10/5/2018: F&P Employees Prepare Meals for Moveable Feast

On Tuesday, October 2, a group of F&P employees volunteered at Moveable Feast on Milton Avenue in Baltimore city. Moveable Feast provides care for men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other terminal illness. They offer and deliver healthy meals and groceries while providing counseling and other services. While at Moveable Feast, our team prepared lunch kits and also prepped more than 700 pieces of fish and turkey to later be prepared for dinners. Moveable Feast then delivers these meals to people living with life-threatening conditions.

F&P would like to thank Moveable Feast for allowing us to be a part of their mission and to thank our employees for taking time out of their busy schedules to help feed Baltimore residents struggling with serious illnesses. To learn more about Moveable Feast, visit their website at www.mfeast.org.

View photos below.

Moveable Feast Volunteer Day

10/1/2018: F&P Secures Defense Verdict in Prince George’s County MV Liability Trial

F&P attorney Imoh Akpan recently obtained a defense verdict following a jury trial in the case Simpson, Cheree v. Butch Lewis Truck Company in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County. The case arose out of a February 26, 2016 motor vehicle accident that occurred in a traffic circle in Washington, D.C. The Plaintiff, Cheree Simpson (“Plaintiff”), sought damages for injuries she allegedly sustained when Defendant Butch Lewis Truck Company’s driver struck Plaintiff’s vehicle while both were maneuvering through the traffic circle. There was no evidence that the Defendant’s vehicle made contact with the body of Plaintiff’s vehicle; the minimal property damage (totaling less than $1,000) was limited to the passenger side mirror of her vehicle.  Although she did not report any injuries at the scene, Plaintiff sought medical treatment, beginning eight (8) days after the accident, alleging to have suffered injuries to her lower back. Plaintiff sought damages at trial for past medical expenses, past lost wages, and pain and suffering.

At trial, Mr. Akpan was able to show through effective cross-examination of Plaintiff and her medical experts that Plaintiff’s claimed injuries were unrelated to the subject accident. Mr. Akpan effectively highlighted the minimal property damage to Plaintiff’s vehicle, the low-impact nature if the accident, Plaintiff’s eight (8) day delay in seeking medical treatment, Plaintiff’s report of no injuries on the scene, and Plaintiff’s medical expert’s lack of knowledge of Plaintiff’s medical history, significantly undermining the expert’s causation opinion, to obtain a favorable result.

Following the close of evidence and closing arguments, the jury returned its verdict in favor of Defendant, finding Defendant was negligent in the operation of his vehicle, causing the subject accident, but that Defendant’s  negligence was not a proximate cause of Plaintiff’s claimed injuries.

9/28/2018: F&P Principals Address Trending Workers’ Comp Issues at NWCDN Conference

On September 27, Franklin & Prokopik principals, Bert Randall and Lynn Fitzpatrick, traveled to Minneapolis, MN for the National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN) National Conference. Both were speakers discussing wage calculations, settlement options as well as future medical and employment issues as they relate to injuries which can range from sprains to surgery.  The theme of the conference was “Today’s Trends, Tomorrow’s Solutions – Concrete Answers for Real World Workers’ Compensation Issues,”  and complex issues were addressed ranging from traumatic brain injuries, medical legal exposure of claims, new approaches to deal with soaring medical costs, building and managing relationships in the claims professional team, to offering solutions to internal employer policies which hinder resolution of claims.

The NWCDN is comprised of attorneys from 45 states and Canada and hosts an annual fall conference addressing timely and hot topic issues in workers’ compensation. The year’s conference also held sessions on traumatic brain injuries, medical legal exposure of claims, new approaches to handling rising medical costs, dealing with relationships with claims professionals and offering solutions to internal employer policies that negatively impact the ability to resolve claims. For more information regarding the NWCDN, please visit their website at http://www.nwcdn.com.

 

9/7/2018: Ralph Arnsdorf to Share HR Critical Issues Insights at Upcoming Workshop

Next Tuesday, September 11, F&P principal Ralph Arnsdorf will be a panel speaker at the Maryland Associated General Contractors’ (MDAGC) “Managing HR Critical Issues” Workshop.  The program is the first of a three part series and will focus on the hiring process.  Ralph, alongside Rebecca Pennington of Kimball Construction, will provide practical and time-tested ways to manage HR issues effectively and efficiently, while meeting all legal requirements.  All of the workshops will take place at the MDAGC office in Lutherville, MD.  For more information and to register visit https://www.marylandagc.org/events/details/managing_hr_critical_issues.

Maryland AGC is a trade association whose members include general contractors, construction managers, specialty contractors, and service and supplier companies supporting Maryland’s commercial construction industry.  Since 1927, they have brought a strong, influential, single voice to the industry.  They are one of 95 chartered chapters affiliated with AGC of America, representing over 26,500 members nationwide.  Members of Maryland AGC are also members of AGC of America.  This affiliation affords Maryland AGC members an even stronger industry voice and broad access to services, resources, and activities available on a national level.

9/6/2018: F&P Principals to Speak at Annual MWCEA Conference

Each September, F&P attorneys participate in  the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Educational Association’s (MWCEA) Annual Conference.  This year’s event will take place September 23 -26, 2018 at the Clarion Resort in Ocean City, MD. Franklin & Prokopik is sponsoring the Conference’s opening reception on Sunday, September 23, which is open to all attendees.  Highlighted by a game show theme, the conference is geared toward all levels of practitioners in all fields related to workers’ compensation. The sessions will address hot topics in WC such as the opioid epidemic, medical marijuana and dos and don’ts for handling workers’ compensation claims.  The firm has been very active with MWCEA for years.  We sponsor multiple programs, attorneys Maija Jackson and Angela Garcia Kozlowski sit on the Board of Directors, and Maija previously served as the organization’s president.

In addition to attending and sponsoring, multiple F&P attorneys will have conference speaking roles.  On September 25, Angela Garcia Kozlowski will moderate “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?,”  a simulated mediation. Bert Randall and John Handscomb will also both be presenting on September 25. Bert will be speaking during the lunch and learn session about medical marijuana entitled, “The Joker’s Wild: Medical Marijuana in the Workers’ Comp Arena – The Jury is Still Out!” and John will sit on the panel, “Improve Your Game! Top Mistakes You Should Avoid,” highlighting common mistakes made during a workers’ compensation claim.

For more information about the MWCEA, or this year’s conference, please visit the website at http://www.mwcea.org/.

8/27/2018: F&P Principals Named to Best Lawyers in America® 2019 Listing

Franklin & Prokopik is pleased to announce that two of our principals have been selected to the Best Lawyers in America 2019.  Bert Randall, from our corporate headquarters office in Baltimore, received the distinction for Workers’ Compensation and Employment Law and Lynn Fitzpatrick, from our Herndon office, was honored with a selection in the Workers’ Compensation category.  This is the second year in a row both attorneys have received this honor.

For more than 30 years, Best Lawyers in America, has led the industry in highlighting the accomplishments of attorneys and is the oldest ranking service in the world for the legal profession. The process includes nominations of attorneys that are then evaluated by their peers. Applications receiving high reviews then undergo an authentication process of their credentials and standings. This year 7.8 million votes were analyzed, resulting in 60,000 lawyers being included in the newest addition.

Bert Randall, President of Franklin & Prokopik, is a trial attorney concentrating in complex matters involving employment, tort liability and business litigation.  He regularly represents companies in state and federal courts, and before state and federal administrative agencies.

Lynn Fitzpatrick concentrates her practice in the area of civil litigation, especially the defense of state workers’ compensation cases.  Lynn has lectured extensively on issues of law and procedure involving workers’ compensation issues.

8/16/2018: F&P’s Herndon, VA Office Participates in Cornerstones’ Back-to-School Drive

Yesterday, August 15, F&P employees from our Herndon office made a visit to Cornerstones in Reston, Virignia to assist the organization in preparing for the upcoming school year. Our staff aided other volunteers in sorting school supplies by grade and gender, making sure each group of supplies included every item from the supply list provided by Fairfax County. The completed stacks of school supplies were then placed into bags to be delivered to nearly 3,000 students (grades K-12) in the Reston-Herndon area. In addition to the school supplies, nearly 3000 of the students will  receive new backpacks. Cornerstones relies on volunteers and donations to make this initiative successful.  The Cornerstones volunteer outing was one of many community endeavors the firm has implemented in 2018.  To learn more about F&P’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, visit https://www.fandpnet.com/corporate-social-responsibility/.

Cornerstones is a nonprofit organization that promotes self-sufficiency by providing support and advocacy for those in need of food, shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare, and other human services.  They have been serving Northwest Fairfax County for nearly 50 years through a variety of charitable programs and events.  To learn more about Cornerstones visit https://www.cornerstonesva.org/.

Thank you to our staff from Virginia for taking time out of their day to help give local students the supplies they need to have a successful start to the new school year.

Herndon Volunteer Day at Cornerstones

 

 

 

8/8/2018: Jennifer Banach Re-Appointed to MSBA Publications Committee

Jennifer Banach, the head of F&P’s Hagerstown office, has been re-appointed to the Maryland State Bar Association’s (MSBA) Publications Committee for fiscal year 2018-2019.  The Publications Committee assists the Board of Governors and MSBA staff in the development of educational publications for various practice areas and sectors of the legal profession.  Jennifer was selected for this position in light of her hard work and dedication to the MSBA and the legal profession.  She served on the committee the previous fiscal year as well.

MSBA exists to effectively represent Maryland’s lawyers, to provide member services, and to promote professionalism, diversity in the legal profession, access to justice, service to the public and respect for the rule of law.  Visit https://www.msba.org/ for more information.

8/1/2018: F&P Volunteers Join the Ronald McDonald House for McBlitz Day

Last Wednesday, July 25, a group of F&P employees went to the Ronald McDonald House on W. Lexington Street in Baltimore City to participate in one of its McBlitz days. Twice a month, RMH welcomes a group of volunteers to come to the house to help with any chores, clean-up or maintenance necessary to keep the house running. Our staff worked on art projects, both a decorative art collage and cleaning and decorating stones. The stones, covered in handwritten, inspirational messages from visitors and volunteers, will be used to construct a stone wall.  These projects will be displayed in the new house, which is currently under construction in East Baltimore on Aisquith Street. Other volunteers cleaned the laundry room and kitchens. Some sorted through soda can tabs to remove any metal or foreign objects. The aluminum tabs are then recycled and the money RMH receives from these tabs are used for gas for the shuttle, which provides transportation to the hospitals and local stores.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Baltimore provides lodging, at no cost, to families of seriously ill children who are being treated a local hospitals, either as inpatient or outpatient. Although part of an international organization, the RHM in Baltimore is independent and locally funded. The house relies on community support, both monetary and in the form of donations and volunteers to provide its services. For more information about the Ronald McDonald House and its mission, please visit the website https://rmhcbaltimore.org/.

Thank you to all of our volunteers who participated to make this day a success. And a special thank you to the Ronald McDonald House for allowing us to partner with them to support this much needed and honorable community service. Click on the link provided to view photos of F&P McBlitz day.

Ronald McDonald House McBlitz Day

 

7/23/2018: When Does it End? Applying the Continuing Representation Rule in Legal Malpractice Actions

This article originally appeared in the Journal of Civil Litigation, Vol. 30, No. 2 (Summer 2018), a publication of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys. It appears here with permission.
By Helen D. Neighbors, Principal, Franklin & Prokopik

View article