Insurance

Committed to delivering quality legal counsel at an affordable price to businesses, individuals, and organizations. Johnstone & Obert is a law firm with offices in McMinnville, Oregon. It is involved in the general practice of law, with an emphasis in litigation (Federal and State courts), appellate practice, business, corporate, school, insurance, real estate, and international law, estate planning, family law, as well as an active probate practice. Johnstone & Obert has maintained legal offices in McMinnville, Oregon since 1972 and the firm has represented and has been attorney of record for over 65 school districts, several insurance companies as defense counsel, and a significant number of corporate clients (both profit and non-profit) involved in various businesses including international airline operations, aircraft sales, aircraft parts manufacturing, communications, logging, farming, commercial agribusiness, banking, heavy equipment parts manufacture, retail sales, service industries, construction, and land development.

Kevin Swenson was raised in Bountiful, Utah, and is a co-founding partner of Swenson & Shelley. After graduating from Bountiful High School, Kevin attended business school at Westminster College. While in college, Kevin owned and ran a sign company and also worked as an ambulance driver and firefighter. Kevin loved his work in the emergency medical arena. His career as a personal injury attorney allows Kevin to continue devoting his time to assisting injured people. Kevin graduated from law school at the University of Utah and then worked as a defense attorney for insurance companies. Through that experience he learned how insurance companies work, how they think, and how they attack a claim. In 2010 Kevin "changed camps" and and switched to representing injured individuals in his community rather than the multi-billion dollar insurance companies that fight those claims of those individuals.

Raj Shah’s primary areas of practice include construction and hospitality litigation, toxic tort defense, insurance defense, product liability and general litigation. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a corporate legal clerk for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Denver, Colorado and as a judicial extern for The Honorable Robert B. King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

Ronald J. Resmini is one of Rhode Island’s Foremost Trial Attorneys handling cases of personal injury, accident and tort law, having concentrated in this area for more than 50 years. Mr. Resmini was sworn in before the Bar in June, 1969 when he was on leave from the United States Army Security Agency. Following 3 years of active duty, where he attained the rank of Captain, he began a clerkship with the Rhode Island Supreme Court under Justice William E. Powers. As a private practitioner, he became involved in the Indigent Defender Program, was a founder of IOLTA, and a founder of court-annexed arbitration. In addition, he was the Assistant Town Solicitor for the Town of Coventry, as well as a part-time Instructor at Roger Williams School of Law. A Pre-Law Summer Internship with the Neighborhood Legal Service Program provided an added opportunity to be exposed to the needs of the individual. With expertise developed from the clerkship at the RI Supreme Court, the Law Firm of Ronald J. Resmini, Esq., became instrumental in clarifying numerous RI Laws and statutes, as well as successful appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals reviewing Habeas Corpus proceedings. Mr. Resmini argued numerous cases before the Rhode Island Court clarifying uninsured motorist law, Public Duty Doctrine, jurisdiction, negligence, insurance coverage, interspousal immunity, physical contact elements for phantom vehicles, and many other clarifications of the law. After producing more than 20 legal handbooks, Mr. Resmini was requested by Butterworth Publishing Company to Author a two-volume treatise entitled, Tort Law and Personal Injury Practice, which is part of the RI Practice Series (Butterworth 1990, with Annual Supplements). Later, Mr. Resmini published a two-volume series entitled, RI Actions and Remedies; a two-volume work on Civil Procedure after the major revision of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure, entitled RI Civil Practice and Procedure (Michie Law Publishers, 1996, with Annual Supplement). Also, Mr. Resmini has published many articles in the RI Bar Journal and Law Review articles in Suffolk University Law Review, including the Law of Uninsured Motorist Insurance, the Law of Products Liability in Rhode Island, and the Law of Domestic Relations in Rhode Island. For the past 25 years, Mr. Resmini’s firm has enjoyed the Ranking of AV, the highest ranking available through Martindale- Hubbell. Ronald J. Resmini was a Board Examiner for the National Board of Trial Advocacy in 1991. Furthermore, Mr. Resmini has been awarded the honor of Massachusetts Senior Attorney of the Year for the year 2010 when Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and the Massachusetts Bar Association celebrated Excellence in the Law in May, 2010. This is a testament to Mr. Resmini’s hard-work, dedication, and determination seeking justice for his clients and improving the legal profession, not only for his clients, but all attorneys and lawyers alike. He was also awarded the Hall of Fame Award for Excellence in the Law in 2021. Mr. Resmini has been selected to the prestigious “Super Lawyers” list of top attorneys in Rhode Island for year(s) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a rigorous, multiphase rating process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. In addition, Mr. Resmini has been selected to the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys.The National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys is an organization devoted to recognizing the top Personal Injury attorneys in the nation. With over a million attorneys in the United States, choosing the best lawyer is difficult. However, through a stringent selection process, the NAOPIA awards the best Personal Injury attorneys in each state with our most prestigious honor of being named “TOP 10”. The very few attorneys (less than 1%) that are good enough to make this list have demonstrated an extraordinary amount of knowledge, skill, experience, expertise and success in their practice of Personal Injury. This dedication continues with Mr. Ronald J. Resmini at the helm with the support of his three sons, R. Jason Resmini, Esq., Adam J. Resmini, Esq., and Andrew Resmini, Esq.

A Louisiana native, Stephen Babcock has developed a reputation for taking on high-profile cases involving catastrophic personal injury matters and business disputes. Born and raised outside of Ruston, La., Stephen attended Louisiana Tech University, where he received a B.S. in marketing in 1997. Already a licensed real estate agent at the time, his intention was to go to law school and become a title attorney. However, not long after he began his studies at Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Babcock changed his mind and realized he wanted to be a trial lawyer instead. Read more below… After receiving his J.D. in 2000, he launched his legal career, joining Allstate Insurance Co., as an in-house trial attorney. A year later, he joined the law firm of McKay Williamson Lutgring & Cochran as an associate attorney handling mostly personal injury cases. In 2003, he ventured out to create his own firm, which would inevitably become Babcock Trial Lawyers. Babcock has been serving the legal needs of clients from his Baton Rouge office ever since. His practice focuses solely on litigation and he has tried cases in state and federal courts throughout Louisiana. A licensed pilot, Babcock often flies to his destinations to more efficiently make use of his time for clients. Although he never turns down the chance to try cases before juries, Babcock is also a strong proponent of alternative dispute resolution and participates in mediations and arbitrations as much as possible. His high-profile cases have included a nearly $2 million arbitration award for a hotel manager against the owner of a Hilton Hotel. He also represented the sportsmen’s organization Ducks Unlimited in a million-dollar federal lawsuit involving a New Orleans artist’s prints. Babcock filed motions for summary judgment in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on behalf of his client, and the case resulted in a voluntary dismissal. He also made the national news in early 2008 when LSU played Ohio State for the BCS National Football Championship game. Babcock — an ardent LSU football fan — was successful in convincing a state judge to delay a trial that was scheduled to occur at the same time as the game (which LSU won, 38-24). Babcock’s work has earned the recognition of a number of professional organizations. They include being named a Top Ten Personal Injury Attorney Baton Rouge by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, selection by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers of America for personal injury law and commercial litigation, a “Superb” rating in the Avvo legal directory, and “Rising Star” status by SuperLawyers magazine. In addition, Martindale-Hubbell Ratings has given Babcock its coveted Client Distinction Award, for excellence in client service. Stephen has always aspired to provide superior client service, including a 30-day client-satisfaction guarantee. Babcock is an avid outdoorsman and strong supporter of Ducks Unlimited and the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana.

Joseph Kopfler is a lawyer in Houma who focuses on Car Accident cases. He has tried cases involving insurance claims, premises liability, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, oilfield and offshore injuries, truck accidents, social security disability, sexual assault, maritime injury, catastrophic injury, boat accidents, and more.

Mr. Pearson has 30 years experience in business law, business management and consulting. He has received a Martindale-Hubbell top AV@ rating for attorneys and is President of Pearson & Paris, P.C., a prestigious Colorado law firm which emphasizes commercial transactions and litigation, real estate, banking, insurance and recreation law, and criminal defense. Mr. Pearson has an extensive background in business transactions and litigation and he routinely advises on matters related to both. He founded and is chairman of the board of RiverReach Youth Initiative, an organization that helps young people gain a sense of responsibility to their community and environment, rewarding participating youth with recreational outings. He holds a B.S. and Juris Doctorate degrees and lectures frequently in the areas of business and related liability issues including recreational liability. He is also a past contributing editor for Adventure Travel Business Magazine and the American Bicyclist. EMPLOYMENT AND PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS Founding Partner and President, Pearson & Paris, P.C. Founding Partner and President, Pearson, Horowitz & Burnett, P.C. The firm acted as general counsel for a variety of business clients on a regional, national and international level. Chairman and Founder, RiverReach Youth Initiative, a non-profit organization which provides outdoor recreational opportunities for disadvantaged population segments. RiverReach recently merged with another similar organization, cityWILD. Board Member, American Mountain Guides Association, a non-profit organization that represents the interests of American mountain guides by providing support, education and standards. Former Chairman of the Board and General Counsel, Adventure Travel Society, an international association which emphasizes the development of adventure travel and the economic benefits of eco-tourism. Former National Defense Counsel for Outfitters and Guides Insurance Program, The Connecticut Insurance Group (program was discontinued). Former Advisory Board of Trustees, American Wildlands, an international non-profit organization which emphasizes preservation of North America's natural resources. Former Board Member, Denver Rail Heritage Society, a non-profit organization which is dedicated to preserving historic rail travel in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area, including operation of a trolley system. Former Advisory Board Member, Arapahoe Community College, Colorado Springs, CO. Former Board Member and Founder, Alpenglow Mountainsport, Inc., a retail and wholesale supplier of equipment related to outdoor adventure and recreation. Licensed Colorado Real Estate Broker Certified Ski Instructor, emeritus status, Professional Ski Instructors of America Member: Denver and Colorado Bar Associations; Federal Bar Association, International Law Society; Colorado Real Estate Commission.

Carl D'Angio graduated from New England School of Law in 1989 near the top of his class concentrating his studies in the areas of real estate and asset management. After passing the bar he spent 3 years in Washington, D.C. with Ross, Dixon, and Masback, one of the Capital’s preeminent insurance defense firms. He worked on multimillion-dollar cases including Columbia Casualty v. Playtex. Since then he has practiced in Waltham, Massachusetts in a varied civil practice. His uncle, Louis D'Angio, practiced law in Waltham for more than fifty years. The family has had roots in Waltham for more than a century. Carl D'Angio has tried numerous cases in state and federal courts before both judges and juries. He has reached success in personal discrimination and employment cases, automobile accidents, product, and premises liability, construction disputes, consumer protection matters, residential and commercial landlord/tenants disputes, adverse possession litigation, and various other real estate disputes and business litigation. He has represented hundreds of people in personal bankruptcy. He's a proud member of NACBA, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. He's had cases in virtually all aspects of the Probate Court including probating of wills, administration of estates, divorce, paternity, guardianships, adoptions, will contests, petitions for partition, child support, and abuse protection orders. Atty. D'Angio prides himself on providing vigorous, common sense solutions to problems in the most efficient and affordable manner possible. Atty. D'Angio lives in Westwood with his wife and three children. He is active (president emeritus) with the Waltham Community Foundation, a local charitable organization that provides funds to other local organizations such as the Salvation Army, Boys Club, Hospice, Farmer's Market, Christmas LightingFund, and the Jewish Guild for the Blind.

Ted Whittenburg has 22 years of litigation experience and specializes in helping those who have suffered personal injuries as the result of other’s negligence. He represents clients who have been injured in motor vehicle crashes, construction accidents, slip and falls, and all other types of negligence cases, as well as those who are injured on the job. A growing number of Ted’s clients are bicyclists and pedestrians who have suffered injuries at the hands of distracted and inattentive drivers. He has represented clients in numerous catastrophic injury cases, as well as claims involving connective tissue neck and back injuries typically sustained in motor vehicle collisions. His early experience representing insured defendants has given Ted valuable insight into how insurance companies evaluate personal injury cases, which has proven invaluable in negotiating settlements for his clients.

I always knew that I wanted to start my own practice after I graduated from law school. My goal was to help people with their personal issues. Being a personal advocate to me was always taking the strongest position for your client and never giving up the fight, even when you think you might lose. The motto of "Never give up" was something that carried over throughout my career as an attorney. In 2002 I began my legal career in litigation at a plaintiff's personal injury firm. I learned the value of communicating with clients who were severely injured and were looking for compensation. Their biggest complaints were that the attorneys in the office never got back to them on what was happening with their case. So I made it my goal to always return every phone call. I never left the office for the day until every single phone call had been returned. As a young associate, I knew client communication was the number one goal to a satisfied customer. Shortly thereafter in early 2003, I felt it was time to move on, and I launched my career into criminal law at the Kings County District Attorney's Office. I was quickly thrown into the courtroom and cut my teeth on over 300 misdemeanor cases, many of which I tried to successful verdicts. I was then placed into the grand jury were I successfully indicated over 500 criminals resulting in sustainable felony charges. In 2006, I was promoted to a felony assistant. I returned to the courtroom in the Supreme Court of New York fighting for the citizens of Brooklyn. While trying numerous felony cases I quickly learned how to size up my cases early on, gather evidence that would hold up in front of a jury, and prepare my witnesses so that their stories were fluid, credible, and accurate. I won as many cases as I lost, but I learned to never be afraid to take any case to verdict, especially the tough ones, because you never know what can help. I never enjoyed being pushed around in the courtroom and I learned how to push back respectfully and diligently with the most up to date legal precedent and as much evidence as possible to prove my point. I never stopped until I found the truth and combed every piece of paper, report, or photo to find the answers I was seeking. I always went the extra mile to find as many witnesses as possible and as much evidence as I could to win. In 2007 I began to feel that I needed to make a change in my career. I returned to civil litigation. I spent a number of years in private practice where I defended insurance companies on complex litigation matters. I am extremely glad that I made the switch because it gave me the opportunity to learn the behind the scene decisions of insurance adjusters and lengths they will go in order to deny your claim. Additionally, I learned how litigate complex matters breaking down the issues to handle them effectively. I never thought of myself as a "defense guy" and I knew my skills were better equipped for a plaintiff's practice. The decisions the insurance companies made in denying claims against parties that were truly injured I believed were performed in error. In 2010 I made the decision to open my own law firm. I knew that I wanted to devote myself to taking on smaller clients that needed personal attention and were looking for guidance. I was fortunate enough to be selective in the types of cases that I took on in my practice. I did not want to treat my clients like they were just a name and number whose file was sitting on a shelf. I made it my business to know my clients personally, give them as much individual attention so that they feel that they are my only client. In my current practice I bring intuitive trial skills along with my communication skills. I still make it my number one priority to personally return every phone message I receive. Additionally, I guide my clients through every step of the litigation. I like to make them feel they are part of the process. I know my clients appreciate my diligence and hard work. Lastly, I've learned to take on the difficult cases, and I know that there are times when you have to force your adversary into the courtroom. I am not afraid to lose, and it's that confidence which has made me successful.