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Ohio Supreme Court Ruling Sends Important Reminder: Long-Standing, Fundamental Principles of Insurance Policy Construction and Law Are Applicable to Cyber Claims

June 16th, 2023|Categories: Emerging Litigation & Risk, HB Emerging Law Notes, HB Tort Notes, Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation, New Featured Post for Home Page, Tort Litigation|Tags: , , , , , , , |

The Authors Judy Selby (judy.selby@kennedyslaw.com) is a Partner at Kennedys (New York) where she focuses her practice primarily on insurance coverage matters with a concentration in coverage for exposures arising out of emerging technology, digital, and compliance risks. Tracey M.Kline (tracey.kline@kennedyslaw.com) is an Associate at Kennedys (Philadelphia) where she focuses her practice primarily on insurance coverage litigation and cyber matters. Interviews with leading attorneys and other subject matter experts on new twists in the law and how the law is responding to new twists in the world. Ohio Supreme Court Ruling Sends Important Reminder: Long-Standing, Fundamental Principles of Insurance Policy Construction and Law Are Applicable to Cyber Claims Abstract: On December 27, 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a business owner’s property insurance policy issued by Owners Insurance Co. to EMOI Services, LLC did not afford coverage for losses sustained in a ransomware attack because computer software is “entirely intangible” and “cannot experience ‘direct physical loss or physical damage.’” EMOI Servs., LLC. v. Owners Ins. Co., 2022-Ohio-4649 (Ohio 2022). In doing so, the court reversed an attention-getting split decision by the lower appellate court. This article takes an in-depth look at the case and discusses its significant implications. The Ohio Supreme Court’s decision was based on its commonsense [...]

Combating Plaintiff Reptilian Tactics in Complex Litigation: Discovery, Voir Dire, Direct and Cross-Examination

June 9th, 2023|Categories: Emerging Issues Webinars, Featured On-Demand, HB Tort Notes, New Webinars, Tort Litigation, Tort Webinars|Tags: , , , |

Combating Plaintiff Reptilian Tactics in Complex Litigation: Discovery, Voir Dire, Direct and Cross-Examination Plaintiff attorneys use "reptile theory" to get larger plaintiff verdicts by appealing to the primal region of jurors' brains focused on safety and self-preservation. "Reptile" tactics seek to subtly lead the jury to believe that the defendant put all of society in danger and that a plaintiff's verdict is the only way to keep the world safe for themselves and others. Its proponents credit reptile theory for $6 billion-plus in jury verdicts, including a single $50 million verdict in a wrongful death case. To be most effective, reptilian theory tactics are deployed during every phase of a case, including discovery, opening statement, direct- and cross-examination, and closing argument. Defense attorneys must spot when reptilian tactics are being used and develop strategies for nullifying them. Listen as our authoritative panel of litigators shares how to defend against these tactics and create the best opportunity for success at trial. Beth C. Boggs Managing Partner Boggs Avellino Lach & Boggs Matthew D. Gurbach Partner Bricker Graydon Kathryn Whitlock Partner Bricker Graydon LIVE Webinar June 27th 2023| 1:00PM Eastern This Strafford production has been specially selected for HB audiences. What is the underlying basis for "reptilian" theory trial tactics? How are plaintiffs' attorneys leveraging reptile tactics to influence jurors? How [...]

Combating Plaintiff Reptilian Tactics in Complex Litigation: Discovery, Voir Dire, Direct and Cross-Examination

June 9th, 2023|Categories: Emerging Issues Webinars, Featured On-Demand, HB Tort Notes, New Webinars, Tort Litigation, Tort Webinars|Tags: , , , |

Combating Plaintiff Reptilian Tactics in Complex Litigation: Discovery, Voir Dire, Direct and Cross-Examination Plaintiff attorneys use "reptile theory" to get larger plaintiff verdicts by appealing to the primal region of jurors' brains focused on safety and self-preservation. "Reptile" tactics seek to subtly lead the jury to believe that the defendant put all of society in danger and that a plaintiff's verdict is the only way to keep the world safe for themselves and others. Its proponents credit reptile theory for $6 billion-plus in jury verdicts, including a single $50 million verdict in a wrongful death case. To be most effective, reptilian theory tactics are deployed during every phase of a case, including discovery, opening statement, direct- and cross-examination, and closing argument. Defense attorneys must spot when reptilian tactics are being used and develop strategies for nullifying them. Listen as our authoritative panel of litigators shares how to defend against these tactics and create the best opportunity for success at trial. Beth C. Boggs Managing Partner Boggs Avellino Lach & Boggs Matthew D. Gurbach Partner Bricker Graydon Kathryn Whitlock Partner Bricker Graydon LIVE Webinar June 27th 2023| 1:00PM Eastern This Strafford production has been specially selected for HB audiences. What is the underlying basis for "reptilian" theory trial tactics? How are plaintiffs' attorneys leveraging reptile tactics to influence jurors? How [...]

Product Liability Claims Against Overseas Manufacturers and Suppliers Lacking Presence or Assets in the U.S.

June 6th, 2023|Categories: Emerging Issues Webinars, Featured On-Demand, HB Tort Notes, New Webinars, Tort Litigation, Tort Webinars|Tags: , , , |

Product Liability Claims Against Overseas Manufacturers and Suppliers Lacking Presence or Assets in the U.S. How Businesses Outsourcing Production Protect Themselves. What Injured Plaintiffs Can Do to Recover. Many products sold by U.S. businesses are made thousands of miles away by a company that has no presence or assets within the United States. If that finished product or a component in that product causes personal injury or property damage due to a defect or failure to warn, both the injured party and the U.S. seller may wish to recover damages from the overseas producer either directly or by way of indemnification. Before contracting with overseas producers, and in particular those in China, businesses must carefully negotiate and meticulously document their arrangements. U.S. plaintiffs--whether businesses or individuals--seeking redress from manufacturing defendants that have no, or intentionally superficial, presence within the U.S. must first identify recoverable assets before they attempt to file suit in the U.S. or another jurisdiction. Dan Harris Founder Harris Bricken Kenneth Krys Executive Chairman & Founder KRyS Global CLE On Demand This Strafford production has been specially selected for HB audiences. How does a business manufacturing overseas protect itself on the front end? Can injured plaintiffs leverage the agreements between the U.S. company and its non-U.S. manufacturer to obtain recovery? What should be considered before filing [...]

New State Data Privacy Laws in California and Other States: Corporate Counsel Compliance Guidance

June 6th, 2023|Categories: Emerging Issues Webinars, Featured On-Demand, HB Tort Notes, New Webinars, Tort Litigation, Tort Webinars|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

New State Data Privacy Laws in California and Other States Corporate Counsel Compliance Guidance Currently, there is no omnibus federal privacy law in effect in the United States--only issue or industry-related laws such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act for financial institutions and COPPA for children online. Instead, privacy laws consist of a patchwork of various state laws with ever-growing complexity. In 2023, California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah comprehensive state privacy laws are scheduled to go into effect along with several other states proposing legislation. All five privacy laws define "personal data" and "personal information" broadly and California now covers human resources and business-to-business data subjects in addition to traditional consumers. Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah borrow some key terms and definitions from the EU General Data Protection Regulation and others from the California regime. All give residents more control over their personal data, especially regarding third-party disclosures and use for advertising.The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) amends and broadens the California Consumer Privacy Act that was passed in 2020. The CPRA is the only one of the five state privacy laws that creates a private right of action, which is limited to certain data security incidents. it contains increased penalties for violations related to a minor's data. Also, CPRA creates a new enforcement and rulemaking body, the California Privacy Protection [...]

Digital Health Care Companies, Beware: Federal Agencies Are Tracking Your Use of Online Tracking Technologies

June 1st, 2023|Categories: Emerging Litigation & Risk, HB Emerging Law Notes, HB Tort Notes, Journal on Emerging Issues in Litigation, New Featured Post for Home Page, Tort Litigation|Tags: , , , , , , |

The Authors Patricia A. Markus (trish.markus@nelsonmullins.com) represents health care providers and health technology companies across the country on wide-ranging regulatory compliance, reimbursement, licensure, and operational matters, with a special focus on issues surrounding health information privacy, security, and technology. Shane Duer (shane.duer@nelsonmullins.com) focuses his practice on healthcare regulatory and corporate matters, with an emphasis on data privacy, cyber security, and information management concerns within and beyond the health care industry. Interviews with leading attorneys and other subject matter experts on new twists in the law and how the law is responding to new twists in the world. Digital Health Care Companies, Beware  Federal Agencies Are Tracking Your Use of Online Tracking Technologies. Abstract: Health care industry stakeholders have regularly used online tracking technologies to help improve patient experience. However, growing scrutiny by the Office for Civil Rights, which enforces the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), requires covered entities and business associates to proceed cautiously in their use of such technologies. In addition, recent enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission make clear that a wide range of digital health companies, whether or not regulated by HIPAA, must tread carefully when collecting and disclosing personal information related to health, especially where consumers’ location data is to be used for [...]

Legal Issues With Blockchain in Banking and Fintech: Implementing New Applications | 5.24.2023

April 6th, 2023|Categories: Emerging Issues Webinars, Featured On-Demand, HB Tort Notes, New Webinars, Tort Litigation, Tort Webinars|Tags: , , , , , , |

Legal Issues With Blockchain in Banking and Fintech: Implementing New Applications Leveraging DLT Platforms for Recordkeeping, Payments, KYC, and More; Concerns With Regulation, Privacy, Adaptation DLT is widely considered to be a disruptive force in the banking and financial services industries. Through a decentralized, peer-to-peer networked database, transactions are verified, monitored, and enforced without a third-party intermediary, reducing costs and providing real-time information to network participants. The best known use of blockchain is bitcoin, but banks and fintech companies are using DLT platforms for other purposes, including account records, trading and financial transactions, KYC protocols, and loan and payment processing. DLT is inherently more secure and less susceptible to fraud than centralized platforms, but there are challenges to implementing DLT. Counsel will need an understanding of the technology as well as the legal ramifications of blockchain, including concerns with privacy, integration into existing systems, regulatory uncertainty, and scalability. Listen as our authoritative panel discusses the potential applications of blockchain technology and its advantages over centralized platforms concerning authentication, data security, and cost-efficiency. The panel will also address the legal and logistical issues to consider in implementing DLT. Michael C. Egan Partner Cooley Rebecca J. Simmons Partner Sullivan & Cromwell CLE Live Webinar 90-minute premium CLE video webinar with interactive Q&A Wednesday, May 24, 2023 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT | 10:00am-11:30am [...]

AI Image Generators and Copyright: Eligibility in the U.S., UK, EU, and More; Fair Use, Derivative Works, Liability

April 6th, 2023|Categories: Emerging Issues Webinars, Featured On-Demand, HB Tort Notes, New Webinars, Tort Litigation, Tort Webinars|Tags: , , , , , , |

AI Image Generators and Copyright: Eligibility in the U.S., UK, EU, and More; Fair Use, Derivative Works, Liability AI programs are now readily available for all. Stability AI, Lensa, and other AI image creation tools create original works of art, raising the question of IP protection for such art. The United States requires human authorship in order to obtain copyright protection, and so far, the U.S. Copyright Office has declined to grant copyright registrations for AI-created works of art based on a lack of human authorship (one of these decisions is being challenged in Thaler v. Perlmutter (D.D.C. filed June 2, 2022)). While some countries take a similar approach to the US, others treat the issue of copyright eligibility for AI-generated art quite differently and provide at least some protection of computer generated works. Questions have also been raised as to whether AI-generated images constitute derivative works and whether such images and the AI generation tools used to create them infringe third-party copyrights, or whether the fair use doctrine or other defenses may apply. The first lawsuits involving image generators have now been filed raising copyright claims in addition to other claims. Listen as our authoritative panel of IP attorneys examines AI image generators and the associated copyright issues. The panel will discuss eligibility in the U.S. and the recent actions by the Copyright [...]

Contaminated Sites and Long-Term Stewardship: Meeting Obligations for Residual Contamination

April 6th, 2023|Categories: Emerging Issues Webinars, Featured On-Demand, HB Tort Notes, New Webinars, Tort Litigation, Tort Webinars|Tags: , , , , |

Contaminated Sites and Long-Term Stewardship: Meeting Obligations for Residual Contamination Best Practices for Counsel in Implementing, Maintaining, and Enforcing LTS Potential LTS obligations often flow from residual contamination. These obligations frequently center on the vapor intrusion (VI) pathway. VI is the migration of vapor-forming chemicals from any subsurface source into an overlying building. This evolving inhalation "pathway" presents significant challenges and complicates environmental remediation for Brownfield development projects, real estate transactions, and management of commercial/industrial real estate portfolios. The U.S. EPA's national Institutional Control (IC) Policy provides important guidance for investigation and remediation, and ultimately closing, contaminated sites. The IC Policy outlines an approach to help meet potential LTS obligations for managing residual risk and achieve site closure. LTS is an increasing part of cleanup programs to get contaminated properties ready for beneficial reuse. Ongoing monitoring and maintenance (especially for the VI pathway) are needed to ensure continued protection of human health and the environment. Environmental counsel to companies must understand the legal risks from the contaminated sites, when and how to implement LTS, what needs to be done to ensure LTS obligations are met, and the new LTS tools and technologies available to tailor a site-specific approach. Listen as our panel of experts examines LTS and what that includes from a monitoring plan to reporting requirements. The panel will discuss the viability of remedies [...]

Managing Class Representative Discovery: Plaintiffs’ Strategies for Winning Certification

April 6th, 2023|Categories: Emerging Issues Webinars, Featured On-Demand, HB Tort Notes, New Webinars, Tort Litigation, Tort Webinars|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Statistics in Class Certification and at Trial: Leveraging and Attacking Statistical Evidence Lessons From Recent Cases on the Use of Statistics to Prove Classwide Liability and Damages Increasingly, statistical evidence is used by both sides to argue the makeup of the class, damages, liability, and certification in every type of case: employment, data breach, ESG, antitrust, consumer product, and commercial class action cases. Economists and practitioners can use statistics to measure the impact on individual members and show where there is no impact.Building on Wal-Mart Stores v. Dukes, Comcast v. Behrend, and Tyson Foods v. Bouaphakeo, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal recently explored the use of statistical expert evidence in satisfying relevant requirements under Rule 23(b)(3) in Olean Wholesale Grocery Co-op Inc. v. Bumble Foods L.L.C. and once again shifted the certification landscape.Class action lawyers must be able to analyze both the methodology and inferential process that produce statistical evidence, and their effect on admissibility, relevance, and strength of the resulting evidence.Listen as our experienced panel of practitioners examines the use of statistics in class litigation and the implications of recent case law for class litigators seeking to use or restrict these kinds of evidence during class certification and trial. James Finberg Partner Altshuler Berzon Aphrodite Kokolis Counsel Schiff Hardin ON-Demand CLE Webinar This Strafford production has been specially selected for HB audiences. What are [...]

Managing Class Representative Discovery: Plaintiffs’ Strategies for Winning Certification

April 4th, 2023|Categories: Emerging Issues Webinars, Featured On-Demand, HB Tort Notes, New Webinars, Tort Litigation, Tort Webinars|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Managing Class Representative Discovery: Plaintiffs' Strategies for Winning Certification Preparing for Discovery Pre-Suit, Negotiating Fair Protocols, Defending Depositions, and Responding To Written Discovery Class representative discovery is an essential component of establishing Rule 23 class certification. Experienced plaintiffs' counsel will need to be well-versed in the many defense strategies for eliciting class representative testimony and discovery that could undermine the claims in a class action lawsuit and challenge class certification. Preparing for discovery begins before the case is filed, and class representatives must thoroughly understand their obligations in the discovery process. Plaintiffs’ counsel must think through and negotiate protocols related to several topics that affect the scope of discovery, including protective orders ESI protocols. Plaintiffs’ counsel must also carefully guide their class representatives through written discovery and depositions, where the class representatives’ responses are critical to the case. Listen as this panel of esteemed class action plaintiffs' lawyers shares strategies on how to best handle class representative discovery and avoid common issues that could present challenges at class certification. David Fernandes Attorney Baron & Budd Phong-Chau G. Nguyen Partner Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein Now On Demand! Recorded: 4/4/2023  90 Minutes What are the most difficult issues for plaintiffs to navigate during discovery? What protocols are the most important? What types of questioning techniques might be anticipated [...]

Insurance Coverage for Claims Alleging Breach of Preexisting Duty: Limitations on the Eaton Vance Rule

April 4th, 2023|Categories: Emerging Issues Webinars, Featured On-Demand, HB Tort Notes, New Webinars, Tort Litigation, Tort Webinars|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Insurance Coverage for Claims Alleging Breach of Preexisting Duty: Limitations on the Eaton Vance Rule Determining the Source of the Insureds Obligation to Pay an Underlying Claim Liability insurance covers, among other things, an insured’s legal obligation to pay damages to a third party arising out of a claim against the insured for breach of a duty owed to that third party. But what if the damages the insured becomes liable to pay – whether by settlement or court order after a judgment – constitute nothing more than amounts the insured already had a pre-existing contractual or statutory duty to pay, irrespective of whether any claim had been made alleging a breach? This latter category of damages is generally not covered by liability insurance because the insured’s obligation to pay does not result from the third-party “claim”; rather, it results from the pre-existing contractual or statutory obligation. The distinction between covered and non-covered damages for breach of a pre-existing duty is often difficult to see and even harder to explain coherently, for attorneys and judges alike. A significant body of confusing – and sometimes inaccurate, contradictory, and inartfully worded – case law has developed on these issues. Relying on these cases, it is now relatively common for insurers to look for every opportunity to disclaim indemnity coverage for any claim seeking damages based [...]

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