Perspectives on Mass Tort Litigation at Widener

Last Tuesday, April 16, 2013, Widener University School of Law, the Widener Law Journal, and the Coalition for Litigation Justice, Inc. sponsored a day-long symposium, Perspectives on Mass Torts Litigation.

The line-up was spectacular!  The first panel on Mass Tort Theory included ProfessorMichael Green (Wake Forest School of Law);Professor Deborah Hensler (Stanford LawSchool); Professor Linda Mullenix (University ofTexas School of Law); and Professor Aaron Twerski(Brooklyn Law School).  The panel was moderated by TortsProf’s own Chris Robinette (Widener).

The second panel addresssed Emerging Issues in Mass Tort Practice.  This panel included the Hon. Thurbert Baker (McKenna Long & AldridgeLLP; Atlanta, GA); John Beisner (Skadden Arps;Washington, DC); Tobias Millrood (PogustBraslow & Millrood; Philadelphia, PA); and Victor Schwartz (Shook, Hardy & Bacon;Washington, DC). 

One of the symposium’s highlights was the luncheon address by the Hon. Eduardo Robreno (E.D. Pa.) on Federal Asbestos Litigation: Black Hole or New Paradigm?   This fascintating talk provided a look at the current state of asbestos litigation and a glimpse of the future as well. 

The third panel was on Keystone State Civil Justice Issues.  The organizers used a neat format – essentialy a point-counterpoint by a plaintiff’s lawyer and a defense lawyer.   The fourth panel took us inside Asbestos-Related Bankruptcy Issues, and featured Professor S. Todd Brown (SUNY Buffalo LawSchool), and two practicing lawyers.  

Bryon Stier (Southwestern) and I rounded out the day with a panel on Mass Tort Ethics.  

My thanks to Chris and everyone at Widener for an outstanding conference.  It was a honor to participate. 

– SBS