Personal Injury Ethics: Avoiding Malpractice on Tax, Government Benefits, and Other Specialized Issues
Addressing Non-Litigation Issues Under Model Rule 1.2 While Increasing Settlement Value
Note: CPE credit is not offered on this program
Recording of a 90-minute CLE video webinar with Q&A
This CLE course will review when personal injury attorneys may be obligated to provide guidance before settlement on non-litigation issues such as tax, government benefits, and other issues. While attorneys can ethically narrow the scope of their representation, doing so requires "informed consent." The program will discuss ethical considerations for lawyers who wish to limit their scope and make compliant referrals to professionals who can address these specialized issues.
Outline
- Introduction
- How non-litigation issues can reduce net settlement value
- Limiting representation under Model Rule 1.2
- Ensuring informed consent
- Making compliant client referrals to subject matter experts
Benefits
The panel will review these and other pivotal issues:
- What are the ethical duties of trial lawyers to help clients with non-litigation issues?
- When and how should clients involve advisers with specialized knowledge/experience?
- What are the most critical tax, finance, and benefits issues in personal injury cases?
- How can counsel ethically narrow their scope of representation?
- Most importantly, how can ethical compliance increase net settlement value?
Faculty
Anthony V. Alfieri
SVP, In House Counsel
Settlement Professionals
Mr. Alfieri is a personal injury plaintiff and settlement planner. A passionate defender of plaintiffs’ rights,... | Read More
Mr. Alfieri is a personal injury plaintiff and settlement planner. A passionate defender of plaintiffs’ rights, he has directly participated in initiatives to improve the rights of claimants in structured settlement transactions. Most notably, petitioning the United States Treasury Department to publish literature authorizing the use of qualified or designated settlement funds for single claimant settlements.
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Jeremy Babener
Special Tax Counsel
Lane Powell
Mr. Babener is a nationally recognized tax attorney who focuses his practice on lawsuit awards, settlements and complex... | Read More
Mr. Babener is a nationally recognized tax attorney who focuses his practice on lawsuit awards, settlements and complex structures.
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Joseph A. Di Gangi
Director of Planning
Settlement Professionals
Mr. Di Gangi is a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Structured Settlement Consultant, former Litigation Supervisor... | Read More
Mr. Di Gangi is a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Structured Settlement Consultant, former Litigation Supervisor / Large Case Negotiator, and current Director of Settlement Professional Inc.’s Financial & Settlement Planning Division. For over 30 years, he has expertly combined traditional Financial Planning strategies, Litigation Support Services and Plaintiff focused Settlement Planning for the benefit of his very special clientele including catastrophically injured clients, their loved ones, and their legal representatives.
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Mary Ellen Murrah
Operations Consultant
Vista Consulting Team
Prior to joining Vista, Ms. Murrah spent more than 16 years managing and marketing a national, legal case management... | Read More
Prior to joining Vista, Ms. Murrah spent more than 16 years managing and marketing a national, legal case management software company. That position introduced her to thousands of personal injury law firms across the country. Ms. Murrah was a familiar face at annual legal events and a frequent voice on topics ranging from legal marketing to data integrity. She is skilled in identifying law firm business improvement opportunities and brings her extensive operations, team management, and industry knowledge to the Vista team.
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