Current Issues in Class Action Defense: Trends, Innovations, Strategy, and Practical Insights
Preparing for More Lawsuits, More Expansive Theories, and More Determined Plaintiffs
Recording of a 90-minute CLE video webinar with Q&A
This CLE webinar will discuss current, significant trends in class action defense related to settlement amounts, certification rates, and availability of arbitration, as well as analyze some prime drivers of the surge in class litigation, such as the role of government enforcement actions, the explosion of privacy statutes, and changes in the substantive law. The panel will examine how these trends inform defense strategy on critical decisions regarding, for example, forum selection and removal, pre-certification discovery, selection and retention of experts, settlement strategy, and other issues.
Outline
- Trends and developments
- Strategies in key areas
Benefits
The panel will review these and other important questions:
- What should companies and their counsel expect in future class action litigation?
- What questions about venue and removal need to be answered immediately after service of process?
- Will jurisdictional defenses help or hurt the company's long-term goals?
- Should defendants ever elect not to enforce an arbitration agreement?
Faculty
Gerald L. Maatman, Jr.
Partner, Chair Class Action Defense Group
Duane Morris
Mr. Maatman has nearly four decades of experience practicing law and has defended some of the most... | Read More
Mr. Maatman has nearly four decades of experience practicing law and has defended some of the most significant bet-the-company cases ever filed against corporate America. He has represented companies, executive teams and boards across the country in class action litigation, ranging in size from thousands to hundreds of thousands of claims by employees. Among Mr. Maatman's accomplishments, he defended and defeated the largest systemic enforcement action ever brought in the history of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the first Attorney General prosecution of a Wall Street company for workplace discrimination and harassment, and the largest wage and hour class and collective actions ever brought in Florida and New York. While he is known to be a fierce litigator, Mr. Maatman also helps his clients anticipate large-scale litigation risks before they happen to prevent issues that could turn into litigation. Mr. Maatman pioneered the process of conducting employment-practices audits to assist employers in structuring effective and practical personnel policies and protocols. He also writes and lectures extensively on class action and employment litigation topics. Mr. Maatman has authored six books on employment law topics and has spoken to employer groups throughout the United States, as well as in Asia, Europe, Canada and Mexico.
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Jennifer A. Riley
Partner, Vice Chair Workplace Class Action Group
Duane Morris
Ms. Riley has defended companies faced with significant complex litigation matters for more than two decades. She... | Read More
Ms. Riley has defended companies faced with significant complex litigation matters for more than two decades. She regularly defends companies facing class actions, collective actions, pattern or practice lawsuits, and other types of representative proceedings, ranging in size from dozens to tens of thousands of claims. Ms. Riley has represented clients facing bet-the-company cases in a wide range of complex civil litigation matters in federal and state courts across the country. She also provides counsel to employers seeking to navigate thorny issues, including investigations, compliance, and terminations. Ms. Riley is a regular speaker, author, and presenter regarding class action issues, legal developments, and challenges that companies may face in the future.
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