Dechert Re:Torts

Key Developments in Product Liability and Mass Torts

In this monthly newsletter you'll find insights and analysis covering significant legal trends, landmark cases, and strategic considerations for businesses facing complex litigation. It serves as a valuable tool for staying informed about the evolving landscape of tort law and its implications for various industries.

INSOLVENCY INSIGHTS

Second Circuit to Address Opt-Out Third-Party Releases Post-Purdue

The Second Circuit’s forthcoming GOL decision may bless or prohibit the use of third-party “opt-out” releases in bankruptcy.  That opinion could have major consequences for mass tort bankruptcies throughout the country.  

EXPERTS EXAMINED

New Manual on Scientific Evidence Offers Updated Rule 702 Roadmap for Courts

The Fourth Edition of the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence is an updated resource for building, defending, and challenging scientific evidence in cases involving complex evidence. Attorneys should familiarize themselves with the Fourth Edition’s updates, as courts are likely to consult them when making potentially dispositive rulings on the admissibility of scientific evidence and expert testimony.

HOT TOPICS

When Winning Means Losing: The Litigation Funding Trap

Arigna v. Longford Capital exposes the risks litigation funding poses to all parties and underscores the importance of transparency reforms and understanding how funder economics may drive litigation behavior. Practitioners may benefit from discovery into funder ownership structures to determine if there are any jurisdictional defects and scrutinize contractual definitions that funders may interpret expansively.