I was an athlete growing up, and so I have always been pretty competitive. As such, trial law appealed to me from the start, especially having the ability to represent individuals in a competitive forum. Today I handle some of the highest-stakes cases, such as those involving neurologically impaired infants. Through my observations I have learned that malpractice defense attorneys are not always the masters of their fate - there are many variables in successfully defending claims against individual physicians and institutions. Some jurors may have had bad experiences with the health care system and view physicians poorly. There are times we try cases that really should not be tried and therefore the entire health-care industry is under fire. Defense attorneys will run into instances in which plaintiff's attorneys are just trying to make names for themselves. These attorneys have visions of winning the state's biggest verdict although many times these cases should not be tried in the first place. In some cases the size of awards has truly impaired hospitals' ability to provide service and care. The same money that is being paid out in awards would allow a hospital to hire five more nurses. There are many social forces at work in what we do. More and more people do not want to sit on juries. Those who do accept jury duty come in with views shaped by television shows. Most jurors want to do the right thing but there is always a fight for jurors to stay objective. Therefore, practicing malpractice defense involves mastering communication skills, such as being a good listener and a good speaker. Time has become more valuable. As I take on more and more complex cases, the more I value my private time. Today, I keep a fairly steady routine. I enjoy spending time with my family and working on my caseload, as long as it stays in balance. But I love what I do I always have. It is a great privilege to stand up in a courtroom and defend the honor and professionalism of all my clients.