| 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
Ford Stephens, Christian & Barton, Richmond, VA
Kevin P. Allen, Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood & Werth, San Francisco, CA |
| 9:15 a.m. |
Handling Police Claims: Day One
This three-part session will explore the everyday handling and defense of Section 1983 claims. Part 1 examines the first few days of an incident, including: when the entity should retain counsel, what documents and evidence should be immediately preserved, and the first meeting with the involved officer(s).
Joseph Vigil, Maricopa County Attorneys Office, Phoenix, AZ
R. David Ware, Hall Booth Smith, Atlanta, GA |
| 10:15 a.m. |
Coffee Break |
| 10:30 a.m. |
Supreme Court Review and Analysis
Supreme Court advocate Tom Dupree joins us again to break down the latest United States Supreme Court decisions, their impact on governmental entities and officials, and what the opinions may foretell for the High Court going forward.
Thomas H. Dupree, Jr., Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, Washington, D.C. |
| 11:30 a.m. |
Breakout Sessions #1 |
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Litigation Spotlight: Color of Authority
When is a police officer considered “on the job?” When do an officer’s actions cross the line from personal to professional, such that it constitutes state actor conduct for purposes of Section 1983 and/or makes the officer’s employer liable for state-law claims via vicarious liability? This session will provide attendees insight into an ever-more complicated area of law and the tools necessary to defend against potentially unwarranted suits.
Angelica Jarmusz, Fishel Downey Albrecht & Riepenhoff LLP, New Albany OH
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Litigation Spotlight: Defending First Amendment Claims
First Amendment claims are a growing segment of Section 1983 litigation. Whether it be assertions of retaliatory arrest, retaliatory use-of-force, or retaliatory malicious prosecution, the allegations can run the gamut. This session will focus on two discrete topics in defending First Amendment claims: (1) tips and strategies for protest-related free speech claims; (2) how to use the availability of multiple videos to recreate the incident and explain what happened. Our speakers will highlight a past case as an example for their discussion.
Karen Stillwell, Phoenix City Attorney’s Office, Phoenix, AZ
Toby Terpstra, AAS, J.S. Held, Denver, CO |
| 12:30 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. |
| 12:30 p.m. |
DRI Networking Lunch
Join the Civil Rights and Construction Law seminar attendees for lunch and networking opportunities that are second to none! |
| 1:45 p.m. |
Qualified Immunity
We’re thrilled to have Professor Blum back with us to discuss the latest Circuit and Supreme Court developments in qualified immunity. She will also provide her insight on the future of the doctrine.
Karen M. Blum, Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA |
| 2:45 p.m. |
Litigation Spotlight: The Science of Use-of-Force
The days of only a revolver and baton are long past; officers today possess an array of force and restraint options, including OC spray; spit masks; less-lethal shotguns; and 40 mm launchers. They also have a variety of ways to secure a subject, including prone restraint. Defending these options necessitates familiarity with the science behind them, how officers perceive a threat, and how officers react to that threat.
In this panel discussion, hear from two subject matter experts on the “before” and “after” of force. Learn about the decision-making process in the lead-up to force, how much time officers have to react, and their time to reassess a situation in the moment. Discover what various force options actually do, how they affect the body, and the results of that force.
Jamie Borden, Critical Incident Review, Las Vegas, NV
Mary G. Erlingson, Erlingson Banks, PLLC, Baton Rouge, LA
Mark W. Kroll, PhD, FAIMBE, FACC, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN |
| 4:15 p.m. |
Handling Police Claims: Depositions
Most of the time spent on police cases involves discovery: requesting it, responding it, or motion practice about it. In Part 2 of our series, learn best practices on depositions, the most critical of discovery tools. Gain insight on how to prepare your officer(s) and how to approach the testimony of the decedent’s survivor(s).
Christina Retts, Wieneke Law Group, Tempe, AZ
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| 5:15 p.m. |
Governmental Liability Committee Business Meeting |
| 6:00 p.m. |
Premier Networking Reception
Join fellow seminar attendees at our Premier Networking Reception. More details to come. |
| 8:00 p.m. |
Dine-Arounds
Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own).
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