Of the upcoming conferences focused on science and toxic torts, the broadest focus on new science will be at HarrisMartin’s DNA and Molecular Evidence in Toxic Torts Conference: A Scientific Revolution in Asbestos, Benzene and Environmental Litigation. It’s March 27 in Charleston, SC and is tied together with HarrisMartin’s March 26 Southeastern Asbestos litigation Conference.
The DNA and Molecular conference is focused mainly on presentations by scientists, some of whom are barely involved in litigation and others who are involved. The agenda also includes some "framing" remarks from lawyer conference co-chairs who actually have walked the genomics walk in trial. They are Howard E. Jarvis, of Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter, PLLC, Knoxville, TN, and Theodore P. Ray, ExxonMobil Corporation, Houston. Both actually have used genomics to help win trials in tough cases. And they are not newbies to the area – Ted co-chaired ACI’s 2010 Chemical Products Liability Conference, and Howard spoke at the conference. Yours truly will chip in some comments on genomics in general and as related to asbestos litigation, with the latter discussion mainly led by Dr. Allan Feingold, a one of a kind expert who testifies for both plaintiffs and defendants. Cellular changes and asbestos also will be addressed by Dr. Emanuel Rubin.
The full conference agenda is online, and is pasted below. As it shows, the scientists will dominate the conference presentations, and all are top notch. The speakers from ArrayXpress will especially open some eyes with their talks about how they do what they do, and data sharing. They are Len van Zyl, Ph.D., CEO and CSO, and Michael Zapata III. Check out this page from Array’s web site. And, really smart people from Rosetta Genomics will help lawyers learn about the amazing influences and roles of microRNA. Among other things, these tiny segments of about 21 nucleotides may help you better understand trial risks.
7:30 a.m. – 8:20 a.m.
Continental Breakfast & Registration
8:20 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Welcome By Co-Chairs
Howard E. Jarvis, Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter, PLLC, Knoxville, TN
Kirk T. Hartley, LSP Group LLC
Theodore P. Ray, ExxonMobil Corporation, Houston
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Daubert and the Admissibility of Gene Expression Testing
Howard E. Jarvis, Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter, PLLC, Knoxville, TN
E. Paige Sensenbrenner, Adams and Reese, LLP, New Orleans
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Application of Genomics and Genetic Technologies in Toxic Tort Litigation
Len van Zyl, Ph.D., CEO and CSO, ArrayXpress, Inc., Raleigh, NC
Michael Zapata III, ArrayXpress, Inc. Raleigh, NC
Kimberly A. Martin, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP, Charleston, WV
9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Asbestos Medicine
Emanuel Rubin, M.D., Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Pathology, Anatomy & Cell Biology, Philadelphia
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
The Use of Genomic Research and Data in Toxic Tort Causation Claims
Steve C. Gold, Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Environmental Law Clinic, Rutgers School of Law, Newark, NJ
Herschel Hobson, Ph.D., Hobson & Bradley, Beaumont, TX
Kirk Hartley, LSP Group LLC, Chicago
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Ethics: The Medical and Legal Implications of Gene Testing
D. Mark Jackson, Bassi Edlin Huie & Blum LLP, San Francisco
John B. Sullivan, M.D., MBA, Medical Toxicology & Environmental Health, President Health Effects Group, Tucson, AZ
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
MicroRNAs in Mesothelioma and other Malignancies
E. Robert Wassman, M.D., FAAP, FACMG, Rosetta Genomics Inc., Philadelphia
Steven Miller, Rosetta Genomics Inc., Philadelphia
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Epidemiology
• Solvent vs. Radiation
David G. Hoel, Ph.D., Exponent Inc., Alexandria, VA
Stan Perry, Reed Smith, Houston
Raphael Metzger, Metzger Law Group, Long Beach, CA
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Refreshment Break
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Toxicogenomics: Occupational and Environmental Exposures
Carla J. Kinslow, Ph.D., Environ, Houston
Dean T. Howell, Woolf, McClane, Bright, Allen & Carpenter, PLLC, Knoxville, TN
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Linking DNA Signatures to Litigation Strategies
Allan Feingold, M.D., FRCP(c), FCCP, Feingold Medical Legal, Miami
Kirk T. Hartley, LSP Group LLC, Chicago
5:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Networking Cocktail Reception
Comments