The Voice^TM

We’re looking forward to the flagship conference for DRI and the entire civil defense community. With the chance to experience first-class networking opportunities and gain valuable CLE credits in exciting ways, like CLE on the Go, which will allow you to get CLE credit, network, and see the sights of Seattle all at the same time, this Annual Meeting is going to be on you won’t want to miss.  

I can’t wait to share more of what our committee has planned for Seattle in the coming months. For now, please mark your calendars and join us in Seattle on October 16-18. Make sure to sign up to receive updates about the meeting, including early registration rates, programming highlights, networking events, and more!  

Don’t miss the chance to connect with your DRI community in the Emerald City at the 2024 DRI Annual Meeting. I can’t wait to see you there. 

Thanks to the DRI community, 2023 was a fantastic, fulfilling year. From helping over 6,000 people through DRI Cares efforts to offering over 60 seminars, webinars, and town halls that provided over 250 hours of CLE, DRI and the DRI community not only met our goals but exceeded them.  

Take a look at some of our major accomplishments this past year:  

And we’re not planning on slowing down this year. We’re looking forward to another 12 months of growth, community, and education in 2024. Join us as we see what we can accomplish in the new year! 

The Center recently filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court requesting that it take up the issue whether an online retailer is subject to personal jurisdiction in every forum into which one of its products is shipped. The brief, which was submitted in support of the petitioners in Photoplaza, Inc., et al., v. Herbal Brands, Inc., No. 23-504, argues that the lack of a uniform standard for determining specific jurisdiction over online sellers, especially those that utilize third-party fulfilment services such as Amazon Marketplace, creates uncertainty for those retailers and that sale and shipment of products through a broadly accessible website, without more, does not demonstrate that the defendant expressly aimed its activities towards the forum market as required to meet Due Process requirements. The amicus brief was authored by Melinda Kollross, Vice Chair of the Center’s Amicus Committee, and Michael Raudebaugh of Clausen Miller P.C. and was filed on December 13, 2023. Ms. Kollross is a member of the Center’s Amicus Committee. 

Melinda Kollross

Center Argues That Arbitration Act’s “Transportation Worker” Exemption Is Narrow

Section 2 of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) mandates that arbitration agreements “shall be valid, irrevocable, and enforceable.” 9 U.S.C § 2. Section 1 of the FAA, however, exempts “contracts of employment of seamen, railroad employees, or any other class of workers engaged in foreign or interstate commerce.”  9 U.S.C § 1. The Supreme Court has granted certiorari in Bissonnette v. LePage Bakeries Park St., LLC, No. 23-51, to address the scope of this exemption, which was enacted almost 100 years ago.  More specifically, the Court will decide whether the phrase “any other class of workers engaged in . . .  interstate commerce” is limited to transportation workers employed by common carriers, i.e., companies whose principal business is interstate transportation, or also includes workers—such as the Petitioner bakery truck drivers in Bissonnette—whose employers’ principal business is not interstate transportation.

In December, the Center filed an amicus brief arguing that the FAA § 1 exemption is narrow and limited to common carrier employees who actually are engaged in interstate transportation activities. To support this interpretation, the Center’s brief—which was joined by the Atlantic Legal Foundation (ALF)—delves into the historical context underlying the FAA’s enactment in 1925, when interstate commerce was largely limited to merchant shipping and railroads. As the brief argues, when Congress enacted the FAA’s broad mandate that courts enforce private-party arbitration agreements as an efficient and less costly alternative to litigation, it only intended to exempt employees of common carriers. The exemption does not apply to workers who drive trucks for companies such as bakeries, which are not common carriers.

The Center’s brief was authored by Center Amicus Committee member Sarah Spencer of Spencer Willson PLLC in Salt Lake City with assistance from ALF Executive Vice President and Center Chair Larry Ebner. 

Sarah Spencer

Applications Are Open to Join the Appellate Skills Development Subcommittee

The Center’s new Appellate Skills Development Subcommittee is designed to engage and involve less-experienced appellate lawyers who may wish to develop their appellate skill set, professional networks, and in some states credit toward specialist certification by preparing pro bono amicus briefs on behalf of the DRI Center for Law and Public Policy. These amicus briefs would be prepared under the mentorship of a more experienced appellate lawyer and would be in cases assigned by the Center’s Amicus Committee often in conjunction with a state and local defense organization.

Membership on the subcommittee is limited and you must be a member of DRI and its Appellate Advocacy Committee to be selected for the Appellate Skills Development Subcommittee.

If you would like an opportunity to hone and showcase your amicus brief writing skills, please consider completing this application, which will be closely evaluated by members of the DRI Center for Law and Public Policy’s Amicus Committee.

It is again the time to reset, make resolutions, and set goals—both personal and professional. While your involvement in DRI can help you achieve your professional goals, the DRI Foundation is committed to helping members with personal goals related to physical and mental health and well-being. One of my goals for 2024 as the DRI Foundation president is to focus on how the Foundation can better support its members to lead physically and mentally healthy lives. By doing so, we work to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health issues, and, in turn, become better lawyers.  

Since 2020, the practice of law has become even more all-consuming than before. Virtual meetings, depositions, and court hearings have made it easier for us overschedule our days. The ability to work from home, while a great innovation for the legal profession, has also blurred the work-life boundary. It has been well documented that the increase in the number of lawyers struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, and other mental health issues has increased in the past three years. Unfortunately, the stigma in seeking help for these issues is still prevalent in our industry. In fact, many state bars penalize lawyers for seeking needed assistance for these conditions, making it harder for many lawyers to get the help they need. 

Traditionally, DRI for Life has offered run/walks, yoga classes, and mocktail options at networking receptions. In the past two years, the Foundation and DRI for Life have offered CLE on the Go, webinars focusing on mental health, and resources on our webpage to help DRI members who are struggling with mental health issues. We have also increased our social media posts with “Wellness Wednesday,” Mental Health Awareness Week, and Suicide Awareness Week. Please look for these activities at upcoming seminars and regional meetings. I also encourage you to check out the resources available on the Foundation’s website. 

In 2024, the DRI Foundation will continue to develop new offerings to fulfill our New Year’s resolution to eliminate the stigma. But we must do more in our daily lives. This could mean scheduling fewer meetings in a day, leaving your desk at lunch, scheduling time for a walk, enjoying a run, a workout or yoga, turning off your phone, reading a book, or doing whatever else you need to do to recharge. Finally, we must look after our colleagues by letting them know we are there for them and offering help when they are struggling.  

I hope you will join the DRI Foundation in 2024 by making your mental health and well-being a priority, seeking help if you need it and helping others prioritize their mental health. Let’s all make a resolution to end the stigma. Happy New Year. 

Jodi V. Terranova of Wilson Elser is the president of the DRI Foundation. 

The Center for Law and Public Policy's Social Inflation Task Force expects to begin a comprehensive tracking system to analyze litigation outcomes in light of pretrial demands and offers. This data will inform defendants in litigation about the risks and benefits of trying cases in certain venues despite the rise in settlement demand amounts. To help, please complete this brief form.

MSP Task Force Updates

The Center’s MSP Task Force has new leadership. Judy O’Grady (Pepper Hamilton) is now task force chair and Barrye Miyagi (Taylor Porter) is now vice chair. Many thanks to John Morganstern (O’Hagan Meyer) for his years guiding the task force, which he will continue to serve as immediate past chair.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized and published the rule for Section 111 reporting, specifying how and when it will calculate and impose civil monetary penalties (CMPs) when Group Health Plan (GHP) and Non-Group Health Plan (NGHP) Responsible Reporting Entities (RREs) fail to meet their Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) reporting obligations. The text of the Final Rule, as published at 42 CFR 402, can be found here. The Final Rule became effective on December 11, 2023. For more information, read the summary report from the MSP Task Force.  

Pictured, L to R: O'Grady, Miyagi

As we continue to strive for excellence in our publications, we are excited to announce a call for articles for DRI's esteemed platforms: For The Defense, In-House Defense Quarterly, The Voice, and The Brief Case: DRI Committee News. 

We believe in the power of diverse perspectives and insights to enrich our publications, and we invite you to contribute your expertise to our upcoming issues. Whether you have unique case studies, in-depth analyses, or practical advice to share, we welcome submissions that showcase your knowledge and contribute to the legal community's growth. Our editorial team is happy to work with you and your committee on where to best place your work among our suite of publications. Plus, our recent partnership with a third-party legal intelligence source means your work may be selected for placement on our profile, extending your influence in the legal space and elevating your professional profile.

Submission guidelines, publication deadlines, and additional resources can be found at dri.org/publications. Please note that we require all published authors to be active DRI members. 

We've noticed increased interest in the following topics, listed below. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and our editorial team is happy to work with you to develop your content. 

• Artificial Intelligence 

• Data Security and Privacy 

• Autonomous Vehicles 

• Climate Change 

• 2024 Elections 

• Supreme Court Rulings & Changes 

• Mentorship 

• Lawyer Well-Being 

• Succession Planning 

Your contribution to DRI’s publications will not only benefit your professional network but also contribute to the collective knowledge of the legal community. We look forward to receiving your submissions and appreciate your commitment to the advancement of legal scholarship. 

Thank you for your time and consideration. Please reach out to our editorial team at submissions@dri.org for further information. 

If your committee would like to reserve a spotlight issue of For The Defense for 2024, please contact submissions@dri.org with the issue you’d like. We recommend 4-8 articles for a committee spotlight, and an introductory column from committee leadership can count toward that total. Articles in For The Defense are typically 3,000-5,000 words. 

Each committee may reserve up to two (2) dedicated issues of For The Defense for 2024. Features will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. We are able to spotlight up to three (3) committees per issue of For The Defense. (You may also, of course, contribute articles across several issues, if your committee prefers that format instead of a dedicated feature issue.)
 
Additionally, we’d love to get content from your committee for The Voice, In-House Defense Quarterly, and The Brief Case: DRI Committee News. Our Communications team is happy to work with you on where to best slot content. Black History Month (February), Women’s History Month (March), Well-Being Week in Law (May), Hispanic Heritage Month (mid-September through mid-October), Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October), and more are examples of themed content features we’d love to highlight next year!
 
We look forward to your quality submissions in 2024. Please note that we require all recognized authors to be DRI members. 

Medical Liability and Health Care Law
Erika Amarante, Committee Chair

Tell us about your committee’s practice area. What does it cover? 
The Medical Liability and Health Care Law Committee includes practitioners in all aspects of health care litigation, such as medical malpractice actions against hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers as well as lawsuits against long-term care or senior living facilities. Many of our members are also involved in regulatory and licensing matters before the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, various state Departments of Health and other governmental agencies. It is a diverse and dynamic practice area. 
 
What are the highlights of your upcoming seminar? 
Our committee is one of the few that hosts two annual in-person seminars. Our upcoming Medical Liability and Health Care Law seminar will be from February 28-March 1 in Miami, Florida. Among other topics, we will have a birth injury presentation involving specialists in maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology. We will also have a hands-on project related to direct and cross-examination of expert witnesses using medical literature. Finally, on our last day, we have teamed up with the Litigation Skills Committee to better hone our trial skills. Planning is also underway for our second annual seminar, the Senior Living and Long-Term Care Litigation seminar, which will be in Chicago from September 18-20.
 
Are there committee projects that current and prospective members should look for in 2024? 
We are actively planning our long-term care seminar in Chicago from September 18-20. If you are interested in joining the planning committee, please contact our Program Chair Rebecca Schafer at rschafer@dznlaw.com or Program Vice Chair Whitney Horak at whitney.horak@qpwblaw.com.  In addition, we are planning to host several online webinars this year and stay active with publications and the online community page. 
 
How can someone get involved with your committee? What opportunities are available? 
Attend our in-person seminars and webinars and reach out to us if you would like to be involved in planning these events. Think about writing or presenting on a topic of your choice. Stay active on the community page, where there is a wealth of information about experts and other important topics. 
 
What is the best thing about the Medical Liability and Health Care Law Committee? 
The camaraderie. It is a great way to get to know attorneys across all fifty states and assist in expert discovery and retention of expert witnesses.
 
What are you interested in learning more about this new year? 
The updates to the Federal Rules of Evidence on expert witnesses.

Want to get involved?

Product Liability   
Trey Bourn, Committee Chair 

Tell us about your committee’s practice area. What does it cover?
Products Liability, which covers a lot of different areas. As a result, we have very active Specialized Litigation Groups, which plan their own meetings at the annual Products Conference, including:

The Young Lawyers also have their own meeting at the Products Conference led and planned by Young Lawyers in the Products Committee.

What are the highlights of your upcoming seminar?
It is the first time for us to be in Denver, so the city itself is the biggest highlight, including “off-site” events at Red Rocks, etc. We have numerous clients hosting Panel Counsel events, and the Mainstage programming is second to none. The Main Networking Event (on Thursday night), though, has become the Conference’s biggest draw, allowing everyone to network with other attorneys, clients, and the like. This year will be no exception.

Are there committee projects that current and prospective members should look for in 2024? 
Other than this year’s Conference, the committee’s Strictly Auto Conference – hosted by our Automotive SLG – will be in Chicago this year (September 18-20). 

How can someone get involved with your committee? What opportunities are available?
We have a subcommittee dedicated solely to making sure anyone who wants to get involved in the committee can do so easily. We will have several outreach meetings at this year’s conference, but one can easily get involved quickly by contacting our Welcoming Chair, Rob Shields (rshields@wilsonturnerkosmo.com).  We have an active Ambassador Program -- chaired by Adam Shienvold (ashienvold@eckertseamans.com) -- for first-time attendees at this year’s conference, which will include a meeting before the conference, where we will discuss ways to get involved – as well as pair first-time attendees with a member of the Steering Committee to answer any questions about the conference or the committee itself. Otherwise, sometimes the best way to get involved is to attend an SLG breakout session and simply ask to become involved. There are so many opportunities available for anyone who wants to get involved and become a leader.

What is the best thing about the Product Liability Committee?
It is such a cliché, but it is definitely the people. I have never been in a more collaborative environment than this committee. This leads to incredible networking events, where clients interact with attorneys without the cliques and “sharp elbows” you may see at other events (outside DRI of course). 

What are you interested in learning more about this new year? 
One of our topics for the Mainstage Program at this year’s Conference is a panel discussing the ever-changing landscape of products litigation. The “cutting-edge” topics they will be discussing are what I am most interested in learning: from smart products, to Right to Repair, to what constitutes a product. 

Want to get involved?

David W. Burns has joined Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP in the Houston, TX office as a Partner. David is Casualty Vice Chair for Thompson Coe. He focuses on mass tort, premise liability, product liability, and general civil litigation. David has been a DRI member since 2006.

Kenneth R. Drake has joined Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston & Zimet LLP in the Miami, FL office as a Partner. He focuses on professional malpractice by representing attorneys, accountants, architects, engineers, and insurance agents. Kenneth has been a DRI member since 2008.

Karen Dunbar has joined Frank Winston Crum Insurance in Clearwater, FL. She is the Coverage Counsel. Karen has been a DRI member since 2023.

John R. Ewell has joined Cozen O'Connor in the New York, NY office as Counsel. His practice areas include bad faith, casualty and specialty lines coverage, insurance coverage, and property insurance. John has been a DRI member since 2021.

Mary London Fuller has joined Frost Brown Todd LLP in the Houston, TX office as a Partner. She focuses on products liability, premises liability, and business litigation in the energy, manufacturing, and restaurant and hospitality industries. Mary has been a DRI member since 2021.

Kelsey Sandler Gee has joined Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP in the Columbus, OH office as an Associate. She has joined the firm’s Labor & Employment Department and has experience defending employers in the financial services, health care, and manufacturing industries. Kelsey has been a DRI member since 2022.

Thomas K. Hanekamp has joined Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston & Zimet LLP in the Chicago, IL office as a Partner. He has more than 20 years of experience with general liability, focusing his practice on major commercial litigation. Tom has been a DRI member since 2019.

Kristen Michael O’Neal has joined Spencer Fane in the Springfield, MO office as Of Counsel. She has a background in litigation and works on transportation, insurance coverage, and educational matters. Kristen has been a DRI member since 2023.

David E. Renner has joined Pierson Ferdinand LLP in the Philadelphia, PA office as a Partner. He serves as a litigator for nearly all aspects of labor and employment law. Dave has been a DRI member since 2015.

Kennedy M. Rose has joined Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson, LLP in the Baton Rouge, LA office as an Associate. Her primary practice areas include representation of insurance clients in homeowners’ coverage, personal injury, and bad faith issues. Kennedy has been a DRI member since 2023.

Christine Sims has joined Wilson Elser in the Chicago, IL office as an Associate. Her practice entails general liability, automobile liability, and premises liability. Christine has been a DRI member since 2022.

Anthony Tamburro has joined Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman PC in the Richmond, VA office as an Associate. He focuses on civil litigation matters such as transportation, hospitality, and insurance sectors. Anthony has been a DRI member since 2023.

Katherine E. Tapp has joined Wilson Elser in the Louisville, KY office as an Associate. She focuses on general liability defense with a specialty on appeals. Katherine has been a DRI member since 2022.

Benjamin J. Tartaglia, III, Esq. has joined Murphy Sanchez in the Mount Laurel, NJ office as a Member and founding partner of the firm. His practice areas include auto and trucking, premises liability, restaurant, retail and hospitality, and construction litigation. Benjamin has been a DRI member since 2020.

Michele E. Taylor has joined Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP in the Houston, TX office as a Partner. She is the Products Liability Vice Chair for Thompson Coe. Michele defends national companies in toxic tort matters. Michele has been a DRI member since 2010.

James E. Yeager, III has joined Kinkead & Stilz, PLLC in the Lexington, KY office as an Associate. He focuses on civil rights litigation, commercial litigation, construction litigation, and employment litigation. James has been a DRI member since 2021.

If you have a recent achievement or recognition that 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 limitation.

John J. Petro (Nov 7,1937-Nov 24, 2023), a former DRI member, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. John met his college sweetheart, Carol Jean Hatfield, while they both were freshman at The Ohio State University. They met at a hamburger joint and once Carol saw John walk into the restaurant, she knew he was the one for her. They soon became inseparable and were married on July 25, 1959. For 64 years they built a beautiful life together. John is survived by the love of his life, Carol, and their four children Cara (Jeff) McLain, Susan (Bill) Rhoads, John P. Petro (Angela) and Pamela (Chris) Van Arsdale as well as nine grandchildren - Jessica Orr, Caitie Chaffin, Samantha Everitt, Chris McLain, Anna and Meg Rhoads, Greyson, Emma, and Amelia Van Arsdale. He is also survived by nieces Myrlyn Reasoner, Annette (Tom) Parker, Mary (Tom) Marshall, Karen Stout, Lori (Hal) Renta, Andrea (Scott) Jeffries, nephew Greg (Barbara) Petro, beloved great-nieces and -nephews, and ten treasured great grandchildren. He leaves behind a large extended family and many wonderful friends.

Born and raised in Ohio, John is preceded in death by his father Charles C Petro, mother Myrtle Haynes Petro, brother Charles Petro, and sister Lynne Petro Hanhilammi. John was an avid baseball player, particularly for the Columbus North High School Polar Bears. He graduated from Columbus North High school in 1955 and continued his education at The Ohio State University where was a proud member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He earned his B.A. from OSU in 1959 and then earned his J.D. from the OSU College of Law in 1962. He immediately joined McNamara and McNamara, a small but prominent local firm, where he spent the next 40+ years, before becoming of counsel to the firm where his son and daughter Susan were and worked together until the end of his career.

Over his prestigious legal career, he was a Founding Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, Chairman of the Fidelity, Surety and Public Contract Law Committee, a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, a member of the Dispute Review Board Foundation, and served on various dispute review boards and committees within the American Bar Association. He was also honored with the Roswell Bottum Award for contributions to the fidelity and surety industry (1998) and by the American Bar Association with the Martin J. Andrew Award for lifetime achievement in fidelity and surety law (2003). His long and storied career continued for over 61 years as he worked up until his death.

John was a member and former Deacon of Covenant Presbyterian Church since 1970 and a Member of the Athletic Club of Columbus since 1969. He was also a past president and player in the Upper Arlington Old Timers Softball League. John enjoyed fishing at Camp Horizon and golfing with Carol at OSU Golf Course and Oakhurst Country Club.

In addition to his extensive legal accomplishments and the thousands of hours of pro bono legal advice and counsel he provided to friends and family, he was instrumental in organizing, managing, and coaching in the Upper Arlington Athletic Association. His legacy in youth sports began in 1972 when he started coaching his daughter’s softball team. He soon became a fixture in the UA Athletic Association, serving as president from 1975-2010. During that time, he was a driving force behind the growth and success of the community’s youth athletes. He not only coached all of his children at Northam Park but also four of his grandchildren. John was honored as the Grand Marshall of the Upper Arlington Fourth of July Parade in 1994 for his dedication to youth softball. Generations of athletes have him to thank for instilling in them the values of competition, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Attendees of DRI’s Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium and Professional Liability Seminar participated in a DRI Cares event benefiting Blessings in a Backpack in December in New York City. During the event, participants filled bags with food for a child experiencing food insecurity in the local community. Blessings in a Backpack is a national organization dedicated to ensuring that no child goes hungry on the weekends.

Early Bird Registration for our seminars in Miami, FL ends January 16!

2024 Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar
February 28 - March 1, 2024 | Miami, Florida
Join us in Miami, Florida, for an engaging and exciting seminar that will address some of medicine’s most relevant and controversial issues. Topics include: a maternal fetal medicine and pediatric neurology “blockbuster” two-part series addressing common themes and countervailing claims in a birth injury case; the latest insight into gastroenterology and hepatology, including use and possible claims related to weight loss injectables; the newest concerns and claims in sports medicine and the problems facing treatment of elite athletes; and issues of social inflation and combating jury influence. Each day has dedicated time for networking opportunities in a variety of settings such as dine-arounds and an offsite event on Thursday night.

2024 Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute 
March 13 - 15, 2024 | Chicago, Illinois
Join us this March in Chicago at DRI’s flagship seminar for insurance executives, claim professionals, and outside counsel. The 2024 Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute promises to provide an array of outstanding speakers to keep you up to date on the latest developments in the industry and current trends in insurance coverage. The seminar will provide skills-based instruction and litigation guidance for coverage attorneys, as well as multiple opportunities to network. The Windy City welcomes you!

Take advantage of Early Bird Registration now through January 29. If your membership recently lapsed, please renew your membership prior to registering to ensure you receive your discounted member rate.

2024 Business and Intellectual Property Litigation Super Conference 
March 20 - 22, 2024 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The practice of law is changing, from where we practice to how we preserve and present evidence. At DRI’s Business Litigation and Intellectual Property Super Conference, you will learn about generational differences impacting the practice of law, issues in front of the Supreme Court and the anticipated effects of future rulings, the sweeping changes affecting restrictive covenants, and much, much more. Our featured experts will cover a wide range of issues affecting the modern litigator in an informative and interactive setting. Come reconnect, recharge, and leave reenergized about your practice!

Take advantage of Early Bird Registration now through February 5. If your membership recently lapsed, please renew your membership prior to registering to ensure you receive your discounted member rate.

2024 Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Seminar 
March 20 - 22, 2024 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The nation’s best conference for toxic tort and environmental practitioners will be in the City of Brotherly Love, with best-in-class CLE, enhanced networking opportunities, and new ways to connect with your colleagues. Explore Philadelphia through networking events that offer something for everyone and earn CLE from top industry leaders and practitioners. This is the seminar you will not want to miss!

Take advantage of Early Bird Registration now through February 5. If your membership recently lapsed, please renew your membership prior to registering to ensure you receive your discounted member rate.

2024 Life, Health, Disability and ERISA Seminar 
March 20 - 22, 2024 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Whether you think of it as the City of Brotherly Love or the Cradle of Liberty, there can be no question that Philadelphia is the perfect venue for the nation’s premier Life, Health, Disability & ERISA (LHD&E) conference. Take a selfie with Rocky and then enjoy unparalleled CLEs from some of the country’s top LHD&E practitioners before heading out to network with colleagues, old acquaintances, and new friends. There will be plenty of time to soak up the local history, check out art museums, and maybe even enjoy a famous cheesesteak in between honing your knowledge on the latest legal trends your clients are facing. This is the seminar you will not want to miss!

Take advantage of Early Bird Registration now through February 5. If your membership recently lapsed, please renew your membership prior to registering to ensure you receive your discounted member rate.

2024 Trucking Law Seminar
April 10 - 12, 2024 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In a litigation environment hallmarked by increasingly high jury verdicts, the time is now for the trucking industry to act and to re-evaluate what defense strategies and methods will best protect our clients and ensure the vitality of the industry moving forward. Learn practical strategies for trucking litigators, claims professionals, and industry representatives to get aggressive in the defense of cases in the face of new and changing plaintiff tactics. Plus, discover how to address the shift in jury pool demographics, ideals, and mentalities. Presentations include a forum discussion by jury consultants, speaking to what they are seeing nationally in the jury pool, what defense strategies are working, and what is no longer effective. There will also be a practical workshop for using consultants to best prepare your key defense witnesses. Attendees will learn to employ practical approaches aimed to counter emerging tactics leveraged by plaintiff attorneys meant to fuel excessive verdicts and settlements. This includes how to maximize the benefit of mock trials/focus groups and how to employ aggressive defense tactics early to get the edge and turn the tide in trucking litigation.

Take advantage of Early Bird Registration now through February 26. If your membership recently lapsed, please renew your membership prior to registering to ensure you receive your discounted member rate.

Employment Discrimination Via Artificial Intelligence
January 24 | 11 a.m. CST
A 2022 survey from SHRM showed that 85% of large employers currently use artificial intelligence for employment-related tasks and decisions. As the world continues to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, employers are increasingly leveraging them for a variety of tasks, from measuring employee productivity and performance to selecting employees for a promotion. Join employment law expert Christy Dunn for an informational webinar that will explore the risks of employment discrimination through the use of AI in employment decision making. Earn up to 1.20 hours of CLE credit for attending!

The registration is free for DRI members and $150 for non-members.

Don’t Be a Defendant: Best Practices for Claims Counsel
February 21 | 11 a.m. CST
Sponsored by LawyerGuard
The tripartite relationship between claims defense counsel, the insured, and the insurer can be tricky, fraught with potential for misunderstanding, disappointed expectations, and conflict. Recently, claims defense counsel have even become the target of legal malpractice actions brought by insurance companies. Avoid this and other only slightly less-expensive outcomes by joining us for a discussion by a veteran legal malpractice and ethics defense lawyer and an experienced claims professional covering best practices in file management, communication, preparation, and collaboration in the defense of claims. Experienced and new lawyers alike will benefit from this fast-paced, information-filled conversation.

It's almost time to grow your knowledge, refine your skills, and build your professional network at the DRI 2024 Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar, February 28–March 1 in Miami, Florida. 

Here's a sneak peek at some of the outstanding sessions:
 
Injectable Medications for Weight Loss: Possible Concerns for Future Litigation
Injectable medications for weight loss are gaining popularity, spurring media coverage and litigation. Hear from a gastroenterologist on the latest science and learn how best to defend these claims.
 
Birth Injury Blockbuster Part I: The MFM Perspective
This session will address some common themes in birth injury litigation, including fetal heart rate monitoring, the indications and timing for delivery, and practical tips for understanding this complicated area of medicine.
 
Birth Injury Blockbuster Part II: The Neonatology Perspective
In Part II of our Blockbuster, Dr. Goldsmith will explain what happens after birth, including monitoring of cord gases and blood gases, the markers for encephalopathy, cooling protocols, and how to defend the claim that an earlier delivery would have changed the outcome.
 
Malpractice Claims by the Professional Athlete Against Medical Professionals: The Optics and Defense of the Science
Sports medicine has recently seen a spike in litigation with some of the highest awards in recent history. This presentation will focus upon the genesis of the recent litigation and how medical professionals can best address the problems.

Register by Tuesday, January 16 to save $300!

Litigation Skills Seminar

DRI’s Litigation Skills Committee and DRI’s Center for Law & Public policy are joining forces to put on a program specially designed to discuss, combat, strategize and understand how verdicts skyrocket. We’ll open with a panel from the Center for Law & Public Policy’s Social Inflation Task Force to discuss how to combat critical plaintiff tactics and strategies. These concepts will be assessed in the context of jury selection and watch as a real, impartial jury is seated for a mock case summation. 

The mock jury will hear argument from top defense attorneys on a disputed liability, high damages case. Attendees will watch as the jurors deliberate the verdict live and lead through a moderated discussion of their views on parties, facts, and overall claim value. After the jury has deliberated, attendees will be allowed to engage with the jury in a group discussion to better understand the key arguments, facts, and positions that drove the jury to their verdict.

This seminar is truly unlike any other! Join us February 28 – March 1 in Miami to experience a real mock jury setting, engage with colleagues on how we can combat nuclear verdicts, and learn from the nation’s leading jury psychologists and trial attorneys. Register now and reserve your spot today!

Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute

Join us March 13-15 in Chicago at DRI’s flagship seminar for insurance executives, claim professionals, and outside counsel. The 2024 Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute promises to provide an array of outstanding speakers to keep you up to date on the latest developments in the industry and current trends in insurance coverage. The seminar will provide skills-based instruction and litigation guidance for coverage attorneys, as well as multiple opportunities to network. We look forward to welcoming you to The Windy City!

Gain insight on how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of insurance, best practices for defending construction defect coverage claims, and more. Register now to reserve your spot today!

Business and Intellectual Property Litigation Super Conference