The Athlete's Lawyer

Proud dad at Virginia Tech graduation; Zachary Landau will be headed to medical school, but first he intends to beat his dad in a road race ! Lawyer Landau had better watch out !

In response to the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010, Potomac River Running organized the Run for Haiti 5K and Fun Run. With the support of the community, Potomac River Running was able to donate all proceeds to the Red Cross to support the thousands needing medical treatment and basic supplies. Today, Haiti has made profound strides in recovering from the disaster. For 2012, our friends at Potomac River Running have selected Shalom Village to benefit from the proceeds of the race.

Doug Landau again participated, and this time his son ran for a chance at “family bragging rights.”  Zach Landau had run cross country at Oakton High School and Track at the Hotchkiss School, and he has been training in advance of starting medical school this summer.  The Run for Haiti 5k starts and finishes on the South Lakes High School track and is part of the competitive =PR= Race Series.  As a former “jogging stroller” pusher of 1, 2 and even 3 kids, Landau was pleased to see that this race is stroller friendly (including the fun run, too).  The curvy, undulating course on the Reston paths made for a challenging event.  Though the Triathlon Trial Lawyer managed to finish 3rd in his age group in under 21 minutes, his son garnered top prize in his category !  While the jury is still out on who is “top dog,” Landau anticipates the fact that his son will soon be passing him in future races to benefit charities, victims and worthy causes. Soon he may not be the best road racer in the family, though he still may be the best lawyer.

The lobby of the health club at The Fairmont Hotel in North West Washington, D.C., is just a block from the Social Security Disability Hearings & Appeals Office

When Herndon Virginia lawyer Doug Landau has an early morning trial in DC, Arlington or Alexandria, how does he avoid rush hour traffic ?  Clients want to know that their lawyer is going to be on time.  In fact, in some cases it’s an advantage to be taken early, when other claimants, lawyers or witnesses do not show up.  Keeping the judges on schedule is important to the administration of justice, and lawyer Landau knows that being ready well in advance of the scheduled Hearing reduces stress.  So, when he has a morning Hearing or trial in the direction of traffic, he will sometimes stay over the night before or, more usually, get up very early, before rush hour traffic, head to a nearby gym, workout and then shower, have breakfast and arrive at the court house well before the case is set to start.  Unlike the other lawyers who sit in their cars for hours, Landau’s trip its usually well under an hour and he is refreshed, exercised and ready to go.

For cases before the Federal Social Security Office of Hearings and Appeals, Landau has started to use the excellent facilities at the Fairmont Hotel.  The Fairmont’s health club is only a block from the Social Security Administration’s Hearing office and it has newspapers, meeting areas, news broadcasts and most everything Landau needs to get ready, physically and psychologically, to present his disabled clients’ cases to the best of his ability.  The staff is friendly and you can store your sweaty stuff in the locker until after your case is finished !  So if you are a presenting cases to the Social Security Administrative Law Judges and need a place to work out or relax, Landau recommends the Fairmont Hotel in North West Washington, D.C.

Paratriathlete Jose Ramos and Masters triathlete Doug Landau at the USA Triathlon and Olympic Committee reception in Washington, D.C.

While able-bodied athletes like Olympian Hunter Kemper appear on Wheaties cereal boxes, Paratriathletes like Jose Rios inspire us all.  Herndon Virginia lawyer and multisport athlete Doug Landau had an opportunity to speak with this engaging young hero and learn about the efforts being made by the American Paratriathlon competitors.  The U.S. Olympic Committee (“USOC”) and USA Triathlon (“USAT”) invited Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau to attend an exclusive reception this week at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC.  Rob Urbach, CEO of USA Triathlon, Senator Scott Brown (Mass.) and other luminaries from the multi-sport community spoke in order to raise awareness of the needs of the American Olympic and Paralympic teams.  It is more expensive for paratriathletes to Read the rest of this entry »

Clients of the Herndon Virginia law firm ABRAMS LANDAU have sent clippings, posters and websites to the office where Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau has been photographed, quoted or spotted.  It’s almost like a “Where’s Waldo ?” competition !  Recently, lawyer Landau received a copy of “Your Dry Home Quarterly, Issue 23 ” in which he was photographed at the start of the inaugural Loudon Lyme 5km.

Landau finished 10th overall and won the 50-59 age group category in 20:58 (6:46/mile average).  He sent his shirt and shwag to clients afflicted with Lyme Disease after the race. The publication was from DryHome Roofing & Siding, the event’s hosting sponsor and the beneficiary of the event was the National Capital Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Association. The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association is committed to helping patients diagnosed with tick-borne infections through education, support, and review of public policies concerning these diseases. NatCapLyme encourages individuals to advocate for themselves in their goal to regain their health. The organization offers regular patient support group meetings, information, speakers, and news updates on legislative and scientific developments.

Lyme Disease Facts

1.     Lyme is a spirochetal infection of multiple organ systems, causing a wide range of symptoms that mimic other diseases
2.     Fewer than half of Lyme patients recall a tick bite or a rash
3.     Treatment varies depending on how early a diagnosis is made. Long-standing disseminated disease may require longer and repeated treatment
4.     No tests are available that prove a patient is cured

Bikes like this could make it easy to do grocery and other local shopping errands. It would be "economically environmentally friendly exercise" notes biker and cycling advocate Doug Landau of ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., Herndon, Virginia

Bikers who commute to the store on two wheels may be subsidizing their counterparts who choose to drive their Hummers and large SUVs to the grocery and other shopping venues.  According to Bicycle Benefits Advocate Dillon Kleptetar’s excellent piece in the Sunday Washington Post’s “Local Opinions” section, drivers at grocery stores “across the nation, drivers do not bear the true economic costs of their choices, let alone the environmental ones. Instead , the supermarket takes the cost of providing the parking and, since we all pay the same prices for grocery items,” the bikers are paying for the drivers’ use of the parking lot.  The bike advocate notes that “cyclists, walkers and those who take the public transit subsidize the parking of those who don’t.”  I commend the rest of this piece to your consideration.  Just like the “Paper or plastic” bags issue, when consumers must “foot the bill,” consideration of the environment are brought to the foreground.  It makes for thought provoking reading.

Bikers and other athletes assume the normal risks of sports participation, but not defective recreational products, unsafe drivers and dangerous athletic facilities

While Virginia adheres to the outdated doctrine of “Assumption of the Risk” in denying restitution to many injured athletes, other states do not share the view that “one percent and you’re out.”  In cases arising here in the Commonwealth, if the injured athlete was even one percent at fault for assuming the risk of harm in a sporting event, he or she cannot recover ANY of their damages.  Other states compare the fault and unsafe actions of the parties.  In more modern states, if the Defendant sports facility or product maker is 90% to blame and the athlete 10%, then in those jurisdictions the plaintiff would collect 90% of the verdict for their their harms and losses.

A recent Indiana case shows that other states are successfully dealing with this outdated affirmative defense.  In
“New Approach on Sports Injury Liability” the Wilson Kehoe & Winingham law firm examines this new case law.  It is interesting reading.  The authors note that this decision may prevent “property owners and equipment manufacturers from latching on to arguments in which they claim no duty or responsibility, thus shielding them from liability.”

Ever since the group Queen’s album, groups of nude cyclists have been making statements. This week’s news reports of some 300 nude bicyclists riding through the Peruvian capital of Lima to call attention to safety conditions and demand measures protecting cyclists caught my eye. Event organizer Octavio Zegarra says the protesters took to their bicycles nude to show that “this is our body. With this we go out in the streets. We don’t have a car to protect us.” Zegarra asks others to “please respect us.” Official statistics show 2,830 people died in traffic accidents in Peru in 2011.

This is the seventh consecutive year of the annual protest in which cyclists take to the streets in Lima to bring attention to the unsafe conditions for cyclists in the Peruvian capital.  Bike crash injury lawyer Doug Landau hoped that all of the nude cyclists were wearing their helmets.  Lawyer Landau considers helmets head protection and not just clothing, so that the cycling safety advocates would wear their lids and still technically be “in the buff.”  Sun screen would also be a good idea !

On the way home from a Social Security Disability trial in Washington, D.C., Herndon Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau made a detour near the Arlington Courthouse.  Lawyer Landau was not filing legal papers or visiting another injury or disability lawyer.  He made a 5 minute “pit stop” in order to pick up his race packet at the Clarendon Pacers Store in order to participate in the unique “Four Courts Four Miler” running race on Saturday.

Wearing the green, lucky Herndon lawyer Doug Landau had the best time at Ireland's Four Courts in Arlington Virginia; the music, costumes, friendliness, treats and challenging race course all made for a top event.

In celebration of the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday, the race features many runners, including Landau, dressed in green, a Leprechaun, bagpipes and a street party afterwards in front of Ireland’s Four Courts Pub.  Landau, who has been known to dress in green when going to court (and even signing pleadings in green) during St. Patricks week, was keen to sign up for this fun event.  The course was also unique in that the first 2 miles were mostly downhill, with the return trip a challenging uphill route.

Landau was particularly impressed with the safety precautions.  Because of dangerous metal grating on a steep decline part of the run course, the Pacers Team had an announcer calling out warnings, as a foot could get caught in the metal latticework.  Runners really appreciated the “heads up,” as athlete safety is as important as fast times and large fields.  In only its 3rd year, the Four Courts Four Miler was a jolly good time.  While Landau finished out of the prize money (5th in his age drop with a 12:30 opening 2 miles, finishing in 27:36), he really appreciated running on the I-66 ramp, Mount Vernon Parkway and hills of Arlington, Virginia.  The beneficiary of all this good fun was the Arlington County Police Benevolent Fund.  So, a good cause and a good course.

Herndon Virginia disability lawyer Doug Landau shown wearing his pajamas in celebration of "National Sleep Awareness Week". Sleep deprivation is an important issue in Social Security Disability cases.

When Herndon disability lawyer Doug Landau meets with new clients, he tells them one of the reasons he shares all important documents, records and correspondence that comes into and out of the Landau Law Shop is so that they will know what is (and is not) happening in their accident, workers compensation and Social Security cases.  Lawyer Landau also tells clients and their families that this also enables him to sleep well at night, because if the ABRAMS LANDAU buildings in Herndon ever burned down and the computer systems all failed, he knows that his clients have almost complete files !  The combination of exercise, healthy diet, thorough preparation of cases for court and the knowledge that clients are informed and have all important documents enable Landau to sleep like a stone.  Just ask his wife !

Landau went from a successful trial in Washington DC to visit his daughter at her high school and to celebrate the culmination of “Sleep Awareness Week.” According to the Sleep Foundation’s web site, “National Sleep Awareness Week, which takes place March 5-11, 2012, is an annual public education and awareness campaign to promote the importance of sleep. The week begins with the announcement of the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll results and ends with the clock change to Daylight Saving Time, where Americans lose one hour of sleep. The Foundation’s Sleep Care Center members host events in their local communities throughout the week, providing sleep education and screening to the public.”

Sleep deprivation is an important issue at ABRAMS LANDAU, as many of the Herndon law firm’s Social Security clients do not get a full night’s restful sleep, because of pain, medication needs, the inability to lay down, etc.  When disability lawyer Landau’s clients do not get adequate sleep, their ability to concentrate is often impaired, their memory is affected and they often must take unscheduled breaks during the day to rest.  These facts enable Social Security lawyer Landau to prove that his clients would not be able to hold a regular, full time job, even if it was sedentary (sitting), unskilled and required no heavy lifting.  In other words, sleep (or the lack thereof) can be very important in a Social Security Disability case. If you or someone you know or care for is disabled an needs help with getting their Social Security Disability benefits e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555) at once.

Rehab 2 Racing Coach Rob Colburn and Columbia Triathlon Race Director Rob Vigorito at last years DC MultiSport Expo

Last year triathletes, Duathletes and DC area runners, bikers and swimmers flocked to Georgetown Prep in North Bethesda, MD for a day dedicated to multisport with seminars, training clinics, workshops, competitive events and more.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau enjoyed the Newton running clinic, cross country foot race and the CompuTrainer cycling competition.  Keynoting this year’s event is 6x Ironman World Champion Dave Scott. Best of all, admission to the seminars and vendor expo is FREE.  Multisport World registrants are eligible for a swag bag and a chance to win some terrific prizes from sponsors.  Here are the details so that you can carpool with your race mates and enjoy a day of sports education, competition and inspiration:

Saturday March 24, 2012 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT
Hanley Center for Athletic Excellence
10900 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD 20852-329