In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe and Bill Ogden sit down with attorney Anthony Vessel of Marc Whitehead & Associates for a deep dive into a practice area many lawyers encounter but few truly understand: disability benefits, insurance denials, Social Security disability, veterans disability claims, and ERISA litigation.

Anthony walks through how he found his way from Beaumont, Texas, to Texas A&M, South Texas College of Law, and ultimately into the highly specialized world of disability and benefits law. The conversation breaks down the realities of long-term disability policies, the challenges claimants face when insurance companies deny benefits, and why ERISA cases can be so difficult for plaintiffs.

The discussion also covers life insurance disputes, Social Security disability hearings, veterans disability claims, administrative law judges, and the importance of building a strong record before a case ever reaches federal court. Anthony also shares how his firm uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System to manage teams, track progress, and keep cases from falling through the cracks.

The episode wraps with Anthony's passion for mediation, the value of trust in resolving cases, and why lawyers should know who to call when disability, VA, Social Security, or benefit denial issues come across their desk.

Major Topics Discussed

• 00:00:14 — Introduction to Anthony Vessel and Marc Whitehead & Associates

• 00:02:16 — Anthony's Beaumont background and early legal influences

• 00:05:00 — College, baseball, and the road to law school

• 00:09:00 — How Anthony entered disability and benefits law

• 00:12:25 — Long-term disability claims, ERISA, and insurance denials

• 00:15:14 — Life insurance claims and accelerated benefit disputes

• 00:22:41 — Social Security disability and private disability coverage

• 00:30:38 — Veterans disability claims and service-connected impairments

• 00:35:31 — Social Security hearings and administrative law judges

• 00:43:05 — Law firm leadership, EOS, and team organization

• 00:54:17 — Case value, referrals, and "triple threat" disability clients

• 00:56:09 — Anthony's mediation work and ADR background

• 01:00:20 — Mediation in disability cases and settlement strategy

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert sit down with Laura Hollingsworth, Dana Levy, Leah Graham, and Daniel Dutko for a deep dive into the civil case surrounding the tragic death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

The panel breaks down the facts behind the case, the role of Angels communications director Eric Kay, the evidence that revealed a broader culture of drug access inside the organization, and the uphill battle of proving negligence against a Major League Baseball franchise. From third-party subpoenas and deleted text messages to emotional witness testimony and a jury question that changed the trajectory of the case, the guests walk through what it took to fight for accountability on behalf of Tyler's family.

The conversation also touches on the Ken Paxton impeachment trial, the unique dynamics of a massive trial team, the personal responsibility defense, fentanyl in professional sports, and whether Major League Baseball has done enough to address the systemic issues exposed by the case.

Main Highlights:

• The largest guest panel in Dirty Verdict history
• Laura Hollingsworth, Dana Levy, Leah Graham, and Daniel Dutko join the show
• Behind-the-scenes stories from the Ken Paxton impeachment trial
• The origin of the Tyler Skaggs civil case
• How Eric Kay's role with the Angels became central to the litigation
• Evidence that Kay was providing opioids to multiple players
• The challenge of proving the Angels knew, or should have known, what was happening
• Why the case was not simply about "personal responsibility"
• The significance of the criminal trial and Kay's 22-year sentence
• The difference between an intentional overdose and a fentanyl poisoning
• The role of the Angels' team doctor and the opioid prescriptions connected to Kay
• Discovery battles, deleted texts, and third-party subpoenas
• Camilla Kay's testimony and the evidence found through her phone
• The structure of the trial team and each lawyer's role
• The three-and-a-half-month trial in Orange County
• The jury question about punitive damages that shifted settlement pressure
• The emotional burden on Tyler Skaggs' family
• How the trial exposed deeper questions about drug use in professional sports
• MLB, the players union, and opioid testing after Tyler's death
• Whether the Angels and Major League Baseball have truly learned from the case

In this episode of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Kyle Herbert, Peter Taaffe, and Bill Ogden sit down with trial attorney Trey Barton for a wide-ranging conversation about his path from teacher and coach to plaintiff's lawyer, opening his own firm right as COVID hit, and building a practice largely through attorney referrals.

Trey walks through several recent verdicts, including a wrongful death/DWI case in Fayette County, a workplace foot-crush injury involving medical equipment, a commercial vehicle collision, and a bicycle injury case. Along the way, the group digs into trial strategy, jury selection, high-low agreements, damages arguments, corporate reps, deposition clips, and what makes a client's story connect with a jury

Topics Discussed

00:00:15 — Introduction to Trey Barton

00:02:05 — Growing Up in La Grange, Texas

00:04:39 — From A&M to Teaching and Coaching

00:06:53 — Deciding to Go to Law School

00:08:05 — Discovering Trial Work

00:08:24 — Working Full-Time During Law School

00:09:32 — Defense Work and Learning the Other Side

00:10:26 — Opening His Own Firm in 2020

00:13:28 — Starting a Firm During COVID

00:17:35 — Building a Referral-Based Practice

00:21:04 — Wrongful Death/DWI Case in Fayette County

00:23:06 — Jury Selection in a Small Community

00:26:36 — Talking About DWI, Damages, and Accountability

00:28:06 — A $6.95 Million Verdict and Closure for the Family

00:32:52 — Nurse's Foot-Crush Injury Case

00:36:13 — Medical Testimony and Proving Nerve Damage

00:38:40 — Trial Strategy with Witnesses and Liability

00:42:46 — $4.49 Million Verdict Without Economic Damages

00:43:10 — Per Diem Damages Arguments

00:45:19 — High-Low Agreements and Waiver of Appeal

00:47:09 — Commercial Vehicle Collision Case

00:48:27 — TBI, Herniations, and a Subsequent Accident

00:50:53 — Telling the Client's Story

00:52:03 — Handling Preexisting Mental Anguish

00:53:10 — Auto vs. Bicycle Injury Case

00:55:35 — $500,000 Bicycle Case Verdict

00:56:04 — Trey's Current Trial Docket

00:56:42 — Keeping Trials Short and Focused

00:58:29 — Final Thoughts and Contact Information