Conference Agenda
Day 1, Wednesday, November 28, 2018
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
Jennifer A. Moore, Grossman & Moore Injury Law, Louisville, KY
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Key Mass Tort Procedural Issues
• Recent FRCP Amendments and Associated MDL/Mass Tort Minefields
• Witnesses Appearing via Satellite Transmission: Applicable Procedure and Technological Roadmap
Moderator: Thomas R. Anapol, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia
Panelists: Neil D. Overholtz, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC, Pensacola, FL
D. Todd Mathews, Gori Julian & Associates, P.C., Edwardsville, IL
Nicholas J. Drakulich, The Drakulich Firm, San Diego
Linda Golkow, Chief Executive Officer, Golkow Technologies, Philadelphia
Brianna Hearn, Golkow Technologies, Philadelphia
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Steering Committees (Plaintiff and Defense) Along with Associated Common Benefit Issues
Moderator: Paul J. Pennock, Weitz & Luxenberg P.C., New York
Panelists: Thomas R. Anapol, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia
D. Todd Mathews, Gori Julian & Associates, P.C., Edwardsville, IL
Nicholas J. Drakulich, The Drakulich Firm, San Diego
John P. Hooper, King & Spalding LLP, New York
Scott A. Powell, Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, Birmingham, AL
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Managing Digital Production and Discovery/Dark Web/Cyber Security
Moderator: Eric D. Holland, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis
Panelists: Jennifer A. Moore, Grossman & Moore Injury Law, Louisville, KY
Tracy J. Cowan, Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP, St. Louis
Rachel Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, New York
Joseph Thorpe, Chief Executive Officer, International Litigation Services, Inc. (ILS), Irvine, CA
10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Focus Group Functions and Associated Options
• Internet-Based Focus Groups
• Developing Themes
• Testing Evidence, Witnesses, Demonstratives, and Verdict Forms
• Identifying Best Juror Demographics
Moderator: Richard Arsenault, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault
Panelists: Lori G. Cohen, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Atlanta
James M. Williams, Chehardy Sherman Williams, Metairie, LA
Tony Clayton, Clayton | Frugé | Ward, Port Allen, LA
Eric D. Holland, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis
11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Refreshment Break
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Mass Tort Landscape: Part 1
• Valsartan
• IVC Update
• Xarelto
• Testosterone
• Essure
• Gadolinium
Moderator: Jennifer A. Moore, Grossman & Moore Injury Law, Louisville, KY
Panelists: Erin Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston
Marcus Susen, Koch Parafinczuk Wolf Susen, P.A., Coral Gables, FL
Ginger Susman, President, Providio MediSolutions, Denver
Raymond C. Silverman, Parker | Waichman, 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. - 2:30 p.m.
Mass Tort Landscape: Part 2
• Talc – National Trends in Asbestos Litigation
• Hip Implants
• Asbestos
• Hernia Mesh
• Opioid
• PFOS/PFOA Water Contamination
• Zostavax
Moderator: Jayne Conroy, Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, New York
Panelists: Hon. John F. Garvey (Ret.), Carey Danis & Lowe, St. Louis
Lindsey Cheek, The Cheek Law Firm, LLC, New Orleans
Justin Presnal, Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, Alton, IL
Hunter J. Shkolnik, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, New York
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Recent Developments in Game Changing Dynamics, Interacting with Special Masters & Complex Litigation: Ethical Conundrums
• Jurisdiction
• Preemption
• Daubert
• Initial Organizational Stage - Education, Fact Sheets, Direct File and All of the Foundational CMO’s
• Discovery Phase - Privilege Issues, Document Production, Deposition Protocols
• Bellwether-Selection and Trials - Pretrial Deposition Cuts
• Settlement Dialogue/Negotiations
• Settlement Administration and Common Benefit
• Mandatory Disclosure of Litigation Funding
• Issues Related to Withdrawal From Cases (in an MDL) When a Client Refuses to Settle
• Blogging and Social Media – ABA Ethics Opinion (March 2018)
Moderator: Gary J. Russo, Jones Walker LLP, Lafayette, LA
Panelists: James F. Murdica, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Chicago
Melanie H. Muhlstock, Parker | Waichman LLP, New York
Robert J. Drakulich, The Drakulich Firm, San Diego
Chris O. Massenburg, Manning Gross + Massenburg LLP, New Orleans
Jessica Richman, Parker | Waichman, New York
3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break
3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sexual Abuse Litigation in the #MeToo Environment: Another Complex Mass Tort
Moderator: Paul J. Hanly Jr., Simmons Hanly Conroy, New York
Panelists: Mitchell Garabedian, Law Offices of Mitchell Garabedian, Boston
Victoria Maniatis, The Sanders Firm, New York
Gale D. Pearson, Pearson, Randall & Schumacher, P.A., Minneapolis
4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Mass Tort Landscape: Part 3
• Roundup
• PPI
• Onglyza
• Risperdal
• Mesh
Moderator: Eric D. Holland, Holland Law Firm, St. Louis
Panelists: Jayne Conroy, Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, New York
Jessica Richman, Parker | Waichman, New York
Jennifer A. Moore, Grossman & Moore Injury Law, Louisville, KY
Paul J. Pennock, Weitz & Luxenberg P.C., New York