CHICAGO, May 20, 2010 – Experts in trial practice will participate in sessions to examine the increasing use of e-discovery and the impact that technology is having on civil litigation, possible federal rules changes, and the problem of court costs and delays when the American Bar Association Section of Litigation holds the Fourth Annual National Institute on E-Discovery on May 27 in Washington, D.C.

Sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Center at Crowell Moring, LLP.

Among the speakers are federal Judges Paul W. Grimm of the District of Maryland, author of a leading opinion on e-discovery; John Facciola of the Magistrate Court for the District of Columbia who has coined the term “marginal utility” and will discuss the role of proportionality; and Shira Scheindlin of the Southern District of New York who decided Pension Committee.  Other speakers include Jason R. Baron, director of litigation for the National Archives; Prof. Lawton P. Cummings of George Washington University School of Law; Thomas Allman, former general counsel for BASF Corp.; David Yerich, UnitedHealth Group; Richard Finkelman, Navigant Consulting; Jerone J. English, Intel Litigation Competition Group; Shannon L. Spangler, Altria Corporation; and Diane E. Barry, International Litigation Services.

Programs

• Welcome Remarks from John M. Barkett, Miami
• E-Discovery Is Here to Stay, But Where Is It Going?
• E-Discovery and Web 2.0
• Reflections on “Marginal Utility” Since McPeak v. Ashcroft
• Discovering Electronic Evidence to Make It Admissible
• Breakthroughs in Search Technology: Have We Finally Found the Holy Grail?
• The Ethics of Web 2.0

For a complete program, visit the section website at http://new.abanet.org/calendar/CEN0EDV-4th-Annual-National-Institute-on-E-Discovery/Pages/default.aspx.

The ABA Section of Litigation represents about 68,000 lawyers, judges and others involved in all aspects of litigation and the dispute resolution process. It is the national voice for litigators and a leader in advocating improvements in the justice system.  The section provides tools and resources to assist lawyers to be better litigators as they serve their clients. It offers opportunities for growth, learning and networking through its professional communities. Its activities reflect and support the commitment of its members to a strong, diverse and vibrant profession, a fair and accessible justice system, and the continuing obligation to achieve both through a wide range of pro bono activities.  For more information on the section’s programs and public service efforts, visit http://www.abanet.org/litigation/.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law in a democratic society.

Editor’s Note:     Representatives of the news media are welcome to attend the Section of Litigation Fourth Annual National Institute on E-Discovery for free. To register, contact Deborah Weixl at weixld@staff.abanet.org. Crowell Moring, LLP is located at 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.