Frivolous Lawsuits, America's Next Export to the Pacific Rim; DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar, Provides Prevention Tips in Australia.

CHICAGO -- As growing fears that the frivolous lawsuits plaguing US courtrooms will head to Australia and the Pacific Rim, DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar, equips lawyers with litigation tips to combat the potential suits costing corporations billions of dollars in punitive damages awards each year. DRI's international liability conferences will address those concerns on November 8th in Sydney and November 10th in Melbourne, Australia.

"Punitive damages are a prominent feature of tort liability," said DRI President-Elect Richard T. Boyette. "Enormous punitive awards, such as the $2.3 million verdict against McDonald's for a women spilling hot coffee in her lap, or the $80 million levied against Hughes Aircraft fuel the perception that damage awards are, in the words of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, 'out of control.'"

DRI is providing a forum for Australian lawyers and insurance industry professionals to gather with American attorneys. This unique educational opportunity features a faculty comprised of luminaries from Australia and the U.S., and the program will provide attendees with an educational and networking experience that highlights the risks Australian and Pacific Rim businesses face as the influence of the U.S. tort system spreads beyond continental borders. The seminar is also supported by the Insurance Institute of Australia (IIA), the New South Wales branch of the Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA), and the Law Council of Australia (LCA).

"DRI's conference enables lawyers and company executives to prepare for outlandish lawsuits," said Doug Houser, Program Chair. "This open forum allows litigators to learn firsthand from the American professionals who have defended targeted corporations."

The meeting will feature former DRI President Sheryl Willert, one of the United States' foremost employment law lawyers, who will present the keynote address. She will use her expertise to discuss the latest, most controversial cases filed by the plaintiffs' bar, and will highlight the areas Australian and Pacific Rim corporations and employers are most vulnerable when conducting business in the U.S.

The November 8th seminar will be held at The American Club in Sydney and the November 10th seminar will convene at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, MCG Yarra Park in Melbourne, Australia.

The meeting will provide professional and educational resources. Topics include:

--Who's Responsible Next? Prepare for Frivolous Lawsuits in Australia and the Pacific Rim

--Trade Infringement, Unfair Competition, and False Advertising in Cooper v. Leatherman

--Bad Faith, Emotional Distress and Excessive Punitive Damages in State Farm v. Campbell

--Regulations Impact on Manufacturer and Exporters Conducting Business in U.S.

--Environmental Regulation and Responsibility

--Most Recent US Legislation Affecting International Production and Trade

For event and registration information visit DRI at: http://www.dri.org. Members of the media with questions should contact Ray Rahmati at [e-mail] or 202.973.1319.

DRI--The Voice of the Defense Bar is the nation's largest association of lawyers defending civil lawsuits. DRI provides numerous educational and informational resources to members and offers many opportunities for liaison among defense trial lawyers, Corporate America, and state and local defense organizations. DRI also has an international presence, seeking to enhance understanding of the law among members of the defense community who have reason to be concerned with the expanding globalization of litigation defense.