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Will Women’s Independence be a Silent Victim of the Pandemic?

Author: Marlene Otero

Guest Editor: Ashley Kaye

February 9, 2021 9:00am

The UN Women Deputy Executive Director Anita Bhatia stated, “Everything [women have] worked for, that has taken 25 years, could be lost in a year.”  The relentless nature of COVID-19 has put an alarming amount of people out of work, and the majority of the unemployed workforce are women.  Of the more than one million workers ages 20 and over who left the workforce as of September 2020, 85.6% were women.  Leading causes as to why women are leaving…

February Attorney Spotlight: Kevin Gray

Featured: Kevin J. Gray

February 2, 2021 8:43am

For our first Attorney Spotlight of 2021, we welcome Kevin Gray, Tyson & Mendes’ newest San Francisco partner. He leads a multi-attorney team focusing on personal injury defense, defense of trucking companies, defense of governmental entities, premises defense, and Special Investigation Unit work. Having tried cases in both California State and Federal Courts, the Nassau County, New York District Attorney’s Office, and Australia, Kevin brings unique and successful trial experiences to the firm. Read on to learn more!

T&M Giving End of Year Recap

Author: Delia Parra

Guest Editor: Ashley Kaye

January 11, 2021 12:16pm

The third year of T&M Giving has come to an end, and despite the challenges of 2020, Tyson and Mendes’ charity arm thrived!  Our Giving Tuesday Campaign set an initial annual goal of $10,000, but the firm surpassed this goal, raising a total of $13,250.  Bob Tyson and Pat Mendes graciously matched these donations.

Q&A: What the Passage of Prop 22 in California Means for “Gig Economy” Employees

Guest Editor: Ashley Kaye

Featured: Andrew Smith, Kathryn Lee Colgan

December 17, 2020 12:22pm

App-based transportation and delivery companies spent the months leading up to election day heavily advocating for and supporting Proposition 22, a ballot initiative that would keep app-based drivers – “gig employees” – classified as independent contractors rather than employees, as mandated by the passage of the controversial California Assembly Bill 5 (AB-5). The effort paid off, and the proposition received enough votes in favor to pass into California law.

New Partner Spotlight: Steve Rich

Featured: Steven Rich

November 3, 2020 8:53am

This month, we are pleased to introduce Steve Rich, the newest Partner in Tyson & Mendes’ Seattle office. Steve is an accomplished litigator and trial attorney with experience in complex and multi-party civil litigation. He passionately defends large companies and individuals in high-exposure lawsuits involving a myriad of issues, including premises liability, product liability, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death claims, automobile accidents, construction defect claims, toxic torts, and environmental contamination. Learn more about this Miami transplant and his surprising bartending skills below!

New Partner Spotlight: William Johnson

Featured: William Johnson

October 6, 2020 8:42am

This month, we are pleased to introduce William (“Bill”) Johnson, Managing Partner of Tyson & Mendes’ new branch in Nashville, Tennessee! Bill is a skilled trial attorney with extensive experience in all facets of litigation, including defending against claims of catastrophic personal injury, sexual torts, including childhood sexual abuse and sexual assault, medical malpractice, and employment practices liability. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team! Learn more about Bill below.

AB 1552: Pulled From Consideration By California Lawmakers

Author: Justin T. Ruedaflores

August 13, 2020 9:13am

Last month, we reported on Assembly Bill 1552 (“AB 1552”), the proposed legislation by California Assembly members James C. Ramos (D-Highland) and Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara).  AB 1552 aims to provide financial relief to California businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, by allowing them to seek benefits from their insurance carriers if these businesses had an active business interruptions insurance policy in place.  As we reported, business interruption policies were designed by insurance carriers to cover financial losses resulting from…

Bad Faith Migrates North – is New York Next?

Author: Mike Coffey, Matthew Majd

August 3, 2020 11:00am

The state of New York is on the brink of making a costly mistake in regard to their unfair claim settlement practices. Following the lead of Florida and California, there is currently legislation that is on the fast-track to being passed in New York that would make it far easier to sue insurance companies for alleged “bad faith”. Additionally, Assembly Bill 5623 would also extend standing to third parties, which would allow them to bring direct causes of action against insurers. Looking at the big picture here, the passage…

Tyson & Mendes Wins Victory for Manufacturers in California Court of Appeal & Clarifies Law on Jury Instructions in Products Liability Cases

Author: Raymond K. Wilson Jr.

Guest Editor: Robert Bernstein

August 3, 2020 10:34am

I was privileged to brief and argue a recent case on behalf of Gehl Company in the California Court of Appeal. In Verrazono v. Gehl Company (2020) 50 Cal.App.5th 636, the Court of Appeal, First District, Division One, affirmed the trial court’s refusal to order a new trial following a defense verdict in a case involving severe injuries sustained by plaintiff while using a rough terrain forklift made by…

August Attorney Spotlights: Scott Ruksakiati and Mark Shanberg

Featured: Scott Ruksakiati, Mark Shanberg

August 3, 2020 9:00am

For our August Spotlight, we are introducing two attorneys launching Tyson & Mendes’ new Chicago office. Please welcome Chicago Managing Partner Scott Ruksakiati and Senior Counsel Mark Shanberg! Both are experienced litigators who bring impressive track records of success to the Tyson & Mendes Midwest team. Read on to learn more about these two powerhouses below.

California Considers Shifting Billions in Claims to Insurance Carriers: AB 1552, a Bold Proposal by Lawmakers to Cure the Pandemic Faced by California Businesses

Author: Justin T. Ruedaflores

Guest Editor: Lynn Allen

July 8, 2020 12:23pm

Proposed by California Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-Highland) and Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), Assembly Bill 1552 (“AB 1552”) aims to provide financial relief to California businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  After issuing a shelter-in-place order, on March 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom forced many companies to scramble and find new ways of generating revenue to stay afloat during this unprecedented time.

New Partner Spotlight: Mike Coffey

Featured: Mike Coffey

July 8, 2020 11:00am

Today we are introducing Mike Coffey, Tyson & Mendes’ newest New York partner and a member of the Complex Trial Team. With extensive trial experience, Mike has taken over 125 matters to trial during his career. He has particular expertise in the areas of New York Labor Law and the healthcare industry, having been retained by companies and global insurance carriers from around the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Bermuda, and the U.K. Learn…

Evaluating Novel Lawsuits in the Wake of the Novel Coronavirus

Author: Rob Olson

May 6, 2020 9:30pm

Due to the novel Coronavirus, there are more questions than answers surrounding how the civil landscape will play out once the courts reopen. Many of us who defend civil lawsuits are trying to figure out what types of lawsuits the plaintiffs’ bar will dream up in order to line their pockets. After reviewing the kinds of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) offered, hundreds of plaintiffs blog posts, and how industries are marketing to plaintiff’s lawyers, the consensus is the plaintiffs’ bar does not yet know what novel lawsuit will come from the novel Coronavirus…

New Partner Spotlight: David M. Frishman

Featured: David M. Frishman

May 6, 2020 9:22pm

Please help us welcome David Frishman, Tyson & Mendes’ new Los Angeles-based partner and a member of the Los Angeles Complex Trial Team! David brings with him a wealth of experience in all facets of personal injury and property damage litigation and is best known for his finesse and creative approaches to resolving complex and high exposure matters. Read on to learn more about this Chicago native and his long-time admiration of our firm.

The Unconscious Bias Against Women

Author: Po Waghalter

Guest Editor: Ashley Kaye

April 8, 2020 10:13am

We all know society generally favors men in government, politics, the legal field, trying to get a fair deal on car repairs, and generally anything else other than skipping the line at a nightclub on a Saturday night or becoming an Instagram celebrity. If you cannot accept this premise, please stop reading now.

COVID-19: What California Employers Ought to Know

Author: Kyle R. Maland

Guest Editor: Kathryn Lee Colgan

March 20, 2020 2:53pm

The federal government just passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”) to help employees and businesses facing challenges related to the coronavirus. The law becomes effective 15 days after President Trump signs the bill, which will make the bill effective no later than April 2, 2020. In sum, the Act guarantees free coronavirus testing, secures paid emergency leave, expands FMLA leave, and enhances Unemployment…

Grit and Growth: The Sole Factors Contributing to Women’s Professional Advancement?

Author: Ashley Kaye

Guest Editor: Robert Bernstein

February 11, 2020 3:28pm

You may have heard of the “grit and growth” concept.  In a very brief and simplified nutshell, “grit and growth” refers to common traits of successful people: “grit,” or resilience, and “growth,” or the mindset that people are not simply born successful but rather have the capability to learn and master any given skill through practice and commitment.

A New Year’s Reflection and the Endless Pressure of Success

Author: Ashley Kaye

January 9, 2020 9:40am

As we begin a new year, many of us have already done the hard work of reflecting on the past twelve months and identifying resolutions to carry us through the next.  Many professionals, particularly in the grueling field of law, have a work hard / work harder approach to life.  We want to succeed, and we will do everything we can to achieve that success.  Perhaps many of our resolutions even center around achieving those career goals.

New Partner Spotlight: Kara Pape

Featured: Kara Pape

November 13, 2019 11:18am

Kara Pape is the newest partner in Tyson & Mendes’ Los Angeles office. Formerly a partner in Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP’s general liability practice, Kara specializes in catastrophic personal injury defense; general liability defense; commercial vehicle litigation; and the defense of public entities where sexual torts are alleged, including child sexual assault and harassment. She has developed a reputation for being able to critically…

New Partner Spotlight: Robert Modica

Featured: Robert Modica

September 30, 2019 4:32pm

For our October Professional Spotlight, we are pleased to introduce Robert Modica, Managing Partner of Tyson & Mendes’ newest office in New York City. Robert has extensive experience representing businesses in various commercial disputes involving intellectual property rights, shareholder derivative claims.  Robert plans to expand the firm’s growing Cyber, Technology, and Media practice area, with experience in technology-based claims…

New Partner Spotlight: Rick Somes

Featured: Richard Somes

August 7, 2019 3:09pm

For our August Professional Spotlight, we are pleased to introduce Richard Somes, Managing Partner of Tyson & Mendes’ new Orange County office. Rick has extensive experience representing individuals and businesses in state and federal courts throughout California, where his practice focuses on general liability, premises liability, personal injury, surety law, construction, medical malpractice, toxic and mass torts, and employment law. He…

Professional Mentorship Spotlight: Jessica Rogin

August 7, 2019 3:06pm

Jessica Rogin is the Vice President of Specialty Claims, US Casualty for Liberty Mutual Group and the winner of Tyson & Mendes’ first Professional Mentorship Award in honor of her efforts to close the gender gap and promote the growth of female claims professionals. Jessica is responsible for the leadership and management of the claims operations that support Liberty’s National Insurance Specialty’s verticals, including Construction, Energy, Public Entity, Healthcare, Programs and Unsupported Excess.

Accepting Responsibility: A Valuable but Little Used Means to Defuse Juror Anger & Reduce Verdicts

Author: Ashley Kaye

Guest Editor: Robert Bernstein

July 1, 2019 1:03pm

Full disclosure: this material is lifted entirely from Tyson & Mendes founder and strategic managing partner, Robert Tyson.  But tried and true trial strategies bear repeating, and repeating often.  So, let’s dive in on one of the most counterintuitive, underutilized, and effective trial strategies for defense lawyers: ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY.

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