The Litigation War Room

On this episode, Maxwell Goss interviews tax attorneys Venar Ayar and Wendy Begress of Ayar Law. They share fascinating case stories, including an IRS settlement for a mere $13 and a $300,000 tax bill that was transformed into a $250,000 refund.Max and his guests talk about strategies for dealing with IRS disputes for businesses and individuals, common client mistakes, and the explosive growth of Ayar Law. You'll also gain insights into how the IRS handles criminal investigations and strategies for effective client advocacy when dealing with tax authorities.Show WebsiteXLinkedInFacebook—--Episode website

This episode features national employee benefits litigator J.J. Conway whose small firm has built a big reputation representing employees in mission-driven lawsuits. Host Maxwell Goss talks to J.J. about a class action he handled that changed how autism treatment is covered and another addressing pension fund abuse during Detroit's Kwame Kilpatrick era that had an impact on Detroit’s bankruptcy filing and saw city officials sent to prison. Don't miss J.J.'s insights on litigating employment cases, spotting potential class actions, and making a big impact with a lean team.-----The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation attorney Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in intellectual property and business cases in Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.Show WebsiteXLinkedInFacebook—--Episode website

On this episode host Max Goss facilitates a discussion with attorneys Megan Bonanni and Elon Scharf about a historic $380 million settlement for survivors of sexual abuse by Dr. Larry Nassar. The episode explores the litigation strategies, innovative settlement approaches, and the significant non-monetary terms secured to ensure justice for the survivors and institutional reforms for all those who come after these athletes.Megan and Elon share insights on the challenges posed by institutional failures, how they collaborated with 500 plaintiffs and their legal teams, and the powerful role of survivor testimonies in influencing negotiations. The episode highlights the legal effort to secure both financial compensation and meaningful institutional change for over 500 survivors.Episode outline00:20 Brief Overview of the Scope of the Nassar Abuse and the Survivors’ Case01:29 Participants and Their Roles03:57 Megan Bonanni on the Criminal and Civil Cases07:55 USA Gymnastics and Its Culture of Enablement15:26 Ilan Scharf on Bankruptcy and Mediation Process25:39 “Game of Thrones” - Negotiation Strategies and Challenges33:18 Non-Monetary Relief and Important Institutional Reforms that didn’t Make Headlines40:16 Final Thoughts and Takeaways from Megan Bonanni and Ilan Scharf42:29 Closing Remarks-----Ilan Scharf bio pageIlan Scharf on LinkedInPachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLPMegan Bonanni bio pagePitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & RiversMegan Bonanni on LinkedIn-----The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation attorney Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in intellectual property and business cases in Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.-----Show WebsiteXLinkedInFacebook—--Episode website

On this episode, host Maxwell Goss speaks with Chris Darrow about his dual role as a patent attorney and special master. Chris offers insights into his intellectual property work and details about his experience serving as a special master in nearly a hundred cases.“[Working with a special master]  is an opportunity for you to save money and more efficiently get your case to trial because a special master brings specialized knowledge. He or she can help you get to trial more easily, more efficiently, and hopefully more cheaply because you're not going to be butting heads on issues." - Chris DarrowMax and Chris discuss bridging the knowledge gap for lay judges and juries in technical patent cases. Chris also talks about interesting cases including the "Rainbow Loom" patent case and the "Indoor Snowball Fight" copyright case. This episode offers an inside look at how special masters do their job and help parties resolve their disputes.00:27 Meet Chris Darrow: Patent Attorney and Special Master05:14 The Role and Responsibilities of a Special Master16:19 Chris’s Notable Cases and Experiences16:37 The Rainbow Loom Case19:28 Understanding Claim Construction in Patent Cases22:40 The Indoor Snowball Fight Copyright Case26:04 How a Special Master Adds Value by Saving Time and Money28:52 Final Thoughts on the Value of a Special Master and Getting in Touch-----Chris Darrow bio pageDarrowMustafa.comChris Darrow on LinkedIn-----The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation attorney Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in intellectual property and business cases in Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.-----Show WebsiteXLinkedInFacebook—--Episode website

On this episode of The Litigation War Room, host Max Goss speaks with seasoned trial lawyer, professor, and author Shane Read about his book, Winning at Deposition, and about what it takes to master deposition strategies and techniques."One of the most important things I tell lawyers is that a deposition testimony equals trial testimony and to treat it that way." - Shane ReadMax and Shane break down high-profile (and entertaining) cases involving President Bill Clinton and Microsoft founder Bill Gates to highlight common pitfalls and best practices for depositions. Their conversation covers the crucial importance of depositions in modern litigation, the strategic reasons for taking or not taking a deposition, and how best to prepare for a deposition. Because, as Shane makes clear, winning at depositions means having a clear case strategy and a bottom line message from day one.00:20 Guest Introduction: Shane Reed00:33 Discussing Deposition Strategies01:36 Shane Reed's Background and Career03:19 The Crucial Role of Deposition Testimony04:53 Reasons to Take or Not Take a Deposition07:11 Effective Deposition Techniques17:00 The Role of Preparation in Depositions20:22 Handling Forgetful Witnesses24:47 The Importance of Preparation25:36 Bill Gates's Antitrust Testimony27:52 The Art of Persistent Questioning31:33 President Clinton's Infamous Deposition34:31 A Heated Exchange in a Deposition Room38:18 Common Mistakes Lawyers Make in Depositions40:09 Insights on Remote Depositions43:16 Final Thoughts and Key TakeawaysShane Read bio pageShaneRead.comWinning at DepositionTurning Points at TrialShane Read on X Shane Read on LinkedIn-----The Litigation War Room is hosted by litigation attorney Maxwell Goss. Max represents clients in intellectual property and business cases in Michigan and around the country, bringing forceful advocacy and creative solutions to every case he handles.-----Show WebsiteXLinkedInFacebook—--Episode website