2/23/2016: Colin Bell to Sit on Upcoming TLA Webinar Panel

/in /by 2/23/2016: Colin Bell to Sit on Upcoming TLA Webinar Panel

F&P principal Colin Bell will be a panelist during the Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA)’s webinar taking place next Tuesday, March, 1st.  Part of an ongoing Webinar Series, this session will be titled  Stop Thief: Cargo Liability Ramifications for Stolen Loads, Chameleon Characters and Impostors of All Kinds.  

This panel will discuss the panoply of issues that arise from cargo theft, including employee theft, impostors and chameleon carriers. The panel will analyze how these issues impact shippers, carriers and freight intermediaries and provide practical pointers on how to deal with these cases for clients.

The Transportation Lawyers Association is an independent, international bar association whose members assist providers and/or commercial users of logistics and transportation services. TLA is dedicated to keeping its members ahead of the constant changes in all aspects of the specialized legal environment affecting the transportation community, regardless of the particular legal discipline involved.

2/17/2016: Bert Randall Shares Insights in Recent Business Insurance Articles

/in /by 2/17/2016: Bert Randall Shares Insights in Recent Business Insurance Articles

Well-known in the legal industry for his knowledge of National Workers’ Compensation and Employment Law issues and trends, F&P President, Bert Randall is frequently asked to contribute to a variety of publications.  Most recently, he shared insights in two Business Insurance articles.

The article titled “As marijuana laws evolve, New Mexico rethinks paying comp claims” discusses a bill that would not require employers to pay for medical marijuana in workers’ compensation claims.   This would be a similar direction the recent federal court cases have gone, that allowed employers to fire workers for marijuana use.  Though the courts seem to be adopting a rather unified outlook on this topic, Bert Randall points out that “the public policy or the public perception continues to evolve in favor of medical marijuana,” thus employers should not get over confident that court opinions will not shift.
Read the full article http://bit.ly/1TmFXaR

“Opt-out bills put on hold in two states” reviews bills that have been introduced in South Carolina and Tennessee that would enable employers to opt-out of state workers’ comp systems and provide alternative options for injured employees.  Opt-out legislation was predicted to be a hot topic this year in workers’ compensation, but there has been very little movement thus far. Randall chimes in “if (opt-out legislation) isn’t dead, it’s perhaps slowly dying on the vine.”
Read full article http://bit.ly/1PPtrMK

In addition to Workers’ Compensation and Labor & Employment, Bert Randall concentrates his practice in complex matters involving tort liability and business litigation.  He regularly represents companies in state and federal courts, and before state and federal administrative agencies.  Bert works with a variety of industries, including acting as General Counsel to the Maryland Motor Truck Association (MMTA) and Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM).  He has both been featured as an author and been quoted in a host of legal and industry publications along with serving as a speaker, both regionally and nationally, for numerous organizations.

 

1/27/2016: F&P IT Director Paul J. Sawchuk to be Honored at SmartCEO Executive Management Awards

/in /by 1/27/2016: F&P IT Director Paul J. Sawchuk to be Honored at SmartCEO Executive Management Awards

Franklin & Prokopik (F&P) is proud to announce that Paul (P.J.) Sawchuk has won a Smart CEO Executive Management Award (EMA).  P.J. will be honored on March 24th at the Westin BWI in Lithicum, MD.

P.J. joined Franklin & Prokopik (F&P) in 2006 as the sole IT employee in an organization of 70.  During his time at F&P, the firm has grown to over 150 people and has become exponentially more dependent on electronic data.  Through P.J.’s leadership and guidance, he has helped F&P stay abreast of increasingly sophisticated technologies, new and complex risks, and identifying new opportunities to aid the business.   In his role as IT Director, he develops and implements strategic initiatives to align technology with business process.  These responsibilities also include direct oversight of end user support operations, facilities and systems management, and the Firm’s training program.

“Our firm has placed great trust into P.J.  because he is a homegrown talent with personal interest in our success.  He has a track record of applying his knowledge, resourcefulness, and understanding of information technology to address complex business problems,” says F&P President Bert Randall, Jr.

P.J. possesses a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.  He is an active member of the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) and he sits on various fundraising committees for Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

About the Executive Management Awards

The Executive Management Awards program recognizes the leadership and accomplishments of the region’s management all-stars — CFOs, CIOs/CTOs, Chief Legal Offices/General Counsels, Chief Human Resources Officers, and other C-suite executives. These individuals uphold the highest ethics, lead collaboratively and creatively, and enhance and support the organization’s mission. An independent committee of local business leaders reviews the EMA nominations, and winners are chosen based on the quality of the nominations submitted. EMA winners are profiled in the March/April issue of SmartCEO magazine and celebrated at an awards reception in March.

About Franklin & Prokopik

Franklin & Prokopik (F&P) is a vibrant regional law firm comprised of over 60 experienced attorneys serving clients across the Mid-Atlantic.   F&P strives to find the best ways to meet the distinctive needs of clients by combining the highest quality personal service with competitive fee structures.  F&P represents corporate and business entities of all sizes, from small “mom and pops” to Fortune 500 companies across a wide range of industries.  Headquartered in downtown Baltimore, F&P has seven offices serving Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and Florida.

1/25/2016: Tamara Goorevitz Presents on Cargo Claims at TLA Boot Camp

/in /by 1/25/2016: Tamara Goorevitz Presents on Cargo Claims at TLA Boot Camp

F&P principal, Tamara Goorevitz, gave a presentation on Cargo Claims at the Transportation Lawyers Association’s (TLA) Broker Claims Boot Camp on January 21st.  The Boot Camp took place the afternoon before  TLA’s 27th Annual Regional Seminar in Chicago, IL at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park.  The seminar was a huge success with a record breaking 250+ attendees.

The Boot Camp program was designed to be an overview of the law and current trend of claims against brokers and the presentation was geared toward attorneys of all levels of interest.  It consisted of discussions regarding the prosecution and defense of such claims, including the areas of personal injury, cargo, contract and bond claims.

The Transportation Lawyers Association is an independent, international bar association whose members assist providers and/or commercial users of logistics and transportation services.  In addition to hosting annual CLE symposiums of the highest quality in major cities and regional workshops in several sites across the U.S., TLA combines collegiality with professional education at Annual Conferences held in resort locations throughout the country.

1/18/2016: F&P’s Baltimore Office Adds 2 New Associate Attorneys

/in /by 1/18/2016: F&P’s Baltimore Office Adds 2 New Associate Attorneys

Two new associate attorneys have joined the F&P team this winter. Patrick Wachter, who focuses his practice in liability defense, and Ben Brooks, who focuses his practice in Workers’ Compensation.  Both associates are located in the Baltimore office.

Prior to joining Franklin & Prokopik, Ben Brooks worked as a judicial law clerk for the District Court of Maryland in Frederick and Washington Counties.  While attending the University of Baltimore School of Law, Ben served as a Rule 16 Student Attorney for the Saul Ewing Civil Advocacy Clinic.  Also during law school, Ben gained experience in civil litigation working as a law clerk for Thomas, Thomas & Hafer and Walker, Murphy & Nelson.  Ben is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association.  In his free time, Ben enjoys kayaking, fishing, and recreational sports.

During law school, Patrick Wachter served as an officer of the Entertainments, Arts and Sports Law Society for 2 years and also competed on the International Environmental Law Moot Court team whose competition was held in Denver, Colorado. While living in Las Vegas for a summer during law school, Patrick clerked for Steven Pacitti, Esq., LL.M. where he gained experience working for professional athletes in both football and mixed martial arts.  During high school and college, Patrick grew up working for his family business Von Paris Moving & Storage. Through the many years of working there, he learned to importance of dedication, hard work, and integrity. Because of there, he also brings some unique knowledge from the day to day operational side of the trucking and transportation industry.

1/7/2016: Andrew Stephenson to Participate in SLG Workshop at DRI Seminar

/in /by 1/7/2016: Andrew Stephenson to Participate in SLG Workshop at DRI Seminar

F&P Senior Partner, Andrew Stephenson, will be speaking at DRI’s Products Liability Seminar next month.  His topic, The Internet of Things: Effective Techniques to Identify, Collect, and Present Electronic Evidence is a part of the TRIAL TECHNIQUES & TECHNOLOGY SLG Workshop.  The seminar is taking place from February 3-5, 2016 in New Orleans and Andrew will be presenting on February 4.

DRI’s Product Liability Conference is the premier product liability education and networking conference of the year!  Attendees will hear from in-house counsel and marquee trial and appellate lawyers, and have the opportunity to attend multiple networking events designed to introduce participants to new clients and colleagues and cement existing relationships. Returning to New Orleans, the conference will provide education, networking, camaraderie, culture, and food in one of America’s most unique cities.  Visit https://www.dri.org/Event/20160200 for more information.

DRI is the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel. Membership in DRI provides access to resources and tools for attorneys who strive to provide high-quality, balanced and excellent service to their clients and corporations. DRI is host to 30 substantive committees whose focus is to develop ongoing and critical dialogue about areas of practice. DRI provides access to resources and tools to grow members’ practices – members can search a database of more than 65,000 experts, attend renowned CLE seminars, conferences and webcasts, network with 22,000+ like-minded defense practitioners and more.

12/17/2015: Steve Marshall Co-presents DRI’s Latest Webcast

/in /by 12/17/2015: Steve Marshall Co-presents DRI’s Latest Webcast

F&P Counsel Steve Marshall, along with  DRI’s Product Liability Committee, presented DRI’s most recent webcast yesterday, titled  Cars and Coding: Emissions Cases and the New Frontier of Product Liability Claims.  Steve is the Webcast Program Chair and the Products Liability Committee is one of the largest and most active committees within DRI

The webcast used the recent Volkswagen emission device investigation and litigation as a case study, addressing the technology at issue in the Volkswagen emissions device and the legal claims against and defenses available to Volkswagen and other manufacturers facing claims related to software defects.  The technical portion of the program involved an engineering explanation of the “device” and the potential engineering solutions for this and other components reliant on coding. The legal portion identified common themes and defenses in the class actions filed across the country. The program also discussed defective software related claims, including claims for faulty coding, against other manufacturers, and the types of claims for both intentional and negligent coding/software actions/omissions likely to arise in the future.

Speaking alongside Steve were Halie Treas, a counsel in Oklahoma at Jennings Teague PC, and Anthony Cornetto III, a mechanical engineer responsible for managing and conducting the investigation of accidents and product failures.

DRI is the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel. Membership in DRI provides access to resources and tools for attorneys who strive to provide high-quality, balanced and excellent service to their clients and corporations.

11/30/2015: F&P Welcomes Three New Attorneys to Firm

/in /by 11/30/2015: F&P Welcomes Three New Attorneys to Firm

F & P is pleased to announce that the firm has added three new attorneys this fall.  J. Harrison Baker, Jr., who concentrates his practice in Liability Defense, and Sarah Lambert, who concentrates her practice in Workers’ Compensation joined our Herndon, VA office.  April Kerns, also a  Workers’ Compensation attorney, joined our main office in Baltimore.  We look forward to the breadth of knowledge and diverse experience being added to the F&P team.

J. Harrison Baker, Jr.

Prior to joining Franklin & Prokopik, J. was an associate with The Knicely Law Firm in Williamsburg, Virginia. There, he represented clients in civil litigation matters in the areas of real estate, wills and trusts, homeowner’s association disputes, and landlord/tenant actions.  J. holds a B.S. from Virginia Tech. and J.D. from William and Mary Law School.

Sarah Lambert

Following law school, Sarah worked as a contract attorney in the Richmond, Virginia area. During law school, Sarah worked as a student representative for the Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic and assisted the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Legal and Defense Services, helping veterans and service members with their disability, retirements, and courts-martial appeals. She also interned with Waters Law Firm, working on maritime and land-based personal injury actions.  Sarah received her B.A. from the University of Akron and J.D. from William and Mary Law School.

April Kerns

April joined Franklin & Prokopik from a small general practice firm after gaining broad legal experience as an attorney and law clerk. She attended the University of Baltimore as a scholarship recipient, was a member of the American Association for Justice trial team, and a University of Baltimore Law Review editor.  While attending law school, April also worked in the Maryland Office of the Attorney General and with Administrative Judge Laurence Gallagher at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  April has a B.A. from Goucher College and J.D. from University of Baltimore School of Law.

 

11/24/2015: Bert Randall Quoted in “Tragedy in Paris Reminds Us that Workplace Violence Is a Serious Risk”

/in /by 11/24/2015: Bert Randall Quoted in “Tragedy in Paris Reminds Us that Workplace Violence Is a Serious Risk”

11/11/2015: Bert Randall to Speak at National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference

/in /by 11/11/2015: Bert Randall to Speak at National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference

Franklin & Prokopik President Bert Randall will be speaking on November 11th at the 24th Annual National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference.  He will join Lori A. Severson of Lockton Companies during the Extreme Violence in the Workplace: Causation, Mental Trauma and Prevention session and they will discuss strategies for preventing workplace violence and mitigating the exposure when it occurs.  The conference is taking place from November 11-13 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV.

For 23 years, the National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference® (NWCDC) has provided the best workers’ comp and disability management training available — attracting thousands of industry professionals each year.  The the conference is routinely approved for AAOHN, CDMSC, CCMC, CRCC, CWCP and HRCI credits — showing attendees are getting quality education.

What’s more, NWCDC is home to the industry’s largest Expo in the nation and features more than 260 vendors of claims management software, cost containment solutions, managed care services, medical/pharmaceutical products, RTW services, risk management solutions and much more.

See more at: http://www.wcconference.com/about.html#sthash.xOBZPXwY.dpuf