The 2012 Legislative Session is coming to a close on June 4^th and LOGA has begun preparations to bring you the results. Please join LOGA in New Orleans for a recap of the 2012 Legislative Session and a look at whats ahead for industry in the 2013 Legislative Fiscal Session.  We will be joined by State Treasurer John Kennedy who will serve as our special guest lunch speaker.  The luncheon meeting will focus on legislation that will be impacting the industry along with other legislation that had potential to impact industry.

A special session will be held in the morning on Legacy Lawsuits “The Limited Admission Legislation” – assuming the legacy legislation makes it through the legislative process. This 3-hour session will give those involved in Legacy Lawsuits a detailed analysis of the legislation that was passed and instructions on how defendants should move forward and navigate the waters.  We will have speakers available for a Q & A panel following the presentation. You do not want to miss this event.

Registration for the Lunch and Session Recap is open to anyone that would like to participate. Registration for the Legacy Seminar is limited to LOGA Member Companies and their legal counsel only.  LOGA reserves the right to refuse admission to the Seminar.

If you have any questions about the event or whether you are eligible to attend, please contact CeCe Richter at 225-388-9525.

Hotel Info:
Hilton New Orleans - St. Charles
333 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70130
(888) 490-6547

A block of rooms has been secured at the Hilton St. Charles for this seminar.  Please call (888) 490-6547 to make reservations. Group code is LOGA.

General Agenda (subject to change)

• 7:15am - Registration opens
• 8:00am - 11:15am - Legacy lawsuit seminar "Limited Admission Legislation" (pending passage of Legacy Legislation)
• 11:15am - 11:30am - Break
• 11:30am - 12:45pm - Lunch with State Treasurer John Kennedy
  
• 12:45pm - 2:00pm - 2012 Legislative Session Recap

More on the Legacy Lawsuit seminar:

“THE LIMITED ADMISSION LEGISLATION”

1. WELCOME– 8:05am – Don Briggs, LOGA President

2.  

3. INTRODUCTION - 8:10am – Gifford Briggs, LOGA Vice President
   • Description of how the bill was developed and the negotiation process with industry, the administration and landowner interests.

3. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE BILLS– 8:30am – Jason Bergeron, Legal Counsel for ExxonMobil
   • SB 555 and HB 618
     • general description of provisions in the bills.
     • Anatomy of a responsible party admission in a newly filed lawsuit
     • description of flow chart showing the overall process.

4. THE MAJOR FEATURES OF THE BILLS
   • Notice of Intent and Preliminary Hearing  - 8:45am – Loulan Pitre, Attorney for GordonArata
     • How a defendant can use the 1-year suspension period to prepare an effective defense
     • Using the preliminary hearing to add specificity to an ambiguous petition
     • Protecting the client’s interest if a dismissal is granted
   • Environmental Management Order – 9:00am – George Arceneaux, Attorney for Liskow & Lewis
     • Description of a sample EMO
     • How the EMO can be used to complement normal discovery
   • Conducting an Environmental Assessment – 9:20am – Consultant TBD
     • Hiring a consultant
     • Costs and timing of a typical assessment of a former E&P site
     • Organization and presentation of data to the client
   • BREAK – 9:40 – 9:55am
   • Litigating the Public Hearing
     • Contents of the Plan Submitted to DNR – 9:55am – Lou Buatt, Attorney for Jones Walker 
       • Other Agency Comments and the DNR Plan
       • Process for soliciting and incorporating comments – timing of referral.
       • No Ex Parte Communications
     • Procedure in the public hearing – 10:10am –  Victor Gregoire, Attorney for Kean Miller

5. THE LIMITED ADMISSION AT TRIAL– 10:25am – Rob McNeal, Attorney for Liskow & Lewis
   • Depositions of the State and other Agencies
     • Admissibility Issues –
       • The DNR Plan and other Agency Comments
       • Daubert Considerations
   • The Agency Plan and relationship to “Private Damages” and “Excess Remediation Damages”

6. STRATEGY FOR HANDLING LIMITED ADMISSIONS IN PENDING CASES– 10:40am – Jason Bergeron
   • Prioritizing your cases
   • Coordinating with co-defendants and current operators
     • Serial Admissions
     • Joint Defense Agreements
     • Pre-Payment of Department’s Costs
   • Indemnification Agreements

7. Q & A Panel – 10:55am – All Speakers

8.  

9. CLOSING REMARKS – 5 minutes