Civil Justice Seminar December 8, 2007

PURPOSE: To educate members of the media about the American civil justice system, utilizing fast-paced presentations in a balanced and informative setting. The seminar will provide working media with background on the civil justice system, the differences between a civil and criminal trial and tips on how to cover a civil trial.

DATE: Saturday, December 8, 2007

TIME: 8:30 a.m. - Continental Breakfast and Registration; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Seminar (including lunch)

PRESENTING ENTITIES: Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles (CAALA) and the
Los Angeles Press Club

ADMISSION: There is no charge for participation.

FORMAT: The morning session features brief presentations by a panel of prominent legal professionals (law professor, plaintiff and defense attorney and a judge) providing an overview of the civil justice system and civil trials. The afternoon session includes a hands-on panel discussion about how to cover civil trials and civil justice cases featuring media members who have covered civil trials along with two lawyers and a judge.

PRESENTERS:

MORNING SESSION MODERATOR
Anthea Raymond, NPR
President, Los Angeles Press Club

JUDGE
Hon. Paul Gutman, L.A. Superior Court

PLAINTIFFS’ ATTORNEY
Amy Solomon, Girardi & Keese
President-Elect, Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles

DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Linda Star, Lewis, D’Amato, et al

LAW PROFESSOR
Prof. Victor Gold, Loyola Law School

AFTERNOON SESSION ROUNDTABLE

MODERATOR AND PRESENTER:
Bob Baker, L.A. Times (Retired)

PANELISTS:
Alexa Hyland, Daily Journal
Alan Parachini, Information Officer, L.A. Superior Court
Robert Morgenstern, defense attorney
William Daniels, Schwartz, Daniels & Bradley
Hon. Jacqueline Connor, L.A. Superior Court

TOPICS:

Morning Session Panel (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.):
Understanding the Civil Justice System Welcome and introduction (Raymond)
Civil Justice System Overview (Prof. Gold)
Trial ABCs (Gutman)
The Plaintiff’s Side (Solomon)
The Defense Side (Star)
Q&A

Afternoon Session Panel (12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.):
Covering a Civil Trial
An Editor’s Perspective (Baker)
Roundtable Panel Discussion
Q&A
Conclusion and Summary

Official Website: http://lapressclub.org