--- title: 2024 October url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october --- # [2024 October](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october "2024 October") [![Advo Oct24 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2024/10-october/Advo-Oct24-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2024/October2024/html5/Advocate-Oct24-issue.html) Articles in this issue: ## [Positive change](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/positive-change "Positive change") From the diversity of speakers’ voices to the family-friendly Kids Club, CAALA Vegas reflected our strength as a legal community and how we have changed since 1983 [Ibiere N. Seck](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ibiere-n-seck "Ibiere N. Seck") ## [Initial intake: A checklist of factors to consider](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/initial-intake-a-checklist-of-factors-to-consider "Initial intake: A checklist of factors to consider") Choosing the right cases can be the most important decisions you make [Daniel Pierson](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/daniel-pierson "Daniel Pierson") ## [You’re thinking about applying to be a judge](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/you-re-thinking-about-applying-to-be-a-judge "You’re thinking about applying to be a judge") Is this the right job for you? [Steven J. Kleifield](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/steven-j-kleifield "Steven J. Kleifield") ## [The legal boundaries of third-party carriers’ medical bill negotiations](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/the-legal-boundaries-of-third-party-carriers-medical-bill-negotiations "The legal boundaries of third-party carriers’ medical bill negotiations") A defense move to lower the value of pain-and-suffering damages as a multiple of medical bills [Albert Abkarian](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/albert-abkarian "Albert Abkarian") [Nicholas Abkarian](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/nicholas-abkarian "Nicholas Abkarian") ## [Litigating lithium-ion battery explosions](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/litigating-lithium-ion-battery-explosions "Litigating lithium-ion battery explosions") A look at Li-ion products-liability cases, focusing on establishing personal jurisdiction and proving battery defects [Austin G. Ward](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/austin-g-ward "Austin G. Ward") ## [Recovering damages for emotional distress for breach of an insurance contract](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/recovering-damages-for-emotional-distress-for-breach-of-an-insurance-contract "Recovering damages for emotional distress for breach of an insurance contract") A liability policy is a contract that concerns directly the comfort, happiness, or personal welfare of one of the parties [Michael L. Cohen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-cohen "Michael L. Cohen") ## [Electronically stored information issues in personal-injury practice](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/electronically-stored-information-issues-in-personal-injury-practice "Electronically stored information issues in personal-injury practice") ESI discovery from vehicle electronic-data recorders, cell phones, computers and social media [David Hoffman](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/david-hoffman-2 "David Hoffman") ## [Getting the jury fired up about your client getting fired](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/getting-the-jury-fired-up-about-your-client-getting-fired-2 "Getting the jury fired up about your client getting fired") Developing and presenting trial themes in employment cases [Douglas N. Silverstein](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/douglas-n-silverstein "Douglas N. Silverstein") [Lauren Morrison](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lauren-morrison "Lauren Morrison") ## [Delivering a powerful closing argument](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/delivering-a-powerful-closing-argument "Delivering a powerful closing argument") Telling your story using demonstratives and evidence [Natalie Weatherford](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/natalie-weatherford "Natalie Weatherford") ## [Substance abuse in the legal profession](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/substance-abuse-in-the-legal-profession "Substance abuse in the legal profession") Bad and getting worse [David Mann](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/david-mann "David Mann") ## [Appellate Reports](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/appellate-reports-52 "Appellate Reports") After State Farm denies homeowner’s claim, contract and bad-faith suit is barred by statute of limitations, but suit for unfair business practice under UCL can go forward [Jeffrey I. Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-i-ehrlich "Jeffrey I. Ehrlich") ## [Key concepts to follow for trust accounting](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/key-concepts-to-follow-for-trust-accounting "Key concepts to follow for trust accounting") In the post-Girardi landscape, attorneys must recognize their non-delegable duty to maintain absolute accuracy in their client trust accounts [Erin Joyce](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/erin-joyce "Erin Joyce") ## [The forest, not the trees](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/the-forest-not-the-trees "The forest, not the trees") Gathering your evidence and framing your case for trial [Geoff Wells](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/geoff-wells "Geoff Wells") ## [Wrapping up the legislative session](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/wrapping-up-the-legislative-session "Wrapping up the legislative session") The 2023-2024 legislative session ended on August 31. Here are the major bills CAOC worked on in 2024 [Nancy Peverini](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/nancy-peverini "Nancy Peverini") ## [On-line safety for children](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/on-line-safety-for-children "On-line safety for children") Also: Proposed changes to Federal Rules [Linda A. Lipsen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/linda-a-lipsen "Linda A. Lipsen") ## [Silver and gold](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/silver-and-gold "Silver and gold") OC to sponsor Halloween Trunk or Treat event at KidWorks, while LA’s Day of Dignity will assist those experiencing homelessness [Bradley S. Wallace](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/bradley-s-wallace "Bradley S. Wallace") [Michelle M. West](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michelle-m-west "Michelle M. West") ## [Top Gun Awards gala](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/top-gun-awards-gala "Top Gun Awards gala") Honoring outstanding legal achievement in 2024: Arash Homampour, John Manly, Ricardo EcheveRria, Jason Argos and Garrett Chambers [Whit D. Bertch](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/whit-d-bertch "Whit D. Bertch")