Host Elizabeth Walden of the Beasley Allen firm sits down with titans of Alabama Trial Law Steve Heninger and Greg Cusimano. The three discuss new books being released by each guest and give a preview of what is to come at the ALAJ Winter Summit at the end of January.

Steve's bio: Steve grew up in a small farming community in Southern Illinois not far from the Kentucky border known as Salem, Illinois. His hometown was also the birthplace of William Jennings Bryan. Steve was the President of his high school’s student government and was also a standout on its football, basketball and track teams. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1972 where he was a sprinter on its varsity track team. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army on the day of his graduation and immediately went on active duty for two years. While serving in Ft. Benning, Georgia, he was asked to become the Brigade Legal Officer for the 197th Infantry Brigade even though he was not yet a lawyer.

He served in this position for 18 months and tried over 100 Special Courts Martial, ten of which were jury trials as a prosecutor. After he completed his tour in the Army, he attended Cumberland School of Law where he graduated summa cum laude in 1977. After clerking for U.S. District Judge, James H. Hancock, he began his legal career in representing plaintiffs in civil ligation for the past 40 years. He has taught courses in trial work for the American Association for Justice (AAJ) at such prestigious law schools as Harvard, Georgetown, Stanford, University of Wisconsin, University of North Carolina and the University of Alabama. He has been listed as a top 50 lawyer for Alabama in Super Lawyers for the past 8 years. Steve has been married to his wife, Karen, for 51 years and has three children and five grandchildren who all live in the Birmingham area.

Greg's Bio: Few resumes are as decorated with as many prestigious board appointments, awards and recognitions as that of Gregory S. Cusimano. Known as a leader in his field and accepted as one of the nations’ top attorneys, he is a sought-after speaker at conferences across the U.S. where he lectures on trial law, tactics and persuasion. But for those he represents, Greg is known for his kind heart, caring personality and masterful ability to electrify juries, win cases, and bring justice to those he represents. As a client, you are never alone when Greg is on your side.

Born in Gadsden, Alabama, Greg attended Gadsden High School and later received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Alabama. While in undergraduate school, he became a founder and first president of Beta Theta Pi social fraternity at the University and was included in “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. While attending law school at the University of Alabama, he served as president of the student body. Greg was tapped into the Bench and Bar Honor Society and invited to serve on Law Review as a freshman. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1968. In support of his legal career, Greg has served as executive board member, treasurer, vice president, president and past president of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association. In 1995, Cusimano was appointed to the Council of the Alabama Law Institute, an organization that systematically reviews and rewrites statutory laws of Alabama. Greg was also appointed to the American Bar Association’s Advisory Panel. Cusimano has served as president of the Etowah County Trial Lawyers Association, the Etowah County Young Lawyers, and the Etowah County Bar Association. He is an active member of the American Bar Association and the Alabama Bar Association.

Host Gavin King is back on the road traveling to Union Springs, AL. This month features an interview of the founding attorneys of Penn & Seaborn. Gavin talks with Myron and Shane about the founding of their firm, the uniqueness of a rural practice, and the importance of good laws in our state.Myron's bio:Myron grew up in Union Springs, Alabama, and now lives with his wife, Karen, and their children, Maggie and Corde, in Montgomery. He attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. He then attended the Cumberland School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1998.After serving in Governor Jim Folsom’s administration as director of constituent affairs, Myron began making his mark in Birmingham as a consultant for legendary Birmingham mayor Richard Arrington, Jr. He later worked for a Birmingham law firm where he represented the Jefferson County Personnel Board and played a key role in overseeing compliance with a United States Supreme Court consent decree in the landmark case of United States v. Jefferson County Personnel Board. In 2002, Myron partnered with attorney Shane Seaborn to form Penn & Seaborn, LLC, Attorneys at Law, which now has offices in Montgomery, Union Springs, Clayton, and Eufaula. Penn & Seaborn has been influential in a number of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in cases involving, but not limited to: wrongful death, personal injury, trucking and automobile accidents, products liability, and fraud.Shane's bio:Not only is Shane Seaborn one of the most knowledgeable attorneys we’ve ever met, but he’s also the type of guy that clients would easily call their friend. He resides in Clayton, Alabama, with his wife, Anna Hamm Seaborn, and their three children Sloane, Slade, and Sophie. He graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. He then went on to graduate at Jones School of Law. Being no stranger to hard work, Shane also held a full-time job throughout law school.Throughout his career Shane has gleaned a unique perspective as an attorney by representing both plaintiffs and defendants. His ability to see a case from two different view points has given him the knowledge of many different aspects of the legal system. His distinctive outlook has proven very helpful to his clients.Additionally ALAJ would like to highlight our newest Partner firm Belt, Bruner & Barnett. Special shout out to ALAJ Fellow Cartography Consulting for providing marketing solutions to our Association and our members.Episode produced by James Able.Follow ALAJ:Twitter: @AA4JFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/alabamajusticeInstagram: alaj4jTikTok: @al4justiceBy accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this Podcast, are the property of the Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ), or used by ALAJ with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of the ALAJ, which may be requested by contacting the ALAJ office: Media and Communications Dept., Attn: Podcast Permissions, Alabama Association for Justice, PO Box 1187, Montgomery, AL, 36104 or e-mail at james@alabamajustice.org.

This month host Gavin King interviews current ALAJ President Erik Heninger from the recording studio at ALAJ headquarters in Montgomery, AL. Erik and Gavin discuss what its been like to lead the Association, updates on what the upcoming Alabama legislative session looks like, and Erik's path to the plaintiff's bar.

Erik's Bio:

Erik is a partner with the firm of Heninger Garrison Davis in Birmingham. Erik concentrates his practice on personal injury litigation focusing on brain and spinal injuries, medical negligence, trucking litigation and nursing home litigation. He currently represents the 10th Judicial Circuit as an Alabama State Bar Commissioner and serves on the Executive Committee of the Birmingham Bar Association. He is a member of the Alabama Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA); is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell; and is a Fellow of the American Association of Justice’s (AAJ) National College of Advocacy (NCA). Erik graduated from Birmingham-Southern College and Cumberland School of Law. He is married to Kimberly Anne Heninger.

ALAJ would like to thank Partner firm Heninger, Garrison, Davis for all the support they give to the association and for their support of Erik as he has served as president for our organization. ALAJ would also like to shout out industry Fellow Physician Life Care Planning for their aid to our members' clients and their willingness to step up when the Association needs help.