Joined Burch & Cracchiolo in 2011
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.
Honors & Awards
Selected, Southwest Super Lawyers 2012
Selected, Arizona's Finest Lawyers 2011
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 litigation 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, Personal Injury Advisory Commission to the Board of Legal Specialization
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
(Certified Specialist, Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation Arizona Board of Legal Specialization)
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
