July 20th is not a date that typically comes to mind when reflecting on significant summer milestones or holidays. Unlike Independence Day, it is not celebrated with fireworks, barbecues, beach outings, or even a day off from work. However, July 20th marks the anniversary of one of the greatest achievements in American history: the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. Though many of us haven’t revisited the significance of this event since grade school, it stands as a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished through collaboration and the open sharing of information amongst a diverse group of individuals. These principles, which were critical to the success of the Apollo program, remain just as relevant today, particularly for professionals in the insurance defense field tasked with navigating complex and high-stakes cases.
Sharing Information Yields Stellar Results
Insurance defense is not a solitary pursuit—it demands careful coordination among defense counsel, insureds, and insurers. While various entities within our field may compete for business on a surface-level, that competition does not diminish the essential need for collaboration in achieving long-term success. NASA’s Apollo program stands as a powerful example of the remarkable outcomes that can be achieved when a vast network of professionals works together toward a common goal. NASA served as a conduit for bringing together scientists, engineers, mathematicians, medical professionals, software developers, and numerous private companies. Despite the complexity of uniting so many actors, NASA succeeded by prioritizing the open sharing of technical knowledge, enabling continuous innovation and real-time problem-solving. One striking example is the Apollo Guidance Computer, which was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and built by defense contractor Raytheon.[i] This novel partnership between academia and industry was instrumental in creating a compact and reliable computer system capable of guiding the lunar module to the Moon’s surface.[ii] NASA’s recognition of the importance of knowledge-sharing continues to this day, as this code, along with others developed for subsequent space missions, has been made publicly accessible for use in countless other software engineering projects.[iii]
Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Launch Justice HQ
The value of cooperative efforts in overcoming complex challenges is not relegated to space travel. In fact, a group of plaintiffs’ attorneys mirrored NASA’s approach when they launched Justice HQ. Justice HQ is a membership-based community for plaintiffs’ lawyers nationwide, designed to promote collaboration and professional development in the modern legal practice.[iv] Members benefit from a robust network for information and resource sharing, with access to digital platforms like Slack and in-person HQ locations where attorneys can strategize, exchange referrals, and offer peer-to-peer advice.[v] By creating a dedicated forum for collaboration and strategic exchange, plaintiffs’ attorneys have not only enhanced their collective knowledge but also grown their practices and secured larger verdicts for their clients.
The Final Frontier: How Collaborative Initiatives Among Insurance Defense Professionals Can Open Up New Horizons for Our Business
Given the clear advantages plaintiffs’ attorneys have gained, it doesn’t take a NASA rocket scientist to recognize that defense lawyers should also be prioritizing collaboration and information-sharing. In today’s legal landscape, collaboration in insurance defense isn’t just helpful, it’s a professional necessity. Establishing dedicated forums or opportunities for sharing knowledge and resources would enable defense attorneys to learn from one another’s experiences and grow as a cohesive, connected network. Likewise, enhancing communication between carriers, claims professionals, and defense counsel would foster strategic alignment and greater efficiency. Most importantly, shifting our collective mindset to emphasize collaboration would amplify individual efforts in pursuit of a common goal: combating nuclear verdicts and delivering better outcomes for both the insurer and the insured.
Sources
[i] David L. Chandler, To the moon, by way of MIT, MIT News Office (Jun. 3, 2009), https://news.mit.edu/2009/apollo-tt0603.
[ii] Id.
[iii] NASA Open Source Development, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (May 17, 2021) https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-open-source-development.
[iv] Justice HQ, https://www.justicehq.com/jhqmembership (last visited June 25, 2025); Justice HQ, https://www.justicehq.com/locations (last visited June 25, 2025).
[v] Id.
