HarrisMartin's MDL Conference: Updates and Challenges Facing Current High Stakes Mass Tort Litigation

Conference Agenda

Day 1, Wednesday, May 24, 2023

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

Continental Breakfast Sponsored by Verus.

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

W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston
Erin K. Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston
Richard J. Arsenault, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault
Thomas R. Anapol, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia


9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Mass Tort Update 1.0

• Medicare Lien Update
• Acetaminophen (ASD/ADHD)
• CPAP
• Infant Formula
• Chemical Hair Straightener
• Social Media
• East Palestine Train Derailment

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

Panelists:
Blake Deady, President, Archer Systems, LLC, Houston
Chelsie Green, Levin Papantonio Rafferty, Pensacola, FL
Bradley D. Honnold, Goza & Honnold, Overland Park, KS
Robert Marcino, Chief Project Officer at ARCHER Systems, LLC, Philadelphia
Dena Young, Berger Montague, Philadelphia
Diandra “Fu” Debrosse Zimmermann, DiCello Levitt, Birmingham, AL


9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Anticipating and Dealing with Bankruptcy

• Talc: LTL Management, LLC (debtor). Non-debtor protected parties: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson (and other third party insurers and retailers)
• 3M: Aearo Technologies, LLC (debtor); Other affiliated debtors that filed their own bankruptcy petition: Aearo LLC; Aearo Intermediate LLC; Aearo Holding LLC; Aearo Mexico Holding Corp.; Cabot Safety Intermediate LLC; 3M Occupational Safety LLC
• Texas Two-Step Status
• Financial Distress and Good Faith Requirements
• 3rd Circuit J&J Ruling
• Breast Implant MDL Decades Ago…Dow Chemical/ Dow Corning Bankruptcy
• Channeling injunctions
• Subsidiary and Successor liability

Moderator: Thomas R. Anapol, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia

Panelists:
Dustin C. Carter, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault
Dawn M. Chmielewski, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault
Catelyn McDonough, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia
Melanie H. Muhlstock, Parker Waichman LLP, New York


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

Refreshment Break Sponsored by Physicians Medical Review

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10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Initial Activity Following the MDL Assignment

• Views From the Bench
• Tolling Agreements
• Protective Orders
• Privilege Logs
• Balancing the MDL Assignment with the Existing Docket
• Informational MDL Specific Websites
• Assistance from Magistrates, Special Masters, Additional Law Clerks
• Appointing a CPA Firm to Monitor Time and Expense Submissions, Either Independently, or in Tandem with a Specifically Designated Special Master
• Setting a Trial Date and Working Backwards with Scheduling Deadlines
• How to Handle the “Tail” Issues On the Front End and Capture the Key Inventory Demographics

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

Panelists:
C. Andrew Childers, Childers, Schlueter & Smith, LLC, Atlanta
Katherine Cornell, Pulaski Law Firm, PLLC, Houston
Hon. John (Jack) Garvey (ret.), Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC, Nashville, TN
Richard D. Meadow, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston
Lauren McGeever, Vice President, Class Action and Mass Tort Solutions, Epiq, New York


11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Camp Lejeune

• Litigation Status
• The Legislation
• The Science
• Damages and Defenses
• Attorney Fees

Sara Papantonio, Levin Papantonio Rafferty, Pensacola, FL
Raymond C. Silverman, Parker Waichman LLP, New York


11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Keynote 1: Q&A with Tom Kline

Moderated by: Priscilla E. Jimenez, Kline & Specter PC, Philadelphia

Thomas R. Kline, Kline & Specter PC, Philadelphia


12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Luncheon with Keynote 2 by Mark Lanier

W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston

Lunch Sponsored by Golkow

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1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Resolution Strategy & Associated Best Practices

• Global vs. Inventory Settlements
• Understanding the Consequences and Nature of an “Aggregate Settlement”/Ethical Rules and Required Disclosures
• Fee Disgorgement For Ethical Violations: Burrow v. Arce
• Special Master: Function, Role and Why Necessary
• Drafting Master Settlement Agreements
• Funding, Timing and Establishing Qualified Settlement Funds
• Walk Away Rights, Clawbacks, Substitutions, and Participation Thresholds
• Appeals, Extraordinary Circumstances Awards And Setting Appropriate Reserves
• Confidentiality/Public Statements/Penalties
• Protocols Associated With Allocating Settlement Proceeds
• Addressing Liens And Dealing With The Associated Holdbacks

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

Panelists:
Thomas R. Kline, Kline & Specter PC, Philadelphia
Sean P. Fahey, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, Philadelphia
Lee Floyd, Breit Biniazan, Richmond, VA
Michael A. London, Douglas & London, P.C., New York
Alexandra Walsh, Walsh Law, Washington, DC


2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Selection of Plaintiff and Defense Steering Committees

• Creating the Litigation Teams and Judicial Oversight of Same
• Managing the Virtual Mega-Law Firm
• Finding the Right Chemistry
• Diversity
• Checking all the Skill Set Boxes From Discovery to Appeal
• Judicial Drill Down on Financial Arrangements
• The Role of Private Equity and Venture Capital
• Who is Calling the Shots?
• Non-Lawyers Entering the Landscape
• AI/Chat GPT Entering the Space

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

Panelists:
Robert J. Drakulich, The Drakulich Firm, San Diego
Hailey Watts, Watts Guerra LLP, San Antonio, TX
Seth A. Katz, Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C., Englewood, CO
Aaron M. Heckaman, Bailey Cowan Heckaman PLLC, Houston


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

Refreshment Break Sponsored by Anapol Weiss

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3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Mass Tort Update 2.0

• Tepezza and Horizon:
o Basics on Tepezza and Horizon (Intro to Company, Drug Indications, Regulatory History, Media About Company Being Sold, etc.)
o Injury Science
o Case Criteria
o The Marketing Story
o The State of the Litigation (how many cases have been filed and where; status of preemption briefing, etc.)
• Paraquat
• Elmiron

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

Panelists:
Timothy Becker, Johnson // Becker, PLLC, St. Paul, MN
Sarah S. Doles, Levin Papantonio Rafferty, Pensacola, FL
Stacy Hauer, Johnson // Becker, PLLC, St. Paul, MN
Ashlie Case Sletvold, Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise, LLP, Cleveland
Diandra “Fu” Debrosse Zimmermann, DiCello Levitt, Birmingham, AL


4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Mass Tort Update 3.0

• Opioids
• PFAS
• Juul
• Exactech
• Paragard
• Ezrri Care Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops

Moderator: Thomas R. Anapol, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia

Panelists:
Erin K. Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston
Mike Daly, Pogust Goodhead, Philadelphia
Hon. John (Jack) Garvey (ret.) , Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC, Nashville, TN
Bradley D. Honnold, Goza & Honnold, Overland Park, KS
Justin Presnal, Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, College Station, TX


5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Networking Cocktail Reception

Networking Cocktail Reception Sponsored by Western Alliance Bank.

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