Full Transcript for Why Settling Too Often Puts You on the Carrier's Safe List Now ft. Ryan Wechsler | Ep. 101

able to generate business, it takes pressure off of you to have to generate as much business as you otherwise might need to. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:35.520 So that was certainly a pressure point, you know, knowing that I'm gonna have to maintain the amount of business I've been bringing in over, you know, X amount of years to have my business sustain. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:42.080 And then the other part, of course, is administrative responsibilities uh are no longer divided up. 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:44.159 It's a one-man show. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:46.639 And for sure, heavy lies the crown. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:50.159 So it that definitely created additional pressures. 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:56.400 Whereas at my at my former firm, you know, I was kind of the litigator at the firm. 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:58.719 I was the one that was taking cases to trial. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.439 I had the largest litigation caseload. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:17.360 And I was able to be a full-time pretty much 99% of my hours were spent litigating, whereas now I have to be able to uh assess my time and divide up my time with the other responsibilities throughout the company. 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:24.639 And you know, a lot of that, you know, we can talk about, but you know, there's HR standpoints of the firm that I have to deal with. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:32.960 There's administrative components of the firm, there's the software in the firm, there's the hardware in the firm, there's the tech, there's the bills that have to be paid. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:34.639 So it's a big responsibility. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:37.039 There's a lot more on my plate. 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:43.520 I would say there's a different assortment of dishes now on my plate, whereas before I was able to just focus on one thing. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:45.360 Hi, quick question for you. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:49.919 Does lean resolution administration feel like a quiet bottleneck inside your firm? 00:03:49.919 --> 00:04:00.000 Medical liens, Medicare compliance follow-ups, and documentation can drag on long after the case is resolved, tying up capital and attention your team can be using elsewhere. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:01.759 This is where Synergy can help. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:14.719 We partner with personal injury law firms to handle complex healthcare lien resolution and compliance work, helping firms move cases to resolution more efficiently without adding internal burden or more overhead. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:23.040 If that sounds like something your firm is dealing with, you can learn more by clicking the link in the show notes or scanning the QR code on the screen. 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:24.959 Now back to the conversation. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:46.800 That's a a challenging issue that you've brought up and one that we've talked about a lot on the podcast, which is you know, what point do you get to a point in the practice where you need other people that have areas of expertise like a COO, a CFO, you know, C-suite. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:05:05.040 Obviously, you guys are are newer in starting out, but what challenges have you found within all of that that you may not have faced previously now that you've jumped with two feet into all the aspects of running a law firm? 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:15.279 I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and uh I have to be able to give certain things up that I otherwise would not want to and be comfortable with. 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:22.800 I'm fortunate that my wife is uh a lot smarter than me, and she's also an attorney, so she is my partner. 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:38.399 And I've been able to delegate to her a lot of administrative responsibilities that I simply can't deal with on my own while managing the caseload that I'm handling and preparing cases for trial and all that comes with that. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:49.279 Because I'm very much a hands-on practitioner, I'm not just a business owner, and I think that's what separates me from some of you know my colleagues is like I'm out here practicing. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:52.720 I'm not just running a law firm, and it's very hard to do both. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:06:02.879 But the fact that my wife is in my life uh has been a blessing because it's really accelerated um the progress of our firm in a very, very short time. 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:18.720 Because it now at this point, you know, we have you know 250 to 300 cases, uh, we have a hundred in litigation, and um we have you know approaching 10 employees, and we've been able to do that all in under a year. 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:23.759 Um, and so having my wife has made that possible. 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:41.199 I can tell you very confidently, this firm would not even have 50% of the progress that it's made without her because her ability to handle those administrative components has enabled me to continue my forte, which is practicing law and pushing cases. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:55.680 How exactly did you guys go about when you formed the firm figuring out, well, what and it it is pretty cool that you get to practice with your wife, you know, how do you figure out, especially as a married couple, well, what are you gonna do? 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:56.800 What are you gonna do? 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:02.480 And how do we make this work inside the firm and also when you get home outside? 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:05.519 Because you got that dynamic going on as well. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:09.120 I think it started with babe, you're gonna need to help me. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:13.040 And uh, you know, my wife was like, okay, you know, let's roll. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:14.399 That that that's how she is. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:16.560 And you know, she and I are very similar. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:19.360 Uh, so it started with just that. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:33.040 And um from there, as the firm has very rapidly grown and become self-sustaining, her role has kind of morphed on

its own. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:41.199 And she just knows that you know, as great of a litigator as my wife is, and she is, she's she's she was litigated her entire career. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.199 She's also an appellate lawyer. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:49.680 Um, with our young kids at home, it's harder for her to practice full time. 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:55.120 Because to be a very good practitioner, you have to put in a lot of hours litigating. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:57.439 It just it just is what it is. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:05.920 Uh, and I don't think that that's something she really wanted to do right now because of the fact that we have two young daughters at home. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:07.600 We have a two-year-old and a four-year-old. 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:11.519 And at the time you were starting the firm, uh, it was a three-year-old and a one-year-old. 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:18.480 So um I think for her, we knew what she wanted, which is I need to step away from law for a little bit. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:22.000 I can do some special projects, which is where she's at her best. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:24.879 Um, and then Ryan, you handle all the litigation. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:27.680 And for me, I was like, great, that's what I love to do. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:30.319 I like to fight with people every single day of my life. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:38.960 So her role kind of morphed in the sense that the the bifurcation of the firm's responsibilities were administrative and case handling. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:44.960 And I've just taken over the case handling and she's taken over most of these administrative responsibilities to free me up. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:56.000 So, yeah, in doing some prep work for the podcast, I saw a social post you did quoting Tony Soprano that you may not love me, but you'll respect me. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:09:10.399 And when saying an insurance company doesn't have to like you, but they've got to take a case seriously and bring real money, or you'll see them in court, insurance carriers know you will take a case to trial and ultimately to verdict. 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:16.240 And that reputation can drive the right outcome for your injured client. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:20.399 How do you think about trial reputation as a business asset? 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:26.399 And can a firm never try cases and really compete in terms of extracting case value? 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:31.679 I've got to be able to manage which cases I'm going to push to that limit. 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:34.240 And I've got to be able to manage client expectations. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:38.000 So it's kind of about knowing your inventory and managing your client. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.120 I'm never going to put my interest before my clients. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:42.960 That that's just a rule of thumb for me. 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:44.000 That's the way I practice. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:46.240 That's the way it's always going to be at this firm. 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:50.799 Um, but you've got to, this again goes to time management. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:54.240 You have to know how to spend your time and where. 00:09:54.240 --> 00:10:06.320 Um and if you're going to take a case to trial, especially now as a solo practice, well, I'm not technically a solo practitioner because I do have my wife as my partner and I do have heavy staff. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:14.559 But um, I if I'm gonna push a case to trial, it's going to pull me away from a lot of the other things I have to do. 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:16.480 So I have to manage that wisely. 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:24.639 And I think really it just boils down to knowing your inventory and um managing your client and their expectations. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:31.279 And if you can do that across the board, I think usually things will work themselves out and cases will resolve. 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:34.240 And there's going to be just that small percentage that end up going to trial. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:42.639 You've litigated thousands of cases across auto trucking, boating, premises, liability with million and multi-million dollar results. 00:10:42.639 --> 00:11:01.039 When a case comes through your door now, what tells you whether it is a case you think is very likely that will need to be tried versus one that ultimately should resolve short of the courthouse steps? 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:07.039 Early on, it's tough to say which ones will go to trial, but there's always some indicators. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:34.399 You know, when there's a big crash, big policy, big injuries, and a liability dispute, that's a case that um from the you know empirical data would suggest is more likely than others to go to trial because what we will be fighting over could be existential to my case, and what we're fighting over could be existential to their case. 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:45.200 So, you know, when you have that kind of a divide on liability with these kinds of stakes, it certainly amplifies the likelihood that that case will go to trial. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:56.879 And most times when I've gone to trial, uh, those have been the ingredients big damages, big crash, uh liability disputed heavily by both sides. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:20.159 In terms of the way you prepare your cases, uh what do you do to make sure that your cases, regardless of what you know at the start, are prepared in such a way that if you do need to try it, it is put in the right position for success when you go to try that case. 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:23.360 I was just talking about this with my team today. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.840 I had a meeting with my entire firm. 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:27.759 And it starts at the intake level. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:33.039 It it starts with handling the case the right way from the get-go. 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:41.840 And uh, you know, that means from the initial intake call, you're taking down

as much information as you possibly can relevant to the case. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:50.960 Uh launching the right kind of investigation into the case, you know, however might be necessary, depending on the facts of the case and and all that. 00:12:50.960 --> 00:13:06.480 Now, getting, for example, if you have a liability dispute early on, immediately get an expert out there to download you know the crash data from both vehicles and to do a full comprehensive site inspection, you know, things like that. 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:09.919 And there's a myriad of things I could I could go all day. 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:17.519 There's a laundry list of things you can do to create that foundation for each case, but that's what has to be done. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:19.679 You have to start the work from the get-go. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:21.519 And then from there, you can't stop. 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:27.120 You know, you can't get lazy on a case because um those gaps can end up destroying a case. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:31.200 Those those those gaps in attention and care to the case can destroy it. 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:38.799 So, what I was telling my team today, you know, I had everyone in there from my trial paralegals to my intake specialist. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:43.600 You know, the intake specialist is who uh really puts fingerprints on the case first. 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:52.879 My trial paralegal is who's um prepare helping prepare my exhibits and present my exhibits and go over and present my arguments uh for trial. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:55.120 So you got the very beginning to the very end. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:14:04.159 And I had them all in the same meeting because all of them need to have the context that there's a fabric shared between them. 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:10.639 All of them are is e are equally as important to this case, and what's done at step A is going to matter at step Z. 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:21.919 So, you know, I think to wrap that in a bow, that was there's many ways of saying you've got to do your homework early and you can't take your pedal, you know, the your foot off the gas, so to speak. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:32.000 So you started your career on the defense side, and your wife spent, I think, a decade defending insurance companies and handling appeals. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:40.639 What does that defense DNA let your firm see in a file that perhaps others might not see? 00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:44.720 It definitely opens you up to the other side in the way they might be viewing things. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:48.240 So you can see where those pressure points are and then deal with them. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:15:09.759 You know, for me, uh having been a defense attorney, it inspired me to be a plaintiff lawyer because I realized early on as a defense lawyer that I had empathy and compassion for the plaintiffs that I was taking depositions of, uh, which I think it's it's nice on a human level, but as a defense attorney, you've got to kind of be cold-blooded. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:13.279 And I didn't have that kind of cold blood, at least on that side. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:24.960 Uh, but having that perspective as to what they deal with on the defense side opens doors for you in your mind as a plaintiff lawyer that you might not otherwise have. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:35.519 And another way that it's it's really helped accelerate me is I'm very aware of how the defense bar views plaintiff lawyers. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:42.320 And for example, when I started my career, I worked for the biggest defense firm in Florida. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:47.440 And, you know, this is a firm that has hundreds, if not thousands, of lawyers. 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:53.840 And emails would go out across the whole firm about XYZ plaintiff lawyer. 00:15:53.840 --> 00:16:01.840 And the the real fundamental question in those emails would be hey, I have a case against, you know, John Smith. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:04.559 What's this guy's MO as a plaintiff lawyer? 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:26.240 And you would see uh for each of these plaintiff lawyers responses that were totally negative, like, you know, he doesn't know how to handle a case, he won't try a case, he doesn't know how to litigate to, oh no, that guy's aggressive, that guy's not gonna uh take his foot off the gas, that guy's gonna take it to you, you gotta be ready. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:34.080 And I, when I was reading those emails as a young lawyer, I already knew I wanted to go to the plaintiff's side and I said, I want to be in that group. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:43.519 Like, I don't want to be one of the lawyers that they're laughing at and that they're making fun of, you know, because I got a big ego, and I think you need to have a big ego as a trial lawyer. 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:50.000 Uh, so I don't know that all plaintiff lawyers truly appreciate how much that goes on, but it does. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.559 And it goes on with the insurance companies too. 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:55.279 They know who you are, they know your track record. 00:16:55.279 --> 00:17:12.240 I saw a podcast with a pretty prominent defense lawyer, and he was talking about on that podcast how their law firm, which is this is another massive law firm, they keep metrics on the plaintiff lawyers about the timing of how they settle and when they settle and for what amount and what kind of a case it is. 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:16.319 So they kind of get a feel for where you are on that spectrum as an attorney. 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:22.240 And if you're falling on that weak side, they're gonna put up weak numbers because they think you're gonna fold. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:30.960 So, you know, to my to my credit, I've I've been one to push cases um, sometimes more than people around me wanted me to. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.960 But that's in my nature. 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:39.920 I think in the long term, it's clearly paid dividends

for my clients because these insurance companies know I'm a fight. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:41.599 You know, it's just that's just in my nature. 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:47.039 And and if I if I think I have a good case and I think my client deserves more money, I'm gonna go for it. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:50.160 As long, of course, as my client's okay with that. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:18:07.440 Yeah, because getting the the right outcome for the client is first and foremost, but to your point, if you are able to build that reputation and the defense knows that you are not afraid to try the case and you are going to extract every dollar that benefits your client. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:10.799 That's that's what your client hires you for. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:16.160 I know, you know, I I had a personal injury case, and so I I know, and that's what I wanted. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:29.200 I wanted my lawyer to extract every dollar, you know, it's from my own UM in this instance carrier, because I suffered a pretty serious injury, you know, and that's that's what the system is here for. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:39.359 Yeah, well, you know, I mean, ultimately it taught me a lot of really, really great lessons for business and even personally. 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:41.359 I it was it was a good reset. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:53.680 I was struck by a car while cycling, and you know one of the one of the many, many people that are unfortunately hit every single day here in Florida by distracted drivers. 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:57.119 You know, I was in a bike bike lane and the guy hit me. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:02.720 And so, you know, but that's just you know, you you see it every day in your practice. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:12.000 It's just the realities and good reason why everybody needs a lot of underinsured motorist coverage because the guy who hit me had 10 grand in coverage. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:21.920 Thank God I had a lot of UM and now I have a UM umbrella on top of that all because there's so many people that drive around with such limited coverage. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:22.880 It's just sad. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:33.440 Well, yeah, I mean, I have that conversation a lot about the underinsured motorist coverage, uh, and I think every plaintiff lawyer does because so many people are just not informed as to how important it is or even what it is. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:33.839 Yeah. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:37.519 You know, I've had many, many clients who are very well to do. 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:43.839 They they they make more than enough money to have underinsured motorist coverage, and they don't have it. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:59.920 And it's not because they cheaped out, it's because they were never informed as to what it is and what its importance is, particularly in the state of Florida, which is sad because in cases like that, you know, where there's no bodily injury, sometimes there's just nothing I can do for that client. 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:08.640 And it's not their fault because they were either misinformed or totally uninformed by their insurance agent. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:22.400 You know, and they, you know, what I have to tell these people is unfortunately you can't get this insurance coverage to work retroactively, but get that insurance right now, God forbid you're in this situation again. 00:21:07.210 --> 00:21:08.490 And make sure it's stacking. 00:21:08.490 --> 00:21:11.529 And if you can get an umbrella too, I mean, right. 00:21:11.529 --> 00:21:23.369 You know, again, it's just it's so critical when when something happens that, you know, you're you're unfortunately at the mercy of of someone that's underinsured or uninsured completely. 00:21:23.369 --> 00:21:34.169 So you uh you you are a boutique firm in a Florida market where some of the biggest firms are spending tens of millions on advertising. 00:21:34.169 --> 00:21:40.409 Where does a boutique firm actually win within that context? 00:21:40.409 --> 00:21:42.329 And where do you refuse to compete? 00:21:42.730 --> 00:21:46.169 For me, what what's really worked is my reputation. 00:21:46.169 --> 00:21:55.289 You know, that's where I get most of my referrals is word of mouth through friends, family, former clients, et cetera, people that know me. 00:21:55.289 --> 00:22:00.409 And it's very flattering because these are people that are vouching for me. 00:22:00.409 --> 00:22:11.609 And it it really has become a snowball downhill because the more people I touch and I the more people I'm able to show what I'm capable of, the more referrals end up being generated. 00:22:11.609 --> 00:22:19.769 It a lot of times it's my former clients that are referring their loved ones and their friends to me. 00:22:19.769 --> 00:22:32.730 And also I'm fortunate and very flattered to receive uh a lot of referrals from my opponents, which that's probably the most flattering uh compliment I can ever get. 00:22:32.730 --> 00:22:39.769 In fact, uh a guy I tried a case against who I fought with for three years, I mean, we wanted to rip each other's throats out. 00:22:39.769 --> 00:22:41.289 Um literally. 00:22:41.289 --> 00:22:44.089 I mean, think I think he probably felt the same way about me as I did. 00:22:44.089 --> 00:22:47.609 About him because he's, you know, I'm him on the other end. 00:22:47.609 --> 00:22:48.490 He's a fighter. 00:22:48.490 --> 00:22:52.329 But he ended up referring um a relative to me. 00:22:52.329 --> 00:22:54.649 Like after we already went to trial and everything. 00:22:54.649 --> 00:22:55.769 And I was like, wow. 00:22:55.769 --> 00:23:02.009 That speaks volumes about the perception that they're having of me. 00:23:02.009 --> 00:23:04.009 And it was, it's, it's rewarding. 00:23:04.009 --> 00:23:08.649 And that kind of goes back to the Tony Soprano line, you know, you don't have to love me, but you will respect me. 00:23:08.649 --> 00:23:13.289 And I analogize it to, you know, a surgeon. 00:23:13.289 -->

00:23:17.449 You know, I want the best surgeon to do surgery on me. 00:23:17.449 --> 00:23:21.689 I don't necessarily want the nicest guy, but he's like a decent surgeon, right? 00:23:21.689 --> 00:23:23.769 And I think that should be true of your practitioner. 00:23:23.769 --> 00:23:25.609 Now, I I am a nice guy, believe it or not. 00:23:25.609 --> 00:23:34.569 I'm a tough litigator, but I am a nice guy, but I'm not necessarily giving concessions that hurt my client to the other side. 00:23:34.569 --> 00:23:35.769 I'm not going to do that. 00:23:35.769 --> 00:23:37.369 Why, why would I do that? 00:23:37.369 --> 00:23:40.169 Yes, you need to work in good faith with the other side. 00:23:40.169 --> 00:23:44.089 And I of course do that, but there there have to be limits here. 00:23:44.089 --> 00:23:47.369 Like you're you represent a client, I represent a client. 00:23:47.369 --> 00:24:09.769 Uh so I I digressed a bit, but you know, for me as a as a as a as a small boutique firm, um my reputation and our firm's reputation and my staff's reputation is what drives um referrals and and and business into this into the into this these walls. 00:24:09.769 --> 00:24:15.049 I'm never going to be able to compete with the budget of these these massive, massive firms. 00:24:15.049 --> 00:24:18.889 You know, the Morgan and Morgan is in a world of its own. 00:24:18.889 --> 00:24:29.210 And then there's a few cases, you know, there's a few firms that are several tiers below them, and then everybody else is way below, just cannot match those kinds of budgets. 00:24:29.210 --> 00:24:38.490 So I think for any uh solo practitioner, boutique law firm, the way your business is gonna thrive is off the quality of the work that you do. 00:24:38.490 --> 00:24:47.689 Uh, and if you put that kind of time in, that kind of effort in and achieve those kinds of results, people are gonna start to figure it out and they're gonna start hiring you. 00:24:48.009 --> 00:25:00.169 It is really impressive that someone that you litigated against asked you or referred a case with one of their relatives to you, it is the highest compliment you probably could get. 00:25:00.169 --> 00:25:04.169 So that that's a testament to the work that you do. 00:25:04.169 --> 00:25:15.049 Uh I'm curious, you know, with everything being so focused today on technology and how that can be deployed in the personal injury space. 00:25:15.049 --> 00:25:22.409 I'm curious, being a boutique firm, a smaller firm, are you guys using AI now? 00:25:22.409 --> 00:25:31.210 And if so, how are you using it to make your firm better today than it was previously? 00:25:31.609 --> 00:25:33.849 Well, I can tell you the answer is yes. 00:25:33.849 --> 00:25:38.490 And we use it in a variety of different ways. 00:25:38.490 --> 00:25:45.449 On my end, as a litigator, it's really, really helped me as a as a researcher, um, researching case law. 00:25:45.449 --> 00:25:48.970 I'm finding case law that I probably never would have found on my own. 00:25:48.970 --> 00:25:52.970 Uh, so you know, researching, it also can help you with your writing. 00:25:52.970 --> 00:26:05.449 You know, I as good of a writer as I always thought I was, I'll plug what I'm writing into into our AI software and I'll ask it to, you know, make this more persuasive and more concise. 00:26:05.449 --> 00:26:06.889 And then the AI will spit it out. 00:26:06.889 --> 00:26:09.689 And then I realize what a horrible writer I actually am. 00:26:09.689 --> 00:26:15.129 It's like, it's just so much better at it than a human could ever be. 00:26:15.129 --> 00:26:18.569 So that's that that's a way that I we are using it. 00:26:18.569 --> 00:26:24.250 Um we also can use it to learn information about our files. 00:26:24.250 --> 00:26:47.529 You know, when we have these very, very uh in uh medical record intense files where we have a client who has a 20-year spine history and then has a crash and then has five years of medical treatment after that, uh, being able to condense those medical records and figure out the big picture of what those medical records and that chronology is telling us uh is imperative. 00:26:47.529 --> 00:26:52.009 And the AI, you know, can do that within seconds. 00:26:52.009 --> 00:26:59.210 And that used to be work that I would spend weeks and months, you know, getting my arms around. 00:26:59.210 --> 00:27:02.009 So uh we do use the AI. 00:27:02.009 --> 00:27:09.929 I I do think that I've learned at least that there's a bit of an overuse of AI. 00:27:09.929 --> 00:27:12.009 At least I was experiencing it. 00:27:12.009 --> 00:27:16.169 I think I was starting to put AI into too many facets of my business. 00:27:16.169 --> 00:27:21.609 And I'm actually relieved to know that that isn't necessary. 00:27:21.609 --> 00:27:28.089 Uh, I've realized that it can create some issues and some headaches and certainly some additional expenses that you don't need. 00:27:28.089 --> 00:27:31.129 Um, so I'm glad that humans still have value. 00:27:31.129 --> 00:27:44.569 Uh, I think because AI is so new, those of us who are trying to be progressive are trying to plug it into our law firms in as many ways as possible to make our law firms better. 00:27:44.569 --> 00:27:54.730 And we're realizing along the way where it's appropriate and necessary, and where it isn't appropriate and necessary, and where it might even be harmful. 00:27:54.730 --> 00:28:01.289 So that that's kind of the process I'm going through right now because I started with the AI pretty early. 00:28:01.289 --> 00:28:06.889 Uh, I'm now figuring out where I don't want it in my business and where it is better suited. 00:28:06.889 --> 00:28:15.689 So uh, and I think that's kind of an interesting uh development on my end because I kind of just thought it's gonna be AI this, AI that, AI everything. 00:28:15.689 --> 00:28:19.289 And now we're starting to realize nope, nope, hold on, let's bump the brakes. 00:28:19.289 --> 00:28:25.049 Us humans

still do have some value, and and AI isn't the solution for every single problem you have at a law firm. 00:28:25.289 --> 00:28:49.529 Well, and you raise a really important point, I think, which is the human in the loop part of it, because yeah, the AI is something that really should be used to accelerate what humans can do and improve upon what humans can do and offload anything that is repetitive, administrative, that AI can tackle. 00:28:49.529 --> 00:29:08.250 Like you said, you know, putting together a medical record chronology, you know, off of thousands of pages of medical records, AI can do that and save humans uh a lot of time by you know leveraging the technology. 00:29:08.250 --> 00:29:22.169 And we've used it exactly in that way where we use our human subrogation experts in the loop in identifying and verifying liens, but using technology built into all that process. 00:29:22.169 --> 00:29:24.569 Same thing on the resolution end as well. 00:29:24.569 --> 00:29:39.289 Because when you do that, that gets to the best outcome for the company, for the client, for everybody involved, which is really what the beauty of the technology is that kind of an outcome, right? 00:29:39.289 --> 00:29:40.490 That's what you're looking for. 00:29:40.730 --> 00:29:40.970 Right. 00:29:40.970 --> 00:29:44.970 You want to make you want it to make things simpler, easier, easier, and better. 00:29:44.970 --> 00:29:50.649 And if it's not checking those boxes, maybe it's not right in that facet of your law firm. 00:29:50.649 --> 00:29:53.769 You know, I think that's what that's what some of us are learning along the way. 00:29:54.089 --> 00:30:04.329 So from doing my research, I I came across a tidbit, and uh I need to validate that you either used to or still officiate Division I Men's College? 00:30:05.210 --> 00:30:05.609 I do. 00:30:05.609 --> 00:30:08.649 I I st I am still crazy enough to do that, yes. 00:30:09.529 --> 00:30:16.250 Well, so that's pretty high-stakes decision making in real time with people yelling at you. 00:30:16.250 --> 00:30:26.970 I I'm curious what has the whistle taught you about being better at what you do uh in your day job as a trial lawyer? 00:30:27.289 --> 00:30:28.889 That's such a great question. 00:30:28.889 --> 00:30:32.009 And um, it's something I tell people a lot. 00:30:32.009 --> 00:30:47.289 The two are very, very analogous to one another, uh officiating uh men's college basketball and handling you know a case in front of a uh a jury uh or you know, just litigating litigating a case in general. 00:30:47.289 --> 00:30:52.809 If you want to find the most common denominator there, it's it's being able to perform under pressure. 00:30:52.809 --> 00:31:00.730 Uh, you know, people probably think that basketball referees just go out there with some pea whistle and they just kind of guess as they go. 00:31:00.730 --> 00:31:04.009 And I can assure you that is not the case. 00:31:04.009 --> 00:31:16.809 Uh there is a discipline,

and uh there's a ton of pressure that is on these referees, and nobody wants to get the plays right more than the referees at both sides of the floor. 00:31:16.809 --> 00:31:19.129 And you've got to be able to perform under pressure. 00:31:19.129 --> 00:31:22.409 As a trial lawyer, you have to be able to perform under pressure too. 00:31:22.409 --> 00:31:26.569 You have to be able to think on your feet, and you have to be an effective communicator. 00:31:26.569 --> 00:31:36.809 These are things that are that that exist in the uh basketball officiating world, and they also exist, of course, in litigating or trying a case. 00:31:36.809 --> 00:31:50.250 And so for me early on, interestingly, I I started getting heavily into officiating basketball at the same time that I was learning how to practice law at the same exact time. 00:31:50.250 --> 00:31:58.809 So, number one, I I should be probably put in a straitjacket because that's insane to try to take both those things on at once, but I'm a psycho, as my wife will tell you. 00:31:58.809 --> 00:32:10.970 Uh, but number two, I was able, what was a good part of it is I got to learn lessons on this end, like in basketball, that ended up teaching me things in law, and then vice versa. 00:32:10.970 --> 00:32:21.769 And a a prime example I can tell you that that is so true is dealing with college coaches is intense, as you've probably seen on TV. 00:32:21.769 --> 00:32:23.369 They have a lot of power. 00:32:23.369 --> 00:32:28.569 Um, they act, they have the kind of power where they can potentially end your career. 00:32:28.569 --> 00:32:31.609 Uh that's how powerful basketball coaches are in in college. 00:32:31.609 --> 00:32:34.809 And we know that as referees, but at the same time, we have a job to do. 00:32:34.809 --> 00:32:43.609 And we also have to be able to communicate with these people who are, you know, by nature type A, loud, uh, probably have big egos. 00:32:43.609 --> 00:32:49.369 Um, and they're also informed and knowledgeable about what they're talking about. 00:32:49.369 --> 00:33:02.809 And you, as the referee, have to have the courage, balls as I'd call them, to look these people in the face and talk shop with them and do so, you know, in a way that shows that you know what you're talking about. 00:33:02.809 --> 00:33:05.689 Um, and you also have to have the right kind of disposition. 00:33:05.689 --> 00:33:12.009 Uh, and that's very similar to dealing with a judge who's coming after you, you know, so to speak. 00:33:12.009 --> 00:33:14.089 You know, they're they're drilling you about issues. 00:33:14.089 --> 00:33:22.809 So I really learned a lot early on how to deal with judges by at the same time learning how to deal with intense coaches. 00:33:22.809 --> 00:33:26.009 And that's just one example, but they complement one another. 00:33:26.009 --> 00:33:37.689 And while I think um getting better and better at each of those things might have been made a little more difficult because I was

trying to do two things at once and occupy my time with two things at once. 00:33:37.689 --> 00:33:52.250 At the same time, I started to accelerate because even when I was dealing with my avocation and refereeing basketball, I was working on skills that uh translate well to practicing law. 00:33:52.250 --> 00:34:02.569 And even when I'm not on the floor um and it's the off season and I'm in court, I'm still working on things that I will then bring into uh the game of basketball. 00:34:02.730 --> 00:34:13.210 So yeah, it's a pretty cool thing to be able to be in that kind of a an environment and deploy your skills. 00:34:13.210 --> 00:34:19.289 I uh I volunteered as uh a flagging official for F1 Miami. 00:34:19.289 --> 00:34:37.610 And the things I learned through that whole process being part of the race logistics, I did race radio, I did a whole bunch of different things, which was just but there were things that I learned that I felt like were great transitions into business. 00:34:37.610 --> 00:35:02.809 The the amount of focus and attention that you have to do to do your job correctly and make sure you're not distracted by what's going on in the environment, because I'm sure, you know, in a college basketball game that there is action going on all around you in the stands, on the bench, on the court, and you really have to focus on what your job is and getting it done and you know, making sure that you get the calls right. 00:35:03.049 --> 00:35:04.170 You've got to be locked in. 00:35:04.170 --> 00:35:07.610 You have all those external distractions, and then you have your own mental distractions. 00:35:07.610 --> 00:35:12.170 You know, you can't let your concentration float, you can't get fixated on a mixed, missed call. 00:35:12.170 --> 00:35:16.969 You can't get uh you can't let your anxieties take over your concentration. 00:35:16.969 --> 00:35:23.210 So, yeah, it it you build that that muscle in your brain through you know mistakes and through experience. 00:35:23.210 --> 00:35:26.889 And fortunately, I've been able to do that in you know both facets of my life. 00:35:26.889 --> 00:35:30.009 Now I just have to figure out how to do it as a husband and father. 00:35:30.009 --> 00:35:31.210 I'm still learning that one. 00:35:31.449 --> 00:35:33.610 Yeah, if you figure that out, let me know. 00:35:34.170 --> 00:35:35.130 Exactly. 00:35:35.929 --> 00:35:54.409 Well, looking back across the defense years and the previous firms that you've practiced with, is there a mistake or a hard lesson that has most shaped how you have uh fashioned your practice today and how you lead today? 00:35:54.730 --> 00:35:55.849 That's a great question. 00:35:55.849 --> 00:36:01.610 I want to think about that one because there's a lot of little lessons I've learned along the way. 00:36:01.610 --> 00:36:10.969 I would say that I've learned that you can't compromise your values. 00:36:10.969 --> 00:36:36.730 And um that's the hard part about a partnership and um, you know, or being an employee to um a higher up is sometimes you your values um are different, uh your philosophies are different than your superiors or your contemporaries or your partners or whatever. 00:36:36.730 --> 00:36:52.889 Um so I think as a leader, you have to have number one, a sound compass for what's right and wrong, and you have to have a clear vision for what you want uh from yourself, your team, and your law firm. 00:36:52.889 --> 00:36:56.889 And you cannot fracture those values. 00:36:56.889 --> 00:37:02.009 Um so that that's what I've learned, and that's what I've brought to my firm here. 00:37:02.009 --> 00:37:06.569 You know, my employees here are all hand selected by me. 00:37:06.569 --> 00:37:09.049 They are not people I pulled off the street. 00:37:09.049 --> 00:37:11.690 Uh, they are not random people who applied here. 00:37:11.690 --> 00:37:20.170 These are people that um I am blessed and fortunate and humbled by the fact that they wanted to continue to work with me. 00:37:20.170 --> 00:37:26.889 Um, and that I had that kind of relationship with them and I knew what kind of uh workers they were. 00:37:26.889 --> 00:37:29.849 And you know, big things that matter for me, my values. 00:37:29.849 --> 00:37:31.690 My values are working hard. 00:37:31.690 --> 00:37:36.489 It's a very important value in what we do as plaintiff lawyers. 00:37:36.489 --> 00:37:37.929 We are representing people. 00:37:37.929 --> 00:37:40.409 It's not about us, it's about them. 00:37:40.409 --> 00:37:41.769 And I'm big on that. 00:37:41.769 --> 00:37:48.809 So I don't have a much tolerance for laziness, I don't have much tolerance for inattentiveness. 00:37:48.809 --> 00:37:51.130 So that's a very important value for me. 00:37:51.130 --> 00:37:54.329 Other items that that that matter is teamwork. 00:37:54.329 --> 00:37:57.849 I'm not a fan of, well, that's their job, not mine. 00:37:57.849 --> 00:37:59.210 I don't like that. 00:37:59.210 --> 00:38:01.049 I don't like that approach. 00:38:01.049 --> 00:38:02.250 That doesn't work for me. 00:38:02.250 --> 00:38:03.849 That might work for other people. 00:38:03.849 --> 00:38:06.250 And I can understand why certain people feel that way. 00:38:06.250 --> 00:38:07.049 I don't like that. 00:38:07.049 --> 00:38:10.969 Yes, we need to have defined roles, defined responsibilities. 00:38:10.969 --> 00:38:13.849 But we all know what that gray looks like. 00:38:13.849 --> 00:38:23.610 And sometimes you just need to stick it up, you just need to suck it up and step up and get something done because you know it's for the better good of the firm and for the client. 00:38:23.610 --> 00:38:25.210 So I'm big on teamwork. 00:38:25.210 --> 00:38:29.690 I'm big on uh people that care about the quality of their work. 00:38:29.690 --> 00:38:35.369 And I'm big on people actually enjoying practicing law. 00:38:35.369 --> 00:38:39.130 And those are the kind of people that I have here, those are my values. 00:38:39.130 -->

00:38:51.369 Um, and I'm blessed again that I have had enough experience with people and have been able to develop enough relationships and that I guess I've done something right by them where they're willing to work with me. 00:38:51.369 --> 00:39:03.289 So I've been able to build my firm, and we're off to a great start of being one that's consistent with the culture that I want and for the uh product that I want to put out. 00:39:03.289 --> 00:39:13.369 So I think that would be the main lesson is um look, sometimes you're gonna have to adjust, you're gonna have to learn things about yourself that need improvement. 00:39:13.369 --> 00:39:18.090 And I'm no stranger to that for sure, as anyone in my life would tell you. 00:39:18.090 --> 00:39:20.329 Um, because I'm far from perfect. 00:39:20.329 --> 00:39:24.409 But there are core values that we have as human beings. 00:39:24.409 --> 00:39:29.529 And if they're true to you, you cannot fracture them, you cannot bend them, you cannot break them. 00:39:29.529 --> 00:39:43.210 And if you're in a position where you're having to do that, it's it's time to consider what the next phase of your life is going to look like, what the next firm is going to be, you know, what may have you, because you can't break those things. 00:39:43.529 --> 00:39:44.889 It's a great point. 00:39:44.889 --> 00:40:00.969 Yeah, we have really focused on our core values, which are our professionalism, respect, integrity, dedication, empathy in emphasizing what we do and the importance of who we serve. 00:40:00.969 --> 00:40:21.769 So every time we do our all hands, we do mission moments where we talk about what happened to the injured party, what we did to improve their net recovery by reducing a lien or getting a lien waived, so that the team understands, clearly understands their purpose and what's expected of them and how to get the results. 00:40:21.769 --> 00:40:31.690 Because without that, you know, people tend to then pull on whatever they feel like is important if they don't have that direction. 00:40:31.690 --> 00:40:48.329 So it's such a key thing that you hit on and crucial if you really want to build a team that is going to execute on what you as a visionary or business owner or leader want out of that team. 00:40:48.329 --> 00:40:51.529 Because it doesn't happen just magically. 00:40:51.529 --> 00:41:01.369 It happens with purpose and focus and attention to these sorts of little things and communicating those to the team clearly. 00:41:01.690 --> 00:41:03.369 You've got to have that it factor. 00:41:03.369 --> 00:41:06.889 And as a lead, as a leader, you have to have that it factor. 00:41:06.889 --> 00:41:11.610 And um, you need to make sure as a leader that your team has that it factor. 00:41:11.610 --> 00:41:17.849 And I don't know, you know, one thing I've learned is I don't know if the it factor can necessarily be taught. 00:41:17.849 --> 00:41:20.809 I think there it's either there or it's not. 00:41:20.809 -->

00:41:28.170 It can definitely be amplified and nurtured, but some people just don't have that it factor. 00:41:28.170 --> 00:41:29.849 And and and that's okay. 00:41:29.849 --> 00:41:30.730 Uh, that's okay. 00:41:30.730 --> 00:41:31.929 There's a place for that. 00:41:31.929 --> 00:41:43.769 But for me, in the practice of law and what we do, it's important to have that it factor because people that are hurt and whose lives have been turned upside down, they hired you to have that it factor. 00:41:43.929 --> 00:41:47.289 So well, you've been uh very generous with your time. 00:41:47.289 --> 00:41:50.250 So last question, and it's very open-ended. 00:41:50.250 --> 00:41:53.529 You can answer it however you want. 00:41:53.529 --> 00:42:02.969 And the question is, what is your view as a trial lawyer, founder of a law firm, and leader of a law firm? 00:42:03.449 --> 00:42:06.170 My view is that this is serious business. 00:42:06.170 --> 00:42:09.529 Uh, this is we're not selling cookies at the cookie stand. 00:42:09.529 --> 00:42:22.329 This is um a business where we are up against massive insurance companies and you know, a huge lobbying power that are doing everything they can to minimize what they pay out to injured victims. 00:42:22.329 --> 00:42:28.650 And we have to abide by our oath as lawyers uh to fight for our clients. 00:42:28.650 --> 00:42:34.889 And I'd like to see more of that amongst the entire state of Florida. 00:42:34.889 --> 00:42:43.449 You know, I I think that in a way uh plaintiff law firms have turned into more of a business than a law firm. 00:42:43.449 --> 00:42:47.769 And I don't know that that always serves the interests of the clients. 00:42:47.769 --> 00:43:01.210 I know listen, there's there's an amazing group of plaintiff lawyers throughout the state that I really look up to and I admire and I lean on and I get advice from and uh that I cherish relationships with. 00:43:01.210 --> 00:43:05.849 Um, that's the brand of lawyering that I want to be part of. 00:43:05.849 --> 00:43:08.409 I take a lot of pride in what we do here. 00:43:08.409 --> 00:43:18.730 Um, I enjoy the opportunity to fight against insurance companies, and I'm empowered and humbled, but anyone off the street is gonna hire me to fight for them. 00:43:18.730 --> 00:43:21.369 So I think that's sacred. 00:43:21.369 --> 00:43:29.690 And I think that plaintiff lawyers, you know, look, it's nice to have nice things, and we're all out to make some money, no doubt. 00:43:29.690 --> 00:43:31.449 I wouldn't do this for free. 00:43:31.449 --> 00:43:37.369 But there are some things that transcend um money and materiality. 00:43:37.369 --> 00:43:46.809 And I think that having pride in what you do and the work product that you put out and the lives that you're able to touch and help, that transcends money. 00:43:46.809 --> 00:43:48.650 Money will come with it. 00:43:48.650 --> 00:43:55.449 Um, if you do, if you put your heart into it and you fight your hardest to be the best at what you do. 00:43:55.449 --> 00:43:58.650 And my law firm is very much dedicated to that. 00:43:58.650 --> 00:44:08.569 I believe I'm very good, but I'm nowhere near as good as I want to be five years from now, and certainly nowhere near as to where I want to be 10 years from now. 00:44:08.569 --> 00:44:16.009 So um at this law firm, you're gonna get, you know, you get you're gonna get treated the right way as a plaintiff. 00:44:16.009 --> 00:44:19.049 Uh, you're gonna have a team that fights for you very hard. 00:44:19.049 --> 00:44:23.289 And uh I'm just really proud to have what I have now and very thankful for it. 00:44:23.289 --> 00:44:24.650 And we're just continuing to grow. 00:44:24.889 --> 00:44:31.210 Ryan, can you uh briefly describe your practice areas and what jurisdictions you're in? 00:44:31.210 --> 00:44:40.409 So if somebody's listening and has a case in your area that they mean to refer what your areas of specialization are. 00:44:40.889 --> 00:44:41.769 Yeah, absolutely. 00:44:41.769 --> 00:44:44.569 Uh we we handle cases all throughout the state of Florida. 00:44:44.569 --> 00:44:51.449 You know, because of where we're located, most of our cases are in the South Florida area, but we handle cases all throughout the state. 00:44:51.449 --> 00:44:56.090 Some of my biggest cases have been in, you know, Central Florida, North Florida, and the panhandle. 00:44:56.090 --> 00:44:59.049 So we're certainly no stranger to those courtrooms either. 00:44:59.049 --> 00:45:02.730 Um, and we've definitely tried cases outside the South Florida area as well. 00:45:02.730 --> 00:45:11.449 Uh, but you know, primarily just based on statistics, motor vehicle collisions are the primary uh type of case that come through these doors. 00:45:11.449 --> 00:45:14.809 Uh, I do hold myself out as a trucking specialist. 00:45:14.809 --> 00:45:16.809 I've handled many, many trucking cases. 00:45:16.809 --> 00:45:24.170 I've got you know been blessed to have you know big results, big, big million-dollar numbers uh in those cases. 00:45:24.170 --> 00:45:32.170 And um I've done so by my knowledge in the trucking space and knowing how those cases need to be handled. 00:45:32.170 --> 00:45:52.569 So I would encourage anyone who is ever, you know, a victim to a trucking accident to hire uh a plaintiff lawyer that knows the trucking sector and knows how to handle those cases, because those cases cannot and should not be handled like a regular uh motor vehicle collision case because many times they are not. 00:45:52.569 --> 00:45:57.849 And if they're handled that way, it will be to the client's uh client's peril. 00:45:57.849 --> 00:46:03.049 So those uh those are really the the primary cases we take, and we take premises liability cases too. 00:46:03.049 --> 00:46:07.130 Any kind of case where there's been negligence and there's been an injury as a result. 00:46:07.369 --> 00:46:09.769 And what's the best way to uh reach you? 00:46:10.090 --> 00:46:18.409 Our website is uh www.wexinjurylaw.com, WEX injury law.com. 00:46:18.409 --> 00:46:23.690 If you look my name up on the Florida bar, you'll see that uh uh you know our office is in Boca. 00:46:23.690 --> 00:46:31.690 I have an office line, I have a direct office line, and I even put my cell phone number in there because I'm as crazy as I am, and I always want my clients to be able to reach me. 00:46:31.690 --> 00:46:35.210 So you can reach me right on my cell anytime, even on the weekends. 00:46:35.449 --> 00:46:35.769 Awesome. 00:46:35.769 --> 00:46:41.690 Well, Ryan, thanks for joining me today on Tri Law Review, and we'll see everybody on the next episode. 00:46:41.690 --> 00:46:42.889 Thanks for having me. 00:46:42.889 --> 00:46:56.889 If today's episode gave you a new perspective on how your firm operates or sparked a useful idea, consider sharing it with a colleague and be sure to follow the show so you don't miss future conversations with leaders across the personal injury space. 00:46:56.889 --> 00:47:05.289 Tri Law Review is brought to you by Synergy, a strategic operations partner helping personal injury law firms resolve healthcare liens more efficiently. 00:47:05.289 --> 00:47:14.090 If you're looking to accelerate case flow and allow your team to focus on high-level legal work that moves cases faster, consider partnering with Synergy. 00:47:14.090 --> 00:47:17.849 I'm Jason Lazarus, and I'll see you in the next episode.