Part 1 – From Hostage to Hero

Friday, June 19^th 2020

1:00-2:45pm (ET)

In the first of this two-part From Hostage to Hero Seminar, Sari de la Motte, aka “The Attorney Whisperer,” will show you why jurors aren’t the only hostages at trial; you’re a hostage too. In order to win the jury over you first have to free yourself. Learn how to become the hero jurors need by moving yourself from hostage to hero.

Part 2 – Captivate the Jury By Setting Them Free

Friday, June 26^th 2020

1:00-2:45pm (ET)

In part two of the From Hostage to Hero Seminar, you’ll learn why jurors feel and act like hostages and what steps you can take to move them from hostage to hero. By increasing your nonverbal intelligence, you’ll understand the jury like never before.

Learn:

• How trial threatens a juror’s brain
• Why hostages make terrible jurors
• How to gain a juror’s permission
• How your role changes as trial progresses
• Why nonverbal intelligence is essential for trial attorneys
• Nonverbal skills to engage the jury
• Voir dire and opening skills
• …and more!

Sari has been interviewed on television and radio, on the Trial Lawyer Nation podcast, and in the Huffington Post, The Atlantic, and The Oregonian. Sari has worked with several law firms, including several members of the Inner Circle of Advocates.

For more information on how to move jurors from hostage to hero, visit www.fromhostagetohero.com to access videos, resources, blog posts, and more. For more information on Sari, visit www.saridlm.com 

You must register in order to receive the Zoom link and login credentials.

Members = $75.00

Non-members = $150.00

Judges & Staff Attorneys = complimentary (please RSVP)

A big THANK YOU! to our Platinum Sponsor, Tom Stockett and Rimon Bebawi of CW Settlements. Located in the heart of downtown Cleveland, CW Settlements is a leading provider of Structured Settlements and Settlement Planning Solutions with over 20 years of experience.  CW Settlements’ extensive knowledge of Structured Settlements, government benefits and litigation makes them one of the most trusted experts to take on any case, regardless of the complexity. CW Settlements has been and continues to be a valuable resource for CATA members and their clients. You can reach Tom and Rimon at 800-453-5414 or via email at tstockett@cwsettlements.com with any of your Structured Settlement and Settlement Planning needs.

We’re also excited to present our keynote speaker, Judge Jennifer Brunner of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, who is running in the 2020 election as the Democratic candidate for Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Judge Brunner will be swearing in the officers and directors of the board as well.

There is no charge for attendance this year. Simply RSVP by email (todd@eisenlawfirm.com) and you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link, Meeting ID, and Password.

I’m pleased to welcome Attorneys Hazel Remesch and Melanie Shakarian of The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland to speak at our next CLE Luncheon seminar (on November 14, 2018) about CATA’s partnership with Legal Aid to create a “Right to Counsel” in Cleveland Housing Court.

“You have the right to an attorney” — everyone is familiar with the Miranda right thanks to television crime shows. Our constitution ensures access to no-cost legal counsel when someone is accused of a serious crime and cannot afford an attorney. Many people do not realize, however, that there is no such constitutional right to legal counsel in housing cases.

Founded in 1905, Legal Aid is the only nonprofit specifically addressing the civil legal needs of Northeast Ohio’s poor, marginalized, and disenfranchised. Legal Aid’s 45 staff attorneys and 35 support staff members provide high-quality civil legal services where and when people need it most. With more than a century of expertise in poverty law and housing advocacy, Legal Aid is poised to halt the cascade of consequences that inevitably flow from eviction and homelessness.

Housing is a basic human need and the starting point for economic opportunity. A safe, stable home serves as a foundation for healthy families and the nexus of thriving communities. And yet, too many Cleveland families living in poverty are being evicted. In fact, of the estimated 9,000 -10,000 evictions filed in Cleveland each year, a mere 1% -2% of tenants facing eviction are represented by an attorney, while most landlords have a lawyer.

An eviction for a family can be devastating. Research shows that unstable housing circumstances, including homelessness, multiple moves, and rent strain are associated with adverse health outcomes for caregivers and young children. These adverse health outcomes include maternal depression, child lifetime hospitalizations, poor child overall health and poor caregiver health.

Studies show that tenants who received full legal representation in eviction cases were more likely to stay in their homes and save on rent or fees. For this reason, Legal Aid’s Right to Counsel Program is focused on providing tenants with full legal representation in Cleveland housing court to ensure that tenants participate meaningfully in the eviction process.

What does “full legal representation” include? How does Legal Aid help clients navigate through the eviction process? How can CATA, its members, and other attorneys get involved and help out? Hazel and Melanie will discuss these issues and more!

• Where: Ritz-Carlton, 6th Floor (Cleveland)
• When: Wednesday, November 14, 2018 from 12:15-1:35 (12:15-12:20 registration; 12:20-12:30 introductory remarks; 12:30-1:30 presentation; 1:30-1:35 wrap-up)
• Why: Legal Aid needs our help!
• Who: You!

Register here

I’m pleased to welcome Brian N. Eisen, Esq. (Past-President of CATA) to speak at our next CLE Luncheon seminar on October 10, 2018. Brian will discuss the ethical implications of negotiating settlement agreements. One hour of Professional Conduct credit has been approved for this CLE.

Over the past 20+ years, Mr. Eisen has negotiated hundreds of settlement agreements. In light of the recent Advisory Opinion #2018-3 from the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct, there are new ethical implications to consider when negotiating these agreements, especially regarding confidentiality clauses. For instance, what information can a defense attorney ethically request that you and your client keep confidential? What are the ethical implications of offering or accepting to keep confidential information contained in a court record? In addition, is there any potential tax liability? Mr. Eisen will address these issues and more!

You won’t want to miss this informative presentation, and as a bonus you can get your Professional Conduct CLE credit before the end of the year!

(Lunch is included, as always, but we will have a buffet this time, so no need to order lunch in advance.)

• Where: Ritz-Carlton, 6th Floor (Cleveland)
• When: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 from 12:15-1:35 (12:15-12:20 registration; 12:20-12:30 introductory remarks; 12:30-1:30 presentation; 1:30-1:35 wrap-up)
• Why: Get One Hour of Professional Conduct CLE Credit!
• Who: You!

Magistrate Koenig will discuss the process of obtaining Probate Court approval of settlements in wrongful death claims and cases involving minors, and offer insight and advice about:

• filing the appropriate documents
• identifying/notifying the proper beneficiaries
• wrongful death trusts and structured settlements
• approval of attorney fees and expenses
• distribution of proceeds

Magistrate Koenig will be happy to discuss other probate issues as well, so please come prepared with questions!

• Where: Ritz-Carlton, 6th Floor (Cleveland)
• When: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 from 12:15-1:35 (12:15-12:20 registration; 12:20-12:30 introductory remarks; 12:30-1:30 presentation; 1:30-1:35 wrap-up)
• Why: You Can’t Settle a Wrongful Death or Minor’s claim without Probate Court Approval!
• Who: You!

Guests of honor included Judges from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Please and the Eighth Appellate District, as well as keynote speaker Betty Sutton. Mrs. Sutton spoke to the attendees about “Making a difference.”

Awards for extraordinary effort to the organization during the past year were presented to Todd Gurney and Will Eadie.

In the coming year, CATA will continue its monthly luncheon CLE programs at the Ritz-Carlton in Cleveland (keep an eye out for emails about the luncheons), and hold a Litigation Institute in the spring of 2019. CATA is also continuing its END DD campaign under the direction of Ellen Hirshman.

Finally, CATA is partnering up with Cleveland Legal Aid on an endowed project with Hazel Ramesh, Esq. and the Housing Right to Counsel Program. Christian Patno will sit on the Advisory Committee for this program and will seek the help of CATA members on matters where Legal Aid attorneys cannot become involved. The focus of the Program is to help reduce evictions and maintain family stability and housing for those in need.

We are excited, energized, and truly looking forward to a great year ahead!

John has been a practicing attorney in Ohio since 1977, a Certified Trial Advocate since 1997, and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers since 2000. In addition to his active trial practice, John has been a mediator in more than 85 cases.

John will discuss some of his mediation experiences from the perspective of both a mediator and an attorney, and offer insight and tips about how to:

• select the right mediator for your case
• set your goals and prepare for mediation
• formulate your demand (and counter-demands)
• respond to offers (and counter-offers)
• make the most out of mediation

John hopes the seminar will be interactive, so please come prepared with questions!

• Where: Ritz-Carlton, 6th Floor (Cleveland)
• When: Wednesday, August 8, 2018 from 12:15-1:35 (12:15-12:20 registration; 12:20-12:30 introductory remarks; 12:30-1:30 presentation; 1:30-1:35 wrap-up)
• Why: Mediation Strategies
• Who: You!

The keynote speaker was Hassan Aden, retired police chief from Greenville, North Carolina. Chief Aden spoke about his recent experience being detained by customs at JFK airport upon his return from an overseas trip to France, a story that went “viral” amidst the publicity surrounding the federal Travel Ban. Chief Aden also spoke about recent trends in policing, as well as his involvement with the Police Monitoring Committee here in Cleveland.

The event was well-attended by CATA members, past-presidents, and also local Judges. Past-President Kathy St. John received the President’s Award, Past-President Ellen Hobbs Hirshman received the Service Award, and immediate Past-President Rhonda Baker Debevec was recognized for her contributions to the organization during her term as President last year.

CATA looks forward to another exciting year of serving its members, their clients, and the community.