--- title: 2021 April url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april --- # [2021 April](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april "2021 April") [![Advocate Apr21 cvr EZINE](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2021/04-april/Advocate-Apr21-cvr-EZINE.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2021/April2021/html5/Advocate-April21-issue.html) Articles in this issue: ## [Arguing non-economic damages in a wrongful-death case](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/arguing-non-economic-damages-in-a-wrongful-death-case "Arguing non-economic damages in a wrongful-death case") To achieve maximum non-economic damages, we must find and tell extraordinary stories [Brian Panish](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/brian-panish "Brian Panish") [Patrick Gunning](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/patrick-gunning "Patrick Gunning") ## [Addressing Medicare liens in wrongful-death cases](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/addressing-medicare-liens-in-wrongful-death-cases "Addressing Medicare liens in wrongful-death cases") Keep CMS from eating up your wrongful-death settlement by steering clear of medical expense claims [John Rice](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/john-rice "John Rice") ## [Conflict issues in wrongful-death actions](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/conflict-issues-in-wrongful-death-actions "Conflict issues in wrongful-death actions") When multiple heirs are joined in a wrongful-death action due to the “single action rule,” the potential for conflict can be high [Ian Samson](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ian-samson "Ian Samson") [Paul A. Traina](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/paul-a-traina "Paul A. Traina") [Rahul Ravipudi](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/rahul-ravipudi "Rahul Ravipudi") ## [Alcohol toxicology for civil lawyers](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/alcohol-toxicology-for-civil-lawyers "Alcohol toxicology for civil lawyers") Don’t let a hospital’s faulty blood-alcohol test devalue your case due to contributory negligence (your guy was drunk!) [Okorie Okorocha](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/okorie-okorocha "Okorie Okorocha") ## [The unique inequity of [[case]]Privette[[/case]] and its progeny in wrongful-death cases](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/the-unique-inequity-of-case-privette-case-and-its-progeny-in-wrongful-death-cases "The unique inequity of [[case]]Privette[[/case]] and its progeny in wrongful-death cases") A new take on challenging [[case]]Privette[[/case]] and securing its reversal by the California Supreme Court [David H. Greenberg](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/david-h-greenberg "David H. Greenberg") [Emily Ruby](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/emily-ruby "Emily Ruby") [Janet R. Gusdorff](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/janet-r-gusdorff "Janet R. Gusdorff") ## [Supporting the non-economic damages claim in a wrongful-death case](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/supporting-the-non-economic-damages-claim-in-a-wrongful-death-case "Supporting the non-economic damages claim in a wrongful-death case") Testimony of decedent’s family and friends is crucial in establishing non-economic damages [Elizabeth A. Hernandez](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/elizabeth-a-hernandez "Elizabeth A. Hernandez") ## [A death at sea](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/a-death-at-sea "A death at sea") An introduction to maritime law and The Death on The High Seas Act [Aksana Coone](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/aksana-coone "Aksana Coone") ## [The case for mediating wrongful-death actions](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/the-case-for-mediating-wrongful-death-actions "The case for mediating wrongful-death actions") Why mediation can make more sense in wrongful-death cases, and how to best prepare your clients [Elizabeth R. Feffer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/elizabeth-r-feffer "Elizabeth R. Feffer") ## [Absent a special relationship between plaintiff and defendant, was there a “negligent undertaking”?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/absent-a-special-relationship-between-plaintiff-and-defendant-was-there-a-negligent-undertaking "Absent a special relationship between plaintiff and defendant, was there a “negligent undertaking”?") Negligent undertakings can establish a duty of care and avoid critical affirmative defenses [Nadine Ninva Khedry](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/nadine-ninva-khedry "Nadine Ninva Khedry") ## [Wrongful death – standing, pleadings and related considerations](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/wrongful-death-standing-pleadings-and-related-considerations "Wrongful death – standing, pleadings and related considerations") Determining standing, which causes of action to include, drafting the pleadings, and collecting the right evidence to prove our case [Tal Rubin](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/tal-rubin "Tal Rubin") ## [When death came to our house](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/when-death-came-to-our-house "When death came to our house") [David Hoffman](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/david-hoffman-2 "David Hoffman") ## [Appellate Reports](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/appellate-reports-39 "Appellate Reports") Court of Appeal rejects CACI 2334 formulation of what constitutes a bad-faith failure to settle [Jeffrey I. Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-i-ehrlich "Jeffrey I. Ehrlich") ## [January 6 U.S. Capitol riots](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/january-6-u-s-capitol-riots "January 6 U.S. Capitol riots") The facts reveal an unexpected truth [Stuart Zanville](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/stuart-zanville "Stuart Zanville") ## [AAJ provides advocacy on ending qualified immunity](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/aaj-provides-advocacy-on-ending-qualified-immunity "AAJ provides advocacy on ending qualified immunity") A snapshot of qualified immunity and other urgent advocacy issues we’re working on [Linda A. Lipsen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/linda-a-lipsen "Linda A. Lipsen") ## [CAOC announces 2021 legislative priorities](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/caoc-announces-2021-legislative-priorities "CAOC announces 2021 legislative priorities") Making courts more efficient in this pandemic is priority one! [Nancy Peverini](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/nancy-peverini "Nancy Peverini") ## [Here comes the sun…](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/here-comes-the-sun "Here comes the sun…") But the annual Palm Springs convention is still virtual [Cynthia Craig](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/cynthia-craig "Cynthia Craig") ## [Google Law, PC](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-april/google-law-pc "Google Law, PC") The State Bar plans to bring non-lawyers into the practice of law. It’s time for you to become involved [Genie Harrison](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/genie-harrison "Genie Harrison")