KPD CONNECT May 2016

New Clients

Monthly Inspiration

“Our greatest glory is, not in never falling,

but in rising every time we fall.”

-Oliver Goldsmith

Understanding the Legacy of KPD

BY: BOB KOPKA

Our law firm has a life. It has a history and a destiny. Like each of us, it has a personality. Think about it, and contribute to it. We started as Landau, Omahana & Kopka on April 15, 1987. Thirty years ago, I was a fifth year associate at Conklin & Adler; that firm still exists today as Adler, Murphy & McQuillen. My mentor at the time was John Roadhouse, a wonderful lawyer, deep thinker, and friend. Byron Landau was a partner at Conklin & Adler, and Gail Omahana was his associate. Byron served the senior partner of that firm as his protégé, but it was a contentious relationship, and Byron was not respected or appreciated. Byron was a real go-getter. He is responsible for teaching me what we now call concierge service. He developed Chubb Insurance Company as a client by being attentive to their needs; he was always ahead of the game with them. He had reports on their desks before they were due, and had periodic roundtables with the claim manager, with whom he became close friends. Taking his lead, I developed clients as well, and soon Byron, Gail and I set off on our own with Steven Landau as our business manager. The first office of Landau, Omahana & Kopka was off of the highway near O’Hare airport. It was in that office that I first interviewed Gene Pinkus for an associate position. He had been working in Northwest Indiana for a lawyer who, likewise, was not a good boss and treated Gene disrespectfully. That is how Gene and I started working together. Mark Dolin, Fred Mueller, Sharon Moes, Nancy Adams, Genny Richardson, Lety Corona, Andy Ellbogen, Gene Pinkus, Jim Milstone, Joel Groenewold, Sheri Bradtke McNeil, Tim Palumbo, Tricia Bellich, and Stacy Williams all worked at LOK. Mark was actually my protégé in Chicago and we still reminisce about some of the cases we handled together. LOK continued to expand, year by year. Gene opened the Merrillville office, Mark opened the Farmington Hills office, and we opened offices in many other states including California and Texas. But slowly we began to lose that go-getter attitude, and Byron lost track of the other partners and associates, let alone the support staff that contributed to his success. Gene and Mark felt disrespected, as did Byron’s own brother, Steven Landau. The management team at that firm consisted of Steven, Byron, and me; Gail rarely attended. As firm leaders, we were out of sync and not the same firm that we started years ago. We no longer shared core values, and did not practice what we preached. Gene commented that Byron went from asking clients what he could do for them, to telling them what they could do for him. After 13 years, we decided to split up. Article continued on Page 2.

FCA Transport

Trillium Properties

Understanding the Legacy of KPD (continued)

BY: BOB KOPKA

Kopka, Landau & Pinkus was born on January 1, 1999. Our first order of business was to make sure that we were prepared for the imminent Y2K crisis when every computer throughout the world was going to simultaneously crash on 1/1/2000. Not to worry though, because we brought Fred and the entire IT department with us to KLP. Tim Palumbo and I worked in Crown Point, our largest office. Jim Magrames was our first hire as KLP. We got sued by the bank for splitting up LOK, but not worry about that either because Jackie Satherlie joined the firm with one assignment: defend us from the bank. Needless to say, she succeeded. She is still here, and the bank is gone. Sadly, so is Steve Landau. He passed away suddenly on March 19th, 2001 at the young age of 44. I will never forget that day. I went to Steve’s home to be with his family. From his home, I arranged a conference call with everyone in the firm, all in their respective conference rooms, shocked and saddened as I broke the news of his sudden passing. Many of you recall that day. It is a source of pride for me and a tribute to Steve that so many of you are still at the firm. Needless to say, the focus was on regrouping and surviving. I was ill prepared to assume sole responsibility for the financial affairs of the firm. I relied upon the managing partners of the firm and upon our staff. At that time, Jim Milstone managed South Bend, Tim managed Chicago, Gene was in Schererville, and Mark was in Farmington Hills. We regrouped, and I got my footing. We renamed the firm Kopka, Pinkus & Dolin. We worked together, and saw things eye to eye. We restructured the partnership, developed core values, even before we identified them as our core values. We still believed in that go-getter attitude, and strived to be the firm that provides service that is noticeably better than that which the clients are used to receiving. We still ask what we can do for the client, and know that when we do for the client, they will do for us. This attitude has served us well. We matured as a firm, and developed a strong variety of clientele, which created stability. We were in sync with our clients’ desire to control litigation expense, and understood that the firms that work with their clients to control expenses will become favored firms. Our goal was to maintain the highest level of service, knowing that if we practice what we preach, we will always be a preferred firm. We will develop deep relationships that have the ability to transcend any mistake or misunderstanding. By moving cases to early resolution and focusing on the end result, not the billable hour, we will distinguish ourselves. We want to be the firm most known for positive change in the legal profession, where value is commensurate with cost. We understand that billable hours are a means to measure our efforts. We should, and do, bill for our time and track every tenth of an hour. The busiest and hardest working attorneys generate significant income for their work. But we strive to provide value by being creative agents for our clients, and by guiding their cases with an understanding of the cost, paired with an unrelenting effort to resolve the case favorably. We were also in sync with ourselves. If we came across an attorney or others in the firm not treating everyone with respect, we let them know that such behavior would not be tolerated. In some instances, we tolerated such behavior longer than we should have, but we have learned and matured. Changes were made; we are now Kopka Pinkus Dolin. Mark, Gene and I, as well as all of the partners share the same go-getter attitude and the same values. We developed a more defined management structure, and identified and published our core values. We established a creative marketing team and offer marketing assistance to every professional who seeks it. Our firm is busier than ever, and we have a significantly more diverse clientele. We have more attorneys interacting with existing clients and also involved in activities meant to generate new clients. We have attorneys who have developed new practice areas for the firm. Article continued on Page 3. 2

3

Breaking Down the 401 (K)

BY: DONNA MARKUS

I vividly recall my first job out of college. I remember going through the mounds of paperwork about the company, benefits, and their 401(K) retirement plan and being overwhelmed by it all. I thought, as I read through their synopsis of the 401(K) plan, that this was the least of my concerns. After all, I was just entering the work force, and I had years to worry about saving for retirement. So I did contribute, but just a small amount. Now 15 years later—how time flies—I worry about whether or not I am going to have enough saved up for retirement. It is more concerning to me than it was years ago. Quite honestly, I should have done more right away. Part of the reason that I didn’t contribute more is that I did not understand what to do, the importance, and the benefits that I receive now by contributing. The benefit that I receive now by contributing is the tax savings. See Example 1 below. Let’s use the annual salary of $50,000 a year. If I contribute $5,000 over the course of the year and let’s say that I was in a 25% tax bracket:

Example 1

$5,000 x 25% = $1250.00. By placing $5,000 in retirement, I would save $1,250 in taxes. Please keep in mind that it isn’t always that simple, but for the most part that is how it works.

Understanding the Legacy of KPD (continued)

BY: BOB KOPKA

Our next challenge is to foster a more refined and organized supervision internally. We are working to make sure that our physical space is sufficient to accommodate our growth, and strive to make sure that each of you is acknowledged for your sacrifices as we deal with challenges necessitated by growth. As we grow and overcome these obstacles, we must continually remind ourselves who we are and what we stand for. Our law firm is certainly influenced from the top, but it reflects the collective will of everyone. We have a purpose, a vision, and a destiny. For ourselves and for each other, we need to remember our core values. We should be respectful always, and acknowledge the limits of what we know and never stop seeking to understand the things we don’t. We should listen more, and meet our commitments to each other; as well as to our clients. Let us honor each other with the truth, get our work done well and timely, and not accept an assignment that we cannot do well or timely. It is important to help each other out, own solutions to our problems, and most importantly, practice concierge service for our clients. When we distinguish ourselves, we see the fruits of our labors in the repeat assignments, the accolades from clients, and the self-satisfaction of having separated ourselves in our work and our profession. Our law firm has a life. It has a history and a destiny. Like each of us, it has a personality. Think about it, and contribute to it. Bob

Article continued on Page 4.

4

Breaking Down the 401 (K) (continued)

BY: DONNA MARKUS

Another benefit to contributing to Kopka Pinkus Dolin’s 401(K) plan is the employer match. KPD contributes .20 for every $1.00 that you contribute with a max of 6% of your salary. Let’s take the same scenario above. See Example 2 below.

Example 2

Using a salary of $50,000, I contribute 6% of my annual salary to my 401(K). I would, over the year, contribute $3,000. KPD would contribute $600.00 towards my retirement to make my yearly contributions $3,600 vs. $3,000.

Another great feature that Transamerica offers on its portal (www.ta-retirement.com) is the OnTrack. It will estimate what your retirement age and income goals will be and if you are on track to achieve this.

Other tools you can find on the website are: • Web-based educational resources • Investment calculators • Videos I find the concept of choosing my investment options daunting. Transamerica is very robust with investment options that are reviewed annually by our financial advisor, David Gordon, for performance. If an investment choice is not performing well to its peer group (same type of investment such as bonds or stocks) it will be replaced with a better performing investment. Transamerica offers investment consultants to help you make investment choices by how aggressive you want to be. You can simply call SponsorConnect at 866-498-4557. Also David Gordon, our financial advisor, can assist you in making your choices. David can be reached at 855-870-8787. KPD is going to be providing educational workshops this month. Within the next week, you will receive an invitation to attend. This is where you can ask questions and find out more about saving for retirement.

5

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Matt Gorski

KPD Presentations and Seminars

Mark Dolin and Bob Abramson spoke in Orlando, FL at the CLM Annual Conference last month. Matt Snyder recently gave a Cyber Presentation at Marsh in Indianapolis.

3rd Annual Occupational Health & Workers’ Compensation Conference Roadmap for Prosecuting and Defending a WC Claim for Pre-existing Low Back Injuries

Oak Brook, IL

May 5, 2016

Welcome to the Team!

Erika L. Hawkins Associate Farmington Hills Office

Lynnette Rogers Legal Assistant Farmington Hills Office

David Rodgers Legal Assistant Farmington Hills Office

Rebecca Mrljak Paralegal Farmington Hills Office

Renee Reed Legal Assistant Farmington Hills Office

Laura Guzman Billing Department Buffalo Grove Office

Tonya Hebauf Paralegal Indianapolis Office

Recent Publications

Bob Abramson

CLM Claims Management Magazine PUBLISHED ARTICLE

“Fraud Squad. The Acute Investigation Is Crucial to Destroying Hit-and-Run Auto Accident Claims” LINK TO ARTICLE ON THE WEB

Jim Milstone

Fender v. DCS PUBLISHED CASE

VIEW CASE ON THE WEB

Jasmine Crawford Clerk Farmington Hills Office

Viktoria Tymciurak Paralegal and Conflict Coordinator Buffalo Grave Office

“Fraud: An Unruly Predator of Epidemic

Proportions“ “Stemming the Rising Epidemic of Insurance

Fraud“ “Cyber Presentation“

6

Happy Birthday! MAY

4

8

18

22

25

26

29

29

Lisa Vliet

Brooke Riffell

Barbara Ferguson

Angie Kmitta

Lauren Sarkozi

Abby Young

Cameron Christoph

Dana Purvey

FH

CP

FH

Indy

FH

Indy

CP

FH

Happy KPD

Anniversary!

Matt Snyder

Genny Richardson

Natalie Forte

Eric Jones

Natasha Ram

Christina Essex

CP

CP

Indy

FH

CP

Indy

10

20

9

6

1

2

YEARS

Step into the Spotlight: Sherry Hani

Sherry began working at Kopka Pinkus Dolin six and a half years ago. She truly loves her job, as well as her fellow billers. The department motto is to “always be billing!” Sherry’s funniest moment at work was when she was first introduced to Aimee Beauchamp of the marketing department. Aimee was being walked around the office to meet everyone, and she got to Sherry they both looked at each other for a second and then started screaming. They recognized the familiar face, and realized that they had both worked together at a law firm in downtown Chicago many years ago. Sherry was eager to share throwback pictures to accompany this story, but Aimee thought it best that the photos remain in the archives. Sherry's family is the light of her life. Her son, Charlie, just started driving and this keeps her anxious. Thus far, it's the most difficult thing she has ever had to do as a parent. She is constantly reminding him to only have one friend in the car at a time, never text and drive, don't have the radio on too loud, etc.

Sherry Hani was born and raised on the north side of Chicago. Growing up a lifelong Cubs fan, she has fond memories of attending games at Wrigley Field. It was a time when it was easy to go to a game whenever you felt like it; Sherry didn’t

need her parents to accompany her, and was allowed to attend games with friends at the age of 10. She has high hopes for the Cubbies this year. Go Cubs Go!

Sherry’s sister, Chris, has three kids: Claire, Tommy, and Phoebe. Between her son and her nieces and nephew, Sherry is constantly busy. They all play multiple sports and the trunk of her car is equipped at all times with the tools of a true fan: chairs and blankets for the cold days at the park.

7

There’s Something About Sheri Bradtke McNeil

1. I started at the firm when I was 25, with Genny Richardson being the only person in the office younger than I was.

2. I LOVE old movies with my favorites being To Kill a Mockingbird, All About Eve, The African Queen, Sunset Boulevard, and Citizen Kane.

3. I studied in Austria for a year when I was 19, inspired by the Sound of Music.

4. I can still recite all of my helping verbs, probably faster than Randy Graff.

5. My middle step-son is severely autistic and an absolute joy.

6. My dad was an Indiana high school basketball star, playing guard alongside Oscar Robertson in the 1956 Indiana vs. Kentucky all-star game.

7. My husband is a radio talk show host in Chicago, with a large male following and with most women never having heard of him.

8. I represented Peyton Manning after some guy shamefully claimed Manning’s gentle, loving Labrador retriever “Colt” bit him.

9. I had 3 close great-aunts who were nuns, with the last dying a year ago, and had a 4th aunt who was a nun but left before her final vows, married 3 different guys named Jim and, after studying Chemistry while in the nunnery, helped develop Diet Coke.

10. I have never represented Coke, but I have represented Pepsi . . . and chose Pepsi when I took the Pepsi Challenge in the early 80’s at Navy Pier.

Sheri Bradtke McNeil, a partner in our Crown Point office, shared ten facts about herself that we may not have known.

American Girl

Congratulations to Madalina Roscan of our Buffalo Grove office. She is now officially an American citizen! You may recall from our February Spotlight that Madalina was born and raised in Romania. She immigrated to the United States in 1999.

Look up for the sign!

The sign on the Indianapolis office space has arrived!

8

Recent Case Successes Here Comes the Bride!

Congratulations to Crown Point Associate, Jaime Llorens, and her fiancé, Jacob. They will be married on May 14! Aimee Schatz, Partner

Matt Snyder, Associate

Congratulations to Aimee Schatz and Matt Snyder on their recent successful outcome for GM. It was a consumer fraud and breach of warranty case with class action allegations and multiple defendants. They got GM dismissed out on a Motion to Dismiss that was so well-written that the Plaintiff’s counsel voluntarily dismissed GM without the need to go to hearing. Because of the class action allegations, a different GM staff attorney than the usual was handling it and he has already inquired about assigning us another case.

Congratulations to Leslie Richter on her recent case success. She defended a first party lawsuit in which the plaintiff sought multiple forms of Michigan No-Fault benefits. At a facilitation hearing conducted in March 2016, the plaintiff presented a multitude of outstanding medical bills totalling $268,347.29. Our subsequent motion to dismiss with prejudice three providers bills which totalled $186,000 was granted by the court in April.

Leslie Richter, Senior Attorney Congratulations to Kevin Plagens on his recent success. He facilitated a matter and was not optimistic regarding settlement since the Plaintiff was seeking $1,481,725.00 in damages to their building. In addition, we were unsure how the Judge would rule on the motion for summary disposition since it has been over three months since the oral arguments had been heard—and the Judge had not issued an order granting or denying. However, Kevin managed to settle the claim for a nuisance value of $10,000.00!

Kevin Plagens, Partner

Congratulations to Joel Groenewold on his recent defense verdict for Mariano’s Fresh Market. The plaintiff went behind the floral desk counter to retrieve a vase from a shelf. Vases from the stack fell and shattered, cutting the plaintiff’s left ring finger and severing a tendon. He had to undergo surgery to repair the tendon, along with physical therapy to regain his range of motion and flexibility. His medical specials totalled $22,484.97 and his lost wages were $18,281.00. The jury believed that Mariano’s should have posted a sign warning customers not to go in that area, but they believed that plaintiff’s comparative negligence was over 50% of the total cause of the accident and his claimed injuries; thus delivering a defense verdict.

Joel Groenewold, Partner

Hello, world!

Congratulations to Lauren and Keith Sarkozi! Baby Pearl Joan Sarkozi was born on April 27th at 1:02 AM, weighing 8lbs 6oz and 20 ¼ inches long. Both mom and baby are doing wonderfully!

9

Administrative Professionals Week at KPD

The first National Secretaries Week was organized in 1952 in conjunction with the United States Department of Commerce and various office supply and equipment manufacturers. The Wednesday of that week became known as National Secretaries Day. In 2000, the names of the week and the day were changed to Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day to keep pace with changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of the modern administrative workforce. Kopka Pinkus Dolin arranged events to show appreciation of the work carried out by the administrative professionals, and to highlight their importance to the firm. Throughout the week the offices enjoyed movie themed celebrations with goodie bags filled with popcorn and gift cards to movie trivia lunches, and of course everyone’s favorite: jeans day. In the true spirit of the movie theme, our Farmington Hills office dressed up on Thursday for Glam Day, where they held an Oscar Award themed tie breaker.

10

KPD Out and About

Picture of the Month BY: DAVID KOPKA Congratulations to marketing

team member, Erin Meyer and her husband, Matt. They are expecting their first baby (a girl) on Thursday, May 19th.

Coming Soon!

She said, “Yes!”

Congratulations to the newly engaged, Heather Lopez of our Buffalo Grove office. Her fiancé, Justin, proposed over the weekend. Let the wedding planning begin!

(above) The Kopkas, the Palumbos, and their friends before a Springsteen concert.

(left) Bob and David visiting their niece, Emily (Chris’ daughter) and her cousin in Champaign, IL, where she is a college freshman.

(above) David and his wife, Laura, visiting their grandchildren in Florida.