The Psychology of Judgment:

Most lawyers are trained in a law school advocacy model that is geared for lawyers and not for jurors. For jurors, your facts are not enough. Your experts are not enough. Your witnesses are not enough. And the law is not enough. You need a story, a narrative, and the ability to communicate that story in a simple and effective way that gives it meaning and helps the jury know exactly what they need to do with your case. Because the difference between information and meaning is the difference between losing and winning.

The Science and Art of Evidence in the Civil Trial
Session 2: Direct- and Cross-Examination

The Science and Art of Evidence in the Civil Trial is a five-part series that will provide attendees with both substantive law and how-to-execute tools to be effective trial lawyers in both California state and federal courts. Session 1 will cover jury selection and opening statements; Session 2 will cover direct- and cross-examination of fact witnesses; Session 3 will cover direct- and cross-examination of expert witnesses; Session 4 will cover hearsay, other evidentiary exclusions, and privileges; and Session 5 will cover the admission / objection to documentary evidence and closing arguments.

Bridgeport’s Annual Class Action Conference explores and explains the changing landscape of class actions.  This year’s program, which is geared towards all practitioners, will include a review of the cases pending before the Ninth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court that will affect class action litigation, the Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017, the current state of the law on ascertainability and standing, combatting a presumption of reliance, material omissions, injunctive relief only cases, and a discussion of “hot topics,” including labeling disputes.  The program also will include a nuts-and-bolts roundtable discussion of tactics and techniques that will allow plaintiffs’ and defense attorneys to candidly share what techniques employed by their adversaries they find the most effective.  The program is co-chaired by Paul Bland of Public Justice and Neal Marder of Akin Gump.

In California, the Private Attorneys General Act PAGA poised to become the next "it" claim in wage and hour litigation? This program will explore the ever changing PAGA landscape, offering practitioner insight into how best to prepare for the anticipated uptick of representative action litigation.

Procedural Issues and Nuts and Bolts of PAGA – this panel will provide a full picture of what PAGA is, what violations give rise to PAGA liability, how PAGA claims are brought and litigated, and what remedies are available through PAGA.  The panel will describe:  the current procedure for exhausting a PAGA claim with the LWDA (including 2016 amendments); the potential involvement of the LWDA in investigating claims; the relationship between PAGA claims and class action principles; the state of the law on whether PAGA claims are “individual” or “representative” in nature; and how PAGA penalties are calculated.
 
PAGA trials – this panel will describe trial considerations unique to PAGA claims, including:  PAGA-only trials; PAGA claims tried in conjunction with class claims, along with related class definition questions; and how the “representative” nature of a PAGA claim plays out at trial.  The panel will survey examples of PAGA trials to date and identify open questions.
 
Settlement and Arbitration issues – this panel will discuss issues that arise when PAGA claims are subjected to motions to compel arbitration, including recent developments in the Ninth Circuit and California courts concerning “individual-only” arbitration clauses.  The panel will survey recent decisions by courts splitting PAGA and non-PAGA claims, and compelling the non-PAGA claims to arbitration.  The panel will discuss aspects of settlement of PAGA claims, including:  a comparison of the settlement approval process to the more familiar class action settlement approval process; and the valuation of PAGA penalties for purposes of alternative dispute resolution and, subsequently, court settlement approval.

In California, the Private Attorneys General Act PAGA poised to become the next "it" claim in wage and hour litigation? This program will explore the ever changing PAGA landscape, offering practitioner insight into how best to prepare for the anticipated uptick of representative action litigation.

Procedural Issues and Nuts and Bolts of PAGA – this panel will provide a full picture of what PAGA is, what violations give rise to PAGA liability, how PAGA claims are brought and litigated, and what remedies are available through PAGA.  The panel will describe:  the current procedure for exhausting a PAGA claim with the LWDA (including 2016 amendments); the potential involvement of the LWDA in investigating claims; the relationship between PAGA claims and class action principles; the state of the law on whether PAGA claims are “individual” or “representative” in nature; and how PAGA penalties are calculated.
 
PAGA trials – this panel will describe trial considerations unique to PAGA claims, including:  PAGA-only trials; PAGA claims tried in conjunction with class claims, along with related class definition questions; and how the “representative” nature of a PAGA claim plays out at trial.  The panel will survey examples of PAGA trials to date and identify open questions.
 
Settlement and Arbitration issues – this panel will discuss issues that arise when PAGA claims are subjected to motions to compel arbitration, including recent developments in the Ninth Circuit and California courts concerning “individual-only” arbitration clauses.  The panel will survey recent decisions by courts splitting PAGA and non-PAGA claims, and compelling the non-PAGA claims to arbitration.  The panel will discuss aspects of settlement of PAGA claims, including:  a comparison of the settlement approval process to the more familiar class action settlement approval process; and the valuation of PAGA penalties for purposes of alternative dispute resolution and, subsequently, court settlement approval.

The ability to plan and take outstanding depositions determines the value of your case, the outcome of dispositive motions, and who wins at trial. From developing the big picture down to formulating the narrowest questions, learn from a faculty of noted trial attorneys that has conducted more than 5,000 depositions. For many clients, your depositions are their only day in court. Make every question count! Learn techniques used by the best trial lawyers to get the most out of every deposition.

The Science and Art of Evidence in the Civil Trial
Session 1: Jury Selection and Opening Statements

The Science and Art of Evidence in the Civil Trial is a five-part series that will provide attendees with both substantive law and how-to-execute tools to be effective trial lawyers in both California state and federal courts. Session 1 will cover jury selection and opening statements; Session 2 will cover direct- and cross-examination of fact witnesses; Session 3 will cover direct- and cross-examination of expert witnesses; Session 4 will cover hearsay, other evidentiary exclusions, and privileges; and Session 5 will cover the admission / objection to documentary evidence and closing arguments.

Bridgeport’s Annual Consumer Class Action Conference explores and explains the changing landscape of consumer class actions.  This year’s program will include a review of the cases pending before the Supreme Court that will affect class action litigation, the current state of the law on ascertainability and standing, Standing to Pursue Statutory Claims, the Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017, Mooting Class Actions Through Unaccepted Offers of Judgment, CFPB’s Prohibition of Consumer Arbitration Agreements and a discussion of “hot topics,” including labeling  and data breach disputes.  The program also will include a nuts-and-bolts roundtable discussion of tactics and techniques that will allow plaintiffs’ and defense attorneys to candidly share what techniques employed by their adversaries they find the most effective.  The program is co-chaired by Kevin Ruf of Glancy, Prongay & Murray LLP and Bethany Kristovich of Munger, Tolles and Olson LLP.

An American courtroom is, by design, free of bias. Women in the legal profession, however,  face challenges not present in the experience of their male counterparts. In an attempt to understand gender bias and it’s impact in the courtroom, this program will include a discussion about the psychology of gender stereotyping and explore identifying, understanding and counteracting personal biases be it from clients, the court, jurors, colleagues or opposing counsel.

This program will explore how implicit gender bias may drive decisions behind what roles women lawyers and experts play and presents challenges to the success of women lawyers.  The program will include practical discussions led by attorneys who have thousands of hours of courtroom experience. This program, in its inaugural outing, will feature discussions of issues that women lawyers face in the courtroom, in depositions, in client meetings, and beyond.

Bridgeport’s annual Wage & Hour Update explores and explains in-depth, the critical and changing aspects of Wage & Hour litigation.  This year's program will focus on the ever increasing use of PAGA in wage and hour litigation; key developments in the case law such as Uber & Lyft, Duran; Iskanian; Ayala, interpreting the white collar exemptions, New Legislation, Regulations and Statutes and the enforcement and litigation of arbitration agreements.   The unique format for the program will feature an explanation and then discussion of the aforementioned topics. The program is co-chaired by Timothy J. Long, Orrick and Christina Humphrey, Humphrey & Rist, LLP.