HarrisMartin's MDL Conference: The Current Mass Tort Landscape - Best Management Practices & Updates on Key Litigation

7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.

Registration

8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Welcome by Co-Chairs

Richard J. Arsenault, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault
W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston
Erin K. Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston
Eric D. Holland, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Ethical Challenges with Mass Torts

• Aggregate Settlements and Best Practices for Compliance
• Fee Disgorgement for Ethical Violations - Burrow v Arce
• Implications of the Roundup MDL Ruling Regarding the Scope and Applicability of Common Benefit Assessments
• Non-attorneys Having Equity Positions in Law Firms
• Navigating Social Media
• Litigation Funding
• Lead Generation
• Sharing Attorney Fees
• Does Crossing State Lines Mean Crossing Ethical Lines?

Moderator: Richard J. Arsenault, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault

Panelists:
Beth Gori, The Gori Law Firm, Edwardsville, IL
Robert K. Shelquist, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., Minneapolis
Lucy R. Davis, Wagstaff & Cartmell, Kansas City, MO
Colleen Garvey, Branstetter Stranch & Jennings PLLC, St. Louis
Hunter J. Shkolnik, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, New York
Scott DeNardo, Senior Vice President, Mass Torts, Archer Systems, LLC, Bethlehem, PA

10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Resolution Strategy & Associated Best Practices

• Aggregate Settlement Negotiations
• Allocating Settlement Proceeds
• Drafting Master Settlement Agreements
• Walk Away Rights, Clawbacks, Substitutions and Participation Thresholds
• Appeals and Extraordinary Circumstances Awards

Moderator: Glenn A. Norton, Norton Dispute Resolution, LLC, St. Louis

Panelists:
Thomas R. Anapol, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia
D. Todd Mathews, Bailey & Glasser LLP, O’Fallon, IL
Yvonne M. Flaherty, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., Minneapolis
Vicki J. Maniatis, Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC, New Jersey
Patrick R. Dowd, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis

10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Refreshment Break

10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Camp Lejeune

• The Legislation
• The Science, Damages and Defenses

Raymond C. Silverman, Parker Waichman LLP, Port Washington, NY
Hunter J. Shkolnik, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, New York
Greg Jones, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Mass Tort Update 1.0

• Infant Formula
• Exactech
• Elmiron
• Asbestos - Meso/Lung Cancer
• Paraquat
• Zantac

Moderator: Erin K. Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston

Panelists:
Exactech - Ellen Relkin, Weitz & Luxenberg P.C., New York

Paraquat - David Cates, The Cates Law Firm, LLC, Swansea, IL

Infant Formula - E. Samuel Geisler, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis, & Overholtz PLLC, Pensacola, FL

Asbestos - Meso/Lung Cancer - Lindsey Cheek, The Cheek Law Firm, LLC, New Orleans

Zantac - R. Brent Wisner, Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman, Los Angeles

Elmiron - Danielle Gold, Weitz & Luxenberg P.C., New York

12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Lunch with Keynote Speaker W. Mark Lanier

W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston

Sponsored by Holland Law Firm

1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Critical Litigation Management Issues

• Major Challenges
• The Selection of MDL Transferee Judges and Venue: What Arguments Resonate?
• Fed/State Coordination: Peacefully Co-Existing in Parallel Universes
• Early Case Vetting
• Litigation Holds/Spoliation/Sanctions

Moderator: W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston

Panelists:
Jim Murdica, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Chicago
Glenn A. Norton, Norton Dispute Resolution, LLC, St. Louis
Hon. John Garvey (Ret.), Branstetter Stranch & Jennings PLLC, St. Louis
Robert K. Shelquist, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., Minneapolis
Erin K. Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston

2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Mass Tort Update 2.0

• AFFF
• PFAS
• Opioids
• Social Media, Adolescent Addiction and Related Health Effects
• Acetaminophen

Moderator: Eric D. Holland, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis

Panelists:
AFF and PFAS - Gale Pearson, Fears & Nachawati, Minneapolis

Social Media, Adolescent Addiction and Related Health Effects - Bradley D. Honnold, Goza & Honnold, Overland Park, KS
Joseph VanZandt, Beasley Allen Law Firm, Montgomery, AL
Emily Jeffcott, Morgan & Morgan, Orlando, FL

Acetaminophen - Mikal C. Watts, Watts Guerra LLP, San Antonio
Ashley Barriere, Keller Postman LLC, Chicago
Russ Abney, Watts Guerra LLP, San Antonio

Opioids - Majed Nachawati, Fears & Nachawati, Dallas

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

Refreshment Break

3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Game Changing Rules

• Jurisdictional Landscape Following BMS
• Preemption Status
• Lone Pine Orders
• Proposed Amendment to Federal Rules Providing Interlocutory Appeals from MDL Judge’s Orders

Moderator: Erin K. Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston

Panelists:
Nicholas J. Drakulich, The Drakulich Firm, San Diego
Robert J. Drakulich, The Drakulich Firm, San Diego
Shannon Pennock, The Pennock Law Firm, Jersey City, NJ
Gale Pearson, Fears & Nachawati, Minneapolis
Grant L. Davis, Davis, Bethune & Jones, Kansas City, MO

4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Mass Tort Update 3.0

• 3M
• Paragard
• Sexual Assault & Human Trafficking
• Juul
• CPAP

Moderator: Eric D. Holland, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis

Panelists:
Juul - Jacob Plattenberger, TorHoerman Law, LLC, Chicago

3M - Raymond C. Silverman, Parker Waichman LLP, Port Washington, NY

Paragard - Erin K. Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston

CPAP - Eric D. Holland, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis
Erin K. Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston

Sexual Assault & Human Trafficking - Mary Liu, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis, & Overholtz PLLC, Pensacola, FL

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Networking Cocktail Reception

Networking Cocktail Reception Sponsored by Western Alliance Bank.