2026 Asbestos Medicine Seminar

Smoking and Non-Smoking Lung Cancer & Genetics: A Primer - What You Need to Know

As the story is told, on Christmas Eve, 1945, a few months after the war ended, a father and his children gathered around the hospital bed of a young woman gasping for breath, dying of pneumonia. Beside her stood a pulmonary physician, about to inject a drug he had read about but never used: penicillin. The next morning, the husband returned in dread, searching for the words he would have to say to his children. Instead, he found his wife sitting up, pale but smiling. Within days, she was home. In 1945, pneumonia struck roughly 300,000 Americans, and one in five died. That Christmas Eve, a killer became curable.

I feel like that physician, except it is 2026. Cigarette-induced lung cancer is finally in retreat, yet according to the CDC, between 20,000 and 40,000 Americans who never smoked still develop lung cancer every year. And now we understand why. The enemy is not a bacterium. It is a spontaneous mutation in a single gene, a 'driver,' with unglamorous names: EGFR, ALK, MET, KRAS, HER2, ROS1, BRAF. In a 2022 study in The Oncologist, comprehensive sequencing found a driver alteration in 95% of never-smokers with lung adenocarcinoma, the form of lung cancer that dominates in people who have never smoked. These mutations do not need a carcinogen. They strike young women who have never worked a day near asbestos, never smoked, and never been exposed to anything but the ordinary world. A driver mutation is sufficient to cause the cancer.

And the best news: we can now shut these mutations down. Like that physician in 1945, I have given drugs like Tagrisso to patients with widely metastatic stage 4 lung cancer, expecting them to die, and watched their cancers melt away. During this session I will share this modern miracle with you. I will also explain why it refutes the claim that low-dose asbestos exposure, too little to cause asbestosis, can cause lung cancer in smokers and non-smokers.

I. Allan Feingold, MD, Miami, FL

Medical Primer: Mutational Landscape of Mesothelioma

Molecular Genetic Pathology is the branch of pathology that focuses on the molecular mechanisms of disease, particularly alterations in DNA and RNA. Precision Oncology, a specialized area within Molecular Genetic Pathology, applies molecular insights to the diagnosis, pathogenesis, prognostication, and treatment of human cancers. Over the past two decades, rapid advances in genomic technologies have transformed research and clinical practice, enabling molecular pathologists to analyze tumor and normal tissues at unprecedented depth to elucidate tumor origin, pathogenesis, and therapeutic vulnerabilities. This course will provide an overview of the fundamental principles of cancer molecular biology, including the role of germline and somatic genetic alterations in oncogenesis. Participants will review the current understanding of the mutational landscape of mesothelioma, with particular emphasis on recurrent genomic abnormalities and their biological significance. The course will also explore the application of molecular genetic pathology in the context of asbestos-related disease and litigation, highlighting how molecular findings may inform causation analyses and case evaluations.

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

Industrial Talc and the Gouverneur Talc Mine

This presentation will examine the Gouverneur, New York talc mining region and its significance in asbestos litigation. The speaker will discuss the geology and mineralogy of the mining area, the talc products historically produced, and the scientific and medical evidence concerning the presence or absence of asbestiform minerals regulated as asbestos. Attendees will gain an understanding of the distinctions among talc, asbestos, and other mineral fibers and how mineralogical and medical evidence concerning Gouverneur talc may affect exposure, causation, and expert testimony in asbestos litigation.

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

Networking / Cocktail Hour at the Hotel

Young Lawyers Dinner at Villa Castrioti Nashville

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Dine-Arounds

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Late Night Networking at Pete's Dueling Piano Bar

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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 markers commonly associated with asbestos-related mesothelioma point to an alternative explanation.

Opening Statements

Experienced defense attorneys will demonstrate opening statements from both the plaintiff and defense perspectives. Using the seminar’s mock case, counsel will present competing narratives addressing alleged asbestos exposure, product identification, medical causation, and alternative causation evidence. The presentation will demonstrate how trial attorneys develop persuasive themes, organize complex factual and scientific evidence, anticipate weaknesses in their cases, and communicate effectively with a jury.

Presiding Judge: Jerry Popovich, Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP, Santa Ana, CA
Plaintiff’s Lawyer: Erik DiMarco, GRSM
Defense Lawyer: Jeanette S. Riggins, MG+M

Direct and Cross-Examination of Plaintiff

In this live trial-skills demonstration, defense attorneys will assume the roles of the plaintiff, plaintiff’s counsel, and defense counsel to present the direct and cross-examination of a plaintiff. The examination will address exposure history, product identification, frequency and duration of alleged exposure, medical history, and an alternative genetic cause of disease. Attendees will observe techniques for developing testimony on direct examination and testing credibility, recollection, and causation testimony through effective cross-examination and impeachment.

Presiding Judge: Jerry Popovich, Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP, Santa Ana, CA
Plaintiff: Katharine S. Perry, MG+M
Plaintiff’s Lawyer: Haley L. Hansen, GRSM
Defense Lawyer: Stacey L. Strain, Hubbard Mitchell Williams & Strain

Direct and Cross-Examination of Corporate Representative

Defense attorneys assuming the roles of the corporate representative and counsel for both sides will demonstrate the direct and cross-examination of a corporate witness. The examination will address corporate and product history, historical knowledge and practices, warnings, document evidence, and the limits of a corporate representative’s personal and institutional knowledge. The program will highlight techniques for preparing and defending a corporate witness while also demonstrating the strategies opposing counsel may use to challenge the witness and advance a broader corporate-liability narrative.

Presiding Judge: Jerry Popovich, Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP, Santa Ana, CA
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

Presenting the Plaintiff and Defense Causation Theories

Closing Arguments

Experienced defense attorneys will present closing arguments from both the plaintiff and defense perspectives following the mock trial presentations. Counsel will demonstrate how advocates use anchoring, synthesize exposure evidence, witness testimony, medical and scientific evidence, and the applicable burden of proof into competing theories of the case. The presentation will highlight techniques for addressing weaknesses in the evidence, responding to opposing arguments, explaining causation to jurors, using jury instructions and the verdict form effectively, and returning to the themes introduced during opening statements.

Presiding Judge: Jerry Popovich, Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP, Santa Ana, CA
Defense Lawyer: Laura Kingsley Hong, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, OH
Plaintiff’s Lawyer: Catherine A. Mohan, McCarter & English, LLP, Boston, MA

DRI Networking Lunch

Live Deliberations

Following the mock trial, a live jury will deliberate the case while attendees observe the discussion in real time. Guided by experienced jury consultants, the session will provide a rare opportunity to hear how jurors evaluate attorney presentations, witness credibility, exposure and causation evidence, competing trial themes, and the burden of proof. Attendees will gain insight into which evidence and arguments resonate with jurors, what jurors misunderstand or disregard, and how individual perceptions influence group decision-making.

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

Jury Verdict and Live Jury Q&A

After reaching a verdict, the jurors will participate in a moderated question-and-answer session examining how and why they decided the case. Jurors will discuss the evidence, witnesses, attorneys, and arguments they found most and least persuasive, as well as the factors that influenced their deliberations and ultimate verdict. The session will provide practical insight into how jurors process complex asbestos and medical evidence and how trial lawyers can communicate more effectively with future juries.

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

AI Jury Presentation with Viewpoints.ai

This presentation will explore the emerging use of artificial intelligence to evaluate litigation strategy and predict jury reactions. Using the same mock asbestos case presented to the live jury, Viewpoints.ai will demonstrate how an AI-based jury analyzes the evidence, witnesses, trial themes, and competing arguments. The presenters will compare the AI jury’s assessment and verdict with those of the live jury, highlighting areas of agreement and divergence and discussing the potential uses, limitations, and implications of AI-assisted jury research for trial preparation and litigation strategy.

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

Networking Reception | JBJ's Nashville
Sponsored by: Cosmich, DeHay & Elliston LLP, Hawkins Parnell, Heyl Royster, Husch Blackwell, Maron Marvel, Segal McCambridge, Vorys, Williams Kastner

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Dine-Arounds

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Welcome and Announcements

Practical Use of AI in Everyday Lawyering

This presentation provides defense counsel with a practical guide to using AI in asbestos litigation to improve efficiency, strengthen legal analysis, reduce costs, and enhance client service. Attendees will explore the growing role of AI in legal practice, the ethical obligations governing its use, and the risks associated with inaccurate or unreliable outputs. The program will compare leading AI tools available to attorneys and discuss how different platforms can support specific litigation tasks. Participants will also learn effective prompt engineering techniques to improve the accuracy and usefulness of AI-generated work product. The focus throughout is on practical, real-world applications that attorneys can immediately incorporate into their daily practice.

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

Insight Quick Hit: Why are Cases Increasing?

Alicia Xu, Bates White, Washington, D.C.

Insight Quick Hit: Trends and Developments in Asbestos Litigation

This presentation will provide timely insights into both filing activity and litigation outcomes, equipping practitioners with the information needed to navigate an evolving legal landscape.

Michelle Potter, KCIC, Washington, D.C.

New Silica Litigation

Silica claims are on the rise, and asbestos defense lessons are already shaping the response. This session covers filing trends, causation and liability theories, and practical strategies for defending silica cases as the litigation matures. Attendees will leave with a clearer view of where this litigation is headed and how to apply proven asbestos defense approaches to this emerging area.

Jennifer A. Cormier, MG+M, San Francisco, CA
Mark Love, Hawkins Parnell & Young, San Francisco, CA
Joel Lorenzo, FCLS, Nationwide Insurance, Syracuse, NY
Emily Goswami, Roux, Oakland, CA

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