Skip to main content
 

Articles

Thought Leadership in Personal Injury

We believe sharing knowledge helps improve our profession. If you have questions about anything we’ve written, reach out. Discussing concepts helps us all hone our skills.

Most Recent

Common Types of Personal Injury Claims in California

Personal injury claims in California arise when someone is injured due to another party’s negligence, unsafe conduct, or failure to meet a legal duty of care. These cases can involve a wide range of situations, including roadway incidents, unsafe property conditions, and defective products.

Read more

Most Read

I feel your pain: the Gerry Spence method taken over the top

On Thursday, May 3, I met with Ms. B___ and her daughter. Ms. B___’s arm, specifically her radius, was shattered when she took a bad fall. Surgery, a plate, ten screws. I took notes as she told me how she could not work at the hospital for now and how difficult it was to care of herself. On Friday, May 4, I had a court appearance in Redwood City.

Read more

Most Powerful

The Stoic

The lawyers sat there, stunned. The doctor sat across from them, giving the couple time to absorb the information. Their three-year-old daughter’s cough and fever? Not pneumonia. Cancer. A tumor. A big one, crushing the little girl’s right lung. Rare – a few hundred reported cases. And tough odds. Chemo, a surgery, more chemo. A year-long process and the hope that it doesn’t recur… because recurrence with the particular cancer does not end well.

Read more

3.8 Tell it like it is

By Back to Coopers’ Code index
Delivering difficult information with compassion and clarity The doctor entered the room, said a warm, “Hello,” read the room, and then went straight to the point. The doctor knew from experience that those anxiously awaiting potentially life-altering information wouldn’t process anything said before delivering the results. “The scans look good,” the doctor said, “I don’t see anything that concerns me.”...
Read More

1.13 Dunbar’s Number

By Back to Coopers’ Code index
Managing meaningful relationships in an every-expanding world The lawyer picked up the call from a colleague. Near the end of the conversation, the colleague said, “I want to complement you and your team. You’re responsive. In an era where I frequently need to send multiple emails just to nudge someone on the same project it stands out. Keep up the...
Read More

1.12 Benchmark

By Back to Coopers’ Code index
The judiciary’s slings and arrows and how to support our changing bench The lawyer walked into the mediation practice’s gleaming offices. Along the wall were posters highlighting the newest neutrals. They read like the local bench’s who’s who. On the way to a conference room the lawyer checked in with one of the mediators, an old-time former trial judge. “That’s...
Read More

1.11 Community organizer

By Back to Coopers’ Code index
Ways to come together as a community in our hybrid times The lawyer watched the swirl. Lots of people at the gala, celebrating the great outcomes community members had achieved for their clients. It felt foreign to the lawyer in certain ways. It had been years since the lawyer had been to an event like this. Not the lawyer’s cup...
Read More

1.10 Break glass in case of emergency

By Back to Coopers’ Code index
Successfully navigating the downs in litigation’s ups and downs The lawyer attempted to take it in stride. Rather than heading into final trial prep, the judge had just granted summary judgment on what, to the lawyer, felt like a straightforward case. Even the defense counsel was surprised. The long trip back didn’t help. Compounding the issue was another ruling, a...
Read More

1.1.6.4 Call me AI

By Back to Coopers’ Code index
What lawyers should know about generative artificial intelligence (this month) The lawyer noted the date. Recognizing the submission deadline for the column was coming up, the lawyer opened up a browser on the computer. Navigating to an AI prompt, the lawyer asked the AI to produce 800 words on what lawyers should know about generative AI. The AI window paused...
Read More
Blog banner

1.19: Collaboration, mentoring, and firm culture in various work environments

By Back to Coopers’ Code index

The lawyer listened. The situation had gone off the wire. Not fatal. Also not good. How had it happened? Ultimately the lawyer owned it. And within leader ownership, it was important to determine what led to the issue. Process failure, delegation failure, communication failure? All of these? None? Time to dig in, grab those involved, and conduct an After-Action Review.

Read More

13.7 Hardheaded

By Back to Coopers’ Code index
Challenges and techniques for brain injury cases with unhelmeted cyclists The lawyer, reviewing the case facts, considered the issues. The cyclist, an urban commuter, had been taking her regular three-mile route to work, primarily using protected bike lanes. An adult with a job that required a professional appearance, she did not feel it necessary to ruin the work she put...
Read More

15.9 Show me the money

By Back to Coopers’ Code index
Evaluating, pursuing, and mediating personal contribution cases The lawyer thought about the case. Two cyclists struck from behind at 45 miles per hour by a driver with dementia. On a clear day, with a straight road, the meandering driver drifted across the fog line, plowing through the riders. The driver told the investigating officer that the riders spontaneously fell, and...
Read More
Close Menu

Coopers LLP

Mailing Address:
2261 Market Street, #330
San Francisco, CA 94114

Phone: (415) 434-2111
Email: info@coopers.law