Past Seminars

Diving Into a DUI Case Seminar

• 2/20-2/21/14 – Key West, FL
• $500 (less with early registration discount)

Some of the best DUI defense lawyers and experts in the U.S. spoke on current hot topics including DRE’s and marijuana. Speakers included Deandra Grant, Brian Leinenger, Kim Frye, Dr. Harry Plotnick, Ph.D., JD, Hon. Robt. Ruehlman, Steve Adams, David Katz, and more. This C.L.E. is designed for the DUI Defense practitioner.

Schedule

THURSDAY, February 20, 2014  (5.0 hrs. CLE)

• 7:30 – 8:25      Continental Breakfast (Pastries & Fresh Fruit, Coffee & Juice)
• 8:25 – 8:30      Welcome – Jeff Meadows, Moderator
• 8:30 – 9:00     View from the Bench, Judge Rob Lyons (Ohio)
• 9:00 – 10:00   Drug Recognition Experts – Brian Leinenger, Esq. (Kansas)
• 10:00 – 11:00  A Toxicologist’s perspective of D.R.E. – Dr. Harry Plotnick, BS, MS, Ph.D., JD (Ohio)
• 11:00 – 12:00   Lunch – On your own
• 12:00 – 13:15    Blood & Urine in the Courtroom – Deandra Grant, Esq. (Texas)
• 13:15 – 14:30    D.R.E., Daubert & Rule 702 – Judge Robert Ruhlman (Ohio)

FRIDAY, February 21, 2014    (5.00 hrs. CLE)

• 7:30 – 8:25     Continental Breakfast (Pastries & Fresh Fruit, Coffee & Juice)
• 8:30 – 9:45     DUI Checkpoints – Steve Adams, Esq. (Ohio)
• 9:45 –1 1:00   “Motion Practice: Scientific Reliability Challenges to DRE” – Evan Levow, Esq. (NJ)
• 11:00 – 12:00  Lunch – On your own
• 12:00 – 13:15  Opening & Soft Cross   – Kim Frye, Esq. (Georgia)
• 13:15 – 14:15   Closing Arguments – David Katz, Esq. (Florida)
• 14:15 – 14:30  Tales from Duval Street – Jeff Meadows, Esq. (Ohio)

(Discussion of some of the practice tips picked up from the seminar attendees)

1-Day Trial Skills Seminar & Workshop

• 2/18/13 – Miami, FL
• 11/9/13 – West Palm Beach, FL
• Cost $495 (Fee includes materials, snacks and lunch)

This seminar is dedicated to teaching newer attorneys the most advanced techniques in trial work through lecture and small group breakouts.  Designed for attorneys who have little or no experience trying cases, or those that have experience but feel they need to learn better techniques.  Short precise lectures coupled with to-the-point demonstrations, followed by hands on breakouts where faculty helped students learn and master the technique. Each student actively participated in 2 hours of practical experience with no more than 5 students to teacher.

Schedule

9:30-11:30 Jury Selection Michael Kessler (FL)and Openings Bruce Kapsack (CA)

11:30-12:00 BREAK/DISCUSSION Panel

12:00-1:30 Direct Examination & Special Witnesses Michele Tjader (WI)

1:30-3:30 Cross Examination (WORKING LUNCH) Deandra Grant (TX)

3:30-4:00 Breakouts (YOUR CHOICE) As Chosen

4:00-6:00 Closing Arguments Scott Wonder (WA)

$495 Fee includes materials, snacks and lunch. Workshop limited to 25 students.

20 Hour Intoximeter EC/IR II Seminar

5/3-5/4/13 – Edmonton, Canada

(featuring experts Dr. Al Staubus and Jan Semenoff)

1-Day Defending DWI Cases with Breath/Blood Evidence

8.5 Hrs CLE/.75 Ethics

• 7/27/13 – Dallas, TX
• 10/11/13 – Lubbock, TX
• Cost $260

8:30 – 8:45 AM Deandra Grant – Opening Remarks

8:45 – 9:30 AM Chris Hoover  – Understanding Breath Testing
A brief science primer on breath testing and the Intoxilyzer 5000 (1.25)

9:30 – 10:30 AM Deandra Grant – Cross of the Technical Supervisor Winning trial strategies (1.00)

10:30 – 10:45 AM BREAK

10:45 – 11:45 AM Chris Hoover – Cross of the Technical Supervisor Winning trial strategies (1.00)

11:45 – 12:45 PM FISS – Jackie or Ray – Lunch Presentation (LUNCH PROVIDED)

The ABC’s of the Texas Alcohol Breath Testing Program’s SOG’s: Fact or Fiction (1.00)

12:45 – 2:00 PM Deandra Grant – Understanding Blood Alcohol Testing
A primer on blood testing with headspace gas chromatography with flame ionization detector vs. enzymatic testing (1.25)

2:00 – 2:15 PM BREAK

2:15 – 3:15 PM Chris Hoover – Defending Blood Cases Winning trial strategies (1.00)

3:15 – 4:15 PM Deandra Grant – Defending Blood Cases Winning trial strategies (1.00)

4:15 – 5:15 PM Deandra & Chris – Retrograde Extrapolation Making it work for you (1.00)

2-Day DUI Drug Cases & DRE: Mastering the Science & the Trial Skills

• Oct. 19-20, 2013 – Denver, CO
• Cost $750 (early registration $600)

LOCATION:
The Galleria Building
720 S. Colorado Blvd., Main Basement Conf. Room
Denver, CO

DATE:
Saturday, Oct. 19 & Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013

TIME:
8:30 am – 4:45 Sat urday 9:00 – 4:45 Sunday
***Lunch will be provided***

DAY 1 8:30 – 8:45 AM Opening Remarks
8:45 – 10:00 AM Lance Platt, PhD (TX)
DRE Protocol (1.25)
A synopsis of DRE training and the DRE protocol
10:00 – 10:15 AM BREAK
10:15 – 11:30 AM Dr. Fran Gengo, (NY)
The Rest of the Story : The Ugly, The Good, and The Bad
(1.25)
The Ugly :The DRE “studies” and what they actually say
The Bad: Why the DRE protocol yields unreliable results
11:30 – 12:30 PM Gengo & Platt
The Rest of the Story : The Ugly, The Good, and The Bad
(1.00)
The Good: Why you should take DRE cases to trial
12:30 – 1:15 PM LUNCH (provided)
1:15 – 2:30 PM Paul Armentano (CA)
Impairment vs. Levels (1.25)
Knowing the difference and how to craft a defense
2:30 – 3:30 PM Gengo & Platt
DRE Defense Expert (1.00)
How they can help you in trial
3:30 – 3:45 PM BREAK
3:45 – 4:45 PM Rhidian Orr (CO)
The Legal Landscape (1.00)
Where we are, Where we are going

DAY 2 9:00 – 10:00 AM Michael Kessler (FL)
The Cop’s Qualifications (1.00)
Challenging DRE evidence pre-trial
10:00 – 11:00 AM Scott Wonder (WA)
When DRE Comes In (1.00)
Challenging DRE evidence at trial
11:00 – 11:15 AM BREAK
11:15 – 12:15 PM Deandra Grant (TX)
Jury Selection in Cases Involving Drugs or DRE Evidence
(1.00)
Themes and issues to cover in jury selection
12:15 – 1:30 PM LUNCH (on your own)
1:30 – 2:30 PM Michele Tjader (WI)
Opening and Closing in Cases Involving Drugs or DRE
Evidence (1.00)
Bringing it all together
2:30 – 3:30 PM Jamie Balagia (TX) & Platt
Mock Cross of a DRE Officer (1.00)
Demo and discussion
3:30 – 3:45 PM BREAK
3:45 – 4:45 PM Balagia & Platt
Mock Direct of a DRE Expert (1.00)
Demo and discussion

1-Day – Intoxilyzer 8000: Shining the Light of Truth on the Government

• 11/8/13 – West Palm Beach, FL
• Cost $300

8:45 – 9:00 AM Deandra Grant (TX
Opening Remarks

9:00 – 10:00 AM Dr. Stefan Rose, M.D.
Overview of Breath Alcohol Testing (1.00)
How the government says it works

10:00 – 11:00 AM Jan Semenoff
What’s Wrong With This Machine (1.00)
How it really works

11:00 – 12:00 PM Michael Kessler
Florida Law Regarding Breath Testing (1.00)
Statutes, rules and cases you should know

12:00 – 1:00 PM LUNCH (provided)

1:00 – 2:00 PM Jay Zager/Jan Semenoff
How and Why Florida Ended Up With This Machine
(1.00)
Demo and Inspection of Machine

2:00 – 3:15 PM Chris Hoover/Jay Zager
Grant/Semenoff
Mock Cross Examination of Government Witnesses
(1.15)

3:15 – 3:30 PM BREAK

3:30 – 4:30 PM Tim Huey/Dr. Rose
Mock Direct Examination of the Defense Breath Test
Expert (1:00)

4:30 – 6:00 PM Grant/Kessler/Hoover
Demo: Testing the Machine (WET LAB) (1:30)

The Intoxilyzer 5000EN One-Day Seminar

8:30 – 8:45 AM Opening Remarks

8:45 – 10:00 AM Jan Semenoff (Canada-USA)
Critical Issues in Breath Alcohol Testing
A science primer – Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacokinetics of alcohol

10:00 – 10:15 AM BREAK

10:15 – 12:00 PM Deandra Grant (Texas)
Building Your Defense Theory from Day 1
• The importance of client intake
• Retrograde extrapolation
• Rising alcohol defense
• Disconnect defense

12:00 – 12:45 PM LUNCH (provided)

12:45 – 2:00 PM Jan Semenoff
When Breath Tests Go Bad
An introduction to download data that can be used as direct evidence of machine
malfunction.

2:00 – 2:15 PM BREAK

2:15 – 3:15 PM Deandra Grant
Challenges to Breath Alcohol Test Results at Trial
• Machine malfunction
• 15 minute observation period violations

3:15 – 3:30 PM BREAK

3:30 – 4:30 PM Jan Semenoff
An Introduction to Medical Issues in DUI Defense
The effects of COPD, Diabetes, GERD and Occupational Exposure to Chemicals
on alcohol testing.

4:30 – 5:30 PM Deandra Grant
Challenges to Breath Alcohol Test Results at Trial
• Breath temperature
• Interfering substances
• GERD