2026 Day of Civility

S4 Eps 18: Leigh Lewis Interview

On this episode of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Peter Taaffe and Kyle Herbert welcome attorney and mediator Leigh Lewis to discuss her transition from a successful insurance-defense practice to full-time mediation. Leigh reflects on growing up in Midland, Texas, studying environmental management at Duke University, attending the University of Texas School of Law, and building a litigation career that included approximately 30 jury trials and 16 years with Walters, Balido & Crain. The conversation includes some of Leigh's most unusual product-liability cases, the realities of preparing unpredictable clients for trial, and what plaintiff attorneys can do to improve their chances of reaching a favorable settlement at mediation. Leigh also offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on how defense attorneys and insurance carriers evaluate claims, witnesses, medical records, experts, venues, opposing counsel, and potential jury verdicts. The episode concludes with a discussion about overwhelmed court dockets, Leigh's decision to leave litigation for mediation, and the growing opportunities and privacy concerns surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in legal cases. Major Topics Discussed 00:00 — Introducing Leigh Lewis and Her Move to Mediation 03:34 — Growing Up in Midland and the Path to Law School 10:04 — Building a Career in Insurance-Defense Litigation 12:18 — Leigh's Most Unusual Product-Liability Cases 19:18 — Jury Trials, Client Preparation, and Unpredictable Witnesses 25:21 — How Plaintiff Attorneys Can Prepare for a Successful Mediation 37:01 — How the Plaintiff and Defense Bars Share Information Differently 47:26 — Leaving Litigation, Becoming a Mediator, and the Use of AI in Legal Cases

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