VADA Membership Deadline, VADA Members in the Hall of Fame, Free DRI Benefits, and more. 

VADA Defense Line May 2019

President's Welcome

Welcome to the May Defense Line.  Have you signed up for the upcoming Regional Happy Hours in Falls Church and Roanoke? Don't miss this opportunity to network with VADA members and visit with old friends. 

Last week's Spring Sections Seminar in Staunton was a huge success. Thanks to our section leadership, speakers, sponsors and the beautiful Stonewall Jackson Hotel for hosting.

VADA board members at the Spring Meeting with our newest sponsors from DigiStream and Accident Technology. 

Check out this issue of Defense Line for additional information about VADA activities and updates.

Special Thanks to Section Leadership

We extend a special shout out to our Section Chairs and Vice-Chairs for putting together such an amazing program for this year's Spring Sections Seminar!

A huge round of thanks to:

Appellate Advocacy
Chair: Melissa Yvonne York
Vice Chair: Joseph Pope

Auto & Trans. Liability
Chair: Audra Marcum Dickens
Vice Chair: Matthew Roberson

Corporate & Commercial Litigation
Chair: Charles Walker Terry
Vice Chair: Greg Bean

Medical Malpractice
Chair: Taylor Denslow Brewer
Vice Chair: Kari Jackson

Policy Coverage
Chair: Alexander S. de Witt
Vice Chair: Guy Harbert

Product & Toxic Torts
Chair: Justin Feinman
Vice Chair: Laura May Hooe

Professional Liability
Chair: H. Robert Yates
Vice Chair: Lindsey Lewis

Workers' Compensation
Chair: Tenley A. Carroll-Seli
Vice Chair: Esther King

VADA Membership Deadline

We don’t want to lose you!

Just a reminder: We are coming down to the wire - if you have not paid your 2019 dues yet, this is the time! This is a reminder to renew your membership with the VADA if you haven’t done so already. Notices have been emailed out monthly and paper reminders to unpaid members were mailed out May 1. Don’t let your access to VADA programs and services expire! Before we deactivate anyone’s membership we are sending this reminder. All non-renewing members will be automatically deactivated June 30. If you have questions, please contact Sherma Mather at smather@vada.org or 804-649-1002.

Member Spotlight

When she’s not practicing law, this Clemson grad loves to be outdoors, especially where there’s water.  Her advice for new lawyers?  Be proactive!  Find out more about this VADA member in this month’s VADA Member Spotlight.

Annual Meeting Update

Snakes on a plane? How about in an Interrogatory?  A Request for Admission? Or a deposition?  VADA member Taylor Densmore Brewer recently was featured in an article in Virginia Lawyers Weekly on Reptile theory. One of the highlights of the piece, authored by Peter Vieth, was Taylor’s must read article in the Summer 2018 issue of the VADA’s Journal of Civil Litigation titled “Confronting the Reptile in Virginia.”  At our 2019 Annual Meeting this October, Taylor, who serves as Chair of the VADA’s Medical Malpractice Section, will serve on the panel on “Avoiding the Reptile in Written Discovery and Depositions." This all-star panel of lawyers and jurists will guide you through how best to defend against a plaintiff’s use of Reptile tactics in depositions and written discovery. 

Make plans today to join us at Hilton Norfolk The Main, October 2-4, for VADA’s 2019 Annual Meeting. You won’t want to miss it!

VADA Member Benefit: Free CLE from DRI

Did you know you can use your VADA membership to get free CLE from DRI? VADA members who join DRI as new members receive a complimentary registration for one DRI seminar (an $875 value).  Returning DRI members (membership lapsed six months or more) receive a $500 CLE credit that can be used towards any seminar. 

And current DRI members who recruit new members receive a $100 CLE credit for each new member recruited.  Contact Lindsay Rollins, DRI State Membership Chair, at lrollins@hancockdaniel.com for more information.

JusticeServer

The JusticeServer Pro Bono Portal platform is now being launched for use statewide. Pro bono cases from every legal aid organization are available on this site so that attorney can take a case anywhere in the state. Visit today at www.justiceserver.org. If you have any questions please contact francesw@vlas.org.

VADA App Available

Did you know? The VADA now has an app! To download onto your Apple or Android device, search “Wild Apricot for Members” in the App Store. Once you open the app, log in using your VADA login credentials. 

Once logged in, you can register and pay for events, access and update your personal profile, and view the VADA membership directory. You can also keep track of meeting details and agenda while at VADA meeting. Why wait? Download the VADA app today. 

Recent Rulings

VADA Members in
the VLW Hall of Fame 

Congratulations to VADA members Jim Brydges and John McGavin for being selected to the 2019 class of the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame, sponsored by Virginia Lawyers Weekly!

Jim, John, and the other honorees in this year’s class will be celebrated at a reception on May 21 at the John Marshall Hotel in Richmond. This year’s honorees also will be featured in an upcoming supplement in Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Congrats again, Jim and John!

Upcoming Events

May 16
Potomac Happy Hour
Mad Fox Brewing 
Falls Church

May 21
Southwest Happy Hour
Billy's in Roanoke

June 14
VADA Board Meeting
Virginia  Beach

August 7
Paralegal Seminar
The Place at Innsbrook
Richmond

October 2-4
Annual Meeting
Hilton Norfolk The Main