January 23-24, 2020

Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park
Chicago, IL


Program Schedule

The 2019 educational program features timely topics of interest to attorneys practicing all modes of transportation law. Topics have been chosen based on suggestions received from past attendees as well as recent developments in the law that affect the transportation industry. We hope to see you there!​

Thursday, January 24th

Friday, January 25th

11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Registration Open
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Bootcamp: A Guided Tour of the Mediation and Arbitration Processes
The ADR Bootcamp is designed to teach what every lawyer needs to know about both mediation and arbitration,
and provide tips for effective ADR advocacy. Approximately 97 percent of all filed cases end up settling, and binding arbitrations are becoming more prevalent. Don’t miss this opportunity to hone the skills that you will use in almost every case!
CO-CHAIRS: Stephen M. Uthoff and Eric R. Benton
1:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Boot Camp - The Nuts and Bolts of Arbitration: From Start to Finish
Learn the basic best practices from pre-hearing to the award through the eyes of an arbitrator, advocate and in-house counsel in order to understand the differences from traditional litigation and why courts have historically upheld the enforceability of arbitration agreements.
Moderator: Frank C. Botta, Attorney, The Lynch Law Group, Cranberry Township, PA
Presenter(s): John C. Lane, Senior Partner, Law Office of John C. Lane, Sparta, NJ
Lauren M. Penn, Partner, Litchfield Cavo, LLP, Chicago, IL
Arun Thomas, Senior Counsel Litigation, FedEx Ground Package System
2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Boot Camp - Refreshment Break
3:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Boot Camp - Breezing through Mediation in the Windy City: The Latest Currents for Successful Settlements
Seasoned mediators, advocates, and in-house counsel share their perspectives and experience to help workshop participants improve their results, and client satisfaction, at mediation.
Moderator: Gordon McAuley, Of Counsel, Williams & Gumbiner, San Rafael, CA
Presenter(s): William D. Brejcha, Senior Counsel, Scopelitis Garvin Light Hanson & Feary, Chicago, IL
Rob Reeb, Shareholder, Marwedel, Minichello & Reeb, P.C., Chicago, IL
Chip Campbell: Director-Liability Claims & Assistant General Counsel, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.
4:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Boot Camp - Q & A
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Corporate Counsel Reception (corporate counsel attendees only)
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Welcome Reception (all attendees)
7:15 p.m. -
Thursday Night Dinner - Devon Seafood Grill (registration now closed)
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
​Registration Open
7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Hillary Arrow Booth, TLA President, Booth LLP, Los Angeles, CA
Timothy S. Groustra​, Principal, Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti & Sherbrook, Mt. Clemens, MI
Matthew P. Barrette, Sullivan Hincks & Conway, Oak Brook, IL
8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
​Self-Introduction of Participants
8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
State of the Industry – How Blockchain Will Revolutionize the Transportation Industry
Blockchain technology is expected to revolutionize the entire logistics and transportation industry. Learn what it is all about from the transportation blockchain leader.
Presenter(s): Chris Burruss, President, Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), Washington, D.C.
9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Casualty I: Hindsight Bias in Legal Judgment
Hindsight bias involves an exaggerated belief in the predictability of a specific event once that event becomes known.  Learn about hindsight bias, its nuances, and its important role in negligence claims.
Presenter(s): Neal Roese, John L. and Helen Kellogg Professor of Marketing, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
​Casualty II –​ How to Account for Hindsight Bias in Defending Your Claims
Accomplished trial attorneys provide best practices and pit-falls to witness/jury hindsight bias issues during litigation and trial, including reptile ramifications, as well as dealing with confirmation bias, eyewitness accuracy issues, and other evidentiary fact-finding challenges.
Presenter(s): William Toles Fee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo, LLP, Dallas, TX
Michael J. Judy, Dysart Taylor, Kansas City, MO
Erik E. Ekvall, Ekvall & Byrne, LLP, Dallas, TX​
​11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Lost at Sea: How Defeat was Snagged from the Jaws of Victory
Litigation is often messy, as most litigators know.  The panel will examine the many ethical issues that can arise in litigation in the context of a recent case in Illinois, Vandenberg v. Brunswick that made local headlines. Topics will include the allocation of authority between attorney and client, settlement discussions, courtroom antics, ex parte communications, and conflicts of interest.
Moderator: Rob Reeb, Shareholder, Marwedel, Minichello & Reeb, P.C., Chicago, IL
Presenter(s): Mary K. Foster, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, IL
Kim E. Stoll, Fernandes Hearn, LLP, ​Toronto, ON
Katy Beth Carr, Carr Allison, Florence, AL
​12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
​​Buffet Luncheon
​12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Lyfting TNCs and Other Gig Economy Entities Out of the Worker Classification Abyss: Solving Employment Law Concerns Permeating the Gig Economy and Transportation Industry
This panel will address the issues facing the gig economy and the attempted classification of workers by Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) and related industries as independent contractors (not employees), and identify the legal, economic and policy repercussions of this model. The panelists will introduce a successful and innovative model of Workers' Compensation coverage and related driver training and benefits programs that has been providing protection for TNC, black car and limousine drivers for many years, while preserving the use of the independent contractor model. The panel will address how some state legislatures and the courts are classifying transportation workers, and discuss and debate the expansion of the Black Car Fund to other states, and related industries – including truck and bus drivers.
Presenter(s): Vito S. Bochicchio, Partner, Rulis & Bochicchio, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA
Matthew W. Daus, Partner, Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP, New York, NY
Ira Goldstein, Executive Director, Black Car Fund, New York, NY
​1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Handling Lien Issues in the Transportation Setting: Land & Sea
Transportation attorneys frequently encounter lien issues in their cargo claims practice. The panel will discuss the various types of liens that protect providers of transportation and logistics services, as well as those liens that create a headache for clients. The discussion will include the unique treatment of liens under maritime law and the dreaded towing lien, as well as common pitfalls and practical solutions for resolving lien issues.
Presenter(s): Shari Friedman, Shareholder, Marwedel, Minichello & Reeb, P.C., Chicago, IL
Jeffrey E. Cox, Partner, Seaton & Husk, Vienna, VA
Daniel Sbanotto, Director Legal & Risk, Transplace, Fayetteville, AR
2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Refreshment Break
​3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Navigating the Technological Aspects of Food Safety and Temperature-Controlled Food Claims Makes for a Great Pear
Panelists will help participants understand how the reefer equipment and temperature control systems work and impact food transportation, how to analyze in-transit temperature data, and evaluate and address insurance coverage matters pertaining to perishable food claims.
Moderator: Jaclyne Reive, Associate, Miller Thomson LLP, Toronto, ON, Canada
Presenter(s): Joe DiPaola, National Director, U.S. Marine Insurance Group, LLC, Sanford, FL
Sam Rizzitelli, Transportation Practice Leader, Americas at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, New York, NY
Jeffrey A. Boesger, Commercial Transportation Expert, Robson Forensic, Dublin, OH
4:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m.
Contracts –​ Trends in Transportation Contracts
Two of the most highly regarded transportation contract attorneys in the industry will provide an update on trends, issues, and problems affecting motor carrier contracts. The panel will explore contractual issues arising with the ever-expanding use of non-commercially licensed drivers for home deliveries, contractual issues posed by autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence, as well as an update on legislation affecting the transportation industry (e.g., presentation of the IRT prototype, TIA and ATA bills, FAA reauthorization, etc.).
Presenter(s): Hank E. Seaton, Seaton and Husk, Vienna, VA
William D. Bierman, Price Meese Shulman & D'Arminio, PC, Woodcliff Lake, NJ
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Cocktail Reception