Render C. Freeman has dedicated his career to helping injured victims hold wrongdoers financially responsible for their carelessness. As a trial attorney, his litigation experience includes complex claims, involving wrongful death, personal injury, products liability, motor vehicle and trucking collisions, medical negligence, nursing home abuse and negligence, premises liability, negligent hiring and negligent security. An active member of Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice, he is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell National Legal Directory and has been a registered Mediator and Arbitrator with the State of Georgia since 2010. Mr. Freeman is a member of Andersen, Tate & Carr, PC, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Erik S. Heninger concentrates his practice in professional negligence, medical negligence, products liability, and personal injury litigation. He is a member of the Birmingham Bar Association, Young Lawyers Executive Committee, American and Alabama State Bar Associations, and American Association for Justice. Mr. Heninger is the author of “A Brief Analysis of Nonverbal Communication in the Courtroom,” published in Alabama Trial Lawyers Journal. Heninger Garrison Davis, L.L.C. is located in Birmingham, Alabama.
Thomas J. Manzella, Jr. concentrates his practice in personal injury, workers’ compensation, products liability, wrongful death, traumatic brain injury, and motor vehicle collision litigation. He is a partner in the law firm of Block, Klukas & Manzella, P.C. located in Joliet, Illinois. He is a member of AAJ’s Leaders Forum and AAJ’s Motor Vehicle, Highway, and Premises Liability Section, the Will County Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.
Sach D. Oliver conducts the opening and closing statements, jury selection, and direct and cross- examination of witnesses for the Bentonville, Arkansas based firm Bailey & Oliver. A graduate from the University of Arkansas School of Law, he was awarded the Best Oral Advocate in the National Trial Competition and the Outstanding Young Trial Lawyer by the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association in 2008. Mr. Oliver serves on the Board of Governors for the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Leadership board and as Governor for AAJ’s New Lawyers Division.
Deirdre E. Ostrowski concentrates her practice in catastrophic personal injury, motor vehicle collision, premises liability, wrongful death, medical negligence, and products liability litigation. She is a member of the Colorado Bar, American Bar, Denver Bar, and Colorado Trial Lawyers Associations. She is listed as a Rising Star by Colorado Super Lawyer magazine. Ms. Ostrowski interned at Fogel Keating Wagner Polidori Free, P.C. during law school and is now a partner with the Denver-based firm. She is listed as a Rising Star by Colorado Super Lawyer magazine.
Emily Hawk Raley, course advisor, concentrates her practice in personal injury litigation. She serves on AAJ’s New Lawyers Division Board of Governors and AAJ’s NCA Board of Trustees. She serves on the Executive Committee and chairs the Women’s Caucus of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association and is a member of the Etowah County Bar Association and the Alabama Bar Association. Ms. Raley is a partner at the firm Cusimano, Keener, Roberts, Knowles & Raley, LLC in Gadsden, Alabama.
Paul J. Scoptur is a founding partner in the plaintiff’s personal injury litigation firm of Aiken & Scoptur, S.C. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a current member and cochair of AAJ’s NCA Board of Trustees, as well as a past member of the AAJ Board of Governors and a member of AAJ’s Leaders Forum. Mr. Scoptur lectures on the state and national level in the area of trial skills. He is a member of the American Society of Trial Consultants, has extensive experience working as a trial consultant, and is a founding member of Miller, Scoptur, Vesper & Shar, a case consulting and litigation support firm. He has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America continuously since 2002 and is one of Wisconsin’s top 50 Super Lawyers in the area of personal injury. Mr. Scoptur is a Diplomate of AAJ’s NCA and has completed the Advanced Studies in Trial Advocacy curriculum offered by the NCA.
