Emerging Litigation Podcast
When Chemical Crises Strike with Ed Gentle and Kip Benson
Soon after emergency response teams scramble into action to address chemical fires, explosions, or other toxic events, attorneys begin gathering and analyzing information either to mitigate corporate risk or to seek remedies for anyone impacted by such an event. Listen to our interview with Edgar C. "Ed" Gentle III and Katherine "Kip" Benson of Gentle, Turner & Benson LLC, about legal activity that goes on in the immediate aftermath of a toxic event. Ed and Kip draw on their deep experience resolving this type of litigation to discuss the flurry of activity that unfolds at law firms and inside legal departments within hours of a disaster.
The EPA’s New PFAS Safe Drinking Water Rule with John Gardella
In this episode, we dive into one of the hottest topics in environmental law right now: PFAS. Specifically, our guest, John Gardella of CMBG3 Law talks about the EPA’s new PFAS Safe Drinking Water Final Rule, which mandates acceptable levels of PFAS in public water systems. John is a leading voice in PFAS litigation and a recognized thought leader, known for his expertise in environmental and toxic tort litigation. Tune in now!
The Long and Brawny Arm of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act with Mark Bini and Tom Suddath
Hey! Corporate corruption costs $5 trillion a year! In this episode two former prosecutors talk about the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the government’s leading weapon in its global war on corporate crime. They also talk about the new statute on the block, the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act, and the many complexities of this fascinating area of the law. Check out our interview with Reed Smith attorneys Mark Bini and Tom Suddath. They know this area of the law inside and out.
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Emerging Litigation Journal
Injunction against Trump’s DEI executive orders unlikely to stem massive wave of ‘reverse discrimination’ lawsuits
Justin Ward examines the recent federal court injunction against President Trump’s executive orders targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. While the ruling temporarily halts enforcement of these orders, legal experts suggest it’s unlikely to slow the growing wave of “reverse discrimination” lawsuits. Since the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard, more than 100 claims alleging discrimination against majority groups have been filed. Additionally, state legislation and an upcoming Supreme Court case, Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, could further lower the bar for such claims, potentially fueling even more litigation.
2025 California Wildfires Prompt Wave of Suits
Bret Thurman provides an in-depth look at the surge of legal actions stemming from the catastrophic 2025 California wildfires, which caused widespread destruction across Southern California. He explores the numerous lawsuits filed against major utility companies like Southern California Edison (SCE) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), as well as actions against landlords accused of price gouging in the wake of the disaster. Key legal theories include negligence, inverse condemnation, and public nuisance, with plaintiffs arguing that mismanagement, delayed responses, and regulatory failures significantly contributed to the scale of the devastation. These cases could set important legal precedents for disaster liability and corporate accountability in California and beyond.
Fall bellwether trials for social media addiction cases to test novel legal theories
Are social media platforms the next Big Tobacco? A major lawsuit argues they’re designed to be addictive—will the courts agree? Justin Ward explores the upcoming bellwether trials against major social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. The consolidated lawsuits, involving over 1,900 claims, argue these platforms are deliberately designed to exploit young users and cause addiction—drawing comparisons to cases against nicotine and opioids. Ward examines the complex legal challenges, including First Amendment issues and Section 230 protections, as courts determine whether these claims of negligence and failure to warn will move forward. The trials could set major precedents for social media regulation and corporate accountability.
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Resolving Litigation with AI with Jeff Trueman & John T. Sly
Join full-time mediator and arbitrator Jeff Trueman and practicing attorney John Sly for a CLE webinar focused on enhancing your understanding of how AI can assist with your work, specifically how it can be used to handle disputes more efficiently, facilitate improved decision-making, and leverage predictive capabilities to achieve optimal outcomes in dispute resolution.
Defense of Data Breach Class Actions: Key Trends, Rulings, and Settlements
Data breach class actions have emerged as one of the fastest growing areas in the complex litigation space, forcing companies to navigate evolving cybersecurity risks, negative publicity, and costly litigation as a result. Litigation was particularly notable in 2023, with a record-breaking number of filings and several high-profile cases resulting in substantial settlements. The sheer volume of individuals affected by data breaches has grown significantly, leading to larger classes and subsequently higher settlement demands. Furthermore, the nature of the data being compromised is becoming more sensitive – including financial and health information – which increases the potential damages awarded in these cases. Join experienced class action defense litigators Gerald L. Maatman, Jr. and Jennifer A. Riley for a high-level breakdown of the data breach class action landscape through analysis of key trends, rulings, and litigation strategies.
Copyrightability of AI Generated Work
Take this webinar featuring Perkins Coie LLP attorneys Lisa Ortiz and Sean West to gain a better understanding of the challenge of determining human authorship in AI-generated works, the guidance and disclosure rules established by the Copyright Office, the importance of addressing copyright ownership and usage rights in AI-related license agreements, and the implications of joint ownership of AI models and output. Learn about the categories of work in which AI is being applied in the practice of law, e.g., legal research, document drafting, deposition preparation, and discovery review. Understand the various risks associated with AI, e.g., biased and inaccurate outputs, unauthorized disclosures of private data, and intellectual property infringement. Get an overview of governmental regulation and guidance. Finally, start your journey to develop best practices in establishing AI governance teams and processes with an eye toward complying with regulations and mitigating risk. Check it out!
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