Congratulations to Huff Powell Bailey attorneys Jordan Dillard, Alex Vey, and Gabi Wheeler for being recognized as "Ones to Watch" for the 2025 Edition of Best Lawyers of America.
Jordan is an associate in Huff Powell Bailey's Atlanta, Georgia office. Her practice includes but is not limited to the defense of healthcare providers and institutions in professional negligence cases as well as premises and general liability cases. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law where she was a semi-finalist in the J. Ralph Beaird Closing Argument Competition. She also was a regional co-champion of the American Bar Association Negotiations Competition and received the Edward J. Henning Memeorial ADR Award. Jordan has also completed several internships with the CDC, the Georgia Hospital Association, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Prior to law school Jordan Played Division I Women's Basketball for Villanova University.
Alex is an associate in the firm's Atlanta, Georgia office. He serves on the firm's specialized Appellate Practice Team, where he represents physicians, nurses, hospitals and other healthcare providers in medical malpractice and negligence cases before Georgia's appellate courts. Alex is a graduate of Vanderbilt University's School of Law, where he served as the Notes Editor for the Vanderbilt Law Review and was actively involved in the Moot Court Board and the ABA Moot Court Team. Alex's work experience also includes serving as Assistant Attorney General for the Tennessee Attorney General's Office.
Gabi is an associate in Huff Powell Bailey's Atlanta, Georgia office. She is an experienced medical malpractice defense attorney with extensive experience handling complex cases with potential for excess damages exposure. She also represents healthcare providers in general liability cases involving catastrophic injuries and excess damages exposure. Gabi is a 2012 graduate of Georgia State University's College of Law. She spent the first portion of her career as a Senior Legal Analyst for the CDC in Atlanta.
⚖️ What is not confidential:
• Our client’s lives were forever changed because of this incident
• If they had to choose between a) being involved in this crash + getting this kind of money or b) not having it ever happen to them, you better believe they’d choose the latter
• Zealously represent your clients: I hear a lot of lawyers (even lawyers who went to some of the most prestigious law schools) complain that “law school didn’t teach them this” or “didn’t teach them that”. I am forever grateful for everything I learned at Baylor University School of Law. Two critical things stand out: 1) I learned how to try a case and 2) I learned that I shall zealously represent my clients. At Ramos James Law, PLLC, we pride ourselves on being trial lawyers and on always being ready to try a case, but never at our clients’ expense. The case belongs to the client. Sometimes trial is the best route, sometimes it isn’t. To properly advise a client towards an informed decision, you have to zealously represent them from beginning to end.
• Nothing but a team effort here and I am so proud of the contributions made by each member of my law firm to help our clients
•This case was turned down by at least one other law firm. I can’t wait to share some tips with my colleagues about dealing with apparent “potholes” on your cases at the next Texas Trial Lawyers Association seminar in Dallas (link below) so we can all keep growing and continue to obtain life changing outcomes for well-deserving people.
https://lnkd.in/gx8nhqY2#triallawyer#womeninlaw#austin#womenlawyers#atx#settlement
Having a great mentor in the practice of law is a common denominator among attorneys who kill it in their practice, especially litigation…Here’s why…
(1) No attorney is smart enough to just “figure it out” on their own (litigation is filled with countless nuances and strategy considerations that take decades to develop, understand, and appreciate).
Understanding and appreciating these issues will either take decades to learn and develop or can be learned and passed down by a great mentor in the early years of practice.
(2) To that end, great mentorship in the early years of practice is key to developing your ability to frame issues and make educated decisions based on good judgment. And it helps develop good habits that will carry with you for years.
(3) The preferences of one judge vary drastically from courtroom to courtroom, let alone courthouse to courthouse.
Obviously, years of experience arguing before different judges in different courtrooms and courthouses is helpful, but having an experienced mentor can help cut years, if not decades, off that learning curve.
(4) Some of the best lessons are learned from failure. An experienced mentor can help you learn from their failures and shortcomings in trial and during earlier stages of the litigation to help you avoid running into the same issues.
***
I’ve been fortunate to have 4 great mentors in my career.
My first mentor had over 200 jury trials to verdict under his belt. By the time I was working with him, he had not lost a trial in close to a decade. And he handled high-value medical malpractice, negligent security, and other complex personal injury cases.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the lawyers in this country with the biggest, most successful practices are not all Yale or Harvard graduates.
Mentorship will take you a lot farther in the practice of law than a degree from a prestigious law school.
You don’t often see appellate decisions on discovery orders, but yesterday the Oklahoma Supreme Court handed down a big one—holding that district court orders compelling third-party discovery are final and appealable by an aggrieved third party.
This is a big deal. Ordinarily, discovery orders of any stripe are considered interlocutory and not immediately appealable. Until yesterday, this included discovery orders entered against third parties. For example, in the federal system, to appeal an adverse discovery order, a third party must refuse to comply and submit to contempt proceedings, after which, the adverse contempt order would be considered final and could be appealed.
Yesterday, in Royal Hot Shot Investments, Inc. v. Keeton, 2024 OK 70, the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejected this rule, holding that orders compelling third-party discovery are immediately appealable by an aggrieved third party. The Court’s analysis was short, but instructive. Here it is:
"¶14 COCA sua sponte dismissed this appeal, holding the discovery orders at issue were not appealable. However, we disagree with COCA's decision. Under Oklahoma law, a final order affects a substantial right in an action when the order in effect determines the action.
"¶15 In Hammonds v. Osteopathic Hospital Founders Association, the Court determined that an order for attorney's fees against a non-party to the case was a final order as to that non-party, and thus appealable. The Court reiterated the two-prong test for finality: whether the order (1) conclusively determined the question presented, and (2) prevented the 'aggrieved' party from further proceeding. Because the order in Hammonds was 'an end-of-the-line disposition' of matters pending between the non-party and the plaintiff, ancillary to the main litigation, this Court determined the order was final under 12 O.S. § 953.
"¶16 KPC is a non-party to the action below, and thus its status necessitates an analysis under Hammonds to determine if the October 2022 Orders are appealable. KPC is 'aggrieved' based on its clear privacy and ownership interest in the documents responsive to the Subpoena affected by the decision. KPC also possesses a 'legally protected interest' in this litigation.
"¶17 As to the [discovery orders at issue], the only question between the Keetons and KPC was whether KPC must comply with the Subpoena. The district court's orders conclusively and finally determined that issue.
"¶18 In dismissing the appeal, COCA relied on related federal case law that required a non-party to proceed through a contempt proceeding before an appeal. Oklahoma law does not require a non-party to refuse to comply with a discovery order and submit to a contempt proceeding prior to appealing."
(citations omitted). Again folks, this is a big decision. The case could have a huge impact on third-party discovery and will likely lead to more appellate decisions on discovery issues. Stay tuned!
#oklahomaappeals#appellatelinkedin
No doubt, this decision by the Oklahoma Supreme Court has General Counsel attorneys jumping for joy. It is a HUGE deal that third-parties can now immediately appeal an order compelling discovery. As a Plaintiffs' attorney, however, this holding makes me extremely nervous.
Think about it: a Plaintiff seeking legal representation, especially in Oklahoma, is usually already at a financial disadvantage, which is why these cases will often move forward on a contingency, or even pro bono, basis. Good faith Plaintiffs do not have the financial resources for a long, drawn out legal battle, if only because they have already been financially disadvantaged by the behavior of the Defendant. These are people who have been wronged by business entities, institutions, etc. Those Defendants have much more time, energy, and resources on their hands, which means they have more reason to delay or obstruct the discovery process in their case. In those instances, Plaintiffs often rely on a subpoena duces tecum to collect the information they desperately need to have their full and fair day in court. Now, Defendants and third-parties are equally primed to delay and obstruct the discovery process, to every Plaintiffs' detriment.
Keep in mind, third-parties are only expected by the Court to hand over documents or testimony relevant to the matter at hand. If the collection of these documents takes an excessive amount of time or energy, the third-party can actually seek payment for the inconvenience. Spoiler alert, they hardly ever do demand payment because the collection of relevant materials is rarely excessive. It doesn't take much time or energy to send Plaintiff's counsel some emails. Now, third-parties who hold the keys to vital information need not even interact with the Court until a final order compelling discovery is entered. Even then, all the third-party has to do is appeal. Plaintiffs will wait months, at best, before the discovery process may continue progressing.
In my opinion, this is just one more hurdle for Plaintiffs to overcome in Oklahoma. We are creating a legal system that only benefits the parties who can afford to manipulate it. In a state like Oklahoma, one of the poorest states in the country, this is not a sustainable legal system, and I remain suspect of decisions like these, which make it easier for wealthy parties, both Defendants and third-parties, to skirt their responsibilities under the Oklahoma Discovery Code.
👎
Appellate Attorney | Shareholder at GableGotwals | Civil and Criminal Appeals and Complex Litigation
You don’t often see appellate decisions on discovery orders, but yesterday the Oklahoma Supreme Court handed down a big one—holding that district court orders compelling third-party discovery are final and appealable by an aggrieved third party.
This is a big deal. Ordinarily, discovery orders of any stripe are considered interlocutory and not immediately appealable. Until yesterday, this included discovery orders entered against third parties. For example, in the federal system, to appeal an adverse discovery order, a third party must refuse to comply and submit to contempt proceedings, after which, the adverse contempt order would be considered final and could be appealed.
Yesterday, in Royal Hot Shot Investments, Inc. v. Keeton, 2024 OK 70, the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejected this rule, holding that orders compelling third-party discovery are immediately appealable by an aggrieved third party. The Court’s analysis was short, but instructive. Here it is:
"¶14 COCA sua sponte dismissed this appeal, holding the discovery orders at issue were not appealable. However, we disagree with COCA's decision. Under Oklahoma law, a final order affects a substantial right in an action when the order in effect determines the action.
"¶15 In Hammonds v. Osteopathic Hospital Founders Association, the Court determined that an order for attorney's fees against a non-party to the case was a final order as to that non-party, and thus appealable. The Court reiterated the two-prong test for finality: whether the order (1) conclusively determined the question presented, and (2) prevented the 'aggrieved' party from further proceeding. Because the order in Hammonds was 'an end-of-the-line disposition' of matters pending between the non-party and the plaintiff, ancillary to the main litigation, this Court determined the order was final under 12 O.S. § 953.
"¶16 KPC is a non-party to the action below, and thus its status necessitates an analysis under Hammonds to determine if the October 2022 Orders are appealable. KPC is 'aggrieved' based on its clear privacy and ownership interest in the documents responsive to the Subpoena affected by the decision. KPC also possesses a 'legally protected interest' in this litigation.
"¶17 As to the [discovery orders at issue], the only question between the Keetons and KPC was whether KPC must comply with the Subpoena. The district court's orders conclusively and finally determined that issue.
"¶18 In dismissing the appeal, COCA relied on related federal case law that required a non-party to proceed through a contempt proceeding before an appeal. Oklahoma law does not require a non-party to refuse to comply with a discovery order and submit to a contempt proceeding prior to appealing."
(citations omitted). Again folks, this is a big decision. The case could have a huge impact on third-party discovery and will likely lead to more appellate decisions on discovery issues. Stay tuned!
#oklahomaappeals#appellatelinkedin
Graduating law school made me think I was ready for anything.
But when I stepped into real litigation, I realized something...
I was comfortable with my legal theories, my moot court wins, and my classroom knowledge. But the courtroom was an entirely different game. And I was stuck.
I faced:
→ Unexpected challenges in court
→ Clients who were more emotional than I expected
→ The pressure of real stakes, beyond grades or trophies
The truth is, no matter how well-prepared I felt, I wasn’t progressing the way I thought I would.
Does this sound familiar? Is your comfort zone holding you back from thriving in the real world of litigation?
Here are 3 strategies that helped me break through my comfort zone and navigate real litigation with confidence:
1️⃣ Take on Cases That Scare You
Growth doesn’t come from playing it safe. Choose cases that force you to think on your feet and handle uncertainty. Real litigation challenges push you beyond what law school prepares you for.
2️⃣ Embrace Courtroom Time
No amount of theory compares to actual courtroom experience. Argue motions, cross-examine witnesses, and make mistakes. Each time you step into court, you learn something new and grow more confident.
3️⃣ Discipline in Preparation
Litigation success isn’t a one-time event—it’s the result of relentless preparation. Review your cases early, stay organized with discovery, and mentally rehearse arguments. When preparation becomes a habit, the courtroom becomes less daunting.
The bottom line? Every uncomfortable case makes you a stronger litigator. Improve 1% each time you step into the courtroom, and you’ll be amazed at how far you’ll go.
P.S. - What was your biggest surprise stepping into real litigation?
#LitigationLife#LawSchoolToPractice#RealCourtroomExperience#LegalProfession
POV: Most lawyers lose cases before they even step into the courtroom.
Here's why your trial prep might be sabotaging your success...👇
1. Team assembly: Teams with diverse expertise are 35% more likely to win cases. Leverage your team’s strengths by collaborating closely with solicitors, barristers, and paralegals, as each role is crucial to your success.
2. Witness strategy: Identify and prepare key witnesses—eyewitnesses, character witnesses, and experts—focusing on both their content and delivery. Use mock cross-examinations to boost their confidence by up to 40%.
3. Judge research: Invest time in studying their past rulings, courtroom style, and preferences. Surprisingly, understanding a judge's tendencies can increase your success rate by 25%.
4. Evidence mastery: Gather, organize, and ensure the admissibility of evidence. Use visual aids and digital reconstructions to make evidence 60% more memorable to juries.
5. Narrative crafting: Cases with clear, well-crafted narratives are 45% more likely to win. Build a clear, logical narrative around your case that jurors and judges can easily follow and connect with.
6. Trial roadmap: Lawyers who create detailed roadmaps report 30% less stress during trials. Outline your game plan meticulously, including potential scenarios and responses.
7. Statement polishing: Strong opening statements can sway up to 65% of jurors' initial opinions. Craft these arguments with precision, and practice them until they're perfect.
Remember, preparation isn't just about winning - it's about serving justice and your clients to the best of your ability. It's what separates good lawyers from great ones.
Want personalized guidance on becoming an unstoppable force in the courtroom?
DM me - let's take your litigation skills to the next level with Vaqalat by Sharad!
The Law’s Highest Calling.
The number of attorneys who do not like being attorneys always surprises me. I believe I know why so many attorneys are unhappy. When I was younger, and contemplating my future, I had friends who said they wanted to go to medical school or law school. When I asked why, they said, “I want to be rich.” That is the wrong answer because law is too tough a profession to work at only for money. There must be more, or you will hate life as you trudge to work dragging your money bag behind you.
I encourage everyone I know to go to law school, if they want to make a difference in the world. If that is too great a challenge, I tell them they need only to make a difference in one person’s world.
On the other hand, if instead answer that they want money, I suggest they do themselves and everyone else a big favor and go to business school.
Law is a profession that offers every attorney the opportunity to change the world. To work at something worth doing is life’s best prize. My motto is, obtaining justice for the honest person who is seriously injured is the law’s highest calling. What will your motto as an attorney be?
If you need help telling your client’s story, or need help in trial, I will be there for you.
Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500
#GerrySpence#Juryattorney#trialattorney#thunderheadranch#thegunslinger#TLC#GSM#brainexpansion#personaldevelopment#lastminutetriallawyer
The Law’s Highest Calling.
The number of attorneys who do not like being attorneys always surprises me. I believe I know why so many attorneys are unhappy. When I was younger, and contemplating my future, I had friends who said they wanted to go to medical school or law school. When I asked why, they said, “I want to be rich.” That is the wrong answer because law is too tough a profession to work at only for money. There must be more, or you will hate life as you trudge to work dragging your money bag behind you.
I encourage everyone I know to go to law school, if they want to make a difference in the world. If that is too great a challenge, I tell them they need only to make a difference in one person’s world.
On the other hand, if instead answer that they want money, I suggest they do themselves and everyone else a big favor and go to business school.
Law is a profession that offers every attorney the opportunity to change the world. To work at something worth doing is life’s best prize. My motto is, obtaining justice for the honest person who is seriously injured is the law’s highest calling. What will your motto as an attorney be?
If you need help telling your client’s story, or need help in trial, I will be there for you.
Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500
#GerrySpence#Juryattorney#trialattorney#thunderheadranch#thegunslinger#TLC#GSM#brainexpansion#personaldevelopment#lastminutetriallawyer
The Law’s Highest Calling.
The number of attorneys who do not like being attorneys always surprises me. I believe I know why so many attorneys are unhappy. When I was younger, and contemplating my future, I had friends who said they wanted to go to medical school or law school. When I asked why, they said, “I want to be rich.” That is the wrong answer because law is too tough a profession to work at only for money. There must be more, or you will hate life as you trudge to work dragging your money bag behind you.
I encourage everyone I know to go to law school, if they want to make a difference in the world. If that is too great a challenge, I tell them they need only to make a difference in one person’s world.
On the other hand, if instead answer that they want money, I suggest they do themselves and everyone else a big favor and go to business school.
Law is a profession that offers every attorney the opportunity to change the world. To work at something worth doing is life’s best prize. My motto is, obtaining justice for the honest person who is seriously injured is the law’s highest calling. What will your motto as an attorney be?
If you need help telling your client’s story, or need help in trial, I will be there for you.
Juryattorney.com 714 673-6500
#GerrySpence#Juryattorney#trialattorney#thunderheadranch#thegunslinger#TLC#GSM#brainexpansion#personaldevelopment#lastminutetriallawyer
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Associate at Huff, Powell & Bailey, LLC
2moGreat job guys!