Having housed guests as notorious as Al Capone and as noteworthy as Franklin D. Roosevelt, The
Biltmore has remained one of the country’s most historic hotels for nearly a century. The Biltmore is located southwest of downtown
Miami in beautiful Coral Gables.
Coral Gables, or “City Beautiful”, is known as a pedestrianfriendly destination and has nearly
140 dining establishments and gourmet shops, and many notable international retailers.  The resort is located 5 miles (10 minutes) from Miami International Airport and 30 miles (40 minutes) from the
Ft. Lauderdale airport, both easily accessible by taxi (recommended).
Welcome to the 2014 ALFA Transportation Practice Group Seminar in beautiful Coral
Gables, Florida. This year’s program brings together leaders from around the country to address important issues at the forefront of the transportation industry.
Too often, we find ourselves attempting to navigate the “Highway to Hell” when handling claims and litigation. Obstacles, both novel and recycled, arise at every turn, requiring immediate and skilled responses. This year’s seminar is designed to give you a roadmap of those obstacles and how ALFA’s Transportation Practice Group Members are best equipped to respond – and guide you to the exits.
We will meet with a focus group for an in-depth, inside look into jurors’ perspectives of the
Highway to Hell, including their reactions to highway obstacles such as cell phone records and social media evidence. We will also hear about neuropsychology and human factors experts, as well as how to defend against and use such experts effectively. Finally, we will learn from our own experts how to defend against the “reptiles” you might encounter along the highway, tactics to use against them when trying to find your exit, and numerous other topics to help you handle the road too often traveled.
Welcome again to Florida for the 2014 ALFA Transportation Practice Group Seminar.
Shannon S. Frankel
Program Chair, ALFA International
2014 Transportation Seminar
YOUNG MOORE AND HENDERSON, P.A.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Marc H. Harwell
Chair, ALFA International
Transportation Practice Group
LEITNER WILLIAMS DOOLEY
& NAPOLITAN, PLLC
Chattanooga, Tennessee
12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION
Alhambra & Southwest Terrace
12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
FACULTY REHEARSAL
Granada Ballroom
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Pro Shop Terrace
Please join the Women’s Initiative Practice
Group and unwind with your transportation colleagues over a manicure, signature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and fun banter in a tranquil oasis!
S. Carolyn Ramos
Women’s Initiative Liaison
BUTT THORNTON & BAEHR, PC
Albuquerque, New Mexico

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
CLIENT ADVISORY BOARD
MEETING
Tuttle
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
ALFA ALL ATTORNEY MEETING
Merrick
All attending ALFA International attorneys are required to attend.
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Danielson Gallery/Pool Lawn
This event allows client attendees the opportunity to exchange ideas and share best practices in a social setting without ALFA lawyers in the room.
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Alhambra & Southwest Terrace
Welcome to the Biltmore! On the first night of the seminar, we welcome all attendees to join us in the Alhambra Ballroom & Southwest Terrace.
Reconnect with your ALFA colleagues and make some new connections while enjoying the view and entertainment in the famous Biltmore pool!
9:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Alhambra Ballroom
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
ATTENDEE BREAKFAST BUFFET
Alhambra & Southwest Terrace
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
SPOUSE BREAKFAST BUFFET
Alhambra & Southwest Terrace
8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Carol B. Ervin
Chair, ALFA International Board of Directors
YOUNG CLEMENT RIVERS, LLP
Charleston, South Carolina
Marc H. Harwell
Chair, ALFA International
Transportation Practice Group
LEITNER WILLIAMS DOOLEY
& NAPOLITAN, PLLC
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Shannon S. Frankel
Program Chair, ALFA International
2014 Transportation Seminar
YOUNG MOORE AND HENDERSON, P.A.
Raleigh, North Carolina
8:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
PROGRAM SESSIONS
Granada Ballroom
8:15 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Litigation is a process. Investigation, pleadings and discovery set the stage, but the endgame is persuading the finders of fact.
This exercise will employ a focus group to provide insight on how jurors receive, evaluate and ultimately process issues common in transportation cases. Listen as seasoned
ALFA attorneys lay out the facts and jurors provide their initial impressions of the case.
Marygrace Schaeffer
Vice President
DECISIONQUEST
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Robert E. Barton
COSGRAVE VERGEER KESTER LLP
Portland, Oregon
Brian O. Beverly
Moderator
YOUNG MOORE AND HENDERSON, P.A.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Joseph R. Farris
FRANDEN, WOODARD, FARRIS,
QUILLIN & GOODNIGHT
Tulsa, Oklahoma
9:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m. BREAK

9:25 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
By now we have seen plaintiffs’ attorneys use tactics they learned from Don Keenan’s and
David Ball’s book Reptile. But what are the transportation industry and its counsel doing to combat the lizard brain? This panel will explore some methods to lead jurors away from cold-blooded fear and toward reason.
Kurt A. Schmid
Moderator
BROWN & JAMES, PC
St. Louis, Missouri
Jeanne Givner
Manager, Liability Claims
FEDEX GROUND
Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Tom Travis
Vice President
ADVANTAGE LOSS SERVICES/
DART TRANSIT COMPANY
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Danny M. Needham
MULLIN HOARD & BROWN, LLP
Amarillo, Texas
10:00 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.
In a world where many court systems mandate participation in some form of alternative dispute resolution as a gateway to getting to trial, parties can take advantage of this opportunity to resolve valid claims in what can be an efficient and effective forum – mediation. The resolution process, however, is not a science; it’s a work of art that is often molded by the mediator using the information given by the parties.
This panel will take you behind the scenes of a mediation to discuss mediation tactics employed by plaintiffs, strategies invoked by mediators, and ways for defendants to respond to them to make the most of the time spent preparing for and attending mediations.
Dennis B. Keene
Moderator
HUNTER MACLEAN
Savannah, Georgia
Mark J. Whitehead
Vice President of Claims and
Litigation Management
J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT, INC.
Lowell, Arkansas
Leslie Leazer
Corporate Litigation Analyst
KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION
Phoenix, Arizona
Peter S. Doody
HIGGS FLETCHER & MACK LLP
San Diego, California
10:35 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. BREAK
10:50 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.
Despite expanding laws, regulations and company policies banning usage of mobile devices, distraction-related accidents continue to rise. Our panel of experienced industry professionals and defense counsel discusses the importance of record preservation in the claims stage. The panel then explores techniques for obtaining cell phone records during discovery and using them at trial.
Craig M. Cousins
Moderator
LEAKE & ANDERSSON, LLP
New Orleans, Louisiana
Cheryl Byrnes
Claims Manager
SCHNEIDER NATIONAL
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Mehdi Arradizadeh
Risk & Claims Director
ATS INC.
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Gareth W. Notis
MORRISON MAHONEY LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
11:20 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
In today’s fast paced world, people continuously turn to social media as their outlet. We must make sure we are tracking it. Are you asking the right questions in discovery? Do you have the proper measures in place before litigation and during litigation to capture social media postings? What are the social media sites that provide invaluable information during a case? These and many other questions will be explored during this presentation.
Mary Beth Haltom
Moderator
LEWIS, THOMASON,KING
KRIEG & WALDROP, PC
Nashville, Tennessee
D.J. Molnar
Director-Claims
COVENANT TRANSPORTATION GROUP, INC.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Janet Shelley
Liability Claims Manager
OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE, INC.
Thomasville, North Carolina
Duke R. Highfield
YOUNG CLEMENT RIVERS, LLP
Charleston, South Carolina

11:50 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Brace yourselves as the jurors get to the crux of the matter by continuing to dissect the positions of the parties, assessing the arguments of counsel, and deliberating on the issues.
Brian O. Beverly
Moderator
YOUNG MOORE & HENDERSON, P.A.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Michael Butler
Litigation Counsel
UPS
Atlanta, Georgia
12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
LUNCH
Alhambra & Southwest Terrace
1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
GOLF (See insert)
Advance registration is required
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Marygrace Schaeffer
Vice President
DECISIONQUEST
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Larry D. Warren
NAMAN, HOWELL, SMITH & LEE, PLLC
San Antonio, Texas
1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
(See insert)
Advance registration is required
9:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Alhambra Ballroom
CC Ballroom & Terrace
Please join us for cocktails and dinner in the stunning CC Ballroom & Terrace, overlooking the beautiful Biltmore Golf Course.
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
ATTENDEE BREAKFAST BUFFET
Alhambra & Southwest Terrace
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
SPOUSE BREAKFAST BUFFET
Alhambra & Southwest Terrace
8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
PROGRAM SESSIONS
Granada Ballroom
8:00 a.m. – 8:35 a.m.
By their nature, all brain injury cases are difficult to defend. Most lay people have a belief that, whether the injury is legitimate or exaggerated, any brain injury is serious and life-changing. Your experts are the best and most reliable source of information. Overviews of the medical issues raised by a brain injury claim as well as key considerations for a lawyer defending such claims will be presented. Our experienced group of industry professionals and ALFA litigators will lead an interactive discussion with attendees to explore how best to resolve these difficult issues.
Maureen E. Maney
Moderator
HANCOCK ESTABROOK, LLP
Syracuse, New York
Bill Molter
Director of Safety
CASSENS TRANSPORT COMPANY
Edwardsville, Illinois
Michael K. Woolley
Associate General Counsel
CARDINAL LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT
Concord, North Carolina
D. Cameron Beck, Jr.
MORRIS & MORRIS, P.C.
Richmond, Virginia

8:35 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
For decades, we have been using accident reconstruction experts to investigate, analyze and explain the mechanics and physics of motor vehicle accidents. Often, we have had them address perception and reaction times, visibility and conspicuity, and a host of other issues that involve uniquely human actions and interactions with the vehicles they operate and the hazards with which they are confronted. In more recent years, individuals specially trained and educated in the field of human actions and responses to a variety of stimuli have begun to present new and perhaps more reliable evidence-based data regarding driver perception and reaction times dependent upon the particular hazard presented and the attempted avoidance maneuver. Likewise, visibility and conspicuity testing has become more refined and the analysis and application of such studies may provide superior defenses from those previously presented. Join us in this panel discussion for an update of key issues that may lend themselves to consultation with and testimony by an experienced and uniquely qualified human factors expert and the value that such insight, testing, analysis, and testimony may bring to the defense of certain cases.
Hal D. Meltzer
Moderator
BAKER STERCHI
COWDEN & RICE LLC
Kansas City, Missouri
Curt Ruwe
Associate General Counsel
CRETE CARRIER
CORPORATION
Lincoln, Nebraska
Eric Nau
Corporate Counsel
PRIME INC.
Springfield, Missouri
Christy Comstock
EVERETT & WALES
Fayetteville, Arkansas
9:10 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
How are trials affected, if at all, by the characteristics of the trial team when discrimination is not the central issue?
Is it necessary or wise to model the trial team to meet the anticipated attributes of the jury, plaintiff, or key witnesses?
Should the presentation and team be modeled to the locale?
Can and should the team and presentation be modified on the fly? This panel incorporates a psychologist, lawyers who specialize in labor and employment issues, and two transportation lawyers to shed light on the issues as we explore (and attempt to answer) the multi-faceted and everevolving diversity issues for the trial team.
Bill Robinson
Corporate Secretary
GEICO
Washington, D.C.
Ann T. Greeley, Ph. D.
Senior Director
DECISIONQUEST
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
David L. Ortega
NAMAN, HOWELL,
SMITH & LEE, PLLC
San Antonio, Texas Joseph R. Swift
Moderator
BROWN & JAMES, PC
St. Louis, Missouri
Bobby Simpson
Senior Counsel
GENERAL ELECTRIC
COMPANY
Louisville, Kentucky
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
BREAK
10:00 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS:
GROUP 1
Leading with a brief overview of the factors that distinguish independent contractors from employee drivers, this panel will highlight some of the issues motor carriers face with independent contractor drivers. This panel will discuss several of the questions that arise after your independent contractor gets into an accident: How do you recover electronic data and secure evidence from a truck you do not own? How do you handle spoliation issues when the driver takes his truck home and other bobtail issues?
How do you manage your driver’s hours of service when he could be driving for another company during “off” time? The panel will also discuss the current law on liability of the motor carrier for the acts of the independent contractor, including when a co-driver is injured in an accident.
Annie J. Jacobs
Moderator
STRASBURGER & PRICE, LLP
Dallas, Texas
Bob Drew
Director – Risk Management
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Houston, Texas
Jon Carnes
Claims Management
GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE
Cincinnati, Ohio
Jason Goodnight
FRANDEN, WOODARD, FARRIS,
QUILLIN & GOODNIGHT
Tulsa, Oklahoma
James J. Franklin
MCNEES WALLACE & NURICK LLC
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

A point/counterpoint discussion involving the effective use of simulation, avoiding the pitfalls of improper introduction, and how to ensure admissibility. How do jurors react to simulations? Is it possible to overuse simulation? Most importantly, how do you avoid prejudice and make sure that your expert will be able to introduce it at trial?
Gregory D. Conforti
Moderator
JOHNSON & BELL, LTD.
Chicago, Illinois
Renee Blum
Director of Claims
QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC.
Tampa, Florida
Bryan Larson
Director, Property &
Casualty Insurance
LEGGETT & PLATT
Carthage, Missouri
Aaron Dean
MERRICK, HOFSTEDT
& LINDSEY, P.S.
Seattle, Washington
Dirk E. Smith, Ph.D., P.E.
Senior Vice President,
Forensic Division
RIMKUS CONSULTING GROUP, INC.
Houston, Texas
Regional carriers with smaller fleets present specific challenges in the aftermath of a commercial vehicle accident. Are there policy limit concerns? Does the company have a dedicated safety department? Is there a record retention policy? Are drivers trained on how to respond after an accident? Two of the trucking industry’s most knowledgeable insurers give insight on these and other challenges associated with insuring and representing smaller carriers.
Peter A. Dubrawski
Moderator
HAIGHT BROWN & BONESTEEL LLP
Los Angeles, California
Harvey Mensch
EVP of Claims and Loss Control
ATTIC RRG
Missoula, Montana
Steven Winborn
Vice President of Operations
VANLINER INSURANCE COMPANY
St. Louis, Missouri
Robert R. Foos
LEWIS WAGNER, LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
Quite often in serious cases, the settlement/verdict value gets too close for comfort to the carrier’s
SIR. The insurer may want the carrier to simply fork over the SIR and place the insurer in control of the case. This panel will confront this dilemma head on with real life advice from those on the front lines of this inevitable and unfortunate conflict.
Warner S. Fox
Moderator
HAWKINS PARNELL
THACKSTON & YOUNG, LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
Dan Fowler
Safety Manager - Risk
CON-WAY TRUCKLOAD
Joplin, Missouri
Patty Nylin
Claim Manager
SPARTANNASH
Edina, Minnesota
Andres E. Almanzan
MOUNCE, GREEN, MYERS, SAFI,
PAXSON & GALATZAN, P.C.
El Paso, Texas
Join us for a discussion centered on the crucial steps in handling a cargo claim, from receipt and processing of the claim to effectively utilizing motions for summary judgment. Learn effective techniques surrounding pre-litigation negotiations that will save your company time and money. Finally, continue your education through an update of removal issues, including how best to posture the lawsuit to remove non-Carmack claims.
Eric R. Benton
Moderator
LORANCE & THOMPSON, PC
Houston, Texas
Dan Hill
Director, Cargo Claims & Prevention
ABF FREIGHT SYSTEM, INC.
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Tom McLaughlin
Director of Claims
TRANSPORT AMERICA
Eagan, Minnesota
Tamara N. Cook
RENAUD COOK DRURY
MESAROS, PA
Phoenix, Arizona
10:40 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. BREAK
10:55 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. BREAKOUT SESSIONS: GROUP 2
***REPEAT GROUP 1 SESSIONS

11:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. BREAK
11:50 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The verdict is in! Learn what appealed to the jurors and what didn’t. Capture critical takeaways from the jurors’ deliberations that will help you frame the most effective and convincing contentions in your litigated matters.
Carole Whitted-Ridgeway
Senior Claims Manager
MAVERICK TRANSPORTATION, LLC
Little Rock, Arkansas
J. Philip Davidson
HINKLE LAW FIRM, LLC
Wichita, Kansas
Brian O. Beverly
Moderator
YOUNG MOORE & HENDERSON, P.A.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Marygrace Schaeffer
Vice President
DECISIONQUEST
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
LUNCH
Alhambra & Southwest Terrace
1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
GOLF (SEE INSERT)
Advance registration is required
1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
(See insert)
Advance registration is required
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
CC Ballroom Courtyard
Those who are staying Friday evening are encouraged to attend the farewell dinner on the courtyard for a final opportunity to connect with their fellow program attendees.
Attire is causal, resort wear. Advance registration is required.
ALFA International is the premier network of independent law firms. Founded in 1980, ALFA is the first and continues to be one of the largest and strongest legal networks. We have 145 member firms throughout the world. Our 80 U.S. firms represent 95 of the 100 largest metropolitan areas. Our 65 international firms are located throughout Europe,
Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, Canada, Mexico and South America.
ALFA International’s mission is to provide high quality, cost efficient legal services wherever our clients need them. The ALFA model enables our members to use their local expertise to deliver highly effective legal solutions, often drawing upon the collective wisdom and experience of other member firms. ALFA clients benefit from a geographically comprehensive network of exceptional law firms and accomplished trial and business counsel. Our member firms meet high standards to be part of the ALFA network and are well respected by their peers in the legal and business community.

Andrés “Andy” Almanzán is a Shareholder and Civil Trial Lawyer with the Law Firm of Mounce, Green, Myers, Safi, Paxson &
Galatzan in El Paso. A third-generation native and bilingual El Pasoan, Mr. Almanzán earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Quantitative
Economics from Stanford University in 1994, and his law degree from the University of
California at Los Angeles School of Law in
1997. Mr. Almanzán is admitted to practice by the State Bar of Texas, the U.S. District
Court for the Western District of Texas, the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Almanzán has served as the President of the Mexican-
American Bar Association of El Paso,
Vice-President of the El Paso Young Lawyers
Association, and has served on the Board of
Advisors of the Harvard Law School Latino
Law Review since 2004. Mr. Almanzán maintains an active Texas and Federal Court trial practice in Civil Defense Litigation, including defending: motor carriers in personal injury/casualty transportation/trucking claims; commercial and residential construction litigation claims; professional malpractice claims; business/customs brokers disputes involving Mexican, U.S. and Texas Law; civil rights claims; employment discrimination litigation; products liability; premises liability; school law; and environmental remediation/ cost recovery actions. Mr. Almanzán has been recognized statewide as a “Texas
Rising Star” from 2004 - 2012, as published in Texas Monthly magazine and Texas Super
Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition (only 2.5 % of Texas Attorneys receive this recognition).
Mr. Almanzán was a featured panel speaker at the ALFA trucking/transportation miniseminar presented to First Group America in Dallas in 2012. In 2013, Mr. Almanzán was elected to serve as a Fellow of the
Texas Bar Foundation, a premier charitable organization of Texas Attorneys committed to assisting access-to-justice projects for the needy. Each year, only the top 1/3 of 1% of Texas Attorneys are invited to become
Fellows. Nomination is based on outstanding contributions to the legal profession as well as commitment to the community.
Mehdi Arradizadeh is the Director of Risk
Management at ATS Inc., one of the largest flatbed carriers in the country. Prior to ATS, he served as the Director of Claims for Covenant
Transport Group. For 15 years prior to his work at CTG, Mehdi worked as the Director of Claims for Schneider National, Inc./INS
Insurance in Green Bay, Wisconsin and, prior to Schneider, Mehdi worked for IDS/
American Express Property and Casualty.
Mehdi currently serves on the TIDA Board of
Directors and has played a significant role in the TIDA Skills Course since its inception.
Robert E. “Bob” Barton is a partner and seasoned litigator at Cosgrave Vergeer Kester,
LLP in Portland, Oregon. He is a graduate of Notre Dame Law School and has been admitted to the Oregon, Washington, and
California (inactive) State Bars. He served for several years as a Deputy Attorney General and Deputy District Attorney in California, as well as Assistant Attorney General for the
Oregon Department of Justice before entering private practice over twenty-nine years ago.
His present practice is primarily focused on the defense of lawsuits involving trucking, transportation, products liability, personal injury, commercial, industrial accident, and wrongful death cases. He has tried hundreds of cases to juries in state and federal courts and has argued numerous cases before the
Oregon Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.
Bob is a past-president of the Oregon
Association of Defense Counsel (OADC) and past-president of the Oregon Chapter of the
Federal Bar Association. He is a member of the Multnomah County Bar Association, the
Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
(FDCC), the DRI, and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He has been a frequent speaker and moderator before several industry and bar organizations. He is an executive member to the Notre Dame
Law Association Board of Directors. He repeatedly has been designated as an Oregon
Super Lawyer, and was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2014.
D. Cameron Beck, Jr.
is the Managing
Partner of Morris and Morris, P.C. where he defends civil litigation matters and leads the firm’s transportation practice group.
He has an active federal and state court trial practice. Cam is a member of the
ALFA International Transportation Steering
Committee, TIDA, DRI Trucking Committee, and Litigation Counsel of America. His frequent lectures on transportation issues have included presentations to the Virginia
Association Defense Attorneys, the Virginia
Transit Association, the American Conference
Institute, and ALFA International’s annual
Transportation Seminar. He also has been a contributor to the American Bus
Association’s Bus Ride magazine and ALFA
International’s Transport Update. Virginia
Business magazine has recognized Cam as one of Virginia’s Legal Elite for civil litigation, and he has been named a Virginia Super
Lawyer annually from 2007 through 2013.
Benchmark Litigation has listed Cam as one of only thirty “Litigation Stars” in Virginia. He earned his B.A. from the College of William
& Mary, and graduated cum laude from the
Washington & Lee University School of Law.
Eric Benton is a member of Lorance &
Thompson. Eric’s principal area of practice is civil litigation and transportation law. He has served as lead trial counsel in litigation and arbitration proceedings involving business and commercial litigation, cargo claims, collections, contract, personal injury, arbitration, ERISA, employment, health care and product’s liability. He also has served as an arbitrator in hearings as a panel member and chair in a wide variety of matters. Eric has a ”AV Preeminent” rating by Martindale-
Hubbell and has been designated a Texas
Super Lawyer, 2009 – 2013 (Thomson
Reuters). An honor bestowed on only 5% of the attorneys in Texas. Eric served as in-house counsel to a multi-billion dollar, international corporation for almost 15 years prior to joining Lorance & Thompson. At
Lorance & Thompson, Eric serves on the
Management Committee and co-chairs the Transportation Practice Group. Eric has experience representing carriers in all modes of transportation. He has assisted his clients in Canada, Mexico, Europe, Central
America, South America and the Pacific Rim, and has advised his clients on all aspects of international and domestic transportation. Eric is a member of the Commercial, Employment and Transportation Panels of Neutrals for the American Arbitration Association.
Eric also serves as an arbitrator for FINRA
(formerly NASD) and a member of the
Houston Maritime Abritration Association.
Brian O. Beverly is a partner with Young
Moore & Henderson, P.A. in Raleigh, North
Carolina. With an extensive trial résumé,
Brian centers his practice on the defense of transportation liability claims involving large commercial vehicles, retail liability litigation, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation and medical negligence cases.
Brian has litigated cases to verdict in many state and federal courts in North Carolina and has handled appeals in both state and federal appellate courts. He has held important leadership positions within the
Bar including service on the North Carolina
Bar Association Board of Governors, president of the North Carolina Association

of Defense Attorneys, State Representative for Defense Research Institute, and is a member of the elite International Association of Defense Counsel. He has a perennial designation as a North Carolina “Super
Lawyer.” Brian’s hobbies include traveling, college and professional sports and sailing.
Renee Blum is the VP of Claims for Quality
Carriers. She manages the claim’s department that handles all lines of business and has been with Quality for over 10 years. Renee
Blum has been employed in the industry since 1982. Quality Carriers is the largest bulk carrier in North America. Renee manages their 911 call center and breakdown divisions.
Michael R. Butler is a litigation attorney for
UPS. His areas of practice include Personal
Injury Litigation, Patent Litigation, Commercial
Litigation, Cargo Litigation, Bankruptcy and
Collections and E-Discovery. Since joining
UPS in 1986, Mr. Butler has held various staff and management positions within the company. Prior to his current position as a litigation attorney, he was responsible for IT Procurement, Global Licensing,
Data Security, and Privacy. As a litigation attorney, Mr. Butler manages personal injury and commercial dispute cases across the
United States, as well as in parts of Canada.
He acquired his MBA from Oklahoma City
University in 1993, and in 1998, went on to obtain his JD, also from Oklahoma City
University. Mr. Butler currently resides in the Atlanta, Georgia area with his wife.
Cheryl Byrnes has been with Schneider
National, Inc.’s captive insurance carrier,
INS Insurance, Inc. since 2003. Her current position is the Accident Claims Manager and prior to this she worked as a claims adjuster. Ms. Byrnes’ responsibilities include managing the associate claims adjusters as well as balancing a caseload of large exposure claims. Cheryl is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay and has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Social Change and Development emphasis in Law and Justice Studies and a Post Baccalaureate Paralegal Degree.
Christy Comstock is a partner in the
Fayetteville, Arkansas law firm of Everett
Wales & Comstock, with an emphasis on transportation litigation. She is a member of ABA TIPS, ABOTA, TIDA and the Transportation Lawyers Association, and is the Chair of the Arkansas Trucking
Seminar. She has been recognized by Super
Lawyers in the field of transportation.
Jon Carnes is the Claims Manager for the
Trucking Division of Great American Insurance located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jon completed the Great American Insurance Corporate
Claims Trainee Program in 2003. Jon then accepted a position in the Alternative Markets
Division, where he was a Claims Specialist responsible for Workers’ Compensation and
Casualty Claims. Jon joined the Trucking
Division in 2007 and specializes in Owner
Operator products such as Non-Trucking
Liability and Occupational Accident, as well as Workers Compensation and Non-
Subscriber. Jon received a B.A. in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati in 2002.
Jon received an M.B.A. in Finance from
Xavier University in 2010. Jon has completed personal development course studies including achieving his AIC Designation.
Gregory D. Conforti is co-chair of
Johnson & Bell’s Transportation group. He concentrates his practice in transportation, general negligence, construction and retail litigation. Mr. Conforti supports an active civil trial practice and enjoys an exceptional record of predominately not-guilty verdicts.
He has successfully tried cases to verdict in the Law Division of the Circuit Court of
Cook County as well as the surrounding municipal districts and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. As a result of his accomplishments, Mr. Conforti has received numerous awards, including being named as one of the “40 Attorneys Under
40 in Illinois to Watch” by the Law Bulletin
Publishing Company in 2003. His success as a trial attorney has also been recognized by his peers who have awarded him the highest AV-rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Tamara N. Cook is an equity shareholder with the Phoenix, Arizona law firm of
Renaud Cook Drury Mesaros, PA. She received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Arizona and her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law.
She received additional training from The
Hague Academy of International Law and is a member of the Order of Barristers.
Ms. Cook is a trial lawyer with a practice focused on the commercial transportation industry: defense litigation, federal and state safety compliance/audit support, products liability, labor and employment, and insurance coverage. Ms. Cook is the
Chair of her law firm’s transportation group and is the Vice Chair for Arizona for the ABA
TIPS Commercial Transportation Litigation
Committee. She is a former member of the
ALFA International Board of Directors, she is former Chair of the ALFA Transportation
Practice Group (served as the Liaison to the ATA for ALFA International) and is also a member of the ALFA International Women’s
Initiative Practice Group. She is a member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association and DRI Commercial Transportation.
Craig M. Cousins is a partner in the New
Orleans, Louisiana ALFA law firm of Leake
& Andersson, LLP. He maintains a personal injury defense trial practice focusing on trucking companies and auto insurance carriers. He has been an active member of the ALFA Transportation Practice Group. He is a member of several defense organizations and currently serves as a Board Member of the Louisiana Association of Defense
Counsel. He obtained his BSM from Tulane
University and his JD from Tulane Law School.
J. Philip Davidson is a leader of Hinkle’s
Transportation, Insurance, Construction and
Food, Beverage, and Hospitality Practice
Groups. Philip has an active litigation and trial practice, often involving catastrophic loss and wrongful death claims in these industry sectors. He represents motor carriers and other transportation, warehousing, and logistics industry clients; food, beverage and industry clients; product manufacturers and distributors; construction professionals and entities; employers; clergy & religious institutions; and, health care/managed care professionals and entities. In the transportation arena, Philip has handled hundreds of commercial transportation cases, including the direction of the initial response, investigation and defense of litigation arising out of railroad derailments and motor carrier, motor coach and school bus accidents. In the food and beverage industry, Philip counsels clients in food and beverage product safety, performance and regulatory enforcement standards. Philip defends clients in both individual case and mass outbreaks involving e-coli, salmonella and listeria and is National
Coordinating Counsel for a food industry laboratory involved in diacetyl inhalation/ artificial butter flavoring cases. He has also served as National Coordinating Counsel to an international restaurant franchiseholder’s association. Philip has litigated wrongful death allegations involving thirdparty criminal conduct and customer safety involving retailers, travel companies and tour directors, banks, hotels, restaurants and bar/taverns owners and operators.
Philip received his law degree at Washburn
University School of Law and a B.G.S. in
Political Science from the University of
Kansas. Philip and his wife Kelley celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, a college graduation for their oldest son Cole and a high school graduation for their youngest son
Grant all in a three day window this May.

Aaron Dean is a shareholder at Seattle
ALFA firm of Merrick Hofstedt & Lindsey. His practice is mainly focused on commercial transportation tort claims. He has handled and tried cases in Federal, State, and Tribal courts throughout Washington. He has been a speaker on trial techniques including voir dire and civil procedure for the Washington
Bar. In addition he speaks regularly on large loss handling and investigation.
Aaron has practiced law continuously as a trial attorney since graduating from Seattle University Law School.
Peter Doody is a Southern California trial attorney specializing in cases brought against transportation companies in both the context of catastrophic accidents and employment matters. He has extensive jury trial experience and is a member of the American Board of
Trial Advocates (“ABOTA”). Membership of which requires 20 jury trials to verdict as first chair. Mr. Doody is the former president of San Diego Defense Lawyers and former president of the San Diego Inn of Court. He has received the highest rating available (AV) from Martindale Hubbell for ethics and legal ability. He is a member of the prestigious
Federation of Defense and Corporate
Counsel, a national association of attorneys who are admitted by invitation only. He is a current board member of the Association of
Southern California Defense Counsel. Mr.
Doody is an active member of Transportation
Lawyers Association. Mr. Doody currently serves as Southern California Regional Trial
Counsel for interstate motor carriers, their insurers, and product manufacturers. He is a nationally recognized speaker and has spoken at the Defense Research Institute Trucking
Seminar, the American Bar Association
Trucking Mega Conference and American
Law Firm Association Trucking Seminars and TIDA. Mr. Doody earned his juris doctor degree from the University of San Francisco
School of Law in 1986. He received his
Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of
Colorado where he captained the rugby team and received most valuable players honors.
Bob Drew has over 33 years’ experience in claims, including 17 years with AIG and
15 years with Waste Management. Mr.
Drew graduated from James Madison
University in 1980, cum laude. Mr. Drew is responsible for various risk management duties at Waste Management, including coverage/contract inquiries, settlement and reserving authority, TPA management, and claims from multiple coverage lines. He also handles catastrophic claim management inclusive of prompt interaction with injured parties and/or family members.
Peter A. Dubrawski is a partner in the
Los Angeles, California ALFA International law firm of Haight, Brown & Bonesteel
LLP. His practice is concentrated in transportation, security, product liability, general negligence, and construction matters. He has tried numerous cases regarding significant transportation matters, cargo claims and complex, multi-vehicle accidents. Mr. Dubrawski has been an active member of ALFA International since 1991 and is a member of the
Transportation and Products Liability Practice
Groups. He is a graduate of UCLA and
Southwestern University School of Law.
Carol B. Ervin is a partner in the Charleston,
South Carolina ALFA law firm of Young,
Clement, Rivers LLP. She received her B.A. summa cum laude from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee and was named to Phi Beta Kappa. Ms Ervin received her J.D. from Duke University School of
Law. Ms. Ervin serves as Chair of her firm’s
Employment Law Practice Group. She is an experienced trial attorney and focuses her practice on the representation of businesses in employment law and litigation. Ms. Ervin is a Fellow in the American College of Trial
Lawyers and an Associate Member of the
American Board of Trial Advocates. She is certified by the South Carolina Supreme
Court as a specialist in labor and employment law. Ms. Ervin is the Chair of ALFA’s Board of Directors and is a past Chair of ALFA’s
Labor and Employment Law Practice Group.
Ms. Ervin possesses an AV-Rating from
Martindale-Hubbell, the highest available rating for professional abilities and ethics, and is listed with the “Best Lawyers in
America” and South Carolina’s “Super
Lawyers” in Labor and Employment Law.
Joseph R. Farris is the Managing Partner of and has been a member of the Tulsa law firm Franden | Woodard | Farris | Quillin +
Goodnight since 1976. He has extensive trial experience handling litigation matters covering a wide range of disputes. His primary focus has been in the areas of professional liability defense, over-the-road-trucking, and complex business litigation. He also has substantial experience in litigation involving construction contract disputes, products liability, family law, environmental, and employment law matters. Joe received an A.B. Degree in 1969 in History from the University of Missouri and a Juris Doctor degree with honors in 1976 from the University of Tulsa College of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of the
Tulsa Law Journal. Joe is a Fellow, American
College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the
International Academy of Trial Lawyers and is a member of the Tulsa County, Oklahoma and American Bar Associations. Joe is also a member of the Defense Research
Institute and the Association of Defense Trial
Attorneys. He is admitted to practice before the Oklahoma Supreme Court, all of the
Federal Districts of Oklahoma; the 9th, 10th and the D.C. Circuit Courts of Appeal as well as the United States Supreme Court. Joe has been recognized by Superlawyers as one of the “Top Ten” lawyers in Oklahoma for
2012 and 2013. Joe also served in the United
States Army in Germany from 1969 through
1973 as a First Lieutenant, Military Intelligence.
Robert Foos is a partner at the Indianapolis firm of Lewis Wagner, LLP. He focuses his practice on the representation of commercial carriers and commercial drivers in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. He represents several national carriers and a host of local, inter and intra state transportation companies. A frequent speaker at national seminars, Rob also works closely with clients, insurers and reinsurers to provide case law updates and presentations on the latest tactics in defending trucking related claims.
Dan Fowler joined CFI in 1994 as Safety
Supervisor/Workers Compensation. Mr.
Fowler took over the claims department in 1997 as Safety Manager/Claims. In
September of 2000, he assumed the position of Safety Manager/Risk, which includes all claims in litigation and high exposure cases.
He has also worked for Trism Incorporated, handling claims. Mr. Fowler graduated in 1987 from Missouri Southern State
University, Joplin, Mo., with a Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration. He is a Certified Director of Safety. Mr. Fowler was a Captain in the Engineer branch of the Missouri Army National Guard.
Warner S. Fox is a Senior Partner with
Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP.
Warner has practiced with the Firm for more than 25 years. His practice focuses on catastrophic accident litigation primarily arising from matters involving transportation accidents, premises and products liability.
Through the years, Warner has tried numerous cases involving many types of tort matters. He is often called upon by his clients to handle catastrophic matters in other jurisdictions. Many of those catastrophic matters have been cases involving traumatic brain injury, a topic on which he lectures frequently. Warner developed a subspecialty in defending these types of cases based upon his many years of experience in dealing with them.

Shannon S. Frankel is a shareholder in
ALFA International’s Raleigh, North Carolina law firm, Young Moore and Henderson, P.A.
She maintains a personal injury defense trial practice, focusing primarily on the defense of trucking companies and their drivers.
Shannon has been an active member of the ALFA Transportation Practice Group since 2005 and is the 2014 Program
Chair. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Duke University and her Juris Doctor from William and Mary School of Law.
James Franklin is an attorney in the
Litigation and Transportation, Distribution, and
Logistics Practice Group of McNees Wallace
& Nurick, LLC in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
In his litigation practice, he represents commercial, business, and individual clients in a wide array of disputes in state and federal courts as well as in alternative dispute resolutions. He has significant experience asserting and defending claims on behalf of commercial clients for breach of contract, tortious interference, and requests for injunctive relief. In his Transportation,
Distribution and Logistics practice, James represents commercial vehicle owners and operators in defending accident litigation and motor vehicle violations. He also advises clients on a wide variety of transportation issues, including contract negotiation and drafting, compliance with vehicle regulations, and legislative initiatives. James is also knowledgeable on evidence preservation and retention, accident mitigation, and distracted driving issues, and has conducted driving training and presentations on these topics and other transportation issues.
Jeanne Givner is a Manager of liability claims for FedEx Ground, a Pittsburgh, PA based commercial and residential package delivery company. Ms. Givner earned her
BS at The University of Pittsburgh and her
MBA at The University of Phoenix. She also holds several insurance designations to include her Associate in Claims (AIC) and her Sr. Claim Law Associate (SCLA). Ms.
Givner joined FedEx Ground in 2010. Prior to joining FedEx Ground, she worked for other Property & Casualty Insurance carriers and Third Party Administrators in the roles of Liability Supervisor, Assistant Manager, and Field Claim Office Manager in Pittsburgh
PA, Sandy Spring MD, and Charlotte NC.
Jason Goodnight is a shareholder with the
Oklahoma law firm of Franden Woodard Farris
Quillin + Goodnight. He graduated from the
University of Arkansas with honors in 2001 and focuses his practice on the defense of motor carriers, product manufacturers and oil and gas production companies. He is licensed in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Kansas.
Ann T. Greeley Ph. D.
is a Senior Director of
Research at Decision Quest. She has been a psychologist and trial consultant for twenty five years. As a former professor at Penn State
University, she consulted on over 800 civil and criminal cases in more than 100 federal and state jurisdictions throughout the country.
Dr. Greeley has conducted extensive pretrial research including focus groups, mock trials, and surveys. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University, an M.A. and a Ph. D., in Psychology from
Southern Illinois University. She has written extensively on the topics of jury persuasion and expert witness presentation. Specifically she wrote, Trial Teams and the Power of
Diversity.” American Bar Association’s
Litigation, Volume 35 (3), Spring 2009.
Mary Beth Haltom is a shareholder in the
Nashville, Tennessee ALFA firm of Lewis,
King, Krieg and Waldrop. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of
Law. She has practiced with Lewis King her entire legal career. Ms. Haltom’s practice focuses on the transportation industry where she represents several major trucking companies, bus companies, and insurers throughout the state of Tennessee. She is a member of the firm’s Commercial
Transportation practice group and helped implement the firm’s rapid response protocol.
Marc H. Harwell is a member of ALFA
International’s Chattanooga, Tennessee law firm of Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan,
PLLC. Mr. Harwell works in the area of transportation law representing trucking companies. He serves as Chair of the ALFA
International Transportation Practice Group.
He is Vice Chair of the Transportation section of the Federation of Defense and Corporate
Counsel (FDCC), where membership is only by invitation, and membership is vetted through an extensive screening process.
He has spoken at the National Private
Truck Council’s Annual Convention and at their Council’s Conference; at FDCC conferences; and at ALFA conferences. He is a member of the Tennessee Supreme
Court’s Disciplinary Hearing Committee and the American Inns of Court. In 1989 he graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Law, where he served as a member of the Tennessee Law Review, and in 1986 he graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville cum laude.
Duke R. Highfield is a partner at Young
Clement Rivers, LLP, where he serves as chair of the firm’s Trucking and Transportation
Practice Group, Retail Group and Products
Liability Group. He also serves as chair of the firm’s Marketing Committee. Mr.
Highfield graduated from Emory University before attending the University of South
Carolina School of Law, and was admitted to practice in South Carolina in 1991. He has been a partner at Young Clement Rivers,
LLP since 2000. Mr. Highfield has a wide array of experience handling a broad range of matters, and has successfully tried an extensive number of cases to verdict. He is a member of numerous legal organizations, and has been active in ALFA International for a number of years, including a stint on the Board of Directors (2007 - 2010).
Daniel I. Hill holds a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Packaging from Michigan State
University, has worked for General Motors and General Electric holding various management positions within ABF Freight
System Inc. over the last 25 years. He has attained Certified Packaging Professional
Certification and Lifetime Member status with the Institute of Packaging Professionals
(IoPP) and currently serves as Chairman of the North American Board for the International
Safe Transit Association (ISTA) and on the
Board for the Transportation Loss Prevention
& Security Council. Dan has delivered multiple presentations and guest lectures to various universities, industry and trade associations with regard to package design, material handling, cargo claims, in-transit damage prevention and sustainability.
Annie Jacobs is an attorney at Strasburger &
Price, LLP in Dallas, Texas and counsels and represents business clients with an emphasis on transportation and logistics. Mrs. Jacobs also handles cases involving product litigation, commercial disputes involving arbitration provisions, and other commercial and business disputes. In her defense of transportation matters, Mrs. Jacobs handles personal injury and wrongful death claims, cargo and freight claims, employmentrelated claims, and other litigation matters.
Dennis B. Keene is a partner in the Savannah, Georgia ALFA firm of
HunterMaclean where he heads the firm’s
Transportation Emergency Response
Team. Mr. Keene is a registered mediator in Georgia and, in addition to mediating cases, concentrates in product liability and transportation litigation. He is a member of ALFA’s Transportation Practice Group
Steering Committee and Chairs ALFA’s
Product Liability & Complex Torts Practice
Group. After earning his law degree, cum

laude, from the University of Miami School of
Law, and his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Syracuse University, he graduated with honors from the U.S. Army
Judge Advocate General’s Corps School and served several years as an Army officer. Mr.
Keene is a Georgia Super Lawyer, is AV-rated in Martindale-Hubbell, and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2010, and
Who’s Who in American Law since 2005.
Leslie Leazer is currently the Corporate
Litigation Analyst for Knight Transportation,
Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona. Mrs. Leazer manages the large exposure/excess claims and handles all litigation for Corporate Claims, throughout the country. She possesses 27 years of experience in the insurance industry, primarily handling Commercial Auto Liability. She has additional, prior experience with Self Insured
Companies as well as extensive expertise in coverage issues. Prior to her employment with Knight, Mrs. Leazer was a Claims/
Litigation Manager at Swift Transportation
Co., Inc., Budget Rent-A-Car and Midland
Risk Insurance Company. She also worked at
Transamerica Insurance Company, American
Family Insurance and Scottsdale Insurance
Company. Mrs. Leazer has been married to her husband Gregory Leazer for 20 years and they have a son named Sean. They also have their faithful family dog - Scout.
Maureen E. Maney is a partner with the
Syracuse, New York law firm of Hancock
Estabrook, LLP. Ms. Maney is a trial lawyer with a practice focused on defense litigation, commercial transportation, products liability, labor and employment and insurance coverage. She is an active member of ALFA participating in both the Transportation and
Women’s Initiative Practice Groups. She is the Immediate Past President of the Women’s
Bar Association of the State of New York
(WBASNY) and is a frequent lecturer for the
New York State Bar Association and local bar associations. She received her B.A. in Political
Science from Le Moyne College and her J.D. from Albany Law School of Union University.
Tom McLaughlin is the Director of Claims for Transport America in Eagan, MN.
Responsibilities include overseeing all auto, general liability, and cargo claims, as well as risk management functions. Transport
America is mainly a truck load carrier, with over 1800 power units and 2200 drivers.
Tom has over 30 years insurance claims experience, with the past 18 concentrated directly on trucking. Tom served on the
Board of Directors for the Trucking Industry
Defense Association from 2002-2011, and is the co-chair of TIDA’s Skills Course.
He currently serves on the Claims &
Litigation Management Alliance School of
Transportation Claims Executive Council.
Hal Meltzer is a member of the Kansas City
ALFA International law firm of Baker Sterchi
Cowden & Rice, LLC. Having been involved with ALFA at its inception, he presently serves on two ALFA Practice Group Steering
Committees – Transportation and Professional
Liability. Mr. Meltzer has been practicing law throughout Kansas and Missouri for over 30 years. Although he has a wide range of trial experience, his primary practice areas involve death, catastrophic and serious bodily injury arising out of the use of consumer products and appliances, heavy equipment and their component parts, commercial motor vehicles, and pharmaceuticals. He has concentrated on the defense of physicians, lawyers and other professionals in professional liability cases, manufacturers and sellers in product liability cases, and motor carriers in transportation related accident cases. He manages and tries lawsuits in both federal and state courts involving a broad spectrum of subjects and legal issues and currently serves as a member of the national coordinating and trial counsel for one of the manufacturers in the hormone therapy litigation. He has been a presenter at local, state, and national seminars for professionals, industry and bar organizations, including ALFA, and is a frequent contributor to ALFA publications, including the ALFA Transportation Update.
Harvey Mensch is Executive Vice President of Claims and Risk Management for ATTIC
RRG domiciled in Missoula MT. Formally;
Manager of Casualty and Risk for USA
Truck, Inc. based in Van Buren AR. and
Claims Manager for Tyson Foods, Inc. based in Springdale AR. He has a wonderful wife Melissa of 22 years and two great children Zachary 20 and Tashiana 16.
Dodge J. Molnar Director of Claims, CTG -
Employed by CTG since September of 2010,
DJ has been in the insurance/claims industry since 1993. He started with Progressive
Insurance and held various management positions handling auto and commercial claims in Ohio, Virginia and Florida. He was instrumental in the implementation of a new claims organization at Merastar Insurance/
Unitrin Direct Insurance in Chattanooga, TN where he was a Regional Claims Manager, and held a Casualty Management role prior to that. DJ graduated from Heidelberg
College in Tiffin, OH with a B.S. in Business
Administration; he has also completed his claim AEI coursework and obtained the
Senior Claims Law Associate designation.
Bill Molter is the Director of Safety for
Cassens Transport Company in Edwardsville,
Illinois and Cassens Transport ULC in
Ontario, Canada. Cassens provides premier automotive logistic services to their customers throughout the Midwest, East
Coast and Ontario, Canada. Mr. Molter oversees the safety program which includes injury prevention, workers compensation, auto liability, OSHA compliance, DOT compliance, Canada Labour Code compliance and Marine Cargo claims.
Mr. Molter obtained his BS from Southern
Illinois University Carbondale in 1982.
Eric Nau is corporate counsel for New Prime,
Inc., one the nation’s largest refrigerated carriers headquartered out of Springfield,
MO. In this capacity, his main job function is to oversee all aspects of trucking claims and litigation. Prior to working for New Prime,
Inc. he was an associate attorney for the law firm of McDonald & Associates, which was a general civil litigation firm. In addition to his law degree from the University of Tulsa, Eric has an MBA with an emphasis in management from Drury University. He is a member of the Missouri Bar Association and TIDA.
Danny M. Needham is a partner in the
Amarillo Texas ALFA International law firm of Mullin Hoard & Brown, LLP. He has over
30 years experience representing regional and national transportation companies in litigation matters in both state and federal courts. Danny is a graduate of Texas Tech
University School of Law in Lubbock,
Texas. He is a former Chairman of the
ALFA Transportation Practice Group and a frequent lecturer on transportation topics.
Gareth W. Notis is a partner in the Boston office of Morrison Mahoney LLP. His practice focuses almost exclusively on litigation and is concentrated in the areas of transportation, labor and employment, product liability, and construction-related litigation. Mr.
Notis represents a broad base of clients, including national transportation companies, municipalities, housing authorities, retailers, contractors and insurance companies.
Mr. Notis has tried numerous cases to a jury and judges in state and federal courts throughout Massachusetts. He also regularly defends individuals, corporations and municipalities in employment related matters before the Massachusetts Commission
Against Discrimination and the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission.
He frequently lectures on trial practice and civil procedure before such organizations as the Massachusetts Bar Association, the
Risk and Insurance Management Society,

Massachusetts Chapter, Massachusetts
Continuing Legal Education, Inc., and ALFA
International. Mr. Notis is a graduate of
Fordham University and New England School of Law (J.D., Cum Laude). Prior to joining
Morrison Mahoney LLP, Mr. Notis served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Karen D.
Russell of the New Jersey Superior Court.
Patty Nylin is the Claims Manager for
SpartanNash, a national food distribution and grocery store chain, whose core businesses include distributing food to military commissaries and exchanges, and independent and corporate retail stores.
Her responsibilities include developing, managing, and executing claims management strategies and programs for multi jurisdictional auto liability, general liability and workers compensation claims and litigation. She regularly participates in case handling strategy, evaluation, and mediations. She has a B.S. degree from Southern Illinois
University, and Associate in Risk Management and Associate in Claims certifications.
David L. Ortega is a bilingual native of San
Antonio, Texas. He is with the San Antonio
Texas ALFA International firm of Naman
Howell Smith & Lee, PLLC. He routinely handles complex litigation for some of the country’s largest corporations. He took a four year hiatus (2000-2004) from private practice to serve as the Executive Vice President of one of the largest privately held truckload companies in the country. In that role he was responsible for the company’s daily operation and its 2000 employees. He was a panelist for
TIDA’s 2007 “Transportation and Workman’s
Compensation conference in Chicago. David
Is a member of the Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce and is the Mayor of Hollywood
Park, Texas. He holds a B.A. degree in
Economics/ Business Administration from
Texas A & M University and a J.D. degree from Drake University Law School.
Carolyn Ramos is a shareholder and director with the law firm of Butt Thornton & Baehr
PC in Albuquerque, New Mexico where her litigation and trial practice focuses on the defense of trucking and transportation, sport venue liability, product liability and other personal injury cases. She was born and raised in New York City and earned her bachelor’s degree from Middlebury
College where she currently sits as a trustee and fellow. In 2000, Carolyn earned her juris doctorate from the University of New
Mexico School of Law. She is a member of ALFA’s Transportation and Women’s
Initiative Practice Groups where she serves as liaison between them. Carolyn is past
President of the New Mexico Defense
Lawyers Association, Past Chair of the
State Bar of New Mexico Young Lawyers
Division, a member of the International
Association of Defense Counsel, New Mexico and National Hispanic Bar Associations.
William Robinson served as senior corporate counsel in the Office of General
Counsel for GEICO from 2001-2007. Since
December 2007, Bill has been Corporate
Secretary for GEICO Corporation and its various subsidiaries. In that role, Bill’s mission is two-fold: (1) provide corporate secretary services to the GEICO Companies and their
Directors and Officers, including corporate governance oversight, records retention and maintenance, and various insurance department filings; and (2) provide the Human
Resources Department with legal counsel relating to the legal compliance and other aspects of labor and employment issues confronted by the GEICO Companies. Bill has been a presenter to several labor and employment law firm associations and in-house corporate counsel associations in the areas of labor and employment, e-discovery and complex class actions.
Bill is also co-author of Corporate Counsel
Solutions, Employment Policies and Practices
(published by LexisNexis in 2007). Bill is a
1983 graduate of the Howard University
School of Law and successfully passed the July 1983 New York State bar exam.
Bill is a member of the New York, District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland bars, and he serves on the board of the Council for Court Excellence and several non-profit organizations. Prior to joining GEICO, Bill served as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, New York, has been a senior associate in a Washington, DC, law firm and he has served as the managing attorney for the Metropolitan Staff Counsel firm operations for Aetna and Travelers Insurance Companies.
Curtis Ruwe is Associate General Counsel for Crete Carrier Corporation, Lincoln,
Nebraska. The Crete Carrier Corporation
“family” – Crete Carrier, Shaffer Trucking, and Hunt Transportation, Inc., -- represents one of the largest privately-held motor carrier groups in the United States. Mr. Ruwe provides legal support to Crete’s operating divisions and has direct responsibility for large exposure liability claims. Prior to joining
Crete, Mr. Ruwe was a shareholder and chair of the insurance coverage practice group at Arthur, Chapman, Kettering, Smetak
& Pikala in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr.
Ruwe is a member of the Transportation
Lawyers’ Association Corporate Counsel
Committee. He has also been a frequent presenter on contractual risk-transfer and anti-indemnity issues. Mr. Ruwe has a B.A. and J.D. from the University of the Nebraska.
Marygrace Schaeffer is a vice president with DecisionQuest. Ms. Schaeffer has been a trial consultant for over twenty years, providing jury research and trial consulting on hundreds of civil and criminal cases across the country. Ms. Schaeffer’s expertise includes strategy and theme development, mock trials, witness evaluation and preparation, shadow juries, post-trial interviews and visual communications. She is a frequent speaker on these topics. In addition Ms. Schaeffer has provided voir dire and jury selection assistance in hundreds of venues throughout the United States.
Kurt Schmid has tried to favorable jury verdicts lawsuits filed against companies in the transportation industry. He has also written extensively in the areas of transportation law and spoliation of evidence.
Kurt obtained both his bachelor’s degree in economics and his law degree from Saint
Louis University, and he has been working in Brown & James, P.C.’s transportation and product liability groups for his entire professional career. Kurt is a member of the state bars in Missouri and Illinois.
Janet Shelley is the Liability Claims Manager for Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. She attended High Point University. Janet has been with Old Dominion Freight Line for 11 years as a Liability Claims Representative, the Liability Claims Supervisor and was promoted to Manager of Liability Claims in October of 2011. Old Dominion Freight
Line, Inc. is a less than truckload carrier with 13,500 employees, with corporate offices located in Thomasville, NC.
Bobby Simpson is senior counsel for labor and employment at GE Home & Business
Solutions, a global division of the General
Electric Company. Bobby provides legal advice and counseling, both domestically and internationally, on all aspects of labor and employment law, including issues involving fair employment practices, employment contracts, employment conditions, terminations and labor practices. Bobby also litigates and arbitrates labor and employment disputes on behalf of GE. Bobby joined GE in 2005, after having previously served as a litigator for the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC), where he also served as an Acting Regional Attorney leading the Commission’s litigation program in North and South Carolina. Bobby began his legal career in 1993 at the Kentucky

Department of Public Advocacy defending citizens charged with felony crimes. In 1995,
Bobby began to focus his practice on labor and employment law, specifically employer defense, at the Louisville, Kentucky, law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. Bobby received a J.D. from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from St.
Andrews Presbyterian College. Bobby is the immediate Past-President of the Louisville
Bar Association and General Counsel of the University of Louisville Bingham Child
Guidance Clinic. He is a former member of the Kentucky Bar Association Ethics
Committee and a former Barrister of the Louis
D. Brandeis American Inns of Court. Bobby is a former President of both the Louisville
Black Lawyers Association and the Louisville
Forum, and he served as the General Counsel of the Louisville Zoo Foundation. Bobby is a newly elected governor on the Kentucky Bar
Association Board of Governors. He is a Past-
President of the Louisville Bar Association and former General Counsel of the University of Louisville Bingham Child Guidance Clinic.
Dirk Edward Smith , Ph.D., P.E. completed his Ph.D. in 1993 at Purdue University, where his research area was vehicle dynamics and control. While at Louisiana State University, he taught courses in machine design, vibrations, and vehicle dynamics. Dr. Smith’s research, engineering, and consulting backgrounds have provided him with experience in machine design, vibration analysis, vehicle dynamics, accident reconstruction (including cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians), and event data recorders. Dr. Smith is an avid motorcycle rider giving him special insight regarding motorcycle accidents and rider actions.
Dr. Smith has reconstructed accidents involving: commercial tractor/trailers, high-speed fatality collisions, daytime and nighttime pedestrian accidents, vehiclebicycle and vehicle-motorcycle collisions, single motorcycle accident and vehicle rollovers. Dr. Smith evaluates traffic signal timing relating to intersection collisions. He has also worked on product liability cases involving: vehicle systems, motorcycles, scaffolds, ladders, forklifts, aerial lifts and machine components. Dr. Smith has testified in state and federal courts.
Joseph R. Swift is a shareholder of the St.
Louis, Missouri ALFA International law firm of Brown & James, P.C. He is a graduate of
Luther College (B.A. 1984 cum laude) and
Creighton University School of Law. (J.D. 1987 cum laude). Mr. Swift’s practice emphasizes transportation cases. He is a frequent lecturer on transportation law to various industry groups. He is a long standing member of the ALFA Transportation Practice Group
Steering Committee and is currently the
Chair Emeritus of the Transportation group.
Thomas P. Travis, ARM is Vice President of Claims at Advantage Loss Services/
Dart Transit Company and has spent the last 27 years working exclusively in the transportation industry. He has experience in a full range of transportation operations and modes, including Common, Contract and Private motor carriage, LTL, Air freight,
Intermodal, Specialized Hauling, Freight
Forwarding/Brokerage, Truck Renting and
Leasing operations, as well as Warehousing operations. He is a graduate of Ball State
University and achieved his Insurance Institute of America ARM designation in June of 1994.
Larry D. Warren is a Member in the San
Antonio, Texas ALFA law firm of Naman
Howell Smith & Lee PLLC. He is a graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Mr. Warren’s practice focuses on the
Transportation Industry where he represents several major trucking companies and
Insurers who have a strong emphasis on the Transportation Industry. Mr. Warren is
Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
He is a Fellow in the American College of
Trail Lawyers and was the Program Chair for the 2004 ALFA Transportation Annual
Meeting and was the 2005-2006 ALFA
Transportation Practice Group Chair.
Mark J. Whitehead is Senior Vice
President of Risk Management and
Claims of J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. Mark has been with J. B. Hunt Transport, Inc. for 26 years. Mark is responsible for auto liability, general liability, workers compensation, litigation, cargo claims, customer contracts, and risk management.
Carole Whitted-Ridgeway is Senior Claims
Manager for Maverick Transportation, a Little
Rock, AR based, industry leading, privately owned carrier in the business over 30 years.
Maverick operates over 1500 tractors and provides truckload services to steel, glass, machinery, building materials and food products throughout the United States,
Canada and Mexico hauling in the flatbed, glass temperature control, dry van and specialized divisions. Carole has had a career in the trucking industry for over 25 years and has been with Maverick over 14 years.
She currently manages the transportation liability, cargo and subrogation for Maverick as well as working with outside defense counsel across the country as emergency response and civil litigation matters arise.
Steve Winborn is the VP of Operations for
Vanliner, a St. Louis, MO based nationwide premier provider of traditional specialty/ niche insurance as well as innovative alternative risk transfer products for movers, home delivery and other segments of the transportation industry. A graduate of
Washington University and the University of
Missouri School of Law, Mr. Winborn has been involved in the defense and operation of transportation companies and their insurers for 20+ years as outside counsel, industry management, and as an insurance executive. He worked for Evans & Dixon
LLC and leading household goods carriers
United Van Lines & Mayflower Transit and their parent UniGroup before joining Vanliner.
Currently, Mr. Winborn has responsibility for
Claims, Loss Control, TransProtection Service
Company (nationwide full service insurance agency), Documents Services, Customer
Service and Project Implementation. He is a frequent presenter at industry events including the ABA MegaConference, DRI,
TIDA and TLA. Mr. Winborn maintains his law license in Missouri and Illinois.
Michael K. Woolley is currently the
Associate General Counsel for Cardinal
Logistics Management Corporation, based in Concord, North Carolina. His current role includes primary responsibility for serious accident litigation, labor and employment litigation, and contract review and negotiation with customers and vendors. Mike was previously Associate General Counsel with C.R. England, a Salt Lake City-based refrigerated motor carrier. Mike was a shareholder with the Salt Lake City law firm of Richards, Brandt, Miller & Nelson, where his practice included defending motor carriers and manufacturing companies in trucking accident, premises liability, and product liability suits. Prior to that he was also an associate with Strong & Hanni where his practice included insurance defense work. He served as a judicial law clerk to the Utah Supreme Court and the
United States District Court, District of
Nevada. Mr. Woolley has a B.S. degree in
Business Management from Brigham Young
University, and he received his J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law.

MEETING LOCATION
The Biltmore
1200 Anastasia Avenue
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
Tel: (305) 445-1926
Fax: (305) 913-3152 www.biltmorehotel.com
REGISTRATION
Please contact one of the program contacts listed below to register for this program.
ATTENDANCE IS OPEN ONLY TO
MEMBERS OF ALFA INTERNATIONAL
AND THEIR INVITED GUESTS.
HOTEL INFORMATION
The ALFA International Room Block
Rate is $259.00 per night , single or double occupancy, plus a $20 resort fee. The deadline for obtaining a room reservation at the ALFA International rate is April 2, 2014 .
After that date, or once the block is filled, reservations will be made based on hotel availability and at a rate determined by the hotel. It is possible that all rooms in the ALFA block will be reserved before the deadline so please REGISTER EARLY . Hotel reservation requests are submitted by completing the online seminar registration process. .
ATTIRE
The attire for the educational sessions throughout the conference is business casual.
Casual, resort wear is encouraged for the evening events.
CLE CREDIT
ALFA International certifies that this program has been approved for 7.25 hours of General
CLE credit in the States of Illinois and
California.
CONTACT ALFA INTERNATIONAL
ALFA International
980 N. Michigan Ave.
Suite 1180
Chicago, IL 60611
Tel: 312.642.ALFA (2532)
Fax: 312.642.5346
PROGRAM CONTACTS
Tara Miller tmiller@alfainternational.com
Jessica Zaroski jzaroski@alfainternational.com