DRI Faculty List

2021 Vaping Liability and Litigation Virtual Seminar

| January 28, 2021


Christopher M. Gismondi
Of Counsel
DLA Piper LLP (US)

Christopher M. Gismondi, of counsel in the Litigation & Regulatory Group at DLA Piper LLP (US). Gismondi litigates high-stakes, complex commercial and corporate governance disputes. Recently, his practice has focused on providing broad-based risk management, litigation and regulatory support to growers, financial institutions, manufacturers, distributors and retailers in the tobacco, vape product, and CBD/Hemp industries. He also defends corporate clients against claims for violations of the securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract. He handles cases before state and federal trial and appellate courts, arbitrators, and mediators, working hand in hand with clients to develop aggressive, yet cost-effective, litigation strategies.


Dr. Naira Gorovits
Scientific Advisor
DLA Piper LLP (US)

Dr. Naira Gorovits is a scientific advisor in the Litigation & Regulatory Group at DLA Piper LLP (US). Her practice focuses on life sciences as well as basic medical sciences including genetics, genomics, epidemiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, toxicology and fetal development. Dr. Gorovits has over eleven years of law firm experience assisting attorneys in identifying and analyzing scientific and clinical literature for litigation corporate responsibility and external expert work matters. Her expertise extends to evaluating the science of known and potential adverse health effects (cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes, addiction) associated with exposure to consumer products such as cannabis, combustible tobacco, electronic nicotine delivery systems and 5G wireless networks.


David Jaroslaw
Partner
DLA Piper LLP (US)

David Jaroslaw, practices at the intersection of law, science, medicine, and technology. He has provided product liability advice and litigated on behalf of manufacturers in various industries, including the tobacco, vape, and cannabis/CBD product sectors, in the US, Europe and Asia. He specializes in the communication of complex concepts to juries, courts, and regulators. He was formerly an organized crime prosecutor specializing in international money laundering cases. He went to law school at Columbia and was undergrad at Cornell.


J. Richard Moore
Shareholder
Bleeke Dillon Crandall

J. Richard Moore is a shareholder with BleekeDillonCrandall in Indianapolis, Indiana. His practice focuses on the defense of professional liability claims against physicians, nurses, long-term care providers, architects, engineers, and attorneys; advising businesses and insurers regarding large property losses, catastrophic casualty claims, complex insurance coverage questions, fraud and bad faith; and assistance in the resolution of a variety of business and commercial disputes before litigation where posible, and through trial where necessary. Moore is licensed in Indiana, Alabama and Tennessee, and has assisted in the assessment and handling of matters in Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, Missouri, Mississippi and Georgia. He is an active member of DRI, having served as Program Chair for the 2011 and 2012 DRI Nursing Home/ALF Litigation Seminars as well as Program Chair for the Sexual Torts Seminar. He is the past Chair of the DRI Medical Liability and Health Care Law Committee and currently serves on the DRI Law Institute.


Angela L. (Angie) Perez, PhD
CTEH LLC

Angela L. (Angie) Perez, PhD is a Senior Toxicologist with over 11 years of consulting experience in applied toxicology, exposure assessment, and human health risk assessment. Dr. Perez's work has focused on study design for occupational exposure evaluations for molds, bacteria,and oxidants and for testing for TSCA chemical registration compliance. Dr. Perez is experienced in assisting clients with TSCA chemical registrations, including new uses, naturally occurring substances, and exemptions. She has served as a testifying and consulting expert on cases involving chemical exposure and potential risk, including asbestos, metals, phthalates, benzene, carbon monoxide, triclosan, and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). She has been retained as an expert in cannabis toxicology as it relates to impairment and is active in researching the risk from exposure to contaminants in cannabis products. Dr. Perez's work often involves the analysis and interpretation of complex chemistries in environmental and occupational settings.


Melissa K. Roeder
Of Counsel
Foley & Mansfield PLLP

Melissa K. Roeder, Of Counsel in Foley & Mansfield's Seattle office, is a nationwide leader in developing educational programs to prepare cannabis businesses for the various legal issues and litigation facing this nascent industry, including product and premises liability and developing policy and procedures for both recreational and medical marijuana growers, suppliers and vendors. Melissa rides a Harley Davidson is a former Alaska commercial fisherman and has a shoe collection that would make Imelda Marcos jealous. Career achievements include being selected as one of the Top 100 Women Lawyers in Washington State, a "Super Lawyer" from 2012-present.


Sara M. Turner
Shareholder
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC

Sara M. Turner is a shareholder in the Birmingham, Alabama, office of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell and Berkowitz, PC. She serves as co-chair of Baker Donelson's Hospitality Industry Service Team. Sara's trial experience includes product liability, drug and medical device, hospitality, timeshare, complex commercial litigation, class action and franchise claims. She regularly serves as outside general counsel and coordinates her clients' defense of claims nationwide. Sara serves as the Committee Chair for the DRI Retail and Hospitality Committee.


Edward R. Ulloa
Partner
Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP

Edward R. Ulloa is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP. Ulloa is an experienced trial attorney whose practice involves the defense of clients in high-risk, mass tort litigation, including asbestos, chemical exposure, flammable fabric and automotive product liability actions. Ulloa has served as first-chair trial counsel in over 50 jury trials and has represented manufacturers of naval and industrial equipment, automotive friction and gasket materials, and joint compound and drywall materials, and flammable fabrics at trial. Ulloa is highly experienced in the successful argument of summary judgment and pretrial motions and is involved in the development of litigation and trial strategies for high-risk mass tort litigation clients across the nation. Ulloa supervises other attorneys in the representation of products liability matters and negotiates on behalf of clients at court mandated settlement conferences. He represents clients in fact and expert witness depositions in cases in across the country and is involved in pre-litigation investigation of actions involving clients on a national basis.