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Hot Topics in Public Utility Litigation
Presented By: DRI's Public Utility Task Force
This webinar will explore some of the most pressing litigation issues facing Public Utilities today. Attendees will hear from seasoned litigators regarding the trespassing/attractive nuisance and post-OSHA toxic tort cases that Public Utilities are currently facing. The discussion will include how these cases are evolving, key discovery and strategic considerations Public Utilities and their outside counsel must make, and best practices for managing these types of risk. Further, you will hear directly from in-house litigators at Public Utilities on how they view litigation risk and costs and how their outside counsel can become better partners with Public Utilities to control costs and manage risk.
Who Should Attend:
- Practicing trial lawyers handling litigation involving Public Utilities
- In-House practitioners at Public Utilities
- Practicing trial lawyers handling Toxic Tort cases
- Toxic-tort and public-utility claims professionals and representatives
What Will You Learn?:
- The types of trespassing/attractive nuisance cases Utilities are facing; Legal issues relative to attractive nuisance cases; and Successful strategies and practical considerations for litigating and preventing future attractive nuisance claims.
- What are the biggest cost drivers in Public Utility Litigation; Challenges faced in Keeping Costs Controlled in Public Utility Litigation; and Successful strategies and practical considerations for control of costs in Public Utility Litigation.
- What is a “late” or post-OSHA exposure asbestos case?; How are post-OSHA asbestos exposure cases different from more common asbestos litigation facing Utilities?; and Successful Strategies and practical considerations for defending post-OSHA exposure cases.
Michael K. Callahan, Assistant General Counsel, Eversource Energy
Michael K. Callahan is Assistant General Counsel at Eversource Energy where he oversees litigation involving the Eversource companies in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. The litigation includes practice areas such as general liability, employment, environmental, commercial, consumer protection and real estate. He and his team of six lawyers and two paralegals handle approximately 70% of the company’s litigation through trial and appeal, if necessary. Michael is also frequently involved in internal company investigations. Prior to joining Eversource in 1997, Michael was in private practice in Boston. In 2006, he was appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court to the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners where he served for 10 years. He currently serves on the Steering Committee of DRI’s Corporate Counsel Committee and its Public Utility Task Force. Michael has also served as a member of the Board of Editors of the Massachusetts Law Review as well as a member of the Board of Directors of The New England Legal Foundation. Michael has spoken at various conferences throughout the country on topics including “Crisis Management”, “Negotiation and Settlement”, “Utility Litigation” and “Working Collaboratively with Outside Counsel”.
Tanya M. Lawson, Senior Litigation Counsel, Florida Power & Light Company
Tanya M. Lawson is Senior Counsel at Florida Power & Light Company. She works in the Torts section of FPL’s Litigation Group. Tanya’s portfolio of cases includes a wide range of cases brought in all the geographic areas FPL services in Florida.
Before joining FPL, Ms. Lawson was a partner in a national law firm in Miami where she was responsible for managing state-wide toxic tort litigation for several multi-national companies. Ms. Lawson also has extensive experience in a variety of other litigation matters.
Ms. Lawson is a graduate of Cornell Law School. She did her undergraduate studies at Florida International University and received a BA in economics, with honors. Ms. Lawson is admitted to practice in the States of Florida, New York, New Jersey
Stephen L. Rossetti, Jr, Esq., Partner, Cetrulo LLP
Stephen L. Rossetti, Jr is a partner in Cetrulo LLP’s Boston office. Mr. Rossetti has extensive experience with respect to the utility, energy and telecom industry. This experience includes resolving disputes before and during litigation with respect to utility-related construction and construction site accidents, work zone accident related litigation, energy-efficiency/renewable energy related litigation, environmental and general liability matters. Mr. Rossetti also has extensive experience advising corporations regarding litigation risk.
