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T H E P R I M E R U S P A R A D I G M
Primerus is proud to announce two
members of the Primerus Personal Injury
Institute were named judges in late
2014.
Jeff Crabtree, a consumer protection
and personal injury attorney in Honolulu,
Hawaii, representing brain injury
victims, was nominated by the Governor
of Hawaii to serve a 10-year term as
a state circuit court judge, effective
November 25, 2014.
James C. Lewis, a personal injury
lawyer with Shapiro, Lewis, Appleton
& Duffan in Virginia Beach, Virginia,
was elected by the Virginia General
Assembly to serve an eight-year term as
a Circuit Court judge for the 2nd Judicial
Court, effective January 1, 2015.
According to Primerus President
John C. Buchanan, Crabtree and Lewis
exemplify the high caliber of Primerus
attorneys, who share a commitment to
common values Primerus calls the Six
Pillars. They are integrity,
excellent work product,
continuing legal education,
civility and community
service.
"This demonstrates
that Primerus does indeed
have the finest attorneys,"
Buchanan said.
Crabtree was selected
from a pool of 19
applicants, after review
from a nine-member
Judicial Selection Commission which
sent a list of six finalists to the Governor
of Hawaii. The Governor then conducted
his own review, including interviews,
before choosing Crabtree as his nominee.
Crabtree then went through a confirmation
process with the state Senate and the
Senate Judiciary Committee, including
public hearings. Crabtree was confirmed
on November 25, 2014, five months after
his application.
During the first weeks of his
judgeship, Crabtree said, "I am greatly
enjoying doing something new and
different and challenging, but which also
allows me to use my 30 years of litigation
experience. I miss helping my clients,
but I find myself helping many people in
my new job as well."
Lewis's appointment required
approval from a simple majority of
the 100-member State House and the
40-member State Senate. About three
years ago, he entered his name as a
willing candidate if a position on the
bench became available.
"I am looking forward to an end
to what has been a 15-year grind of
traveling all over the United States
Two Primerus Personal
Injury Lawyers Take Bench
deposing witnesses and trying cases,"
Lewis said. "I think I am going to enjoy
no more airports and airport food."
Both Lewis and Crabtree plan to
maintain their connections with the
people they met through Primerus.
"I greatly enjoyed getting to
know my fellow Primerus members,
and I expect those relationships to
continue," Crabtree said. "If anyone
from Primerus ever needs anything in
Honolulu, whether it be a restaurant
recommendation or an attorney referral,
you are welcome to contact me. If I can't
help you, I'll be glad to steer you to
someone who can."
Lewis said he, too, plans to maintain
his Primerus relationships. "Primerus
was a very convenient vehicle through
which I got to know some absolutely
wonderful lawyers all over the country,"
he said. "I have no intention of
sacrificing those relationships in
any way."
Primerus News
Jeff Crabtree
James C. Lewis
According to Primerus
President John C.
Buchanan, Crabtree
and Lewis exemplify the
high caliber of Primerus
attorneys, who share a
commitment to common
values Primerus calls
the Six Pillars.