2026 Asbestos Medicine Seminar

November 18–20, 2026
Renaissance Nashville Hotel | Nashville, Tennessee

Aerial view skyline of Nashville along the Cumberland River

Music City Meets the Future of Litigation: Asbestos, Advocacy, and AI in Nashville! 

Save up to $700 when you register on or before October 5!

Save Your Spot Today

Join us in Nashville for DRI's Asbestos Medicine Seminar, where cutting-edge science, high-stakes litigation strategy, and the future of law converge. This year we are shaking up the traditional conference format with a fully immersive, human and AI-powered mock trial. Following educational primers, we will present a complete asbestos case: opening statements, direct and cross-examinations of key witnesses, and closing arguments. A live jury will hear the case alongside the audience. You will then watch them deliberate via real-time stream, then hear directly from the jurors on what persuaded them and what did not. AI experts from Stanford University and Viewpoints.ai then reveal how an AI jury evaluated the same facts, offering a direct comparison between human and artificial decision-making. All of it in the heart of Nashville, steps from live music and award-winning restaurants.

What You Will Learn:

  • Experience a fully immersive human- and AI-powered mock trial, from opening statements through verdict.
  • Analyze asbestos and talc causation theories involving exposure, genetics, and product identification.
  • Strengthen opening, witness-examination, and closing-argument strategies.
  • See what persuades jurors through live deliberations and post-verdict Q&A.
  • Compare human and AI jury decisions and their implications for trial strategy and risk assessment.
  • Explore practical AI tools, emerging silica litigation, and legal ethics.

Expand Your Network By:

  • Connecting with colleagues at the opening networking and cocktail hour at the hotel.
  • Joining fellow attendees and industry leaders at the Asbestos Committee meeting, which is open to all seminar participants.
  • Sharing ideas and building relationships over the DRI Networking Lunch.
  • Pulling up a chair at optional dine-arounds and continuing the conversation with colleagues and friends at selected Nashville restaurants.
  • Experiencing the energy of Music City and take your networking off-site at the reception at JBJ’s Nashville.

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

  • Buffalo Pumps
  • Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP
  • Husqvarna Group
  • J&M Manufacturing
  • Nissan North America
  • Rheem Manufacturing

*Subject to change

Representatives from These Companies* Will Be in Attendance
Engage with in-house counsel and claims executives:

  • TBD

*Subject to change

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Thank You to DRI's Asbestos Litigation Committee Leadership

Evelyn Fletcher Davis
Evelyn Fletcher Davis
Committee Chair/Program Chair
Bruce T. Bishop
Bruce T. Bishop
Program Co-Vice Chair
Mahsa Kashani Tippins
Mahsa Kashani Tippins
Program Co-Vice Chair
Anthony Sbarra
Anthony Sbarra
Committee Vice Chair
Tracey Turnbull
Tracey Turnbull
Law Institute

Discover the opportunities available through the Asbestos Litigation committee and and learn how you can get involved.
Join today and make a difference

Registration Information

Worry-Free Registration: Cancellations received thirty (30) days or more before an in-person seminar are entitled to a full refund.

In registering for this seminar, I attest that I devote a substantial portion of my professional time to defending the interests of individuals, business, associations, or governmental entities in civil litigation. I understand that DRI reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel my registration, without a refund, if I do not meet the criteria described above.

Save up to $700 when you register on or before October 5, 2026!

Register for the Seminar

 Member PricingNon-Member PricingNon-Member Bundle ^
Early Bird Registration *
(Now thru. Oct. 5)		$1,395$1,795$1,715
Regular Registration *
(Oct. 6–Nov. 17)		$1,595$1,995$1,915
Onsite Registration *$1,695$2,095$2,015
Group Registration
(Non-Sponsored)		Group registration is for registering four or more attendees. Members and non-members receive a 15% discount off the member and non-member rates respective to the time the group registration is initiated (i.e. Early Bird, Regular or On-Site registration periods). There is one free registration with every 10 paid registrations.
If you want to register for the group pricing, fill out the form here. Please note that online registration is not available for this offer.
Corporate/GovernmentEffective November 1, 2025, DRI is expanding the Corporate Membership category to include attorneys working for a government entity. Corporate Membership includes complimentary registration for DRI seminars.
  • If you are not already a DRI member, join as a Corporate Member before registering to take advantage of this benefit.
  • If you are a current Government Member, please contact DRI Membership at membership@dri.org and the team can assist in converting your membership, which will allow you to take advantage of the complimentary registration.
Non-Member Bundle ^If you're new to DRI and not a DRI member, take advantage of the Non-Member / Trial Membership Bundle and receive up to 9 months of membership when you register for the seminar. You’ll be able to add this special offer to your cart at checkout.
Discover the benefits of DRI membership.
Note: Trial membership processing can take up to 30 days from the date of purchase. Renewing members and members with recently lapsed memberships are not eligible for a Non-Member Bundle.

*If your membership has recently lapsed, please renew it before registering to ensure you receive the discounted member rate. If you are interested in joining DRI to receive the member pricing, click here to visit the Application page.

Hotel Information

The seminar will be held at Renaissance Nashville, 611 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37203.

Due to exceptionally high demand for hotel rooms in Nashville during the week of our seminar, hotel reservations will be available only to registered attendees upon registration in the confirmation email.

Hotel reservation information, including the group rate and booking link, will be provided in the registration confirmation email. Attendees are encouraged to book flights as early as possible. Hotel reservations that cannot be matched to a registered attendee may be subject to cancellation.

Room availability and rates are offered on a first-come, first-served basis by October 20, 2026.

Networking Events

Networking Reception at JBJ's Nashville
Sponsored by: Cosmich, Hawkins Parnell, Heyl Royster, Segal McCambridge

Date: Thursday, November 19 from 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Pricing:Free when you register for the seminar
Location: JBJ's Nashville, 405 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Step into an evening where business connections meet Nashville energy at the DRI Networking Reception. After a day of learning, join us at the one-of-a-kind JBJ’s Nashville for a truly rocking experience. Unwind with an open bar, live music, and the opportunity to forge lasting connections—this isn’t your average networking event; it’s a night you won’t want to miss. One of the largest bars on Lower Broadway, JBJ’s features the highest rooftop bar on Broadway and offers it all: a mechanical bull, with great food and drinks. Every floor is decked out in Bon Jovi memorabilia, making it the ultimate destination for music, history, and entertainment—just a five-minute walk from the hotel.

Full Agenda

*Schedule and speakers are subject to change

Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Time (Central)Session
12:00 p.m.Registration
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Medical Primer: Smoking vs. Non-Smoking Lung Cancer and Genetics

I. Allan Feingold, MD, Miami, FL

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Medical Primer: Mutational Landscape of Mesothelioma

Jadee Lee Neff, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC

3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Industrial Talc and the Gouverneur Talc Mine

R. Thomas Radclilffe, DeHay & Elliston LLP, Baltimore, MD

5:00 p.m.Asbestos Committee Meeting (open to all attendees)
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.Networking / Cocktail Hour at the hotel
7:30 p.m.

Dine-Arounds

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

Thursday, November 19, 2026

Time (Central)Session
7:30 a.m.Coffee Service
7:30 a.m.Registration
8:00 a.m.

Welcome and Introductions

Thursday's mock trial will follow the fact pattern, as listed below:
The plaintiff, diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma at age 55, alleges her disease was caused by exposure to asbestos- and talc-containing brake products. The defense argues that her germline BAP1 mutation and the absence of genetic markers commonly associated with asbestos-related mesothelioma point to an alternative explanation.

8:15 a.m.

Opening Statements

Plaintiff’s Lawyer: Erik DiMarco, GRSM
Defense Lawyer: Jeanette S. Riggins, MG+M

9:05 a.m.

Direct and Cross-Examination of Plaintiff

Plaintiff: Katharine S. Perry, MG+M
Plaintiff’s Lawyer: Haley L. Hansen, GRSM
Defense Lawyer: Stacey L. Strain, Hubbard Mitchell Williams & Strain

9:45 a.m.Break
10:00 a.m.

Direct and Cross-Examination of Corporate Representative

Corporate Rep: Anthony Sbarra, Segal McCambridge, Milton, MA
Plaintiff’s Lawyer: Kevin E. Deenihan, Dioszeghy, Henry, Deenihan, Ijei LLC, Kansas City, MO
Defense Lawyer: Douglas R. Simek, Hawkins Parnell & Young, Dallas, TX

10:40 a.m.

Presenting the Plaintiff and Defense Causation Theories

11:05 a.m.

Closing Arguments

Defense Lawyer: Laura Kingsley Hong, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, OH
Plaintiff’s Lawyer: Catherine A. Mohan, McCarter & English, LLP, Boston, MA

12:00 p.m.

DRI Networking Lunch

1:30 p.m.

Live Deliberations

Ryan Malphurs, Ph.D., Delphi Litigation Strategies, Dallas, TX
Alison Richardson, M.A., Delphi Litigation Strategies, Dallas, TX

2:30 p.m.

Jury Verdict and Live Jury Q&A

Ryan Malphurs, Ph.D., Delphi Litigation Strategies, Dallas, TX
Alison Richardson, M.A., Delphi Litigation Strategies, Dallas, TX

3:30 p.m.

AI Jury Presentation with Viewpoints.ai

Leo Yeykelis, Viewpoints.ai, Mountain View, CA
Byron Reeves, PhD., Stanford University, Stanford, CA

5:30 p.m.Adjourn
5:30-7:30 p.m.

Networking Reception | JBJ's Nashville
Sponsored by: Cosmich, Hawkins Parnell, Heyl Royster, Segal McCambridge

Click here for full details on the reception.

7:45 p.m.

Dine-Arounds

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

Friday, November 20, 2026

Time (Central)Session
8:30 a.m.Registration & Coffee Service
9:00 a.m.

Welcome and Announcements

9:10 a.m.

Practical Use of AI in Everyday Lawyering

Heather H. Neubauer, Meagher + Geer, PLLP, Minneapolis, MN

10:00 a.m.DRI Quick Hits
10:10 a.m.Break
10:25 a.m.

New Silica Litigation

Jennifer A. Cormier, MG+M, San Francisco, CA
Mark Love, Hawkins Parnell & Young, San Francisco, CA

11:25 a.m.

The $32,000 Couch: Lessons in Ethics from West Virginia's Supreme Court Scandal

In 2018, the entire West Virginia was impeached. - This presentation explores the people and decisions that upended the West Virginia Supreme Court, and how it worked to restore public trust. No matter where you live, this story reminds us of what happens when we drift from our principles as lawyers and the importance of ethics in our profession.

Kile T. Turner, Norman Wood Kendrick & Turner, Birmingham, AL

12:25 p.m.Adjourn

CLE Information

Earn up to TBD 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 here for details on CLE late fees.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

DRI's Asbestos Medicine Seminar is proudly supported by:

Premier Sponsors

Delphi Litigation Strategies image KCIC Be Certain LawyerGuard A Ryan Financial Lines Product

Signature Sponsors

Cosmich logo Hawkins Parnell logo Heyl Royster Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney

Seminar Sponsors

Cetrulo LLP HeplerBroom LLCMcCaffery & Associates Inc Historical Research PACE

If you would like to learn about seminar sponsorship opportunities, including pricing, or to reserve your spot, please fill out the form to get started.

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 XXXXX. Feeding a child before you feed yourself is a wonderful way to support children and families in the XXXXX community.

Donate to Blessings in a Backpack

Additional Resources

If you have any questions that are not addressed on our website, please contact DRI Customer Service at 312.795.1101 or custservice@dri.org.