HarrisMartin's Benzene Litigation Conference: Recent Developments in the Law and Science Speaker Profiles

Important Litigation Involvement
• Successfully represented a major refinery in a case involving over 100 claims alleging neurological injuries from exposure to various chemicals
• Successful trials of mesothelioma cases in California and Oregon
• Obtained Daubert ruling in Federal Court in Boston, Massachusetts excluding plaintiff's causation witness leading to dismissal of claims alleging that plaintiff's leukemia was caused by benzene
• Obtained Daubert ruling in New Mexico state court excluding plaintiff's expert witnesses, leading to dismissal of claims alleging that plaintiff's leukemia was caused by benzene
• Currently representing petrochemical companies defending hundreds of Louisiana claims alleging occupational hearing loss
• Currently serving as national lead counsel for expert witness issues for a defendant in benzene litigation
• Currently representing defendants in benzene and asbestos litigation for all claims filed in Texas

Larry's practice focuses on the defense of the oil and chemical industries in toxic tort, transportation, environmental and related class action litigation in state and federal courts. He frequently acts as counsel jointly retained by multiple defendants and has extensive experience in structuring and managing such joint defenses. Larry also focuses his practice on Municipal Law and Civil Rights litigation and has represented numerous local units of government and local officials in state and federal court. He has extensive general commercial and employment litigation experience in a variety of areas including chancery actions for injunctive relief. Larryís vast jury trial experience also includes published verdicts in the areas of wrongful death, amputation, traumatic brain injury, cancer and others. He has argued cases before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and several Illinois Appellate Courts. In addition, Larry has been admitted to practice on a pro hac vice basis throughout the country.

Keith Patton concentrates his legal practice primarily on representing leukemia victims in cases involving occupational and environmental exposure to benzene. As lead counsel, Keith has prosecuted and resolved numerous benzene-leukemia lawsuits and claims filed on behalf of individuals and their families affected by severe forms of leukemia. He has developed comprehensive and specific knowledge of the scientific and medical issues unique to this area of practice. Keith currently represents clients nationwide and frequently associates with attorneys across the country in handling benzene-leukemia cases in state and federal courts.

Keith earned his bachelors degree at the University of Dayton and law degree at the University of Toledo College of Law.

Keith is a member of the State Bar of Texas, American Association for Justice, and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. He is also an active participant of the American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA) benzene group, and benzene litigation seminars and conferences.