Rule 30(b)(6) Depositions in Class Action Litigation: Deposing or Defending Corporate Witnesses, Rule 30 Class action plaintiffs rely on Rule 30(b)(6) depositions as a strategic tool to question corporate representatives about specific topics and bind the corporation to the testimony. There are frequent disputes over the Rule 30(b)(6) deposition notice's adequacy and now Rule 30 requires the parties to meet and confer about various aspects of the deposition. There are also frequent disputes over whether the corporation fulfilled its obligation to select an appropriate deponent and properly prepare the deponent for deposition. From the defendant's perspective, preparation for and defense of a corporate deposition directly impacts the case's success and potential future cases. Counsel must strategically determine who should represent the corporation at the deposition, how much preparation is adequate, and how to deal with privilege issues. Melanie Conroy Partner Pierce Atwood Michael McCarthy Shareholder Greenberg Taurig Robert Neary Of Counsel Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton LIVE Webinar June 29th 2023| 1:00PM Eastern This Strafford production has been specially selected for HB audiences. What are some best practices for crafting a deposition notice that adequately identifies the scope of the 30(b)(6) deposition? What is the best way to employ the "meet and confer" requirement? What strategies are effective when questioning the corporate representative and handling objections during the deposition? [...]

Excluding Epidemiological Evidence Under FRE 702 in Toxic Tort, Medical Device, and Pharmaceutical Cases Strategies for Exposing an Expert's Serious Methodological Deficiencies In every toxic tort, medical device, and pharmaceutical product liability case, a threshold issue is whether the product, device, or substance is even capable of causing the alleged harm in some part of the population. To establish this, lawyers rely first and foremost on epidemiological experts and research, the "gold standard" of general causation evidence. Causation, however, is a continuum, and no single study can prove causation. If the plaintiff's epidemiological testimony and related studies are excluded under Federal Rule of Evidence 702 and Daubert, the litigation will most likely end, or at least be significantly narrowed. Thus, admissibility under FRE 702 and Daubert is fiercely litigated in most cases. Courts are increasingly taking a "hard look" at experts' methodologies and assessing whether the expert's opinion reflects a reliable application of the principles and methods to the facts of the case. For example, courts are analyzing experts' logic, asking if their final opinions exceed the limits of applicable studies, and being sensitive to when experts are "cherry-picking" the evidence to fit the desired conclusions. Christopher Campbell Partner DLA Piper Stephen McConnell Partner Reed Smith Sarah Carrier Attorney DLA Piper Christian Castile Attorney Reed Smith CLE On-Demand Webinar This Strafford [...]

Defending Punitive Damages Cases and Preventing Runaway Awards: New Approaches Runaway punitive damages awards continue to demonstrate that traditional defense strategies can fail against increasingly sophisticated arguments from the plaintiffs' bar. Getting the claim dismissed on summary judgment or arguing that the plaintiff failed to prove the necessary level of culpability may be tools but often fail as stand-alone strategies. Radically different approaches are needed. Counsel must develop a comprehensive strategy, including affirmatively telling the defendant's story. Defendants are finding success in invoking FRE 407 and arguing that subsequent changes have made punitive damages unnecessary. This approach may be instrumental in a variety of tort cases, including trucking and motor carrier cases. Laurie Webb Daniel Partner Webb Daniel Friedlander Kathryn Lehman Partner King & Spalding CLE On-Demand Webinar July 18th, 2023| 1:00PM Eastern This Strafford production has been specially selected for HB audiences. Why do motions to dismiss or for summary judgment usually fail? How can defense counsel give the jury a reason not to award punitive damages? Why must defense counsel, when punitive damages are alleged, think like a plaintiff's lawyer? How can anchoring be used effectively? How can counsel use FRE 407 to show that punitive damages are unnecessary? Finding and telling the defendant's story Focusing on the "why" of the defendant's actions Countering [...]

Influencing the Jury Using and Objecting to Demonstrative Exhibits Developing a Visual Strategy for Trial, Recognizing Misleading or Inaccurate Exhibits, Proposed Amendments to FRE 611 Lawyers throw away an important opportunity to influence the jury if they do not offer their own demonstrative exhibits and object to misleading or inaccurate exhibits offered by their opponents. Jurors routinely create their own diagrams, charts, lists, etc. to visually organize and understand what they believe they heard and saw in the courtroom. Creating both an affirmative and defensive "visual strategy" for trial is as important as picking the theme for trial and requires planning and the proper foundation. Demonstrative exhibits are powerful tools that can be inaccurate or misleading--accidentally or intentionally. Too much, and the jury can be overwhelmed. The issue of misleading and inaccurate demonstrative exhibits and visual aids has fueled proposed amendments to Federal Rule of Evidence 6ll that could curtail their use or at least heighten the hurdles to using them. Professor Colin Miller Professor of Law University of South Carolina School of Law Justin Watkins Attorney Langdon & Emison Live CLE Webinar July 11th, 2023| 1:00PM Eastern This Strafford production has been specially selected for HB audiences. What is the difference between an exhibit and visual aid? Are demonstratives presumed acceptable unless objected to? In what ways [...]