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Wendi has been certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death law due to her nearly three decades of litigation experience in both state and federal court.  Her practice focuses on aggravated liability and damages matters, including Federal Motor Carrier (trucking accident) cases, vehicular products liability matters, construction site injury and death matters, and premises liability cases.  She has been recognized among Arizona's Finest Lawyers and currently serves as a member of the Arizona State Bar committee responsible for conferring certification status in the area of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death law.

Prior to joining Burch & Cracchiolo, Wendi served as Chief Trial Attorney and Major Case Counsel for one of the largest commercial insurance carriers in the world.  Wendi is licensed to practice law in both Arizona and California.

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation
Construction
Insurance Defense / Personal Injury Litigation
Labor & Employment

Education

  • J.D., Arizona State University, 1984
    William H. Pedrick Scholar
  • B.S., Business/Economics and Behavioral Sciences, Westminster College, 1981
    Joseph E. Benedict Outstanding Graduate Award
    Leah Wyer Outstanding Female Graduate Award
    B.F. Skinner Outstanding Behavioral Sciences Graduate Award

Admitted In

  • Arizona
  • California
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the District of Arizona

Areas of Concentration

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Construction Defect Litigation
Government/Public Entity Liability
Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage Litigation
Insurance Defense Litigation
Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation
Premises Liability Litigation
Product Liability Litigation

Honors & Awards

Selected, Southwest Super Lawyers 2012

Member, Arizona's Finest Lawyers

Representative Engagements

  • Wrongful death and significant injury cases stemming from automobile and motorcycle accidents, construction site injuries, assaults and facility design defects
  • Defense of trucking litigation matters with allegations of conspicuity and logbook violations, FMCSR required maintenance, and driving technique
  • Products liability matters including vehicular safety system and tire failures, safety cage and seat belt failures, propane explosions, motorized wheelchair incline and balance failures
  • Dram shop litigation; hospitality industry litgation including sexual assaults on hotel premises
  • Construction site and workplace injuries, including related indemnification, OSHA and workers compensation issues
  • Complex injury matters including severe traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, and premature birth allegedly caused by automobile accidents

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of Arizona
State Bar of California
Member, State Bar of Arizona Committee for the Certification of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Specialists

Community Involvement

  • Volunteer Teacher, Legal Procedure and Moot Court Programs, charter schools for high risk teens 1999-2006
  • Volunteer Teacher, Legal Procedure and Moot Court programs, South Mountain High School, 1993-1995
  • Volunteer, ABC No Kill Animal Shelter 1993 to 2000
  • HERO Program Mentor, 1993-1997
  • Pro Bono Attorney, Vol-Law Program Arizona State Bar Association 1986-1987

Presentations and Publications

  • State Bar of Arizona, Seminar Chair and Lecturer, "How to Handle a Personal Injury Case Under $50,000"
  • Arizona Trial Lawyers Association, Lecturer, "Supplemental Benefits Under Arizona’s Worker’s Compensation Law"
  • Developer and presenter: Numerous day-long and half-day long presentation to claims and associated staff legal office personnel throughout assigned region regarding legal developments, rules of procedure, law office claims processing procedures and litigation management
  • Developer and presenter: Numerous in-house insurance training presentations, ranging from beginning to complex, designed to develop investigation and evaluation skills of claims partners and their managers
  • Author, The “Alternative” Practice: ADR as a Means, Not Just an End.  Trial Practice: Vol. 5 #2 , Summer, 1994

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