Message from the Chairs

Welcome to the Products Liability Committee. First, we want to thank everyone who made 2007 an outstanding year. Second, we are excited about the great plans our committee has for the upcoming year. As part of this, we want to welcome our committee’s newest leaders:

• Richard Gaal (McDowell Knight) – Web Editor
• Neville Boschert (Watkins Ludlam) – Medical Device Subcommittee
• Leta E. Gorman (Bullivant Housser) – Consumer Products Subcommittee
• Penelope Dixon (Carlton Fields) – Consumer Products Subcommittee
• Larra Call Waldmann (Colson Associates) – Corporate Counsel Subcommittee
• Lori B. Leskin (Kaye Scholer) – Pharmaceuticals Subcommittee
• Sara Cronan (Stites & Harbison) – Chemical Subcommittee
  
• Megan Wynne (Morris Polich & Purdy) – Women in Products Liability Litigation Subcommittee
• Marilyn A. Moberg (Reed Smith) – 2009 Annual Meeting Program
• Helen Kathryn Downs (Johnston Barton) – 2009 Annual Meeting Program

The collective energy, talent and dedication of our committee’s leadership are responsible for the wonderful programming we are able to offer and we expect another great year.  2008 kicked off with the Joint CLE in Snowmass.  This was a wonderful event that was well attended and had superb programming.  The forthcoming year will also bring the regional CLEs that everyone loves.  In the months to come, you will be able to learn more details about the following upcoming conferences:

• Automotive Conference
  Subcommittee Co-Chairs: Eric Lund, Dykema Gossett, Candace Blydenburgh, Bowman and Brooke
• Chemical Conference
  

  Subcommittee Co-Chairs: Niall Paul, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC, and Sarah Cronan, Stites & Harbison PLLC

• WIPL Conference
  Co-Chairs: Kelley Anne Luther, Clarke Silverglate & Campbell, and Megan Wynne, Morris Polich & Purdy LLP
• Medical Device Conference
  

  Co-Chairs: Jerry Bradford, Alcon Laboratories, Inc. and Neville Boschert, Watkin Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A.

• Pharma Conference
  

  Co-Chairs: James Barton, Johnston Barton Proctor & Powell LLP and Lori Leskin, Kaye Scholer LLP.

More details on these CLE’s and registration information are posted on our calendar, along with the listing of the program co-chairs, who deserve enormous credit, for the significant contribution that they will be providing towards making these programs happen.

Additionally, a number of the subcommittees will be planning a variety of publications and Tele-CLEs. More information about these events will be available as the year progresses. Please remember if you want to participate in committee projects, it is essential that you contact the subcommittee co-chairs or let us know. Many thanks again to our leadership for providing these benefits to our membership. We look forward to a great year.

Cordially,

Gary Spahn
Daniel S. Wittenberg
Co-Chairs, Products Liability Committee