2021 Non-Economic Damages Retreat

Retreat Chair: Melissa G. Ray, Nichols Zauzig, Falls Church
8.0 Hours CLE pending

Some of the most tragic cases involve losses that entail little or no monetary value but mean the world to your client. This program will provide an in-depth exploration of how to take your client's tragedy and present their experience into a relatable image to both sides of the courtroom.

Join us in beautiful Old Town Alexandria. Our retreat begins at noon on Friday, May 21 and concludes at 1:15 on Saturday, May 22. Your in-person registration includes lunch and reception on Friday along with breakfast on Saturday. Last held in 2012, this retreat should not be missed! 

Who should attend? Personal injury, med mal, product liability, premises liability, workers' compensation, and/or disability attorneys, as well as other legal professionals who would like a better understanding of strategies to presenting clients' true and oftentimes invisible losses.

What you can expect:

• Conceptualizing the Non-Economic Case at Intake
• Conceptualizing Non-Economic Damages in Wrongful Death Cases
• Discovery: To Claim Economic Damages or Not
• Treating/Experts/Lay Witnesses - Who Are the Right Ones?
• Focus Groups - What Resonates
• Communicating Human Damages through Witnesses Stories
• Pre-Trial Checklist to Keep Out Economic Damages
• Opening Statement: Priming the Judge/Jury for Non-Economic Damages
• Judges' Panel: View of Non-Economic Damages from the Bench in GDC
• Showing Non-Economic Damages to Negotiate Settlements
• Persuasive Closing Demonstratives
• Persuasive Closing Arguments
• Former Defense Attorney Panel: How Does the Defense Evaluate Non-Economic Damages?
• Verdicts in the Time of COVID: Nationwide
• Non-Economic Verdicts in the Face of COVID: Virginia Lessons

Complete Agenda

This retreat is open to VTLA attorney members, one of the many benefits of membership, and is restricted to plaintiff attorneys only. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining. Call 804-343-1143 for details.

* The number of in-person seats will be limited so that we can adhere strictly to social distancing guidelines. Other safety precautions will include mandatory masks for any time you are not seated at your individual table. We are limitless for those who want to join us online!

CLE Certificate and Materials:
Our CLEs are paperless. Materials are sent electronically to the email address we have on file for you.
Retreat materials, along with the CLE Certificate of Attendance, will be emailed to you 1-2 days prior
to the retreat so that you may print any materials you may wish to have with you.
Check your junk or spam folder if not found in your inbox. The emailed links will be active throughout the day for you to access.

Event Anti-Harassment, Discrimination and Safety Policy

Attending In-Person?
 

480 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 549-6080

directions

VTLA has a block of rooms reserved at a discounted rate of $159. Self- Parking available at a $19 discounted rate for all attendees. Reservations must be made by April 21 extended through April 28th. Book your room online here.

Attending Virtually?

Connection instructions will be emailed to you a few days prior to the seminar. 

WE HOPE YOU WON'T, but if you must cancel, the VTLA cancellation policy applies to all paid meeting events, including any scheduled social events. All cancellations or changes must be in writing. Cancellations received before materials are emailed will be refunded the registration fee paid less a $100 cancellation fee. Due to guarantees required to our vendors, no refunds will be given after that point. Thank you for your understanding.​​