On July 13 and 14, PDI successfully held the 49th PDI Annual Conference and CLE. PDI thanks Lisa Katterman, PDI Vice President, now President-Elect, for masterfully planning, organizing and implementing this fantastic event. The Conference broke several recent records for attendance, sponsorship, golfers, and other important aspects resulting in a very successful event. The CLE Program was primarily made up of an outstanding faculty who provided significant information important to PDI membership. The topics and panelists included of the CLE included the following:
Working Together: Insurance Carrier and Defense Counsel Round Table
Panelist: Moderator – Ronald A. Gallagher, Jr, President of PAMIC;C Louis C. Long, Esquire, Thomas Thomas & Hafer; H. Toney Stroud, Esquire, Bricksteel Mutual Insurance Company; William Folmar, Donegal Mutual Insurance Company; Marla Bigeleisen, Esquire, Nationwide Insurance Company; James G. Nealon, Jr, Esquire, Erie Insurance Company; Jim Rhodes, Cash Mutual Insurance Company; Melinda Joyce, Esquire, INSERVCO Insurance Services, Inc.
Bad Faith Review – 2017
Panelists: Moderator – Richard L. McMonigle, Esquire, Post & Schell, LLC; Daniel J. Twilla, Esquire, Burns White; William Folmar, Vice President of Claims, Donegal Mutual Insurance Company; Steve Schildt, Esquire, Post & Schell, L.L.C.; Ted Miller, Esquire, Ted Miller Insurance Litigation Consulting; and Scott Cooper, Esquire, Schmidt Kramer.
Under the Dome: Issues That Impact PDI and Its Membership
Panelists: Moderator – Robert Keaton, PDI Legislative Liason; Sam Marshall, Esquire, President and CEO, Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania; Curt Schroder, Esquire, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice; Senator John Eichelberger, Jr., Chairman of Senate Education Committee and Vice Chairman of Banking and Insurance Committee; Ronald A Gallagher, Jr., President of PAMIC.
New Technologies for Defense: In and Out of the Courtroom
Panelists: Moderator: Matthew Keris, Esquire, Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin; Scott M. Catron, Social Detection, Inc.; Gavin O’Hare, CED Technologies, Inc.; Ronald J. Cohen, P.E., Consulting Engineers & Scientists, Inc.; Andrew J. Rentschler, PhD., ARCCA.
Not So Fast! Suggested Jury Instructions – Pa. Supreme Court Overrules Azzarrello in Landmark Tincher Decision, Only to Have the “Suggested Standard Jury Instructions” See Azzarella Reinstated.
Panelists: Moderator – William J. Ricci, Esquire, Ricci Tyrell Johnson & Grey; James M. Beck, Esquire, ReedSmith; Keith D. Heinold, Esquire, Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin; C. Scott Toomay, Esquire, Littleton Joyce Ughetta Park & Kelly.
Best Alternatives To Trial: Mediation and Arbitration
Panelists: Moderator – Melinda Joyce, INSERVCO Insurance Services, Inc.; Honorable Eugene F. Scanlon, Jr. (Retired), Scanlon ADR Services; David Lehman, Esquire, Lehman Mediation Services; and David Lutz, Esquire, Handler Henning and Rosenberg.
Staking, Sign Downs, and Rejection of Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Making Heads and Tails Out of All the Different Forms and Rules
Panelists: Scott Cooper, Esquire, Schmidt Kramer, P.C.; and Brooks Foland, Esquire, Marshall Dennehey Coleman Warner & Goggin.
PDI thanks all of the speakers that made up these blue ribbon panels.
We are now planning for next year’s PDI 50th Anniversary Annual Conference at Bedford Springs Resort, which promises to be a block buster event. Mark your calendars now to join your defense colleagues and insurance executives and managers to celebrate 50 years of PDI being a leader for the defense, insurance and business entities in Pennsylvania. The dates are July 11, 12, and 13, 2018. The event will be concluded with the 50 Anniversary Gala. Hope to see you there.
