WSHB Partner Tom Fama to Speak at CLM Construction Conference
Investigation of construction claims continues to evolve at a lightning fast pace. Ensuring all parties understand the process and recognize ethical rules during the investigation process is critical. Working towards a common goal between the client, insureds, claims professional, attorney, and experts is part of resolving claims at an early stage. What happens when the investigation reveals something that is unfavorable to another party? How do attorneys, clients, and claims professionals draw the line on investigating the evidence while not overstepping boundaries of revealing potentially protected opinions or pieces of evidence? Understanding what can and cannot be done versus what should and should not be done can help capture information in real time to better assist with the investigation of claims process as issues arise and reduce risk for everyone.
These topics and more will be discussed in a panel presentation titled "Caution! Ethical Complications with Pre-Litigation Investigation of Construction Claims" at this year's virtual CLM Construction Conference. Led by WSHB partner Tom Fama, this presentation, scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. EST, seeks to engage the audience in an artful discussion about the do’s and don’ts of investigation of claims during pre-litigation. Joining Fama on the panel will be fellow industry experts, Bruce Barnes (Envista Forensics), Phil Scollo (Network Adjusters, Inc.), and Raymond Weisse (Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc.).
Tom Fama is a partner in the WSHB's Northern California. He regularly brings his honed litigation skills to complex construction claims, counseling and defending the nation’s largest home builders against all facets of construction defect and construction accident litigation. He advises home builders on creative alternative strategies and proposals to litigation that have helped clients avoid multi-million dollar lawsuits. He has been recognized by judges and mediators as a creative lawyer that brings practical effective solutions to complex construction situations. Tom is recognized as an AV Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell.
The CLM Construction Conference covers all aspects of insurance, risk, and claims management aspects of the insurance related to the construction industry. In addition to addressing construction defects and other hot topics, conference sessions will also address facets of construction site accidents/injuries, coverage issues, subcontractor issues, risk management, and new technologies. Sessions will address issues on the national, regional, and state levels. In addition to the interactive educational sessions, conference attendees will have many opportunities to network with other thought-leaders in the industry. This year’s conference is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, 2020 to Thursday, October 1, 2020.
About WSHB:
WSHB is a full service litigation firm with offices throughout the United States. The firm has tried over 1,000 cases to verdict, and is internationally recognized for its exceptionally high rate of success. Since the firm’s inception in 1997 by trial lawyers David Wood, Kevin Smith, Stephen Henning and Daniel Berman, WSHB has been known as the national “go to” firm for complex civil litigation in professional liability, employment, commercial, medical malpractice and healthcare, construction, environmental, real estate, transportation, subrogation, toxic tort and intellectual property litigation. Additionally, WSHB also regularly handles first and third party coverage issues for the London market. The firm has been named one of the top ten law firms in the nation for female lawyers, and one of the top three for diversity. WSHB’s lawyers take pride in each and every case and all ultimate results. Most of all, WSHB is proud of their organic growth which translates into consistent results and handling office to office.