Landau Injury Law

Among the aspect of my career that have been most fortunate, is the fact that I have been able to work with and learn from a number of wonderful women lawyers in the Virginia Trial lawyers Association (”VTLA“). Three of these friends from VTLA were recently recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly last week. Virginia Lawyers Weekly announced the inaugural class of “Influential Women of Virginia” stating, “this new awards program recognizes the outstanding efforts of women in the Commonwealth in all fields, including law, business, health care, education and the arts. The honors are given to individuals who are making notable contributions to their chosen professions, their communities and society at large.” Included in this listing are my friends and Virginia Trial Lawyers: Barbara S. Williams, of Barbara S. Williams PC, (shown with ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd.’s Doug Landau, above) Leesburg; Sandra M. Rohrstaff, of Weiner, Rohrstaff & Spivey, Fairfax (shown below with, L->R, Maura Weiner, Former Fairfax Bar Association President Peter DePaolis, and her partner Ed Weiner at the VTLA Annual Meeting) and, Mary Lynn Tate, of The Tate Law Firm, Abingdon. Congratulations ladies ! I hope to see each of you again soon.

About a year after speaking with several clients of the Lahuti Law firm, Doug Landau stopped by to see this Maryland attorney and CPA at his office at 8720 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring.  I had visited his Falls Church office in order to meet the staff at the office he shares with our good friend and Maryland trial lawyer Brian Lee.  We had been interacting with Mr. Lahuti’s staff in order to help several young men with permanent spine injuries.  With his volume practice and several satellite offices, Mr.  Lahuti and his wife are hard to catch up with, but Landau arranged to meet with the peripatetic lawyer after helping a client at an orthopedic doctor’s visit.  ABRAMS LANDAU was called upon to help this disabled worker by the Maryland lawyer’s office last spring.  Since that time, the Herndon Reston brain and spine injury lawyer Doug Landau has been helping the client through his disc surgery, rehabilitation and therapy.  Virginia spine injury lawyer Landau has also spent time meeting with the doctors of another client from the Lahuti firm who has lost the use of his legs in a vehicle rollover accident.

Some clients have asked Herndon Reston brain and spine injury lawyer Doug Landau, “What is a pain pump ?”

A pain pump is designed to deliver medication directly to the surgical wound site or in close proximity to the nerves associated with the surgical area for post-operative pain management. According to the Mayfield Clinic, the pain pump infuses the medication at an hourly flow rate or combination of an hourly flow rate and controlled bolus doses.

Intrathecal drug delivery, or “pain pump,” is a method of giving medication directly to your spinal cord. The system uses a small pump that is surgically placed under the skin of the stomach and delivers medication through a (more…)

With the USAT National Duathlon Championship coming up in 4 weeks, I thought I had better see if I could handle racing the “Run-Bike-Run” format this early in the season. The National Championships are being held by the Richmond Sports Backers at the end of April. The race starts with a 10km. run (6.2 miles) through Browns Island on the James River. Then, competitors jump on their bikes and ride 40km. (about 25 miles) across the bridge to the West side of the river. We then return to the Museum area in Downtown Richmond, and transition for another 5km. (3.1 miles) of cross country (= hilly) running ! Last year is was rainy and cold, with a number of bike crashes and injuries. This year, I hope to not only finish, but be competitive within my age group and among the other nationally and regionally ranked Masters.

In order to be ready for the challenge, just as I do with major trials, I do a practice or “dry run” beforehand. Today’s “Festival of Races” in Manassas Park, gave me the perfect opportunity. There was a 10km. race, with almost 2 hours time before the 5km. event began, also at Signal Park. So I loaded up my bicycle and turbotrainer, so that I could do a stationary ride under the Park’s protection (because it was raining) until it was time to race the 5km.! I managed to get 2nd place in my age group in the 10km. and 1st in the 5km., and I was ready for a long nap when I got home ! Shown with our certificates are your cold and tired correspondent and good friend and 10km. overall winner, Tom Cook of Potomac River Running. I now know my fitness level and speed for next month’s national championship race. Set Up Events did a marvelous job in this inaugural festival, where proceeds go to support the City’s Fireworks Display.

Brain Injury Services, Inc. is Celebrating its 20th Anniversary (1989-2009), and, as part of its annual fundraising campaign, the Kit’s Miracle Mile running races and ABRAMS LANDAU attorney Doug Landau is helping to plan the event. The 6th Annual Kit Callahan’s Miracle Mile, 10K Run/Walk, will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at George Mason University. Last year, over 350 individuals came out to support and celebrate the success stories of survivors of brain injuries and to help raise money for Brain Injury Services. Our goal this year is to make this event one of the premier races in Northern Virginia and to expand our Brain Injury Awareness Fair to educate individuals of all ages. (more…)

Herndon bus and car crash lawyer Doug Landau was able to help a father who, along with his two sons, was injured when a School Bus crashed into them as they sat at a ramp to get on the highway.  Investigation by ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. pointed to gross negligence in the operation of the County School bus.

The School Board’s statement to the press was that they would “take care of this matter” and this family.  Instead, the large law firm they hired billed for a lot of time, put several lawyers on the case, engaged in antagonistic activities and ended up at trial.  And they still lost.  Big time.  At the Circuit Court jury trial in this matter, the verdict in favor of the injured plaintiff demonstrated that the jurors understood what was taken from the students injured in this school bus crash.

As the saying goes, “talk is cheap.”  Doug Landau has found that many lawyers in large firms bill their clients (usually the insurance companies) a lot of money for their time, but what they say is often not worth anything.  They have no ability to make binding decisions and they have no authority to settle cases fairly.  Instead, they view cases as “trial by ordeal,” with no respect for the injured victim’s time, expense or losses.  If you, a loved one, or someone you know, has been injured in a bus, van, truck, car or other crash, please call us at 703-796-9555 so that we may help.

Doug Landau and his wife just received their confirmations from the national bone marrow donor registry. It is one of the ways the Landaus give to the community. Other ways that they and the staff at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. have given is by donating blood to the Red Cross, participating in blood donation studies at INOVA Fairfax Hospital and clotting research at George Washington University Hospital. The Herndon Virginia Injury and Social Security Disability lawyer has also donated clothing, games, bicycle equipment and parts to local schools, charities and disabled veterans. Other ways you and your family can help out in this time of severe economic hardship is by sending letters to our soldiers overseas, volunteering, packaging unused items for distribution by organizations like Purple Heart, National Capital Childrens Center and AmVets. The Herndon and Reston Virginia injury and disability lawyer is shown here donating his time as a Science Fair Judge at a local high school last month.  With graduate studies in Applied Anatomy and Physiology as well as Continuing Medical Education, Landau is able to give back and encourage future scientists, researchers, engineers and doctors.

While in central Jersey to conduct pre-trial discovery in a dog bite case, Herndon and Reston Virginia injury and disability lawyer Doug Landau took time to visit with local lawyers in order to discuss strategy in these permanent scarring and traumatic cases. Here Landau is shown with Flemington New Jersey personal injury attorney, Anthony Murgatroyd. Like some of Landau’s staff members, Murgatroyd previously worked as in-house counsel for a major insurance company. The two experienced Jersey trial lawyers discussed the possible defenses and the ways that the insurance companies evaluate dog bite cases in light of the specific strict liability statute that exists in the Garden State.
Landau also took his client to introduce his client to Court staff, visit the actual court room and the surrounding area so that he would be ready for trial. In this time of economic downturn, insurance companies are holding on to their money until the very last moment, even in strong cases for the injured dog bite attack victim. That is why it is important to conduct prompt, immediate investigation, and then prepare for trial. Often, the insurance companies will only put reasonable money on a scarring, disability or permanent injury case on the eve of trial or in the court room while the jury is deliberating. Remember: Time is on their side.

The homeowner plaintiffs who alleged illness and loss from mold and won $4.75 million have their Loudoun County jury verdict reduced or set aside by the trial court for a total recovery of $1.45 million by the Circuit Court.  The premises liability case is Meng v. The Drees Co., and this decision was handed down by the Loudoun County Circuit Court in Leesburg, Virginia on March 5th, 2009.

In reducing the jury verdict on one of the claims made by the injured plaintiffs, the Court considered the Defense counsel’s request for “remittitur” or a post-verdict reduction allowed under Virginia law.  The Loudoun Circuit Court senior judge reasoned, “Total special damages were $577,000, including medical specials of $28,000. Considering the absence of permanent injury and other damages for which recovery is unavailing, as a matter of law, the amount of special damages claimed and the complexity of the issues, the court finds the jury verdicts, as to the negligence counts, were excessive. The court will order remittitur.”  To read the rest of today’s coverage in the Virginia Lawyers Weekly.

Having represented clients with carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel and ganglion cysts, he has seen all manner of treatments and therapies. However, even his own sister went for traditional surgery rather than going to “the good book” for treatment of her own “Bible bump.” What is a ganglion cyst and what CAN you do for it ? (more…)