HarrisMartin's MDL Conference: An Analysis of Today's Mass Tort Landscape

Conference Agenda

Day 1, Wednesday, March 27, 2019

7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Continental Breakfast and Registration

8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Welcome by Co‐Chairs

Richard Arsenault, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault
Jayne Conroy, Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, New York
Eric D. Holland, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis
Rachel Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, New York


9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Exit Strategies, Papering the Deal, and Lien Resolution

• Memorandum of Understanding / Term Sheet / Master Settlement Agreement
• Guidance for Handling Private Insurers vs Medicare/Medicaid
• Bankruptcy and Death Case Issues
Moderator: Richard Arsenault, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault

Panelists:
Brian Devine, Seeger Salvas & Devine LLP, San Francisco
Scott Freeman, Co-Executive Chairman, Archer Systems LLC, Houston
Blake Deady, President, Archer Systems, LLC, Houston
Will Shapiro, Executive Chairman, Archer Systems, LLC, Austin, TX


9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Key Mass Tort Issues

• Recent FRCP Amendments and associated MDL/Mass Tort Minefields
• Witnesses Appearing at Trial via Satellite Transmission; Procedural and Technological Roadmap
• Bifurcation and Reverse Bifurcation
• Multi-Plaintiff trials
• Privilege Logs
Moderator: Gary J. Russo, Jones Walker LLP, Lafayette, LA

Panelists:
Lynn Luker, Stanley, Reuter, Ross, Thornton & Alford, L.L.C., New Orleans
R. Seth Crompton, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis
Dustin C. Carter, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault
Sarah Paszkiewicz, CEO, Paszkiewicz Court Reporting & Records Retrieval, Maryville, IL


10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Electronically Stored Information

• Cyber Security / Why Law Firms Are Such an Attractive Target
• Managing Digital Production and Discovery
• Artificial Intelligence
• Predictive Coding vs. Search Terms
• “TAR” Technology Assisted Review
Moderator: Eric D. Holland, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis

Panelists:
Jessica Richman, Parker | Waichman LLP, New York
Joseph Thorpe, Chief Executive Officer, International Litigation Services, Inc. (ILS), Irvine, CA
Todd Campbell, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault


11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Refreshment Break

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Complex Litigation: Ethical Conundrums

• Aggregate Settlements
• Steering Committee Fiduciary Obligations
• Common Benefit Doctrine and Assessment Issues
• Litigation Funding is Soaring; Mandatory Disclosure?
• Withdrawal From Cases When a Client Refuses to Settle
Moderator: Professor Jaime L. Dodge, Director, The Institute for Complex Litigation and Mass Claims, Emory University School of Law, Atlanta

Panelists:
Joseph F. Rice, Motley Rice, Mount Pleasant, SC
Paul J. Hanly Jr., Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, New York
James F. Murdica, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Chicago
Melanie H. Muhlstock, Parker | Waichman LLP, New York
Rachel Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, New York


12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch with Keynote Speaker

W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston


1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
High Stake Issues: 2018 in Review

• Jurisdiction – Personal / Subject Matter
• Preemption – Express / Implied
Daubert – Keys to a Successful Challenge
Moderator: Jayne Conroy, Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, New York

Panelists:
Harvey Brown, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston
Nicholas J. Drakulich, The Drakulich Firm, San Diego
Justin Presnal, Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, Alton, IL
Brooks Cutter, Cutter Law, P.C., Sacramento, CA


2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
3M Combat Hearing Protection

• Prior Litigation
• MDL Status
• Jurisdictional Issues
• Defenses
• Damages
Moderator: W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston

Panelists:
Todd Matthews, Gori Julian & Associates, P.C., Edwardsville, IL
Rachel Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, New York
David L. Selby II, Bailey & Glasser LLP, Birmingham, AL
Mark P. Robinson Jr., Robinson Calcagnie, Inc., Newport Beach, CA
Sean Tracey, Tracey & Fox, Houston


3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Refreshment Break

3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Bellwether Selection Process; Mock Trials and Focus Groups

• Pros and Cons
• Formats Including Internet-Based Options
• Testing Evidence, Witnesses, Demonstratives, and Verdict Forms
• Identifying Best Juror Demographics
• Developing Themes
Moderator: Shean D. Williams, The Cochran Firm, Atlanta

Panelists:
Scott A. Powell, Hare Wynn Newell & Newton, Birmingham, AL
James M. Williams, Chehardy Sherman Williams, Metairie, LA
Robert J. Drakulich, The Drakulich Firm, San Diego


4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Mass Tort Landscape: Part 1

• Talc
• Valsartan
• IVC
• Xarelto
• Essure
• PPI
Moderator: Erin Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston

Panelists:
Yvonne M. Flaherty, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., Minneapolis
Lindsey Cheek, The Cheek Law Firm LLC, New Orleans
Eric D. Holland, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis
Catelyn McDonough, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia


4:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Mass Tort Landscape: Part 2

• Hernia Mesh
• Zostavax
• Roundup
• Gadolinium
• Onglyza
• Risperdal
Moderator: Thomas R. Anapol, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia

Panelists:
Victoria J. Maniatis, Sanders Phillips Grossman, LLC, New York
Gale D. Pearson, Pearson, Randall & Schumacher, P.A., Minneapolis
Eric D. Holland, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis
David L. Selby II, Bailey & Glasser LLP, Birmingham, AL
Virginia E. Anello, Douglas and London, P.C., New York


5:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Networking Cocktail Reception