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ABOUT THE FETTI CONFERENCE

Each year FETTI convenes in the Chicago area to host a world-class seminar on a broad range of environmental issues with nationally recognized speakers. At our seminar, professionals who are recognized experts in their fields offer informative and provocative programs to enhance our members’ understanding of the ever-changing environmental and toxic tort issues they face in their professions.

The National FETTI Annual Conference is September 29 – October 1, 2021. All of the conference events are located in the Main Lounge of the Union League Club of Chicago (ULCC) at 65 W. Jackson Street in Chicago, Illinois.

The Annual FETTI Conference provides Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for insurance claims handlers, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits for attorneys and networking opportunities for vendors in an elegant Downtown Chicago setting.

FETTI ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Thursday, September 30, 2021
7:00 – 8:00 am Continental Breakfast
7:50 – 8:00 am Opening Remarks
8:00 – 9:00 am

 Update on Long-Tail Insurance Coverage Disputes

  • History of Litigation and Recent Developments
  • How Key State Jurisdictions Are Ruling
  • Emerging Issues Presented by the COVID-19
 Michael F. Aylward
Morrison Mahoney, LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
9:00 – 9:45 am The Environmental Impact of Biden’s Climate Change Initiative on Agriculture

  • Background on President Biden’s Climate Crisis Executive Orders
  • Expected and Potential Changes to Agriculture Best Practices
  • Potential Unintended Consequences of Executive Orders
  • Coverage Issues in Changing Agriculture Best Practices
 Philip Watters
Rimkus Consulting Group
Houston, Texas

Paul Knobbe
Goldberg Segalla
St. Louis, Missouri

Larry Mason
Goldberg Segalla
Chicago, Illinois
9:45 – 10:20 am Defending Nuisance Claims

  • Nuisance: Public or Private
  • Elements of Nuisance Claims
  • Defenses and Remedies
 John McMeekin
Rawle & Henderson LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10:20 – 10:30 am Break
10:30 –11:15 am PFAS Technical Issues and Effects on Liability

  • PFAS – Why the Concern?
  • Legislation/Regulation Update
  • Sampling and Laboratory Issues
  • Mobility and Remediation
  • Impact on Insurance
 Timothy Bannister
SESCO Group
Indianapolis, Indiana
11:15 –12:00 pm Use of Genetics in Defense

  • Fact Scenarios for Genetic Defense
  • Experts to Evaluate Genetic Defense and Testing
  • Foundation for Motion Practice
  • Defense of Claims
 Kay Baxter
Foley & Mansfield, PLLC
New Orleans, Louisiana

Kirk Hartley
LSP Group LLC
Chicago, Illinois
12:00 – 12:45 pm Lunch
12:45 – 1:30 pm Toxic Exposure Causation: Critical Distinctions in Scientific Analysis, Regulatory Perspective and Court Gatekeeping

  • Elements of Reliable Scientific Analysis of Causation
  • Regulatory Perspective and Precautionary Principle
  • Legal Standards for Causation Opinions and Common Misapplication
 Catherine Boston, MPH
Roux Associates, Inc.
Woburn, Massachusetts

Joseph Welter
Goldberg Segalla
New York, New York

Justin DeWitt, PE, LEED, AP
Illinois Department of Public Health
Springfield, Illinois
1:30 – 2:15 pm Worker Safety During a Pandemic: Case Study COVID-19

  • Overview of COVID-19 Characteristics
  • Working During a Pandemic
  • Pandemic Planning and Contingency Plans
 Katelyn Hall, MPH PhD
CTEH
Golden, Colorado
2:15 – 3:00 pm Critical Analysis of US EPA’s TSCA Risk Assessment for Asbestos in Automotive Brakes

  • EPA Finding of Unreasonable Risk in Automotive Brakes and Other Consumer Use
  • Limitations of Exposure, Epidemiology and Toxicology Analysis
  • Scientific Support of Risk Evaluation
 David Dodge, MS, DABT, CIH
Gradient
Seattle, Washington

Julie E. Goodman, PhD, DABT, FACE ATS
Gradient
Boston, Massachusetts
3:30 – 4:00 pm

Departs at 4:00 pm

Returns at 6:00 pm

 FETTI ODYSSEY RIVER CRUISE RECEPTION

455 N Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago

(Business Casual Attire)

Friday, October 1, 2021
7:00 – 8:00 am Continental Breakfast
8:00 – 9:00 am Asbestos Litigation: Over-Naming Trust Transparency and Other Developments

  • Update on Asbestos Litigation Trends and Strategy
  • Over-Naming in Asbestos Cases and Reforms to Address Over-Naming
  • Defense Counsel Tools to Combat Over-Naming
 Mark A. Behrens
Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP
Washington, D.C.

Mary Margaret Gay
Gay Jones & Kuhn PLLC
Jackson, Mississippi

Fred Schaefer
Nationwide Insurance
Wausau, WI
9:00 – 10:00 am The Top Ten Ethical Tips, Traps, and Temptations for Industry, Inside, and Outside Counsel

  • Core Principles of Business Ethics and Their Application
  • Ethical Duties Explained
  • Ethical Traps and Competing Relationships
  • How to Avoid Ethical Traps and Temptations
 Peter Garchie
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
San Diego, California

Jacob Sawyer
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
San Diego, California

Sallie B. Kraus
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois

Sabine Schweich, CPCU, SCLA
Zurich North America
Schaumburg, Illinois
10:00 – 10:30 am Asbestos Medicine and Science – A Critical Update

  • Epidemiological Trends
  • Exposure Determination Progress
  • Dose-Response Risk Trends by Fiber Type
  • Threshold Phenomenon
  • Genetic Basis for Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer
 Howard Sandler
SOMA
Melville, New York
10:30 – 10:45 am Break
10:45 – 11:15 am The Supreme Court Says: Where the Heck Is Your Groundwater Going?

  • History of Clean Water Act (CWA) and Triggers
  • NPDES Permits
  • Litigating CWA Cases
  • Court Decisions
  • “Functional Equivalent” Impact on Litigation
  • Impact of Risk Evaluation and Cost of Litigation
 Steven Hoch
Clark Hill PLC
Los Angeles, California
11:15 – 11:45 am USTs: Regulatory Updates & Impacts on Insurers

  • History of USTs & Regulations
  • Regulated vs. Unregulated USTs
  • Financial Assurance
  • Cause & Origin
  • Impact of New Regulations on Claims and Underwriting
 Scott Green
First Environment, Inc.
Butler, New Jersey
11:45 –12:15 pm Environmental Class Action Issues in Ethylene Oxide Litigation

  • Environmental Class Action as a growing trend
  • Environmental Class Action legal strategy in EtO litigation
  • Science and Causation elements in EtO litigation
  • Risk Management Approaches
 Adam H. Love, PhD
Roux
Oakland, California

Eric L. Klein
Beveridge & Diamond PC
Boston, MA
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Business Meeting
This is a Business Casual Event

Business Casual Attire or better is permitted throughout the clubhouse with the exception of specific events for which a higher mode of dress (such as business Dress Attire, Black Tie or White Tie) is specified.

Business Casual Attire is defined as, for men, a collared shirt (including turtleneck) and slacks (without jacket or necktie). For women, Business Casual Attire includes slacks or skirt with a blouse or sweater.

The following are specifically prohibited (except on floors 10 and above and when checking in or out of the Club guestrooms): Overalls, tee-shirts, trading jackets, cut-offs, sweatshirts, denim jackets and any clothing that is tattered or contains inappropriate messages. Blue jeans are not permitted in the clubhouse except on Saturdays before 6:00 pm, on Sundays and on Holidays.

If you must enter or exit the Club in Athletic Attire, please use the Athletic Entrance, located on Federal Street just south of the revolving-door entrance. To leave the club, take the elevator to the first floor and follow the signs marked “Athletic Exit.”

CE/CLE CREDITS

The conference is typically approved for 10-12 CE/CLE credit hours depending on the state.

TESTIMONIALS

“FETTI is an affordable national conference featuring world class experts in the fields of environmental and toxic torts. From my first conference in 2005, I learned so much and made life-long friendships. I feel fortunate to be able to give back to FETTI by helping organize this year’s conference.  Please join us this year to celebrate FETTI’s twenty-sixth anniversary aboard the Odyssey Chicago River.”

“The FETTI organization continues to be on the cutting edge every year with the wonderful topics and esteemed speakers that present at the annual conference.”

“The FETTI conference provides a high quality setting to expand my professional network, enhance lasting relationships and to interact with forward thinking leaders in the industry.”

“The National FETTI Conference provides a terrific exchange of ideas for people engaged in the insurance, legal and technical aspects of environmental matters.”

“The annual FETTI conference provides outstanding speakers and content on important legal issues so attorneys, insurers and other risk professionals are up to speed on the latest emerging litigation trends.”

“I have attended numerous Fetti conferences and have learned something new every time.  Knowledge gained maybe legal, science and other.  Need not forget the excellent opportunity to mix and mingle with carriers attorneys and experts.”

HOTEL

Union League Club of Chicago (ULCC)

65 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604

Call the ULCC (312) 427-7800 and reference the FETTI Conference to receive a special rate. There is a limited number of rooms so book early!

EVENT SPONSORS

Become a 2021 Sponsor

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

             

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

  

EVENT FAQS

The Union League Club of Chicago has issued a statement to FETTI regarding the facility’s COVID-19 policy. That policy is available here.

No, the hotel reservation is not included with the conference registration. You may make a reservation at the Union League Club of Chicago (ULCC) separately by calling (312) 427-7800 . Mention FETTI for our special rate.

The National FETTI Annual Conference is September 29 – October 1, 2021. All of the conference events are located in the Main Lounge of the Union League Club of Chicago (ULCC) at 65 W. Jackson Street in Chicago, Illinois.

FETTI’s audience generally consists of insurance professionals, attorneys and supporting consultants. FETTI is designed to provide environmental insurance industry professionals with updates and education on the latest trends associated with environmental and toxic tort issues. Our conference provides continuing education units (CEUs) and continuing legal education (CLE) credits for insurance representatives and counsel, respectively.

You can Register Online & Pay Online OR Register & Mail in a Check.

If you choose to pay by check, pick Register Online & Mail Check to register online and then send a check or money order made out to “The National Forum for Environmental and Toxic Tort Issues” to:
FETTI
c/o Anthony Goldner
Wilson Elser 55 West Monroe
Suite 3800
Chicago, IL 60602

Insurance company representatives and in-house counsel pay $150.00 per person. All others pay $400.00 per person.
For our out-of-towners, don’t forget to complete the registration process by reserving a room at the Union League Club of Chicago. Mention the FETTI Conference to get our special rate!

Yes! FETTI allows for online sponsorship registration and payment for Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsorship levels, each of which include their own set of benefits. For details regarding sponsoring, please click here or contact Board Member Jack McCants at jack.mccants@fetti.org.

The conference is typically approved for 10-12 CE/CLE credit hours depending on the state.

Yes! Following each year’s conference, the FETTI board will post a speaker application on our website, http://www.fetti.org. The deadline for completing the application is around April 1st, and speaker slots are typically awarded in May.