Webinars

Speakers:

• Phyliss Hafner, Burden, Hafner & Hansen, LLC
• Hillary Hyde, Morrow Willnauer Church, LLC
• Joe Moriarty, Willcox & Savage, P.C.
• Chris Vossler, Howd & Ludorf, LLC

This 60 minute presentation will address the origins of product liability law, as well as the basic elements of product liability claims, defenses, current trends and claims handling/practice pointers.
 
Take-aways:

• Evolution of Product Liability Law
• Causes of Action/Theories of Liability
• Defenses: Statutes of Limitation/Statues of Repose/Alteration/Misuse/Government Contractor Defense
• Current Trends: Opioids / Lithium Ion Batteries / Toxic Substances / Amazon
• Claims Handling Tips

Speakers:

• Doug Morr, M.S., P.E., Discipline Lead, Mechanical Engineering/Biomechanics, S-E-A
• Kari Verner, Ph.D, Mechanical/Biomechanics Consultant, S-E-A

Any time there is an allegation of injury, there is a biomechanical explanation for the conditions necessary for such an injury to occur. Does the physical and testimonial evidence match up with the mechanism of the injury?  Biomechanics is the area of science that answers this question.  Liability can change dramatically depending on how the incident actually occurred, and biomechanics often can provide the scientific evidence needed. Biomechanics has proven extremely useful during the damages phase of many cases as well.
 
Take-aways:

• If there is an alleged injury, there is a biomechanical explanation for that injury.
• Biomechanics can often help determine what actually happened, or couldn’t have happened.
• Biomechanics is used to evaluate injury risk relative to a given incident scenario, but also to evaluate the incident scenario relative to a given injury.

Click here to view the slide deck

Webinar topics:

• The endorsement generally applies when there is interstate commerce, there is an injury to the public, and insurance coverage is denied
• The endorsement is the most common way of complying with the federal government mandate that trucking companies operating interstate comply with their financial responsibility obligations 
• Case law interpreting the endorsement varies and depends on the facts

Click here to view the slide deck

• Rachel York Colangelo, PH.D, National Managing Director of Jury Consulting, Magna Legal Services
• John Shaffery, Partner, Poole Shaffery & Koegle, LLP

• Laura Westfall Casey, Assistant Vice President, Claim Manager, Chubb
• Sarah E. Hansen, Esq., Partner, Burden & Hansen, LLC
• Michael J. Mazurczak (Maz), Esq., Member/Equity Partner, Melick & Porter LLP
• Teresa Milano, Esq., Vice President, Management Liability

Casey, Hansen, Mazurczak and Milano had a candid open discussion about HR and employment liability issues. Topics included returning to work issues, remote working, review and amendment of workplace policies, what you can and cannot ask your employees, and mitigating potential liabilities as employers adjust to a “new normal.”
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin

• Brendan N. Keeley, Founding Partner, Baumann, Gant & Keeley, P.A.
• John Shaffery, Partner, Poole Shaffery & Koegle, LLP
• Nathan L. Lundquist, Vice President of Claims, Protective Insurance Company
• Griff Stelzner, Filing Expert, FG Stelzner, Inc.

From 2017 to 2018, transportation related verdicts have increased by over 400%. One of the reasons for these nuclear verdicts is the highly inflated medical damage testimony provided by lien based medical doctors and facilities. Attendees learned more about this alarming trend and steps to potentially mitigate the onslaught. The speakers additionally discuss the challenges faced by the industry when handling and litigating matters involving medical financing agreements.

Takeaways from the Webinar:

• How to challenge medical bills/unreasonable medical lien charges
• Pre-suit settlement and mediation negotiation strategies
• Lessons from the courtroom – How plaintiffs are using medical liens as both a sword and a shield.

• Nicole M. Brunson, Associate Gen. Counsel, Com. Litigation Americas, Trane Technologies
• Deborah Saunders, Sr. Director, Claims Mgmt., Global Risk Mgmt., Comcast NBCUniversal