The Athlete's Lawyer

Looking for a flat course upon which to test her now found running speed, charity runner Rebecca Landau found a race on the famous Eagleman Half Ironman Triathlon course. The Dorchester YMCA Half-Marathon in Cambridge Maryland raises money for programs supporting strong kids, strong families, and a strong community. In addition, this new event advertised “Environmentally Sensitive Awards and Premiums” ! While a bit long for TriathlonTrialLawyer Doug Landau, as he prefers sprint distances, his wife and eldest daughter seem to enjoy the steady pace and scenery of the longer events. In preparation for today’s run, Miss Landau ran a 10km. in Alexandria, the Blacksburg Classic 10 miler and the Shamrock half marathon in Virginia Beach.

Miss Landau, soon to be a graduate of the Virginia Tech School of Architecture, managed 8:20/mile for 8 miles, and finished with a kick and a smile. Mrs. Landau finished the Dorchester race in two hours, and according to Charm City Run results, Herndon Reston sports lawyer Doug Landau finished in 1:25:30 for 10th overall, 2nd in his age group, out of about 160 finishers. While the course was probably short, it was well marked, with friendly volunteers who bravely withstood the wind, rain and cold. Rather than hang around for awards, the Landau trio bolted for the hotel pool, where Miss Landau’s easy jogging in cool, deep water, followed by a stint in the hot tub, reduced everyone’s soreness, stiffness and made the drive to Virginia more comfortable. The cool water is known to reduce inflammation, and with proper post-race nutrition during the 20 minutes following intense exercise (i.e., water, minerals, carbohydrates and protein replacement for damaged muscles, ligaments and tendons), Landau notes much “delayed onset muscle soreness” and post run stiffness can be reduced.

“Any time an injured athlete can make use of the “down time” to work on weaknesses; improve their minds, or expand their opportunities, it is a good thing,” according to Herndon and Reston Virginia Sports Injury Lawyer Doug Landau. “This is so because no matter how good a lawyer I may be, I can never get them back the time they have lost. I cannot turn back the clock.”

The TriathlonTrialLawyer was responding to a USA Today 3/13/09 Sports Section article about a top professional whose Tennis “Injury allowed her to pursue dream.” This young woman pursued her studies while off the tour nursing an injury. Landau admired her tenacity and ability to direct her energy and focus into improving her mind while her body healed. That way, after her career as a professional athlete is over, she will have the ability to transition into the workforce and not have to rely on, and live off, her tennis earnings. Virginia Sports Injury Lawyer Doug Landau learned this lesson early on, as he became proficient at stringing tennis rackets while a student at the All American Sports Academy. Landau could earn money even when he was injured and could not play or teach tennis, by stringing rackets and repairing grips

Luckily, Doug Landau races for fun and to raise money for charities. As an amateur athlete, the “Triathlon Trial Lawyer” has on several occasions won prize money, which he has donated to charities, teams and schools. The Herndon and Reston Virginia injury and Social Security Disability lawyer has accumulated an impressive t-shirt collection as the result of racing all over the world. Visitors to the Landau Law Shop in Herndon are offered items from the office’s “overflow cabinet” and shirts, water bottles and other goodies are sent to young clients all over the country. Sports injury lawyer Doug Landau has also donated unused race clothing to local schools (for smocks, tie-dying projects and car washes), as his drawers at home have reached, to quote Mrs. Landau, “critical mass.”

Here TheAthletesLawyer is shown with a check he won in a Dutchess County (New York) Road Runners 10 mile race while in Connecticut as a chaperone for his son’s high school dance and after party. Landau, who went to the race with a faculty member who was also a prize winner, donated the check to The Hotchkiss School Athletic Boosters, where he was on the Alumni Board of Directors.

One positive aspect of representing competitive and recreational athletes is that they tend to heal from traumatic injury quickly and completely. When Virginia Sports Injury Lawyer Doug Landau is asked “Why are athletes’ flesh wounds, like dog bites, not stitched up right away ?” he notes that sports medicine doctors are aware that their patients run the risk of infection. Bikers who “wipe out” on the road often have severe “road rash.” Oil, dirt, grease and other contaminants can get under the skin, scabs and healing flesh and present opportunity for infection. Just as with dog attack bite wounds, emergency room doctors will not stitch the injury site, so that the saliva, hair and other contaminants from the animal will not get trapped under the skin and cause infection and sepsis.

In cases of bleeding injuries on artificial turf, the rubber and other man-made materials can get trapped under the skin and cause adverse reactions and infection. Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau runs barefoot in the warmer weather, and has gotten material imbedded in his feet and ankle that have become infected. Likewise, most sports injuries occur not when the skin is clean, pristine and newly washed, but where there is sweat (with uric acid, which causes its acrid smell as time passes), grime, spilled sports drinks, dirt, dust, and even bodily fluids from other participants (ever been in a “scrum,” football “pileup” or amateur wrestling or boxing match ?). By leaving the wounds “open” or unstitched, and covered by gauze with antibiotics, doctors can monitor the healing process and prevent infectious agents from delaying the athlete’s recovery or making the injury worse by subcutaneous infection.

The 2009 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships at Prince George’s Sports and Learning Center in Landover Maryland attracted some of the world’s top masters athletes, including at least 12 Olympians and 58 reigning world record holders according to the Cool Running site. With the theme of lifetime fitness, the meet is open to all athletes 30 and up. The oldest competitor is 95. TriathlonTrialLawyer Doug Landau had the opportunity to compete in the 45-49 age group.

Nearly 1,000 athletes – a record for the USA Masters Indoor Championships since the meet’s 1974 beginnings and the most for any masters indoor meet ever in North America – will compete. The MD-DC-VA area is home to an unusually large number of masters athletes, and the Herndon Reston Virginia area injury and disability lawyer Doug Landau ran as a long-time member of the D. C. Road Runners Club (DCRRC). Shown to the left are Julie Hayden from the Athena Track Club and D.C. area photographer and race correspondent George Banker.

There are very few things that can keep me from finishing a race I have signed up for, especially where I am an event sponsor. As a Gold Sponsor of the 2009 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships in Landover, Maryland at the Prince Georges Sports & Learning Complex, I had registered for the 3 km (just under 2 miles) on Friday, the mile on Saturday and the half on Sunday. However, family comes first, and I was thrilled to be visiting family in New York City after depositions Thursday in Flemington, New Jersey. The absence of the TriathlonTrialLawyer was not missed; there was plenty of excitement for spectators, track aficianados and participants alike Read the rest of this entry »

Running through a swamp behind a client’s home may not be most lawyers’ idea of a good time, but Doug Landau of ABRAMS LANAU, Ltd. is not your typical trial lawyer. While attending the VTLA Annual Convention in Williamsburg, Virginia, the Triathlon Trial Lawyer was able to find a local race to participate in after his duties as a volunteer earlier the same morning. Landau was a race volunteer for the Convention Fun Run.

The Herndon Reston injury and disability lawyer is pictured at the Jamestown High School track after the Colonial Road Runners Dismal Swamp 5km. The Colonial Runners do a splendid job and their events are challenging, held in unique locations and fun.

The Virginia Trial lawyers Associaiton’s (“VTLA“) Annual Convention is jam-packed with lectures, seminars, specialty sessions and inspiring speeches.  yet there are also athletic events that TriathlonTrialLawyer Doug Landau has sponsored, directed and participated in over the last 25 years.  This year, the busy Herndon Reston area injury and disability lawyer was a volunteer at the 7:30 AM “Fun Run.”  Marking 3 key turns along the rainy, wet course through Colonial Williamsburg, Landau finished his duties and returned to the starting line only to find out that the field took a wrong turn, ran an extra mile and therefore the results were being appealed !

TheAthletesLawyer then had a quick breakfast with the judges and then drove to run in a Colonial Road Runners Club 5 km. at Jamestown High School (see Wednesday’s Post).  He then visited with clients in Williamsburg and Toano, Virginia and returned to the Convention site after lunch.  While judges, lawyers, paralegals and others participated in the Annual Golf Tournament for the Norman Landau Cup, Doug Landau hads to prepare for the Tennis Tournament.  Because of the oftentimes rainy weather, Landau reserved the College of William & Mary indoor tennis courts.  There, ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. once again sponsored the VTLA Tennis Tournament.  For more about this “Court Appointment,” see tomorrow’s post.

Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary condition is found in an estimated 8 to 10 percent of African-Americans. Sickle-shaped blood cells carry less oxygen and can clog blood vessels that flow to the heart and other muscles.  In 2007, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association recommended that college teams screen athletes for the inherited blood disorder, noting some trainers mistake the injury for heat exhaustion, muscle cramps or heart problems according to an AP report.

At least 10 athletes have died in the past eight years, ranging in age from 12 to 19, according to a study from the association. The study also notes the deaths of 13 college football players at schools that did not test for sickle cell trait or had “a lapse in precautions.”  “The hereditary condition has been linked to heatstroke and exercise-induced collapse” according to the 3/13/09 USA Today Sports section article (“Missouri settles with dead player’s family for $2 million”) discussed in yesterday’s post.

The settlement in the Missouri case discussed in yesterday’s post came the same day a similar lawsuit was filed in Orange County, Florida against the University of Central Florida.  Redshirt Freshman wide receiver Ereck Plancher died after an off season conditioning session.  An autopsy showed that this athlete also had the sickle cell trait.

The University of Missouri has reached a settlement in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of a former football linebacker who collapsed on the field during a 2005 preseason workout according to the AP. The Friday USA Today Sports section reports The Circuit Court judge approved the $2 million settlement that ended a 3-year lawsuit over the collapse and death of the 19-year-old college athlete. (USA Today, 3/13/09) The settlement also requires the University to fund a $250,000 scholarship in the deceased football player Aaron O’Neal’s name.

The lawsuit alleged that school employees failed to take medical precautions required by O’Neal’s carrying of the sickle cell trait. The hereditary condition has been linked to heat stroke and exercise-induced collapse. O’Neal, who was 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, started to struggle with conditioning drills about 45 minutes into the hourlong workout on July 12, 2005. Players wore shorts, T-shirts and cleats but no helmets or pads.

The O’Neal family lawsuit accused the Missouri coach, athletic director, team medical director and 11 trainers and strength coaches of failing to recognize signs of medical distress they say could have prevented O’Neal’s death. The former County medical examiner cited viral meningitis as the cause of death. But the chairman of the university’s pathology department and several outside experts suggested the sickle cell trait contributed. See tomorrow’s post regarding the recommendation by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association for sickle cell screening.