Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP

Happy Thanksgiving from WSHB!   As we gather with those we love to reflect on what we're grateful for, WSHB would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our clients, industry partners, and community. Your trust and collaboration inspire us daily, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve and support you throughout the year.   This Thanksgiving, we celebrate not only our success together but also the meaningful relationships we have built and sustained along the way. Cheers to a holiday filled with warmth, joy, and gratitude!   We wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Congratulations to Mike Spinazzola, WSHB's managing partner in Detroit, Michigan, on being elected treasurer of the Insurance & Indemnity Section of the State Bar of Michigan. This Section serves as an essential forum for sharing insights and expertise on insurance coverage and indemnity issues. We are proud to see your commitment to the field recognized through this leadership role.   #WSHB #Leadership #Insurance #InsuranceLaw #MichiganBar #MichiganStateBar

The case of In re Peters posed a critical question: to what extent does the Fifth Amendment protect individuals from being compelled to disclose potentially self-incriminating information in civil litigation, especially when criminal proceedings are also pending? By addressing this question, the Supreme Court of Texas provided helpful guidance on the applicability of constitutional privileges in situations potentially involving both criminal and civil liability. WSHB partners Spencer Dunn and Dan Paret delve into this case in an article published in CLM Magazine.   🔗 https://lnkd.in/g6CVtrpJ   #WSHB #CLM #CLMMagazine #InRePeters #FifthAmendment #SelfIncrimination #CivilLitigation #CriminalProceedings #SupremeCourt #TexasLaw #ConstitutionalLaw #Liability #CivilRights CLM Alliance (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance)

Tim Repass, the managing partner of WSHB's Seattle office, has now secured back-to-back wins in yet another jury trial! He successfully defended a housing authority in a case where an elderly tenant claimed $2.2 million in damages after a fall on an icy surface. However, the jury agreed with our analysis and ultimately awarded less than one-fifth of the demand.  With the support of our Seattle office trial team, Tim effectively argued that the plaintiff's injuries did not fully correspond with the extensive claims made. The jury found the plaintiff to be 25% at fault, reinforcing our argument and significantly reducing the initial demand. Great job, team! 👏✨ 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ghue2GvH #WSHB #WSHBSeattle #TrialWin #JuryTrial #TrialVictory #ClientDefense #ClientVictory #Teamwork #LegalSuccess #WinningStrategy #JusticeServed #SeattleLaw

Join us! We are hiring attorneys at all levels across our 41 offices located throughout the United States!    Our attorneys work in a diverse range of practice areas, including trucking and transportation, mass and toxic torts, commercial litigation, construction, employment, professional liability, habitability, medical malpractice, cybersecurity and data privacy, and product liability. With a team of over 500 trial-tested attorneys, we provide exceptional service and results on a national level. Our firm offers attorneys a flexible work-from-home policy, opportunities to collaborate with lead attorneys across our offices, and genuine prospects for career advancement. For more details on our open positions, please visit https://lnkd.in/gt2kKWws. Learn more and apply today at jobs@wshblaw.com.    #WSHB #Hiring #Attorneys #LawJobs #LegalCareers #CareerOpportunities #LegalProfession #ApplyNow #JoinUs #JobOpportunities #LegalJobs #AttorneyJobs #CareerGrowth #WorkFromHome #JoinOurTeam #LegalIndustry #AttorneyHiring

WSHB is proud to be named a Tier 1 firm in seven metropolitan regions and six practice areas in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® by Best Lawyers! Our Tier 1 recognitions include:   • Denver, CO: Construction Litigation • Hartford, CT: Healthcare Litigation & Insurance Litigation • Las Vegas, NV: Construction Litigation • Los Angeles, CA: Construction Litigation & Professional Malpractice Law (Defendants) • Phoenix, AZ: Commercial Litigation • Seattle, WA: Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants) • Tampa, FL: Insurance Litigation   #WSHB #BestLawFirms #Tier1 #ConstructionLitigation #HealthcareLitigation #InsuranceLitigation #CommercialLitigation #PersonalInjuryLitigation #ProfessionalMalpracticeLaw #LegalExcellence #2025Recognition 

WSHB partner Tom D. Fama is speaking at the annual CLM Alliance (Claims and Litigation Management Alliance) Focus Conference on December 4th in New York City. He'll be part of a panel titled "Look Behind the Curtain: Artificial Intelligence and its Emerging Use in Insurance Fraud and Claims," alongside Maren Mooney, ACP, CLMP, CRIS; Terence D. Kadlec, P.E.; and Bert Dizon. The panelists will discuss how artificial intelligence is utilized in insurance claims, focusing on its role in detecting fraud and its potential misuse in committing fraud. Participants will learn about the necessary checks and balances that can help prevent fraudulent claims.  For more information and to register to attend, visit https://lnkd.in/gc4xvgXv. #WSHB #CLM #CLMFocus #InsuranceFraud #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #ClaimsManagement #FraudDetection #InsuranceIndustry #PanelDiscussion #NetworkingEvent

🚨 Breaking News: Defense Verdict! 🎉 Congratulations to Philadelphia managing partner Andrew Kessler for securing another impressive defense verdict! After an intense eight-day trial, a Philadelphia jury unanimously ruled in favor of our client, a distinguished neurosurgeon, in a medical malpractice case with a staggering $7.5 million demand. Throughout the trial, Andy showcased his expertise, effectively illustrating that the medical care provided following the plaintiff's concussion—sustained over a decade before the diagnosis of a brain tumor—was not causally linked to the alleged injuries attributed to our client's oversight. Our client is thrilled with this outcome, given the plaintiff-friendly reputation of Philadelphia juries, and so are we. Well done, Andy! #WSHB #WSHBPhiladelphia #DefenseVerdict #WSHBWins #TrialAttorneys #DefenseLawyers #MedicalMalpractice #MedicalNegligence #LegalSuccess #Winning #JusticeServed

We proudly announce that Nicole Koumasidis has joined WSHB as a partner. Her addition enhances our national employment, professional liability, and coverage practice teams. Nicole brings a unique background to WSHB, having experience as a defense attorney in a law firm and as a complex claims manager in the insurance industry. This expertise strengthens our ability to manage high-stakes insurance and liability cases.   Nicole is based in our White Plains office and is licensed to practice law in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.   To learn more about Nicole, please visit https://lnkd.in/ggAYHuh4.   #WSHB #WSHBWhitePlains #LegalExpert #EmploymentLaw #ProfessionalLiability #InsuranceCoverage

Explore the latest insights from WSHB partner Lori Barker and senior associate Dashia Myles as they analyze the case of Bonilla v. Verges Rome Architects, which addresses a key issue regarding the limits of an architect's and contract administrator's contractual obligations in construction projects.   This case stemmed from a serious injury sustained by a subcontractor's employee during a demolition project. The plaintiff filed a negligence claim against Verges Rome Architects ("VRA"), the architect and project's contract administrator, alleging that VRA owed a duty to ensure workplace safety. The Supreme Court, however, determined that no such duty existed under the terms of the construction contract or Louisiana law regarding the interpretation of contracts.   You can read Lori and Dashia's article in full here: https://lnkd.in/gTDgRWS9.   #WSHB #WSHBNewOrleans #ConstructionLaw #LegalInsights #WorkplaceSafety #LouisianaSupremeCourt #ContractLaw #SafetyStandards #Architecture #ConstructionIndustry