Copeland, Stair, Valz & Lovell, LLP

Claims and Litigation Management’s Claims College is right around the corner! Created in 2007, Claims College was created to meet the professional needs of claims and litigation professionals; specifically, allowing students to work towards earning their Certified Claims Professional (CCP) and Advanced Claims Professional (ACP) designations. This year, Angela Kopet, Lee Weatherly, and Kristen Thompson are headed to Austin, Texas and will be teaching classes in the School of Casualty Claims and School of Leadership. Angela is also Dean of the School of Leadership with Fausto Martin.   Attendees earn CE/CLE credits, learn from industry professionals with real-world experience, and work towards a professional designation. To learn more about CLM Alliance (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance) Claims College: https://lnkd.in/ew9X79Wt

CSVL Partner Lee Weatherly recently completed a week long tenure as one of 13 faculty members at the International Association of Defense Counsel's 50th Annual Trial Academy at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. During that week Lee presented a mock cross examination of an actual toxicologist for over 100 students and faculty. Aside from presenting to the entire Academy, Lee was assigned attorneys from King & Spalding, Frost Brown Todd, MehaffyWeber, Burr & Forman, Butler Snow, Airdo Werwas and UHaul who he extensively coached on effective opening statements, direct and cross examinations and closing statements both in real time and using individual video analysis. Lee was honored to use his experience of trying over 75 cases to verdict to help educate and train the next generation of defense lawyers from all across the United States.  

We’re proud to share 12 CSVL Partners have been included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers® America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®. Doug MacKelcan and Lee Weatherly were included in Best Lawyers® for Charleston, SC, and Angela Kopet was included for Chattanooga, TN. Melissa Bailey, Stephen Cohen, Eric Frisch, Broderick Harrell, Rolfe Martin, and Jay O'Brien were included in Best Lawyers® and Melissa Greene was included in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® for Atlanta, GA. Our Named Partners, Kent Stair and Gary Lovell were included for both Atlanta and Charleston. Congratulations to all! We’re honored to have such incredible leaders in the legal community representing CSVL! 

Partner Mark Lefkow obtained an order dismissing and striking a complaint against our lawyer client under Georgia’s anti-SLAPP Act. The action was brought by a plaintiff’s lawyer against a defense lawyer for libel, slander, trade libel, false light invasion of privacy, and injunctive relief, for statements made by the defense lawyer relating to pending personal injury litigation. In granting our motion to dismiss for the defense lawyer, the court found that the statements made by our client were true and constituted privileged speech, and that our client is entitled to recover attorneys’ fees.

We are officially two weeks out from Themis Advocates Group NexGen Summit in Denver! I'm pumped to be presenting with Stephanie Capobianco and Andrew Blackwood on "The Duality of 'No Cap': Communicating with Younger Jurors Amid Runaway Verdicts." There's still time to register and be part of the fun: https://lnkd.in/eyCm7pmz

Partner Jordan Teich will be presenting “Arbitration: Trends & Strategies for Success” with Jarrod White, and John Worden at the 2024 Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting in Toronto next week! Jordan looks forward to seeing her fellow FDCC members there!

Gary Lovell and Kelli Goldstein secured a dismissal for their Sumter, South Carolina family medicine client by successfully arguing a Motion for Summary Judgement. Plaintiff alleges that the Family Medicine Provider failed to properly assess and treat a wrist injury which resulted from a car accident. However, Gary and Kelli presented a comprehensive argument strategically dismantling Plaintiff’s cause by showing there was no causal connection between the alleged injury and the actions of their client. The case was dismissed.

Partner Melissa Bailey was recently selected to join the International Association of Defense Counsel. The IADC has been serving an invitation-only and peer-reviewed membership of corporate and insurance defense attorneys and insurance executives since 1920. Being a part of the IADC proves experienced success in your career and a commitment to your profession. Congratulations, Melissa! 

Holly Loy successfully defended our client in a contract and lien foreclosure suit brought against our client, the owner and General Contractor. Plaintiffs, who had responsibility for framing a house our client was building, had an agreement with our client to be paid upon completion of the work. Plaintiffs abandoned the work when it was 75%-80% complete, requiring our client to hire replacement contractors to finish and to correct several serious mistakes made by Plaintiffs in their work. Moving for a directed verdict at the close of plaintiff’s evidence, Holly won a directed verdict on all claims by demonstrating that Plaintiffs’ abandonment of the project prior to completion of the work constituted a prior material breach by Plaintiffs, and by demonstrating that our client spent even more than the contract amount to complete and correct Plaintiffs’ work. Well done, Holly!

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July! 🌟