Annual Aviation Litigation Program Features Keynote by Pilot Jeffrey Skiles

CHICAGO, June 1, 2010 — Leaders of the aviation industry, insurers, consultants, mass tort and products liability litigators and their clients will offer their insights on handling mass disaster claims at the 2010 Aviation Litigation CLE Seminar on June 3 at the New York City Bar Association.

The day-long program, co- sponsored by the American Bar Association Section of Litigation and the New York City Bar, will examine litigating mass disaster and other complex tort cases in today’s challenging economic environment.  Speakers will walk attendees through all phases of an actual case from initial investigation to preparation for trial, specifically covering the identification of critical issues, devising and revising end-game strategy, discovery, navigating e-discovery issues, case management, evaluation of client expectations, and risk evaluation of trial versus potential settlement.

Jeffrey Skiles, co-pilot on U.S. Airways Flight 1549, the “Miracle on the Hudson” and vice president of the Coalition of Airline pilots Associations, will keynote the luncheon. His topic is “Beyond the Miracle: Commercial Aviation in the Millennium’s Second Decade: An Insider’s Candid View.” Other top speakers include Joseph A. Franceski, managing director, aviation practice, Marsh USA Inc.; Christine Harper, MSA Services, Atlantis Settlement Group, Inc.; Rocie Park, vice president of claims, Allianz Aviation Managers, LLC; U.S. Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York; Joseph R. Reynolds, founder and president, RTI Group, LLC; former Judge Kathleen A. Roberts, mediation/arbitrator, JAMS; and Louis M. Timpanaro Jr., senior managing director, Frank Crystal & Co., Inc.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• Legal Update: Aviation & Mass Torts Year-in-Review
• Prelude to a Case: Re-creation of a Foreign Aviation Accident
• Insurer’s Perspective: Initial Investigations; Settling Resources; Developing an End-Game Strategy
• Fight Over Forum
• Early Global Settlement: A Utopian Ideal or Exercise in Futility?
• Spoliation & the Duty to Preserve Evidence: Trending to a New Cause of Action?
• Demonstrative Evidence: What Kinds of Bells & Whistles are Jury-Appropriate?
• MMSEA – Lurking Traps for the Unwary: A Primer on the New Medicare Settlement Reporting Rules
• Ethics Demonstration: Special Considerations in Handling a Mass Disaster

The full program listing all sessions and speakers can be found at http://www.abanet.org/litigation/committees/aviation/cle_program.html

The ABA Section of Litigation represents about 68,000 lawyers, judges and others involved in all aspects of litigation and the dispute resolution process. It is the national voice for litigators and a leader in advocating improvements in the justice system.  The section provides tools and resources to assist lawyers to be better litigators as they serve their clients. It offers opportunities for growth, learning and networking through its professional communities. Its activities reflect and support the commitment of its members to a strong, diverse and vibrant profession, a fair and accessible justice system, and the continuing obligation to achieve both through a wide range of pro bono activities.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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Editor’s Note:  Reporters are invited to cover any or all program sessions for free. To obtain press credentials or for more information, contact Deborah Weixl at 312/988-6126, or e-mail weixld@staff.abanet.org. On site, see Lesley Roselle of the Section of Litigation at the registration desk.

The New York City Bar is located at 42 West 44 Street.