BulletProofBlog the blog on crisis communications

By the time most corporations have geared up for a class action lawsuit and are ready to do battle, their opponents on the plaintiffs' side have already launched pay-per-click campaigns and sweeps of the general population; penetrated the social media; and implemented organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) that earns top billing for their websites when information-seekers use their search engines. Even small plaintiffs' firms know how to take advantage of blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and other social ... READ MORE

In this regular feature, Bulletproof Blog interviews top plaintiffs' attorneys for their perspective on the crises likely to affect businesses in the near future. Today we talk to Russell "Jack" Drake, name partner at Whatley Drake & Kallas in Birmingham, Alabama, one of the powerhouse firms in the Southeast representing clients in a broad range of mass torts and business lawsuits.  What factors do you see affecting your practice in the coming months? Jack Drake: Even if ... READ MORE

In the wake of near-complete financial breakdown, an uptick in the volume of securities lawsuits is hardly surprising. But the numbers are still sobering. In March 2009, for example, Navigant Consulting, Inc. released a ground-breaking report titled "2008: Seeking Relief" that showed a whopping 576 new litigation matters filed in federal courts in 2008 as a direct result of the severe market downturn. The subprime-related issues driving these increases were already in full play before the ... READ MORE

After years of playing defense during the Bush Administration, the plaintiffs' bar is back on the attack. Empowered by the election of President Obama and Democratic gains in Congress, trial lawyers are poised to tap populist furor - and the media's passion for it - to pass legislation that will likely reshape civil litigation for years to come. And as if that weren't enough to keep general counsels in the financial, insurance, healthcare, and other industries ... 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 Mark Tanner, name partner at the Philadelphia-based Feldman, Shepherd, Wohlgelernt, Tanner, Weinstock & Dodig, a premier regional plaintiffs' firm that consistently wins multi-million dollar judgments in consumer, automotive, insurance, qui tam, and diverse other areas. What factors do you see affecting your practice in the coming months? Mark Tanner: It ... READ MORE

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reached more settlements in the first quarter of 2009 than it reached in the first or fourth quarters of 2008, respectively. According to a NERA Economic Consulting report, settlements jumped 16 percent between January and March 2009 alone. Under intense pressure amid the current financial crisis and high-profile scandals such as Bernie Maddoff's alleged ponzi scheme, the SEC is making it known that there is a new sheriff in ... READ MORE

Each Monday, Bulletproof Blog now features exclusive interviews with thought leaders on issues of critical importance to companies and countries. This week, with the recent release of Pricewaterhouse Coopers' 2008 Securities Litigation Study, we interview Al Vondra, who is a Partner in PwC's Forensic Services practice. In 30 years with PwC, Mr. Vondra has directed numerous audit engagements, forensic and fraud investigations, merger and acquisition audits, due diligence reviews, internal control reviews, and dispute analysis projects. ... READ MORE

A complicated new problem and a potential windfall for plaintiff's lawyers is emerging in the already beleagured home building industry. But one big builder is scoring points for stepping up and doing the right thing. Drywall is that paper and plaster composite that is ubiquitous in modern construction. Most of the interior walls that surround us at home and at work are made of the stuff. Drywall is usually hardly worth a second thought - that ... READ MORE

Each Monday, Bulletproof Blog now features exclusive interviews with thought leaders on issues of critical importance to companies and countries. This series provides insights on current communications challenges, how best to deal with them, and what we can expect down the road. This week - with last month's U.S. record-breaking settlement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act case against Halliburton and its subsidiary KBR continuing to make headlines - we are proud to offer the ... READ MORE

When called before a congressional committee investigating the nationwide salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter, Stewart Parnell, the President of the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), refused to answer questions, citing his Fifth Amendment protection against self incrimination. Fair or not, "taking the fifth" is generally seen as an outright admission of guilt. And for that rather obvious reason, it is generally considered an ineffective crisis communications strategy - the verbal equivalent of putting a raincoat ... READ MORE