MDL in Motion 2026 Examines How Federal and State Courts Manage Parallel Mass Tort Dockets

Friday, October 2

Mass tort and complex litigation cases are no longer siloed. A federal MDL judge may preside over one set of consolidated cases while parallel state proceedings advance on independent tracks, each with its own judge and schedule. And many states have their own mini-MDL procedures.

In a conference co-hosted by CCJ and ALI, we brought together the practitioners and jurists who navigate this terrain daily. Over one intensive day, leading federal and state court judges, preeminent plaintiffs' and defense counsel, and top academics examined the doctrinal fault lines, practical workarounds, and coordination challenges that define modern mass litigation.

 

Schedule:

8:30 am   Federal and State Courts: Filed and Unfiled Cases – Moderator: Judge Rodgers; Panelists: John Beisner, Sam Issacharoff, Ashley Keller, Judge Medinilla, Joe Petrosinelli, and Chris Seeger

9:30 am   Coordinated Bellwether Program – Moderator: Judge Caldwell; Panelists: Judge Breyer, Alexandra Lahav, Mark Lanier, Connie Matteo, and Craig Thompson

10:15 am   Networking Break

10:30 am   Arthur Miller Q&A with Wallace B. Jefferson

11:00 am   Coordinated Case Management – Moderator: Judge St. Eve; Panelists: Lexi Hazam, Justice Kraus, Judge Vavala, and Aviva Wein

11:45 am   Lunch Break (provided)

12:00 pm   Ken Feinberg Q&A with Troy McKenzie

12:30 pm   Judge Rosenberg Q&A with Andrew Bradt

1:15 pm   State MDL Procedures – Moderator: Chief Justice Hecht; Panelists: Judge Highberger, Judge Kuhl, Joe Petrosinelli, Teddy Rave, and Ellen Relkin

2:00 pm   Coordinated Common Benefit Orders – Moderator: Judge Wood; Panelists: Sheila L. Birnbaum, Elizabeth Cabraser, and Nora Engstrom

3:00 pm   Coordinated Settlement – Moderator: Bob Klonoff; Panelists: Judge Fallon, Judge Herndon, Judge Lungstrum, Stephanie Parker, Judge Roberts, and Norm Siegel

3:45 pm   Additional Federal/State Complications – Moderator: Judge Vance; Panelists: John Beisner, Amy Keller, Chief Justice Seitz, Dena Sharp, and Chief Justice Timmer