This episode features national employee benefits litigator J.J. Conway, whose small firm has built a big reputation representing employees in mission-driven lawsuits. Host Maxwell Goss talks to J.J. about a class action he handled that changed how autism treatment is covered by insurers and another addressing pension fund abuse during Detroit's Kwame Kilpatrick era that had an impact on Detroit’s bankruptcy filing and saw city officials sent to prison. Don't miss J.J.'s insights on litigating employment cases, spotting potential class actions, and making a big impact with a lean team.

Host Maxwell Goss speaks with Megan Bonanni and Ilan Scharf about their landmark $380 million settlement in the Dr. Larry Nassar sex abuse cases against USA Gymnastics following years of institutional failure. They explore the innovative negotiation and mediation strategies that led to this historic result and the challenges they overcame in securing justice for the survivors. Beyond the staggering dollar figure, Megan and Ilan discuss the restorative justice reforms embodied in the settlement, including seats for survivors on key committees, stronger policies to protect athletes, and research initiatives to help prevent future abuse.

On this episode, host Maxwell Goss speaks with Chris Darrow about his dual role as a patent attorney and special master. Chris offers insights into his intellectual property work and details about his experience serving as a special master in nearly a hundred cases. Max and Chris discuss bridging the knowledge gap for lay judges and juries in technical patent cases. Chris also talks about interesting cases including the "Rainbow Loom" patent case and the "Indoor Snowball Fight" copyright case. This episode offers an inside look at how special masters do their job and help parties resolve their disputes.

Attorney and host Maxwell Goss speaks with seasoned trial lawyer Shane Read about his amazing book, Winning at Deposition. Max and Shane break down examples from high-profile (and entertaining) cases involving President Bill Clinton and Microsoft founder Bill Gates to highlight common pitfalls and best practices for depositions. As Shane says, "One of the most important things I tell lawyers is that deposition testimony equals trial testimony and to treat it that way."

On this podcast episode, litigation attorney Maxwell Goss hosts the insightful and funny Suzanne Lucas, better known as the Evil HR Lady. The discussion explores law, leadership, and hot button HR topics like AI recruiting, discrimination, non-competes, and remote work. The personal anecdotes and valuable insights that Max and Suzanne share make this a great listen for litigation attorneys, HR professionals, and anyone interested in becoming a savvier, more effective leader in the workplace.

The Litigation War Room kicks off Season 2 with an interview with Justin Brooks, founder of the California Innocence Project and author of You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You’re Innocent. Justin speaks with host Maxwell Goss about his work exonerating the wrongfully convicted. He brings both realism and hope in sharing his amazing and moving stories from the front lines of our justice system.

Attorney and host Maxwell Goss interviews Michelle Harrell, a partner and litigation attorney at Taft Law. Michelle tells the entertaining story of her epic battle against the City of Pontiac on behalf of the owner of a commercial office complex. Michelle discusses the twists and turns in the case and the amazing result she got for her client. This conversation includes many great takeaways for real estate litigation and for the litigation practice in general.

On this episode, Maxwell Goss chats with business litigator Mark Rossman of Rossman P.C., in Troy, Michigan. Mark has represented plaintiffs and defendants oppression cases involving corporate dissolution, buy-outs, and damages ranging from the tens of thousands to tens of millions of dollars. In this wide-ranging discussion, Mark shares war stories about business litigation and and provides insights for building and managing a successful business law firm.

Maxwell Goss interviews Jerome Pesick, a leading litigator in the areas of eminent domain and land use law. A frequent author and speaker on eminent domain topics, Jerry is a trusted authority for several print and broadcast news outlets. Jerry discusses some of the important matters he has handled, including a landmark case in which he secured for his client the largest eminent domain verdict in Michigan history. Throughout the interview, Jerry also provides useful insights on selecting a jury and on the unique challenges of litigating against government entities.

On this podcast episode, Maxwell Goss interviews celebrity divorce lawyer Christopher Melcher. Chris has been quoted and featured in media outlets including ABC News, CNN, Fox News, USA Today, and Entertainment Tonight. Chris gives his take on the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial and the custody battles between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. He also provides insights for all lawyers on how to handle cases involving explosive personal allegations.

On this podcast episode, Maxwell Goss speaks with legendary California litigator, Dan Callahan. Dan has the rare distinction of having achieved record verdicts and settlements in business, personal injury, insurance bad faith, and employment litigation. Dan discusses some of his biggest wins, including the $934 million jury verdict in a business contract and fraud case. Dan also talks about how he uses creativity and hard work to tackle what he calls “impossible" cases.

On this special replay, we return to Max's interview with Mike Morse, a high-profile attorney known for his entertaining TV ads and his impressive wins on behalf of injured clients. Mike is the author of Fireproof: a Five-Step Model to Take Your Law Firm from Unpredictable to Wildly Profitable. Mike shares some of his secrets for building what he calls a “fireproof” law firm. Now that our audience has grown (and keeps growing!), we wanted to be sure everyone had a chance to hear how Mike Morse went from being a true solo to becoming a household name.

On this episode, Maxwell Goss speaks with prominent criminal defense attorney Neil Rockind. Neil talks about his victory in securing the acquittal of an individual charged with reckless driving following the highly publicized tragic death of a police officer. Neil shares insights on many aspects of trial practice, including the importance of humanizing the defendant, dealing with public scrutiny in high-profile cases, and how cross-examination can make or break your case.

On this podcast episode, Maxwell Goss speaks with Sara MacWilliams, a business litigator described by one judge as an “outstanding legal mind” who “refuted all the claims made [by her opponent] with assurance and aplomb.” Sara talks about an important recent case she handled that clarified and amplified the rights of corporate shareholders. Sara provides insights about shareholder litigation and successfully litigating unresolved questions of law.

Maxwell Goss speaks with Doug Lalone, an engineer and patent attorney with the intellectual property firm Fishman Stewart. Doug tells the story of a very interesting case he handled involving a design patent for a rifle scope. The case involved not only cutting-edge issues in IP law but also intersected with a criminal prosecution. Doug offers insights on dealing with scorched earth litigation tactics and putting together a winning strategy in high-stakes cases.

On this episode, Maxwell Goss chats with Nicole Westbrook, a litigation partner with the law firm of Jones & Keller in Denver, Colorado. In this wide-ranging conversation, Nicole discusses deposition skills, the pros and cons of arbitration, the challenges of remote technology, and her advocacy for women in the law. Nicole also dives into an interesting case she handled concerning a multi-level marketing business, and talks about some of the unique legal challenges facing players in that industry.

On this episode of The Litigation War Room podcast, Maxwell Goss chats with Daniel Quick, a leading business litigator, partner with Dickinson Wright, and co-author of Michigan Business Torts. Dan discusses his successful litigation and trial of a non-compete case against celebrity chef Matt Prentice. Dan discusses the fascinating facts of this case and the interesting opinion from business court judge Michael Warren. Dan also offers insights on handling contentious business cases and on the state of non-compete legislation and litigation nationwide.

Maxwell Goss speaks with Daniel Sharkey, a supply chain litigation attorney who has been ranked by Super Lawyers as a top 10 lawyer in the state of Michigan. Dan discusses an automotive case in which he helped his client achieve a great result by shaping the factual record long before a lawsuit was filed. Along the way, Dan offers great insights on counseling business clients and strategically positioning a case for success from start to finish.

On this episode, Maxwell Goss talks with former U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Honigman law firm. Matthew tells never-before-heard stories about how his office handled major law enforcement challenges including the COVID outbreak and protests following the death of George Floyd. He also talks about busting the leadership of the UAW on corruption charges, and about his current practice handling internal investigations. Finally, Matthew offers advice for attorneys looking to make a career in public service.

On this episode of The Litigation War Room, Maxwell Goss speaks with Eliot Wagonheim. Eliot is a seasoned litigator as well as a frequent public speaker and podcaster. He is also the creator of WagonheimU, a learning platform for construction subcontractors. Eliot discusses some of the interesting construction litigation cases that he handled, and shares insights on physical presence, or what he calls “blocking and staging,” in the courtroom.

On this episode, Maxwell Goss talks with high-stakes family law attorney, Ashish Joshi. Ashish handles disputes involving the mistreatment of children, allegations of child abuse, and recovery of abducted children across the United States and around the world. An authority on the subject of parental alienation, Ashish is the author of Litigating Parental Alienation: Evaluating and Presenting an Effective Case in Court. In the interview, Ashish offers insights drawing from his deep knowledge and experience in this important area of law.

Maxwell Goss speaks with Daniel Dalton, the nation’s foremost litigator representing churches and religious bodies in land use and real property disputes. Dan is the author of several books including Religious Property Disputes and the Law, published by the American Bar Association. Dan discusses a pair of important cases involving religious land use and the free exercise clause. Dan also provides insights for handling lawsuits against government entities.

On this episode, Maxwell Goss speaks with William Charron, the nation's leading art law and litigation attorney, who handles a wide range of art authenticity, title, and related matters, as well as commercial and IP matters. Bill discusses a high-profile case in which he represented the owner of artwork alleged to have been stolen by the Nazis in World War II. Bill also provides insights into the fascinating world of art law and litigation, and provides advice for those seeking to make a career in this exciting field.

On this episode, Maxwell Goss talks with Angelo Spyratos, a leading insurance defense attorney and founder of Spyratos Davis in Chicago, Illinois. Angelo has tried more than 40 cases to verdict, and is an accomplished author and speaker. Angelo provides his defense perspective on personal injury trials and shares some of his secrets for reaching today's jurors.

On this episode, Maxwell Goss interviews Troy Doucet, a leading foreclosure defense attorney, law entrepreneur, and accomplished author. Troy has written a book called The Art of War for Lawyers, which takes insights from the classic text The Art of War and applies them to modern litigation. Troy talks about developing a winning strategy, and expounds on the five factors every litigator needs to master to get great results for clients. Troy also talks about his foreclosure practice and his new legal e-learning venture.

On this episode, Maxwell Goss interviews Kurtis Wilder, a former justice of the Michigan Supreme Court who now practices law at the Detroit firm Butzel Long. Justice Wilder talks about his interesting career as a jurist – first as a trial judge, then appellate judge, and finally a supreme court justice. He also discusses a very interesting appeal involving the law of wills and trusts and the rules of professional conduct. Throughout the conversation, Justice Wilder provides valuable insights on the art of appellate advocacy.

We are sad to report that Norman Lippitt has died at the age of 85. Norm was our very first guest on The Litigation War Room. He may have been our best one, too. Though his physical health was declining when we did the interview, Norm’s mind was sharp as ever. He shared some amazing war stories from his storied legal career and offered some really valuable advice for courtroom lawyers. Norman Lippitt was a lion of the law. In honor of his legacy, we’re re-playing his interview on The Litigation War Room. Rest in Peace, Norman.

On this episode, Maxwell Goss interviews Aaron Phelps, a commercial litigator with the Varnum law firm. Aaron handles a range of litigation matters including healthcare, corporate governance, energy, and environmental tort actions. Aaron talks about his victories in a series of important lawsuits he filed against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for charging “hidden fees” on its customers. Aaron also shares insights on the art of the bench trial.

On this episode, Maxwell Goss speaks with Mike Morse, a high-profile attorney known for his entertaining TV ads and his impressive wins on behalf of injured clients. Mike is the author of Fireproof: a Five-Step Model to Take Your Law Firm from Unpredictable to Wildly Profitable. Mike talks about how he went from being a true solo to becoming a household name. Mike shares some of his secrets for building what he calls a “fireproof” law firm.

In Episode 3 of The Litigation War Room podcast, Maxwell Goss speaks with Peter Mahler, a litigator and thought leader in the growing area of "business divorce" law, i.e., cases involving breakups and disputes among co-owners of closely held business entities. Peter discusses Jacobs v. Cartalemi, an influential case for LLC member litigation. Peter also offers his insights on representing business owners and the evolution of business divorce law.

In this episode of The Litigation War Room podcast, Maxwell Goss is joined by nationally recognized plaintiff’s attorney Patrick Salvi. Pat discusses some of his dramatic trial wins, including the $148 million jury verdict in Tierney Darden v. City of Chicago, which more than doubled the previous record verdict in the State of Illinois. In this interview, Pat provides valuable insights on discovery, jury selection, and maximizing damages at trial.

In this episode of The Litigation War Room podcast, Maxwell Goss talks with legendary trial lawyer Norman Lippitt. Norm reflects on more than 50 years of litigation and trial practice – first as a prosecutor, then as a high-profile criminal defense lawyer, and then, after a stint on the judicial bench, as a civil trial lawyer trying huge cases for prominent individuals and businesses. Renowned for his mastery of the courtroom, Norm shares some entertaining stories as well as his insights on the art of cross-examination.

Welcome to the Litigation War Room! In this introductory episode, host Maxwell Goss explains what the podcast all about: Hearing great stories and gaining great insights from some of the nation’s most respected litigators and trial lawyers.