Malpractice

Marshall N. Dickler, is a condominium and homeowner association attorney with over 50 years of experience. Based out of Arlington Heights, IL, Attorney Dickler has provided representation for different areas of condominium and home owners associations including litigation, real estate transactions, real estate tax disputes and challenges, zoning, collections, catastrophic injury and more. His understanding of these legal areas has garnered recognition locally and nationally. Since 1977, Attorney Dickler has been a member and teacher at the Community Associations Institute (CAI), where he has discussed many different topics dealing with condominiums, homeowners associations, corporations, real estate and more. At one point, he also held the title of director and president at the CAI-Illinois chapter, showing his experience for this area of law. To schedule your consultation, contact us at 847-593-5595.

After graduating from the University of Virginia Law School in 1975, Mr. Cocke moved to Clarksdale, MS to begin practicing in a general litigation firm. In 1982, Mr. Cocke and Mr. Merkel left that firm and established Merkel & Cocke, P.A., and since that time the emphasis of Mr. Cocke's practice has progressed more and more toward medical malpractice. At the present time his practice is exclusively devoted to handling medical negligence cases for the plaintiff, either as a result of direct contact by the client or as, more commonly occurs, on referral from other attorneys who are not familiar with the handling of medical negligence cases. Mr. Cocke handles all types of medical negligence cases, but a uniform requirement is that serious injury or death have occurred as a result of the medical mistake. Mr. Cocke has established a reputation for complex cases involving babies who sustain permanent brain injuries. He also handles cases involving deaths as a result of the failure to treat in the emergency room setting and the premature discharge of patients after surgery, as well as failure to promptly diagnose cancer. Mr. Cocke has developed a particular interest in the use of modern technology in medical negligence cases and has spoken at seminars on this subject. The Internet has developed into a very useful tool in conducting medical research and communicating with other attorneys handling similar cases via the Internet is also a major help in the handling of medical cases. Mr. Cocke was selected Best Lawyer of the year for 2012 and 2014 in The Memphis area in the field of Medical Malpractice and has been selected a Best Lawyer and Super Lawyer every year since 2006. Mr. Cocke has his pilot’s license, and enjoys flying his airplane for work-related matters and for fun. He owns Yazoo Pass restaurant in Clarksdale, and enjoys being involved in that venture. He is an avid promoter of blues tourism in Clarksdale.

Nick Deets has been a partner with Hovde Dassow + Deets in Indianapolis since 2001. His primary areas of practice are personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, and wrongful death. He has tried more than 80 jury trials to verdict. Nick was named the Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association in 2010, Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year, Plaintiff’s Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions, in 2018, and Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year, Plaintiff’s Medical Malpractice, in 2020. He has been recognized as an Indiana Super Lawyer by Indianapolis Magazine every year since 2006 and has been listed in Best Lawyers, Personal Injury Plaintiffs, every year since 2010. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Litigation Counsel of America, and is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell.

A.J. Serafini grew up in Hagerstown, Maryland, and is the son of former State Senator Andrew Serafini, Sr. He graduated from Grace Academy in 2005 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Government from Liberty University, graduating summa cum laude in 2008 after just three years. He further pursued his education at Liberty University School of Law, finishing in the top 5 of his class in 2011. During his time at law school, Serafini was active on the moot court board, mentored first-year students, and coordinated the Street Law program, which educates at-risk youth about the law’s significance. He is part of several legal associations, including the Maryland State Bar Association, the Maryland Association for Justice, The National Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association for Justice. Professionally, A.J. concentrates on his practice in personal injury, medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse. He has achieved notable successes in personal injury cases throughout Western Maryland. He keeps his legal knowledge current by attending continuing education courses through associations like the American Association for Justice and the Maryland State Bar Association. A.J. is also a board member of the Washington County Bar Association and has served on the Judicial Nominating Commission under Governor Larry Hogan. A.J.’s excellence in his field has been recognized with several awards; he was voted Best Attorney in the Herald-Mail Readers' Choice Award in 2018, and received the Herald-Mail Media's “Best of the Tri-state” award in 2019 and 2020. His peers have recognized his skills and dedication with a Top 40 Under 40 ranking from the National Trial Lawyers Association. He has been four times named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and was recently designated an Elite Lawyer. To schedule a free consultation, contact Serafini Law by filling out a form online, or calling 240-744-1600.

Born in the tiny coal-mining community of Williamson and raised in Parkersburg, West Virginia, by blue-collar working-class parents who placed a premium on hard work, honesty, and personal integrity, Bernie Layne of Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC learned from an early age that his path to success would have to be paved with over achievement. While both of his parents grew up in abject poverty that can only be understood or imagined by those who have experienced day-to-day life in ‘coal camp’ housing in southern West Virginia, they became acutely aware of the value and necessity of education and sweat equity as a means of rising above their circumstance. It is from this culture and environment that Bernie’s parents instilled in him, and his two sisters, to never forget where they have come from and to always use their God-given talents and abilities to help people around them who are disadvantaged, hurting, disabled, destitute, or who are being abused by those in a more powerful position than themselves in society. Growing up in Parkersburg, just across the river from Marietta and Belpre, Ohio, he gained a deep, abiding respect for the hardworking people on both sides of the border. Rising from the social position of an ‘underdog,’ it isn’t hard to understand how Bernie has come to embrace these roots by becoming a highly successful legal advocate and defender of the rights of injured working-class West Virginians and Ohioans. A Strong Competitive Spirit As you can imagine, it takes tremendous family support and lots of competitive spirit to become one of only a few college graduates in his family and to become the first lawyer in his immediate or extended family. That love for competition was introduced to him as a child, by his father, an accomplished sportswriter at the Williamson Daily News. Bernie developed a love for the game of basketball and baseball and eventually earned a baseball scholarship to attend the University of Charleston in Charleston, West Virginia. As a college student-athlete, Bernie was introduced to the importance of academic and athletic discipline, teamwork, handling success and overcoming failure. As his dream of playing professional baseball faded, his commitment to personal development and higher education strengthened. Before leaving UC, Bernie was named the Ivor F. Boiarsky Award Winner, which annually recognizes the top Political Science Student in the graduating class, won a statewide award for his senior thesis, in the area of Public Law Policy, on the pitfalls and environmental evils associated with an inadequate and corrupt strip mine permitting system in West Virginia, was voted by his peers as the Student Body President and was chosen by the administration to deliver the commencement address on behalf of his graduating class, while sharing the stage with the late Senator Robert C. Byrd. Inspired to help the disadvantaged Using his undergraduate success as a springboard, Bernie went on to attend graduate school at The Ohio University, where he received a Master of Arts Degree in Sociology. After graduate school, Bernie returned to Appalachia where he worked with elderly and disabled individuals through the Title 19 Medicaid Waiver Program in Southern West Virginia. The year spent working with catastrophically injured people through Title 19 firmed his resolve and commitment to make a difference in the lives of the hardworking citizens of this state. This experience made Bernie aware of the obstacles that face disabled and poverty-stricken individuals and the myriad of statutory and legal hurdles they face, while unable to afford adequate legal assistance to address their needs. Bernie’s disappointment in the legal system and its treatment of handicapped, disabled, and elderly individuals led him to attend law school at The University of Dayton School of Law where he graduated with his Juris Doctor in the Spring of 1999. After finishing law school, Bernie remained in Dayton as a judicial extern for The Honorable Barbara Gorman, the first female judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. In the years following his law school graduation, Bernie has remained committed to preserving the rights of injured and disadvantaged citizens of our state and has limited his practice to cases which involve people who have been injured due to the negligence of another person, corporation or governmental body. Throughout his career, he has successfully taken on big corporate asbestos producers who exposed plant workers and pipefitters to deadly and cancer-causing asbestos fibers. He has successfully confronted coal mining companies that deliberately injured workers through a neglect of OSHA regulations and state laws designed to protect this state’s workers. Further, Bernie has successfully resolved wrongful death cases involving children, medical malpractice and poorly designed products by large corporate interests who chose to place profits as a priority over the safety of our citizens. In 2021, Mani, Ellis & Layne, PLLC expanded to a new office in Columbus, OH. For Bernie, who earned both of his graduate degrees in Ohio and has many close family members in Columbus and the surrounding towns, this was a homecoming of sorts, an opportunity to advocate for hardworking people throughout both Ohio and West Virginia. Recognized by his peers Bernie’s success and achievement have been greatly rewarded as he and his partners have built an accomplished law firm at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC. His professional attributes and success have also been noticed by his trial lawyer peers. In 2005, he was given the Distinguished Service Award by the West Virginia Association for Justice (WVAJ), which is a group that represents the interests of the injured and disabled in West Virginia. Attorney Layne has been a member of WVAJ and the American Association for Justice for more than a decade. He is past president of WVAJ, serving from June 2013 to June 2014. He has also served on the WVAJ Executive Committee (nine years), the WVAJ Board of Governors and as a member of the LAWPAC organization. He was recently invited to join the prestigious, Southern Trial Lawyers organization and has been apponted to The Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center where he serves on its Executive and Building & Grounds Committees. Additionally, he served a two-year stint as a member of the West Virginia Bar Association’s Judicial Campaign Advertising Committee, which sought to regulate unfair, unethical and untruthful advertising during judicial campaign election cycles. In 2013, he was appointed to the University of Charleston Board of Trustees and served on the Executive and Outreach Committees within that board. He is now serving his twelfth year on the board. In 2014, he was named Alumnus of the Year at the University of Charleston. In 2017, he was appointed chairman of the Welch Challenge Campaign, an $8 million fund-raising initiative at the school. Also in 2013, Mr. Layne received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating attorneys can achieve from that organization. Only 2% of all practitioners nationwide earn that rating. In 2018, Bernie was selected to the West Virginia Super Lawyers list by his peers. Bernie has obtained several significant verdicts and settlements and has been granted membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. On a community level, Bernie recently completed a seven-year term on the Putnam County Career and Technical Center’s Healthcare Advisory Board, on which he worked with other community leaders to design, implement and guide the LPN Nursing Program at the school. His efforts in this area are consistent with his desire to work toward broad based community and rural health care initiatives which support healthcare for the underprivileged throughout our state’s communities.

Michael Shinsky’s serious approach coupled with his extensive trial experience has provided him with the necessary tools to represent his clients with excellent results. After obtaining his law degree with honors in 2001, Michael served as a prosecutor with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office where he rapidly ascended the ranks, prosecuting cases on behalf of children who were abused and neglected. In 2004, Michael joined the law firm of Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz where he utilizes those trial skills in pursuit of justice for injured individuals and their families in the civil arena. Currently, Michael focuses his practice on representing and protecting the legal right so those who have suffered serious, life-altering persona injuries caused by the negligence of others, and seeking justice for the families of those victims who have lost their lives due to negligence. Michael’s practice focuses on automobile accidents, premise liability, sexual assaults, medical malpractice, wrongful death and nursing home litigation. To schedule a free consultation with Attorney Shinsky, visit his website, or call 708-888-2160.

Paul D. Richter is an experienced trial attorney who has spent over 20 years in the practice of personal injury and wrongful death litigation. His career has been dedicated to representing individuals who have suffered serious, life-altering personal injuries caused by the negligence of others, and seeking justice for the families of those victims who have lost their lives due to negligence. Paul has successfully resolved multiple personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits in a host of complex cases, including cases of nursing home abuse and neglect; medical malpractice; commercial and private aviation crashes; accidents involving semi tractor-trailer trucks, watercraft, and other motor vehicles; construction accidents, and negligently manufactured and/or designed products. Throughout his career, Paul's commitment to fighting for and protecting the rights of his clients has resulted in numerous multi-million dollar results. To schedule a free consultation with Attorney Richter, visit his website, or call 708-888-2160.

Sagi Shaked is a dedicated advocate for justice in the realm of personal injury law, specializing in cases involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. With a fervent commitment to championing the rights of victims and their families, Mr. Shaked has recovered tens of millions for injured clients. His areas of expertise span many cases, including those involving motor vehicle accidents, product liability, medical negligence, nursing home abuse, trucking accidents, and more. Notably, Mr. Shaked achieved a milestone at the age of 28 by securing a multi-million dollar verdict for a single personal injury lawsuit, establishing himself as one of the youngest lawyers in the United States to accomplish such a feat. Since then, he has continued to secure top settlements and verdicts in cases involving motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. As a highly experienced Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, Mr. Shaked brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to his practice. His educational journey includes graduating with honors from Florida International University in 1996 with a B.S., followed by an equally distinguished graduation with honors from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center in 1999. Throughout his career, Mr. Shaked's overarching goal has remained constant—to passionately pursue justice for those whose lives have been forever changed by the negligence of others. His tireless advocacy and commitment to the well-being of his clients has earned him the respect and admiration of colleagues and clients alike.

FORMER LAW PROFESSOR & BIG FIRM DEFENSE ATTORNEY. Ms. Willis is an Orlando car, truck and motorcycle accident lawyer who gives each and every one of her clients extra special treatment. She is a former law professor, and former large firm defense attorney. She previously represented corporations and excess insurance companies, including numerous cases valued in the range from 1 million to 50 million. She does not operate on a high volume basis. Before she even started practicing, Ms. Willis began accumulating extremely prestigious awards, including Order of the Coif and Law Review. She graduated 2nd in her class at Florida State University College of Law, in 1995. She has since earned many awards during her career, detailed in her profile below. She diligently represents those seriously injured or killed from the negligent acts of others. She also represents those with moderate injuries, or those who don't yet know the extent of their injuries. If she is unable to give the client the time they need, she also has developed a close network of attorneys who have similar philosophies, and who will do an excellent job on any case. Sometimes lawyers who specialize further are also needed. She will refer anyone to another lawyer if needed to get each person the most money possible for their case. She strongly encourages anyone injured in an accident not to speak to any insurance adjusters, or witnesses. Also beginning medical treatment very quickly is extremely important to case value. But what you say to medical providers is also important. So calling a Central Florida auto accident attorney very quickly is your most important job. Beware of insurance adjusters who may be very nice, but whose only job is to find a way to pay you the least amount of money possible. They usually will not disclose all of the money that they should be paying you. For example, very often they will not mention pain and suffering damages, future medical bills, or lost wages. They succeed when you get less money. They also take notes about what you tell them, and can use it against you later. So don't talk to them until you talk to a lawyer. This is true even if they admit their insured was at fault for the accident. The big question then is the AMOUNT of your damages -- and that's where the fight often takes place. Call Tina to speak with a lawyer who will carefully evaluate each and every case, and advise clients what they need to know to get the most money possible (or help them find another lawyer who will do the same).

Christopher Frayer earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University in 1991. He later earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2001 from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Chris joined the firm in February 2024, focusing primarily on medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, birth injury, civil rights, and governmental claims. Prior to joining Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., Chris served as a medical malpractice attorney at a firm in metro Detroit. He previously represented healthcare companies, professionals, and corporate clients litigating medical malpractice cases in state and federal courts.