Page 37 - FDCC Flyer Summer 2021

Jamie Huffman Jones Friday Eldredge & Clark, LLP
Little Rock, AR
Thank you for the opportunity to report on the works of the Amicus Committee over this last year. We have been well- served by our out-
My bias may show, but this is one of the best committees with some amazing people who are willing to step up and work.
Wittner, Terrence Ridley, William Ackerman, Bruce Celebrezze, and Gray Culbreath (Vice Chair Public Policy).
As outlined below, we have worked on amicus briefs on issues involving plaintiff consolidations and summary judgment standards. We have worked with others on public policy issues such as emergency procedures and expert testimony. We have educated our membership on amicus issues and publicized
our work. And, we have worked with like-minded organizations
to advocate for our members interests. We will continue our work into next year.
Consolidation Issues: Dupree
v. Johnson & Johnson (South Carolina)
We were asked to file a brief in this appeal. The issue for FDCC briefing in Dupree is whether the Columbia, South Carolina trial court, in consolidating 2 separate lawsuits claiming asbestos exposure from talcum powder, deprived J&J of the right to a fair trial. Empirical research shows that combining individual is more likely to result in verdicts favoring plaintiff and more likely to result in higher verdicts. The FDCC has argued this point in previous amicus briefs, notably the Blankenship v. Boston Scientific Corporation case in the Fourth
going chair, Laurie Hepler, who has graciously agreed to continue to serve on our committee.
My bias may show, but this is one of the best committees with some amazing people who are willing to step up and work. The committee members include the following: Laurie Hepler, Robert Olson, Tracy Fowler, Peter Glaessner, Michael Aylward, William Vita, Debra Varner, James Gulotta, Kay Hodge, Anthony Zarillo, Daniel Richards, David Fuqua, David Kott, Dawn Siebert, Laura Foggan, Nicholas
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FDCC Amicus Committee: A True Friend of the
Court
By Jamie Huffman Jones
FDCC News