The Athlete's Lawyer

Usually excited for the swim to get underway, Reston triathletes will not compete in Lake Audubon this weekend due to safety issues

Due to the torrential rains that have struck Northern Virginia, the dedicated directors of the annual Reston Triathlon have decided to eliminate the swim for only the second time in the popular multisport event’s history.  The following was posted on the Reston Triathlon Association‘s web site:

Swim portion of the 28th annual Reston Triathlon has been canceled. Our lake official has been checking the lake since yesterday and has come to the decision that in the interest of safety it is not safe to swim in the lake…there is widespread disappointment but “Safety Is First.”

All racers will be notified by email of the cancellation and of plans for a replacement run as soon as the board has met to determine the details.

Triathlon Trial Lawyer, All American Triathlete and Virginia Triathlon Series (“VTS”) race sponsor Doug Landau adds that racers should also be mindful of debris on the roads when cycling, and perhaps “preview” the course once again since the storms have ended.  Tight turns with washout, leaves, bark and other organic matter on the pavement and an early morning start can all contribute to less traction on the road surface.  “Let’s all bike safely – the Reston Triathlon race directors cannot sweep every centimeter of the race course, and road flooding requires extra vigilance on the part of all participants.” adds Herndon Reston lawyer Landau.  “In light of these changed conditions and as I have at least 2 more VTS competitions this season, I am not going to be putting the ‘pedal to the metal’ Sunday.  I encourage all participants to enjoy the race, the shwag and the comraderie and ride safely.”

Herndon injury attorney and Masters Triathlete Doug Landau was told he was “crazy” for inviting potential clients, existing clients and their friends and families to come see him “in action.” Other experienced trial lawyers attending the American Association for Justice’s National Trial Lawyers convention in New York City this summer, confessed that they would never consider having injured, disabled and out of work clients come and learn how and where their cases would be decided. Yet that is exactly what we do every at the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. Here are cases, meetings, volunteer work, athletic competition and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs currently on the calendar this Fall:

• 9/7/2011 Manassas, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing, slip and fall at a federal facility job accident case.
• 9/8/2011 Washington, DC: Trial Lawyers Association of DC “Meeting with the Judges” (CLE), at The University Club, 16th Street, NW, preceded by a program introducing the OsiriX software for Macintosh computers
• 9/09/2011 Alexandria, VA; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, Motion in Limine (to exclude irrelevant evidence) in union construction plumber’s shopping mall on the job slip and fall case
• 9/10/2011 Reston, VA: South Lakes High School, bicycle helmet safety inspection and athlete registration volunteer for the Reston Triathlon
• 9/11/2011 Reston, VA: Lake Audubon, compete in Reston Triathlon,
• 9/15/2011 Washington, DC: Social Security Administration, Disability claim before an Administrative Law Judge
• 9/18/2011 Winchester, VA: Warrenton Aquatic & Recreation Facility, compete in Virginia Triathlon Series (VTS)
• Sprint Triathlon, currently in 4th place in the Age Group, Landau hopes to again win the Series by accumulating enough points in addition to Masters and Age Group awards. ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. is a sponsor of the series.
• 9/20/2011 Fairfax, VA: Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse, Ethics and Social Networking CLE program sponsored by the Fairfax County Bar Association.
• 9/22/2011 Williamsburg, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing, job vehicle accident case, late payment penalties
• 9/22-25/2011 Atlanta, GA: American Association for Justice (AAJ) College, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, (CLE)
• 10/02/2011 Spotsylvania, VA: Acorn Sprint Triathlon, Lake Anna Beach marina, final competition in the Virginia Triathlon Series, Bumpass, VA
• 10/03/2011 Washington, DC: Social Security Administration, Disability claim before an Administrative Law Judge
• 10/5-6/2011 Monroe, LA: Social Security Administration, Disability claim before an Administrative Law Judge on a case remanded from an unfavorable decision for a client for whom ABRAMS LANDAU was successful in his car crash and related workers comp claims.
• 10/6-9/2011 Bergen County, NJ: Client visit, returning to volunteer at High School Parents Weekend, McLean, VA
• 10/10/2011 Richmond, VA: Mediation in a Virginia Workers Compensation claim for a disabled nurse with a Tidewater area insurance defense firm, even though the office is closed for the Columbus Day holiday.
• 10/12/2011 Fairfax, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing, health care provider’s slip and fall brain injury case; the original claim was won, but when additional brain surgery was needed, the insurance company disputed that it was related to the original, on the job fall on the ice and refused to pay the medical bills.
• 10/13/2011 Fairfax, VA: District Court of Fairfax County, monitoring the Traffic Court prosecution of the defendant whose unsafe driving caused permanent injury and death.
• 10/15-16 Williamsburg, VA: Old Dominion University Department of Accounting, compete in annual 5km.
• 10/17/2011 Fairfax, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing, nurse’s car crash back and head injury case. The original claim was won (covering her spinal surgery) and her car crash liability case settled for policy limits, but when additional traumatic brain injury case was sought, the insurance company disputed that it was related to the original, on the job crash and refused to pay the medical bills.
• 10/19/2011 Manassas, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing for a Michigan client with a back injury
• 11/3/2011 Fairfax, VA: Virginia Workers Compensation hearing, after winning permanent and total disability hearing against the Department of Disability Services, seeking van modifications and other additional benefits
• 11/4-6/2011 Lakeville, CT: Volunteer Leadership Weekend, The Hotchkiss School
  nurse’s car crash back and head injury case.
• 11/11-13/2011 Richmond, VA: Virginia Trial Lawyers Advanced Workers Compensation retreat, (CLE) Courtyard by Marriott West
• 11/12/2011 Richmond, VA: Arthur Ashe Athletic Center Health Expo and Richmond Sportsbackers Marathon Festival, compete in 8km. road race.
• 11/18/2011 Herndon, VA: Herndon Community Center Annual Turkey Trot 5km cross country race (in the afternoon, just blocks from the Landau Law Shop !)
• 11/23/2011 Glen Ridge, NJ: United States Track & Field-NJ Championship Road Race, Ashenfelter 8K Classic, benefiting the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation (Landau Law Shop closed for the Thanksgiving holiday)
• 11/30/2011 Colorado Springs, CO: Triathlon World Championship Age Group Sprint Distance qualifiers, like All American Doug Landau, international paperwork for competition in Auckland, New Zealand, October 14-22, 2012

If you want to see Triathlon Trial Lawyer Landau “in action” at these or other events, please e-mail or call the Landau Law Shop (703-796-9555) beforehand, as insurance companies settle on the eve of trial, judges postpone trials and races get canceled due to weather or other unforeseen events, and your time is valuable.  Several races and court cases (including a complex Interpleader for insurance policy limits in Chesterfield Circuit Court as the result of a single car crash injuring several international exchange students) have already been cancelled and postponed due to Hurricane Irene.  Herndon Reston area injury lawyer hopes to see you soon !

Reston bike riders assemble in the Herndon Town lot prior to a fun weekday ride from Fairfax County to Loudoun County

“Defensive Driving” is not just for motorists.  Even bikers need to ride “defensively” and anticipate unsafe actions by others on the roads, paths and trails.  A group of cyclists from Reston were enjoying the W&OD Trail, just past Leesburg in Loudoun County, when calamity struck.  A little boy about 6 or 7 years old was riding with at least one or two siblings and his father was walking with them.  The child was looking back and rode directly into the bikers’ lane.   While the cyclists yelled warning, and some were able to avoid crashing, but others Read the rest of this entry »

Th Tri Performance Team swept the top 3 places at the Infinitive Triathlon Championship Series race in Boradlands, Virginia. Winner Doug Steele (far left) was closely followed by the McAllister father & son team.

While managing to chase down racers through the transition areas, bike course and running paths, Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau was not able to catch three Team Tri Performance members at the Infinitive Sprint Triathlon at Broadlands today.  Race Director Brian Crow once again put on a quality event, which included the Broadlands 50 meter competition pool and plenty of friendly volunteers and a chalked running course.  Eventual race winner (and former training partner) Doug “Man-o” Steele had the best pool start and kept the pressure on during the 2-loop bike section of the triathlon.  Following Steele was the father and son combination of McAllister.

Broadlands injury lawyer Landau was close behind, but his 4th place finish across the line held up as the top 4 stayed in that order for the awards.  “I dug myself into a hole behind Doug by not swimming more aggressively.  Passing people once I got on dry land, I thought I could make up the deficit.  Next time, I’ll try not to give the fast swimmers such a big head start !”  Landau easily won his age group, and continues to rack up “top 10″ finishes, primarily by dint of hard work on the bike.  Despite averaging 22.4 miles per hour over the hilly cycling route, the Loudoun County injury and accident lawyer still had enough legs to run 6:44/mile over the curvy running course.

Landau has finished between 4th & 8th his last 6 races, and he hopes to be in top condition by the time of the USAT National Age Group Championships in August.  The Triathlon Trial Lawyer has a race “double header” next weekend, taking on the “Lawyers Have Heart” 10 km in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. on Saturday and then the DC Splash and Dash (a swim-run duathlon) at the Martin Luther King Aquatic Center in Maryland on Sunday.  For additional information as to the Herndon Law Firm trial lawyer’s schedule of races, cases, seminars and travels, please call 703-796-9555 or e-mail us.

or the crazy !  This was no “April’s Fools” but real white precipitation !

Ed Allen and Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau enjoy the warmth of The Homestead

With snow flakes falling in South West Virginia, the lawyers, judges and legislators who signed up to play in the Annual Norman Landau Cup at the Virginia Trial Lawyers convention had to not only contend with a challenging Homestead golf course, cold and wind, but the possibility of losing their balls in the snow !  There was scant accumulation, but while jogging today in order to familiarize myself with tomorrow’s fun run course, where I would serve as a race volunteer, I noted it was hard to see the balls being hit when the flakes were falling !  Hopefully, the foursomes will wait for those ahead to move out of danger, yell “fore” and wear gloves with dry grips.  Golf course injuries are no laughing matter, and wet, slippery surfaces increase the danger of golf cart crashes, as I have written in prior posts.  No injuries were injured, and the top teams were heartily cheered at the closing banquet.  When their fingers thaw out, they hope to shake the hands of all the well-wishers.

Doug Landau, of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., at the start of the Newton crosss country run during the Multisport World conference in Bethesda, Maryland

DC, Maryland and Virginia Triathletes, Duathletes, Runners, Bikers, Swimmers and Rowers were treated to some outstanding lectures, demonstrations, clinics and competition at this past weekend’s Multisport World in North Bethesda.  There were individual and team competitions in swimming relay, cross country running and indoor computrainer cycling events.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau competed in the running and cycling events.  The 5km race was sponsored by Newton running shoe company, and Landau wore his custom-cut Newtons around the Georgetown Prep Track, golf course and roads. Top finishers and teams got free shoes !

For the 10km. time trial inside the Expo hall, Landau brought his bike and shoes, and a change of clothes, as he was soaked afterwards !  The school’s locker room and facilities were excellent, and this event is sure to get bigger each year.  Cheered on by friends from the DC Triathlon Club, RATS (Reston Area TriathleteS), Team FeXY, Team Z, TriCats, SetUp Inc., Rehab 2 Racing and others, the Herndon injury lawyer was able to average over 22 miles per hour on the hilly course and over 230 watts !

Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau, SPOKES publisher Neil Sandler, Virginia Triathlon Series race director Greg Hawkins, and Rehab 2 Racing Triathlon Coach Rob Colburn survey the scene at the 2011 Multisport World Expo in Bethesda, MD

Multisport World came to the Mid Atlantic region today.   Developed in partnership with USAT Mid-Atlantic Region and held at the state-of-the-art Hanley Center for Athletic Excellence at Georgetown Prep in North Bethesda, Maryland, triathletes, duathletes, bikers, runners and swimmers were treated to a full day of activities.   The local high school’s indoor track, pool and conference rooms were devoted to multisport seminars, training clinics, workshops, competitive events and more.  The first 500 registered attendees received  swag bags with product samples, money-saving coupons and more.  Plus all registered attendees were eligible to win valuable prizes and receive discounts to selected Multisport World clinics.

The campus golf course and outdoor track were the venues for the Newton running shoes demonstration and challenging 5km and the pristine pool, held Total Immersion swim clinics.  Georgetown Prep was the site of the Bethesda Cure Autism Now Sprint Triathlon (yes, that’s my photo on the far right, exiting the pool en route to winning the race 2 years ago !).  All of the big names, and clubs from Virginia, Maryland and DC triathlon were there.  There were also a number of newcomers and there was something for everyone, from “newbie” to veteran.  In the following posts, the competitions and other news will be published.

As  a child, I enjoyed may hours playing on swing sets and “jungle gyms.”  My brother and I would even eat our meals in these structures during the warm summer months (and save our mom from having to clean up if we dripped watermelon or spilled our drinks !).  So I was particularly interested when I received word that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) had recalled children’s play sets made in China for Escalade Sports of Evansville, Indiana.

According to the CPSC recall notification, the hazard is significant, as the swing seats on these Oasis Playsets can crack and break in half, causing the user to fall to the ground.  Escalade Sports has received 24 reports of the seats breaking, though no injuries have been reported.  These defective and dangerous products were sold by Oasis distributors and dealers nationwide from April 2008 to December 2010 for between $1,500 and $2,200.  Consumers should immediately stop using these swing seats and contact Escalade Sports for free replacement swing seats.  For additional information, contact Escalade Sports at (800) 742-6009 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the Escalade’s website.  Consumers can also e-mail Escalade Sports.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) in cooperation with EB Brands, of Yonkers, New York announced a voluntary recall of Resistance Stretch Tubing manufactured in China.  Having used these types of exercise devices to work out at home and at the gym, sports injury lawyer Doug Landau notes that strength training equipment should be built to withstand normal use without injuring the athlete.  Landau’s opwn family members have used products like this for swim training and rehabilitation.  At the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., it is important to help prevent future injuries to consumers and athletes, as well as asist them after injuries caused through no fault of their own.  With this particular exercise product, the handle on the tubing, also called bands, can break or detach while in use, causing the tubing or handle to strike the user and posing an injury hazard.  There has already been a report of an incident involving a bone injury.

This recall involves Everlast Resistance Stretch Tubing, Everlast Pilates Stretch Tubing, Sportline Resistance Stretch Tubing and Pineapple Pilates Stretch Tubing, used for exercise and stretching. The tubing comes in yellow, blue or black with black handles. The words “2404″, “2001 EB Sport Group” and “Made in China” are molded on the handles. A list of affected lot numbers is available on the EB Sports Group’s website.

Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.  For additional information, contact EB Brands at (800) 624-5671.  A picture of recalled stretch tubing can be found at the CPSC recall website.

As a customer who gets a “dividend” each year from REI, sports injury lawyer Doug Landau was impressed the the Recreational Equipment company’s voluntary recall of its Novara Fusion Bicycles.  In an age when many recreational product makers and sports product suppliers deny, obfuscate and/or pass the buck, REI’s act is commendable.  Landau, of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. hopes that by posting notice of this recall,injuries to his fellow cyclists will be prevented.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with REI, announced a voluntary recall of the bicycles.  REI recalled the bicycles due to a fall hazard. The alloy steerer tube could separate from the fork causing the rider to lose control, posing a fall hazard to consumers. REI received one report of a steerer tube detaching. No injuries have been reported. This defective sports product was sold exclusively at REI stores nationwide and at REI.com from November 2009 to November 2010 for between $600 and $900.

Purchasers should immediately stop riding the bicycles and contact their local REI store or the REI customer service center to arrange for a replacement fork to be installed free of charge.  Remember, it is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. For more information, contact REI at (800) 426-4840 anytime or go to REI’s website.