James G. Perry | Atticus Injury Law

Mr. Perry is a trial and litigation attorney with Atticus Injury Law, with a practice focused on a broad spectrum of personal injury matters, including catastrophic injury, wrongful death, government liability, and premises liability. He obtained his undergraduate degree at Cal Poly Pomona and later his law degree at UC Berkeley (“Cal”). Mr. Perry handles products liability actions, as his background in mechanical engineering provides a unique ability to analyze technology-heavy consumer matters. His diverse background, exceptional credentials, intellectual curiosity, and relentless drive form the foundation of his ability to fight for his clients and secure favorable results in any type of personal injury or products liability matter.

Hon. Halim Dhanidina | Signature Resolution

The Honorable Halim Dhanidina (Ret.) brings more than 25 years of legal experience to Signature Resolution. With his background as a lawyer, Superior Court judge, and Court of Appeal justice, he offers impartiality and perceptiveness as a neutral party. Justice Dhanidina is no stranger to challenges and credits his success to his unique career overseeing different facets of the trial process. His experience as a lawyer, coupled with his nine years in the California Second District Court of Appeal and Los Angeles County Superior Court, has broadened his perspective of the legal system and deepened his understanding of each role’s distinct challenges. Justice Dhanidina got his start with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, continuously moving up throughout his tenure. Through his work, he dealt directly with those most impacted by the criminal justice system, contributing to his comprehensive understanding of the court system and the communities most affected by it.

In 2012, Justice Dhanidina was the first Muslim superior court judge appointed in the State of California and enjoyed being back in the courtroom to ensure fair trials. During this time, he presided over multiple notable cases that significantly impacted both his career and those affected by the verdict, including the case of People v. Moroney, in which he performed an in-depth exploration into alleged discriminatory patterns by the Long Beach Police Department against LGBTQIA+ residents in Long Beach.

After nearly six years as a superior court judge, Justice Dhanidina became the first South Asian justice in California and the first Muslim Court of Appeal justice in the U.S. Most of his time was dedicated to research, reviewing case briefs, writing opinions, and discussing case matters with panelists. There he gained great respect from his colleagues on the trial court, having reviewed nearly 1,000 appeals spanning various disciplines, including family, employment, business litigation, and probate. Additionally, Justice Dhanidina had the opportunity to bring a contemporary perspective to cases where the authority in place was based on antiquated judgments.

Justice Dhanidina believes a successful neutral must possess the ability to be sensitive to the needs and goals of everyone involved to run a fair and effective courtroom, prioritizing listening over speaking to better understand the motivations and intentions of both sides. His extensive experience teaching trial practice at the University of California, Los Angeles, University of California Irvine, and Chapman University law schools furthers his credibility as a reputable mediator who understands the ins and outs of trial court and successfully resolving issues. Moreover, Justice Dhanidina was one of five alumni judges selected for the University of California, Los Angeles Law School’s list of 70 trailblazing alumni to commemorate its 70th anniversary in 2019. As a neutral at Signature Resolution, Justice Dhanidina aims to bring an engaged mediation style based on having discussions before and after depositions to ensure parties are heard, understood and receive a fair resolution.

Zachary Pyers | Reminger Co., L.P.

Zach Pyers is a Partner in the Columbus, Ohio office of Reminger Co., L.P.A. His practice focuses on a wide variety of litigation and emerging technologies. He is a host of the Reminger Report Podcast on Emerging Technologies and is a co-author of the book Ridesharing Law and Liability, published by the American Bar Association. Zach is an Adjunct Professor at Capital University Law School where he teaches several courses focusing on litigation and emerging technologies, including Depositions, Expert Witnesses, E-Discovery, and Ridesharing and Autonomous Vehicle Litigation.

Session I – Advanced Litigation Strategies and Insurance Challenges in Rideshare and Delivery Accident Cases | 1:00pm -3:10pm

• Liability structures in rideshare and delivery models
  • Distinctions between rideshare (e.g., Uber, Lyft) and delivery services (e.g., Doordash, Uber Eats)
  • Legal implications of driver classification (independent contractor vs. Employee)
  • Impact of recent case law and regulatory changes on liability
• Layered insurance structures
  • Differences in coverage between personal auto, rideshare, and commercial policies
  • Case studies defining coverage for passengers, pedestrians, and third parties
• Multi-defendant claims
  • Pursuing claims against drivers, rideshare companies, and insurers
  • Navigating comparative fault and liability when multiple parties are involved
  • Strategies for negotiating with corporate and insurance defendants
• Establishing negligence and causation in multi-defendant cases
  • Evidence gathering for driver and company negligence
  • Techniques for accident reconstruction and using driver data to support claims

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

• Advanced discovery techniques
  • Strategies for gathering company data on driver screening, training, and safety compliance
  • Using data discovery to establish patterns of negligence and systemic safety issues
• Damage valuation in complex rideshare and delivery cases
  • Approaches for calculating economic and non-economic damages in severe injuries
  • Assessing long-term care, future income loss, and life care plans for catastrophic injuries
  • Trends in awarding punitive damages in cases involving rideshare companies
• Negotiating and mediating multi-party settlements
  • Strategies for mediating settlements with multiple defendants
  • Leveraging expert testimony and visuals for stronger settlement positioning
  • Effective negotiation tactics when dealing with corporate counsel and insurers
• Trial preparation and presentation
  • Crafting persuasive narratives when representing against corporate defendants
  • Presenting technical data and expert testimony effectively in court

Break | 3:10pm – 3:20pm

Session II – Emerging Trends and Legal Theories in E-Bike and E-Scooter Accident Litigation | 3:20pm – 4:20pm

• Laws and Regulations related to e-bikes and e-scooters
• Parties and theories of liability related to vehicle collisions involving e bikes or e-scooters
• Insight into the investigation of a vehicle collision involving an e-bike or e-scooter
• Defense and insurance related issues to be mindful of