Defense Counsel Journal

President's Page - Volume 87, Number 2

April 29, 2020

Amy Sherry Fischer

Amy Sherry Fischer

Amy Fischer is a shareholder at Foliart, Huff, Ottaway, and Bottom in Oklahoma City. She is a member of the IADC Board of Directors and practices in the areas of products liability, insurance, and commercial litigation.

So many things have changed in the world since the last Defense Counsel Journal which was published in January. For IADC, this has been a historic year celebrating 100 years of the organization. Now, it is historic for other reasons. While we “shelter in place” instead of working in our offices or traveling to meetings, we have to look to new ways to connect and find value in our IADC membership. One value that has always been on that robust list is the Journal.

In this edition, we owe particular thanks to IADC Product Liability Committee Chair Bill Anderson for spearheading his Committee’s effort to write and submit content for it. We again, also owe thanks to the Editor, Ken Meyer, and the entire Journal Board as well as the staff who continually keep us moving forward to provide cutting edge information to our members on a variety of topics. In this edition, we are doing something particularly special as noted in the thanks above. April’s articles come from the Product Liability Committee. Members of the committee covered a wide array of important topics by authors from around the world. We owe appreciation to the committee for putting together so many important and educational articles.

The articles in this edition, like all Journal editions, are of the highest quality and will not disappoint. Bill Anderson sets the tone with his piece on predictions for the next 100 years of product liability issues. Stephanie Rippee joins in with an article focusing on the future of data protection. Jordan Lipp and Steven Michalek look to a rising issue in product liability law with the use of 3D printers. Jessie Zeigler, Sarah Miller, and Olivia Seraphim examine warnings law, including inconsistencies with it, with a variety of products. Rick Wallace and Bill Anderson provide insights on Attorneys General actions in the tort arena. Eric Lasker and Brett Covington give us tools to help win forum disputes. 

There are several articles that specifically address topics of a global prospective. MC Sungaila, Jim Sullivan, and Marco Pulido discuss the new wave of global litigation and let us know what is happening around the world. In her piece, Sylvie Gallage-Alwis discusses issue of import in civil law systems – and the effect US litigation has on them. Lastly, Greg Williams and Will Atfield report on the status of litigation funding in Australia.

All of these articles are online and easily accessible. That is increasingly important for everyone as we continue navigating our world and culture that has been affected by the Coronavirus. The IADC is not able to meet in person for the time being, but that has just increased our focus and efforts to providing “IADC Virtual Value.” We will not let this shared experience diminish the benefits of belonging to the IADC. In fact, we are doubling down on everything we can do online to connect and educate through Webinars, podcasts, video Committee meetings and social gatherings, our online Communities, and social media. 

As Bob Dylan said, “the times they are a-changin.’” That statement seems even more accurate today. Let’s continue, as an organization and membership, to adapt to these crazy times and embrace all that makes us who we are.

Back