HensonFuerst news

The Tour de Cure is the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) annual fundraising cycling event. The Tour—held in 44 states nationwide—is a ride, not a race. During the two-day event, cyclists can ride 10 miles or 150 miles. The object is to ride, to come together with like-minded people, not to “endure.”

Now, for the third year in a row, HensonFuerst attorney Thomas Henson Jr. is serving as chair of the North Carolina’s Tour de Cure, which will take place June 2 and 3 in Cary, North Carolina.

“Thomas’s leadership and professionalism are key to the success of our event,” said Katie-Rose Darby, an associate manager of the American Diabetes Association. “He puts his words into action, and we’re inspired to surpass our goals.”

The ADA is expecting approximately 700 participants in the North Carolina Tour this year, up from 525 cyclists last year. In addition to chairing the Tour, Henson will be leading the HensonFuerst Cycling Team in the event. The team comprises 40 members of all skill levels—beginners, recreational riders, and advanced athletes. The team has raised more than $70,000 during the last four Tours, and was named one of the national Tour de Cure Top 100 Fundraisers for the past two years. This year, team members are setting the bar high and working hard to keep their fundraising title for a third year in a row.

“The biggest challenge as chair of the Tour is growing the event to the proportion it deserves,” said Henson, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 9. “I want our community to understand the importance of this event. The Tour helps combat diabetes by raising funds to find a cure for the disease, providing education to those living with diabetes, and teaching ways to prevent and treat for diabetes. I’m not just doing the Tour de Cure for myself. I’m doing this for everyone who has been affected by diabetes. Together, we will find a cure.”

Henson, who rides his bike between 70 and 100 miles per week, says the hardest part about riding in the Tour is managing his blood sugar levels and insulin regulation during the six-hour athletic endeavor.

Anyone interested in joining the HensonFuerst Cycling Team can contact Henson at ThomasHenson@lawmed.com for more information. To support the HensonFuerst Cycling Team with a donation, click here:  HensonFuerst donation

There also are volunteer opportunities available for the Tour. Contact Katie-Rose Darby for more information at kdarby@diabetes.org.

About the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure

The Tour de Cure is the nation’s largest event to raise money to fight diabetes. Thousands of riders and teams have participated in the event since its inception in 1991. Last year, more than 55,000 cyclists raised almost $18 million to support the ADA’s mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

The HensonFuerst Health Initiative

The Tour de Cure is one of many projects and events to which the members of HensonFuerst devote their time. To recognize the importance of giving back to the community, the personal injury law firm established the HensonFuerst Health Initiative, a comprehensive plan that encompasses all of the law firm’s community and service efforts. The initiative encourages both community and firm members to prevent injuries, improve health and fitness, and aid organizations committed to bettering health and well-being.

It is one of our favorite times of the year:  Time for our annual “My PSA Contest!” for North Carolina high school and middle school students.

Each year, HensonFuerst Attorneys holds a bicycle safety public service announcement (PSA) video contest for local middle and high school students. The goal is to prevent serious accidents and injuries, and to help young people understand the importance of using proper riding skills, obeying traffic rules, and understanding helmet safety. The contest gives students a chance to make a difference and be creative while keeping everyone on the road safe and accident‐free.

“We’ve been helping victims of traumatic brain injuries for more than 20 years and understand the life‐altering consequences associated with these types of injuries,” said avid cyclist and attorney Thomas Henson Jr. “We want this contest to bring more awareness to safe cycling and accident prevention.”

How the Contest Works

The contest has two age categories: grades 6 to 8 and grades 9 to 12. Students must enter video PSAs, which should address the importance of bicycle safety. PSAs will be judged on students’ abilities to analyze the topic and produce a quality video. Entries must be submitted no later than Wednesday, April 18, 2012.

Prizes will be given to the students who produce the first‐place entries in each age category. The winning students can choose between an Apple MacBook with movie‐making software or a $1,500 gift card. The winning students’ schools also will receive monetary donations. Of the two winning entries, one will be selected to air on local television.

To see a complete list of rules, enter a PSA, and vote for your favorite videos, visit www.LawMed.com/contest/.

According to Sarah O’Brien, Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager at the Institute for Transportation Research & Education at North Carolina State University:

“Approximately five percent of all bicycle fatalities in North Carolina involve a cyclist under the age of 16. Through a 2011 public involvement process we conducted, people from across the state made it clear they feel North Carolina has a priority to raise awareness about bicycle and pedestrian safety through educational messages. The PSA contest conducted annually by HensonFuerst is a great tool to not only get the ‘rules of the road’ out to our citizens, but to also provide a valuable learning experience to our youth.”

How the Contest Began

Four years ago, the firm represented the husband of a local cyclist who was killed by a motorist while riding her bike. Members of the firm pledged all of the attorney fees from the case to fund bike safety awareness programs, such as the PSA contest and a series of cycling safety videos.

Past Winners on the Road to Success

We recently caught up with winners from 2011. Here’s what they told us:

Kyle Messina, who won first place in the highschool category last year with his friend and fellow filmmaker Frank Brechbiel:  “Since the contest, I’ve shot multiple films—one being a music video for the band Onward, Soldiers—which was screened at the Cucalorus Film Festival. The contest definitely helped us gain experience in film.”

Makaila Roberts, who won first place in the middle school category last year:  “I still love making videos. With my prize, I bought a green screen set, a video camera, and movie‐making software. Thank you so much for this opportunity! It really boosted my confidence and helped me move forward in my future career.”

We’re proud of all the students who submit videos–they are talented and passionate about their safety messages…and we’re looking forward to seeing the 2012 entries! Don’t forget: The deadline is April 18, 2012. For  complete rules, information, and videos from previous years, visit www.lawmed.com.

The mission of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is:  To prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Every year, the ADA holds a series of fundraising cycling events called the Tour de Cure. The Tour—held in 44 states nationwide—is a ride, not a race. During the two-day event, cyclists can ride 10 miles or 150 miles. The object is to ride, not to “endure.”

In 2011, more than 55,000 cyclists in 80 events raised more than $18 million to support the ADA. The HensonFuerst Cycling Team raised more than $34,000, making it the 34th top fundraising teams in the United States. The team, captained by Thomas Henson, who has had type 1 diabetes since age 9, is now preparing for the 2012 race.

The local 2012 Tour de Cure will be held on June 2-3, beginning in Cary, North Carolina. If you would like to join the HensonFuerst Cycling Team, we’re taking on new members! Currently, the HensonFuerst Cycling Team has 40 members, of all skill levels—beginners, recreational riders, and triathletes. While the Tour is our premiere cycling event, we participate in other charity rides throughout the year. To join us, or for more information, please contact Thomas Henson at ThomasHenson@lawmed.com.

If you don’t want to ride with us, you can still participate. We invite everyone to come watch the ride and cheer on the cyclists. And, of course, we welcome donations to benefit this very worthwhile cause. Our goal this year is ambitious:  $5o,000. To support the HensonFuerst Cycling Team in the Tour de Cure, visit the personal Tour page of team captain Thomas Henson here:  Donate to help stop diabetes!

Thank you!

Every year, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ) holds a food drive to help the community. This far-reaching food drive will benefit people in central and eastern North Carolina, including Wake, Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, and Wilson Counties. The NCAJ Dare to Care:  Feed Those in Need Food Drive will run from Monday, November 7 through Friday, November 11, and HensonFuerst Attorneys will be doing their part to help.

If you would like to donate to this very worthy cause, here are the details:

WHEN: Officially, the food drive starts Monday, November 7 through Friday, November 11. But we have put the boxes in place already, so you can start donating between 8am to 5pm, from now through November 11.

WHERE: Both our main offices:

• RALEIGH: 2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 390; Raleigh, NC 27607.
• ROCKY MOUNT: 2317 Sunset Ave; Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

TO DONATE FUNDS: We will gladly accept cash donations. You can drop off checks at our Raleigh or Rocky Mount offices, but give them to the receptionists instead of dropping them in the donation box. Please make checks payable to “Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.”

The NCAJ is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association dedicated to protecting people’s rights through professional and community legal education, championing individual rights, and protecting the safety of North Carolina’s families. For more information, you can visit their website at www.ncaj.com.

If you have specific questions about the food drive, please contact the drive coordinator, April McKee, at amckee@lawmed.com.

Thank you!

ALS is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), a neurologic disorder that causes the degeneration of nerves that control voluntary muscle movement. It is a vicious disease that slowly erodes a person’s ability to function.

HensonFuerst Attorneys has long been a proud supporter of the mission of the Jim “Catfish” Hunter chapter of the ALS Association. In July, our firm sponsored the 6th Annual Outreach Professionals Conference for people who run ALS support groups across the state.

In the latest issue of The Catfish Care Spotlight, the ALS Association’s care services publication, two of the attendees wrote about their experience. They are so eloquent that we wanted to share their thoughts with you:

Our Experience at the Outreach Professionals Conference

By Roz MacGuire and Annette Beam, Outreach Professionals for the Unifour Resource and Caregiver Support Groups

The Facilitator’s Conference held on July 30 was an answer to so many issues/questions for those of us working with PALS and CALS through our support groups across the state. The presentation on Respiratory Issues and ALS by Theresa Johnston-Crews, RN and Connie Paladenach, RT was very well thought out. Even a non-medical person (like me) could grasp the respiratory teaching and the hands-on equipment demonstration was very helpful. It was a relief to hear others ask questions that have plagued my mind for months. These ladies really made us feel like part of the WFUBH ALS Team!

The problem solving segment of the conference was also critical in helping us identify and handle some key issues around helping those living with ALS.

Another great advantage of this meeting was the opportunity to meet all the new chapter staff, get updated on fund raising successes (yea!!) and meet with the other Outreach Professionals. Meeting a Board member, Ed Miles, showed us the deep commitment of this important group of ALS activists. I am personally so grateful to be able to put a face to a name and have great contacts “in all the right places”!

Each year at the Conference, we take time to reflect on the lives of PALS who passed away over the last year. It is always sobering. It’s hard to believe that our little Unifour group lost 4 members. Obviously, all the Outreach Professionals have been as deeply connected to their patients as have we.

Thanks again to HensonFuerst. We were delighted to be given time to relax and discuss our concerns with others who share a loving commitment to this special group of people.

We are thrilled to support this amazing organization.

HensonFuerst managing partner David Henson has been selected for inclusion in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^®..  For nearly three decades, Best Lawyers has been regarded – by both the profession and the public – as the definitive guide to legal skill and accomplishment in the United States. According to Best Lawyers:

Selection to Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey (comprising more than 3.9 million confidential evaluations by your fellow top attorneys) and because no fee or purchase is required to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is rightly considered a singular honor. Our annual, advertisement-free publication has been described by The American Lawyer as “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

We are proud that David Henson made the list for 2012. We have always known that his work is outstanding, and this honor confirms that others in the legal community recognize his commitment to excellence.

Congratulations, David!

According to ABC 11 News and an article on ABClocal.go.com, a lawsuit filed in Durham Superior Court names Duke University, Duke University Health System, and five doctors. They are accused of participating in a fraudulent clinical trial, and exposing participants to unnecessary treatment—including chemotherapy.

The lawsuit alleges the clinical trial relied on the work of former Duke cancer researcher Anil Potti. In 2006, he and colleagues published an article that claimed they had developed a test that could predict which lung cancer patients would benefit from chemotherapy.

But two doctors in Texas reported they could not replicate the results of the study, and the lawsuit filed Wednesday alleges they warned Potti and Duke on multiple occasions about their concerns. Lawyers claim Duke failed to respond.

According to plaintiff’s attorney Thomas Henson of HensonFuerst Attorneys:

“Duke conducted clinical trials on cancer patients that should never have occurred. The trials were based on bad science. Researchers across the country had been telling Duke and warning Duke about the bad science.”

To read the full article, click here:  Duke Sued Over Clinical Trials

conference dinner

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a thief. It robs its victims of the ability to move arms and legs, to eat without choking, to breathe. Eventually, this insidious disease robs them of life, and steals the future from their families.

One of our founding partners, Bob Fuerst, is on the board of directors of the Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter of the ALS Association. His dedication to this very worthwhile cause rallies us all to support the activities of the ALS Association.

For the third year, HensonFuerst Attorneys is proud to have supported the annual Outreach Professional’s Conference. Sue Humphries, Director of Care Services for the local chapter of the ALS Association, filled us in on what happened at this year’s event:

We had a wonderful conference and the evaluations continued to be complementary of the education we provide. This year’s main topic addressed Artificial Ventilation as a choice for ALS patients, presented by Theresa Johnston-Crews, RN, BSN, MBA, and Connie Paladenech, RRT, RCP. Our social workers around the state find we are dealing with this choice more often than we used to, so the information was timely and valuable.

Thank you to all the tireless people who run the Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter. You make lives better.

The 2010 winner of our “My PSA Contest!” was Terrell Grice of Fayetteville. We received the following update from Terrell’s high school video teacher (Patricia Barnard, of Douglas Byrd High School):

Terrell Grice has graduated and is now attending Full Sail University in Florida after receiving a generous scholarship based on his video work. He won first place in the NC SkillsUSA Contest called “TV production skills.” He also competed at the SkillsUSA National Conference in June 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri, representing all of North Carolina. He completed a full length movie, which showcased this summer at Douglas Byrd High School, and was attended by our school board members and our School Superintendent, Dr. Till.

Terrell’s prize of an Apple MacBook computer with Final Cut Pro software allowed him to achieve his dreams by extending classroom learning into the workplace. Thank you, HensonFuerst, for supporting the TV and video programs across the state of North Carolina.

We say: Thank YOU, Patricia. We love to hear that HensonFuerst’s MY PSA CONTEST! has such a profound impact on North Carolina students. While we are delighted to help nurture Terrell’s considerable talent, we also recognize that his success—and the success of all North Carolina youth—is due to the dedication and creativity of teachers like you.

Thanks for the update! We look forward to seeing what artistry comes from the students’ imaginations in 2012.

David Henson

HensonFuerst Attorneys is proud to announce that David Henson, our own managing partner, was honored by the American Association for Justice (AAJ) during the 65th Annual AAJ Conference in New York on July 10, 2011. He was given the prestigious Heavy Lifting Award to recognize his commitment to the organization and his continuing efforts to recruit new members to the AAJ’s Leaders Forum.

“I am honored and flattered to receive this award,” said Henson. “It means a great deal to be recognized in this way, and I’m proud to be part of such a respected organization devoted to ensuring the rights of others.”

The AAJ’s Heavy Lifting Award was first given in 2008 as a way to recognize the extraordinary efforts of AAJ members. The recipients have gone above and beyond the call of duty to benefit numerous AAJ programs, campaigns, and causes.

The AAJ created the Leaders Forum in 2000 to ensure that every person has access to justice. This group of firms helps the AAJ protect the civil justice system by increasing financial resources for public relations, legislative advocacy, and public education efforts on Capitol Hill and in the court of public opinion.

Gibson Vance, President of the AAJ, said:

“David has given both his time and resources to the American Association for justice. He is truly a champion of justice and, as president of the AAJ, I owe him a lot for all of his service to help promote the civil justice system.”

As a tireless advocate for civil justice, David’s work has benefitted not only the AAJ and civil lawyers everywhere, but also those who hope to see fairness in the legal system should they ever find themselves in need a a lawyer.

On behalf of the entire HensonFuerst team and our clients, we also want to say thank you to David Henson. His actions have a direct impact on the legal system, and he is an inspiration to lawyers and, indeed, anyone who wants to make a difference in the world.

Congratulations, David!