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The 2017 DTCI Annual Conference will be held Nov. 16-17 at the French Lick Springs Resort in French Lick. Because this year also marks the 50th anniversary of Indiana’s defense counsel organization, the association leadership is planning a memorable event.
Kori Chambers (Indiana University Health Risk Retention Group) is the conference chair and responsible for planning the annual meeting. She has lined up a tremendous group of presenters. On Thursday, Nov. 16, each of the substantive law sections will host a separate educational opportunity. These include Construction Law, Business Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Product Liability, Health Care Litigation, Employment Law, Trial Tactics and Worker’s Compensation.
A few highlights of the Thursday breakouts include Adam Ira (Kightlinger & Gray) for Insurance Coverage presenting an Overview of Cyber-Related Insurance Policies and Coverages. This is a growing area for coverage issue litigation and we are looking forward to his presentation. In addition, the Business Litigation Section will hold a panel discussion on the Finer Points of 30(b)(6) Depositions. The Construction Law Section will sponsor Amy Gray, Ph.D., P.E., who will present Best Practices for Responding to Explosion Claims. Dr. Gray, a senior consultant at Engineering Systems Inc. in Charlotte, North Carolina, has performed expert analysis and assistance in explosions involving pressurized vessels and other industrial explosions. Also on Thursday, John Maley (Barnes & Thornburg) will be offering his seasoned advice on Professionalism and Civility in Employment Litigation. Rounding out the Thursday program will be presentations on Trends in Product Liability Litigation, Economic Damages in Catastrophic Injury Cases, Worker’s Comp Year in Review and Affordable Technology in the Courtroom.
Mary Reeder (Reid Hospital and Health Care Services), Kelly Pitcher (Clendening Johnson & Bohrer) and Beth Knotts (Hill Fulwider) will lead a panel discussion for the Women in the Law Breakfast entitled, “Progress, Purpose and Passion.” This is a ticketed event, and I understand is a “can’t miss” for women in the law.
Perhaps the most anticipated event is Thursday’s lunch production and performance of “The Attitude Guy,” Sam Glenn. Sam has been awarded the Speaker of the Year by both Meetings and Events Magazine and Meeting Professionals International. His inspirational, motivational and entertaining speech will be the highlight of the conference. “Attitude Changes Everything” is accurate, even in the practice of law. I don’t know how Kori managed to book him, but we are grateful she did!
Friday’s sessions promise to be as stimulating and interesting as Thursday’s. Anna Mallon, Jim Strenski, Keith Mundrick and Paul Mackowski, all of Cantrell Strenski & Mehringer, will present an Insurance Law Primer. A presentation by ThemeVision and DTCI attorneys will be on Why Facts Aren’t Always Persuasive — Juror Decision-Making.
There are many more outstanding presentations and activities incorporated in the two-day event.
The conference will also mark the end of a very productive year for our DTCI president, Michele Bryant (Wooden & McLaughlin). Michele has donated countless hours to our organization, and we greatly appreciate her guidance and leadership over the past year. Longtime DTCI member Rob Thornburg (Frost Brown Todd) will take over as president for 2018.
The Gala Committee in charge of the evening festivities comprises not only Michele Bryant and Kori Chambers, but also Tom Schultz (Schultz & Pogue), John Trimble (Lewis Wagner), Jim Strenski (Cantrell Strenski & Mehringer), Beverly Mack and Jerry Huelat (Huelat Mack & Kreppein), Matt King (Frost Brown Todd), and Lonnie Johnson and Belinda Johnson-Hurtado (Clendening Johnson & Bohrer).
Of course, we are thankful for the sponsors that enable DTCI to present the 50th Celebration Gala. As of today, they include:
Frost Brown Todd • Wooden & McLaughlin • Exponent • Hinshaw & Culbertson • Lewis Wagner • Kightlinger & Gray • O’Neill McFadden & Willett • Barnes & Thornburg • Schultz & Pogue • CourtCall • Bose McKinney & Evans • Clendening Johnson & Bohrer • Hunt Suedhoff Kalamaros • Eichhorn & Eichhorn • IU Health Risk Retention Group • Jackson Kelly • Riley Bennett & Egloff • DRI • Kopka Pinkus Dolin • Metzger Rosta • Cline Law Group • Zeigler Cohen & Koch
DTCI is also grateful to our Annual Conference sponsors, who include:
Bierce Associates • Connor Reporting • CTL Group • Daugherty & Associates • Engineering Systems Inc. (ESI) • Exponent • Grundhoefer Engineering • Ice Miller • Johnson Cambra & Sherwood • LT Leading Technologies • Objective Medical • Percipient • Ringler Associates • Ritman & Associates • Robson Forensic • S-E-A Ltd. • Step Ahead Social Research • The Forensic Docs • ThemeVision
Additional sponsorships are available by contacting DTCI’s executive director, Lisa Mortier, at [email protected].•
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• Mr. Lee is a partner in the Evansville office of Wooden & McLaughlin and is a member of the DTCI board of directors. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
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