3/19/2019: Imoh Akpan Receives Membership Into the FDCC

/in /by 3/19/2019: Imoh Akpan Receives Membership Into the FDCC

Franklin & Prokopik is excited to announce that principal Imoh Akpan’s nomination for membership into the prestigious Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) has been unanimously approved by their Board of Directors. The Federation is a distinguished composition of legal community members who are at the forefront of defending clients in civil lawsuits. Imoh’s selection demonstrates that he possesses the Federation’s desired qualities of professionalism, fellowship and the promotion of knowledge of the law.

Membership is by nomination only and currently stands at more than 1400 throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe, Puerto Rico as well as other geographic areas.

For more information about the FDCC and its mission, please visit the website at https://thefederation.site-ym.com/.

3/8/2019: Andrew Stephenson Secures Defense Verdict After Three Years of Litigation

/in /by 3/8/2019: Andrew Stephenson Secures Defense Verdict After Three Years of Litigation

Following a two week jury trial, F&P principal Andrew T. Stephenson secured a defense verdict after three (3) years of contentious litigation in the case of Gell, Thomas (Deceased), et al. v. Pitt-Ohio, et al. in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, case number 03C15003282 MT. The case arose out of a March 30, 2012 motor vehicle accident in which Thomas Gell (“Decedent”) sustained injuries that ultimately resulted in his death five (5) years after the subject accident.

F&P was retained immediately following the subject accident as part of the emergency response to catastrophic loss services offered to clients, to investigate the accident and preserve all relevant evidence in anticipation of litigation. The facts surrounding the subject accident revealed that F&P’s client, a driver of a tractor trailer, was parked in the right hand lane of a two (2) lane roadway with his hazard lights activated. Decedent, a 64 year old male salesman, was attempting to make a right turn out of a parking lot perpendicular to the roadway on which the tractor trailer was parked. Decedent’s view of oncoming traffic was obstructed. While attempting to make a right turn into the left of the two (2) travel lanes, Decedent was struck by an oncoming box truck, sustaining serious injuries.

Following the subject accident, Decedent was in a coma, underwent numerous surgeries, sustained scores of fractures, and a traumatic brain injury. Decedent allegedly died as a result of the injuries sustained in the subject accident after five (5) years of treatment.

Decedent’s Estate and eligible beneficiaries sought damages in the total amount of $4,136,735, which included the Estate’s past medical expenses in the amount of  $1,390,667, past lost wages in the amount of $858,568, non-economic damages on the part of the Decedent’s Estate in the amount of the applicable statutory cap of $755,000.00, and the Decedent’s eligible beneficiaries’ noneconomic damages claim in the amount of the applicable statutory cap of $1,132,500.

Due to F&P’s response immediately following the subject accident, we were able to obtain and preserve pertinent evidence related to vehicle location and positioning and witness testimony that was critical in securing a defense jury verdict and a finding of no primary liability on the part of our insured driver.

2/22/2019: Bert Randall to Present on Employment Law at Spring Trade Expo

/in /by 2/22/2019: Bert Randall to Present on Employment Law at Spring Trade Expo

The 45th Annual Ocean City Spring Trade Expo, hosted by the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association (OCHMRA), will be held March 3 and 4, 2019. Prior to the expo opening at 9:00am on Monday, March 4, F&P principal, Bert Randall, will speak on the area of employment law. Topics include overtime wages, sexual harassment, tip pools and more. This session provides legal advice at no cost and is intended to help employers understand labor laws. Bert also represents the legal team of the Restaurant Association of Maryland.

The expo, spanning three exhibit halls at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, affords attendees the opportunity to experience the newest trends in all facets of the hospitality industry. Vendors will showcase regional and national companies and products allowing for interpersonal interaction between the exhibitors and attendees. This event is not open to the public, only buyers and guests in the industry.

OCHMRA is “an advocate of the Ocean City Hospitality Industry, and is a Tourism activist.” For more information regarding this event, please click on story below.

Ocean City Spring Trade Expo Returns March 3-4

 

1/21/2019: Tamara Goorevitz to Speak at American Bus Association CEO Roundtable

/in /by 1/21/2019: Tamara Goorevitz to Speak at American Bus Association CEO Roundtable

Franklin & Prokopik principal, Tamara Goorevitz, is slated to speak at the American Bus Association (ABA) exclusive CEO Roundtable  on Saturday, January 26, in Louisville, Ky. The conference is themed “Protecting the Value of Your Business,” and hosts a panel of legal experts addressing such topics as litigation strategies, social media as a resource for businesses and how to prepare for a sale or merger, as well as a variety of other topics. Tamara will present on “Using Social Media Investigations to Defend Claims.”  This seminar targets CEOs, company owners and partners of ABA’s motorcoach members.

For more information about ABA, please visit their website at https://www.buses.org/.

1/4/2019: F&P Announces 2019 Attorney Promotions

/in /by 1/4/2019: F&P Announces 2019 Attorney Promotions

Franklin & Prokopik would like to celebrate 2019 by recognizing attorneys who have been promoted to either principal or counsel. These people have demonstrated to be both astute and discerning in the courtroom as well as with their peers at F&P. In addition, they have earned honors within the legal community. Join us in congratulating these members of the F&P team and thanking them for their hard work and devotion to the firm.

F&P’s new principals and counsel are:

Lindsey Lewis, principal, Richmond

John Archibald, counsel, Baltimore

Nirav Patel, counsel, Herndon

1/2/2019: Bert Randall to Speak at the MACo Winter Conference

/in /by 1/2/2019: Bert Randall to Speak at the MACo Winter Conference

F&P principal Bert Randall is slated to speak at the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Winter Conference,”Charting the Course.” The conference will be held January 2-4, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, Md. Bert will be speaking on January 3 at 2:00pm during the “When Green Fades to Gray: Workplace Standards in the Cannabis Era” session.  Specifically, he will provide an overview on the national landscape of laws and regulations, advice on county workers’ comp, and termination policies and practices based on case law.

The MACo conference focuses on policies and issues facing Maryland at the start of a new legislative session. Topics will also address how various county governments work and will assist newly elected officials at all levels become up-to-date with local government needs.

For more information regarding MACo, please visit their website at http://www.mdcounties.org/.

 

12/27/2018: Lynn Fitzpatrick Receives Workers’ Comp Honor

/in /by 12/27/2018: Lynn Fitzpatrick Receives Workers’ Comp Honor

Lynn McHale Fitzpatrick, a principal in F&P’s Herndon office, has received the distinction of being elected to the Fellows of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers class of 2019. The college honors attorneys, in the field of workers’ compensation, who have been practicing 20 years or longer, and are nominated based on “the highest professional qualifications and ethical standards, character, integrity, professional expertise and leadership.” In addition to this, an attorney has also written and/or lectured on the topic of workers’ compensation and has shown to be a scholar in the field.

The annual induction dinner will be held at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FL on March 16, 2019 following the Workers’ Compensation Midwinter Meeting and the College of Worker’s Compensation Lawyers (CWCL) Symposium. For more information about the CWCL visit http://www.cwclawyers.org/.

11/30/2018: Gone But Not Forgotten – F&P Commemorates Bob Franklin

/in /by 11/30/2018: Gone But Not Forgotten – F&P Commemorates Bob Franklin

Last Friday, November 23, commemorated five years since the passing of Robert (Bob) T. Franklin.  Bob practiced law for three decades and was a founding partner of Franklin & Prokopik, P.C.  His legal expertise was wide-ranging and spanned personal injury and workers’ compensation defense to trucking and transportation.  He created F&P’s 24-hour response team that handles the investigation of trucking accidents and caring for the driver. Bob had served as general counsel to the Maryland Motor Truck Association, Restaurant Association of Maryland and the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland.  His devotion to his work and inner drive propelled him to the top of his industry as a recognized leader, especially in transportation law.   Bob was also a much-in-demand speaker and was the author of many legal articles.

A friend and colleague, Bob’s presence is greatly missed at F&P every day.  Rather than looking back with sadness, we honor his legacy by remembering all the good times that were shared.  We know that is what he would have wanted.

 

11/16/2018: F&P Partners with the Baltimore Claims Associations for Toys for Tots

/in /by 11/16/2018: F&P Partners with the Baltimore Claims Associations for Toys for Tots

This holiday season, F&P is once again partnering with the Baltimore Claims Association and participating in Toys for Tots. The program was started in 1947 by Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks when his wife wanted to donate a doll to a child during the holiday season and discovered there were no existing groups or organizations able to assist.  The mission of the program “is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.”  Last year, Toys for Tots distributed more than 18 million toys to 7 million children throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

We are accepting voluntary donations until December 5. The drop boxes are located in the reception area on the 6th floor. Please see below for guidelines regarding donations:

  • All toys should be brand new and unwrapped.
  • Toys for Tots does not accept realistic looking weapons, gifts with food or stuffed animals. If donated, such items will NOT be distributed.
  • Suggested items for pre-teen/teen groups include: (If this is the category you wish to donate to) sporting equipment/bags/balls; books, backpacks, cosmetics, purses, watch/wallet gift sets, bath gift sets, board games, radio control cars/trucks, hand-held electronics, skateboards/helmets, curling irons, hair straighteners, and hair dryers.

Giving back to the community is a core value at F&P, and we are proud to participate in this endeavor.

If you would like more information about Toys for Tots and its mission, please visit www.ToysforTots.org.
Visit our Corporate Social Responsibility page to learn more about the organizations and programs F&P supports.