Schnader’s Keith Whitson Presented at CLE Seminar “Pennsylvania’s New Joint and Several Liability Law”

Keith E. Whitson, chair of the Firm’s Product Liability Practice Group, presented at a Pennsylvania Bar Institute CLE program on Tuesday, April 24, 2012. The presentation, “Pennsylvania’s New Joint and Several Liability Law,” discussed Act 17 of 2011 (SB 1131) and its effect on Pennsylvania’s joint and several liability law.

Agenda
Overview of Act 17 of 2011 (SB 1131)

• What is the new law?
• How does it differ from the old law?
• Now and then – examples of how different scenarios would play out under the old law and now
• What is the effective date of the statute?
• When does a cause of action accrue under the new law?
• Exceptions carved out under the new law
• Survey of similar laws in other states

Changes in Strategy

• Plaintiff’s perspective – Choosing clients, costs, arguments before a jury, who is brought into a case
• Defense perspective – Counseling clients, interactions with other defendants, decision to settle, insurers
• Trial strategy

The Impact of Act 17 of 2011

• The impact of the new law on settlements
• How the new law will affect joint tortfeasor releases
• Questions to consider for the future

For more information or to register, please click here.