Shortly after I joined Ziff Law, Jim Reed, the firm’s managing partner (and frequent poster on this blog,) told me to sign myself up for the two-week National Session on Building Trial Skills offered by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA).  “And by the way,” he remarked, “the program is located just outside Boulder, Colorado.”

‘Nuff said.  As a former resident of Denver and Missoula, Montana, I am a true lover of the mountains and was ecstatic about the chance to spend some time savoring mountain life.  Oh, NITA looked pretty cool as well.

I had no idea at the time that I was about to embark upon a career changing — if not life changing — voyage.  Seriously.  Two weeks at NITA equaled, for me and I suspect most of my classmates, at least five years of real world trial experience.  Unfortunately, as most practitioners recognize, cases are not tried nearly as often today as they were fifty years ago.  Increased pressures to settle matters quickly or engage in Alternative Dispute Resolution — such as mediation or arbitration — has created a professional atmosphere in which young attorneys wait years or even decades before ever getting a chance to see a case through to verdict.  (The one notable exception is in the area of criminal law, where cases are tried on a somewhat more frequent basis.)  (Watch an interview with The Honorable Jim R. Carrigan, one if NITA’s founders.)   

I was fortunate to have tried a number of cases as a prosecutor before participating in NITA’s National Session.  However, the skills and confidence I gained from NITA are unparalleled.  I had an opportunity to test myself against some of the best up-and-coming attorneys in the country — and even the world!  The faculty was comprised of seasoned practioners with practical, focused advice on how to become the very best trial lawyer possible, and the lecturers offered insight into cutting edge legal trends and technology emerging from all ends of the globe.  (Read NITA’s Blog.)   Read the rest…

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After 20+ years of battling insurance companies day in and day out, FINALLY a video that expresses my frustration:

Thanks for watching and I hope this video made your day as much as it made mine!

Now back to fighting with these %#@! insurance companies…

Jim Reed
Injury & Accident Lawyer
jreed@zifflaw.com
Elmira, NY

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“A stitch in time saves nine.” I never really understood this proverb when I was growing up, though I certainly heard my father use it on more than one occasion as he cautioned me to take my time before embarking on a new endeavor.

As a personal injury attorney in the Elmira/Corning, New York area, I have now come to understand the true wisdom behind those words, especially when it comes to automobile maintenance. Accidents certainly do happen, but general awareness of basic automobile maintenance can go a long way toward preventing personal injuries and saving lives. Although I do not profess to be an expert mechanic in any way, I have decided to post basic auto tips periodically this summer to inform – or more likely, remind – readers of simple steps you can take to protect your families from injuries sustained in automobile accidents.To many people summer is synonymous with road trips and family vacation, and I hope my tips will help readers stay safe when hitting the roads.

Tip #1 – Check your Tires

Today is my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary. My father, ever the romantic, decided to take my mother to the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles, New York for a little getaway. Alas, as my parents pulled out of Horseheads to begin their journey, they got a flat tire. Luckily neither was injured and my dad had the tools to change the tire, though they may have been “spared” (I couldn’t resist) a short delay if only my dad had followed his own advice and checked car before getting on the road.

Tires are crucial to vehicle’s handling, traction, and stability, and can cause an automobile to loose alignment if they are not in proper working order. In general, you should check each of tire periodically, or about once a month.

When checking your tires, first look for obvious defects and damage, and visit a professional if anything looks seriously amiss.

It is very wise to carry a tire gauge in your automobile at all times, and you should check the pressure in each of your tires every time you check them. Tire pressure changes due to a variety of factors, though they are most commonly affected by changes in weather or air temperature. A decrease in air temperature often causes a loss in tire pressure, while an increase in air temperature often causes a gain.

Each vehicle has its own recommended air pressure, and information about it can likely be found in your vehicle’s owners manual. Although a tire’s maximum pressure is listed on its in fine print, you should never use max pressure as a guide when filling your tires because over-inflation allows tires to puncture more easily and can create instability for your automobile.

As an avid bicycle rider, I realize the importance of checking the pressure of my bike’s tires before every ride I take to avoid an accident (and make the ride more enjoyable!) Although checking a vehicle’s tires before every trip may be a bit overly onerous, it is something all of us could do a bit more frequently in order to stay safe.

Thanks for reading,

Christina Bruner Sonsire

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As the newest addition to Ziff Law’s personal injury and malpractice litigation team, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the firm’s blogosphere community.  Without going into too many details about my so-called “pedigree” and educational background – information about which can be found on Ziff Law’s website at www.zifflaw.com or a recent Star Gazette article at http://www.stargazettenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/BUSINESS/803220302 –  I want to provide you, the interested personal injury blog connoisseur, with some interesting (though not directly relevant to my practice) facts about me.