Conference Agenda
Day 1, Thursday, December 08, 2011
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast & Registration
8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Welcome By Co-Chairs
Michael L. Armitage, Waters, Kraus & Paul, Los Angeles
Stephen M. Nichols, Walsworth Franklin Bevins McCall, Orange, CA
8:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
The History of Asbestos Litigation in Los Angeles and How the Court Has Adapted
- 40 Years of Asbestos Case Handling in Los Angeles
- General Orders - What is Their History and Are They Still Necessary?
William J. Sayers, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Los Angeles
David A. Rosen, Rose, Klein & Marias LLP, Los Angeles
Stephen C. Klausen, Prindle, Amaro, Goetz, Hillyard, Barnes & Reinholtz LLP, Long Beach, CA
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Effective Use of Los Angeles Settlement Judges in Asbestos Cases
- Is It Really Necessary to Swear a Jury Panel Before Seriously Discussing Settlement?
- What Do Your Client and Your Carrier Need to Evaluate a Case?
- How Can You Be Prepared to Make the Best Use of Time With an Assigned Settlement Judge?
Hon. Helen Irene Bendix, California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles
Thomas J. Mikula, Goodwin Procter, Washington, DC
Linda Tatka, Claims Director, Asbestos Unit/Historic Claims Department, AZRS-Resolution Service, Fireman's Fund insurance Company, Novato, CA
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The Coordination of Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego Asbestos Cases
- An Update on the Status of the Coordination Process
- What Else is on the Horizon?
Hon. Emilie H. Elias, California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Recent Trials, Verdicts and Appellate Decisions and Their Potential Impact
- Is Anything New Happening in the Courtroom?
- Have Recent Verdicts Changed Case Analysis?
- How Will the Most Recent Appellate Decisions Alter Settlement and Trial Strategies?
Geoffrey M. Davis, K&L Gates LLP, Los Angeles
Viiu Spangler Khare, Berkes Crane Robinson & Seal LLP, Los Angeles
Paul C. Cook, Waters, Kraus & Paul, Los Angeles
Carolin Shining, The Law Offices of Carolin K. Shining, Los Angeles
2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break
2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
An Objective Presentation of Positions on Coordination Issues Taken through Briefing by Members of the Bar to Date
- What Are the Key Procedural Changes Occurring as a Result of the Coordination of Cases?
- What Are the Pros and Cons of Those Which are Most Hotly Contested?
Scott L. Frost, Waters, Kraus & Paul, Los Angeles
Patrick Deblase, Deblase, Brown, Eyerly LLP, Los Angeles
Margaret I. Johnson, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, Los Angeles
G. Jeff Coons, Gordon & Rees LLP, Los Angeles, CA
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
An Open Guided Discussion of Current Issues and How Members of the Bar Should Ethically Work Together Within the System
- What Do the Rules that Guide Us Tell Us About How We Should Deal With One Another?
- Why Are Words Like Cooperation and Coordination Interpreted As Signs of Weakness?
- What Can We Do as Members of This Unique Legal Community To Be More Efficient and Effective?
Michael L. Armitage, Waters, Kraus & Paul, Los Angeles
Stephen M. Nichols, Walsworth Franklin Bevins McCall, Orange, CA
Mahsa Kashani Tippins, Gordon & Rees LLP, San Francisco