Just Verdicts

By: Brendan Lupetin
  • Summary

  • Your client’s been wronged, and they want justice. Just wait for the wrongdoer to accept responsibility? Yeah, right. You need answers to questions like “What really happened?” and “Why did it happen?”. And whatever bad thing happened, you want to ensure it doesn’t happen again. It takes the right strategies, tactics, and grit to get the just outcomes your clients deserve. Hosted by Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney Brendan Lupetin, a founder of Lupetin and Unatin, Attorneys at Law in Pittsburgh, this podcast is dedicated to the pursuit of just verdicts for just cases. Each episode features in-depth interviews and discussions of cutting-edge trial strategies to equip you with the tools you need to conquer the courtroom. Interested in co-counseling, local counseling, or referring a catastrophic injury case? We’d love to work with you. Visit our attorney referral page at https://www.PAMedMal.com/Refer (PAMedMal.com/Refer.) We handle cases in Pennsylvania and across the United States. Produced and Powered by https://lawpods.com/ (LawPods)
    Copyright 2025 Brendan Lupetin
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Episodes
  • Two Young Lawyers, One Career-Making Verdict: $856,000 for Stroke Victim
    Apr 9 2025
    When a 64-year-old man with classic stroke symptoms was misdiagnosed with Bell's Palsy, his care was delayed by 19 critical hours. Host Brendan Lupetin interviews classmates-turned-colleagues Ben Cohen and Carmen Nocera about their $856,000 medical malpractice verdict in Washington County, PA. The young attorneys reveal how they exposed contradictions in the defense's position, leveraged a damning phone call recording, and maintained credibility with the jury through a grueling two-week trial against experienced defense lawyers.Learn More and Connect☑️ Ben Cohen | LinkedIn☑️ Carmen Nocera | LinkedIn☑️ Harry S. Cohen & Associates on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube☑️ Brendan Lupetin | LinkedIn☑️ Lupetin & Unatin, LLC☑️ Connect: Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeEpisode PreviewThe case involved Steve Burrows, a 64-year-old active outdoorsman who experienced sudden onset of numerous stroke symptoms but was misdiagnosed with Bell's Palsy.Despite the medical maxim "time is brain," treatment for stroke was delayed 19 hours, resulting in permanent neurological deficits including a vocal cord paralysis that made eating and drinking extremely difficult.A critical phone consultation between the ER doctor and a neurologist, initiated only because the patient's friend insisted, revealed that the doctor presented incomplete information and was committed to the Bell's Palsy diagnosis.The defense tried to argue that stroke symptoms began the day before, putting the patient outside the treatment window, but records showed those minor symptoms had completely resolved.The attorneys explain how Washington County's generous voir dire process, including comprehensive questionnaires provided weeks in advance, helped them identify jurors comfortable making decisions between competing expert...
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Trial Nugget: Power Reading
    Apr 3 2025

    In this trial nugget, Brendan Lupetin challenges the notion that trial lawyers must deliver openings and closings completely from memory. Drawing inspiration from James Humes' book "Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln," Brendan introduces the "power reading" technique used by communicators from Ronald Reagan to Rick Friedman. This approach combines written precision with conversational delivery through two key principles: "memorize, then conversationalize" and the "see, stop, say" method. Brendan shares how he successfully implemented these techniques in his recent trial victory, offering a practical alternative for attorneys who want to sound natural while maintaining complete control over their message.

    Produced and Powered by LawPods

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    10 mins
  • The “Only Doctor in Town” Defense? We Cracked the Code
    Mar 23 2025

    "It's a stroke of the leg, ladies and gentlemen." When critical limb ischemia struck their client Kirt, every minute counted—yet the county's only vascular surgeon remained at a wound care center despite multiple emergency calls. In this breakdown of their recent $2.2 million verdict, host Brendan Lupetin, partner Greg Unatin, and associate Garrett Trettel reveal how they overcame challenges including COVID-related defenses, contradictory timeline claims, and the fear of alienating the only specialist serving their rural community.

    Learn More and Connect

    ☑️ Greg Unatin | LinkedIn

    ☑️ Garrett Trettel | LinkedIn

    ☑️ Brendan Lupetin | LinkedIn

    ☑️ Lupetin & Unatin, LLC

    ☑️ Connect: Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

    ☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

    Episode Preview
    • The case involved Kirt, who experienced acute pain in his leg and was diagnosed with critical limb ischemia, but experienced significant delays in treatment leading to an amputation.
    • The defendant, Dr. Lynch, was the only vascular surgeon in the county, creating unique challenges for the legal team in persuading local jurors.
    • Despite multiple calls from the emergency department about Kirt’s critical condition, Dr. Lynch remained at a wound care center and significantly delayed seeing the patient.
    • A key defense strategy involved using an audit trail to suggest Dr. Lynch arrived at the hospital earlier than medical records indicated, forcing the team to adapt their approach.
    • The lawyers explain how they effectively used the "increased risk of harm" causation standard to overcome challenging timeline issues in the case.
    • The team discusses their decision not to call certain witnesses, such as the PA and emergency physician, relying instead on medical records as the strongest evidence.
    • The verdict of $2.2 million came after a five-hour jury deliberation with a 10-2 decision, reflecting the challenging but ultimately successful case.

    Ready to refer or collaborate on med mal, medical negligence, and catastrophic injury cases? Visit our attorney referral page at PAMedMal.com/Refer. We handle cases in Pennsylvania and across the United...

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    1 hr and 15 mins

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