ROSELAND, NJ (October 23, 2012) - Connell Foley Partners Karen P. Randall, Neil V. Mody, and Michael A. Shadiack delivered continuing legal education sessions on “Litigating Coverage” and “Social Media in the Workplace” to Hartford Financial Products participants.
Topics covered during the presentation on litigating insurance coverage included among others discovery, bad faith claims, attorney-client privilege, work product and common interest doctrines, joint defense, duty to defend, failure to reserve, critical state-specific requirements, and New Jersey's Burd Rule.
Within the session on social media the discussion encompassed potential employer/insured liability and examples of risks and exposure through employee use of various platforms. Details of specific cases involving individual rights to privacy and employer policies, protected concerted activities, and issues of discrimination, harassment and retaliation were reviewed. Also recounted were the key elements of what a company's social media policy should incorporate.
Karen Painter Randall is a Partner and Chair at Connell Foley LLP. A Certified Civil Trial Attorney, Randall provides representation and advocacy services to a wide range of professionals and businesses in complex litigation. Randall is the former Chair of the USLAW Professional Liability Practice Group and a member of its Leadership Committee. Randall also manages the Professional Liability and Director and Officer Litigation Practice Groups at Connell Foley, USLAW NETWORK’s New Jersey firm. Randall has lectured and written extensively on defense, coverage and risk management issues while also serving in key leadership positions with the American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute and Council on Litigation Management.
Mody is a Partner in Connell Foley's Insurance Coverage practice group. His practice is focused on litigation, counseling, and excess monitoring on behalf of domestic and internationally-based insurers in various coverage matters, including property, general liability, excess liability, professional risk and long-tail claims, as well as bad faith, reinsurance, and catastrophic loss.
Shadiack is a partner in the firm's Labor and Employment Law practice group, who practices exclusively in the areas of labor and employment law on behalf of management in the private and public sectors. He represents international and regional private corporations, non-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education. He provides employers with pro-active and preventative counseling on personnel and benefits issues to ensure compliance with statutory and common law requirements, as well as prepares comprehensive and practical employment agreements and employee handbooks tailored to each employer’s specific needs.