Live Webinars

What Every Class Counsel Needs To Know About Insurance Coverage

Insurer-appointed counsel in defense of class claims often are quick to say, “I don’t do insurance coverage work.”  Oh, yes you do, whether you think so or not.  A host of issues often arise during the course of your representation that may affect your client’s rights to coverage under an insurance policy, whether you are aware of them or not.  How you handle covered and non-covered claims, covered and non-covered damages, apportionment in billing, and settlement contributions, all present serious financial risks to your policyholder client.  Knowing what those risks are, and how to work through them, is essential for your representation in the tripartite relationship between you, the insurance company, and your policyholder client.

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.
 
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.
 

Bridgeport's Deposition Workshop is now a series of three teleConferences! Each teleConference is tied together and will include concepts relating to conducting and defending depositions in the era of Covid-19. 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 second installment in this series will feature a lively talk on taking depositions with a focus on using them at trial. The program will offer an opportunity to watch deposition testimony and see how it was used to win a $160,000,000 verdict.

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.

This program will focus on the 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.  The second part of the webinar will concentrate on calculating and arguing for PAGA penalties.
 

Gender Issues in the Practice of Law will be an open forum discussion of issues faced by women inside and outside of the courtroom.  The faculty includes women from all facets of law, including judges, partners in big law firms, and solo practitioners.  

The program will feature two distinctive, but connected roundtable discussions. The first hour will focus on matters within the practice of law in law firms or other legal departments. The second area of discussion will focus on courtroom issues. An example of topics to be addressed include such issues as maintaining partnership track, pay equity, and experiences unique to women inside and outside the courtroom.  The goal is to have a transparent discussion that helps and encourages women in a safe environment. Questions will be encouraged from audience members.