In this month’s issue of Advocate, Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP’s own Pete Kaufman has contributed a valuable story focused on the ethical concerns that may arise during the litigation of mass-tort claims.
After giving a brief history of mass-tort, which has its genesis in relatively recent actions against the tobacco and asbestos industries, Mr. Kaufman delves into the problems that attorneys can expect to confront as they apply their skills to such claims. Because ethics regulations were established in relation to singular claims, there can be some gray area when it comes to representing the needs and desires of many.
Each individual claim may have unique circumstances, and the lawyer has to approach each client on his or her own merits while simultaneously figuring out how that piece fits into the bigger puzzle. The complexities of mass-tort claims cannot be underestimated, especially when attorneys from around the nation are working toward a common goal while still trying to serve the needs of their specific clients.