IN THE BEGINNING
I happened upon the Donato law firm entirely by accident. I didn't know anything about the firm or the lawyers. The first meeting I had with them (Aaron Pool) was polite but adversarial; although that is probably too strong of a word. However, at the conclusion of the meeting I was so impressed with Aaron; his attitude, professionalism and thought process that I retained him and the Donato firm. Excellent lawyers and I got an excellent result with Aaron. I have subsequently retained Aaron on another matter which is pending.
As a result of meeting and working with Aaron I met Bob Brown. Bob gently lobbied for Primerus; very low key and classy, he simply and briefly gave me an appraisal of Primerus. I listened politely but as I'm sure you probably understand that, given my position, I am routinely solicited by potential defense counsel making a pitch for their firm.
Many months later at a mediation (in an entirely different matter) I had a suit that went South on me...rather quickly...and even more alarmingly...my retained counsel went South on me.
I decided on the flight back to Cedar Rapids that I needed to fire my retained counsel. I recalled my previous conversation with Bob Brown and called him: "Bob, I need help. And I need it now...in Tennessee." He gave me Bob Flynn's name. A complicated products liability case, my insured most definitely had liability exposure, but, in my opinion, not what the plaintiff's attorney,...the mediator,...and my own retained counsel attempted to convince me of. Matters were more bleak because the plaintiff was a very sympathetic middle-aged lady and, I had to concede, the venue was plaintiff oriented. And by the way trial was set to begin in 44 days. There was no possibility of a continuance. Bob Flynn accepted the challenge. As I recollect, Bob and I talked to each other at least 40 of those 44 days. I am still amazed at the result Bob got at trial. Plaintiff's verdict (which was expected) (BUT about a 5th of what was demanded and actually less than I had offered as a settlement at mediation.) Parenthetically, I should note that the mediator told me at mediation that I was "gonna' get my ass kicked." After the trial I could not resist; I sent him a note "You call that an ass-kickin'? I'm from Texas; and been in two wars. That was nuthin'."
(Yeah, I know. You're right. A more mature individual would have resisted the juvenile temptation...but I couldn't help myself.)
Anyway, after that experience I decided to do some research on this Primerus group Bob Brown talked up.
I have now retained 7 Primerus firms with 30+ lawsuits, Duncan Manley's firm is the most recent.
Generally every retained counsel (not just Primerus) I have dealt with have generally been intelligent, helpful, responsive and reasonable in their fees. However, what is of prime and critical importance to me in the selection of counsel is that I want trial lawyers ... not discovery lawyers. To date that is precisely the quality that I have experienced with every single one of the Primerus counsel I have retained. And that is what, in my mind, sets Primerus counsel apart from the rest. I am not saying that there are not some very good trial lawyers in the defense bar who are not members of Primerus. I know a few. (Dave Phipps of the Whitfield Eddy firm in Des Moines, Iowa leaps immediately to mind.) But with Primerus counsel I believe ... No, I am convinced ... that I know what I am getting; and I like what I'm getting from Primerus counsel. It is all about the combat of the court-room. Just as in the military; you are trained to run towards the sound of gunfire ... not away from it. PRIMERUS counsel don't shirk from the combat of the court room.
I am an acolyte of Sun Tzu's The Art of War and his modern apostle John Boyd [the Saint of Tactical Combat (regrettably he died a decade ago - absolutely unknown except for military history aficionados of which I'm strictly an amateur.) [Historical note: Lt. Col. John Warden took Boyd's concepts and planned the air-war brilliantly in the 1st Gulf War. Unfortunately he received little credit for his genius. I had the opportunity to fly F-111F missions in the first Gulf War]. The U.S. military executes Boyd's OODA Loop far better and far quicker than any of our opponents. In fighter-pilot parlance, you must continue to "turn inside" the enemy and you will enjoy continuous tactical advantage.
From my experience and vantage point, Primerus counsel execute the OODA Loop superbly. As for me; I feel privileged to work with Primerus counsel.
Regards,

Jack Else, Esq.
Claims Attorney
United Fire Insurance Group
P.O. Box 73909 / 118 Second Ave., S.E.
Cedar Rapids IA 52407-3909