The Perils of Litigating in the Court of Public Opinion: Lessons Learned from the Chevron Ecuador Litigation

This program will consider the implications of taking your case to the proverbial “court of public opinion,” ethical considerations, and “dos and don’ts” for any litigator who finds his or her case in the public spotlight.

Part One: A panel discussion of litigating “in the court of public opinion,” including:

• Its effectiveness particularly in public interest or cause-related lawsuits;
• The ethical dimensions of prosecuting a case — or defending yourself — in the public arena;
• How to hurt your case in the courtroom by “overplaying your hand” in public; and
• The role of media in leveling the playing field between parties.

Part Two: Applying the lessons from Part One to the real-world example of the Chevron Ecuador oil pollution case that has transfixed legal audiences for years. The case has been ongoing for two decades and has included massive public relations campaigns, political protests and lobbying, a documentary, a $19 billion verdict in favor of the plaintiffs… and a fierce counterattack by Chevron (including a RICO lawsuit against plaintiff lawyer Steven Donziger and others).

There will be an interactive discussion with Paul M. Barrett, Assistant Managing Editor, BusinessWeek and author of The Law of the Jungle(Crown/Random House, September 2014), which deals with the Ecuadoran litigation and the battles between the plaintiffs and Chevron. Paul and moderator James Haggerty will discuss the case and its lessons for lawyers and clients who find themselves thrust into the public arena

Live Program – (includes materials):
Member: $229
Nonmember: $329

Stanley N. Alpert, Of Counsel, Schlam, Stone & Dolan LLP

Paul M. Barrett, Assistant Managing, Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Stuart Calwell, Founding Member, The Calwell Practice LC

Mark A. Izeman, Director, New York Program and Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Gary M. Osen, Member and Managing Partner, OSEN LLC

Thom Weidlich, Managing Director, Communications Specialist, PRCG|Haggerty LLC

6:00 – 6:10 pm Welcome and Introductory Comments
James F. Haggerty

6:10 – 7:00 pm Part I: Effectively Litigating Your Case In the Court of Public Opinion

• The ethical dimensions of prosecuting a case — or defending yourself — in the public arena;
• Preventing the other side from “burying the story” deep within the court docket hoping the public will never learn the truth;
• How to hurt your case in the courtroom by “overplaying your hand” in public; and
• The role of media in leveling the playing field between parties.

Stanley N. Alpert, Paul M. Barrett, Stuart Calwell, Mark A. Izeman, Gary M. Osen & Thom Weidlich

7:00 pm – 7:15 pm Questions for First Panel

7:15 pm – 7:25 pm Break

7:25 pm – 8:00 pm Part II: An Armchair Discussion
Moderator: James F. Haggerty
Panel: Paul M. Barrett

8:00 pm – 8:15 pm Audience questions and discussion
Paul M. Barrett

8:15 pm – 8:30 pm Concluding remarks
James F. Haggerty

New York Credit: 2.5 professional practice
This program provides transitional/non-transitional credit for all attorneys.
California Credit: 2.5 general
New Jersey Credit: 2.6 general
Pennsylvania Credit: 2.0 general

Save $$ on DVDs & CDs
*DVDs – (includes materials):
$229 Member
$329 Nonmember

*CDs – (includes materials): 
$172 Member
$227 Nonmember

*Materials Only (no CLE credit):
$99 Member
$129 Nonmember

* New York residents will be charged the New York sales tax for all audio visual purchases.

Can’t make it to the program in person?  Now you can attend this program from your office or home.  Register and view by clicking on the Casemaker logo below:

Sponsorship Opportunities are Available! Please Contact: 
Ann Rappleye, Director, City Bar Center for CLE | (212) 382-6606 | ARappleye@nycbar.org or
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Darianne De Leon, Program & Sponsorship Coordinator, City Bar Center for CLE | (212) 382-6731 | ddeleon@nycbar.org