Registration Information
Save up to $300 when you register on or before August 5!
Register Now!
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Member Pricing |
Non-Member Pricing |
Non-Member Bundle ^ |
Early Bird Registration*
(Now thru Aug. 5) |
$1,395 |
$1,795 |
$1,715 |
Regular Registration*
(Aug. 6–Sept. 17) |
$1,595 |
$1,995 |
$1,915 |
Onsite Registration |
$1,695 |
$2,095 |
$2,015 |
Group Registration (Non-Sponsored)** |
$1,095 per person |
$1,095 per person |
$1,095 per person |
Government |
Government members will receive the applicable government rate for the seminar upon login. If the government rate does not appear after logging in, please call DRI directly at (312) 795-1101 to receive the discounted rate. Invoices can be sent after purchase upon request. |
Not a DRI Member? Select the Non-Member Bundle and Save!
^ Not a DRI Member and want to save on your registration? Take advantage of the Non-Member / Trial Membership Bundle when you register for the DRI Strictly Automotive Seminar. Select the bundle and get up to 9 months of membership with the membership add-on when you check out. Note: Trial membership processing can take up to 30 days from the date of purchase, please contact DRI Customer Service with any questions.
Learn more about membership at DRI and get started on your DRI journey today!
*If your membership recently lapsed, please renew your membership prior to registering to ensure you receive your discounted member rate. If you would like to join DRI to receive the member pricing and see the benefits of becoming a member, click here to go to the Application page.
**Group registration is for registering four or more attendees, members and non-members. There is one free registration with every 10 registrations. You must lock in the rate three weeks prior to the seminar. If you want to register for the group pricing, fill out the form here (online registration is not available for this offering).
Networking Events
Premier Networking Reception
Sponsored by: ABC
Date: Thursday, September 19 from 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar
Location: Hyatt Regency Chicago
Eager to connect with fellow attendees after an inspiring day of learning? Join us for the DRI Premier Networking Reception on Thursday, September 19 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. This is your chance to unwind, mingle, and build valuable connections over light appetizers and open bar that features DRI's signature mocktail. Enjoy the casual atmosphere as you chat with industry peers and thought leaders. It's the perfect way to cap off your day and set the stage for meaningful conversations and lasting relationships. Don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity to network with the best and brightest in the field. We can't wait to see you there!
Agenda with Speakers
*Schedule and Speakers subject to change
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Time (Central) |
Program |
12:00 p.m. |
Registration |
6:00 p.m. |
Networking / Cocktail Hour
|
7:30 p.m. |
Dine-Arounds
Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own). |
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Time (Central) |
Program |
8:30 a.m. |
Registration & Coffee Service
|
9:00 a.m. |
Welcome and Introductions
James Weatherholtz, Womble, Bond, Dickinson (US) LLP, Charleston, SC
Natalie Eschbach, Litchfield Cavo LLP, Chicago, IL
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9:15 a.m. |
TREAD vs. ACTIVE - Early Warning Defect and Incident Reporting in the United States and Canada
It has been nearly 25 years since the implementation of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act in the United States, which was implemented with an eye towards giving NHTSA early insight into possible safety issues. TREAD requires vehicle and equipment manufacturers to report to NHTSA on a wide variety of information that could indicate the existence of a potential safety defect or noncompliance and to advise NHTSA of foreign safety recalls and other safety campaigns. This year, Transport Canada introduced Analysis of Companies’ Technical Information for Vehicle and Equipment (ACTIVE), an early warning defect and incident reporting regime similar to TREAD. What does a quarter century of experience with TREAD tell us about early warning regulations? Has TREAD actually lead to increased numbers of recalls and how has it impacted litigation? How has TREAD reporting impacted in-house counsel? Just how similar are TREAD and ACTIVE, and what should counsel have in mind with the implementation of ACTIVE?
Christie Iannetta, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP, Washington, D.C.
Timothy Cullen, McMillan LLP, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Joanna Leong, Honda, Toronto, Canada |
10:15 a.m. |
Coffee Break
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10:30 a.m. |
NHTSA Update: Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Requirements for Light Vehicles (SEA, Ltd.)
As a result of the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL) in 2021, NHTSA will begin to require all “light passenger motor vehicles”, to have Forward Collision Warning (FCW), AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking) and PAEB (Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking), for model year 2029 vehicles.
“AEB systems reduce the frequency and severity of lead vehicle and pedestrian collisions. They employ sensor technologies and subsystems that work together to sense when the vehicle is in a crash imminent situation, to automatically apply the vehicle brakes if the driver has not done so, and to apply more braking force to supplement the driver's braking. These systems can reduce both lead vehicle rear-end (lead vehicle AEB) and pedestrian (PAEB) crashes. AEB systems have reached a level of maturity to make a significant contribution to reducing the frequency and severity of crashes and are thus ready to be mandated through adoption of a new FMVSS on all new light vehicles”- United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (2023). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA [Web Archive].
This presentation will explore the 2029 requirements in two parts. The first being an overview of the AEB, FCW and PAEB technology being mandated, how it works, and how these technologies will apply to accident reconstruction and litigated automotive claims. The second part will overview the specific requirements of how the technology is going to be tested and validated, what equipment and specifications will be required to pass these new tests, and examples of what these test scenarios look like. |
11:30 a.m. |
Driving Growth and Success: The Ethics of Diversity in the Automotive Industry
In our rapidly evolving and highly competitive market, diversity and inclusion brings a range of perspectives and experiences that drive innovation and improve the overall performance of a company. To better understand customers and maintain a productive and agile workforce, automotive companies must attract and retain top talent that reflects the make-up of our society. From improving product design and developing stronger customer relationships to increasing market share and improved financial performance, the benefits of strategic diversity and inclusion initiatives are clear. This discussion will identify steps that the automotive sector can take to bolster inclusion efforts.
Susan Allen, Stellantis, Brookfield, WI
Marie Chafe, Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford LLP, Boston, MA |
12:30 p.m. |
DRI Networking Lunch
Join all seminar attendees for lunch and networking opportunities that are second to none. |
2:00 p.m. |
Getting Right the Right to Repair
The right to repair movement continues to pose unique challenges for the automotive industry. From a consumer’s perspective, the right to repair is deceptively simple – I purchased the product so I am entitled to repair it myself or to take it to a technician of my own choosing for repairs. But there are significant differences between automobile and consumer electronics, for example, that have driven a different conversation about the right-to-repair for automobiles. Automakers also face significantly different product liability risks and warranty issues requiring a more nuanced analysis of the right to repair. The increasing complexity of the technology in automobiles has also made repairing them more difficult and costlier. This has become particularly pronounced with the growth of software within vehicles and their connectivity. This panel will discuss the history of the right to repair within the automotive industry, its current positioning within the intersecting conversations surrounding environmentalism, ESG, consumer rights, and how automakers have (and can) address the challenges ahead.
Moderator
George Wray, Borden, Ladner, Gervais, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Rustam Juma, Volkswagen Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Brittney Kohn, Ford Motor Company, Detroit, MI
Liz McNulty, Evans Fears & Schuttert LLP, Newport Beach, CA |
3:00 p.m. |
Human Factors & Driver Behavior in Motor Vehicle Collisions
This seminar explores how experts investigate motor vehicle collisions when liability is contested, such as pedestrian collisions and high-speed intersection collisions. We answer questions such as how do we typically respond to various roadway hazards? How long does it take us to respond? What are the limitations of human factors, driver behavior, traffic engineering research? How do experts determine if a collision was (un)avoidable? We will also go over several, peer-reviewed published research (including our own) that de-bunks myths about typical perception-reaction time for pedestrians, cyclists, and intersection collisions. Lastly, we will explore a few case examples where this type of analysis was used and provided tremendous insight and leverage from a liability perspective.
Dr. Robert Sall (Human Factors Expert With Specialization in Driver Behaviour), J.S. Held
Dana Thorton (Senior Accident Reconstruction Expert), J.S. Held, Greenwood Village, CO |
4:00 p.m. |
Networking Opportunities
More details to come.
|
6:00 p.m. |
Premier Networking Reception
Click here for details. |
8:00 p.m. |
Dine-Arounds
Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own).
|
Friday, September 20, 2024
Time (Central) |
Program |
8:30 a.m. |
Registration & Coffee Service
|
9:00 a.m. |
Welcome and Announcements
Haley Johnston, Frost Brown Todd LLP, Indianapolis, IN
|
9:10 a.m. |
Airboss Decision Unpacked and Insights a Year Later: Perspectives from In-House and External Counsel
Many "blanket" supply agreements in the automotive industry provide that the buyer will specify the quantity to be delivered only by issuing periodic "releases." In July 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court held for the first time that such a "release-by-release" contract is not enforceable beyond the quantity specified in issued releases, and therefore can be terminated by either party. Hear from in-house counsel from a supplier and an OEM, as well as external counsel working in the space, about the implications of this decision one year out and how the law is continuing to evolve.
Aaron Gentry, DRÄXLMAIER Automotive of America, Greenville, SC
Jason D. Killips, Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco PLLC, Birmingham, MI
|
10:10 a.m. |
Coffee Break
|
10:25 a.m. |
Facial Injury Biomechanics of Airbag Deployment: There’s an ATD for that!
In motor vehicle collisions with frontal airbag deployment, injuries are sometimes attributed to contact with the airbag and claims sometimes arise regarding the aggressiveness of airbag deployment. While ATDs, or "crash test dummies", are widely used to understand occupant motions and loading in motor vehicle collisions, the traditional Hybrid III ATD does not provide data on facial or eye loading. Using tools like the FOCUS (Facial and Ocular CountermeasUre Safety) headform, the forces applied to discrete regions of the face and eyes can be quantified in impact scenarios. This testing has been used in research and in litigation contexts to understand if and how facial fractures or eye injuries occurred and whether an airbag impact is the likely cause of such injuries. This presentation will include a discussion of what these methods can and cannot do and how they can be employed to evaluate and litigate airbag claims.
Ian Campbell, Ph.D., P.E., Exponent, Atlanta, GA
Jill Okun, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, Cleveland, OH
Bishop Bartoni, Bush Seyferth PLLC, Troy, MI
|
11:25 a.m. |
Strategies to Address Post-Pandemic Changes in Juror Attitudes Towards Damages
Since courts resumed jury trials after the COVID shutdown, juries seem willing to award larger damages amounts than ever before. Juror viewpoints and attitudes have evolved since the pandemic, and damages awards seem to be disconnected from the proofs presented at trial. Trial counsel must be prepared to address these challenges during discovery and, most importantly, at trial. Inhouse counsel must ensure their outside counsel is developing a case narrative during discovery and employing effective strategies during trial to mitigate the risk of a runaway verdict. Join us for a moderated panel discussion between a highly experienced trial judge, veteran inhouse counsel and seasoned national trial counsel as they discuss these changing juror attitudes and best practices to address them during case work up and at trial.
Matt King, IMMI, Westfield, IN
Fred Fesard, Klein, Thomas, Lee & Fresard, Detroit, MI
Conor McLaughlin, Thompson Hine LLP, Cleveland, OH
|
12:25 p.m. |
Adjourn |
Headquarters Hotel Information
The seminar will take place at Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601.
To contact the hotel directly, call 312.565.1234.
A limited number of discounted hotel rooms have been made available at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Take advantage of the group rate of $295.00 Single/Double in one of two ways:
The hotel block is limited, and rooms and rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You must make reservations by August 27, 2024, to be eligible for the hotel's group rate. Requests for reservations made after August 27 are subject to room and rate availability.
CLE Information
Earn up to TBD hours of continuing legal education hours (CLE) From this seminar.
View CLE Credit by State
In some states that charge late CLE submission fees, there will be a $100 late fee to report CLE credits submitted more than 30 days after a seminar/virtual event. Click the button below for more details.
CLE Late Fees
DRI's Strictly Automotive Seminar is proudly sponsored by:
If you would like to contact DRI about seminar sponsorship opportunities, including pricing, or to reserve a spot, please go to Advertising and Sponsorship.
DRI Cares
Blessings in a Backpack
Please join us in supporting Blessings in a Backpack, an organization that mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for school-aged children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Seminar attendees will have the opportunity to fill bags of food on the way to the joint networking lunch on Thursday, September 19. Feeding a child before you feed yourself is a wonderful way to support children and families in the Chicago community.
Donate to Blessings in a Backpack
Other Information
If you have any questions or concerns regarding DRI programs, please contact DRI Customer Service at 312.795.1101 or custservice@dri.org.