The Voice | September 2022

DRI CENTER FOR LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY

Ten Questions with Center Leadership

DRI CEO Dean Martinez recently took the opportunity to visit with Toyja Kelley and Kathy Guilfoyle, president and chair, respectively, of the DRI Center for Law and Public Policy, to discuss the past, present, and future of DRI’s advocacy wing.

Thanks, Toyja and Kathy, for sitting down with me for this interview about DRI’s Center for Law and Public Policy (the “Center”). The Center provides the most effective voice for the defense bar in the discussion of substantive law, judicial process, constitutional issues, and the integrity of the civil justice system at both the national and state levels. Let’s start with your backgrounds. Also, what are your roles are at the Center?

Toyja Kelley: Thanks, Dean. I am a litigation partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Locke Lord LLP. I have a very diverse commercial litigation practice. I am a past president of DRI and the Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc. I am currently serving in the role of president of the Center.

Kathy Guilfoyle: I am a member of Campbell Conroy & O’Neil in Boston, where I concentrate my practice in products liability defense with a focus on drug and medical device and aviation and transportation defense. I represent clients throughout the state and federal courts of New England. In addition to my very busy practice, I am actively involved in multiple national defense organizations and hold leadership positions in the Center, the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence, and the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel. I am also proud to serve as president of the International Aviation Women's Association.

A couple of very impressive CVs! When did your relationship with the Center start?

KG: My relationship with the Center started shortly after it was formed. I was asked to serve on the Jury Service Task Force and to participate in drafting of a white paper on that topic. After that I was hooked. I served on various task forces such as the Judicial Task Force and I drafted op eds promoting the Economics of Justice white paper. When I was drafting the op ed on judicial funding, I had a lengthy call with one of the justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and he told me how grateful he was for the work of the Center.

TK: I feel like I have had some involvement from nearly the beginning of the Center’s existence when former DRI President Henry Sneath and others first thought of creating the Center. Initially, I was just a member of Issues and Advocacy Committee. Eventually, I was appointed to vice chair.

So, you both have been involved since the early days of the Center: Did the Center have a specific focus early on? If so, what was it?

KG: When I first became involved in the Center, there were two things for which it was most known. First, it was involved in national polls on topics that were of import to the defense bar and the judicial system. The results of these polls were used to write articles and white papers, and they were even quoted in amicus briefs. Second, the Center was involved in the filing of amicus briefs, which were mechanisms through which the Center could serve as the voice of the defense bar and our clients on issues of significance to the practice of law.

DM: Has that focus changed over time? If so, how?

TK: I would not say that the focus of the Center has changed much over time, although certain topical issues have come and gone and how the Center is structured to address those issues may have shifted. As ground zero for most of DRI’s public advocacy efforts, the Center has always been involved in amicus efforts on a variety of substantive issues. Through the efforts of the Amicus Committee, the Center remains one of the leading advocates on issues impacting our members and their clients before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Center is and will always be DRI’s lead on consideration of any proposed federal rule changes. And the Center will always be DRI’s voice when it comes to issues impacting the practice of law and the civil justice system as a whole. When my time as DRI President was winding down in 2019, then DRI President-Elect Phil Willman asked if I would take a particular focus on proposing some structural changes to the Center so that it could better serve the needs of the civil defense bar. Those changes involved developing a better system for marketing the Center’s many wonderful achievements. It also involved trying to create a way for Center to become more proactive and aware of civil justice issues earlier than has traditionally been the case.

It seems like the Center has been continually evolving since its inception. Where is the Center today?

KG: The Center has grown significantly and it has diversified the issues it addresses. It proactively seeks out issues of significance to the practice of law and our clients and looks for ways to become actively involved in addressing or commenting on these issues to protect the defense bar and our clients. The Center plays an active role in drafting model legislation such as in the area of third-party litigation funding. It also plays an active role in making sure that DRI’s members are educated on issues such as the MSP, GDPR, artificial intelligence, data privacy, and nonlawyer ownership of law firms.

TK: I would say that the Center is very much the same as it always has been, yet it is structured very differently. Since the inception of the Center, volunteer and staff leadership, together, have made adjustments to the Center structure to better serve the needs of the civil defense bar. For example, in 2017, I was involved with efforts to create the Center’s Management Council. The Management Council is comprised of the Center’s chair and vice chair, the chairs of the various subcommittees, the officer liaison, and DRI staff support. The 2019 structural changes created the president and vice president of the Center who participate in the Center’s day-to-day management, but those roles are focused more outwardly on the public facing aspects of the Center. Substantively, the Center remains involved in things like rule changes, class action and multidistrict litigation, and issues impacting the practice of law, such as judicial independence and nonlawyer ownership of law firms.

The Center has been involved in so many activities over the years, but I am sure there are some that have stuck with you throughout your career. What Center accomplishment are you most proud of and why?

TK: Wow, there are so many great accomplishments that it is very hard to pick. I would probably say that the Center’s accomplishment that I am most proud of is its amicus program. It seemed like overnight the Center went from being an unknown entity to a leading national voice on issues before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Center is sought after and receives frequent requests from parties to file briefs in cases before the Supreme Court.

KG: This is a really tough question as the Center has done so many things that I am proud of. In my view, two of the most important accomplishments were the publication of Without Fear or Favor—a whitepaper on judicial independence—and the Economic of Justice—a whitepaper on judicial funding. These publications were widely recognized in the media as scholarly papers, and they were impactful.

I think everyone can agree that these are all great initiatives. How does the Center interact with DRI, in general?

KG: While the Center is proactive in searching out issues that will impact the defense bar and our clients as a whole, many of the Center’s accomplishments are the result of urgent requests for assistance made by SLDOs who are trying to defeat a legislative change that is going to impact the defense bar negatively in a particular state. In addition, the work that the Federal Rules Committee does in publicly commenting on proposed rule changes as well as the white papers or primers on new issues the defense bar is facing are helpful to all defense attorneys. Many DRI members would be surprised at the wealth of resources that the Center offers.

TK: One of the Center’s greatest strengths is the power of its ability to impact the advocacy of any issue at the grass roots level. The Center benefits from DRI’s national and international network of attorneys, and in particular from the ability to tap the subject matter expertise that exists within DRI’s substantive law committees. Also, so many of the issues that the Center tackles begin as a result of its relationship with DRI’s state and local defense organizations. The Center’s ability to marshal resources from one of its SLDOs to another that may be dealing with a similar issue is what sets the Center apart from any other defense organization that may be trying to address the issues in which the Center is involved.

By now, I am sure that there are individuals out there who want to get involved in Center activities. What do individuals need to do to connect with the Center?

KG: Individuals who are interested in getting involved in The Center should reach out to members of the Management Council or the task forces and express their interest. While there is a formal appointment process, we are always interested in gathering names of potential new members to work either on our existing projects or one of our new ones.

Is there ever an opportunity for the general public to interact with Center leadership? Does the Center ever meet publicly?

TK: The DRI Annual Meeting is one of the best places for the general public to become involved and aware of what’s going on with the Center. At this year’s meeting, the Center is slotted for a main stage presentation to discuss “Why We Should Care that Nonlawyers Are Providing Legal Services and Owning Law Firms.” This was also the topic of one of the Center’s major 2022 accomplishments, which was the publication of our most recent white paper, Nonlawyer Ownership in the Legal Economy.

The Center’s growth from a formidable amicus program and national pollster to the diversified advocate group that it is today is evident. What does the future hold for the Center?

KG: There is no doubt that the future of the Center is very bright. Not only are there many critical issues facing the defense bar that need to be addressed by the Center, but also, the practice of law is changing very quickly and the primers and best practices that the Center develops can assist all of us in understanding and preparing for those changes. There are new proposed changes to the rules of evidence and the likely approval of the amendments to Rule 702 that will impact the admissibility of expert testimony. Social inflation and ADR diversity, which are hot issues for many of our insurance clients, are also being addressed. The evolving structure of the Center, including more defined policies and procedures, will assist in the ability of the Center to address more issues in its signature, top-quality fashion. In this time of significant change facing the practice of law, there can be no better organization to be a part of than the Center. Since its inception it has always been the voice of the defense bar and it developed that reputation based on proven action and results.

TK: There are two things that I am currently involved with that I am very excited about in terms of what it means for the Center. I mentioned earlier that I have been involved with proposing and implementing some structural changes to the Center. One of those changes is the creation of the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council will be a group of industry and firm leaders who will directly share their experiences and perspectives on issues that are of great importance to the civil defense bar and DRI as a whole. Members of this council will help the Center and the DRI Executive Committee see issues sooner and become involved even more at a grass roots level. I am also excited about the work the Center is doing to help promote diversity within the ranks of the mediators, arbitrators, and other neutrals. The Center is currently working with members of leading insurance carriers to create and promote a more diverse group of people involved with ADR so that those panels become as diverse as the parties appearing before them.

Pictured, L to R: Martinez, Kelley, Guilfoyle

Annual Meeting Spotlight

DRI Means Business. Let us help you grow yours at DRI’s Annual Meeting this fall!

Engage with the most influential civil defense attorneys and in-house counsel from across the country at the DRI Annual Meeting in Philadelphia! From October 25-28, connect with peers and leaders in your field, make connections from all over the country, promote your practice and grow your expertise, and more.

Don’t miss our exciting lineup of keynote speakers:

DRI President-Elect Lana Olson will host a fireside chat with keynote speaker and former President and CEO of GE, Alex Dimitrief, about the new standards that were set for client service during the pandemic. Debbie Epstein Henry will interview keynote speaker and bestselling author on happiness and human nature, Gretchen Rubin, on how it’s possible to practice law and happiness in a post-pandemic world. In addition, SCOTUS expert Tom Dupree will discuss recent high-profile SCOTUS decisions and preview upcoming cases to be decided this term.

Click here for our full agenda.

DRI means business, so this year we’ve expanded the opportunities at our Annual Meeting to further enhance your knowledge base and increase your meaningful connections. In tandem with our trusted, traditional offerings, you will enjoy new, creative ways to make valuable business contacts. Some opportunities include:

1. On-site CLE offerings including CLE on the Go, plus 4 additional hours of on-demand CLE

2. Reimagined networking receptions to help promote significant interactions

3. Committee meetings, including opportunities for peer engagement and philanthropy

4. Complimentary on-site networking lunches on Thursday and Friday

Don’t miss out, early registration ends soon! Save $300 on registration if you register by September 12. Plus, take advantage of the special group hotel rate of $289 Single/Double at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown if you book before September 27.

Amicus Update

Advocating for the Traditional Limits on General Personal Jurisdiction

Supreme Court

The DRI Center for Law and Public Policy (the “Center”), in conjunction with the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), has filed an amicus curiae brief in the United States Supreme Court supporting the preservation of traditional limits on general personal jurisdiction. In its brief, the Center asks the Court to affirm a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision striking down a statutory scheme that allowed for the exercise of general jurisdiction over foreign corporations based on nothing more than mandatory registration to conduct business in the Commonwealth.

In Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway Company, 266 A.3d 542 (Pa. 2021), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found this “consent-by-registration” theory to be unconstitutional for three primary reasons. First, “consent by registration” is inconsistent with recent decisions of the Supreme Court addressing general personal jurisdiction, including BNSF Railway Co. v. Tyrrell, 137 S. Ct. 1549 (2017), Daimler AG v. Bauman, 571 U.S. 117 (2014), and Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations, S. A. v. Brown, 564 U.S. 915 (2011). Second, the theory is contrary to the concept of federalism. And third, mandatory registration does not constitute voluntary consent to general jurisdiction.

The Center and IADC’s amicus brief encourages the Court to consider the practical consequences of approving “consent-by-registration” as a valid basis for a state to assert general jurisdiction over a foreign corporation. In addition to upending the current jurisdictional landscape established under Goodyear, Daimler, and Tyrrell limiting general jurisdiction to where a corporation is “at home”—i.e., its place of incorporation or principal place of business—reversal would cause significant disruption and confusion for multistate businesses, their counsel, and the lower courts. Businesses operating in more than one jurisdiction would suddenly find themselves subject to all-purpose jurisdiction in Pennsylvania and any other state to adopt a similar statutory framework, with limited means of predicting where they might be sued or what law would apply to their business relationships. Additionally, courts around the country would be saddled with cases bearing little to no relationship to the forum. Finally, “consent-by-registration” would foster rampant forum-shopping by plaintiffs and their attorneys in search of favorable law, enormous damage awards, or lucrative settlements from corporate defendants that are not at home in the forum.

The Center is hopeful the Court will affirm the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and rely on traditional due process principles to definitively close the door on “consent-by-registration,” thereby avoiding disruptive impacts on the business community and the conduct of litigation throughout the country.

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Spotlight

Why? What Could I Have Done? How Did This Happen?

By Gail Rodgers

These questions have plagued me, over and over, when I have lost those close to me to suicide. No matter how many times I ask myself, I come up with no meaningful answers.

I was asked to write an article for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and jumped at the chance. Suicide is deeply personal to me. There have been times in my life when I have been depressed, or felt like life was just way too much, but I have never actually felt suicidal.

Unfortunately, several people very close to me have been suicidal, and some of them have been successful.

Suicide is a difficult topic to talk about. It is scary, depressing and highly personal. All of us can think of some well-known person or celebrity who seemed to have a magical life, who ended their lives.

Years ago, a friend who I will call H, had a good job in New York City. She had more than her share of problems and mental health challenges but she had a great family support system. She had friends who cared about her and checked in on her regularly.

After seemingly feeling better, smiling and saying life was improving, she attempted suicide. I was naïve and completely shocked at the depth of her pain. Fortunately, she was unsuccessful, but her mental illness persisted and she made multiple further attempts at suicide.

Once she was living in another state and a group of friends suspected something was wrong because she suddenly went very quiet. After much angst, I called the local police to check on her. Her family was with her and she was super pissed at me.

A year later, a similar situation occurred of her being very upset and suddenly going quiet. I agonized for what seemed like ages. Finally called the police again. They broke into her house and barely saved her life.

Each of these instances is emblazoned in my brain. Because even if I cannot understand the depth of someone’s pain, stress or mental challenges, sadly I have learned to ask questions. Uncomfortable questions.

Ask questions, call in resources, whether they be other family members or friends, mental health professionals, or even the police for a wellness check.

Earlier this year, a friend I will call B notified another friend that he wanted to end it all. A chain reaction of friends and family intervened and marshalled resources for support. One friend said, how on earth can he feel that way? He is so successful, smart, good looking, funny and on and on.

Fortunately, B responded positively to the interventions, began medication, mental health counseling and is back to his amazing, and mentally healthy self.

Physical illnesses like diabetes and cancer can frequently be found on routine screening tests. Depression and suicidality are not always as easy to identify, I believe in large part because they are stigmatized and rarely discussed.

I am no mental health professional, but from my perspective, here are some strategies to combat suicide.

1. Educate yourself - https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Awareness-Month-(SPAM) NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is an excellent resource.

2. Decrease stigma – let those around you that you are interested in their whole self, not just a more obvious physical illness.

3. Ask questions – how are you? Are you ok? Is there anything I can do to help you? Then LISTEN.

4. Engage resources – are there other friends or family members and mental health professionals who can assist.

5. Get help - If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Anyone reading this article knows that the incidence of mental health challenges are disproportionately higher in lawyers than in the majority of the population. We need to face this with openness, education about how to prevent suicide and by destigmatizing mental illness.

I by no means have the answers. But I know personally and painfully that we need engage and talk about suicide.

I never want to ask: Why? What could I have done? How could this happen? Ever again.

This article is dedicated to the memory of my dear friend, SS, who took her life on March 9, 2022.

Gail Rodgers is a Partner at DLA Piper LLP (US). She concentrates her practice on investigations and compliance.

FROM THE FOUNDATION

Join DRI Foundation's Inaugural International Day of Service this October

This October, the DRI Foundation, along with participating state, local and national defense organizations (SLNDOs), will hold its first International Day of Service. The Foundation is asking SLNDOs to hold a service project of their choice, irrespective of size or scope, anytime during the month of October—and then let us know about it! Participation will give SLNDOs the chance to give back to the community; strengthen relationships with DRI members and SLNDOs across the nation; assist in membership development; and generate positive publicity. It’s as simple as that—hold a service project in October and share it with us. All you need to do now is plan your activity!

The Foundation has several resources to assist with your planning, including some suggested charities to help. Please feel free to contact DRI Cares Chair Rebecca Nickelson, Vice Chair James Craven, Foundation Vice-President Jodi Terranova, or Foundation President Matt Keris if you need an idea or have a planning question.

The goal of the Foundation is to better support and bring awareness to the wellness, philanthropic and charitable efforts of defense lawyers across the country. The International Day of Service is one of the first steps the Foundation is taking to expand, better coordinate, and streamline the holistic betterment of the civil defense bar. We welcome you to be a part of this exciting first step.

Please complete a short form with the name of your organization, your service project, the date of your project, and the contact person for your organization. By later this summer, our Regional Directors will begin asking our state leaders for information on the service projects being considered. DRI will follow up with you in November to request a short article and picture of your service project, which may be publicized in DRI’s publications and on social media.

Join us for the DRI Substantive Law Committee Leadership Business Meetings at the 2022 Annual Meeting October 25-28 in Philadelphia. SLC Meetings are open to all Annual Meeting attendees. Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs are encouraged to attend. To confirm the date and time of your committee’s meeting, please check the schedule of events here. As a reminder, early registration rates end on September 12, so please save your spot soon.

From the IIREL Committee

Government Enforcement and Corporate Compliance Committee Announces Name Change

The Government Enforcement and Corporate Compliance Committee is now the Internal Investigations, Regulatory, and Enforcement Litigation Committee (IIREL) (https://www.dri.org/committees/committee-detail/0227)!

While the name is not shorter, it better explains the committee’s work and focuses the group’s mission. In short, IIREL will serve the hundreds of in-house counsel and private firm members whose practices focus on internal and government investigations and the resulting enforcement actions and litigation. To wit, we want to provide information and programming to help our members:

• Conduct internal investigations related to compliance, fraud, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues
• React and respond to grand jury and investigative subpoenas and demands
• Represent clients with testimony before and negotiating with regulators and prosecutors
• Mount an effective defense in litigation or enforcement actions

IIREL is also the logical DRI home for current, and former U.S. attorneys, government agency lawyers (federal, state, and local), and prosecutors. Further, IIREL intends to be a go-to committee for ESG programming, as work in that space requires internal investigations and often takes the form of regulatory actions and litigation.

Our success depends on our many talented members’ invaluable support and unyielding efforts, and we have plenty of work and roles for everyone. The IIREL chair, Richik Sarkar, and Vice Chair Robert Duncan look forward to IIREL’s continued evolution. We hope DRI members will join us!

From the Diversity & Inclusion Committee

Diversity & Inclusion Committee Launches DRI Diverse Rainmaker Mentoring Program

By Gary Howard and Stacy Douglas

In August, the DRI Diversity & Inclusion Committee launched its DRI Diverse Rainmaker Mentoring Program. The Program was developed with assistance from the DRI Corporate Counsel Committee to enhance opportunities for early-career DRI members from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. To be considered for the Program, applicants were required to have fewer than 10 years of civil defense experience, be a full-time attorney, be a DRI member, and be a member of at least one of the following traditionally underrepresented groups:

• African American/Black
• Hispanic/Latino
• Asian-American/Pacific Islander
• Native American/Indigenous People
• LGBTQ+
• Multi-Racial
• Disabled
• Women

Applications were submitted by highly qualified candidates in July and 10 of those applicants were selected to be part of the inaugural Program class. The mentees selected into the Program will have a unique opportunity to be mentored by an in-house counsel & a senior-level member of the DRI Diversity Committee. The goal of the Program is to provide mentees with practical tools for developing and leveraging relationship-building skills. The Program is designed for mentees to have at least 6 touchpoints with their mentors during the one-year Program term. One of the touchpoints should be a visit to the office of their in-house counsel mentor.

The DRI Diversity & Inclusion Committee is pleased to announce the following individuals who have been selected as mentees in the 2022/2023 DRI Diverse Rainmaker Mentoring Program:

Christian Castile
Reed Smith
Pittsburgh, PA

Kennard Davis
Baker Donelson
New Orleans, LA

Valerie Fontenot
Frilot
New Orleans, LA

Kurt McManus
Kaufman, Borgeest & Ryan
Valhalla, NY

Ebony Morris
Phelps Dunbar
New Orleans, LA

Valerie Phan
Mintz
San Diego, CA

Stephani Roman
Robinson & Cole
Hartford, CT

N. Denver Smith
Butler Snow
Charleston, SC

Tiffany Taylor-Richardson
Gordon & Rees
Atlanta, GA

Tyrra Walker
Chartwell Law
Norcross, GA

Congratulations!

Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium

AND THE DEFENSE WINS

DRI Members Share Their Victories

On July 21, 2022, DRI member, Ronald Austin, Jr., a partner at the law firm of Grant Law, LLC in Chicago, Illinois, obtained summary judgment on behalf of the Defendant in the case of Dr. Kenneth Bray v. PCC Community Wellness Center in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Case No. Case No. 2021 L 005786.

Plaintiff was an obstetrician/gynecologist. Defendant is a federally qualified community health center. Defendant hired Plaintiff to treat patients in the clinic, deliver babies and perform surgeries at a nearby hospital, and assist in the training of medical residents and physicians in the fellowship program. Shortly after his hiring, Defendant received complaints from its employees, patients, and staff at the hospital regarding Plaintiff’s physical deficits including slowness in movement, lack of dexterity, and hand tremors that affected his ability to perform his job. For the safety of its patients, Defendant placed Plaintiff on a paid leave of absence while he consulted with his physician. Plaintiff’s neurologist diagnosed him with Parkinson’s disease.

During his leave of absence, Defendant learned that Plaintiff’s temporary hospital privileges expired, and he never obtained full, unrestricted hospital privileges, which was a condition of his employment agreement. Defendant terminated Plaintiff’s employment because he breached his employment agreement.

Plaintiff filed a complaint alleging disability discrimination under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Defendant moved for summary judgment arguing that Plaintiff could not establish the elements of his prima facie case, which are: (1) he was disabled as defined by the Act; (2) he suffered an adverse employment action because of his disability; and (3) his disability was unrelated to his ability to perform his job functions. Plaintiff’s neurologist testified that Plaintiff’s slowness in movement and lack of dexterity affected his ability to perform surgeries and office procedures. Therefore, Plaintiff’s condition was related to his ability to perform his job functions. Additionally, the judge found that Plaintiff could not rebut Defendant’s legitimate non-discriminatory reason for terminating his employment. Plaintiff admitted that he no longer had hospital privileges and that his failure to maintain hospital privileges was grounds for termination. For these reasons, Defendant’s motion for summary judgment was granted.

Ronald Austin

Garraway v. Ford

On August 12, 2022, a state court jury in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, returned a unanimous defense verdict for Ford Motor Company, finding no design defect in the restraint system of a 2001 Ford Escape. Garrway v. Ford, No. 631,668, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The jury deliberated for two hours after a two week trial. Ford was represented by DRI members Thomas E. Bazemore, III of Huie, Fernambucq in Birmingham, Alabama, Robert W. Maxwell and Carl J. Giffin, Jr. of Benard, Cassisa in Covington, Louisiana, and William Mennucci of Thompson Coe in Austin, Texas.

Plaintiff, Madison Garraway, was a guest passenger in a Ford Escape being driven by co-defendant, Jamee Allen. Garraway and Allen were both 17-years-old and had attended a party where alcohol was served. Driving home at 1:30 a.m., Allen was speeding on a dark country road when she lost control of the vehicle, swerving onto both shoulders before overturning on the roof and sliding into trees off the highway.

The front of the inverted vehicle struck a Magnolia tree and then rotated until the passenger side hit a large oak tree. Garraway’s head forcefully contacted the oak tree and she sustained debilitating brain injuries that left her permanently impaired. By the time of trial, she had accumulated over $1.1 million in medical costs and presented a life care plan that exceeded $30 million.

Garraway contended that the accident involved two and one-half rolls and that her injury was caused by striking her head on the grab handle above the passenger door before impact with the trees. Plaintiffs’ experts opined that the vehicle’s standard three point restraint system was defective in design because it allowed excessive slack to develop, causing her head to move upwards into the grab handle during the rollover. They further suggested that a seat integrated restraint system, like those used in some vehicles back in the early 2000's, would have prevented this movement and the resultant injuries.

Ford countered that the accident involved only a half roll and plaintiff’s injuries were caused by striking the oak tree. Multiple tests and surrogate studies proved that a seat integrated restraint provided no additional kinematic benefit to the plaintiff in this accident. In fact, head migration was shown to be nearly identical in tests conducted comparing the two types of restraints. Further testimony from fact witnesses suggested plaintiff may not have been wearing her seatbelt. Undisputed was testimony from police and fact witnesses that speed and alcohol caused the accident. The jury determined the three point restraint system was not defective and rejected plaintiffs’ alternative design theories.

Tom Bazemore Robert Maxwell Carl Giffin Bill Mannucci

Pictured, L to R: Bazemore, Maxwell, Giffin, Mennucci

DRI members Rob Blank and Carie Hall of the Tampa office of Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell obtained a defense verdict in a premises liability case. Plaintiff Julie Harlan, who was represented by Fulgencio Law, alleged she broke her hand on a netted bridge in the Sesame Street Safari of Fun area at Busch Gardens when other guests began running across and/or were roughhousing on a netted ramp, causing her to fall forward and catch her right hand on the netting. She had an open reduction internal fixation of her right fourth metacarpal, allegedly impacting her ability to teach and perform ballet. Plaintiff asked the jury to award a total of $506,480.38 in damages. Busch Gardens proved there was nothing wrong with the attraction or the operation of the attraction, and Plaintiff failed to prove any negligence. After 37 minutes of deliberations, the jury returned a defense verdict. The case is Harlan v. Sea World Parks & Entertainment LLC d/b/a Busch Gardens in Hillsborough County Circuit Court.

Carie Hall

Keep The Defense Wins Coming!

Please send 250–500-word summaries of your “wins,” including the case name, your firm name, your firm position, city of practice, and email address, in Word format, along with a recent color photo as an attachment (.jpg or .tiff), highest resolution file possible, to DefenseWins@dri.org. Please note that DRI membership is a prerequisite to be listed in “And the Defense Wins,” and it may take several weeks for The Voice to publish your win.

DRI Member News

Congratulations to DRI Members for Their Achievements

DRI member Larry Smith (member since 1992) was recently presented the FDCC Diversity Award by the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and the Diversity in Business Lifetime Achievement Award by the Orlando Business Journal.

If you have a recent achievement or recognition, you would like featured, email your news to membership@dri.org. Please note that DRI reserves the right to review all accomplishments to ensure they are adequate for publishing. All submissions will be reviewed for relevance and compliance with DRI’s mission. Submissions may be edited to conform with our standards, and space limitations.

SLDO News

SLDOs Name Officers for 2022-2023 Term

Nine DRI members have been named officers for the new 2022 – 2023 leadership term in their respective State and Local Defense Organization (SLDO) during the month of August 2022 at their Annual Meetings.

One DRI member was nominated into a leadership role for the Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming. Rachel Ryckman was selected as the President. Rachel has been a DRI member since 2014.
Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association named DRI members Tammy Reno as President, Stephanie Angolkar as Secretary, and Elizabeth Sorenson Brotten as Treasurer. Tammy joined DRI in the year 2008, Stephanie joined DRI in 2019, and Elizabeth joined in 2009.

Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association nominated two DRI members into leadership roles for the 2022 – 2023 leadership term. Hannah Lowe, DRI member since 2015, was named President and Nathan Shelby, DRI member since 2007, was named President Elect.

The Wisconsin Defense Counsel elected Nicole Marklein as President, Monte Weiss as President Elect, and Heather Nelson as Secretary and Treasurer. All are DRI members. Nicole has been a member since 2013, 1997 for Monte, and 2022 for Heather.

The DRI Southwest Regional Meeting was held in Nashville on September 6-7. The meeting was led by DRI Regional Director, Michael D Carter. DRI President Douglas Burrell and Second Vice President, Anne Talcott were also in attendance and participated in the meeting.

DRI Southwest Regional Meeting

Seminar Spotlight

What We're Looking Forward To

2022 Law Firm Leaders and Managing Partners Conference

November 1–2, 2022 | San Diego, California

The 2022 Law Firm Leaders and Managing Partners Conference is exploring what it means to manage a law firm in these post-pandemic times. Scarce human resources, increasing overhead expenses, cyber-security threats, and changing client expectations have come to the forefront of law firm management since the world shut down in March 2020. This conference will arm law firm leaders with knowledge from numerous sources on the best ways to address and attack the challenges law firms continue to face following the COVID-19 pandemic!

In anticipation of the gathering, here’s what our members are most looking forward to.

NETWORKING AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

"It's a great opportunity to exchange ideas with other like-minded people"

"We're looking to bring in more young attorneys and provide them with mentors"

"This is a great place to coach a 'rising star' and set them up for success in the next step of their career.”

2022 Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium

December 7–9, 2022 | New York City, New York

The 2022 Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium is headed to the Big Apple this December. Join us to access world-class programming and inform your practice while networking with your peers.

In anticipation of the gathering, here’s what our members are most looking forward to.

NETWORKING

“The thing I value most is the networking,” said Todd Weston of Christian & Small LLP. He said he’s looking forward to building relationships with other professionals.

“Being able to see your friends year in and year out is one of the most rewarding parts,” added Elaine Murphy Pohl of Plunkett Cooney PC. “This year we’ve made a few tweaks to make the experience even more enjoyable for attendees, including additional dine-arounds and more to keep things fresh.”

HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMMING

Ilana B. Olman of Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney praised DRI’s in-depth substantive presentations. “I look forward to hearing about new and emerging topics from experts in the field,” she said, adding that it’s exciting to “hear from others who know more than us about trending issues that’ll eventually impact all of us.”

DRI Cares

DRI Cares Partners with RMHC

By Rebecca Nickelson and Carolyn Husmann, partners at Sinars Slowikowski Tomaska in St. Louis

DRI Cares is delighted to be partnering with Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) of the Philadelphia Region for this year’s Annual Meeting. New this year, we are providing multiple opportunities for our members to participate in several philanthropic activities - all benefiting this fantastic organization.

We have a jam-packed schedule of ways you can help RMHC while you are at the 2022 DRI Annual Meeting. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the main exhibit hall, we invite you to join the fun in making hygiene kits, fun kits and spa kits for the families. During meetings of DRI’s Substantive Law Committees and the State and Local Defense Organizations/National Defense Organizations, we will offer special projects to put together fun kits for children ranging in age from ages 3-18. And whenever the main exhibit hall is open, you will have an opportunity to make greeting cards for the families and visit the DRI Foundation Hub.

DRI Cares would love to see everyone’s support!

Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) of the Philadelphia Region supports families of seriously ill children by creating a community of comfort and hope. Their two Ronald McDonald House programs provide temporary lodging, transportation, meals, and vital supportive services to families who travel to Philadelphia for pediatric care. Their three Ronald McDonald Family Room® programs extend the support of their Houses into the hospital setting and offer a quiet respite space for families at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. They also provide a summer camp for kids with cancer and a mobile dental health clinic for underserved children.

The first Ronald McDonald House was born in Philadelphia on October 15, 1974. Working as a pediatric oncologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the 1970s, Dr. Audrey E. Evans saw families spend night after night in the hospital while their children received life-saving medical treatment. She knew there had to be a better way and envisioned a house where families could stay during these stressful and uncertain times. Thanks to some collaboration and the generosity of dedicated donors, the Ronald McDonald House has grown from a single idea to the model for over 375 Houses worldwide. Visit www.RMHCphilly.org for more information.

DRI Cares is excited to support this wonderful organization that started in Philadelphia!

The Wyoming Defense Lawyers Association (DLAW) recently raised funds for Jason’s Friends Foundation during its 2022 annual convention. In 2021, DLAW’s acting President Andy Sears left the DLAW Annual Meeting early due to the onset of strange symptoms. He was hospitalized several weeks later with AML leukemia. At the same time, Andy’s friend P.K., an 11-year-old from Casper, WY who played baseball and football with his Andy’s son, was going through treatment for leukemia. P.K. was inspiration for Andy throughout his treatment.

Wyoming is a rural state with no means of treating leukemia or any kind of pediatric cancer. All children diagnosed with cancer must travel to Denver or farther for treatment. For patients with aggressive cancers like leukemia, this often means living in a distant state for a long time. The financial burden on the child’s family is overwhelming. Jason’s Friends is an organization born out of tragedy for one Wyoming family who dealt with pediatric cancer. Ninety percent of the money it receives goes directly to financially supporting Wyoming families dealing with pediatric cancer.

DLAW held a beer tasting contest during its 2022 Annual Meeting Welcome Reception to raise money for Jason’s Friends. Eight participants were tasked with guessing the style of three locally brewed beers. Attendees at the meeting were invited to place bets on which contestant would correctly guess most styles of beer. Khale Lenhardt of Hirst Applegate, LLP was the only contestant to correctly guess all three beers. Those who bet on Khale donated their winnings back to Jason’s Friends. DLAW raised over $1200.00 for Wyoming families dealing with pediatric cancer. Former President Andy was thrilled to be healthy enough to attend the beer tasting contest. More importantly, P.K. – who recently finished his last chemotherapy treatment and is back to playing baseball and football – was delighted that so many people generously gave to a charity near to his heart.

Please consider making a donation to Jason’s Friends Foundation and help kids like P.K. https://www.jasonsfriends.org

DLAW

The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, with students back in the classroom and members of the Washington Bar returning to the office. Nevertheless, the changes brought about by the pandemic continue to affect our lives, and many members of the Washington Bar continue to work remotely. Accordingly, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) continued to show its ongoing commitment to Treehouse’s annual back-to-school drive through a combined conventional format (i.e., collecting donations of backpacks and school supplies) and virtual format (i.e., cash donations through Treehouse’s website). Since 1988, Treehouse has been Washington’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the academic gap between youth in foster care and their peers.

Thanks to WDTL’s support, youth in foster care in Washington will start off the school year with the necessary tools to achieve academic success. WDTL members donated $2,610, more than 120 backpacks, and over 12 boxes of school supplies to Treehouse. Youth in foster care obtain these school supplies through coupons provided to the youth and their foster parents, which can be redeemed at the Treehouse store. This system enables foster youth, like their peers, to choose their own backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year.

While WDTL did not have an official contest for this year’s drive, we would like to recognize our major donors: Preg O’Donnell (72 backpacks), Forsberg & Umlauf (23 backpacks), Betts, Patterson & Mines, (15 backpacks), Summit Law (10 backpacks), and Richard Martens, who donated $1,050. WDTL also gives a shout-out to Advanced Medical Group, Inc., which assisted with picking up donations and delivering them to the WDTL Community Service and Pro Bono Committee member who delivered them to Treehouse.

This year, WDTL also donated to Unity in the Community, an organization in the Spokane area that has an annual school supply drive. Having seen the generosity WDTL has with Treehouse, we hope to grow support for youth in the Spokane area with Unity in the Community in coming years.

If you are interested in joining WDTL’s Community Service and Pro Bono Committee, or learning about other community service opportunities, please contact Guari Locker, Committee Chair, at gauri.locker@atg.wa.gov.

Connecting with the DRI Community

DRI New Members and Advocates

DRI welcomes the following members and advocates:

New Members

Scott A. Lazar, Maywood, NJ

Travis D. Cox, Houston, TX

David Norman-Schiff, New Haven, CT

Nicole Mitchell, West Chester, OH

Sandra Rester, Baton Rouge, LA

Marvin K. Smith, Idaho Falls, ID

Jerald Howarth, Parsippany, NJ

Christian Erich Schlegel, Wall Township, NJ

Audrey D. Medd, New York, NY

Adam Fitzpatrick, Madison, WI

Michael Carreira, Glastonbury, CT

Jared Byrne, Saint Louis, MO

Andrea Y. Davis-Momon, Cleveland, OH

Benjamin T. Hughes, Charleston, WV

Jeremy Snider, Newport Beach, CA

Lauren Darden, Staunton, VA

Shawna Landeros, Yukon, OK

Christina Terek, Pittsburgh, PA

Jonathan Benjamin Paul, Gold River, CA

Robert Emmanuel Sabido, Portland, OR

Allison King Gurley, Dedham, MA

Brian M. Perez, Philadelphia, PA

Alaina Stedillie, Casper, WY

Kelly Fisher, Washington, DC

Christopher A. Pearcy, Indianapolis, IN

Elisia S. Tipton, Mandeville, LA

Ryan C. Ing, Bridgeport, CT

Kate M. Dickenson, Saint Louis, MO

Andrea A. Lowe, Saint Louis, MO

Maria M. Lampasona, Oakland, CA

Nathan Buurma, West Trenton, NJ

Karolyn Perry, Nashville, TN

Elliott Preston Andrews, Raleigh, NC

Megan Ham, Saint Louis, MO

Timia A. Skelton, Atlanta, GA

Cheryl C. Eubanks, Gulf Shores, AL

Troy R. Johnson, Norfolk, VA

Daniel Nunn, Charlotte, NC

Christina Sommers, Green Bay, WI

Taylor A. Van Zeeland, Milwaukee, WI

Zachary G. Evans, Pittsburgh, PA

Whitney L. Lucas, Lexington, KY

Casey Jacob Hemmer, Twin Falls, ID

Austin Doan, Madison, WI

Megan Silver, Asheville, NC

Storm Larson, Madison, WI

Karen Karlin, Rockville, MD

Nathan A. Carroll, Morgantown, WV

Candace Rodgers, Atlanta, GA

Mitchel Torrence, Chicago, IL

Zoe Laakso Doyle, Nashville, TN

Eric L. Clark, Tulsa, OK

Russell Ray Smith, Nacogdoches, TX

Shylie Bannon, Jacksonville, FL

Christopher M. Russo, Manchester, CT

Autumn Josette DeLee, Spring, TX

Melissa Bishop, Marlton, NJ

Michele Johnson Johns, Carmel, IN

Timothy Eiden, Menomonie, WI

Matthew Lawrence, Valdosta, GA

Matthew B. Champlin, Edwardsville, IL

Christa Hazlett, Albuquerque, NM

W Ethan McCallum, San Mateo, CA

Theodore Hughes, St Louis, MO

Matthew Austin Mang, New Orleans, LA

Madison Sharko, New Orleans, LA

Michael C. Clarke, Tampa, FL

Ioannis (Ian) G. Conits, Greenville, SC

Rachel Vicari, Cranford, NJ

Robert Andrew Koubek, Uniondale, NY

MARYANN McCOY, Morristown, NJ

Michelle Napoli, Hartford, CT

Paul James Havenstein, Rockville, MD

Matthew R. Hindley, Wilmington, DE

Kanton Vaverka, Oklahoma City, OK

James Frederick, Chestnut Hill, MA

Sunny Smith, Fort Worth, TX

Scott B. Cockrum, Highland, IN

Jacob Uhler, Springfield, MO

Erica Leigh Fields, Hackensack, NJ

Lisa M. Landers, Islandia, NY

Jerri Simmons, Charlotte, NC

David T. Shuey, Oakland, CA

Agboola Solomon Luwoye, Windsor, ON, Canada

Alison Hopkins, Squamish, BC, Canada

Kelly Cozza, Roseland, NJ

ALEXANDRA MCPEEK, Waltham, MA

Erin Siciliano, Philadelphia, PA

Christopher Rubinate, Philadelphia, PA

Kenneth Ries, Roanoke, VA

Angela S. Haskins, Los Angeles, CA

Anne Kindling, Topeka, KS

Scott A. Rhodes, Brentwood, TN

Alyssa M. Armbrust, Milwaukee, WI

Wayne Maffei, Baraboo, WI

Luke Dalton, Raleigh, NC

Torrey Grenda, Buffalo, NY

Georgia Joyce, Chicago, IL

Anne L. Kemp, Albuquerque, NM

Alex Maslow, Hickory, NC

Mary Bridget Dolan Roche, New York, NY

Nathaniel S. Williams, Prairie Village, KS

Stuart H. Sostmann, Pittsburgh, PA

Megan McKenzie, Madison, WI

Jacob H. Wellman, Raleigh, NC

Nick Albert Schaufelberger, Washinton, DC

Amanda J. Kaiser, Madison, WI

Chris Ferro, Charleston, WV

Kevin Popham, Columbus, OH

Moya O'Connor, New York, NY

Samantha Perlowitz, New York, NY

Kara Nicole Neal, Austin, TX

Marissa Vandersluys, Roseville, CA

Jeffrey Heyman, Houston, TX

Jasleen Grewal, Chicago, IL

Jessica Platt, Bellaire, TX

Katherine E. Bell-Moss, Austin, TX

Sam Zatz, Houston, TX

Chris N. Kolos, Orlando, FL

Raymond Powers, Boise, ID

Evan Raigrodski, Towson, MD

Ashley Makris, Tampa, FL

Shaun McFall, New Orleans, LA

Kim Malaska, Brooklyn, NY

Anu Chudasama, Minneapolis, MN

Daniel Edward Peacock, Boston, MA

Mindy Muller, Boise, ID

Jonathan Peak, Atlanta, GA

John Brown, Richmond, VA

Matthew Wade Swafford, Louisville, KY

Emma Mediak, Missoula, MT

Howard Pikel, Chicago, IL

Donna Peavler, Grapevine, TX

Cameron Ervin, Roanoke, VA

Domonic A. Burke, Milwaukee, WI

Samantha Nicole Javier, Portland, OR

Brandon Pryde, Casper, WY

Joseph Edward Gresham, Missoula, MT

Larry Herb Shapazian, FRESNO, CA

Kelsey A. Chilcoat, Oklahoma City, OK

Robert McNair Peele, III, Columbia, SC

Heather Christine McFeeley, Philadelphia, PA

Matthew D. Vodzak, Philadelphia, PA

Ryan Nobile, Bridgeport, CT

Jared A. Johnson, Charlotte, NC

Robert A. Meynardie, Raleigh, NC

Sarah Thompson, Glastonbury, CT

Joseph C. Gibbs, Clarksdale, MS

Reed Slatas, Glastonbury, CT

Shelby Dattilo, Glastonbury, CT

David R. Zaslow, Philadelphia, PA

Julianne Hall, Boise, ID

A William Charters, Norfolk, VA

Whitney Leigh Burkett, Chicago, IL

Heath Garwood, Oklahoma City, OK

Jill Yonkers, Buffalo, NY

Patrick McDonald, Menomonee Falls, WI

Pam Grimes, Norcross, GA

Jennifer Tolkan Persky, Torrance, CA

Jared Wimberly, Saugus, MA

Kenneth Shaw, GREENVILLE, SC

Tracy E. Stevenson, Chicago, IL

Gordon S. Woodward, Washington, DC

Omar Dirar Ahmad, Charleston, WV

Jeffrey Mitchell, Albuquerque, NM

Donald Morris, North Chesterfield, VA

Deborah Halvorsen, Jacksonville, FL

Brian Patrick Kershaw, Oklahoma City, OK

Marisa Y. Ybarra - Williams, El Paso, TX

Heather Terese Gilbert, Merrillville, IN

Erin Lamb, Philadelphia, PA

David Sterling, Little Rock, AR

Anastasia Shubert-Baranowski, Philadelphia, PA

Mary Kathleen Linton, Charleston, SC

Brandon Reeser, Charleston, SC

John Kenneth Graham, III, Saint Louis, MO

Kimberly Marston, Greensboro, NC

Anthony R. Johnson, Prospect, KY

Ashley Pollard, Wilmington, NC

Keith D. Grace, New York, NY

Ron Riba, Ingleside, IL

Cynthia Ellis Rosen, San Antonio, TX

Clare Roubion, Lafayette, LA

Ross Francis Roubion, Lafayette, LA

Ashley Ann Johnston, Hoboken, NJ

Rodd Mantell, Bristol, CT

Hunter Chauvin, Lafayette, LA

Emma Mediak, Missoula, MT

Carmen Vigil, Los Angeles, CA

Jordan James Fields, Livonia, MI

Melissa Solomon, Irvine, CA

Sarah Tankersley, Cincinnati, OH

Mark A. Myers, Jacksonville, FL

W. Thomas Terwilliger, Wausau, WI

Dianna Duffy Willem, Metairie, LA

Jennifer Jerzak Blackman, Raleigh, NC

Gabriel Winsberg, New Orleans, LA

Karen Strom Talley, Greensboro, NC

Matthew Pietsch, Nashville, TN

Manuel Pallarez, Tulsa, OK

Rachel Canna, New Haven, CT

Nichole Gray, New Orleans, LA

Kellen Mitchell Shearin, Charleston, WV

Julie M. Riche, Pensacola, FL

Gina B. Griffith, Tampa, FL

Paul V. Martin, Ottawa, IL

Kathryn Bonorchis, Baltimore, MD

Christopher Michael Sorenson, Kansas City, MO

Matthew Wyatt, Roanoke, VA

Andrew Shane Gerrish, Roanoke, VA

Matthew Kelley, Roanoke, VA

Glenn Williams, Roanoke, VA

Michael Crain, Spring, TX

Trevor Thorvaldson, Sheridan, WY

Rick Mason, New Haven, CT

Laura Bassett, Nashville, TN

Kari Swindle, Charlotte, NC

David Harmon, Charlotte, NC

Lisa Siefert, Pittsburgh, PA

Jenny Schreier, Glastonbury, CT

Peter John Bigham, Jr., Charlotte, NC

Williams Britt, Charlotte, NC

Eric R. Elms, Orlando, FL

Michelle A. Cheek, Cincinnati, OH

Paeten E. Denning, Shawnee Mission, KS

Sarah Hafeez, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Melinda Merced, Orlando, FL

William Kennedy, Buffalo, NY

Beau Krueger, Manitowoc, WI

Clifton Andrew Dandison, Wilmington, NC

Eric Matthew Wagman, Troy, MI

Jaimee Glinn, Morris Plains, NJ

Robert D. Anderson, Rockville, MD

Stephanie M. Selman, Miami, FL

Naomi Doraisamy, Boise, ID

Sean Hurley, Chicago, IL

Clayton Tyler Graham, Glendale, CA

Maritza Sanchez, Fort Worth, TX

Michael Cory, Jackson, MS

Matthew Lubozynski, Memphis, TN

Amy Lynn Hansell, Mount Laurel, NJ

Gabriel Siehr, Green Bay, WI

Howard L. Huntington, Chicago, IL

Adrien Busekist, Baton Rouge, LA

William J. Barker, Lexington, KY

Dawn Parsons, Kansas City, MO

Shannon Howard-Eldridge, Mandeville, LA

Matthew Champlin, Edwardsville, IL

Matthew J. Ungarino, Metairie, LA

Kelly Neyra, HARTFORD, CT

Douglas J. Hayden, Garden City, NY

Ryan Bostic, Wilmington, NC

Alison Paige Wasserman, Bala Cynwyd, PA

Kirsten Ashton, Salt Lake City, UT

Jenna Lower, Indianapolis, IN

Lisa Midkiff, Tampa, FL

Advocates

Anna Nelson, Salt Lake City, UT

Chastiti N. Horne, Houston, TX

Jarad N. Key, Prospect, KY

James J. Noonan, Bridgeport, CT

Karen Libertiny Ludden, Troy, MI

Randall L. Christian, Austin, TX

Ryan Zeli, Pittsburgh, PA

Barbara Ann O'Connell, Philadelphia, PA

James B. Thagard, Valdosta, GA

Kenneth Williams, Jr., Ashland, KY

Michael A. Orber, Culver City, CA

Morgan L. Copeland, Jr., Houston, TX

William P. Denning, Shawnee Mission, KS

John J. Simpson, Lake Charles, LA

Jori Quinlan, Missoula, MT

Roderick K. Nelson, Birmingham, AL

Rubina Khaleel, Omaha, NE

Stephen O. Plunkett, Minneapolis, MN

Christy Tosh Crider, Nashville, TN

David Grobow Hahn, Jersey City, NJ

James O. Craven, New Haven, CT

Jenni L. Young, Chicago, IL

Jessica C. Engler, New Orleans, LA

K. Roger Schoeni, Cincinnati, OH

Matthew S. Hefflefinger, Peoria, IL

Meagan Blackwell-Patterson, Prairie Village, KS

Thomas J. Maroney, New York, NY

Whitney Lay Greene, Norcross, GA

DRI Education

Upcoming Seminars

2022 LAW FIRM LEADERS AND MANAGING PARTNERS CONFERENCE

2022 APPELLATE ADVOCACY SEMINAR

2022 ASBESTOS MEDICINE SEMINAR

2022 PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY SEMINAR

2022 INSURANCE COVERAGE AND PRACTICE SYMPOSIUM