Gordon & Rees attorneys and distinguished guest speakers will present a full day of stimulating and timely legal education on Tuesday, May 7 focusing on cutting-edge trends, case law and recent verdicts. Attendees will be able to earn up to 5.0 CLE & CE credits, including 2.0 ethics credits. The conference concludes with a cocktail reception, providing an additional opportunity for attendees to interact and engage with fellow attendees.
CLE credit will be provided in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California. CE credit will be provided in New York, Texas, and Florida.
Joelle Underwood
215.717.4015
junderwood@grsm.com
DATE / TIME
Tuesday, May 07, 2019
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
LOCATION
Hartford Marriott Downtown
200 Columbus Blvd
Hartford, CT, 06103
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
This session will delve into the overlay between traditional ethical perils and technology, and provide an insightful exploration of both problems and solutions in this arena. The topics to be covered will include, among others: how the digital age has impacted the ethical obligations of attorneys in competently representing their clients; inadvertent disclosures during e-discovery; obtaining personal information from wearables and other personal devices; the propriety of recording conversations; hazards of utilizing cloud-based sites; dangers from metadata and other embedded phenomena; use of social media - under false pretexts or otherwise - to gather information regarding parties, witnesses and jurors; and ethical boundaries for using electronic means to “spy” on the opposing side.
Speakers:
Dion Cominos / Managing Partner, GRSM
Linda Moroney / Partner, GRSM
10:40 AM - 11:40 AM
During this panel presentation, we will discuss our Top Five “Hot Button” Issues evolving in employment law in 2019 and recap the biggest changes in employment law in 2018. Our speakers will provide cutting edge advice so that well-informed employment decisions can be made to avoid the expense and uncertainty of litigation. We will also address new litigation trends identified in employment law and provide insightful advice on how to develop best practices to avoid liability.
Speakers:
Debra Ellwood Meppen / Partner, GRSM
Gina Haggerty Lindell / Partner, GRSM
Jessica Fritz Aguiar / Senior Claims Analyst, Allied World Insurance Company
Ben Accardo, Beazley
During this panel, speakers will discuss recent case law developments and trends to be aware of in insurance coverage, including coverage conditions, Coverages A and B, claims-made policies, interpleader, bad faith experts, reimbursement of defense costs, and damages.
Speakers:
Jennifer Arnett / Partner, GRSM
Matthew Foy / Partner, GRSM
Greil Roberts / Partner, GRSM
When evaluating professional liability claims there is a temptation to focus too much on evaluating liability, defenses to liability, and causation, while ignoring the financial side of the evaluation known as damages. This myopic approach can lead to catastrophic results at trial. During this interactive session, our panelists will focus on the important element of damages with a new twist on how to understand the latest damages theories, how to spot the crucial issues that will be litigated, and how to defend against the latest damages theories to prevent the runaway verdict at trial. The panelists will discuss both the damages theories and the current defenses to damages, including speculation, mitigation, the economic loss rule, and Daubert challenges, just to name a few. Finally, the discussion will focus on some very practical tips for claims professionals and lawyers in the timely evaluation and defense of damages claims.
Speakers:
Bob Bragalone / Partner, GRSM
Franz Hardy / Partner, GRSM
John Palmeri / Partner, GRSM
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
As construction continues to thrive across the country, so do claims involving various aspects of construction, including catastrophic injuries and environmentally friendly building. This program will discuss recent trends in construction law, how they affect companies, insurers, and attorneys alike and how we can all better prepare to deal with them.
Speakers:
Keith Cramer / Partner, GRSM
Thomas Cronin / Partner, GRSM
Julie Bardacke Haddon / Partner, GRSM
This panel will provide an overview of the rapidly-changing legal landscape with respect to privacy and cyber security laws, and the latest case law relating to coverage for data breach incidents and other cybersecurity-related incidents. An industry expert will also predict what the greatest risks for companies and insurance companies will be in the coming year.
Speakers:
Andy Castricone / Partner, GRSM
Avanti Bakane / Partner, GRSM
Rich Green / Partner, GRSM
Ryan Kratz / Senior Associate, Kissel Hirsch & Wilmer LLP
This presentation will cover how to handle mass tort and products liability claims on issues applicable to the defense of products related claims. The course will cover four main topics:
Speakers:
Nancy Erfle / Partner, GRSM
James Lowery / Partner, GRSM
Benjamin Morton / Partner, GRSM
Steve Zakrzewski / Senior Counsel, GRSM
2:10 PM - 3:10 PM
During this panel presentation, we will discuss how the #metoo movement has not only created but continues to influence far-reaching and permanent change for employers in the conduct of their business, but also for lawyers and employers finding themselves in litigation concerning sexual harassment or gender discrimination in the workplace. Our speakers will survey changes in the law and impacts in the courtroom now that the initial #metoo wave has receded.
Speakers:
Laura De Santos / Partner, GRSM
Michael Laurenson / Partner, GRSM
Michael Lucey / Partner, GRSM
This panel will discuss resolution strategies and approaches at mediations and settlement conferences.
These topics include:
Speakers:
Erik DiMarco / Partner, GRSM
Michael Pietrykowski / Partner, GRSM
Todd Murphy / Partner, GRSM
Jason Irvin / Partner, GRSM
Beverly Bond / Partner, GRSM
James Lowery / Partner, GRSM
Panel members will discuss developments in the health care realm, with a particular focus on how technological advancement, changes in our social policies, and renewed analyses of our health care system have impacted potential liability for health care practitioners and their affiliated institutions. Panelists will use real-world examples to illustrate litigation trends, and will discuss best practices in meeting current, and future, challenges.
Speakers:
Michelle Allan / Partner, GRSM
Jonathan Blakley / Senior Counsel, GRSM
Amie Golen / Partner, GRSM
Thomas Quinn / Partner, GRSM
Litigation against life, health and disability plans is on the rise. In this session we will provide an overview of the various types of litigation that plans face and discuss common themes and defenses that plans can utilize in responding. We will also address recent developments that are changing the landscape of this area and discuss effective strategies for mitigating risks for disputes.
Speakers:
Ronald Alberts / Partner, GRSM
Courtney Hill / Partner, GRSM
3:20 PM - 4:20 PM
Concluding our day, this ethics session will present recent and common ethical issues and quandaries in an interactive format. Attendees will engage in an educational and entertaining review of important ethical situations led by our panelists.
Speakers:
Mercedes Colwin / Partner, GRSM
Roger Mansukhani / Partner, GRSM
Brandon Saxon / Partner, GRSM
Peter Siachos / Partner, GRSM
4:20 PM - 5:30 PM