This document summarizes strategies for negotiating lead poisoning cases. It discusses evaluating the strength of liability and damages claims, considering confounding factors, the client's situation, insurance coverage, and tactics for negotiations including maintaining credibility, documenting discussions, making reasonable demands, and having patience throughout the negotiation process. Representatives from O'Connell & Aronowitz and The Law Offices of Frank F. Daily discuss their approaches to negotiating these types of cases.

1. November 14-15, 2013

2. of Negotiating a Lead
Case
Kelly J. Mikullitz, Esq.
Presented by:
O’Connell & Aronowitz
54 State Street
Albany, NY 12207
518-462-5601
www.oalaw.com

4. Strength of Liability
• Notice
• Improper or Delayed
Abatements
• “Problem” Landlord

5. Damages
• Blood lead level
• Chelation
• Exposure
• School and Medicals
• Expert reports

6. Confounding Factors
• Preexisting injuries
• Family history
• Child Protective Services

7. Problem Plaintiffs
• Convictions
• Substance abuse
• School
• Employment

8. Other Considerations Affecting
Value
• Representing Multiple
Plaintiffs
• Representing Multiple
Defendants

10. Insurance Adjusters vs. Defense
Attorney
• Prior relationships
• Negotiation style
• Knowledge / Experience

12. Formal vs. Informal
• Informal conversations /meetings
• Formal demands or offers

14. Know the Insurance Coverage FIRST!
• Obtain Insurance Policy
• Definitions
• Anti-stacking language
• Verbal or written
amendments

16. Final Preparation
• Determine settlement goals
• Obtain authority

18. Negotiations
• Maintain credibility
• Discuss liability / injuries
• Respond to adversary’s
criticisms
• Discuss risks to Defendant
• Elicit value
• Admit confounding factors
• Make concessions

19. Documentation
• Document everything
•
•
•
•
Every discussion
Every question
Every demand
Every offer

20. Conditions
• Agree to conditions of
settlement early on
• Liens
• Confidentiality
• Structured settlements

21. Demands
• Be reasonable
• No ultimatums
• Request thatdemand(s) be
conveyed to defendant
• Document everything

22. Have Patience
• Few cases settle in one
negotiation
• Keep your adversary’s
attention
• Settlement attempts
and delays

24. Low Offers or No Offers
• Be patient
• Do not shut down
negotiations
• React appropriately
• Document efforts to
resolve
• Continue to litigate

26. Benefits
•
•
•
•
•
Fresh set of eyes
Jury perspective
Success rate
Cost
Confidential

28. Finalizing
• Immediately document
settlement amounts /
conditions
• Confirming letters

30. The Law Offices of Frank F. Daily, P.A.
11350 McCormick Road
Executive Plaza III, Suite 704
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031

31. Negotiation
Evaluation

32. •
•
How much?
When?

33. •
•
•
•
Liability
Damages
Coverage
Other factors

34. •
Who's the boss?
•
Remember who is the client!
•
•
•
Split allegiance
Allstate Insurance Co. v. Campbell, 334 Md. 381, 639
A.2nd 652 (1993).
What is best for the client?

35. Liability
Considerations
•
Very bad
•
Very
good

36. •
•
•
lead levels
educational issues
occupational issues

37. •
Amount - enough to cover verdict?
•
Erosion/Impairment of policy
•
"Gaps" in Coverage
•
Penn National Mutual Casualty
Insurance Co. v. Roberts, et
al., 668 F.3rd 106 (2012)
•
Other Litigation - More
Erosion?
•
Notice to Client and Input from
client

38. •
•
Appropriate figure?
Implications of settlement
Large Settlement
Small Settlement

39. •
Terms/Type of
Release
•
•
Confidentiality
Structure
•
Liens (Beware!)
•
Discuss terms with
opposing counsel!

41. Kelly Mikullitz
O’Connell &Aronowitz
Frank F. Daily
Law Office of Frank Daily, P.A.

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Kelly Mikullitz
O'Connell &Aronowitz
518.462.5601
kmikullitz@oalaw.com
Frank Daily
Law Offices of Frank F. Daily P.A
410.584.9443
frank@frankdailylaw.com