@bmarler

June 2nd, 2009

marler1

Personal Injury and Products Liability Attorney

Managing Partner of Marler Clark L.L.P., P.S.

Food Safety Advocate

Author of Marler Blog, as well as Botulism Blog, Campylobacter Blog, Cryptosporidium Blog, Cyclospora Blog, E. coli Blog, Enterobacter Sakazakii Blog, Food Poison Blog, Hepatitis A Blog, Listeria Blog, Mad Cow Blog, Norovirus Blog, Salmonella Blog, and Shigella Blog

Today, we’re tweeting w/ @bmarler, Food Safety Advocate, MP of Marler Clark, Food Poisoning Lit Lawyer, Blogger, Husband, Father

@bmarler, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @bmarler?
I am a trial lawyer who focuses on food safety issues.
Tell us about your law practice.
For the last 16 years I have been involved in every major food borne illness case in the US.
That’s an impressive elevator speech! What type of clients do you represent?
Primarily children sickened by food they consume.
What is the single most important legal issue affecting your clients?
Proving causation – what food item made them ill.
What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
Great question – I tell them I am there 24/7 for them.
Under circumstances imagine that’s reassuring. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Tough question – probably the $15.6M I got for one girl sickened in the Jack in the Box E. coli case.
Why do your clients hire you?
other than my good looks? I think because of our knowledge of the subject, our experience and results.
Maybe it’s all four…. What would you say is the most difficult aspect of representing victims of food poisoning?
Certainly dealing with the death of a child. I have three daughters and simply can not imagine it.
Why did you step in to get Michael Pollan’s book, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” back on the curriculum at Wash State U?
Couldn’t help myself – It was the right thing to do. It is a book that should be read at WSU and all colleges.
Indeed. A couple of months ago you offered $25K to charity if you got 25K Twitter followers. Are you still pursuing that?
I got to 2,500 followers and donated $2,500 to cancer research. I am waiting on the next 2,500 followers and have a growing list.
Hope this helps… You are one of the–if not THE–country’s food poisoning law experts. What’s the secret of your success?
I work hard, very hard (some say too hard) – I am focused, organized and passionate.
How do you market your practice?
Frankly, by always putting the client first and doing quality work.
Your primary blog is Marler Blog (http://bit.ly/xeenE). Who do you write it for? Why should they read it?
In part I write it for myself –somewhat like a diary. I hope I give some insight into an aspect of the costs of food poisonings.
You have 10+ blogs on food illnesses. Are issues so unique as to require disease-specific blogs?
They are, but I think they are a useful place to put our spin on the news about bugs.
For victims imagine it’s very useful. Have your Web 2.0 activities had an impact on referrals or client engagements?
I think it is a way to show that we know what we are doing.
How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
Honestly, I just try and do my job and the rest takes care of itself.
Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Maintaining high legal standards for ethics while experiencing more and more competition.
What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
I think it will be more fasted-paced and more competitive. I’m clearly over 50.
What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
Flip of the coin – USDA Undersecretary of Food Safety Inspection Services or US Senator from Washington State.
You clearly like a good challenge…. How do you want to be remembered?
Frankly, as people know me now – hard-working, straight-forward and truthful.
What do you do when you’re not working?
LOL – is there something other than working? I love what I do so much that it seldom feels like work.
That’s great. Our final question for you: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Do not be lazy. Work hard to make yourself invaluable to your clients and your community.