The Athlete's Lawyer

W&OD Trail patrol member visits Thursday Farmers Market in Herndon, just down the street from the Landau Law Shop

While visiting the Herndon Thursday morning Farmers Market down the street from our buildings, I spotted a cyclist in a yellow “Trail Patrol” outfit.  While I and others from the Landau Law Shop had helped to clean the trail and volunteered as course marshals for running and bicycling events on this wonderful path, I did not know that there were official “Trail Patrol” members, as well as the Herndon police, on 2 wheels !

Neal was kind enough to share with me “W&OD Trail Rules and Guidelines” on cards in English and Spanish, so that I could help educate Trail users and continue to promote rider, runner, skater, cross country skier, roller blader, skate boarder and walker safety on this Northern Virginia Regional Park path.  Because we represent injured athletes, victims of car crashes, disabled cyclists and battered bikers, at ABRAMS LANDAU we see the devastation unsafe driving and cycling can cause.  Following up last week’s “ringing the bell for safety,” I intend to have these cards at the Reston Bike Club ride sign up table tonight !   In addition to Trail clean up and sponsorship, the Friends of the W&OD have programs and personnel serving Northern Virginia.  You can reach the W&OD Trail office at WOD@NVRPA.org or (703-729-0596)

Having watched softball at all levels, and admired people who play at sports throughout their lives, Doug Landau was saddened to see the local news report of a tragic and fatal sports injury.   Competing in multipart for 25 years, seeing that a 55-year-old Loudoun County man who had enjoyed playing softball  for the last 25 years resonated with the Triathlon Trial Lawyer.   Loudoun resident George Crisp was doing something he has done for the last 25 years – pitching softball.

The Fairfax Times reported that during a weekend game at Potomac Lakes Sportsplex in Sterling, “a batter hit a line drive back at Crisp. The ball hit Crisp in the throat, causing him to inhale sunflower seeds he was chewing and go into cardiac arrest. He died later at Inova Fairfax Hospital.”

There have been other reports of sunflower seed choking deaths, and almost any foodstuff can be a choking hazard, but the congruence of the sunflower seeds and being struck in the throat by a softball combined to cause a very tragic sports injury.  Landau noted that his thoughts and prayers go out to the pitcher’s family.  The Sterling and Leesburg  Virginia lawyer and his guests will be participating at the Herndon High School Baseball program “sponsors’ night” on Friday.  Landau has coached, volunteered and supported youth and adult athletics in the Herndon, Reston and Sterling area for over 25 years.

Though not an Intercollegiate or Olympic Sport, “Beer Pong” is very popular on many college campuses.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau participates in many unusual athletic events, and has competed on college campuses all over the United States, but not Beer Pong.  Beer pong, where players play table tennis and have to drink beer at the same time, usually involves cases of beer and not legal cases.  The beer pong case ruled upon by the Virginia Supreme Court has been much discussed in the legal press since being handed down several weeks ago.

After finishing final exams at Virginia Tech, Adam Copp was celebrating and playing beer pong with one of his roommates at a Blacksburg apartment.  Two strangers joined the game and one of them, Carson Dugger, said something to offend Copp.  The young men then got into a shouting match that turned physical when Dugger’s friends came on the scene.  Copp found himself with four or five people between him and Dugger.  Copp swung his arm and struck one of Dugger’s friends, Gregory Jacobson.  Copp said he was just trying to get free from the group.  Jacobson accused Copp of throwing punches and hitting him intentionally.  Jacobson, the plaintiff in this case, was badly injured. Two surgeries were required to repair his fractured skull.  Jacobson brought a lawsuit as the result of his severe and permanent head injuries against Copp for assault and battery, alleging intentional injury.

The Supreme Court of Virginia’s decision ruled Read the rest of this entry »

Doug Landau, WITH HIS SHOES, the day before his now infamous "bare footed effort" at the USAT National Duathlon Championships

After his bare foot 5k effort at the USAT Duathlon National Championships, Doug Landau got e-mails, calls and “shout outs” from other multisport athletes.  Some, who saw the Triathlon Trial Lawyer “in action” in Richmond, wrote him afterwards.  Others, seeing his bike split time, wondered if the Herndon, Reston and Dulles Airport region injury lawyer got lost on the National Duathlon Festival race course !   Even his out of state family members wondered if he had been in a bike crash, sustained a sports injury or broken his racing bicycle or helmet.

• One athlete wrote, “If you’re the Doug Landau who was totally kick-ass at yesterday’s Duathlon National Championships–by running barefoot at 7-minute pace after you flatted–I’d love to be your friend. I’ve been telling everybody about you. Hope you’re not any worse the wear and tear for your amazing effort.”
• Another sent this message, “Looks like you had good runs – but did something happen on the bike ?”
• Lastly, “You are my hero. Seeing your response to the bad luck of a flat is a big part of what multi-sport is to me. You get to learn what you’re made of–or, as in your case–you can see what others are made of, too. Hats off. I’m sure I’ll be thinking of you as I swim those icy waters of SF Bay. Never say die.  And just keep going, no matter what.  Thanks for the inspiration. Best of luck in your season.”

Fairfax County lawyer & friend Cynthia Kaplan Revesman (in hat) is all smiles after running the First Annual "Race For Justice" 5k

At the First Annual “Race for Justice” held at the Tysons Sport & Health Club this morning, lawyers where allowed to “beat” sitting Virginia judges and NOT be cited for “contempt” !  Several hundred Northern Virginia lawyers, judges, legal staff and family members turned out for this inaugural event, which raised money for the Fairfax Bar Foundation, which has pro bono legal assistance programs.  Many members of the Fairfax Bar Association came to run, walk and volunteer, as did members of the bench and bars of Alexandria.
Having been a participant in Law Day USA celebrations since the 1980s, Tysons Corner, McLean and Vienna injury lawyer Doug Landau was pleased to see the Fairfax Bar Foundation adding a running race to its programming.  This charitable sports event will help raise additional funds for the bar’s Foundation, much as the “FAB 5k” Landau directed in Old Town Alexandria for many years Read the rest of this entry »

As part of a seminar for football coaches from Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC reported in yesterday’s Washington Post, high school educators also learned that only 10 percent of concussions involve loss of consciousness.  These educators (because learning continues on the playing field) learned that a CT scan might not show any objective physical damage.  At ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., we see challenges to concussion and traumatic brain injury (“TBI”) claims because of this “lack of objective medical evidence.”  However, because a concussion is more of a functional deficit than a structural one, it is hard to “see” the damage caused by an impact to the skull and the interior crashing around of the teenager’s brain.  Often there is no obvious change in behavior.  Yet a concussion that is not properly managed could result in neurological symptoms that last a lifetime, even though players themselves do not fully weigh those consequences.  Permanent brain damage from a sports injury is something that teenage athletes do not often fully consider.  Herndon head injury lawyer Doug Landau recognizes that teen impulsiveness and intense athletic competitiveness can create a dangerous condition when the dangers of brain trauma Read the rest of this entry »