ACS, Public Justice and Cardozo Law School sponsored a day-long conference entitled "Justice and the Role of Class Actions" at Cardozo Law School. The March 28, 2008 event brought together scholars, practitioners and law students to explore class actions and the issues that swirl around this controversial and rapidly changing area of the law. The conference schedule is available here.

The "Challenges Facing Class Actions" panel addressed:

1) External challenges to the use of the rule. Those challenges included those involving judicial infrastructure, legislative measures (PLSRA and CAFA, which purportedly address perceived problems with class actions), and judicial nominations (hostile courts and conservative nominees); and

2) Abuses of the class action device that could undermine class action plaintiffs. Examples include collusive settlements and copy-cat suits.

The panel featured:

• John Beisner, O'Melveny & Myers, head of DC Office (Real Video / Windows Media)
• Leslie Bailey, Public Justice (Real Video / Windows Media)
• Myriam Gilles, Cardozo Law School (Real Video / Windows Media)
• Robert Isler, Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll P.L.L.C. (Real Video / Windows Media)
• Sam Issacharoff, NYU Law School (Real Video / Windows Media)
• Moderator Anthony Sebok, Cardozo Law School (Real Video / Windows Media)

Introduction (Real Video / Windows Media)

Discussion (Real Video / Windows Media)

Video from the conference is available here.