WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2023

2:50 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. | Mock, Mock. Who’s There? It’s Me…The Terrifying Underbelly of Jury Deliberations
This session will provide an informative and intriguing peek behind the curtain of jury deliberations in a mock trial related to a real-life wrongful death case that resulted from a convenience store shooting. Watch (and shudder) as plaintiff and defense presentations are analyzed by two geographically diverse juror panels, underscoring how the exact same evidence can be interpreted so differently depending on the juror makeup. In addition to testing key arguments and case issues that USLAW clients frequently encounter, the presentation aims to demonstrate how and when focus groups can or should be used to develop and test case themes and identify unforeseen landmines. The program will include video footage of the parties’ case presentations, video commentary from the jurors, and an open discussion among clients and lawyers of what was learned from the presentation and how mock trials and focus group presentations may be used to better defend pending or future cases. Data regarding the demographics of the two diverse jury panels will be presented to identify trends and expected outcomes in different jurisdictions. The Insights Focus Group and analysis was conducted by IMS Consulting & Expert Services, USLAW’s official corporate partner.

Session Facilitators:

• Sean R. Burnett, Snyder Burnett Egerer, LLP (Santa Barbara, CA)
• Meghan M. Goodwin, Thorndal, Armstrong, Delk, Balkenbush & Eisinger (Las Vegas, NV)
• Michael J. Judy, Dysart Taylor (Kansas City, MO)
• Thomas G. Williams, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC (Little Rock, AR)

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023

8:00 A.M. – 9:15 A.M. | Nightmare in the Dairy Aisle…Or the Hotel Lobby…Or the Restaurant Parking Lot…Now What?
After a violent event, a store, hotel or restaurant has to make sure the threat has ended, the victim is taken care of and the scene secured. Now it is a crime scene. You cooperate fully with the police and first responders. What happens next? Those next 6 to 8 hours can be critical to your business and your patrons. You have a checklist – what is on it? What is not on it and needs to be? Your employees are traumatized – what do you do for them? Do you close the restaurant? For how long? What do you say to the reporters and photographers who flock to your store…to your hotel guests, your patrons, your customers…to your friends in the community who want to know what happened? Do you reach out to all of your 100+ store employees to determine whether any of them know the perpetrator?

With the assistance of our guest, Jon D. Groussman, J.D., President of Lowers & Associates, we will discuss the important steps and decisions retailers, hoteliers and restauranteurs have to make in the immediate aftermath of an event and the long term repercussions of those decisions.

Session Facilitators:

• Constantine “Dean” G. Nickas, Wicker Smith (Coral Gables, FL)
• Elizabeth G. Stouder, Richardson, Whitman, Large & Badger (Portland, ME)

9:30 A.M. – 10:15 A.M. | Passing the Buck – Strategies for Drafting Effective Contractual Language Relating to Tender, Defense, and Indemnification Obligations
This session will explore pre-litigation strategies for improving your agreements between landlords and tenants (as well as third party vendors) to ensure that those with legal obligations to protect timely, step up to the plate. The session will also explore the implementation of effective litigation strategies designed to minimize the potential disruptions of existing business relationships.

Session Facilitators:

• Noble F. Allen, Hinckley Allen (Hartford, CT)
• Frank Gattuso, Sweeney & Sheehan, P.C. (Philadelphia, PA)
• Merton A. Howard, Hanson Bridgett LLP (San Francisco, CA)

10:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. | Hot Topics

Session Facilitators:

• Jacqueline Bushwack, Rivkin Radler LLP (Uniondale, NY) 
• Colleen E. Hastie, Traub Lieberman (Hawthorne, NY) 
• Thomas S. Thornton, III, Carr Allison (Birmingham, AL)