Settlements, Cases,
Testimonials, Modern Media News

2005, April       

Record settlement for a type of
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

  Attorney credits settlement video
produced by Doug vanderHoof

Plaintiff was an off-the-charts brilliant, high-achieving professional who got a bump on the head in a low-speed MVA.  Pf showed almost no signs of injury externally or on MRI's, but became so cognitively challenged, she had to quit her private practice, her place on many supervisory professional boards, and her extremely active social life.

Pf firm made a demand of $400,000, practically ignored by the defense, who thought plaintiff would have no chance at trial.  Since the plaintiff was still attractive and seemed functional, plaintiff counsel needed a way to bring home her loss.

Doug vanderHoof produced a settlement video (settlement video info) consisting entirely of interviews with friends, all very credible, including the Chief Justice of a state supreme court, and with treaters, including neuro-psychologists, a psychiatrist, physiatrist, oral surgeon, speech pathologist, and rehab specialists.

Pf counsel were so encouraged by this new video formulation of the evidence, they sent it to the defense with a demand raised to $1.2million.  The defense settled in a few days for over $1 million.

Pf counsel, Michael Nelson and Frederick Langer, of Seattle-based Nelson, Tyler, Langer, gives great weight to the effect of the video on the outcome.  "I'm a believer," said Nelson on recent visit to Chicago.

2002, May

Pf firm uses Doug vanderHoof's
media productions in
class action over toxic air in cabins.

Pf's include Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO, and Teamsters, over toxic air in passenger cabins.

Doug vanderHoof helped make the case in an airline safety class action. 

Interviews, including heart-wrenching stories of former athletes permanently disabled by toxic chemicals in cabin air, coupled with animations detailing a mass of arcane detail about airliner design and operation, made a powerful case against airlines and manufacturers.

The presentations were shown to US Congressional committees, on the CBS Evening News, and were used to explain the suit to potential class members among flight attendants and pilots.

Ensuing Congressional action was prompted in part by the attention engendered with this suit.