Litigation Conference

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MEALEY S Welding Rod Litigation Conference Special Focus on Medical Issues in Welding Rod Litigation! Conference Chaired by R. David Kaufman, Esq.

1 MEALEY S Welding Rod Litigation Conference Special Focus on Medical Issues in Welding Rod Litigation! Conference Chaired by R. David Kaufman, Esq. Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC Jackson, MS James D. Shannon, Esq. Shannon Law Firm, PLLC Hazelhurst, MS March 14-15, 2005 The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix Phoenix, AZ

2 Why you should attend: Claims of personal injuries from welding rod fumes are hardly new. But recent litigation activity has certainly generated renewed interest. The Cook County Circuit Court recently dismissed five personal injury lawsuits alleging negligence and fraud because the plaintiffs failed to adequately plead their causes of action under the Illinois state statute. All claims against Caterpillar Inc., General Electric Corp., Hobart Brothers Co., Lincoln Electric Co., The ESAB Group Inc., A.O. Smith Corp., Airco/The BOC Group Inc., TDY Industries, Avesta Polarit Inc., Eutectic Corp., Praxair Inc., Sandvik., The Union Carbide Corp., and Viacom Inc. were found to be insufficient by Judge Jennifer Duncan-Brice. In 2005, the stakes will rise. Estimates are that several thousand individual welding rod claims will be filed from a nationwide plaintiff s pool of 35,000 to 70,000 current and former welders with the potential for hundreds of thousands more. At this point, no-one can predict what course the litigation will take. But as defendants are named, verdicts rendered, liability charged and dismissed, and medical studies emerge, one thing is certain: the more information you have at this stage of the proceedings, the better equipped you will be to meet the challenges and the opportunities that the very near future will surely bring. What you will learn: At Mealey s Welding Rod Litigation Conference, you ll have a unique opportunity to listen, learn, and network as we present a balanced, indepth examination of all the hot-button issues. Our renowned faculty of experienced plaintiff and defense attorneys, litigation analysts, insurers, and medical experts will offer in-depth, fascinating presentations on a variety of litigation topics crucial to your success in the courtroom. We will provide you with timely updates on recent MDL activity and the status of state court cases. We ll also discuss deposition techniques and strategies as well as the insurance coverage component of welding rod litigation. In addition, the program will feature a onehour CLE Ethics Session. Special Focus on Medical Issues In Welding Rod Litigation Get the information, advice and insights you need to proceed with your work as our welding rod exposure experts, including Roberto Lucchini, MD, of the Institute of Occupational Health, University of Brescia, examine: Neurological Issues Raised Neuropsychological Components Epidemiological Issues Industrial Exposure Assessment You ll do more than just listen, though. The conference agenda also provides you with many opportunities to raise issues specific to your cases, meet one-on-one with faculty members, and network with colleagues from across the country.

3 Mealey s Welding Rod Litigation Conference Conference Chairs R. David Kaufman, Esq., is a member of the law firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes PLLC in Jackson, MS. He has extensive experience in handling complex mass tort, toxic exposure, business, and products liability cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts in Mississippi and elsewhere. Mr. Kaufman currently serves as Mississippi trial counsel for several Fortune 500 companies. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Kaufman is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in litigation, and Chambers U.S.A. lists him among America s Leading Lawyers in business litigation. He is a past chairman of his firm s litigation department and now serves on the firm s Board of Directors. James D. Shannon, Esq., is the founder and owner of the Shannon Law Firm PLLC, located in Hazelhurst, MS. He is admitted to the Mississippi Bar and focuses on personal injury, mass torts, and product liability litigation. Mr. Shannon has acted as a speaker at regional and national tort litigation seminars as well as co-counsel with national firms on high profile mass tort litigation. Monday, March 14, :00 Registration and Continental Breakfast 8:45 Introduction and Opening Remarks James Shannon, Shannon Law Firm David Kaufman, Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes 9:00 Neurological Conditions and Welding Rod Exposure Are there any neurological conditions actually caused by exposure to welding rod fumes? What is manganese poisoning? What is the difference between idiopathic Parkinson s disease and other neurological conditions that are alleged to be caused by exposure to welding rod fumes or is there no difference? Peter Bell, Law Office of Peter G. Bell Howard Sandler, M.D., President, Sandler Occupational Medicine Associates, Inc. 10:30 Morning Break 10:45 Epidemiology Analysis Analysis of the most recent studies regarding welding rod fume exposure and possible neurological conditions Roberto Lucchini, MD, Associate Professor, Institute of Occupational Health, University of Brescia 12:00 Networking Luncheon

4 1:15 Neuropsychological Issues Arising In Welding Rod Cases David Hartman, PhD, ABPN, Medical and Forensic Neuropsychology Rosemarie Bowler, PhD, MPH, Professor, San Francisco State University 2:30 Afternoon Break 2:45 Industrial Exposure Assessment Sources of Mn exposure Safe versus unsafe levels Examples of industrial exposure Reconstructing past exposures Respirators what effect to they have, if any? Neil Zimmerman, PhD, PE, CIH, Associate Professor of Industrial Hygiene, Purdue University School of Health Sciences Additional speaker to be announced 3:45 Deposition Analysis The co-worker s deposition Expert deposition tactics, techniques and strategies Slides of key expert depositions Sharla Frost, Powers & Frost Philip Harley, Paul Hanley & Harley 4:30 Ethic Session: Ethical Challenges In a Post-Tort Reform World With all of the changes in tort law in the last two years, there are a number of new concerns presented to trial counsel, e.g., Can you adequately defend your client if you are precluded by conflict from putting on a valid third party case? What are the disclosure requirements to current and former clients? How should waivers of conflict be structured? Is there an on going duty of loyalty to a bankrupt or former client? James Lowery, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham 5:30 Networking Reception Tuesday, March 15, :30 Continental Breakfast 9:00 Insurance Coverage Component Obtaining a defense and indemnification Mainstream and potentially applicable coverage defenses An update on pending coverage litigation Anatomy of a welding claim the insurance industry s perspective Michael Levine, Shaw Pittman Mark Harbaugh, Latent Case Manager, Riverstone Claims Management Mary Craig Calkins, Howery Simon Arnold & White 10:00 Update On the MDL

5 March 14-15, 2005 The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ Status of the Daubert briefs and hearings Briefing update Analysis of the debate among the plaintiffs bar: Are all Parkinson s cases among welders caused by welding rod fume exposure? Kelly Berry, Shannon Law Firm Stephen Harburg, O Melveny & Myers 11:00 Morning Break 11:15 Update on the State Court Cases Overview of what is going on in the various state cases Hear from the lawyers who have just completed a trial and/or who are preparing for imminent trials Grant Kaiser, The Kaiser Law Firm Jessica Davidson Miller, O Melveny & Myers Speakers, sessions and times are subject to change. Visit or call MEALEYS for up to the minute program revisions. Call for information on sponsorship and exhibit opportunities. Conference Faculty Peter G. Bell, Esq. Law Office of Peter G. Bell Chicago, IL Rosemarie M. Bowler, Ph.D., M.P.H. Professor, San Francisco State University, San Francisco Kelly M. Berry, Esq. Shannon Law Firm, PLLC Hazelhurst, MS Mary Craig Calkins, Esq. Howery Simon Arnold & White, LLP Los Angeles Sharla J. Frost, Esq. Powers & Frost, LLP, Houston Mark R. Harbaugh, Esq. Latent Case Manager, Riverstone Claims, Management LLC Manchester, NH Steven J. Harburg, Esq. O Melveny & Myers LLP Washington, DC Philip A. Harley, Esq. Paul, Hanley & Harley LLP Berkeley, CA David E. Hartman, PhD, ABPN Medical and Forensic Neuropsychology Chicago Grant Kaiser, Esq. The Kaiser Law Firm, P.L.L.C. Houston Michael S. Levine, Esq. Shaw Pittman LLP, McLean, VA James A. Lowery, III, Esq. Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP, Dallas Roberto G. Lucchini, MD Associate Professor, Institute of Occupational Health, University of Brescia Brescia, Italy Jessica Davidson Miller, Esq. O Melveny & Myers LLP Washington, DC Howard M. Sandler, MD President, Sandler Occupational Medicine Associates, Inc. Melville, NY Neil J. Zimmerman, PhD, PE, CIH Associate Professor of Industial Hygiene Purdue University School of Health Sciences, West Lafayette, IN

6 Registration Information Registration Fee The registration fee includes continental breakfast each day, one luncheon, attendance at all conference sessions, a copy of the conference handbook on CD, networking reception, and coffee breaks. The registration fee is $1195 for the first attendee. How to Register Fax is the best way to enroll, allowing us to attend to your registration immediately. Please fax this form to (610) , call MEALEYS, (610) , mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com or mail this form with payment to Mealey Publications, P.O. Box 62090, King of Prussia, PA Receipt of payment guarantees your registration. Special Discounts Corporate Discount $200 off $995 Additional registrants from the same firm or company $150 off $1045 Government employees one-third off $795 Sitting judges attend free Paralegals two-thirds off $400 Special Needs Should you have any special needs, please contact Mealey s at least three weeks prior to the conference, to allow us time to make reasonable accommodations. Hotel Accommodations The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix is located at 2401 East Camelback Road, just 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Attendees should make reservations directly with the hotel by calling (602) When making reservations, indicate that you are attending Mealey s Welding Rod Litigation Conference, March 14-15, A block of rooms has been reserved for attendees at a rate of $289 a night for a single or double room. The cut-off date for this rate is February 21st. After that date, this rate will be offered based on space availability. Please note, there are a limited number of rooms in our room block so make your reservations early. For alternative hotels and rates, please call us at (610) Cancellation Policy Registrants who cancel on or before February 28th will receive a full refund. Registrants cancelling from March 1st through March 7th will receive a full credit towards another Mealey s conference. Cancellations made after March 7th will be subject to a 25% administrative fee; the remaining amount will be credited towards another Mealey s conference. Credits must be used within one year of the date of issuance. Attendees who are paid in full and do not attend the conference forfeit a refund or a credit voucher. Substitutions may be made at any time. Conference on Audiotape and Videotape If you cannot attend this conference, take advantage of our new audiotape and videotape conference service. For more information call MEALEYS or mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com CLE Credit Credits will be available from all states with mandatory requirements. For more information visit and click on CLE Credit, or call MEALEYS.

7 Registration Form Mealey s Welding Rod Litigation Conference, March 14-15, 2005, at The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ. I understand the conference registration fee is $1195 per attendee for the first paying attendee and $1045 for each attendee thereafter from the same firm or company. (Multiple attendees: please copy form and submit for each attendee.) Name Title Firm/Company Address City/State/Zip Telephone Fax 0105L Check enclosed (Please make checks payable to Mealey Publications. Send payment in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank.) Please bill my: VISA MasterCard American Express Account # Expiration Date Signature YES, I m interested in purchasing the audiotape and videotape of this conference. (Please call with pricing information.) Conference Handbook Each conference attendee will receive one copy of the handbook. You may order additional copies. Non-registrants may purchase the handbook. Please send $275 each. (U.S.A.: Please add appropriate state sales tax to your order. Canada: Add 7% sales tax.) Mealey s Litigation Report: Welding Rods Yes, send me a free sample and subscription information. Please send me information on your new Online CLE program and price packages Phone: MEALEYS or (610) Fax: (610) Mail: P.O. Box 62090, King of Prussia, PA , USA mealeyseminars@lexisnexis.com Online:

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