When a defendant says “sorry” for harming your client, look closely at the content and context of the apology. Early in a case, a defendant’s apology may benefit your client. If the apology is genuine and complete (i.e., accompanied by a fair settlement offer), it is likely to give your client emotional closure. In some cases, a client may need emotional closure before considering a fair settlement offer in the first place. The apology may help mend the relationship between parties.
Alternatively, even when the defendant’s apology is not accompanied by a fair settlement offer, the apology may signal that the defendant would like to settle. Or, the apology itself may contain factual admissions useful to guide your discovery. But once you reach trial, it is too late to apologize. “Sorry” becomes strategy, and these potential benefits disappear.
Appointed to 2017 Queen’s Bench Board of Directors
December 8, 2016
We are pleased to announce that has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Queen’s Bench Bar Association. In addition to her new position, Wong will continue to serve as co-chair of the Mentorship Committee.
Queen’s Bench is a non-profit organization comprised of attorneys, judges and law students who seek to advance the interests of women in law and society, as well as promote equality and opportunities for all women through education, programs, and community outreach.
Anthony Label Elected 2017 San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association President
December 8, 2016
We are pleased to announce that Trial Team Leader Anthony Label has been elected as the President of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (SFTLA) for 2017. Prior to his Presidential position, Label served on the Board of Directors for SFTLA since 2005, and on its Executive Board since 2014.
KTVU Interviews Steven Kronenberg Regarding Legal Liability Issues in Recent Thanksgiving Meal Tragedy
December 5, 2016
San Francisco Bay Area health officials are trying to determine what caused the death of three people and sickened at least another 18 after eating a church-sponsored Thanksgiving feast held at the American Legion in Antioch, California. While the cause of this tragedy has yet to be determined, Steven Kronenberg weighs in on potential legal liability issues in his interview with KTVU.
Elinor Leary Appointed to the Justice & Diversity Center Board of Directors
December 2, 2016
The Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) has appointed Elinor Leary to its 2017 Board of Directors. Leary previously served as a member of BASF’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service program.
Steven Kronenberg Quoted in Sonoma County Gazette Discussing the Mexicali Rose Rule for Restaurant Liability
December 2, 2016
For more than 20 years, the “Mexicali Rose Rule” has governed personal injury cases that stem from harm caused by restaurant food, particularly choking cases. The rule applies different liability standards for injuries caused by “foreign” objects or “natural” substances.
San Francisco Examiner and SF Gate Report on The Veen Firm’s Lawsuit Against the City and County of San Francisco for Negligent Pruning
December 2, 2016
As seen in the San Francisco Examiner and SF Gate, The Veen Firm filed a lawsuit against the City and County of San Francisco on behalf of Emma Zhou and her family. A negligently pruned pine tree in Washington Square Park caused a 100-pound tree branch to break off and fall on top of her, and as a result she experienced extensive injuries including a severed spinal cord, brain damage and permanent paralysis below the waist.
The Veen Firm Files Lawsuit: Untrained & Unlicensed Security Guard Brutally Attacks Patron at Sacramento Bar
November 29, 2016
The Veen Firm filed a lawsuit against the restaurant/bar The Red Rabbit and Tyler Erickson, one of the establishment’s security guards, on behalf of KS, who was physically removed from the venue and then beaten. The complaint alleges battery and negligent hiring, training and supervision.
The Veen Firm Files Lawsuit Against City and County of San Francisco, After Woman Left Paralyzed by Falling Branch
November 29, 2016
The Veen Firm, a San Francisco-based law firm focusing on personal injury matters, filed a lawsuit against the City and County of San Francisco on behalf of the Zhou family. The lawsuit claims that the negligent pruning and maintenance of a pine tree at the Washington Square Park playground caused a 100-pound tree branch to break off and fall on 36-year-old Emma Zhou, resulting in a severed spinal cord, brain damage and permanent paralysis below the waist.
Lawsuit Filed Against New American Homes, Inc. After Worker Suffers Severe Injuries from Fall at Dangerous Construction Site
November 22, 2016
Trial Attorneys Elinor Leary and Clifton Smoot filed a lawsuit against homebuilding company New American Homes, Inc. after electrician Celerino Mejia fell from an elevated height while working on a construction site in Concord, California, resulting in severe head trauma and other serious injuries.
David L. Winnett Speaks at Marin County Bar Association’s CLE Event
November 16, 2016
David L. Winnett speaks at the Marin County Bar Association’s (MCBA) lunch session titled “The Realities of Working with a Trial Consultant…No ‘Bull’” on November 16, discussing best practices for jury selection. He also outlines the pros and cons of using professional trial consultants and their impact on the presentation of a case.
Craig Peters Elected 2017 CAOC Vice President 4; Steven Kronenberg, Anthony Label, Elinor Leary and Andje Medina Elected to Board of Governors
November 15, 2016
Underscoring their commitment to one of the largest plaintiff’s organizations in California, five attorneys with The Veen Firm have been elected for 2017 leadership positions with Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC). Craig Peters will serve as CAOC’s 2017 Vice President 4; Anthony Label as the Board of Governors; and Steven Kronenberg, Elinor Leary and Andje Medina as Board of Governors at Large for the Northern District. They were sworn in at the November 12, 2016 ceremony.
Labor 411: Ask The Expert | Alexandra Hamilton (November 2016)
November 8, 2016
I was seriously injured by a gunshot at my workplace. The shooter was never caught. I am now unable to work at my regular job, and I have no income. What can I do?
Four Veen Attorneys Present at 2016 CAOC Hawaii Travel Seminar
November 4, 2016
Andje Medina, William Veen, David Winnett and will present at the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) 2016 Hawaii Travel Seminar from November 26 – December 3 at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui, Hawaii. The Veen Firm is also one of the sponsors of the event.
Four Veen Attorneys to Present at 55th Annual CAOC Convention in San Francisco
November 1, 2016
Alexandra Hamilton, Elinor Leary, Craig Peters and are presenting at the Consumer Attorneys of California’s (CAOC) 55th Annual Convention from November 10-13 in San Francisco.
The Veen Firm Ranked on the 2017 “Best Law Firms” List by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®
November 1, 2016
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® ranked The Veen Firm on the 2017 “Best Law Firms” list in the Metropolitan Tier 1 Ranking in San Francisco for their work in personal injury and product liability litigation.
Truck Driver Suffers Severe Injuries: The Veen Firm Files Lawsuit Against Farmington Fresh Sales
October 31, 2016
Trial Team Leader Elinor Leary and Attorney Clifton Smoot filed a lawsuit against Farmington Fresh Sales, LLC, for negligence and negligent hiring, supervision, and training. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Ronny Reynoso, who was severely injured on Farmington Fresh’s property after two forklifts collided resulting in steel materials hitting Reynoso in the head.
Anthony Label Selected to 2016 Northern California Super Lawyers Top 100 List
October 27, 2016
Anthony Label was selected for inclusion on the 2016 Northern California Super Lawyers Top 100 list for his work in personal injury litigation. This marks the second year Label has been selected for inclusion on the “Top 100” list after being named a Super Lawyer for the past five years.
Elinor Leary Leads Workshop for USF School of Law’s Criminal and Juvenile Justice Law Clinic
October 27, 2016
On November 8, Elinor Leary will lead a seminar for the USF School of Law’s Criminal and Juvenile Justice Clinic. The Clinic provides a select group of advanced law students the opportunity to represent clients in ongoing adult and juvenile criminal matters.
Tip skimming (when restaurant owners and managers take tips that belong to their employees) is an underreported problem. A recent Seattle survey of restaurant staff found just six percent complained about tip skimming. ( http://www.thestranger.com/food-and-drink/feature/2015/11/18/23160220/do-you-know-where-your-tip-goes.) However, a similar survey of sexual harassment among restaurant workers found reported rates of 15 percent that increased to 90 percent when more specific questions were presented. (Ibid.) It is also difficult to measure the extent of this problem, because many patrons leave cash tips that may not be documented. (See http://thetruthaboutbartending.com/2012/01/26/bar-manager-theft/.) But based on the relatively high number of tip skimming claims against well-known restaurants and the scope of published settlements, the problem appears to be substantial and pervasive.
What happens when you have advocated, litigated, and readied your case for mediation only to be told by the mediator that one defendant has a burning limits policy and a significant portion of the policy has been spent on defending the action? It is important to recognize a burning limits policy early in the case, and to devise a strategy to deal with it.
Workers injured during the course of employment may be entitled to compensation not only through a workers’ compensation claim, but also through a personal injury claim against third party non-employers. For the injured victim to receive the compensation they deserve, cooperation between the workers’ compensation attorney and the personal injury attorney is imperative.
KTVU Reports on Lawsuit Filed Against UC Board of Regents by Attorney Elinor Leary
October 17, 2016
In an in-depth story reported by KTVU, Elinor Leary filed a lawsuit against the UC Board of Regents on behalf of Madison Stockton, a former member of the UC Berkeley women’s crew team, alleging that she suffered a back injury because her former coach did not train or supervise her during a weightlifting session that involved a heavy and technically difficult lift.
has been invited to be a guest lecturer at Menlo College’s real estate litigation class on October 14. Wong will educate students about the duties of residential and commercial property owners regarding property maintenance and the circumstances under which owners may be legally responsible for injuries due to unsafe conditions on their property.
The Veen Firm is proud to sponsor Consumer Attorneys of California’s (CAOC) Diversity Mixer on October 6, 2016 at the Monroe in San Francisco. Our very own is the current Education Committee Chair of CAOC’s Diversity Committee.
Six Attorneys on Northern California Super Lawyers List and Four Attorneys on Rising Stars List for 2016
September 29, 2016
Congratulations to attorneys Anthony Label, Kevin Lancaster, Elinor Leary, Craig Peters, Bill Veen and David Winnett for their inclusion on the 2016 Northern California Super Lawyers list for their work in personal injury matters. Additionally, Jeremy Cloyd, Alexandra Hamilton, Andje Medina and were selected for inclusion on the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2016.
The Daily Californian Profiles Lawsuit Filed Against UC Board of Regents
September 29, 2016
As reported in The Daily Californian, Elinor Leary filed a lawsuit against the UC Board of Regents on behalf of Madison Stockton, a former member of the UC Berkeley women’s crew team, alleging she suffered a back injury because her former coach did not train or supervise her during a weightlifting session that involved a heavy and technically difficult lift.
U.S. News & World Report Turns to Steven Kronenberg to Discuss Blue Bell Listeria Recall
September 22, 2016
A year after the ice cream company Blue Bell recalled all of its products for listeria contamination, select flavors of its ice cream were again recalled for a similar problem. The creamery blames its vendor, Aspen Hills, that supplied Blue Bell with cookie dough; however, a statement by Aspen Hills noted that “the positive listeria results were obtained by Blue Bell only after our product has been in their control for almost two months.” Blue Bell, in turn, stated that its testing identified listeria in the supplier’s unopened containers.
Small Property Owners Institute Speaking Engagement: Duties as Landlords and Property Owners
September 21, 2016
spoke to nearly 250 residential landlords at the Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute discussing pertinent duties as landlords and property owners, including unsafe conditions and how to avoid premises liability claims. Landlords also learned how to take preventative measures to reduce the risk of injury on their property.
The Veen Firm Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department for the Death of Four People
September 20, 2016
— Sheriff’s deputies failed to arrest drunk driver, allegedly leading to the death of four young individuals —
San Francisco, CA-Attorney Steven Kronenberg of The Veen Firm, a San Francisco-based law firm specializing in catastrophic personal injury matters, filed a wrongful death lawsuit today against the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department on behalf of Patricia DeAngelis, the mother of sixteen-year-old Rose Bio, who died along with three other people in a fatal car accident after a high-speed police chase.
San Francisco, CA– The Veen Firm, a San Francisco-based law firm specializing in personal injury matters, welcomes attorney Cliff Smoot. Smoot’s practice includes handling complex personal and catastrophic injury cases ranging from wrongful death to construction and worksite conditions, including defective products, dangerous property conditions, negligent security, and collisions between cars, trucks, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Branch Falls From Dangerously Pruned Tree, Paralyzing Woman: The Veen Firm File Claim Against City and County of San Francisco
September 19, 2016
San Francisco, CA– The Veen Firm, a San Francisco-based law firm focusing on personal injury matters, filed a claim on behalf of the Zhou family against the City and County of San Francisco. The claim states that the City negligently pruned pine trees in Washington Square Park causing a 100-pound tree branch to break off and fall on 36-year-old Emma Zhou, resulting in a severed spinal cord, brain damage and permanent paralysis below the waist.
I was injured at work when a railing gave way and I fell off a walkway at the factory. I have since found out that the factory is owned and maintained by a company that owns my company. I settled my workers’ compensation case against my company, but I still have a lot of bills that haven’t been paid and I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to return to work. What are my options?
Elinor Leary Selected as Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers
September 2, 2016
Congratulations to Elinor Leary who has been invited to join The National Trial Lawyers organization as a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer for 2016. This invitation recognizes Leary’s extraordinary trial work in the personal injury space.
Multiple Veen Firm Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in Best Lawyers List for 2017
August 15, 2016
Anthony Label, Elinor Leary, Andje Medina, Craig Peters, William Veen and Kevin Lancaster have been selected to the Best Lawyers List for 2017. Best Lawyers is one of the oldest and most respected Peer-Review Publications in the legal profession.
Craig Peters Inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL)
July 29, 2016
Craig M. Peters, Esq. of The Veen Firm in San Francisco, CA was recently inducted as a Fellow into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL) at their Mid-Year Meeting held July 27-31, 2016 at Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah.
Labor 411: Ask The Expert | Steven Kronenberg (July 2016)
July 27, 2016
I am a female who was seriously hurt at work while using a nail gun with a defective trigger. My foreman said that I got what I deserved – everyone knows that nail guns are dangerous, and like he always says, a woman’s place is in the kitchen. Can the tool manufacturer avoid responsibility by blaming me for my injuries? And do I have to put up with these sexist comments?
I was operating a power press machine at work when the die unexpectedly came down on my hand causing me serious injury. I am now unable to work. What are my options?
