Please allow me to introduce myself. I was raised in Mesa where I graduated from Mesa High in 1969. I went on to attend Brigham Young University, graduating summa cum laude in English Education and Speech Communication in 1975. I moved back to Mesa with my family where I taught school one year at Mesa Junior High and painted houses before returning to graduate school at Arizona State University in Educational Psychology and then Law. In 1981 I graduated from ASU's law school, now the Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law. During law school I was selected to write for the ASU Law Journal and served as a note editor. I was also picked as a member of the ASU National Moot Court Team. I worked as a clerk for Salt River Project, and at Phoenix and Scottsdale law firms during law school to support my family. After graduation I was hired by the Phoenix personal injury and workers compensation firm, Ely Bettini & Ulman, in 1982. I stayed there for almost 20 years, becoming a partner as the name changed to Ely Bettini Ulman Insana & Turley. I have always had a Plaintiff personal injury practice, including motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, construction site accidents, government and school liability claims, wrongful death claims, premises liability and product injury claims. I have also represented exclusively injured workers in workers compensation claims since 1982.
I was a contributing editor to the first edition of the Arizona Courtroom Evidence Manual, authored by the Honorable Crane McClennen in 1985.
I am AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest professional rating available.
I have had two verdicts of more than a million dollars from juries in Maricopa County and recently obtained an arbitration award of more than one million dollars in an underinsured motorist claim. I have had many trials and arbitrations in Arizona courts.
In 1998 I was recognized as a Certified Specialist in Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation by the State Bar and the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization. I was re-certified in 2003 and again in 2008.
I have been the brief writer and lead attorney in at least ten reported Arizona appellate court opinions, including significant Arizona Supreme Court opinions. I have also been lead counsel and brief writer in many other non-published Arizona appellate court opinions and one decision in the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
I have been a member of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association (AzTLA), now known as the Arizona Association of Justice, and the American Association of Justice (AAJ) for 27 years. I have also been a member of the state and county bar associations and the American Bar Association.
In 2001 I became licensed to practice law in Utah, where I continue to be a licensed attorney. I am a member of the Utah Association of Justice (UAJ).
On November 21, 2009 I was selected as the PHPA (Professional Hockey Players Association) Attorney of the Year at annual meetings held in Austin, Texas.
Besides the practice of law, for over ten years I coached my daughters' and sons' softball and baseball teams in Mesa city youth leagues. I graduated from the Mesa Leadership Training and Development Course in 1989 and served for two years on the Mesa Human Services Advisory Board. I have also been an Assistant District Commissioner and Scoutmaster and Venture Scout leader for my sons' scouting units for many years as they grew up.
I am available to discuss your case and your questions at your convenience.
