Franklin & Prokopik is proud to announce that we have received a ranking in the 2019 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.”  The firm is ranked in the Baltimore Metropolitan Tier 1 for Workers’ Compensation Law and the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Tier 3, also for Workers’ Compensation Law. To be eligible for a ranking, nominees must have at least one lawyer recognized on the Best Lawyers in America list. Principals Bert Randall and Lynn Fitzpatrick, of the Baltimore and Herndon offices respectively, were each awarded the Best Lawyers distinction in Workers’ Compensation for 2018-2019.  Bert was also recognized for Employment Law in 2019.

The “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a combination of client feedback, information provided on the Law Firm Survey, the Law Firm Leaders Survey, and Best Lawyers peer review.

 

 

 

 

Franklin & Prokopik is proud to announce that six new attorneys have joined the firm this fall – four associates and one counsel in our Baltimore office and one associate in our Richmond office.

Simone Williams joins the Richmond office and will concentrate her practice in liability defense and trucking and transportation. Prior to F&P, Simone worked at a personal injury firm, handling wrongful death claims, automobile and trucking accidents and excessive force claims.

A former F&P employee, Natalie Johnson, has rejoined the firm as an associate concentrating in workers’ compensation and employers’ liability. She previously worked in our Baltimore office as a paralegal for five years before attending law school.

Adam Shareef  is adding to the firm’s liability defense and trucking and transportation team.  Adam previously served as a judicial clerk for the Maryland Court of Appeals and has experience working on cases involving toxic torts, asbestosis defense and personal injury.

Ali Manzoor comes to us as an associate attorney from McCabe, Weisberg & Conway. He concentrates his practice in liability defense and trucking and transportation. He has also served as corporate counsel for the Allegis Group.

Marni Sperling also joins the F&P liability team concentrating on liability defense and trucking and transportation. Prior to F&P, Marni served as a judicial law clerk in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.

Timothy Coffman is counsel at F&P and brings 28 years of legal experience, concentrating his practice in workers’ compensation and employers’ liability. Before joining F&P, Tim was the senior associate at the Law Offices of Henry Holzman and Associates. He has additional experience in personal injury, social security and family law.

 

F&P attorney Imoh Akpan recently obtained a defense verdict following a jury trial in the case Simpson, Cheree v. Butch Lewis Truck Company in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County. The case arose out of a February 26, 2016 motor vehicle accident that occurred in a traffic circle in Washington, D.C. The Plaintiff, Cheree Simpson (“Plaintiff”), sought damages for injuries she allegedly sustained when Defendant Butch Lewis Truck Company’s driver struck Plaintiff’s vehicle while both were maneuvering through the traffic circle. There was no evidence that the Defendant’s vehicle made contact with the body of Plaintiff’s vehicle; the minimal property damage (totaling less than $1,000) was limited to the passenger side mirror of her vehicle.  Although she did not report any injuries at the scene, Plaintiff sought medical treatment, beginning eight (8) days after the accident, alleging to have suffered injuries to her lower back. Plaintiff sought damages at trial for past medical expenses, past lost wages, and pain and suffering.

At trial, Mr. Akpan was able to show through effective cross-examination of Plaintiff and her medical experts that Plaintiff’s claimed injuries were unrelated to the subject accident. Mr. Akpan effectively highlighted the minimal property damage to Plaintiff’s vehicle, the low-impact nature if the accident, Plaintiff’s eight (8) day delay in seeking medical treatment, Plaintiff’s report of no injuries on the scene, and Plaintiff’s medical expert’s lack of knowledge of Plaintiff’s medical history, significantly undermining the expert’s causation opinion, to obtain a favorable result.

Following the close of evidence and closing arguments, the jury returned its verdict in favor of Defendant, finding Defendant was negligent in the operation of his vehicle, causing the subject accident, but that Defendant’s  negligence was not a proximate cause of Plaintiff’s claimed injuries.

Next Tuesday, September 11, F&P principal Ralph Arnsdorf will be a panel speaker at the Maryland Associated General Contractors’ (MDAGC) “Managing HR Critical Issues” Workshop.  The program is the first of a three part series and will focus on the hiring process.  Ralph, alongside Rebecca Pennington of Kimball Construction, will provide practical and time-tested ways to manage HR issues effectively and efficiently, while meeting all legal requirements.  All of the workshops will take place at the MDAGC office in Lutherville, MD.  For more information and to register visit https://www.marylandagc.org/events/details/managing_hr_critical_issues.

Maryland AGC is a trade association whose members include general contractors, construction managers, specialty contractors, and service and supplier companies supporting Maryland’s commercial construction industry.  Since 1927, they have brought a strong, influential, single voice to the industry.  They are one of 95 chartered chapters affiliated with AGC of America, representing over 26,500 members nationwide.  Members of Maryland AGC are also members of AGC of America.  This affiliation affords Maryland AGC members an even stronger industry voice and broad access to services, resources, and activities available on a national level.