Plaintiff 101

The Black Book of Inside Information Your Lawyer Will Want You to Know

By: Karen R. Mertes, Michael J. Harvey

Narrated by: Ted DeMeyer

Length: 2 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

As my life hung in the balance after a tragic car accident caused by a drunk driver, I promised to spend the rest of my life helping others if I were to survive. Despite sustaining a traumatic brain injury, I am the founder and president of Fulfill Your Destiny, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit, dedicated to helping people whose careers have been altered by injury or other unforeseen circumstances. This book is to help other personal injury survivors contemplating litigation, or already involved in litigation. You should be able to navigate these troubled waters ever so slightly easier because of our experience and advice. We're hopeful that plaintiffs' attorneys will see the benefit of providing this book as a teaching tool to their clients, so as a team you can win your case!

©2015 Richter Publishing LLC (P)2016 Richter Publishing LLC

Easy-to-follow and insightful

Plaintiff 101, in my opinion, is a crucial resource for those who are not familiar with litigation, and especially those who believe the process is clear-cut. Karen tells about her experience with her personal injury claim after being hit by a drunk driver.

The book contains unique dialogue due to the fact the audience is provided with insight from an attorney (Karen’s husband!), and not just from the plaintiff (Karen), which means it is not one-sided advice.

The audiobook kept me engaged, a rarity considering the topic. However, it is imperative to know how to go about a personal injury claim, and I feel that I have been adequately prepared to do so. I survived a nearly fatal car wreck two weeks ago and, even though I walked away without a scratch, I thought about the “what-if’s?”, and knew that I should be knowledgeable in this subject.

I 100% reccomend this book because a serious injury is a circumstance that can occur to anyone. Like most people, they do not understand the litigation process which can harm their chances of winning their claim. This book is a step-by-step, how-to guide that is valuable to all.

Please, take the time to educate yourselves. No one is exempt from tragedy.

Plaintiff 101 is a MUST read!

What did you love best about Plaintiff 101?

I love that Plaintiff 101 was thorough and practical in explaining to personal injury victims, in a step by step manner, the litigation process. Invaluable information was presented not only from the point of view of an attorney(Michael) but also from the personal experience of a plaintiff (Karen).

Who was your favorite character and why?

While there wasn't a character per se, the personal story of Karen Mertes was woven into this insightful guide, which I appreciated greatly. First hand information can be very useful in establishing reliability.

What about Ted DeMeyer’s performance did you like?

Ted DeMeyer was a wonderful narrator. He went at a pace that was efficient, while he presented the material in a clear and expressive manner.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

I think there were many crucial bits of information throughout the book. Dispelling the myth that when a personal injury claim is filed, you simply sue and recover money for damages is key. The process is complex, and long, and the plaintiff cannot afford errors. Communication between attorney and plaintiff is crucial for success.

Any additional comments?

This book is an excellent guide for anyone considering litigation. It's a case study wrapped in a depth of information about the legal process, the dos and donts, and how to make the journey less stressful.

A Great Look at the Civil Legal Process

Plaintiff 101 takes a good look at the legal process for laymen. It uses simple language anyone can understand and with the case of Karen Mertes as a case study, shows you how the litigation process plays out and why. It can prepare you for the numerous changes that can occur in your relationships, work, and lifestyle that occur after the accident, letting you know the best course to take in your legal process, how to find a competent lawyer, and the sequence of the trial. Plaintiff 101 reminds you that even though you pay your insurance premiums, they may not always be on your side and that the legal defense will do whatever they can to discredit you.

It's short but packed with information meaning even if you've just had an accident, you have plenty of time to get through it before the rest of the process begins but I wish I'd read Plaintiff 101 before my accident to better prepare me for the process.

A Must Have Book if You Have Any Insurance Claim

Would you consider the audio edition of Plaintiff 101 to be better than the print version?

The audio edition is excellent because, even though this book is informative in nature, it is told in the form of a true story by a former Air Force Lt. Colonel named Karen Mertes who later has a terrible car accident caused by a drunk driver going 100 mph. She goes on to explain how she dealt with it afterwards to get her life back and had to file a lawsuit because her head injury prevented her from performing her job anymore.

What other book might you compare Plaintiff 101 to and why?

I have never seen a book like this before but I wish I had this book before I had to deal with an injury I had years ago.

Have you listened to any of Ted DeMeyer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have never heard this an audio performance by Ted DeMeyer but his pace and tone are very good for this type of book.

What did you learn from Plaintiff 101 that you would use in your daily life?

Like the author, Plaintiff 101 is a book everyone should know about because it could be the difference between making a good claim to insurance companies and in court. The insurance companies sound like your friend but they are really in an adversarial relationship with you to maximize their profits and paying as little as possible for an injury. Most people either do have a claim from an injury or have a family member injured but many end up defeating themselves by improperly handling their situation so that the insurance company's team of adjusters and lawyers end up taking advantage of them. This book is an instruction manual for how to avoid this situation told by a real-life woman and her lawyer.

Any additional comments?

Because insurance companies can be so tricky, I will be telling my friends and family members that they need to see or hear this book long before they ever start a claim or even contact an attorney.

Simple , effective strategies

Plaintiff 101 is a wonderful guide for trial attorneys and lawyer looking to refine the edge in their presentation strategies . I appreciated that it is a concise and quick read. most important , the authors provide tangible and practical advice for developing themes and connecting with the jury.if you are looking for a framework from which to develop persuasive strategies for your nxt case this is definitely a worthwhile investment.

A must read book for professional drivers!

Any additional comments?

I've been very lucky not to face any injury yet but this book is very essential in case of any personal injury claim. There are a lot of processes in courts that we do not have any knowledge of. But this book will give you a proper knowledge of court systems.

Excellent knowledge and advice!

What did you like best about this story?

If you have ever been in a situation similar to this before you in your life, where you seek the advice and consultation of the legal system, this book is very relatable. I feel the narrator (Ted DeMeyer) has done an excellent in this audible book, his narrating allows the listener to feel the frustration and confusion faced by the writer. He allows this fantastic book to be very easily listened to and is free flowing; his narrating is one of the best I have heard.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

I will remember the excellent advice given about the importance of Liability Insurance.
There are also brilliant "take away" points through out this audible book; what to do and what not to do, the best way to get the right outcome, and tips about what to expect in the legal process.

Any additional comments?

I found this audible book very interesting to listen to, I have been in a similar situation myself and can fully understand what is said in this book. The content hits the nail on the head with every chapter. When you listen to this book, whether it is for advice or for personal reasons, ensure you take note, the advice given here is from someone who has been there and done that. There is a lot of knowledge and help in this book.

Engaging, Informative, EXCELLENT

What made the experience of listening to Plaintiff 101 the most enjoyable?

The astonishing amount of information contained in this book made listening to it extremely enjoyable. The fact that some my dad had just had a large personal injury lawsuit made this book particularly enjoyable as we surely will use the information here to our success.

I also enjoyed the fact that great memorable quotes were used in the book, quotes like

"If you think you can't use, you are fooling yourself" "It wasn't the break-in that led to Nixon's fall, it was the cover-up"

Great Book

Have you listened to any of Ted DeMeyer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

My first Ted DeMeyer's book, but if all performances are as great as this, I look forward to listening to his next performance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Listened to it all in one sitting and I'm going letting it play all over again

Any additional comments?

Plaintiff 101 is another addition to the exclusive club of universal books that are recommended for EVERYBODY.
You'll never know you'll be involved in a personal injury lawsuit, this book gives an insider's insight into the inner workings of a system very few people know about. Like they said, a war prepared for is 50% won.

"Personal Litigation for Dummies"

Where does Plaintiff 101 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Plaintiff 101 ranks within the top ten percent of books I've listened to on Audible.

Who was your favorite character and why?

There were no characters in this book.

What about Ted DeMeyer’s performance did you like?

He made the material engaging and, at times, humorous.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Navigating the dangers of the medico-legal jungle.

Any additional comments?

This incredibly accessible book presents immensely practical introduction to the medico-legal world in American today. With chapters formatted with "takeaways," the authors untangle the many ways that insurance, medicine, and law are knotted together. The use of extensive personal case details in one author's driving case allows for a clear and vivid image of her circumstances, though at times it can come across as a little heavy handed or repetitive when establishing the author's credibility.

This book is a valuable resource to anyone, offering advice and insider knowledge of little-known facts ranging from how to handle yourself directly following an accident through every facet of the litigation process. Well worth the listen!

Very informative book for laypersons

If you could sum up Plaintiff 101 in three words, what would they be?

Lawsuit hand holder

What did you like best about this story?

While usually fiction pieces, books involving the legal system are often painted in a manner that makes the material more entertaining or dramatic, which often leads to misinformation to readers. This piece is a great read/listen for those that want to know the truth about what to expect in a plaintiff's lawsuit.

Any additional comments?

The material is a tough topic to cover and can bore a majority of people. However, listening to this book in audio format was a great way to get through the topic material and keep my interest. The way the book is broken down helps the listener/reader understand the entire legal process from start to finish. The reader need not have any legal background and will still come out having a basic understanding of the process and know what to expect.