Conference Agenda
Day 1, Tuesday, April 08, 2025
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Welcome by Co-Chairs
Raphael Metzger, Metzger Law Group, Long Beach, CA
Daniel S. Hurwitz, Wilson Elser, Los Angeles
9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Silica, Respirators and Product Liability
• The History of Silica Litigation
Mike Martin, Martin|Walton, Houston
9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Theories of Liability
Scott Philip Brust, Metzger Law Group, Long Beach, CA
10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Affirmative Defenses
Daniel S. Hurwitz, Wilson Elser, Los Angeles
10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Refreshment Break
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Industrial Hygiene and Exposure Monitoring of Respirable Crystalline Silica
Brian P. Daly, CIH, PE, Hygiene Technologies International Inc., Los Angeles
11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
The Product – The Unique Features of Artificial Stone: Are They Responsible for this New Epidemic?
• Accelerated Silicosis
• The Specific Pathology and Progressive Massive Fibrosis
Raphael Metzger, Metzger Law Group, Long Beach, CA
12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Defendants - Manufacturers/Distributors
James C. Parker, Hugo Parker, LLP, San Francisco
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Defendants - Retail Sellers
Johanna Boktor, Yang | Professional Law Corporation, Los Angeles
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Defendants - Big Box Stores
Joshua W. Praw, Wilson Elser, San Francisco
3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Refreshment Break
3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Insurance Coverage Issues – The Silica Exclusion
David R. Scheidemantle, Scheidemantle Law Group P.C., Pasadena, CA
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Punitive Damages in Artificial Stone Fabricator Silicosis Cases v. Asbestos Cases
Brian Barrow, Metzger Law Group, Long Beach, CA
4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Future of the Litigation
Raphael Metzger, Metzger Law Group, Long Beach, CA
Daniel S. Hurwitz, Wilson Elser, Los Angeles