26th Annual Conference on Drug & Medical Device Litigation

Andrea Pierson, along with inside counsel of Johnson & Johnson and Gilead Sciences, joins the panel, “Keys to Effectively Defending MDLs and Navigating the Remand Process From Transfer to Trial.” The topics they discuss include:

• Understanding the discrete challenges that MDLs present
• Implementing effective strategies for managing discovery, scheduling, case management, pre-trial motions, and bellwether considerations unique to consolidated proceedings
• Developing tactics for approaching negotiations with plaintiffs’ counsel throughout the MDL process
• Understanding how defendants (manufacturers, distributors, retailers, etc.) can all play in the MDL sandbox without causing problems for each other
  • How to make sure pretrial orders are negotiated so that everyone’s interests are considered
  • How to coordinate arguments in briefings so as not to undercut one another
• How to navigate the remand process from transfer to trial
  • Ensuring that the remand court’s docket is complete: practical considerations for how to designate material that will go to the remand court
  • Assessing whether there is any outstanding discovery that needs to be completed, and strategies for managing additional discovery in the remand court
  • Analyzing whether to file dispositive or evidentiary motions
  • Preparing the final pretrial order