Defense Counsel Journal

Editor's Page - Volume 86, Number 3

February 12, 2020

Kenneth R. Meyer

Kenneth R. Meyer

Ken Meyer is with McCarter & English and is a former editor of the IADC Defense Counsel Journal. He is senior trial lawyer certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney and is primarily a commercial litigator who defends complex product liability, mass tort, and significant personal injury and property damage cases. He has litigated cases in state and federal courts in 27 States, has acted as defense liaison counsel for branded pharmaceutical companies, and serves as national coordinating, regional, and local counsel.

As the IADC moves into its Centennial year, the Defense Counsel Journal is entertaining ideas to commemorate this momentous achievement. The Product Liability Committee has graciously agreed to provide articles for a 100th year edition dedicated to topics authored by its members. This is fitting given that the Product Liability Committee is, and has been for a very long time, the IADC’s largest Substantive Law Committee. The IADC Foundation is also considering a dedicated issue, perhaps with articles focused on civics and the rule of law. We encourage anyone who wants to contribute to one of our centennial publications to write or solicit an article. Authors are always needed and appreciated!

This edition contains three exciting and helpful articles. Mark Behrens, one of our most reliable contributors, and Christopher Appel have written an instructive article relating to several significant proposed changes to the Federal Rules. If implemented, these changes will impact many of our practices. It is an important read and one that will foster thoughts as to positions that each of us, and the IADC, should be taking on these proposals. Paul Fuller has written an insurance coverage article relating to inverse condemnation and public water systems. It provides interesting insights into a topic at the crossroads of insurance and land use law. Finally, Brian Schneider’s article explores the impact of a recent Supreme Court decision on maritime jurisdiction over asbestos claims. This in-depth analysis examines admiralty law and its applicability to proof issues relating to equipment manufacturers’ liability for component parts. As always, we are grateful for our authors’ efforts and contributions. 

The DCJ looks forward to celebrating the IADC’s 100th anniversary and moving forward into the next 100 years. We need your help in making this transition. In the words of Israelmore Ayivor, “A person who wrote badly did better than a person who does not write at all. A bad writing can be corrected. An empty page remains an empty page.”

Kenneth R. Meyer
Editor and Chair of the Board of Editors

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