August 14, 2007
(Burlington) The Brain Injury Association of Vermont (BIA VT) and Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC (DRM) will present "Representing Traumatic Brain Injury Victims - Legal and Medical Issues," a conference for attorneys and legal professionals, Tuesday, September 25, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Main Street Landing in Burlington.
The proceeds of the conference will benefit BIA VT, a 501(c)(3) organization working to create a better future through traumatic brain injury (TBI) prevention, education, research and advocacy. Among the topics to be covered are understanding the physiological and psychological consequences of TBI, recent developments in neuroimaging techniques and what they reveal about mild TBI and strategies for proving a brain injury and its consequences in a liability case.
Robert B. Luce, an attorney at DRM and the conference chair, said, "We are organizing the conference around two important goals. One is to raise money to benefit the Brain Injury Association of Vermont. The presenters are donating their time, and we're hoping to raise $5,000. The other goal is to share the latest knowledge about important medical, psychological and legal aspects of traumatic brain injury."
The presenters include neuropsychiatrist Thomas McAllister, M.D., psychologist Richard W. Davis, Ph.D., and attorneys Robert B. Luce, Tom McCormick and Thomas J. Sherrer.
McAllister, a professor of psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical School and the director of neuropsychiatry of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the New Hampshire Hospital, has been working in the field of brain injury recovery for 20 years. A former president of the American Neuropsychiatric Association, he is co-editor of the Textbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, published by American Psychiatric Press.
Davis provides outpatient clinical and medical psychology services in a private practice affiliated with Associates in Psychology in Burlington and Waitsfield, Vt. His practice is largely devoted to patients who face long-term adjustment issues related to chronic illness and disability, including disabilities resulting from TBI. Davis has worked extensively with patients with spinal cord injuries and has served as staff psychologist responsible for the spinal cord program at Sunrise Rehabilitation Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Luce is a trial attorney at Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC, a full-service law firm with more than 85 lawyers and legal professionals in seven offices in Vermont and New Hampshire and a co-sponsor of the conference. Luce has focused his practice on representing brain and spinal cord injury victims and their families for 15 years. He has served on the board of BIA VT for several years and is an active member of the National Traumatic Brain Injury Law Group.
McCormick is a trial attorney with the Burlington law firm of McCormick, Fitzpatrick, Kasper & Burchard, P.C. A past president of the Vermont chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, McCormick has represented individuals and corporations in serious personal injury, medical negligence, wrongful death, product liability and other matters. His clients include victims who have suffered traumatic brain injuries resulting from on-the-job incidents, motor vehicle collisions, medical issues and electrical injury.
Sherrer, a trial attorney with Langrock Sperry & Wool, LLP and a member of the board of directors for the Vermont Trial Lawyers Association, has represented injured claimants in medical malpractice, products liability and adverse drug reactions cases for more than 20 years. He has litigated a number of traumatic brain injury cases resulting from recreational activities and auto accidents.
The cost of the workshop is $325, with reduced rates available for non-profit representatives. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits may be available. For more information or to register, contact DRM's Julie Meade at (802) 863-2375.
DRM provides legal services to local, national and international clients in practice areas which include litigation, business law, labor and employment, captive insurance, environmental law, estate planning, family law, tax law, public utilities, real estate, health care, intellectual property, creditors rights, venture capital and insurance defense. It represents clients in legislative, regulatory and public affairs through the Government Affairs group. DRM is the law firm member for Vermont of Lex Mundi, the world's leading association of independent law firms.
