Malpractice

Paul W. Painter III founded Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers with the purpose of building a personal and trusting relationship with his clients, providing them with high-quality, aggressive, and ethical representation. As a personal injury attorney in Savannah, Atlanta, throughout the state of Georgia, and around the country, Paul has devoted his practice to representing victims of serious injury as well as families who have lost loved ones due to other’s negligence. Paul is a Savannah native and a graduate of Benedictine Military School. He received his B.B.A. from the University of Georgia and his J.D. from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law. Between college and law school, Paul served five years as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant. He deployed in support of Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, and participated in the initial invasion of Iraq. Paul spent four years on sea duty, becoming qualified on all systems of two blue water ships and numerous small crafts. He stood engineering watches for diesel, gas turbine, and steam engines and was a leader in damage control operations. But his passion and where he spent most of his time was on bridge watch. He was qualified on all positions from helmsman to Officer of the Deck, which is the senior most topside watch officer position with control of the ship in the captain’s absence. He was an instructor for junior officers on the COLREGs Rules of the Road, navigation, and seamanship. He served as navigator and circumnavigated the globe, crossing the equator and the prime meridian (once at the same time). He was also on both ship’s Visit Board Search and Seizure teams, responsible for boarding other vessels that were in distress or under suspicion of carrying contraband. The training and experience for that job made him familiar with the operations of civilian commercial vessels and how to tell when a vessel was properly and safely maintained, and when it was not. After law school, Paul began practicing at a defense firm in Savannah where he focused on tractor-trailer litigation. Realizing that he preferred individual representation, he left to work with some of the state’s top plaintiff firms before opening his own firm. Paul has represented clients in many multi-million dollar cases throughout the state of Georgia and around the country. He has tried cases nationwide, from coast to coast, and obtained hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients in verdicts and settlements. He has spoken frequently at legal seminars and lawyer education workshops throughout the state. He specializes in in various practice areas such as car accident, slip and fall, wrongful death, truck accidents, and other distinct legal matters. In 2023, Paul was appointed by the Georgia Supreme Court to act as a Special Master in attorney discipline cases. When the State Bar of Georgia brings an action against an attorney, often seeking the attorney be suspended or disbarred, a Special Master acts as a judge in the case. Special Masters preside over a docket of cases on which they holds hearings, controls scheduling, rules on motions, acts as the finder of fact in evidentiary hearings, and ultimately issues a report to the Supreme Court – which has exclusive authority to decide attorney discipline – recommending what action should be taken. Only about 20 lawyers in the State of Georgia are appointed as Special Masters. Paul believes in staying involved in professional and community organizations. He is member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Board of Governor and is President of the Southern District of Georgia Federal Bar Association. He is a graduate of Leadership Savannah and the State Bar of Georgia Leadership Academy. He is the past president of the Savannah Trial Lawyers Association, past-Chair of State Bar of Georgia’s General Practice and Trial Section, the Bar’s largest section, past executive committee member and regional vice president of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and past member of Mercer Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors. He is also a Fellow of the State Bar of Georgia and serves on numerous State Bar Committees. Paul is married to Stephanie Painter (nee Boaen) and has three young children. He is a member of St. James Church in Savannah and serves on the St. James Catholic School Advisory Board and the Dutch Island Homeowners Association. He is an avid boater and saltwater fisherman, enjoys bird hunting with his four bird dogs, and loves watching his alma mater (and back to back national champion) Georgia Bulldogs play football.

David Adgate earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2013 from the University of Michigan. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2017 from Wayne State University Law School. He then completed a Post-Baccalaureate Medprep Program at the University of Michigan in 2019 where he served as the president of the Medprep Engage Student Organization. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. David joined the firm in January 2024 and focuses primarily on first-party automobile claims, third-party auto negligence, and motorcycle and bicycle accidents. He also handles other personal injury claims, including slip and falls, dog bites, and wrongful death lawsuits. Before joining Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., David served as an associate at a personal injury law firm in metro Detroit. He also previously worked as a fellow for the Federal Defender Office in Detroit.

Dondi R. Vesprini earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 1996 from Oakland University with a minor in Sociology. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1999 from the University of Detroit – Mercy School of Law where he was on the Moot Court Board of Directors, represented the law school in national moot court competition, and was a member of the St. Thomas More Society. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan, the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to joining Buckfire & Buckfire, Dondi worked for 11 years as a trial attorney for the Law Offices of Lawrence S. Katkowsky, P.C., which specialized in motorcycle accidents. Previously, Dondi worked for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for two years where he tried felony drug cases and also worked on criminal appeals. Dondi has recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his injured clients and specializes in issues affecting motorcyclists such as motorcycle accidents, roadway defect accidents, and Michigan No Fault claims. He also litigates wrongful death, automobile negligence, slip and fall, dog bite attacks, and other personal injury matters. In addition to trial work, he has also argued cases in front of the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dondi’s advocacy extends beyond the courtroom as he proposes legislation and meets with the Governor’s office, legislators and lobbyists regarding legislation affecting injured motorcyclists and non-motorcyclists alike, including but not limited to the Michigan motorcycle helmet law and fighting to preserve Michigan’s No Fault system and the benefits it provides to injured people. He recently drafted an amendment to MCL 500.3114, which was formally introduced as House Bill 4809 on May 6, 2021.

Michael R. Shaffer earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995 from Michigan State University. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1999 from Wayne State University Law School. Shaffer joined Buckfire Law in September 2022 with extensive experience in Michigan’s No-Fault Law and auto accident litigation. Prior to joining Buckfire Law, he worked for 17 years for a well-known plaintiff firm specializing in auto law. Shaffer’s primary focus will be on first-party automotive claims, third-party auto negligence, and motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents. He also handles other personal injury claims including dog attacks, slip and falls, and wrongful death lawsuits.

Nicolas A. Vesprini earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 2000 from Oakland University. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2003 from the University of Detroit – Mercy School of Law where he served as the Executive Director of Moot Court Board, represented the law school in national moot court competition, and was an active member of the Student Bar Association Board of Governors, and a Book Award recipient. Nicolas is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Prior to joining Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., Nicolas served as a partner at a preeminent insurance defense law firm with a focus on defense litigation in catastrophic first-party automobile claims, third-party auto negligence, personal injury, premises liability and general negligence. He represented various national clients and several major insurance carriers throughout the state of Michigan. He has tried cases in both state and federal court and has argued before the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Todd C. Barsumian has been named a Super Lawyer in the field of Plaintiff's Personal Injury by Super Lawyers Magazine since 2018. In 2017 he became the recipient of America's Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement Award. Prior to turning 40, he was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers on multiple occasions. Todd has also been selected to The National Trial Lawyers Association: Top 40 under 40 and The National Trial Lawyers Association has since been named Todd a “Top 100 Civil Plaintiff’s Attorney”. In 2018, he was also named to the Nation's Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. Todd started his legal career at a large Evansville law firm, where he was a litigation partner typically hired to defend claims brought by the injured, including multiple cases that made it to the Indiana Supreme Court. In 2010, he started Barsumian Law. In 2013, Todd returned to his roots, opening an office in his hometown of Newburgh. In 2018 he opened offices in Evansville and the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers and in 2021 he and Jonathan Armiger founded Barsumian Armiger Injury Lawyers. Since 2000, Todd has also been licensed in Kentucky, where he has handled cases from trial courts up to the Kentucky Supreme Court. Todd represented a severely injured child in a negligence and product liability case that prompted a national recall of a product purchased off the shelf of a Tri-State retailer. He once defended corporations in similar cases and counseled manufacturers on product safety and recall issues. Shortly after opening his Newburgh office, Todd was part of the trial team for a Gibson County man who was severely injured when the vehicle he was traveling in was struck by another vehicle that had disregarded a stop sign on a county road. After settling the case with the other driver’s insurance company, Todd and his co-counsel turned to his client’s own insurance company. When the insurer balked at paying much more than the man's medical expenses, they took the case to trial in Princeton and recovered their client’s full policy limits, roughly twice what had been offered. Todd has served as the Chair of Medical Review Panels in the past, but now represents victims of medical malpractice before the Indiana Department of Insurance and in courts in Indiana and Kentucky. He also routinely handles serious injuries caused by car accidents, truck accidents, slip and falls, and nursing home negligence, as well as wrongful death claims.

Kenny S. Ramirez – San Bernardino Personal Injury Lawyer Based in San Bernardino, CA, Kenny S. Ramirez serves as the founder and principal trial attorney at the firm dedicated to helping injury victims in the Inland Empire and across California. Practice Areas: - Personal Injury - Auto/Vehicle Accidents (Car, Motorcycle, Truck) - Wrongful Death - Catastrophic Injury (including Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury) - Premises Liability - Government Entity Liability - Products Liability - Medical Malpractice - Employment-Related Injury (for plaintiffs) Why Choose Kenny in San Bernardino: With deep roots in the Inland Empire and significant trial-litigation experience in California, Kenny brings both local insight and high-stakes representation. He rose rapidly at a nationally-recognized plaintiffs firm before returning to his home region to launch his own practice. Kenny offers bilingual service (English/Spanish) and is known for taking cases where his advocacy can make a real difference. If you or a loved one has been injured in San Bernardino, CA or the surrounding Inland Empire area, don’t wait. Contact Kenny S. Ramirez today at (909) 515-0646 for a free consultation. Let his team fight for your rights and secure the compensation you deserve. Your recovery matters — reach out now.

Kurt D. Lloyd is a jury trial lawyer based in Chicago who represents victims of personal injury or wrongful death. He is smart, tough, and never gives up on his client’s case. Kurt works tirelessly to protect and advance his clients’ right to a trial by jury. With over 30 years of experience and 70 plus jury trials, he has won more than $355 million in jury verdicts and settlements from insurance companies and corporations to help his injured clients recover. Kurt was born and raised in the Chicago land area. He was the first and only member of his family to go to college. Kurt’s father never finished high school and always worked two jobs until his death. At his funeral, Kurt said: “his father’s work ethic gave him the drive to succeed as a trial lawyer.” Kurt is the founder of the Lloyd Law Group, Ltd., a plaintiff’s personal injury and wrongful death law firm. Kurt believes that every client’s case should be worked up as if the case will go to trial. By preparing every case for trial, the value of each client’s case is maximized. Kurt has been nationally recognized as a jury trial lawyer by the American Association for Justice, which awarded him the Citation of Excellence medal. After prosecuting 50 civil jury trials, the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates invited Kurt to become a member. Kurt recently wrote the book On Jury Selection for Illinois lawyers. Kurt often says: “If you don’t pick the right jury, you’ll lose your case before you start.” He wrote the book to help young trial lawyers representing injured clients understand how to select a jury in Illinois courts. On his blog JurorDeseletion.com, Kurt also posts about the jury selection process, which he believes is really about the art of juror deselection. His Blog is followed by hundreds of Illinois lawyers. In his medical malpractice cases, Kurt is driven to maintain and promote patient safety. He has won by jury trial or settled exceptional cases which resulted in patient safety improvements.

Denise Erlich is passionate about helping clients navigate through the divorce, paternity or post-decree process. She is committed to resolving cases efficiently and outside of court to minimize conflict, legal fees and emotional stress, but willing to fight if necessary and take a case to trial. Denise uses her 23 years of litigation, mediation and life experience to provide clients with the support they need during this difficult time so that they can transition to their new life as seamlessly as possible. Denise provides valuable information, resources and insight to help clients understand the divorce process, to ensure their rights are protected, and to empower clients to make the best decisions for their family. Denise keeps clients fully informed of their case, provides clients with copies of all court documents, and is always available to answer questions in a professional and timely manner. Denise treats every client with respect and understands how stressful it can be to go through a divorce or other family law matter. Denise patiently guides her clients through every step of the divorce, paternity or post-decree process and provides clients with candid advice about their case and legal options, so they can make informed decisions about their future. With years of experience as a mediator, arbitrator, collaborative law attorney and Guardian Ad Litem, Denise seeks to resolve disputes as fairly and amicably as possible through alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation and collaborative law. Denise is a fellow of the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Denise is also a member of the DuPage County Bar Association, the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers, and the Illinois State Bar Association. Denise obtained her J.D., with honors, from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1999. Graduating in the top 15% of her law school class, she received the CALI Award in Trial Advocacy, was on the Dean’s List, and earned a Certificate in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. She received her M.B.A. in Finance from DePaul University in 1995, and her B.S. in Computer Science and Accounting from the University of Illinois in 1986.

As the founder of the personal injury firm, Bradshaw Law LLC, which started in Elko, Nevada, Denise has come a long way since her law career began. While taking undergraduate classes at night, she initially worked as a receptionist, legal secretary and then became a paralegal. Continuing to work as a paralegal while in law school, Denise went on to earn her Law Degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2007. Graduating in the top 10 percent of her class, Denise also received admittance to the prestigious Order of the Coif – a further tribute to her immaculate academic record. Presently, she is excited to be expanding Bradshaw Law LLC to Texas. She represents injured clients out of her offices in Elko and Texas and travels throughout the United States, assisting clients in obtaining compensation for their injuries and helping them get back on their feet. She specializes in various types of injury claims, with an emphasis on catastrophic birth injuries, automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, harmful products and medical malpractice, providing her clients with vigorous representation and insight. Because she has had to struggle against adversity and come up through the ranks, Denise understands the challenges of facing obstacles that appear to be insurmountable. She aggressively pursues her clients’ best interest by being supremely dedicated to their needs and is a firm believer in the principles of fair play. Denise is admitted to practice before all courts in Nevada and Texas, including the United States District Court. Denise has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and is also a member of both the Multi-Million Dollar and Million Dollar Advocates Forums, memberships earned by her representation of severely injured clients. She is also very dedicated to her community; in her first year of practice, Denise was given the Most Pro Bono Hours Award by the Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevada. She served as both a bar exam grader and as well as a member of the Standing Committee for Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility for the State Bar of Nevada.