Join us for three hours as we discuss the cases that get a little trickier than the red car and blue car, including:
Complexities and updates in government/1983,
Vulnerable adult/nursing care,
UM/UIM claims,
Medical malpractice, and
Jury/expert selection
Chairperson: Matt Schmidt*, Schmidt Sethi & Akmajian
Faculty: Peter Akmajian, Schmidt Sethi & Akmajian Anna Ceder, Ceder Legal Lisa Kimmel, Goldberg & Osborne Adam Pelz, Pelz Law PLC Andrew Petersen, Humphrey & Petersen PC
Peter Akmajian is a trial lawyer with 30+ years of experience and 40 jury trials in Tucson, Phoenix, Yuma, Bisbee and Nogales under his belt. These trials have mainly involved serious personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death. He was a civil defense lawyer for many years before making the switch to the plaintiff's side recently. Since 1998, Peter has been certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death, and he is a long-time member of the State Bar's Commission that vets potential specialists. Peter is honored to have been inducted into three organizations recognizing outstanding trial work: the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the International Society of Barristers. He is also a long-time member of another prestigious trial lawyer organization, the American Board of Trial Advocates. Peter is honored to have served as a judicial law clerk for Vice-Chief Justice Frank X. Gordon of the Arizona Supreme Court, from 1984 – 1985. Peter graduated from the University of Arizona for both undergraduate and law school (B.A., with distinction 1980) (J.D., with distinction 1984).
Anna Ceder graduated from the James E. Rogers College of Law in 2007. Following a clerkship with the Honorable Deborah Bernini, Anna joined James R. Farley & Associates to defend Farmers insureds. Anna joined Lisa A. Duran & Associates in September 2009 and represented State Farm insureds in the defense of first- and third-party auto suits, as well as third party homeowner and business liability claims. After leaving in-house work, Anna worked for the Grasso Law Firm and continued to represent insureds in various suits. In 2021, Anna joined Curl, Glasson & Patrascioiu where her practice has expanded to include other aspects of civil litigation.
Anna has tried over 10 cases to verdict and countless others through the discovery process and ADR. In 2021, Anna started a civil ADR practice, Ceder Legal, where she applies her litigation experience and passion for helping people understand their legal issues. Anna sits on the board for Owl and Panther and on the founding board for Step Up to Justice. She is a passionate pro bono volunteer, and has been recognized for her pro bono efforts. Anna spends her time away from defense work with the people she loves most: her husband and three daughters, and the invaluable community members who strive to increase access to justice.
Lisa Kimmel graduated from University of San Diego School of Law in 1990. Since then she has predominantly practiced personal injury cases including cases involving the most vulnerable in our community including children and elderly. Lisa is a State Bar of Arizona Board-Certified Specialist in personal injury and wrongful death. Lisa has successfully arbitrated and tried cases including wrongful death, Adult Protective Services Act (APSA) and other complex cases. Lisa has litigated appellate cases which resulted in two published opinions including an opinion specifically relating to APSA. Lisa has been a partner in a number of firms during her 30-year career. Lisa is currently the Tucson District Managing Attorney at Goldberg & Osborne where she handles all types of personal injury cases including wrongful death and APSA cases. Lisa volunteers on boards and other community groups focusing on elderly and the indigent in our community. She is also a member of American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Lisa has two adult children and in her spare time enjoys golf, biking, watching football and her and her husband enjoy their two dogs, Bella and Charles.
Adam Pelz is AV rated and has been selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars multiple years. Mr. Pelz has extensive experience taking on insurance companies and corporations who try to minimize or dismiss his clients’ claims. He represents his clients with diligence and force. Mr. Pelz takes a limited number of cases so that he is able to give each client the attention that their claim deserves.
Mr. Pelz is an active member of the Arizona Bar Association, Pima County Bar Association, United States District Court District of Arizona, and the Arizona Association for Justice-Arizona Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Pelz is the immediate part-president of the Western Trial Lawyers Association and continues to serve that board as well. Outside of work Mr. Pelz enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and three children.
Andrew Petersen’s practice emphasizes civil defense litigation, primarily in the areas of insurance law, municipal and civil rights defense, professional malpractice, contract law and indemnification, and appellate litigation. He has also represented clients at trial and in significant appellate court cases in both the state and federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court. He has authored numerous articles on legal issues, including an annotation on constitutional tort claims. He has also written and presented papers on aesthetics and existentialism. Andrew earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995, and graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Arizona with a degree in English and Political Science in 1992. Andrew is a member of several legal organizations and non-legal organizations including the Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (President 2009), the Tucson Defense Bar, and the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel.
Matthew Schmidt is a partner at Schmidt Sethi & Akmajian, a plaintiff's firm in Tucson, Arizona focused on complex personal injury law. He graduated from the James E Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona and passed the Arizona bar exam in 2010. Matt's primary interest in law focuses on general personal injury, insurance bad faith and police misconduct.Matt was honored as one of Tucson's 40 under 40 by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Daily Star in 2014. In addition to serving his clients, Matt is president of the Engage Foundation, a nonprofit that provides free, fun and underrated recreational activities to underprivileged kids. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Empower Coalition, a group of young professionals organized to improve lives in the greater Tucson community by empowering charitable organizations with resources necessary to carrying out their missions. Matt teaches law students and lawyers about both modern technology and mindfulness in the stressful legal environment. He wrote a column called "Techno-Law-gically Speaking" and now writes one called "Mind your Mind" in the Writ, the Pima County Bar Association Newsletter. In May 2011, Matt won 2nd place in the Arizona Attorney's creative arts competition for his fictional piece “The Taker.” In June 2010, Matt and his dad (Ted Schmidt) co-authored “Taking the ‘Strict' Out of Products Liability Law,” a feature article in the Arizona Attorney. Together, they also co-authored multiple sections of the Products Liability chapter of the 2012 Arizona Tort Law Handbook published by the State Bar of Arizona. In law school, Matt served as a legal extern for Senator Jon Kyl in Washington D.C. on the Judiciary Committee for the subcommittee of Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security in the Fall of 2008. He won the Andrew Silverman Law Student Community Service Award in the 2009-2010 for his leadership on the Community Service Board and orchestration of several community service events for law students to participate in. When he is not practicing law, writing or traveling, Matt enjoys participating in or watching just about any sporting event. Matt also enjoys staying active in the community and spends lots of time growing Engage.
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