Page 14 - FDCC 2025 Annual Meeting

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2025
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Voucher Breakfast
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Grab & Go Breakfast
7:45 AM - 8:45 AM Section Programming
“Underwriting and Claims 2.0”
[Insurance Coverage, Extra Contractual, Property Sections]
In the often-segmented structure that separates
underwriting and claims departments, how can
insurers ensure the two departments function more
as teammates and less as competitors to advance the
strategic objectives of the company? This moderated
discussion panel will focus on ways underwriting and
claims can work together to understand and manage
risks moving forward, particularly after litigation and
claims that go sideways due to risks manageable by
underwriting.
Robert Fisher - Nautilus Insurance Company
“Award Winning Experts: Create a Fear-Free
Training Environment”
[Drug, Medical Device, and Biotechnology, Environmental,
Products Liability Sections]
Perfect your expert training at this interactive program
designed to discuss best practices in expert retention
and testimony, including the importance of repetition,
avoiding pitfalls, and pivoting on the stand. The
presenters will discuss real-life scenarios to educate
participants how to make preparation fear-free so
that the expert can perform at his/her highest level.
The presentation will highlight how to navigate
jurisdictional issues to avoid unfavorable rulings and
optimize any challenges to the experts’ opinions.
Sam Goldstein, M.D., Salt Lake City, UT
Alissa Hurley - Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions, Inc.
Bruce Kelman, PhD., DABT, ATS, ERT - J.S. Held
Stephen C. Keller - Barnes Maloney, PLLC
Bijan R. Siahatgar - Clark Hill, PLC
Linda J. Knight - Spencer Fane, LLC
Enrique Marinez - Ropers Majeski, PC
“Training Lawyers to Battle the Ultimate Adversary:
The Disciplinary Board”
[Professional Liability Section]
In the spirit of competition, this presentation will
follow the “Feud” game show format to reveal
answers to help lawyers assist clients who are facing
lawyer disciplinary complaints.
Joanne T. Blackburn - Ropers Majeski, PC
Andrew B. Downs - Bullivant Houser Bailey, PC
Kim M. Jackson - Bovis, Kyle, Burch & Medlin, LLC
Johnny McGhee, Kay Casto & Chaney PLLC
E. Edd Pritchett, Jr. - Durbin, Larimore & Bialick
Margaret “Peggy” Ward -
Downs-Ward-Bender-Herzog + Kintign,PC
Laura Zaroski - Gallagher
Stacey L. Strain - Hubbard, Mitchell, Williams and Strain, PLLC
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Plenary Session
“The Fall and Rise of the West Virginia
Supreme Court”
In 2018, West Virginia made national headlines when
its governor took an unprecedented step: calling for
the impeachment of every sitting Supreme Court
justice - the only time in American history for an entire
court to be impeached. Behind this extraordinary
move lay a tale of spending, ethical breaches, and
abuse of power that threatened to demolish public
trust in the state’s highest court. This presentation
explores the people and decisions that upended the
West Virginia Supreme Court, and how it restored
public trust. No matter where you live, this story
reminds us of what happens when we drift from our
principles as lawyers.
Kile T. Turner - Norman, Wood, Kendrick & Turner,
Birmingham, AL
GO FOR GOLD
2025 FDCC ANNUAL MEETING