Advanced Medical Malpractice Trial Techniques: Plaintiff's and Defendant's Opening Statements/Plaintiff's Experts on Liability

Bruce G. Habian is a senior partner and trial attorney at Martin Clearwater & Bell LLP and has represented the Firm's core clients in professional liability defense litigation for more than 34 years. Recognized as one of the premiere defense attorneys in complex medical cases, Mr. Habian specializes in the defense of severe infant neurological injuries, with their attendant high financial exposure and risk, spinal pathology cases and cancer medicine. Mr. Habian has successfully established complex medical defenses at trial based upon sophisticated pathology and neuroradiology evidence. He also co-heads the Firm's legal professional liability department representing law firms and major insurance carriers in litigation matters including personal injury, bankruptcy and commercial litigation, domestic relations and criminal law. Mr. Habian's case management in these areas is complemented by his writings; he has authored book chapters on spinal surgery and neuropathology for leading medical publications, and has written and lectured extensively on the subject of cancer litigation and severe neurologically injured infant lawsuits. Mr. Habian has published practice handbooks for Matthew Bender concerning structured settlements, a recognized tool for the resolution of complex cases. He is a frequent lecturer for the New York Law Journal Seminars Press. Mr. Habian is peer listed in the "Best Lawyers in America®" and has been honored yearly in New York Magazine's listing of leading attorneys, by specialty, in the New York metropolitan area. Mr. Habian continually serves on the Firm's three partner Executive Committee for Firm governance. He is AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell® which is their highest rating. He received his J.D. from Villanova University in 1972 and his B.A. from Boston College in 1969. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, International Association of Defense Counsel and has been a faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Mr. Habian is admitted to practice before New York and New Jersey State Courts, the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Habian is a member of the prestigious peer elected American College of Trial Lawyers.

Jay A. Rappaport

Partner

Aaronson Rappaport Feinstein & Deutsch, LLP

Admitted:

1974, New York and U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York Law School: New York Law School, J.D., 1973. College: George Washington University, B.A., 1970.

Member:

New York State Bar Association.Biography: Member, Editorial Board, New York Law Forum, 1972-1973. Lecturer: Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Co., N.Y.S. Trial Lawyers Association, Practicing Law Institute and Beth Israel Medical Center.

757 Third Avenue

New York, New York 10017

(New York Co.)

Telephone: 212-593-6700

Telecopier: 212-593-6970

Leonard Decof

Partner

Decof & Grimm, PC

Leonard Decof practices in the areas of Medical Malpractice, Product Liability, Personal Injury Law, Antitrust and Commercial Litigation at Decof & Decof.

Mr. Decof is admitted to the practice of law in the State of Rhode Island and before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for the Districts of Rhode Island and Arizona, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, First and Ninth Circuits. He graduated from Yale University (B.A., 1948) and received his J.D. degree from Harvard University (LL.B., 1953).

Mr. Decof served as a Member (1973-1989) and Chairman (1984-1989) of the Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners. In 1974, Mr. Decof was a lecturer on trial advocacy at Yale Law School and from 1975 to the present has served as a lecturer on trial advocacy at Harvard Law School. In addition, Mr. Decof served as Chairman, Administrator and Principal Lecturer of the Rhode Island Supreme Court's Clerkship Program (1965-1980). He is also a Member of the Rhode Island and American (Member, Action Commission to Improve Tort System) Bar Associations; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (National Chairman, Aviation Section, 1976-1978; State Delegate, 1984-1985; Board of Governors, 1984-1986). Fellow: International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Director, 1975-1981; Dean, 1980-1981; President, 1984-1985); Inner Circle of Advocates; American College of Trial Lawyers; International Society of Barristers; American Board of Trial Advocates; American Law Institute.

He is the author of "Preparation of a Case for Trial, " Rhode Island Bar Annual, Vol. 1, October, 1964; "Damages in Action for Wrongful Death of Children," Notre Dame Law Review, 1971, Personal Injury Annual, 1972 and Marquette Law Review, 1972; "Damages in Child Death Cases," Trial Magazine, Publication of American Trial Lawyers Association, 1971; "Damages for Wrongful Death of, or Injury to Child," 20 Am Jur Trials, 1973; "Art of Advocacy, Opening Statements," Matthew Bender, 1981.

Robert L. Conason

Partner

Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman, Mackauf

Robert Conason is the senior partner at the law firm of Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman, Mackauf, Bloom & Rubinowitz. He has been elected ancillary of The American College of Trial Lawyers; He is a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers; Inner Circle of Advocates; American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Conason is also a member of The Association of the Bar of the City of New York and various sundry trial associations of the New York State Bar Association. He is a trial lawyer specializing in litigation of various personal injury matters on behalf of plaintiff. Mr. Conason is a graduate of New York University School of Law and a former Adjunct Professor of Law in trial practice at that school.

80 Pine Street

New York, NY 10005

Phone: (212) 943-1090

Fax: (212) 425-7513

Stephen H. Mackauf

Program Chair

Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman, Mackauf

Stephen Mackauf has specialized in representing patients in medical malpractice cases, virtually since joining the firm in 1970. He has written many articles for the profession and frequently chairs seminars for attorneys across the country about the handling of such cases. Currently, he is co-chairing legal courses on obstetrical malpractice and the failure to diagnose breast cancer.

80 Pine Street

New York, NY 10005

Phone: (212) 943-1090

Fax: (212) 425-7513