July Brown Bag Lunch

Fillmore Spencer's July Brown Bag Lunch will be held on Friday, July 25th, at noon.  Firm partner Barney Madsen will give a presentation titled, "Insanely Simple." In his presentation, Barney will discuss the use of demonstrative aids and presentations.  All members of the Utah State Bar are invited to attend and lunch will be provided.  Please RSVP to (801) 426-8200.

March CLE Luncheon: Common Tax Mistakes Lawyers Make

Fillmore Spencer's newest associate Mary K. Black-Whitby, will present at our March CLE Brown Bag Luncheon on March 28, 2014 at noon.  The topic of her presentation is "Common Tax Mistakes Lawyers Make." Mary will discuss how taxes affect different practices of law such as, divorce, personal injury matters, business formation, litigation matters and estate planning.  Come learn how you may be inadvertently making a tax mistake in your practice of law.  Please RSVP to (801) 426-8200.

Photo courtesy of Flickr by kenteegardin

January Brown Bag Recap: Construction Defect Claims and Defenses in Utah

At our January CLE luncheon, attorney Daniel Day presented on construction defect claims. He discussed when a defect claim can legally be made and who would be potentially liable in various cases. 

Mr. Day’s presentation focused on analyzing who would be potentially liable for defects under various scenarios. For instance, among the factors that would be critical to analyze would be whether there was personal injury or damage to the property other than the construction itself. Absent such injury, one would not be able to pursue a negligence action against the contractor because the economic loss rule would be a valid defense.

If there was not personal injury or other damage, a valid case might be pursued under a theory of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, intentional tort (such as fraud), or strict products liability, depending on specific circumstances.

It is important for both builders and owners to understand their rights and obligations before constructing a building so both parties know what to expect. If you have been disappointed with the results of construction or are having construction defect claims brought against you, seeking legal advice and representation is the best step to ensure your rights are protected.  

Photo courtesy of Flickr by Jun Seita 

December CLE Brown Bag

All members of the Utah State Bar are invited to attend our December CLE Brown Bag Luncheon.  On December 13, 2013, we will hear from Fillmore Spencer associate, Stephanie O'Brien.  Stephanie will present on "Ethics for Legal Support Staff."  She will discuss confidential and privileged communications, unauthorized practice of law, and referencing legal matters on social media.  This presentation will be a great refresher for both attorneys and staff members.  This event will be held at noon in Fillmore Spencer's large conference room and lunch will be provided.  Please RSVP to (801) 426-8200.

Upcoming CLE Luncheons

We invite all members of the Utah State Bar to attend our upcoming CLE Brown Bag Luncheons.  On January 31, 2014, we are excited to welcome attorney Dan Day, who will give a presentation on “Construction Defect Claims and Consequences.” On February 28, 2014, Salt Lake Legal will present on data processing and related matters.  Both presentations will be held at noon in Fillmore Spencer’s large conference room.  Lunch will be provided.  Please RSVP to (801) 426-8200.  We hope to see you in 2014!

Photo courtesy of Flickr by Wonderlane

Personal Injury Presentation Recap

Firm associate Levi Adams gave an informative presentation about personal injury cases at our September CLE luncheon.  He covered various topics including: making claims to insurance companies, how to litigate a case if necessary, and settling a case. 

An important point was the requirements for making a personal injury liability claim.  If you have been injured, you must have accrued over $3,000 in medical expenses or have a permanent injury in order to bring a claim for general damages. 

Another crucial point that was covered is settling the claim.  It is important to remember that when dealing with an insured- at fault party, the claim is typically against the insurance company, even though if litigation is commenced, the individual person must be named in the lawsuit.  

Lastly, underinsured (UIM) and uninsured (UM) coverage is crucial.  If an individual is injured by  another driver who carries the state minimum in liability coverage ($25,000) or does not have insurance coverage, then the person will need to use their UIM or UM coverage.  If one’s injuries exceeded $50,000, they could nonetheless be bound to only recovering $50,000 if both parties carried the state minimum.  It is advisable to review your UIM and UM coverage and ensure that there is adequate coverage if the at fault party does not have enough.  

Photo courtesy of Flickr by Alan Cleaver

September Brown Bag CLE: Personal Injury Litigation

Members of the Utah Bar are invited to attend our monthly Brown Bag CLE luncheon on Friday, September 27th at noon in Fillmore Spencer’s conference room. The topic this month is “Personal Injury Litigation” and will be presented by firm associate, Levi Adams. Levi will cover the basics of filing a claim, PIP, underinsured and uninsured coverage, small claims, recent legislative changes, and treatment facility issues. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to 801-426-8200.

Photo courtesy of Flickr by Andreanna Moya Photography.