Personal Injury & Negligence

4.47

Mild TBI, CRPS, Somatic Symptom Disorders, and Other Contentious Injuries in Personal Injury Cases

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 6 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 6 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 6 Total
California CLE Approved 6 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 7 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware CLE Approved 6 Total
Florida CLE Approved 7 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 6 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 6 Total
Iowa CLE Approved 6 Total
Idaho CLE Approved 6 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 7 Total
Kentucky CLE Approved 6 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Maine CLE Approved 6 Total
Minnesota CLE Approved 6 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 6 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Approved 6 Total
North Dakota CLE Approved 6 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 6 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 6 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 6 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 6 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 6 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 7 Total
Oregon CLE Approved 6 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
Rhode Island CLE Approved 6 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 6 Total
Texas CLE Approved 6 Total
Utah CLE Approved 6 Total
Virginia CLE Approved 6 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 6 Total
Washington CLE Approved 6 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 7 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 7.2 Total
Wyoming CLE Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 55 minutes
Anthony Cortese
John Dunlap
Paul Friedman
Adam Smith
Christina Stone
Diana Kraemer
With Anthony V. Cortese from Anthony V. Cortese, Attorney at Law + 5 others
Recorded October 22, 2025.
Product ID 101067

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Overview

Battle for Belief: Winning Brain, Pain, and Psychological Injury Cases

From chronic pain and mild TBI to psychological trauma and disrupted sleep, invisible injuries are notoriously hard to prove - and even harder to value. Insurance companies and defense teams know this. That's why you need more than sympathy - you need strategy. This practical course is designed for personal injury attorneys navigating the complex intersection of neurology, psychology, and litigation technique. You'll gain critical insight into mild traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain syndromes, and psychological disorders - conditions that are frequently misunderstood, minimized by insurance companies, and ruthlessly attacked in court. Enhance your skills - register today!

  • Break down complex diagnoses like CRPS, fibromyalgia, and post-concussive syndrome.
  • Pinpoint causation in murky waters.
  • Understand the tests and objective indicators of common post-injury psychological conditions.
  • Cross-examine experts with precision, using their own methodologies and language against them.
  • Reframe subjective symptoms as functional losses that jurors can visualize and empathize with.
  • Disarm insinuations of malingering and other defense tactics.

This program was designed in conjunction with NBI's esteemed 2023-2025 Content Advisory Committee Member Robert J. Kasieta.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. The Brain and Pain
  2. Psychological Injuries and Disorders: Tests, Objective Indicators, and Causation
  3. Hard-Hitting Questions for Expert Depositions and Cross-Exams
  4. Jury Selection Strategy
  5. The Malingering Defense and Other Defense Strategies and Arguments
  6. How to Effectively Quantify Pain and Suffering
  7. Closing Arguments Tailored to the Invisible Injury
  8. The Ethics of It - Must I Believe My Client?
Product ID 101067

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 6 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 6 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 6 Total
California CLE Approved 6 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 7 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware CLE Approved 6 Total
Florida CLE Approved 7 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 6 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 6 Total
Iowa CLE Approved 6 Total
Idaho CLE Approved 6 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 7 Total
Kentucky CLE Approved 6 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Maine CLE Approved 6 Total
Minnesota CLE Approved 6 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 6 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Approved 6 Total
North Dakota CLE Approved 6 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 6 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 6 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 6 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 6 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 6 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 7 Total
Oregon CLE Approved 6 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
Rhode Island CLE Approved 6 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 6 Total
Texas CLE Approved 6 Total
Utah CLE Approved 6 Total
Virginia CLE Approved 6 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 6 Total
Washington CLE Approved 6 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 7 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 7.2 Total
Wyoming CLE Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in
  1. The Brain and Pain

    1. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
    2. Post-Concussive Syndrome - Temporary or Not?
    3. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
    4. Fibromyalgia/Fibromyositis
  2. Psychological Injuries and Disorders: Tests, Objective Indicators, and Causation

    1. PTSD and the DSM-5 Criterion A Hurdle
    2. Histrionic Personality Disorder and Somatoform Disorders
    3. Depression and Anxiety
    4. Sleep Disturbance: Accident or Apnea?
    5. Substance Use: Pre vs. Post-Accident
    6. Exacerbation of ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Autism Symptoms
  3. Hard-Hitting Questions for Expert Depositions and Cross-Exams

    1. Life Care Planner
    2. Neuropsychologist
    3. Psychiatrist
    4. Rehab Medicine Specialist
  4. Jury Selection Strategy

  5. The Malingering Defense and Other Defense Strategies and Arguments

    1. Exaggeration and Malingering
    2. "What If They Get Better?" Improvement Over Time Arguments
    3. Pre-Existing Conditions
    4. Other Key Strategies
  6. How to Effectively Quantify Pain and Suffering

    1. Turning Subjective Complaints Into Objective Evidence
    2. Evidence, Arguments, and Questions You Can't Use - and Tips for Reframing Them Into Something You Can
    3. Countering Common Defense Arguments
    4. Effective Use of Experts
    5. Maximizing the Impact of Lay Witnesses: Why They Deserve More Attention
    6. Once You've Proved it - How Do You Value Suffering to a Jury?
  7. Closing Arguments Tailored to the Invisible Injury

  8. The Ethics of It - Must I Believe My Client?

    1. Ensuring Your Client's Claims Are Substantiated
    2. When You Suspect a Client May be Exaggerating or Malingering
    3. Balancing Attorney-Client Confidentiality and the Duty of Candor
    4. When You Misrepresent or Allow False Evidence to be Presented to the Court
    5. Managing Client Expectations

Who Should Attend

This program will take attorneys beyond the basics and into the disorders insurers and defense experts are trained to weaponize.

Speakers

Anthony V Cortese
Anthony V.
Cortese
Anthony V. Cortese, Attorney at Law
John E Dunlap
John E.
Dunlap
Law Offices of John E. Dunlap
Paul D Friedman
Paul D.
Friedman
Brown, Crowell & Friedman, PLLC d/b/a Accident Law Group
Adam A Smith
Adam A.
Smith
Riddle & Riddle
Christina Stone
Christina
Stone
Riddle & Riddle
Dr. Diana Kraemer M.D.
Dr. Diana
Kraemer, M.D.
Diana Kraemer, MD, FAANS, FIAIME, CMLE
Speaker bio
Anthony V Cortese

Anthony V. Cortese

Anthony V. Cortese, Attorney at Law
Anthony Cortese

is a sole practitioner for Anthony V. Cortese, Attorney at Law, who has practiced for more than 30 years handling personal injury litigation, longshore claims, workers' compensation and general litigation. Mr. Cortese is a member of The Florida Bar. He also is admitted to the federal courts in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Florida, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Cortese is a member and board of directors of Workers' Injury Law and Advocacy Group. He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Pennsylvania Law School and his J.D. degree, with honors, from the University of Pittsburgh Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review and had an article published. Mr. Cortese also assisted Professor Welsh White at the University of Pittsburgh Law School with a chapter on particular issues in a treatise on evidence.

Speaker bio
John E Dunlap

John E. Dunlap

Law Offices of John E. Dunlap
John Dunlap

is a sole practitioner with Law Offices of John E. Dunlap in Memphis, where he is board-certified by the Tennessee Continuing Legal Education and Specialization Commission in consumer bankruptcy. Mr. Dunlap's main areas of practice include bankruptcy, workers' compensation, personal injury, ERISA litigation, and Social Security disability. He is admitted to practice before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Dunlap is a member of the Memphis and American bar associations, as well as the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and his J.D. degree from the University of Memphis.

Speaker bio
Paul D Friedman

Paul D. Friedman

Brown, Crowell & Friedman, PLLC d/b/a Accident Law Group
Paul Friedman

is a member, head of litigation and general counsel with Brown, Crowell & Friedman, PLLC d/b/a Accident Law Group™. He practices in the areas of medical malpractice, significant personal injury and ethics matters. Dr. Friedman is admitted to practice in Arizona, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is board-certified by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification in civil pretrial practice advocacy and civil trial advocacy (NBOTA). Dr. Friedman has been certified in injury and wrongful death litigation by the State Bar of Arizona since 1997. He is an associate with the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Dr. Friedman is also a medical malpractice diplomate with the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Examiners®, where he developed the curriculum for the Certified Forensic Consulting® Certification Course and authored the "Certified Forensic Consultant Body of Knowledge" by CRC Press. Dr. Friedman earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, his J.D. degree from California Western School of Law, his master's degree in bioethics from Midwestern University/Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine and his doctorate from LaCrosse University. He was an adjunct professor of medical and research ethics at Midwestern University and the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he instructed health care providers and students in the medical field. Dr. Friedman is currently an adjunct professor with the Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law at Arizona State University.

Speaker bio
Adam A Smith

Adam A. Smith

Riddle & Riddle
Adam Smith

is an attorney and a workers' compensation specialist with Riddle & Brantley, LLP. He has dedicated his career to litigating complicated legal matters, with particular emphasis on fighting for victims of serious personal injuries. Mr. Smith is a member of the North Carolina State Bar; U.S. District Court, Eastern and Middle districts of North Carolina; Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals; North Carolina Advocates of Justice; Tenth District Judicial Bar; and Wake County Bar Association. He is also board-certified by North Carolina State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization in the area of workers' compensation. Mr. Smith earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, in political science from Duke University and his J.D. degree from Duke University School of Law.

Speaker bio
Christina Stone

Christina Stone

Riddle & Riddle
Christina Stone

is a personal injury lawyer with Riddle & Riddle. Her areas of practice are personal injury and workers' compensation law. In 2022, Ms. Stone was named a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 in recognition of her results. In 2023, she was named a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers. Ms. Stone attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her B.A. degree in media and journalism, with a concentration in public relations. Her second major was political science. Ms. Stone graduated with Distinction. During her undergraduate studies, she served as president of the Gamma Sigma Alpha National Greek Honor Society and participated in the Buckley Public Service Scholars Program, completing over 300 hours of public service. While attending law school, Ms. Stone served as a staff member of the North Carolina Law Review, and as a member of the UNC Women in Law, Carolina Health Law Organization.

Speaker bio
Dr. Diana Kraemer M.D.

Dr. Diana Kraemer, M.D.

Diana Kraemer, MD, FAANS, FIAIME, CMLE
Diana Kraemer

provides independent record review, examinations, opinions and testimony for both plaintiff and defense claims for neurosurgical cases. This includes evaluation of conditions of the brain, spine and peripheral nerves; including conditions related to trauma, injury or repetitive use. Dr. Kraemer is an actively practicing neurosurgeon. She is board-certified through the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and is also certified in the evaluation of impairment and disability ratings through the International Association of Independent Medical Examiners. With ten years of experience working with both plaintiff and defense attorneys, Dr. Kraemer is comfortable working in medical-legal work. She is knowledgeable in the current medical literature of injury and causation, and applies evidence-based medicine to her opinions whenever possible.

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