be times when things go bad. The key is to never stop battling. The Navy Squash team built its winning tradition by contesting every point to the end.  We must do this in trial.

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Recently we settled a significant personal injury case where we addressed the issue of a Medicare Set Aside (MSA). The issue was raised by defense during settlement negotiations. Defendants argued they could be held liable by Medicare as could we if we ignored the MSA issue. They initially attempted to control what portion of the settlement funds would be used for a MSA. This post discuses how we handled the MSA issue.

Medicare and Medicad Liens. The Medicare program was established by Congress in 1965 in the Social Security Act. 42 U.S.C. sec. 1395 et seq. Medicare provides medical payments for Medicare eligible people (people receiving Social Security benefits). Under federal law Medicare has a super lien for reimbursement of Medicare benefits paid for the injured Medicare recipient’s medical specials. Nonetheless, federal regulations require Medicare to reduce the amount of its recovery to take into account the cost of procuring the settlement when the claim is disputed and the recovering party has borne cost in obtaining the recovery. In re: Zyprexa Products Liability Litigation, 451 F. Supp.2d 458(E.D.N.Y. 2006)(analysis of Medicare and Medicade liens). Federal law also recognizes Medicad (state version of Medicare) liens, and provides federal authority for collection of Medicad liens.  See Arkansas Dept. of Health and Human Services v. Ahlborn, 547 U.S. 268 (2006)(Arkansas Medicare statute for plenary lien held invalid, must recognize injured plaintiff).

Medicare Set Aside. A MSA is a fund separately identified from the settlement proceeds to be paid to Medicare for the injured plaintiff’s future medical needs. Recently defendants (insurance companies for defendants) have been arguing the settlement must include a MSA. This argument is made even when the injured plaintiff is not yet and may never be a Medicare recipient. Defendants also try to dictate  the amount of a MSA. In personal injury cases, these arguments must be resisted  to the point of litigating the MSA issue.

Federal Authority. “No federal law requires set-aside arrangements in personal injury settlements for future medical expenses.” Sipler v. Trans Am Trucking, Inc., (D.N.J. 2012). As recognized by the Sipler court, tort cases involve non-economic damages which are not determined by an established formula. See Zinman v. Shalala, 67 F.3d 841,846 (9th Cir. 1995). “[T]o require personal injury settlements to specifically apportion future medical expenses would prove burdensome to the settlement process, and, in turn, discourage personal injury settlements.” Sipler; cf. Ahlborn,  587 U. S. at 268  (in context of Medicad).

Solution. Our solution is plaintiff will consider the need for a MSA after consulting with a  MSA law firm, but plaintiff has the responsibility and discretion to determine the final set aside (if any). The terms of the settlement order  give plaintiff control over the MSA issue. Below is the relevant language:

Finding of Fact-Establishment of Qualified Settlement Fund. The parties have agreed to use a Qualified Settlement Fund  (QSF) established pursuant to section 468B of the Internal Revenue Code for purposes of holding the settlement funds and the disbursement of such funds pursuant to orders of this court.

Conclusion of Law-Orders of Disbursement. Orders of disbursement from the QSF will be made to ensure Medicare conditional payments are reimbursed, that a Medicare Set-Aside (if needed) will be properly funded by plaintiff out of the settlement proceeds, and that plaintiff receives the full benefit of this settlement.

Order. Plaintiff’s counsel shall promptly engage the services of Garretson Resolution Group, a professional firm that specializes in Medicare Secondary Payer compliance, to evaluate the case, determine whether a Medicare Set-Aside (MSA) is recomended, and if so, to present a proposed MSA Allocation. Plaintiff’s counsel and the QSF Payment Administrator shall take into account the MSA recommendation of Garretson to determine if a MSA is appropriate and if so the amount needed to fund the MSA.

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