Another Successful MTMP: Highlights and Happenings

MTMP Hosts Mike Papantonio (left) and Mark Proctor (right) enjoying cocktails at the Bellagio's Baccarat Bar.

By Christina Grube

(MASS TORT NEWS) – Last week, Levin Papantonio Rafferty mounted another successful Mass Torts Made Perfect (MTMP) conference for the 22nd year running. Held for three days at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, MTMP Fall 2022 offered dozens of lectures and socializing events, leaving attendees with both a deeper understanding of the latest mass torts and a wider circle of contacts for collaboration.

MTMP Vice President of Programs Sharon Boothe told Mass Tort News “This was the largest and most successful MTMP to date…[w]e hosted over 300 First Time Attendees.” She credits the conferences’ growth to their expansion in programing, highlighting the newest tracks launched this year–Paralegal Skills and Trial Skills in Mass Torts.

View of Paris Las Vegas from the Bellagio.

MTN Editor-in-Chief Mark York with MTMP host Mark Proctor.

“We have done a lot of work in the past several years to expand MTMP,” Boothe explained, “so that everyone is included and there is a spot for anyone who wants to attend and become a player in the mass tort arena. I’m very happy to see that we are attracting a larger, more diverse faculty and audience every time.”

When asked what impacted her most at the recent MTMP, Boothe said “I was very proud of the fact that we had close to 100 paralegals attend our new Paralegal track, and that over 45% of the speakers at MTMP were female.”

MTMP Speaker Sara Papantonio explained the conference’s continued impact on mass torts. “Some of the country’s biggest cases originated and developed at MTMP,” she told MTN.

“The attorneys at MTMP are the people who took down big tobacco, the opioid industry,” she continued. “[A]nd are now going after the federal government for their role in the biggest water contamination in our nation’s history.”

Writing as a first time attendee, the passion from speakers and energy from fellow attendees felt refreshing. Discussions on strategy with Camp Lejeune litigation continued, confirming the tort as a strong docket with a great outlook.

As the conference convened, MTN correspondents received breaking news regarding another emerging tort–Gardasil MDL 3036. Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr of the Western District of North Carolina officially assigned Rachel Lanier of the Lanier Law Firm, Bijan Esfandiari of Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman, and Paul Pennock of Morgan & Morgan as co-lead counsel for plaintiffs, with Allison Mullins of Turning Point Litigation appointed as liaison counsel for plaintiffs. With the backing of such powerful firms, many expect Gardasil to catch fire within the next year.

Notable conference attendees include Sara Papantonio, Rick Meadow, Don Worley, Alicia O’Neil, Adam Levitt, Robert Kinsman, Adam Krause, Dean Chase, and Liz Zwibel, to name a few. Artist Trevor Goring also attended and gifted MTN correspondents lapel pins of his artwork.

MTN Reporter Christina Grube with Scott Millican, Executive Producer at Levin Papantonio, at an MTMP cocktail reception.

MTN Reporter Christina Grube with Luke Russell and Stefani Russell of Russell Media

MTN Reporter Christina Grube with Attorney Liz Zwibel in a poolside cabana.

MTMP offered great support and coverage opportunities to media sources throughout the week. Scott Millican, Executive Producer at Levin Papantonio Rafferty, personally delivered Mass Tort News correspondent press badges on the first day of the conference. MTMP hosts Mike Papantonio, Troy Rafferty, and Mark Proctor also took time to sit and chat with MTN correspondents throughout the week.

Market My Market (MMM) kicked off the week with Lawyers on the Links, a day of drinking and driving (golf balls) on the Bali Hai golf course. MMM scattered driving challenges across the course, giving putters the chance to win anything from credit at the Bali Hai gift shop to Keith Newstrom’s home-made beef jerky. For the main event, players got the chance to face-off with prodigy golfers Madison (12) and McKenzie (11) who remained at the 16th hole throughout the game. When asked if anyone beat the sisters, Event Director Eric Bersano laughingly replied, “It was Madison and McKenzie…very few.” According to Bersano, the fall 2022 Lawyers on the Links remains their largest event. “More sponsors, more attorneys, more fun,” Bersano said. “Several attorneys said the LOTL event was the highlight of their week.”