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 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 Michael L. Mallow of Sidley Austin LLP and Paul R. Kiese of Kiesel Law LLP.

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.

Bridgeport’s Annual Consumer Class Action Conference explores and explains the changing landscape of consumer class actions.  This year’s program, which is geared towards the advanced practitioner, 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, 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 Kevin Ruf of Glancy, Prongay & Murray LLP and Bethany Kristovich of Munger, Tolles and Olson LLP.

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 of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and Eric Kingsley of Kingsley & Kingsley.

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 Catha Worthman of Feinberg Jackson Worthman & Wasow and Jeff Grube of Grube of Brown & Geidt LLP.

The most significant trade secret reform in decades is about to become law. The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA) will modernize and strengthen trade secret law and address a number of issues that trade secret owners commonly encountered under current laws.. Because trade secrets are a fundamental building block of California’s and the U.S. economy that help drive investment, innovation and economic growth, trade secret litigation and employee mobility cases are the hottest areas of intellectual property and employment litigation. Employees are getting laid off in record numbers, more and more senior level executives and employees are leaving one company to start or join a direct competitor. This program will provide participants with advice on how to protect company trade secrets, guard against employee raids, recruit from competitors without getting sued, and deal with the important issues that arise when employees leave to compete with their former employers.

The class action landscape continued to evolve dramatically in 2015, and 2016. The Campbell-Ewald Co., Spokeo and Tyson cases have been decided and issues such as Class Standing, Certification and Use of Statistical Evidence have changed. Arbitration, nationwide class certification, marketing reliance, actual injury and market remedial actions are still issues that dominate class action orders and opinions.  This program will explore the SCOTUS decisions and their impact on the plaintff and defense bar.

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.