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Saturday 9:40 AM - 10:30 AM
WILDFIRES: LITIGATE, LEGISLATE OR REGULATE This panel discussion will address current trends in addressing the U.S. wildfire crisis through litigation, legislation and regulation, including an update on legislative efforts that may lead the way toward an integrated solution that benefits all stakeholders such as victims, insurers, businesses, utilities and the fire services.
SPEAKERS: Randy Gimple of Carlson, Calladine & Peterson, LLP Jim Tomlinson of Davis, Wright Tremaine, LLP Saturday 10:40 AM - 11:30 AM
POINT/COUNTERPOINT - WHAT'S BETTER: FAULT v. NO FAULT LIABILITY What’s better for society and the stakeholders, fault versus no-fault liability arising from the operations of electrical distribution and transmissions systems? Inverse Condemnation applied to private utilities started in California and is being tested and confronted by climate change, forest management, tree mortality and growth in the WUI. Listen to the divergent views from both sides of the V, as this hot topic is debated by seasoned lawyers. SPEAKERS: Alex Cheng of Carlson, Calladine & Peterson, LLP Gregory Waters of Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack Saturday 11:40 AM - 12:30 PM
WILDFIRE ON THE RANGE - EXAMINING RANCHING LOSSES This discussion covers the dynamics and breadth of damages on the range. Wildfires are on the rise in the South and West and those fires spread across ranch land fast and furious, with devastating consequences. You’ll hear seasoned perspectives on the economic losses from damage to grassland, ranching infrastructure, equipment and livestock. An expert in ranch economics and a trial lawyer who is a cattle rancher will share their views and support of those unique losses and the means by which those damages may be measured and presented in a courtroom.
SPEAKERS: Steve Harrison of Harrison, Davis, Steakley, Morrison & Jones Ken Wendland of Wendland & Associates Saturday 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
LUNCH Saturday 1:40 PM - 2:30 PM
WILDFIRES - A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE The proliferation of wildfires is worldwide. Three international experts from Australia and Canada will discuss the wildfire situations and threats in their countries and the international community, including those devastating fires from the last five years. The discussion will be an interesting overview of different management, mitigation, and responses that go into the concerted efforts of the international community to confront the dangers and harsh effects of wildfires. Certainly you will hear that while many of the issues are similar to the situation in the United States, many are not. SPEAKERS: Shawn Caine of Law Offices of Shawn E. Caine, A.P.C. Richard Woods of Wildfire Investigations and Analysis Pty. Ltd. Ken Ness of Ken B. Ness Consulting, Inc. Laurence Bowdige of BC Wildfire Service Saturday 2:40 PM - 3:30 PM EXPERT TESTIMONY - PREPARATION TIPS FOR WITNESSES AND COUNSEL The objective of this program is to provide lawyers with tools to effectively prepare experts to be powerful witnesses. The program will cover the best ways of structuring direct examination and preparing for cross-examination. In addition to providing lawyers the tools to have witnesses effectively and clearly communicate the content of their testimony, the program will also teach lawyers how to impact the internal emotional state of the witnesses and therefore how the witness comes across to a jury.
SPEAKERS: Robert Swafford of Strike for Cause Jury Consultants Saturday 3:40 PM - 4:30 PM ENHANCING WORKING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN INVESTIGATING WILDFIRES Cooperative relationships between private and public investigations are long overdue. The Texas Forest Service and Texas Investigators will discuss the importance of those bonds and the essential nature of communication and trust. There is building consensus that the stakeholders need to work on enhancing those relationships. The high stakes investigations should be viewed and conducted by all interested parties at the same time. Right now, there is disparity between the parties as to who gets to see and examine what, and when. Professional and public organizations need to forge working relationships which ultimately will translate into better cooperation in the field. SPEAKERS: Tommy Sing of Quest Fire Analysis Jarred Lemmon of Texas A&M Forest Service Saturday 4:40 PM - 5:30 PM CLIMATOLOGY - IS THERE A "NEW NORMAL"? We have all heard the phrase “the new normal,” but what does it mean in the context of wildland fires? Listen to a nationally acclaimed meteorologist and a seasoned national wildland fire lawyer discuss the political, civic and professional views as it would relate to climate change in the wildland fire context. There will be discussions as to how communities are confronting climate change to defend against an ever increasing wildland fire threat. It’s a hot topic in wildfire discussions, and one that is becoming hotter as the temperature rises.
SPEAKERS: Mark Grotefeld of Grotefeld Hoffmann, LLP Jan Null of Golden Gate Weather Services
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA GRIFFITH LEAGUE RANCH PROPERTY TOUR
Saturday, October 19: 1:40 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Field tour of forest burn zone seven years later – Participants will be transported via SUV/Bus to the Boy Scouts of America Griffith League Ranch where they will receive a tour of the property and an explanation of forest regeneration by Mitchell Haydon of Environmental Resource Solutions, Inc. and Anooj Thakrar of Grotefeld Hoffmann, LLP. Please note that this tour has limited capacity (20 people). Participants will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.
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