S4 Eps 17: Anthony Vessel Interview

S4 Eps 17: Anthony Vessel Interview

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe and Bill Ogden sit down with attorney Anthony Vessel of Marc Whitehead & Associates for a deep dive into a practice area many lawyers encounter but few truly understand: disability benefits, insurance denials, Social Security disability, veterans disability claims, and ERISA litigation. Anthony walks through how he found his way from Beaumont, Texas, to Texas A&M, South Texas College of Law, and ultimately into the highly specialized world of disability and benefits law. The conversation breaks down the realities of long-term disability policies, the challenges claimants face when insurance companies deny benefits, and why ERISA cases can be so difficult for plaintiffs. The discussion also covers life insurance disputes, Social Security disability hearings, veterans disability claims, administrative law judges, and the importance of building a strong record before a case ever reaches federal court. Anthony also shares how his firm uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System to manage teams, track progress, and keep cases from falling through the cracks. The episode wraps with Anthony's passion for mediation, the value of trust in resolving cases, and why lawyers should know who to call when disability, VA, Social Security, or benefit denial issues come across their desk. Major Topics Discussed * 00:00:14 — Introduction to Anthony Vessel and Marc Whitehead & Associates * 00:02:16 — Anthony's Beaumont background and early legal influences * 00:05:00 — College, baseball, and the road to law school * 00:09:00 — How Anthony entered disability and benefits law * 00:12:25 — Long-term disability claims, ERISA, and insurance denials * 00:15:14 — Life insurance claims and accelerated benefit disputes * 00:22:41 — Social Security disability and private disability coverage * 00:30:38 — Veterans disability claims and service-connected impairments * 00:35:31 — Social Security hearings and administrative law judges * 00:43:05 — Law firm leadership, EOS, and team organization * 00:54:17 — Case value, referrals, and "triple threat" disability clients * 00:56:09 — Anthony's mediation work and ADR background * 01:00:20 — Mediation in disability cases and settlement strategy

S4 Eps 16: Tyler Skaggs Death Case & Paxton Trial Panel Interview

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert sit down with Laura Hollingsworth, Dana Levy, Leah Graham, and Daniel Dutko for a deep dive into the civil case surrounding the tragic death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. The panel breaks down the facts behind the case, the role of Angels communications director Eric Kay, the evidence that revealed a broader culture of drug access inside the organization, and the uphill battle of proving negligence against a Major League Baseball franchise. From third-party subpoenas and deleted text messages to emotional witness testimony and a jury question that changed the trajectory of the case, the guests walk through what it took to fight for accountability on behalf of Tyler's family. The conversation also touches on the Ken Paxton impeachment trial, the unique dynamics of a massive trial team, the personal responsibility defense, fentanyl in professional sports, and whether Major League Baseball has done enough to address the systemic issues exposed by the case. Main Highlights: * The largest guest panel in Dirty Verdict history * Laura Hollingsworth, Dana Levy, Leah Graham, and Daniel Dutko join the show * Behind-the-scenes stories from the Ken Paxton impeachment trial * The origin of the Tyler Skaggs civil case * How Eric Kay's role with the Angels became central to the litigation * Evidence that Kay was providing opioids to multiple players * The challenge of proving the Angels knew, or should have known, what was happening * Why the case was not simply about "personal responsibility" * The significance of the criminal trial and Kay's 22-year sentence * The difference between an intentional overdose and a fentanyl poisoning * The role of the Angels' team doctor and the opioid prescriptions connected to Kay * Discovery battles, deleted texts, and third-party subpoenas * Camilla Kay's testimony and the evidence found through her phone * The structure of the trial team and each lawyer's role * The three-and-a-half-month trial in Orange County * The jury question about punitive damages that shifted settlement pressure * The emotional burden on Tyler Skaggs' family * How the trial exposed deeper questions about drug use in professional sports * MLB, the players union, and opioid testing after Tyler's death * Whether the Angels and Major League Baseball have truly learned from the case

S4 Eps 15: Trey Barton Interview

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Kyle Herbert, Peter Taaffe, and Bill Ogden sit down with trial attorney Trey Barton for a wide-ranging conversation about his path from teacher and coach to plaintiff's lawyer, opening his own firm right as COVID hit, and building a practice largely through attorney referrals. Trey walks through several recent verdicts, including a wrongful death/DWI case in Fayette County, a workplace foot-crush injury involving medical equipment, a commercial vehicle collision, and a bicycle injury case. Along the way, the group digs into trial strategy, jury selection, high-low agreements, damages arguments, corporate reps, deposition clips, and what makes a client's story connect with a jury Topics Discussed 00:00:15 — Introduction to Trey Barton 00:02:05 — Growing Up in La Grange, Texas 00:04:39 — From A&M to Teaching and Coaching 00:06:53 — Deciding to Go to Law School 00:08:05 — Discovering Trial Work 00:08:24 — Working Full-Time During Law School 00:09:32 — Defense Work and Learning the Other Side 00:10:26 — Opening His Own Firm in 2020 00:13:28 — Starting a Firm During COVID 00:17:35 — Building a Referral-Based Practice 00:21:04 — Wrongful Death/DWI Case in Fayette County 00:23:06 — Jury Selection in a Small Community 00:26:36 — Talking About DWI, Damages, and Accountability 00:28:06 — A $6.95 Million Verdict and Closure for the Family 00:32:52 — Nurse's Foot-Crush Injury Case 00:36:13 — Medical Testimony and Proving Nerve Damage 00:38:40 — Trial Strategy with Witnesses and Liability 00:42:46 — $4.49 Million Verdict Without Economic Damages 00:43:10 — Per Diem Damages Arguments 00:45:19 — High-Low Agreements and Waiver of Appeal 00:47:09 — Commercial Vehicle Collision Case 00:48:27 — TBI, Herniations, and a Subsequent Accident 00:50:53 — Telling the Client's Story 00:52:03 — Handling Preexisting Mental Anguish 00:53:10 — Auto vs. Bicycle Injury Case 00:55:35 — $500,000 Bicycle Case Verdict 00:56:04 — Trey's Current Trial Docket 00:56:42 — Keeping Trials Short and Focused 00:58:29 — Final Thoughts and Contact Information

S4 Eps 14: Charles and Erica Rose Sanders

On this episode of The Dirty Verdict Podcast, hosts Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden welcome back Erica Rose and Chuck Sanders of Rose Sanders Law Firm for a wide-ranging, hilarious, and surprisingly thoughtful conversation. The group catches up on Rose Sanders' expansion into California, the differences between handling injury cases across states, and the realities of building a multi-state law practice. From there, the conversation moves through Disney trips, law firm growth, AI in legal work, defamation cases involving major public figures, and the serious legal concerns around AI-generated explicit images involving minors. Erica also shares updates on her advocacy work, her family's connection to the entertainment industry, and her daughter's experience filming a Christmas movie in Los Angeles. The episode closes with reality TV talk, Houston's entertainment potential, hiring challenges in law firms, and the usual Dirty Verdict mix of legal insight, sarcasm, and unfiltered banter. 00:00 – Welcome Back Erica Rose and Chuck Sanders 00:55 – Rose Sanders Expands to California 03:19 – Splitting Time Between Texas and California 04:17 – Disney, Dole Whip, and Theme Park Strategy 08:27 – Future Office Locations and Lifestyle Markets 10:59 – Notable Case Updates and a Daycare Bus Crash Case 12:06 – Social Media, Legal Branding, and Content Creation 12:50 – Hurricane Beryl MDL, Sanctions, and Bad Legal Filings 14:09 – AI in Legal Work and ChatGPT Risks 15:20 – Defamation Law and Anti-SLAPP Cases 15:56 – Gavin Newsom, Fox News, and High-Profile Defamation Litigation 17:46 – Alex Jones, Infowars, and The Onion 19:36 – AI-Generated Explicit Images and Child Safety Concerns 21:15 – Big Tech Liability and Legal Accountability 23:21 – The Power and Danger of AI 25:28 – Reality TV, Lawyers, and Entertainment Opportunities 28:27 – Erica's Daughter Films a Christmas Movie 31:48 – Kids in Acting, Modeling, and Following Creative Passions 34:11 – Behind the Scenes of a Feature Film Production 36:24 – Red Carpets, Carmen Electra, and Reality TV Culture 40:02 – The Future of Reality TV 42:25 – Houston vs. L.A. Culture and Creative Risk-Taking 45:30 – Final Thoughts and Rose Sanders Contact Info

S4 Eps 13: Judge Christine Weems Interverview

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:aaaaca19-63da-4272-90f6-1f4689d7c4a5-2" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:aaaaca19-63da-4272-90f6-1f4689d7c4a5-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-6" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert sit down with Judge Christine Weems of the 281st District Court in Harris County, Texas for a wide-ranging conversation about law, trial work, mock trial, theater, and the unexpected path that shaped her career. Judge Weems shares how she went from an English major at the University of Texas to South Texas College of Law, where mock trial helped her overcome a fear of public speaking and discover her love for advocacy. She talks about early trial experience, mass tort litigation, moving between Houston, Dallas, and New York, working document review while pursuing theater, and eventually returning to Texas to build a litigation career that led to the bench. The conversation also covers what motivated her to run for judge, the importance of trial experience on the bench, and her continued work in the arts through Cone Man Running Productions, including lawyer-cast theater productions that even offer CLE credit. Episode Highlights * Judge Weems' unconventional path from English major to trial lawyer to district court judge * How mock trial helped her overcome fear of public speaking and discover courtroom advocacy * Early lessons from working as a law clerk and being handed real litigation responsibility * The impact of tort reform on asbestos and silica litigation work in Texas * Her time in New York pursuing acting, theater, and entertainment work while still practicing law * Returning to Texas for Hurricane Ike litigation and rebuilding a trial-focused career * Why trial experience matters for judges and how courtroom experience shaped her decision to run * The story behind Cone Man Running Productions and its lawyer-led theater productions * How legal professionals can participate in or attend theater productions while earning CLE credit Chapters / Major Topics 00:00 — Introduction to Judge Christine Weems 01:43 — College background, UT, English major, Spanish minor, and unusual classes 05:26 — Discovering mock trial and meeting Brett Dressler 07:02 — Growing up in Spring and the early pull toward law 07:57 — How mock trial helped her overcome fear of public speaking 08:43 — South Texas College of Law and early work with Robert Clark 09:22 — Choosing litigation over transactional law 10:29 — First jury verdict and early trial experience 11:12 — Moving to Dallas after 9/11 and working in asbestos litigation 12:39 — Missing the courtroom and returning to plaintiff-side trial work 14:08 — Houston theater, acting, and finding a creative outlet outside law 15:12 — Going to New York for acting conservatory 16:06 — Tort reform, asbestos/silica litigation, and a shifting job market 18:51 — Document review, theater work, and extra roles on 30 Rock and Law & Order 21:57 — Meeting her husband, family life, and deciding where to practice law 22:36 — Returning to Texas for Hurricane Ike litigation 23:30 — Personal injury work, board certification, and trying cases 24:12 — Judicial discretion, courtroom experience, and what sparked the idea of running 26:17 — Why she decided to run for judge 26:48 — The 2018 judicial race and life on the bench 29:51 — Founding Cone Man Running Productions 31:07 — Lawyer-cast theater productions and CLE credit 36:18 — Promoting And Then There Were None at Spring Street Studios