2024 DRI Product Liability Conference

February 7–9, 2024 | Denver, Colorado

Skyline of Phoenix

Enhance Your Product Liability Litigation Skillset!

Join us for the 2024 DRI Product Liability Conference which, for the first time in the Committee’s history, will be held in Denver, Colorado! This year’s Program is even more awe-inspiring than the City’s breathtaking views of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, with world-class speakers set to discuss topics ranging from the ever-changing landscape of product liability claims, to building an evidentiary basis to reconstruct reality. Find out how both science and the game of poker can take aspects of your practice to the next level. And, we will have a number of exciting networking opportunities you will not want to miss that are as unique as the Mile High City itself!

What You Will Learn:

  • Targeted programming to improve all aspects of your practice!
  • Cutting edge research on the science of jury testing.
  • How game theory can be effectively used at mediation.
  • The new frontiers of product liability claims in the wake of online marketplaces, smart products, and AI.
  • How [not] to lose your clients.
  • Excellent programming stemming from collaboration amongst the 18 Specialized Litigation Groups (SLGs).

Expand Your Network By:

  • Connecting with attendees and sponsors at one or more of the on and off-site networking events offered.
  • Taking advantage of DRI’s Ambassador Program if you are a first-time attendee.
  • Getting involved with the committee through one of the 18 SLGs offering additional programs.

Panel Counsel Meetings with Major Companies
Take advantage of the opportunity to engage with key industry companies* including:

  • CNH Industrial
  • Dorel Juvenile Group
  • Dräxlmaier
  • Great American Risk Solutions
  • Honda Canada
  • Husqvarna
  • Hyster Yale Group Sponsored by Ricci, Tyrrell, Johnson & Grey
  • Johnson Controls and Tyco Integrated Fire and Security
  • Manitowoc Company
  • Polaris
  • Terex Corporation
  • Toyota Material Handling
  • U-Haul

*Subject to change

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Thank You to DRI's Product Liability Committee Leadership

Heather Bub
Heather A. Bub
Program Chair
Jeffrey A. Curran
Jeffrey A. Curran
Program Vice Chair
Fred E. (Trey) Bourn III
Fred E. (Trey) Bourn III
Committee Chair
Lindsay Lorimer
Lindsay Lorimer
Committee Vice Chair
Roman Lifson
Roman Lifson
Law Institute

Join the Product Liability Committee

Registration Information

Member Pricing Non-Member Pricing Non-Member Bundle ^
Onsite Registration $1,695 $2,095 $2,015
Group Registration (Non-Sponsored)** $1,095 per person $1,095 per person $1,095 per person
Government Government members will receive the applicable government rate for the seminar upon login. If the government rate does not appear after logging in, please call DRI directly at (312) 795-1101 to receive the discounted rate. Invoices can be sent after purchase upon request.

Not a DRI Member? Select the Non-Member Bundle and Save!

^ Not a DRI Member and want to save on your registration? Take advantage of the Non-Member / Trial Membership Bundle when you register for the DRI Product Liability Conference. Select the bundle and get up to 9 months of membership with the membership add-on when you check out. Note: Trial membership processing can take up to 30 days from the date of purchase, please contact DRI Customer Service with any questions.

Learn more about membership at DRI and get started on your DRI journey today!

*If your membership recently lapsed, please renew your membership prior to registering to ensure you receive your discounted member rate. If you would like to join DRI to receive the member pricing and see the benefits of becoming a member, click here to go to the Application page.

**Group registration is for registering four or more attendees, members and non-members. There is one free registration with every 10 registrations. You must lock in the rate three weeks prior to the seminar. If you want to register for the group pricing, fill out the form here (online registration is not available for this offering).

Networking Events

Premier Networking Reception
Sponsored by: Bowman and Brooke LLP, Campbell Conroy & O'Neil PC, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Gordon Rees Skully Mansukhani LLP

Date: Thursday, February 8 from 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar
Location: Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th St, Denver, CO 80202

Get ready to mix, mingle, and make meaningful connections at the Premier Networking Reception. Join us on Thursday, February 8, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the vibrant Wynkoop Brewing Company. This is your chance to expand your professional network while enjoying the relaxed and inviting atmosphere of one of Denver's most iconic breweries. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to connect with fellow attorneys, exchange ideas, and pave the way for future collaborations. See you there!

Skiing at Winter Park | Keep the Colorado Fun Going

Date: Friday, February 9–Saturday February 10
Pricing: See links below
Location: Winter Park Resort, 85 Parsenn Road, Winter Park, Colorado 80482

The DRI Products Committee invites you to join them in Winter Park for a weekend of skiing and fun following the DRI Product Liability Conference meeting in Denver. The Ski Weekend Committee is also planning an after ski gathering for Saturday, February 10. More information on that event as we get closer to the date. Please let us know if you are planning to join us, so we can reserve the perfect sized space. For questions, email Lynne Jones Blain at lblain@hccw.com.

Following are links for planning your trip! Buying in advance is recommended.

Transportation - Amtrak has a dedicated train that leaves from the station near our conference hotel. Avoid the hassle of driving – take the train!

Lodging - We have picked a hotel at the base of the mountain with relatively reasonable rates. However, there are lots of options on this site.

Equipment Rental - Rental includes: skis, poles, boots, and helmet; Or snowboard, boots, and helmet. Clothing is not included with rentals.

Lift Tickets - Lift tickets for all ages, ski or ride more than 3,000 acres of terrain at Winter Park Resort.

Agenda with Speakers

*Schedule and Speakers subject to change

View Schedule with Room Locations

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Time (Mountain) Program
11:00 a.m. Registration
11:30 a.m. SLG Lunch-Arounds

More details to come.
11:30 a.m. 10th Annual Women in the Law Networking Luncheon (Ticketed Event)

Our fun Product Liability Conference Women’s Networking Luncheon is back on track for its 10th year! (We’re going to forget last year’s cancelled plans due to the crazy ice storm in Austin and celebrate our decade together!) Come join a special buffet luncheon designed for us at the Hilton Denver City Center. We will have many meal options, including winter spice roasted carrot-ginger soup, tri-color quinoa salad with spinach, feta, and Meyer lemon vinaigrette, turkey lettuce wraps, grilled salmon with chimichurri, winter squash sauté, vegan strawberry cake, and much more.

The luncheon is on Wednesday, February 7 at 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to make new connections and reconnect with friends before the conference begins. The cost is $60/person for this ticketed event. Please sign up when you register for the conference, and we look forward to seeing you in beautiful Denver!

Heather A. Bub, Program Chair
Kristy Wedell, Women in the Law (WITL) Committee Liaison
Marie Chafe, DRI Board and past WITL Committee Chair
1:00 p.m. Meetings of Specialized Litigation Groups (SLG) - Session 1

For details, click on the blue tab "SLG Session 1."
3:00 p.m. Product Liability Committee Meeting (open to all)
3:30 p.m. Small Networking Opportunities

Click on the "Small Networking Opportunities" tab below for details.
5:30 p.m. First-Time Attendees Meeting
6:00 p.m. Networking / Cocktail Hour
8:00 p.m. SLG Dine-Arounds

More details to come.
9:30 p.m. Networking Events

More details to come.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Time (Mountain) Program
8:00 a.m. Registration & Coffee Service

Get to know the early risers in our group over a cup of coffee.
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

Roman Lifson, Christian and Barton, LLP, Richmond, VA
Heather A. Bub, Amundsen Davis, LLC, St. Louis, MO
9:10 a.m. Case Valuation & Mediation – Tips from a Poker Player

Learn how game theory can impact mediation strategies, including case valuation, from the perspective of this panel, consisting of outside counsel, in-house counsel, and a mediator. One presenter, a former professional poker player, has found his experience to be invaluable to his current law practice.

Chris Fitzgerald, Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford, LLP, Boston, MA
Nate Walker, Husqvarna Group, Charlotte, NC
Hon. Sandy Brook, Judicial Arbiter Group, Inc., Denver, CO
10:00 a.m. Quick Hit: Bringing Science to Jury Testing

From Professor Bernard Chao’s research applying social science insights and experimental methods to test jury decision-making, learn the effectiveness of different damages arguments and how particular evidence, as well as jury instructions, can impact a jury’s decision making.

Prof. Bernard Chao, University of Denver School of Law, Denver, CO
10:20 a.m. DRI Insight Series

Dorris and Associates
10:30 a.m. Coffee Break
10:45 a.m. How to Lose a Client in 10 Ways

You have clients – now how do you keep them? Gain insight from a panel of experienced in-house counsel and insurance adjusters, which goes beyond the obvious advice on how to keep your clients happy, and learn how to become an indispensable partner with your clients.

Moderator
Eric Probst, Schindler Elevator Corporation, Morristown, NJ

Hernan Lacuesta, Sompo International Insurance, Los Angeles, CA
Jodi Oley, State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, IL
Craig Dupen, Kubota, Grapevine, TX
Sally Bowman, Mack Trucks, Inc. and Volvo Group North America, Greensboro, NC
11:35 a.m. Quick Hit: TBIs – Real or Just in Someone’s Head?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) claims have become more prevalent than ever and, now, serve to increase verdict potential and settlement value of cases. Hear how the plaintiffs’ bar is finding new ways to try and get around scans that do not show evidence of brain injury and learn strategies for defending against these claims.

Anthony J. Novak, Larson King, LLP, Saint Paul, MN
11:55 a.m. To Infinity & Beyond! The New Frontiers of Product Liability

In the ever-changing landscape of smart products and online marketplaces, product liability claims are evolving. Through the expansion of existing theories of liability, the law’s definition of what constitutes a "product," and the Court’s interpretation of "who" can be held liable, reports of product liability litigation's "death has been greatly exaggerated."

Amy Fischer, Foliart Huff Ottaway & Bottom, Oklahoma City, OK
Scott Maidment, McMillan LLP, Toronto, Canada
Gretchen Miller, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Chicago, IL
Rod Freeman, Cooley LLP, London, England
12:45 p.m. DRI Cares - Blessings in a Backpack

On your way to lunch, support Blessings in a Backpack, DRI Cares, and the DRI Foundation by filling a bag with food for a child experiencing food insecurity in our community. Feed a child before you feed yourself to make a difference in the lives of children and families all over our country and in this local community.

Click here for details on Blessings in a Backpack.
12:45 p.m. DRI Networking Lunch

Join attendees for lunch and networking opportunities that are second to none.
1:30 p.m. Corporate Counsel Breakout (for In-House Counsel and Claims Professionals only)
2:00 p.m. How to Be a Courtroom Jedi – Insights from the Bench on Using the Force of Persuasion

Have you ever wondered what Judges find to be particularly effective? Without having to travel to Dagobah, gain insight from members of the Bench that will help take your practice to the next galaxy (not so far, far away).

Moderator
Marsha Piccone, Fox Rothschild, LLP, Denver, CO

Justice Sandra Corbett, Alberta Court of Justice, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Hon. Regina Rodriguez, United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Denver, CO
Chief Justice Brian Boatright, Colorado Supreme Court, Denver, CO
2:50 p.m. Quick Hit: ChatGPT in the Legal Realm: Transforming the Landscape of Legal Assistance

To use, or not to use ChatGPT in the legal realm? By now, everyone knows the pros: efficiency and cost savings. What about the risks, though: liability, concerns with sharing confidential information, potential for bias, etc. Learn why law schools are teaching students how to use it, why some law firms are instituting policies prohibiting its use, and why client billing guidelines may someday require it to be used.

Ricardo Woods, Burr Forman LLP, Mobile, AL
3:10 p.m. Refreshment Break
3:25 p.m. Building the Evidentiary Foundation to Reconstruct Reality

Now more than ever technology, in reliance on data from various sources, can help reconstruct an accident when an incident was not witnessed or when witnesses prove unreliable. This presentation will educate attorneys on what types of data are relevant to request during discovery and how to build a foundation for this data (and, ultimately, the reconstruction) to be admissible at trial.

Edderek (Beau) Cole, Butler Snow, Ridgeland, MS
Charles A. Fox, PhD, ESi, Peachtree Corners, GA
Brian L. Mims, Tadano America Corporation, Willis, TX
4:15 p.m. You’ve Been Warned! The Future Is Coming for Labels

As more product warning labels and instructions are being provided to consumers in digital format (via QR codes, YouTube videos, and even TikTok), juries are left to determine what is (or is not) compliant with the applicable standards. Learn more about the best practices for manufacturers to communicate with consumers about product warnings and instructions in this digital age.

Tara Troxel, S-E-A, Ltd., Columbus, OH
Mohamed Bakry, Marshall Dennehey, Philadelphia, PA
An Nguyen, S-E-A, Ltd., Columbus, OH
5:05 p.m. Adjourn
6:00 p.m. Premier Networking Reception
Sponsored by: Bowman and Brooke LLP, Campbell Conroy & O'Neil PC, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Gordon Rees Skully Mansukhani LLP

Click here for details.
8:00 p.m. Dine-Arounds

Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own).

Friday, February 9, 2024

Time (Mountain) Program
7:30 a.m. Registration and Coffee Service

Get to know the early risers in our group over a cup of coffee.
8:00 a.m. Meetings of Specialized Litigation Groups (SLG) - Session 2

For details, click on the blue tab "SLG Session 2."
10:00 a.m. Coffee Break
10:30 a.m. Meetings of Specialized Litigation Groups (SLG) - Session 3

For details, click on the blue tab "SLG Session 3."
12:30 p.m. Adjourn

SLG Session 1 (Wednesday 1:00–3:00 p.m.)

Digital Evidence and Emerging Technologies & Trial Techniques (Joint Session)

Digital Evidence and Emerging Technologies

Chair: James M. Dedman, IV, Gallivan White & Boyd, PA, Charlotte, NC
Vice Chair: Patrick M. Delaney, RumbergerKirk, Orlando, FL

Impact on Artificial Intelligence on the Justice System (How is it Used to Help Litigation, Ethics issues, and Demonstrations with New Software)

Brittany K.T. Kauffman, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, Denver, CO

Trial Techniques

Chair: Jeffrey C. Warren, Bowman and Brooke, LLP, Phoenix, AZ
Vice Chair: Thomas E. Bazemore, III, Huie Fernambucq & Stewart, LLP, Birmingham, AL

Techniques for Effective Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses

James E. Hooper, Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP, Denver, CO
Young Bui, Ph.D., Exponent, Denver, CO
Bryan D. Cross, Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP, Denver CO

Fire Science & International (Joint Session)

Fire Science

Chair: Andrew E. Stead, McMillan, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Vice Chair: Allison Waase, Wilson Elser, White Plains, NY

Clients’ Perspectives on Business and Litigation Priorities After Fire Losses

Heather A. Brown, Tyco, Toronto, Canada
Joshua Browning, Johnson Controls, Washington, D.C.
Tracy Gregar Ferak, Faegre Drinker, Chicago, IL

International

Chair: Robert Love, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Vice Chair: Lisa Parliament, McMillan, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Strategies and Practical Tips in Navigating Multijurisdictional Product Issue
In the context of an increasingly complex and fast changing regulatory and legal landscape, an experienced panel of lawyers from various jurisdictions will discuss strategies and practical tips in responding to hot issues in regulatory compliance and litigation management.

Joanna Leong, Honda Canada, Markham, Canada
Sarah-Jane Dobson, Kennedys Law, London, England
Andrew Morrison, Clayton Utz, Melbourne, Australia

Building Products and Scaffolds, Cranes & Aerial Devices (Joint Session)

Building Products

Chair: Rachel Cooper, McMillan, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Vice Chair: Lindsay N. Zanello, Dechert, New York, New York

Anatomy of a Crane Collapse

Andy Barragry, Manitowac, Milwaukee, WI
Cary Hiltgen, Hiltgen & Brewer, P.C., Oklahoma City, OK
Matt Weismuller, JS Held, Greenwood Village, CO
Matt Kenner, ESi, Peachtree Corners, GA

Scaffolds, Cranes and Aerial Devices (SCAD)

Chair: Brandon M. Meyers, McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC, Albuquerque, NM
Vice Chair: Mary London Fuller, Sheehy Ware Pappas Grubbs, P.C., Houston, TX

Strategies for Handling Cases Involving High-Exposure Personal Injury and Property Damages

Michael Thomas, Greenberg Traurig, Denver, CO

SLG Session 2 (Friday 8:00–10:00 a.m.)

Automotive & Biomechanics (Joint Session)

Automotive

Chair: Elizabeth L. Moyo, Porter Wright, Columbus OH
Vice Chair: Natalie J. Eschbach, Litchfield Cavo, Chicago, IL

Auto-adjacent Components and Accessories

Pierce D. Umberger, Ph.D., P.E., Engsys, Peachtree Corners, GA
Chad Lieberman, Burns Figa & Will, Greenwood Village, CO

Biomechanics

Chair: Megan E. Cook, Teague Campbell, Raleigh, NC

How to Discredit and Attack an Opposing Party’s Expert Opinions Using Accurate Methodology and Science

Brian Boggess, S-E-A, Ltd., Charlotte, NC
Dennis Ziemba, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC, Philadelphia, PA

Aviation & Mass Torts and Class Actions (Joint Program)

Aviation

Chair: S. Brad Brown, Jr., Jackson Walker, LLP, Dallas, TX
Vice Chair: Conor McLaughlin, Thompson Hine, Cleveland, OH

Lessons From the Field - NTSB Investigations and Probable Cause Reports

Greg Feith, Consultant and Former NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator

Mass Torts and Class Actions

Vice Chair: Jonathan L. S. Hodes, Virgin Hickman, Vancouver, Canada

Scales of Justice Worldwide: Unpacking Class Action Dynamics in Quebec, Australia and the US for Product Liability - A Global Legal Safari

Kip Bollin, Thompson Hines LLP, Cleveland, OH
Sidney Elbaz, McMillan LLP, Montreal, Canada
Andrew Morrison, Clayton Utz, Melbourne, Australia

Young Lawyers Breakout

Chair: Xan Ingram Flowers, Butler Snow, Birmingham, AL

Crafting Winning Objections to Discovery Requests in Products Cases
Young lawyers take the first stab at responding to discovery, which means your well-crafted, targeted objections can save the client time and money. This presentation will cover how to respond to blockbuster requests without boilerplate objections (and without giving up the kitchen sink). Survey of recent decisions in products liability discovery battles to improve your own objections and strategy in responding to discovery.

Connor Peth, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart, Moore & Daniels, New Orleans, LA

Integration of AI in Product Development
FDA has started to introduce regulations for AI in pharmaceutical and medical devices, and the first human trials of drugs that were developed at least in party by AI began last month; emerging case law and hot topics on AI in products cases; anticipation of plaintiffs’ bar using AI integration for failure to warn and alternative design arguments; how young lawyers can use AI to assist in development of products defenses in pending cases at the non-partner level.

Tom Wyatt, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull, PLLC, Little Rock, AR
Christian Castile, Reed Smith, Philadelphia, PA

Shift Into Gear: Self-Driving Vehicles and Questions of Liability
An overview of self-driving vehicle technology. Survey of accidents that could occur because of self-driving technology; automotive safety standards are changing in response to the evolving self-driving technologies; manufacturers must adapt to adhere to these new standards; will these new standards effect manufacturer liability? Questions arise as to who is liable, and to what extent a manufacturer is liable, when a self-driving vehicle is involved in an accident; beyond cars, who is responsible when a product is used by a non-human (such as a robot, artificial intelligence, etc.) and injury and/or damages results? Who is liable? What are the legal ramifications in the context of product liability suits?

Denis F. Alia, Cetrulo LLP, Boston, MA

Children’s Products & Consumer Goods and Office Equipment (Joint Session)

Children’s Products

Chair: Rachel A. Remke, Arent Fox Schiff, Chicago, IL
Vice Chair: Brandon D. Cox, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Atlanta, GA

Papers Please: CPSC Proposes Overhaul of Rules for Certificates of Compliance
A moment 16 years in the making got a step closer in December, when the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPR) that, if adopted, would dramatically alter the agency’s expectations for Certificates of Compliance for consumer products and the amount of work regulated industry will have to put into complying. This presentation will provide an overview of the proposed new rules to give companies a head start in identifying the process changes they may need to make.

Michael Gentine, Arnold & Porter, Washington, D.C.

Conquering Complex Causation
Causation can be one of the most complex elements in a products liability case; this presentation will address strategies for assessing, minimizing and dismantling complex causation cases; it will also discuss lessons learned from cases involving infant causation, traumatic brain injuries, and complex regional pain syndrome.

Bardia Sanjabi, Greenberg Traurig, Atlanta, GA

Consumer Goods and Office Equipment

Chair: Isaac Messmore, Soule & Stull, Minneapolis, MN
Vice Chair: Kristin F. Mazzeo, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP, Philadelphia, PA

The Digitization of Warnings and Manuals
Digital warnings and instructions can improve safety and customer satisfaction, but can also present challenging questions: Can we reduce or eliminate paper – and how do we know if this is acceptable to customers? How do we deliver digital warnings so that they are accessible (and yes, you need to think about ADA)? How do safety, legal, and tech writers work with the information technology team to ensure proper delivery and maintenance of digital assets? The chair of the ANSI Z535 committee will provide an update on the forthcoming consensus standard for safety information in electronic media.

Isaac Messmore, Soule & Stull, Minneapolis, MN
Steve Hall, Applied Safety, San Francisco, CA

SLG Session 3 (Friday 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)

Food Law & Manufacturer's Risk (Joint Session)

Food Law

Chair: A. Michael Gentine, Arnold & Porter, Washington, D.C.
Vice Chair: Rachel Remke, ArentFox Schiff, Chicago, IL

Food Allergens & Labeling – An Update on Regulatory and Litigation Developments

Raqiyyah Pippins, Arnold & Porter, Washington, D.C.

An Update on All Things PFAS

Kyle Bjornlund, Cetrulo, Boston, MA

Manufacturer's Risk

Chair: Jason R. Gagnon, Carmody Torrance Sandak Hennessey LLP, Waterbury, CT
Vice Chair: Denis Alia, Cetrulo LLP, Boston, MA

Managing and Mitigating Manufacturing Risk from Contracts to Consumer/Customer Education

Moderator: Imoh E. Akpan, Goldberg Segalla LLP, Baltimore, MD
Sarah Wolfe, U-Haul, Phoenix, AZ
Aaron Gentry, DRÄXLMAIER, Greenville, SC

ACMIE & Chemical and Toxic Tort (Joint Session)

ACMIE

Chair: Patrick A. Edwards, Stinson, Wichita, KS
Vice Chair: Sean Shirley, Balch & Bingham LLP, Birmingham, AL

Recent Changes in Jurors’ Attitudes Towards Corporate Defendants, Including New Strategies for Jury Selection Post-COVID, and Nuclear Verdicts Post-COVID

Jeff Dougherty, Litigation IQ, Frisco, TX
Allison Weyand, Frost Brown Todd, Louisville, KY
Claire Battle, CNH , Chicago, IL

Case Law Update on U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruling in Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway
A discussion of Mallory, in which personal jurisdiction was found in Pennsylvania for any company registered to do business there, regardless of other factors. Update will also cover more recent rulings interpreting and applying Mallory.

Aidan Zielske, Haws-KM, St. Paul, MN

Chemical and Toxic Tort

Chair: Luis Leitzelar, Bienvenu, Bonnecaze, Foco & Viator, Baton Rouge, LA
Vice Chair: George Wray, Borden Ladner Gervais, LLP, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Forever and Ever, Amen…PFAS and a Right to a Healthy Environment

Moderator: Bob Alpert, Morris Manning & Martin, Atlanta, GA
Allison Foord, Borden Ladner Gervais, LLP, Vancouver, Canada
Patrick Lowther, Morris Manning & Martin, Atlanta, GA

Recreational Products & Power and Hand Tools (Joint Session)

Recreational Products

Chair: Jared S. Hawk, Saul Ewing LLP, Pittsburgh, PA
Vice Chair: Christopher Lyle Jackson, Dinsmore, Lexington, KY

Navigating Global Compliance and Safety Issues
A panel of in-house counsel at recreational product manufacturers will discuss the regulatory issues that keep them up at night, and the changes in the industry. We will also discuss how these regulatory issues impact litigation.

Moderator: Rachel Cooper, McMillan, Toronto, Canada
Craig Dupen, Kubota, Grapevine, TX
Eric Lilly, Polaris, Minneapolis, MN

Power and Hand Tools

Chair: Andrei Pascu, McMillan LLP, Montréal, Canada
Vice Chair: Patrick Clyder, McGuireWoods LLP, Chicago, IL

A Compilation of Hot Topics … Including News on Lithium Ion Batteries

Eric Carter, Techtronic Industries Power Equipment, Anderson, SC
Mark Koontz, Husqvarna, Hopewell, PA
Robert Basile, J.S. Held LLC, North Kingstown, RI

Small Networking Opportunities

Upstairs Circus
Date: Wednesday, February 7 from 3:30–5:45 p.m.
Pricing: $42, plus 20% gratuity
Location: 1500 Wynkoop Street #100, Denver, CO 80202 (20 min walk, ~one mile from hotel)

Where DIY workshop meets bar. Create concrete coasters, 6-pack carriers, leather wallets, hip flasks, jewelry, artwork, or anything else on their menu of projects while drinking happy-hour priced cocktails (not included) with your DRI friends. Decorate a fedora and wear it all day Thursday…No prepayment, but RSVP required.
Sign Up for Upstairs Circus

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
Date: Wednesday, February 7 from 3:30–5:45 p.m.
Pricing: Free
Location: 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO (~20 min via Uber/Lyft/Taxi)

Located just west of Denver near the town of Morrison, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre combines awe-inspiring natural scenery with natural acoustic splendor. Not only a concert and event venue, but also a Denver park with walking trails, a visitor center, a trading center, and the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. Tours are self-guided. Closes one hour after sunset.
Transportation on your own. Meet in hotel lobby for sharing rides with others ~3:30 p.m. RSVP requested.
Sign Up for Red Rocks Park

Denver Graffiti Tour
Date: Wednesday, February 7 from 3:45–5:45 p.m.
Pricing: $35, plus Eventbrite fees, prepaid
Location: 2314 N. Broadway, Denver, CO (15 min walk, ~0.6 miles from hotel)

Denver Graffiti Tour is a 2-hour walking showcase of the best street art in the city. Learn the story behind the murals, graffiti and street art, as well as the historical, political and social contexts of that art. Discussion of approximately 30 murals, with a brief break for rest or drinks at Denver Central Market. See the Denver Graffiti Tour for more details.
Sign up for Denver Graffiti Tour

Headquarters Hotel Information

The DRI room block at the Hilton Denver City Center is now sold out. Please use the link below to reserve a room at a nearby available hotel.

Alternative Hotels

If you are planning on attending the conference and have not secured a hotel reservation, search for hotel availability via our trusted partner aRes Travel**. Book online or call 800.559.3186 for assistance; for International callers 619.546.5773.

**aRes Travel is a third-party travel planner. Rates, deposits, and cancellation policies may vary and are the responsibility of the guest. Questions on hotel policies or payments made on aRes website should be directed to the aRes Reservation Center or to the hotel directly.

CLE Information

Earn up to 11.00 hours of continuing legal education hours (CLE) from this seminar.

View CLE Credit by State

In some states that charge late CLE submission fees, there will be a $100 late fee to report CLE credits submitted more than 30 days after a seminar/virtual event. Click the button below for more details.

CLE Late Fees

Sponsors

DRI's Product Liability Conference is proudly sponsored by:

AEI Corporation Advanced Engineering Investigations
Amundsen Davis logo Applied Materials Technologies Inc. A Professional Design and Engineering Firm ARCCA Experts in Forensic, Scientific & Engineering Solutions ATA Associates Forensic Engineering Bowman and Brooke BRC Analyzing How Injuries are Caused
Butler|Snow
Campbell Trial Lawyers
Cassels Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford LLP Dorris and Associates International
Eckert Seamans Attorneys at Law Envista Forensics ESi Exponent logo
Fasken Frost Brown Todd Attorneys LLC
Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani Hodgson Russ LLP Attorneys
JS | Held McMillan Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP logo
Rimkus Consulting Group Inc
S-E-A Know. Stinson VSI Vector Scientific, Inc.

If you would like to contact DRI about seminar sponsorship opportunities, including pricing, or to reserve a spot, please go to Advertising and Sponsorship.

DRI Cares

Blessings in a Backpack

Blessings in a Backpack Who Will Feed the Kids this Weekend?

Please join us in supporting Blessings in a Backpack, an organization that mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for school-aged children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Seminar attendees will have the opportunity to fill bags of food on the way to the joint networking lunch on Thursday, February 8. Feeding a child before you feed yourself is a wonderful way to support children and families in the Denver community.

Donate to Blessings in a Backpack

Other Information

If you have any questions or concerns regarding DRI programs, please contact DRI Customer Service at 312.795.1101 or custservice@dri.org.