---
title: 2015 December
url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december
---

# [2015 December](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december "2015 December")

[![Advocate Dec15 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2015/12-december/Advocate-Dec15-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2015/December2015/html5/Advocate-Dec15-issue.html)

Articles in this issue:

## [Appellate Practice 101](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/appellate-practice-101 "Appellate Practice 101")

The fundamentals of appellate procedure

[Sharon J. Arkin](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/sharon-j-arkin "Sharon J. Arkin")

## [10 good reasons not to appeal](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/10-good-reasons-not-to-appeal "10 good reasons not to appeal")

There are times when taking an appeal doesn’t make sense

## [In Conclusion….](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/in-conclusion "In Conclusion….")

What we’ve accomplished and what’s really important to a stronger CAALA

[Joseph M. Barrett](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/joseph-m-barrett "Joseph M. Barrett")

## [Lost in translation](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/lost-in-translation "Lost in translation")

The importance of accurate jury instructions – CACI is not perfect

[Holly Boyer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/holly-boyer "Holly Boyer")

## [Opposing summary-judgment motions](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/opposing-summary-judgment-motions "Opposing summary-judgment motions")

Getting over the hurdle of Motion for Summary Judgment

[Jennifer P. Burkes](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jennifer-p-burkes "Jennifer P. Burkes")

## [Safeguarding a default judgment from claims of insurer neglect](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/safeguarding-a-default-judgment-from-claims-of-insurer-neglect "Safeguarding a default judgment from claims of insurer neglect")

The defendant wants to set aside your default judgment, claiming they tendered to their insurance carrier and the insurer failed to file a responsive pleading. Now what?

[Matthew Clark](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/matthew-clark "Matthew Clark")

## [Appellate Reports and Cases in Brief](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/appellate-reports-and-cases-in-brief-2 "Appellate Reports and Cases in Brief")

[[case]]Uspenskaya v. Meline[[/case]] — The amount a factoring company pays to purchase a medical lien is not evidence of the reasonable value of the debt

[Jeffrey I. Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-i-ehrlich "Jeffrey I. Ehrlich")

## [Remedies for adverse orders](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/remedies-for-adverse-orders "Remedies for adverse orders")

The remedies for adverse orders offer many roads to keep hope alive

[Herb Fox](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/herb-fox-3 "Herb Fox")

## [Toeing the line](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/toeing-the-line "Toeing the line")

Considerations for drafting admissible juror declarations of misconduct

[Janet R. Gusdorff](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/janet-r-gusdorff "Janet R. Gusdorff")

## [998 offers: Unknown pitfalls and opportunities](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/998-offers-unknown-pitfalls-and-opportunities "998 offers: Unknown pitfalls and opportunities")

Identifying pitfalls that doom many litigants and the strategic opportunities that are often missed

[Kirsten M. Fish](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/kirsten-m-fish "Kirsten M. Fish")
[Valerie T. McGinty](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/mcginty "Valerie T. McGinty")

## [Oral argument](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/oral-argument "Oral argument")

Do not waive it; maximize the opportunities it presents

[Norman Pine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/norman-pine "Norman Pine")

## [In pro prospectu: report from IBA Vienna 2015](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/in-pro-prospectu-report-from-iba-vienna-2015 "In pro prospectu: report from IBA Vienna 2015")

“If you can wrap your mind around the fact that the entity you are suing is never interested in justice – for either side – you might be able to better help your clients… resolve their disputes”

[Howard Shernoff](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/howard-shernoff "Howard Shernoff")

## [A time to be thankful](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/a-time-to-be-thankful "A time to be thankful")

An expression of appreciation to those who work so hard to make OCTLA what it is

[Ted B. Wacker](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ted-b-wacker "Ted B. Wacker")

## [CAALA’s Gala: A tradition that’s not a contradiction](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-december/caala-s-gala-a-tradition-that-s-not-a-contradiction "CAALA’s Gala: A tradition that’s not a contradiction")

Celebrating the Trial Lawyer of the Year and other annual award recipients

[Stuart Zanville](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/stuart-zanville "Stuart Zanville")