BulletProofBlog the blog on crisis communications

In this regular feature, Bulletproof interviews top plaintiffs' attorneys for their perspective on the crises likely to affect businesses in the near future. Today we talk to Doug Cawley, a principal in the Dallas office of intellectual property powerhouse McKool Smith. Mr. Cawley was in the news lately when an Eastern District of Texas jury awarded $200 million to his client, the Canadian software company i4i, in a patent infringement dispute over Microsoft Word's use ... READ MORE

Each week, Bulletproof Blog features exclusive interviews with thought leaders on issues of critical importance to companies and countries. This week, with high-profile recalls of peanuts, pistachios, and countless other food and consumer products making headlines, we interview Brett Berty and Mike Rozembajgier, the Senior Recall Strategist and Director of Recalls, respectively, for Stericycle Expert RECALL services. Together, Mr. Berty and Mr. Rozembajgier, who lead Stericycle's industry-leading Expert RECALL team, have guided companies through the complex ... READ MORE

The action that had been expected for almost a month - and what, it now turns out, had been in the offing since before the subprime mortgage meltdown publicly gave way to a global financial crisis - finally came to pass yesterday when the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) brought civil charges of fraud and insider trading against former Countrywide Financial Chairman and CEO Angelo Mozilo. As the face of the company at the center of ... READ MORE

In this regular feature, Bulletproof interviews top plaintiffs' attorneys for their perspective on the crises likely to affect businesses in the near future. Today we talk to Jack Olender, president and principal trial lawyer of Jack H. Olender and Associates in Washington, DC. The Washington Post dubbed Mr. Olender the "King of Personal injury - the undisputed champion," while the Washingtonian observed that "no attorney in Washington is more feared than this medical - malpractice ... READ MORE

Each week, Bulletproof Blog features exclusive interviews with thought leaders on issues of critical importance to companies and countries. This week, with the current economic crisis and an increasingly inter-connected global community driving sweeping changes in the legal profession, we interview incoming American Bar Association President Carolyn Lamm. In addition to being one of the world's foremost legal minds on issues of international arbitration, international trade, and international commercial litigation, Ms. Lamm has been named a ... READ MORE

In this regular feature, Bulletproof interviews top plaintiffs' attorneys for their perspective on the crises likely to affect businesses in the near future. Today we talk to Anne C. Vladeck of New York's Vladeck, Waldman, Elias & Engelhard, P.C., one of the best-known employment/labor plaintiffs' firms in the profession. Ms. Vladeck discussed a fundamental employment issue particularly relevant during deep, lingering downturns. How does a recession, and particularly a recession as deep as the current one, ... READ MORE

President Obama last week announced his intention to end Bush Administration rules that were written to protect companies from product liability litigation in state courts. While consumer advocates and trial lawyers cheered this move against federal preemption, business leaders widely see it as a full-employment act for the plaintiffs' bar that will likely result in a significant uptick in lawsuits and the reputational liabilities that go along with them. What many businesses find most troubling about ... READ MORE

In this regular feature, Bulletproof interviews top plaintiffs' attorneys for their perspective on the crises likely to affect businesses in the near future. Today we talk to Douglas B. Abrams of Raleigh, NC's Abrams & Abrams, P.A. Mr. Abrams, a leading advocate for plaintiffs in automotive disasters, talked about evolving liabilities as well as likely systemic changes that will define vehicle safety in the years ahead. How do you see the new Administration and Congress affecting ... READ MORE

Having already demonstrated a mastery of Google ad-word buys, blogs, and search engine optimization, the plaintiffs' bar has moved to a new frontier in class litigant recruitment: Facebook.  The social networking site that now boasts more than 200 million active users (more than half of which are above the age of 30) is fertile ground for plaintiffs' attorneys seeking clients for litigation against companies ranging from cell phone service providers to financial services giants. It costs the ... READ MORE

In this regular feature, Bulletproof interviews top plaintiffs' attorneys for their perspective on the crises likely to affect businesses in the near future. Today we talk to James McKenzie of McKenzie & Hall, P.A., one of Florida's long-established and most respected plaintiffs' firms. Mr. McKenzie, based in Pensacola, discussed his focus for 2009 and beyond. What industry now represents your primary focus for the near future?  James McKenzie: The insurance industry has been a prime focus of ... READ MORE