Conference Agenda
Day 1, Monday, November 02, 2015
7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Continental Breakfast and Registration
8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Welcome by Co-Chairs
Steven W. Teppler, Abbott Law Group, P.A., Jacksonville, FL
Michael W. Sobol, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, San Francisco
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Keynote – The Volkswagen Emission Software Scandal, Mass Liability and the Future of (The Internet of) Things to Come
Lieff Cabraser partner Elizabeth J. Cabraser leads the firm’s technology based mass litigation, and will set the stage for understanding why the Internet of Things (or “smart” devices”), marketed as today’s latest and greatest technology advancement, also introduces the potential for personal injury and property damage on a mass scale.
Elizabeth J. Cabraser, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, San Francisco
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Internet of Things – 20 Billion Smart Devices and the Future of Mass Liability
The future is now. From connected devices to connected cities, the IoT’s influence will exceed global population by a factor of 3. Will that influence be invasive and destructive, as well as pervasive? This panel will discuss the IoT device emergence, influence, and potential unintended consequences giving rise to various claims.
Michael W. Sobol, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, San Francisco
Steven W. Teppler, Abbott Law Group, P.A., Jacksonville, FL
David C. Shonka, Principal Deputy General Counsel, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC
Eric Hibbard, CTO, Security and Privacy, Hitachi Data Systems, San Francisco
Erik Laykin, Duff & Phelps Corp., Los Angeles
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
IoT Security – Not Your Father’s Hack
Is there security built into IoT devices, and if so, how effective is it? This panel will discuss how current levels of IoT security (where such security exists at all) create exploitable vulnerabilities that can result in widespread property damage and personal injury.
Moderator: Andrew Girson, CEO, Barr Group, Washington, DC
Eric Hibbard, CTO, Security and Privacy, Hitachi Data Systems, San Francisco
John Jorgensen, CEO, The Sylint Group, Sarasota, FL
Christopher Clark, Principal Cyber-Security Engineer, Synopsys Inc., San Antonio, TX
Erik Laykin, Duff & Phelps Corp., Los Angeles
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
The Government’s Perspective
David C. Shonka, Principal Deputy General Counsel, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC
Damages in a Connected World
Jason L. Lichtman, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, New York
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
IoT Software Defects – Theories of Liability
Computer crashes are largely the result of software behaving badly. Whether defective at the outset (by design or through interconnectivity factor), or made to operate in harmful manner by the execution of a vulnerability exploit, software incorporated into IoT devices represents a major vector for potential property damage or personal injury. This panel will discuss how software is, or becomes defective in IoT devices and avenues for legal liability.
Andrew Girson, CEO, Barr Group, Washington, DC
John A. Yanchunis, Morgan & Morgan, Tampa, FL
Michael W. Sobol, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, San Francisco
Richard D. McCune, McCuneWright, LLP, Redlands, CA
2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break
2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
IoT Software Discovery
Electronic discovery (i.e., discovery of computer generated information) from IoT devices present new challenges even for seasoned eDiscovery practitioners. IoT devices have discovery and evidentiary issues directed to acquisition, preservation, assessment and testing. This panel will discuss how the approach to electronic discovery in IoT cases, and how such discovery differs from typical mass tort, data breach case, or complex single event matters involving electronic information as potential relevant evidence.
Moderator: Steven W. Teppler, Abbott Law Group, P.A., Jacksonville, FL
Hon. Matthew F. Kennelly, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Chicago
Andrew Girson, CEO, Barr Group, Washington, DC
Jason L. Lichtman, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, New York
John Jorgensen, CEO, The Sylint Group, Sarasota, FL
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
IoT in Court: Code on Trial
Unlike other class actions that involve technology, IoT devices litigation that arises from personal injury or property damage on a mass scale will be tried, either as bellwether cases in an MDL, or as single event. Trying these matters will involve a combination of familiarity with both the mass tort trial arena as well as with technology (from development to deployment) and its ultimate presentation as evidence in trial. This panel will discuss the issues and challenges presented to lawyers trying IoT mass liability cases.
F. Catfish Abbott, Abbott Law Group, Jacksonville, FL
Mark O’Mara, O’Mara Law Group, Orlando, FL
Joel R. Rhine, Rhine Law Group, P.C., Wilmington, NC
Hon. Matthew F. Kennelly, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Chicago
Hon. Mitchell D. Dembin, United States Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, San Diego