The Dirty Verdict

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

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. Topics: * **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

After a serious crash, many people assume an accident claim is an accident claim. A wreck is a wreck. Someone caused it. Insurance gets involved. A claim gets filed. But that is not how truck accident cases usually work. A truck accident case can be much more complex than a standard car accident claim because… Continue reading What Makes a Truck Accident Case Different From a Car Accident Case in Texas?

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

After a car accident, one of the most stressful questions people ask is this: “What if the insurance company says I was partly to blame? Do I still have a case?” That question matters because many claims are not decided by whether the crash was entirely one person’s fault. They are decided by how blame… Continue reading Can You Still Recover Compensation If You Were Partly at Fault in a Texas Car Accident?

After a car accident, the phone often rings sooner than people expect. Sometimes it is your own insurance company. Sometimes it is the other driver’s insurance adjuster. And sometimes the call comes before you have even had time to fully understand your injuries, look at the damage, or think clearly about what happened. That is… Continue reading Should You Talk to the Insurance Adjuster After a Houston Car Accident?