Greenwich Ins. Co. v. Media Breakaway, LLC, 417 Fed.Appx. 642, 2011 WL 703474 (9th Cir. March 1, 2011).

Valley Forge Ins. Co. v. Carson Center for Human Services, Inc., Slip Copy, 2011 WL 864802 (D. Mass., March 10, 2011).

Continental Cas. Co. v . Auto Plus Insurance Agency, LLC, 676 F. Supp. 2d 657 (N.D. Ohio, 2009).

Westport Ins. Corp. v. Coffman, 2009 WL 243096, No. C2-05-1152 (S.D. Ohio, January 29, 2009).

Westport Ins. Corp. v. Jackson Nat. Life Ins. Co., 387 Ill.App.3d 408, 900 N.E.2d 377 (2nd Dist.,2008).

Sigma Chi Corp. v. Westchester Fire Ins. Co., 587 F.Supp.2d 891 (N.D. Ill., 2008).

Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London v. Mandell, Menkes, & Surdyk, 2008 WL 4291160, No. 1:08-CV-718 AWI GSA (E.D. Cal., Sept. 18, 2008).

Albareda, Rosso, Maluje, & Nies, P.A. v. Westport Ins. Corp., 2008 WL 1766733, No. 07-22148-Civ. (S.D. Fla., April 17, 2008).

Westport Ins. Corp. v. Hanft & Knight, P.C., 523 F. Supp. 2d 444 (M.D. Pa., 2007).

In re Nanovation Technologies, Inc., 347 B.R. 314 (Bkrtcy. N.D. Ill., 2006).

Olson v. Jenkens & Gilchrist, 461 F.Supp.2d 710 (N.D. Ill., 2006).

Cummings v. Westport Ins. Co., 2006 WL 407631, No. Civ. 05-206-P-C (D. Me., February 21, 2006).

Continental Cas. Co. v. Jewell, Moser, Fletcher & Holleman, 2005 WL 1925964, No. 4:04CV002309 JMM (E.D. Ark., August 11, 2005).

Blair v. Sherman Acquisition, 2004 WL 2870080, No. 04 C 4718 (N.D. Ill., December 13, 2004).

Kemper Indem. Ins. Co. v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., 2004 WL 1375400, No. 03 C 1554 (N.D. Ill., May 25, 2004).

In re HA 2003, Inc., 42 Bankr.Ct.Dec. 234, 2004 WL 609799, No. 03 C 9008 (N.D. Ill., March 24, 2004).

Travelers Indem. Co. v. American Cas. Co. of Reading, PA, 337 Ill.App.3d 435, 786 N.E.2d (1st Dist. 2003).

Representative Matters

Greenwich Ins. Co. v. Media Breakaway, LLC, 417 Fed.Appx. 642, 2011 WL 703474 (9th Cir. March 1, 2011).

Valley Forge Ins. Co. v. Carson Center for Human Services, Inc., Slip Copy, 2011 WL 864802 (D. Mass., March 10, 2011).

Continental Cas. Co. v . Auto Plus Insurance Agency, LLC, 676 F. Supp. 2d 657 (N.D. Ohio, 2009).

Westport Ins. Corp. v. Coffman, 2009 WL 243096, No. C2-05-1152 (S.D. Ohio, January 29, 2009).

Westport Ins. Corp. v. Jackson Nat. Life Ins. Co., 387 Ill.App.3d 408, 900 N.E.2d 377 (2nd Dist.,2008).

Sigma Chi Corp. v. Westchester Fire Ins. Co., 587 F.Supp.2d 891 (N.D. Ill., 2008).

Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London v. Mandell, Menkes, & Surdyk, 2008 WL 4291160, No. 1:08-CV-718 AWI GSA (E.D. Cal., Sept. 18, 2008).

Albareda, Rosso, Maluje, & Nies, P.A. v. Westport Ins. Corp., 2008 WL 1766733, No. 07-22148-Civ. (S.D. Fla., April 17, 2008).

Westport Ins. Corp. v. Hanft & Knight, P.C., 523 F. Supp. 2d 444 (M.D. Pa., 2007).

In re Nanovation Technologies, Inc., 347 B.R. 314 (Bkrtcy. N.D. Ill., 2006).

Olson v. Jenkens & Gilchrist, 461 F.Supp.2d 710 (N.D. Ill., 2006).

Cummings v. Westport Ins. Co., 2006 WL 407631, No. Civ. 05-206-P-C (D. Me., February 21, 2006).

Continental Cas. Co. v. Jewell, Moser, Fletcher & Holleman, 2005 WL 1925964, No. 4:04CV002309 JMM (E.D. Ark., August 11, 2005).

Blair v. Sherman Acquisition, 2004 WL 2870080, No. 04 C 4718 (N.D. Ill., December 13, 2004).

Kemper Indem. Ins. Co. v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., 2004 WL 1375400, No. 03 C 1554 (N.D. Ill., May 25, 2004).

In re HA 2003, Inc., 42 Bankr.Ct.Dec. 234, 2004 WL 609799, No. 03 C 9008 (N.D. Ill., March 24, 2004).

Travelers Indem. Co. v. American Cas. Co. of Reading, PA, 337 Ill.App.3d 435, 786 N.E.2d (1st Dist. 2003).

Events

Greenwich Ins. Co. v. Media Breakaway, LLC, 417 Fed.Appx. 642, 2011 WL 703474 (9th Cir. March 1, 2011).

Valley Forge Ins. Co. v. Carson Center for Human Services, Inc., Slip Copy, 2011 WL 864802 (D. Mass., March 10, 2011).

Continental Cas. Co. v . Auto Plus Insurance Agency, LLC, 676 F. Supp. 2d 657 (N.D. Ohio, 2009).

Westport Ins. Corp. v. Coffman, 2009 WL 243096, No. C2-05-1152 (S.D. Ohio, January 29, 2009).

Westport Ins. Corp. v. Jackson Nat. Life Ins. Co., 387 Ill.App.3d 408, 900 N.E.2d 377 (2nd Dist.,2008).

Sigma Chi Corp. v. Westchester Fire Ins. Co., 587 F.Supp.2d 891 (N.D. Ill., 2008).

Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London v. Mandell, Menkes, & Surdyk, 2008 WL 4291160, No. 1:08-CV-718 AWI GSA (E.D. Cal., Sept. 18, 2008).

Albareda, Rosso, Maluje, & Nies, P.A. v. Westport Ins. Corp., 2008 WL 1766733, No. 07-22148-Civ. (S.D. Fla., April 17, 2008).

Westport Ins. Corp. v. Hanft & Knight, P.C., 523 F. Supp. 2d 444 (M.D. Pa., 2007).

In re Nanovation Technologies, Inc., 347 B.R. 314 (Bkrtcy. N.D. Ill., 2006).

Olson v. Jenkens & Gilchrist, 461 F.Supp.2d 710 (N.D. Ill., 2006).

Cummings v. Westport Ins. Co., 2006 WL 407631, No. Civ. 05-206-P-C (D. Me., February 21, 2006).

Continental Cas. Co. v. Jewell, Moser, Fletcher & Holleman, 2005 WL 1925964, No. 4:04CV002309 JMM (E.D. Ark., August 11, 2005).

Blair v. Sherman Acquisition, 2004 WL 2870080, No. 04 C 4718 (N.D. Ill., December 13, 2004).

Kemper Indem. Ins. Co. v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., 2004 WL 1375400, No. 03 C 1554 (N.D. Ill., May 25, 2004).

In re HA 2003, Inc., 42 Bankr.Ct.Dec. 234, 2004 WL 609799, No. 03 C 9008 (N.D. Ill., March 24, 2004).

Travelers Indem. Co. v. American Cas. Co. of Reading, PA, 337 Ill.App.3d 435, 786 N.E.2d (1st Dist. 2003).

Representative Matters

Blair, Merlo and Wood Win Legal Malpractice Defense Verdict

Kimberly Blair (Partner-Chicago, IL), Robert Merlo (Partner-Chicago, IL) and Courtney Wood (Associate-Chicago, IL) secured a defense verdict in a legal malpractice action brought in Cook County. Kim, Bob and Courtney represented personal injury attorneys who had previously represented the plaintiff in an underlying motor vehicle accident case.

The plaintiff alleged that our clients improperly recommended an $845,000 settlement in the underlying action, which involved claims stemming from a motor vehicle collision, including a claim that a C5-C6 herniation was sustained as a result of the accident. Plaintiff contended that our clients failed to advise him of an excess insurance policy and asserted that, had he known of the additional coverage, he would not have agreed to settle underlying case for $845,000 and instead would have proceeded to trial.

The Court bifurcated the trial of the malpractice action, and directed the parties to first try the underlying auto matter – the “case within a case” – with the understanding that a verdict below $845,000 would result in the absence of causation and damages, thereby entitling the defendant attorneys to judgment in their favor.

After six days of the trial’s first phase (the case-within-a-case phase), plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury to award $2,406,000 in damages. The jury returned a verdict of just $50,232.04, eliminating any basis for damages on the legal malpractice claim and resulting in a complete defense victory for our clients.

Kimberly E. Blair, Robert F. Merlo and Courtney L. Wood

Blair, Merlo & Duff Prevail on Behalf of Attorney Client in Contentious Post-Decree Appeal

Kimberly Blair (Partner-Chicago, IL) and Chicago associates Robert Merlo and Thomas Duff represented the attorney for the wife in a very contentious divorce case; specifically, representing her in post-decree proceedings stemming from the husband’s refusal to turn over significant sums of money, over which he was held in indirect civil contempt and jailed. Subsequently, the husband filed suit against his ex-wife, his former business partner, and his wife’s attorneys (including our client) on allegations of aiding and abetting, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy – suggesting that our client’s conduct was part of a nefarious legal strategy. Kim, Robert, and Thomas were successful at having the matter dismissed with prejudice at the trial court level based on the absolute litigation privilege. An impressive brief written on appeal by Robert and Thomas convinced the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District to affirm the trial court’s decision in an extensive opinion that further solidified the litigation privilege in the State of Illinois. 

Kimberly E. Blair and Robert F. Merlo

Chicago Team Secures Affirmance for Insurance Company Client in Medical Malpractice Coverage Dispute

Kimberly Blair (Partner-Chicago), Joseph Stafford (Partner-Chicago), and Thomas Duff (Associate-Chicago) secured an affirmance of a summary judgment from the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, in a coverage dispute brought against Wilson Elser’s client, an insurance company. The case centers on our client’s denial of coverage for two medical malpractice suits against the plaintiff, a hospital facility, due to its failure to report the lawsuits as required in its professional liability insurance policy.

In the underlying matter, Wilson Elser maintained that although an existing SIR Endorsement’s notice requirement replaced the plaintiffs’ obligation to give notice of claims to our client “as soon as practicable,” it did not supersede the plaintiff hospital’s separate obligation to report claims within the policy period. The circuit court agreed with Wilson Elser’s reading of the policy and granted summary judgment for the insurance company. The appellate court affirmed, concurring with Kim, Joe, and Thomas’s assessment that the policy was a “claims made and reported policy,” that this interpretation is not at odds with the language of the SIR Endorsement, and that their arguments presented the only reasonable interpretation of the unambiguous policy language.

Kimberly E. Blair

Medical Hospital Complex

Blair, Stafford, Merlo and Duff Secure Affirmance in Precedent-Setting Legal Malpractice Case

A Chicago office team comprising partners Kimberly Blair and Joseph Stafford and associates Robert Merlo and Thomas Duff secured the First District Court of Appeals’ affirmance of a dismissal with prejudice of the plaintiffs’ third amended complaint for legal malpractice against our law firm client. A the circuit court level, the team brought in our client’s predecessor counsel as a third party, alleging that because discovery in the underlying case closed on their watch, there was nothing our client could have done to remedy the alleged malpractice. The predecessor counsel filed a motion for summary judgment on our third-party complaint based on the successor counsel (viability) doctrine, and the court denied it, holding that by the time it appeared in the underlying case, nothing our client could have done would have prevented the unfavorable outcome for the plaintiffs in the underlying action. After that ruling, the plaintiffs were given one more chance to state a claim, but they would have had to wholly shift their theory of malpractice. The court then dismissed that complaint (with prejudice) because the plaintiffs’ allegations about what they would have done were contradicted by what they actually did in response to the underlying judgment, through yet another successor attorney.

On appeal, the plaintiffs argued, among other things, that the district court judge was incorrect to hold, as a matter of law, that no arguments could have defeated the underlying dispositive motions and improperly took judicial notice of post-judgment proceedings from the underlying case in dismissing the plaintiffs’ “last-ditch” third amended complaint. The First District affirmed, and comprehensively laid out why it agreed with our many arguments in the Response Brief. Notably, the First District’s conclusion in its published opinion essentially mirrored our conclusion in our Response Brief.
 

Kimberly E. Blair and Robert F. Merlo

Firm Highlights

Publications
The Cannabis Industry’s “Big Tobacco” Moment: What Insurers Need to Know About Murray v. Cresco
A massive 320-page class action complaint filed on May 4, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has the attention of the cannabis sector. The insurance professionals who underwrite it should also be paying close attention. The case, Murray et al. v. Cresco Labs Inc. et al., represents the most ambitious legal assault yet on the marketing practices of major cannabis multistate operators (MSOs). The complaint makes explicit comparisons to the litigation playbook against “Big Tobacco” in the 1990s. With claims across 12 states and spanning allegations of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), consumer fraud, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation and more, this lawsuit signals a new era of litigation risk that could reshape how cannabis companies are underwritten and insured. What the Case is About Murray v. Cresco is a consumer class action brought by more than 40 named plaintiffs on behalf of recreational cannabis purchasers in Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Virginia. The defendants are three of the nation's largest cannabis MSOs: Cresco Labs Inc., Green Thumb Industries Inc. and Verano Holdings Corp. Each defendant is a vertically-integrated cannabis operator, meaning they cultivate, process, distribute and sell cannabis products under a portfolio of consumer-facing brands. Cresco sells under brands like Sunnyside, High Supply, FloraCal, and Wonder Wellness; Green Thumb uses brands like Rhythm, Dogwalkers, Good Green and Rise; Verano operates under Zen Leaf, Encore Edibles, BITS and Cabbage Club, among others. The case was filed under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) in the Northern District of Illinois, the location of the defendants’ principal places of business. The complaint explicitly carves out claims related to physician-prescribed medical cannabis, focusing solely on adult-use purchases. A companion case targeting Curaleaf Holdings was filed the same day in the District of Connecticut. The Central Narrative Plaintiffs allege that the defendants knew, or should have known, that cannabis products pose serious mental and physical health risks, yet chose to market those same products as safe, therapeutic, and even medicinal. The complaint paints a picture of an industry that borrowed from Big Tobacco's playbook, allegedly sponsoring less-than-rigorous research to generate consumer friendly health claims while burying the mounting scientific evidence of harm. As the complaint puts it, the defendants “deceptively marketed cannabis as medicine capable of alleviating or treating the very mental health disorders” they “knew or should have known were caused or exacerbated by the use of their products.” The Liability Theories The core liability theory is the federal RICO cause of action. The plaintiffs allege that the defendants operated an “enterprise” engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity, including dealing in controlled substances illegal under federal law, mail fraud, wire fraud, and monetary transactions in criminally derived property. The RICO claim is significant because it opens the door to potential treble damages, meaning any actual damages could be tripled, plus attorneys' fees. The U.S. Supreme Court's 2025 decision in Medical Marijuana, Inc. v. Horn confirmed that RICO can apply to economic harms tied to mislabeled cannabis products. The complaint also asserts state-specific consumer protection claims in all 12 states where the representative plaintiffs reside. These include violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, New York's General Business Law Section 349, the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, and analogous statutes in each remaining jurisdiction. Across all states, plaintiffs argued that defendants made affirmative misrepresentations about health benefits while concealing known risks, inducing consumers to purchase products they otherwise would not have bought, or to overpay for them. The complaint further alleges breach of express and implied warranties under each state’s version of the Uniform Commercial Code. By representing their products as treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, pain and other conditions, defendants allegedly created and violated express warranties that the products would perform as described. Implied warranty claims assert that cannabis products marketed as wellness aids were not “fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used.” Finally, negligent misrepresentation claims target the defendants’ alleged failure to exercise reasonable care in communicating health information to consumers. The Health Science at the Heart of the Case The factual backbone of the complaint runs over a hundred pages of citations to various scientific studies and papers. The plaintiffs reference research alleging connections of cannabis use to psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, suicidal ideation, and anxiety. The complaint cites a 2025 study finding that states with open recreational dispensaries experienced a 12 percent increase in admissions to state mental health facilities for psychotic disorders. A 2021 Danish study is also referenced for its finding that schizophrenia cases associated with cannabis use disorder increased 300 percent to 400 percent over 20 years as potency doubled. The complaint also cites cardiovascular studies, including a 2025 meta-analysis that reportedly found cannabis use doubled the risk of cardiovascular death and increased stroke risk by 20 percent. Another cited study estimates the odds of heart attack among cannabis users at more than six times higher than non-users. The complaint also highlights prenatal risks, citing a 2025 review linking cannabis use during pregnancy to increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm birth. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) and cannabis use disorder (CUD) are include in the complaint’s litany of health harms. Focus on Industry Awareness The complaint emphasizes that these health risks are not new discoveries. It alleges that the defendants had “actual and constructive knowledge” of these dangers, derived from years of publicly available peer-reviewed studies and governmental advisories, yet “failed to adequately warn their customers.” Instead, plaintiffs contend the defendants went in the opposite direction by marketing cannabis as a remedy for the conditions it allegedly makes worse. The Playbook is Growing The lead attorney in Murray v. Cresco, Patrick Kenneally, is a former Illinois county prosecutor with a track record of taking on cannabis companies. In 2023, he compelled dispensaries in McHenry County, Illinois to post in-store warnings about cannabis-related mental health risks, a first in the country, and to fund a billboard campaign linking cannabis to suicide and schizophrenia. An earlier, similar lawsuit against Verano was dismissed in March 2026, but the new complaint appears broader and more detailed. A spokesperson for Verano told MJBizDaily that the suit “mirrors claims that have been rejected by courts in similar legal actions against multistate operators in the industry earlier this year.” Whether the 320-page complaint overcomes those defenses remains to be seen. Rescheduling Adds Fuel The timing is notable. On April 23, 2026, the Department of Justice issued an order rescheduling state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved cannabis products to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Greater federal legitimacy may bring greater legal exposure. Rescheduling is likely to expand market access and raise expectations for product safety and accurate labeling, making negligence and consumer protection claims more likely for compliance lapses. Canada Offers a Preview Canada legalized recreational cannabis nationally in 2018, and its litigation experience since then is instructive. The country has seen a wave of product liability class actions, including Downton v. Organigram Holdings, the first certified cannabis product liability class action in Canada, involving pesticide contamination. Proposed actions have also targeted major Canadian producers over inadequate risk disclosures related to CHS. The pattern is consistent with what now appears to be emerging in the United States – consumer litigation follows the market opening up. Why This Matters for Cannabis Insurers For insurance professionals, Murray v. Cresco crystallizes several risks that the industry has long discussed in the abstract. The case represents a concrete, large-scale litigation event with the potential for enormous exposure. The RICO claim alone, with its treble-damage multiplier, could transform a significant jury verdict into a catastrophic one. Class certification across 12 states would dramatically multiply the defendant pool and the aggregate damages. The underwriting on cannabis product liability has, to date, focused on potential contamination, mislabeling, and the occasional exposure or ingestion-based bodily injury claim. Murray v. Cresco, however, introduces a different species of claim, one rooted in marketing conduct rather than product defect in the traditional sense. Currently, the insurance industry is largely insulated from large consumer class actions like Murray v. Cresco. Many cannabis policies contain broad health-hazard exclusions, which could deny coverage for claims involving specified adverse health effects from cannabis products. Class action exclusions are common, as are exclusions for statutory penalties like treble damages under RICO and state consumer protection awards. RICO-based claims are also vulnerable to criminal-acts exclusions or specific carve-outs for racketeering-related conduct. Coverage Disputes on the Horizon Notwithstanding this insulation, insurers should expect that defendants in cases like Murray will tender claims under their commercial general liability (CGL) policies, products completed operations policies, directors and officers (D&O) policies, and any specialty cannabis coverage they hold. The question of whether deceptive marketing and failure-to-warn allegations fall within a products-completed operations hazard, an advertising injury provision, or some other coverage grant will likely be fiercely contested. What Underwriters Should be Asking Going forward, underwriters writing cannabis risks should scrutinize their insureds' marketing practices with the same focus they currently bring to product testing and labeling. Documented testing integrity, warning protocols, supply-chain oversight, and recall history are all important along with marketing discipline. Policies should be reviewed for RICO and state consumer statute exposure. Underwriters should pay attention to emerging scientific studies on the health effect of cannabis use. Insureds that continue to make unsupported health claims, the kind at the center of Murray v. Cresco, present a different risk profile than those that keep their marketing factual and scientifically supported. Conclusion Murray v. Cresco may or may not succeed on the merits. Defendants will raise formidable challenges, including preemption arguments, standing issues, the difficulty of class certification across a dozen state consumer-protection regimes, causation defenses and the still-evolving science around cannabis and health. But the complaint’s sheer scale, its RICO backbone, and its explicit comparisons to Big Tobacco litigation signal that the era of treating cannabis product liability as a hypothetical future risk is over. For insurers and their cannabis policyholders, the takeaway is practical and immediate. Marketing claims are now a front-line litigation target, and the industry needs to treat them accordingly. Risk-mitigation programs should include compliance audits of all consumer-facing health claims, robust product warnings modeled on the warnings that accompany over-the-counter medical products, and honest internal assessments of what the science supports. Meanwhile, insurers should be reviewing policy language to understand their own exposure in the event that lawsuits like this one multiply. This article was published in the May 18, 2026, posting of Insurance Journal.
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Publications
PLUS Blog Features Kelly Article on How New Laws Are Rewriting Risk for Manufactured Housing
John Kelly (Partner-New York, NY) authored “From Personal to Real Property: How New Laws Are Rewriting Risk for Manufactured Housing,” posted on the May 14, 2026, PLUS Blog. In the article, John discusses how recent state and proposed federal legislation might reshape the legal and insurance landscape for manufactured housing. He explains that New York’s Land-Home Property Act now allows certain manufactured homes to be reclassified from personal property to real property if they meet requirements such as permanent foundations, land ownership, or long-term lease arrangements. This change could ease financing and tax burdens for homeowners while aligning these homes more closely with traditional single-family residences. The article also discusses proposed federal legislation that would eliminate the longstanding requirement that manufactured homes be built on permanent steel chassis. John notes that removing this mandate could reduce construction costs, encourage permanent placement of homes and expand affordable housing opportunities, particularly in urban areas.
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Client Wins
Piatkowski and Morales Secure Summary Judgment on Behalf of Global Tech Firm
Kelsi Piatkowski (Partner-Houston, TX) and Angela Morales (Associate-Houston, TX) successfully defended their client in a suit arising from a motor vehicle accident, where multiple theories were alleged, including vicarious liability. The plaintiff advanced an increasingly utilized – but legally unrecognized – theory that cellphone application notifications sent to an independent contractor delivery driver transformed the relationship into one of employment. They also contended that the client owed a duty to prevent independent drivers from engaging in distracted driving. After extensive briefing and oral argument, including an argument that Texas law does not recognize a cause of action imposing tort liability on technology platforms for an independent driver’s decision to interact with a mobile device while driving, the Court granted our client’s motion for summary judgment. Indeed, the Court ordered all claims dismissed with prejudice.
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News
Wilson Elser Recognized Among Top Law Firms for Associate Satisfaction in 2026 BTI Report
BTI Consulting Group recently named Wilson Elser among the top firms for associate satisfaction in its “BTI Associate Satisfaction A-Listers 2026” report. Based on more than 5,000 associate responses, BTI recognized 189 law firms for fostering strong associate job satisfaction, with Wilson Elser ranking among the top 36 firms consistently recognized for creating a positive and supportive work environment. The report found that associates increasingly value factors beyond compensation, including meaningful training, mentorship, clear career development opportunities, strong job satisfaction, and active partner investment in associate success. BTI also highlighted the importance of targeted support for women associates and firms’ demonstrated commitment to long-term career growth. The recognition underscores Wilson Elser’s continued focus on cultivating a workplace where associates feel supported, engaged, and positioned for professional success in an increasingly demanding legal industry.
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Events
Pace Women’s Justice Center Fundraiser: “Cocktails for a Cause”
Jacqueline Hattar (Partner-White Plains, NY) will co-host the Pace Women's Justice Center (PWJC) "Cocktails for a Cause" fundraiser on May 28, 2026, at the Barley Beach House in Rye, New York. The event supports the PWJC's commitment to increasing access to justice by providing free legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. The funds raised will support the PWJC’s critical services for survivors of abuse. Jackie is a long-time PWJC Advisory Board member and a past recipient of the Center's “Making A Difference” award. She also serves on the Board of Visitors at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. The PWJC, housed at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains, New York, is a self-funded, nonprofit legal center that falls under Pace University's 501(c)(3) status. The Center conducts or participates in more than 140 training and outreach events annually, providing free legal services to some 3,500 survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. Serving Westchester and Putnam Counties, the PWJC's mission is to pursue justice for victims and prevent abuse by offering quality legal services, fostering community partnerships, and promoting education and awareness. 
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Events
Scope of Services: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives for Claims Professionals
Kimberly Blair (Partner-Chicago, IL), Peter Catalanotti (Partner-San Francisco), Joseph Francoeur (Partner-New York, NY), and Alexandra Skarka (Associate-Philadelphia, PA) will present the Wilson Elser Forum webinar “Scope of Services: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives for Claims Professionals” on June 8, 2026. The session provides a cross-disciplinary overview of how scope of services issues arise across design and construction, legal, brokerage, and real estate professions. Presenters will address how engagement agreements define and limit the scope of professional services, the risks of scope creep and undocumented service expansion, defenses available based on scope limitations, and evidentiary sources and trial strategies for scope disputes. Also covered are deposition tactics specific to scope of services claims, underwriting red flags and claims investigation best practices, third-party liability exposure when non-clients rely on an insured’s work product, and potential subrogation opportunities.
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Events
Labor & Supply Chain Pressures: ADR's Role in Managing Workforce and Material Disruptions
Denise Motta (Of Counsel-Louisville) will be a panelist at the 2026 AAA-ICDR Construction Conference in Marina Del Rey on June 4, 2026. She will join an expert panel of arbitrators/mediators and in-house counsel to discuss the implications of labor and supply chain issues increasingly impacting the construction industry. Denise and her fellow panelists will offer insights into navigating these claims and examine how early mediation, arbitration, and dispute review boards may help parties reach resolutions before disputes escalate.
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Client Wins
Felder and Allin Prevail in Suspected Marine Li-Ion Battery Fire in Utah Federal Court
Otis Felder (Partner-Los Angeles, CA) and Taylor Allin (Partner-Phoenix, AZ) combined to obtain a judgment in favor of a boat owner before the U.S. District Court for Utah. The Salt Lake federal court entered judgment in exoneration of the owner in connection with a fire that occurred on October 26, 2023, on Lake Powell, causing damage to the vessel along with the surrounding dock infrastructure and other vessels. It was suspected that the fire was caused by lithium-ion batteries. While no one was on board the vessel at the time of the incident, neighboring vessel owners set the boat adrift after observing smoke billowing from its windows. Unfortunately, winds blew the vessel from one part of the marina to another, resulting in significant damage to the marina's dock, other vessels and surrounding property. Claimants in the proceeding included the marina operator, which had asserted claims for damages related to dock repairs and vessel salvage costs. With no evidence proving the vessel owner had any knowledge of the cause of the fire, the marine withdrew its claims. With the Court's exoneration order, the vessel owner petitioner has been found free of liability, and the action is now closed.
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Publications
An Update on Virginia’s Medical Malpractice Reporting Bill
A prior analysis examined the Virginia legislature’s rejection of a sweeping proposal to overhaul the state’s medical malpractice damages cap. That proposal would have doubled the cap from $3 million to $6 million, allowed prejudgment interest, expanded the statute of limitations, and imposed new insurance requirements on nursing homes. Instead, the legislature passed a narrower, reconciled version of Senate Bill 536 that left the existing damages cap schedule under Virginia Code § 8.01-581.15 untouched but created a new reporting framework requiring commercial insurers and self-insured hospitals to disclose detailed malpractice claims data to legislative leaders. At the time of publication, the reconciled bill had been sent to Governor Spanberger, who had until April 13 to sign, veto, or propose amendments.  Rather than sign or veto the reconciled bill, Governor Spanberger returned it to the legislature on April 12, 2026, with a set of proposed amendments that reshaped several key aspects of the reporting framework. On April 22, the amended reconciled bill was enacted, with an effective date of July 1, 2026. Bottom Line for Virginia Healthcare Entities The medical malpractice damages cap remains unchanged, but a new reporting law takes effect on July 1, 2026, with an initial disclosure deadline of October 1, 2026. The governor’s amendments broadened who must report, redirected all disclosures through the Bureau of Insurance (the “Bureau”), strengthened confidentiality protections, and eliminated the most sensitive reporting metric. However, it also expanded the scope of the law beyond hospitals to reach a wider range of healthcare entities.  Key Changes Under the Enacted Law Expanded Scope of Reporting Entities Unlike the original bill that applied to only hospitals or health systems licensed under Virginia Code § 32.1-123 that self insure or maintain retained-risk arrangements, the enacted law applies to every “medical care facility, as defined in § 32.1-3, or other health care provider” that maintains self insurance, captive insurance, risk retention arrangements, or other retained financial risk. As a result, Virginia healthcare entities that did not consider themselves subject to the original bill should assess whether they now fall within the enacted law’s broader reach. Elimination of the Revenue-Percentage Metric The original bill required self-insured hospitals to disclose total malpractice liability expenditures expressed as a percentage of the hospital’s total patient service revenue. The enacted law eliminates this requirement, leaving three categories of disclosure: (1) the number of covered physicians and providers, (2) claims activity, and (3) malpractice expenditures. This is a meaningful change. The revenue-percentage metric would have provided a uniquely revealing window into each hospital’s financial exposure relative to its operations. Anti-Duplication Provision The enacted law adds a practical provision to prevent duplicative reporting: a healthcare provider is not required to report information that has already been included in a report submitted by the entity providing its self insurance, captive insurance, or risk retention coverage. In other words, if a hospital system’s captive insurer files the required disclosures, individual hospitals covered by that program need not file separate, duplicative reports. Hospitals should confirm with their insurers or risk retention groups whether coverage-level reporting will satisfy their individual obligations. New Insurer Disclosure Requirement For commercial insurers, the enacted law adds a requirement not found in the original bill: insurers must now disclose the identity of the named insureds under their medical malpractice policies. Hospitals insured by commercial carriers should be aware that their identity as a named insured will be part of the insurer’s disclosure to the Bureau. Centralization Through the Bureau of Insurance Perhaps the most structurally significant change involves where disclosures are submitted and how they are processed. The original bill directed all reporting to the chairs and ranking minority members of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice, with the Clerks of each chamber making the information publicly available on the General Assembly’s website. The enacted law redirects this entire process through the State Corporation Commission’s Bureau. Disclosures must now be submitted to the Bureau in a uniform format that it prescribes that is consistent with the format of claim-reporting requirements already established under Virginia Code § 38.2-2228.2. The Bureau is responsible for compiling and analyzing the data, preparing an aggregate summary report, and submitting that report to the legislative committee leaders. Importantly, the Bureau’s aggregate report (not the raw disclosures) is what will be made publicly available on the General Assembly’s website. This is a significant structural improvement and reduces the risk of raw data being taken out of context or used selectively in public debate. Comparison by Size, Region, and Facility Type The enacted law directs the Bureau to present data, to the extent practicable, “in a manner that allows comparison among healthcare providers by size, region, or type of facility,” using anonymized or de-identified formats. While the law prohibits identifying any individual provider, hospitals should be aware that comparisons by size, region, or facility type could narrow the field enough to make identification possible as a practical matter. This provision warrants careful attention when preparing disclosures. Strengthened Confidentiality Protections The original bill stated broadly that disclosures would be confidential and exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act except in aggregate form. The enacted law replaces this with a more detailed and protective mechanism. Reporting entities may designate specific data as confidential proprietary information upon submission, provided they: (i) invoke the exclusion in writing, (ii) identify the protected material, and (iii) state the reason protection is necessary. Information properly designated as confidential will be protected from subpoena responses and public inspection. Officer Certification Requirement Disclosures must be “certified as accurate and complete by an officer of the reporting entity.” This places personal responsibility on a hospital officer for the accuracy of the filing.  Extended Initial Deadline The original bill set the first disclosure deadline as September 1, 2026. The enacted law extends this to October 1, 2026. Subsequent annual disclosures remain due on or before March 31 of each year for the preceding calendar year. Verdicts Exceeding the Cap Both the original and enacted versions require all reporting entities to submit a list of verdicts exceeding the statutory cap. Each entry must include the verdict amount, the amount recoverable after application of the cap, and the year the cause of action accrued. No personally-identifiable information may be disclosed. This provision is clearly designed to build a public record demonstrating the gap between what juries award and what plaintiffs can recover. Automatic Sunset Both versions contain the same expiration mechanism: the reporting requirements expire upon the effective date of any future legislation establishing a new limitation on recovery for medical malpractice actions. This confirms the legislative intent that the reporting framework is a temporary, data-gathering tool designed to inform future changes to the cap. Strategic Implications Virginia’s medical malpractice damages cap is intact but is under active review, and the data collected under this new law will fuel the next round of legislative efforts to increase it. With the October 1, 2026 initial deadline approaching, Virginia hospitals and healthcare entities should consider taking the following steps: 1) determine whether an institution falls within the enacted law’s expanded definition of “medical care facility” or “other healthcare provider;” 2) coordinate the production of the required materials with insurers or risk retention groups; 3) compile the necessary information for disclosure; 4) identify and designate confidential proprietary information; 5) designate a certifying officer; 6) monitor the Bureau’s prescribed format; and 7) prepare for future debates on raising the medical malpractice damages cap.
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News
InvestmentNews Quotes Alexander on New York’s Push for Transparency in Litigation Finance Amid Growing Advisor Interest in the Asset Class
Maryan Alexander (Partner-Baltimore, MD) is quoted in the article “RIAs Explore Litigation Finance Via SEI Access,” appearing in the May 15, 2026, posting of InvestmentNews. The article discusses how alternative investment platforms are increasingly offering litigation finance opportunities to financial advisors, enabling investors to potentially profit from courtroom outcomes in lawsuits rather than relying on traditional market performance. While proponents say the asset class can deliver strong, non-market-correlated returns, many registered investment advisors remain cautious because outcomes depend heavily on legal proceedings, creating uncertainty and valuation challenges. The article also highlights growing regulatory scrutiny, particularly in New York, where new legislation aims to increase transparency and consumer protections in litigation funding arrangements. Maryan notes, “New York has moved litigation financing from the shadows to a supervised, disclosure-heavy regime, while empowering courts to probe funding when it bears on motive or misconduct,” adding that “stakeholders should prepare for regulatory compliance and more nuanced discovery practice as these changes take hold.”
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Client Wins
Piatkowski and Morales Secure Summary Judgment on Behalf of Global Tech Firm
Kelsi Piatkowski (Partner-Houston, TX) and Angela Morales (Associate-Houston, TX) successfully defended their client in a suit arising from a motor vehicle accident, where multiple theories were alleged, including vicarious liability. The plaintiff advanced an increasingly utilized – but legally unrecognized – theory that cellphone application notifications sent to an independent contractor delivery driver transformed the relationship into one of employment. They also contended that the client owed a duty to prevent independent drivers from engaging in distracted driving. After extensive briefing and oral argument, including an argument that Texas law does not recognize a cause of action imposing tort liability on technology platforms for an independent driver’s decision to interact with a mobile device while driving, the Court granted our client’s motion for summary judgment. Indeed, the Court ordered all claims dismissed with prejudice.
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Publications
PLUS Blog Features Kelly Article on How New Laws Are Rewriting Risk for Manufactured Housing
John Kelly (Partner-New York, NY) authored “From Personal to Real Property: How New Laws Are Rewriting Risk for Manufactured Housing,” posted on the May 14, 2026, PLUS Blog. In the article, John discusses how recent state and proposed federal legislation might reshape the legal and insurance landscape for manufactured housing. He explains that New York’s Land-Home Property Act now allows certain manufactured homes to be reclassified from personal property to real property if they meet requirements such as permanent foundations, land ownership, or long-term lease arrangements. This change could ease financing and tax burdens for homeowners while aligning these homes more closely with traditional single-family residences. The article also discusses proposed federal legislation that would eliminate the longstanding requirement that manufactured homes be built on permanent steel chassis. John notes that removing this mandate could reduce construction costs, encourage permanent placement of homes and expand affordable housing opportunities, particularly in urban areas.
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Publications
The Cannabis Industry’s “Big Tobacco” Moment: What Insurers Need to Know About Murray v. Cresco
A massive 320-page class action complaint filed on May 4, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has the attention of the cannabis sector. The insurance professionals who underwrite it should also be paying close attention. The case, Murray et al. v. Cresco Labs Inc. et al., represents the most ambitious legal assault yet on the marketing practices of major cannabis multistate operators (MSOs). The complaint makes explicit comparisons to the litigation playbook against “Big Tobacco” in the 1990s. With claims across 12 states and spanning allegations of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), consumer fraud, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation and more, this lawsuit signals a new era of litigation risk that could reshape how cannabis companies are underwritten and insured. What the Case is About Murray v. Cresco is a consumer class action brought by more than 40 named plaintiffs on behalf of recreational cannabis purchasers in Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Virginia. The defendants are three of the nation's largest cannabis MSOs: Cresco Labs Inc., Green Thumb Industries Inc. and Verano Holdings Corp. Each defendant is a vertically-integrated cannabis operator, meaning they cultivate, process, distribute and sell cannabis products under a portfolio of consumer-facing brands. Cresco sells under brands like Sunnyside, High Supply, FloraCal, and Wonder Wellness; Green Thumb uses brands like Rhythm, Dogwalkers, Good Green and Rise; Verano operates under Zen Leaf, Encore Edibles, BITS and Cabbage Club, among others. The case was filed under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) in the Northern District of Illinois, the location of the defendants’ principal places of business. The complaint explicitly carves out claims related to physician-prescribed medical cannabis, focusing solely on adult-use purchases. A companion case targeting Curaleaf Holdings was filed the same day in the District of Connecticut. The Central Narrative Plaintiffs allege that the defendants knew, or should have known, that cannabis products pose serious mental and physical health risks, yet chose to market those same products as safe, therapeutic, and even medicinal. The complaint paints a picture of an industry that borrowed from Big Tobacco's playbook, allegedly sponsoring less-than-rigorous research to generate consumer friendly health claims while burying the mounting scientific evidence of harm. As the complaint puts it, the defendants “deceptively marketed cannabis as medicine capable of alleviating or treating the very mental health disorders” they “knew or should have known were caused or exacerbated by the use of their products.” The Liability Theories The core liability theory is the federal RICO cause of action. The plaintiffs allege that the defendants operated an “enterprise” engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity, including dealing in controlled substances illegal under federal law, mail fraud, wire fraud, and monetary transactions in criminally derived property. The RICO claim is significant because it opens the door to potential treble damages, meaning any actual damages could be tripled, plus attorneys' fees. The U.S. Supreme Court's 2025 decision in Medical Marijuana, Inc. v. Horn confirmed that RICO can apply to economic harms tied to mislabeled cannabis products. The complaint also asserts state-specific consumer protection claims in all 12 states where the representative plaintiffs reside. These include violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, New York's General Business Law Section 349, the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, and analogous statutes in each remaining jurisdiction. Across all states, plaintiffs argued that defendants made affirmative misrepresentations about health benefits while concealing known risks, inducing consumers to purchase products they otherwise would not have bought, or to overpay for them. The complaint further alleges breach of express and implied warranties under each state’s version of the Uniform Commercial Code. By representing their products as treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, pain and other conditions, defendants allegedly created and violated express warranties that the products would perform as described. Implied warranty claims assert that cannabis products marketed as wellness aids were not “fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used.” Finally, negligent misrepresentation claims target the defendants’ alleged failure to exercise reasonable care in communicating health information to consumers. The Health Science at the Heart of the Case The factual backbone of the complaint runs over a hundred pages of citations to various scientific studies and papers. The plaintiffs reference research alleging connections of cannabis use to psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, suicidal ideation, and anxiety. The complaint cites a 2025 study finding that states with open recreational dispensaries experienced a 12 percent increase in admissions to state mental health facilities for psychotic disorders. A 2021 Danish study is also referenced for its finding that schizophrenia cases associated with cannabis use disorder increased 300 percent to 400 percent over 20 years as potency doubled. The complaint also cites cardiovascular studies, including a 2025 meta-analysis that reportedly found cannabis use doubled the risk of cardiovascular death and increased stroke risk by 20 percent. Another cited study estimates the odds of heart attack among cannabis users at more than six times higher than non-users. The complaint also highlights prenatal risks, citing a 2025 review linking cannabis use during pregnancy to increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm birth. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) and cannabis use disorder (CUD) are include in the complaint’s litany of health harms. Focus on Industry Awareness The complaint emphasizes that these health risks are not new discoveries. It alleges that the defendants had “actual and constructive knowledge” of these dangers, derived from years of publicly available peer-reviewed studies and governmental advisories, yet “failed to adequately warn their customers.” Instead, plaintiffs contend the defendants went in the opposite direction by marketing cannabis as a remedy for the conditions it allegedly makes worse. The Playbook is Growing The lead attorney in Murray v. Cresco, Patrick Kenneally, is a former Illinois county prosecutor with a track record of taking on cannabis companies. In 2023, he compelled dispensaries in McHenry County, Illinois to post in-store warnings about cannabis-related mental health risks, a first in the country, and to fund a billboard campaign linking cannabis to suicide and schizophrenia. An earlier, similar lawsuit against Verano was dismissed in March 2026, but the new complaint appears broader and more detailed. A spokesperson for Verano told MJBizDaily that the suit “mirrors claims that have been rejected by courts in similar legal actions against multistate operators in the industry earlier this year.” Whether the 320-page complaint overcomes those defenses remains to be seen. Rescheduling Adds Fuel The timing is notable. On April 23, 2026, the Department of Justice issued an order rescheduling state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved cannabis products to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Greater federal legitimacy may bring greater legal exposure. Rescheduling is likely to expand market access and raise expectations for product safety and accurate labeling, making negligence and consumer protection claims more likely for compliance lapses. Canada Offers a Preview Canada legalized recreational cannabis nationally in 2018, and its litigation experience since then is instructive. The country has seen a wave of product liability class actions, including Downton v. Organigram Holdings, the first certified cannabis product liability class action in Canada, involving pesticide contamination. Proposed actions have also targeted major Canadian producers over inadequate risk disclosures related to CHS. The pattern is consistent with what now appears to be emerging in the United States – consumer litigation follows the market opening up. Why This Matters for Cannabis Insurers For insurance professionals, Murray v. Cresco crystallizes several risks that the industry has long discussed in the abstract. The case represents a concrete, large-scale litigation event with the potential for enormous exposure. The RICO claim alone, with its treble-damage multiplier, could transform a significant jury verdict into a catastrophic one. Class certification across 12 states would dramatically multiply the defendant pool and the aggregate damages. The underwriting on cannabis product liability has, to date, focused on potential contamination, mislabeling, and the occasional exposure or ingestion-based bodily injury claim. Murray v. Cresco, however, introduces a different species of claim, one rooted in marketing conduct rather than product defect in the traditional sense. Currently, the insurance industry is largely insulated from large consumer class actions like Murray v. Cresco. Many cannabis policies contain broad health-hazard exclusions, which could deny coverage for claims involving specified adverse health effects from cannabis products. Class action exclusions are common, as are exclusions for statutory penalties like treble damages under RICO and state consumer protection awards. RICO-based claims are also vulnerable to criminal-acts exclusions or specific carve-outs for racketeering-related conduct. Coverage Disputes on the Horizon Notwithstanding this insulation, insurers should expect that defendants in cases like Murray will tender claims under their commercial general liability (CGL) policies, products completed operations policies, directors and officers (D&O) policies, and any specialty cannabis coverage they hold. The question of whether deceptive marketing and failure-to-warn allegations fall within a products-completed operations hazard, an advertising injury provision, or some other coverage grant will likely be fiercely contested. What Underwriters Should be Asking Going forward, underwriters writing cannabis risks should scrutinize their insureds' marketing practices with the same focus they currently bring to product testing and labeling. Documented testing integrity, warning protocols, supply-chain oversight, and recall history are all important along with marketing discipline. Policies should be reviewed for RICO and state consumer statute exposure. Underwriters should pay attention to emerging scientific studies on the health effect of cannabis use. Insureds that continue to make unsupported health claims, the kind at the center of Murray v. Cresco, present a different risk profile than those that keep their marketing factual and scientifically supported. Conclusion Murray v. Cresco may or may not succeed on the merits. Defendants will raise formidable challenges, including preemption arguments, standing issues, the difficulty of class certification across a dozen state consumer-protection regimes, causation defenses and the still-evolving science around cannabis and health. But the complaint’s sheer scale, its RICO backbone, and its explicit comparisons to Big Tobacco litigation signal that the era of treating cannabis product liability as a hypothetical future risk is over. For insurers and their cannabis policyholders, the takeaway is practical and immediate. Marketing claims are now a front-line litigation target, and the industry needs to treat them accordingly. Risk-mitigation programs should include compliance audits of all consumer-facing health claims, robust product warnings modeled on the warnings that accompany over-the-counter medical products, and honest internal assessments of what the science supports. Meanwhile, insurers should be reviewing policy language to understand their own exposure in the event that lawsuits like this one multiply. This article was published in the May 18, 2026, posting of Insurance Journal.
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News
Wilson Elser Recognized Among Top Law Firms for Associate Satisfaction in 2026 BTI Report
BTI Consulting Group recently named Wilson Elser among the top firms for associate satisfaction in its “BTI Associate Satisfaction A-Listers 2026” report. Based on more than 5,000 associate responses, BTI recognized 189 law firms for fostering strong associate job satisfaction, with Wilson Elser ranking among the top 36 firms consistently recognized for creating a positive and supportive work environment. The report found that associates increasingly value factors beyond compensation, including meaningful training, mentorship, clear career development opportunities, strong job satisfaction, and active partner investment in associate success. BTI also highlighted the importance of targeted support for women associates and firms’ demonstrated commitment to long-term career growth. The recognition underscores Wilson Elser’s continued focus on cultivating a workplace where associates feel supported, engaged, and positioned for professional success in an increasingly demanding legal industry.
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Events
Pace Women’s Justice Center Fundraiser: “Cocktails for a Cause”
Jacqueline Hattar (Partner-White Plains, NY) will co-host the Pace Women's Justice Center (PWJC) "Cocktails for a Cause" fundraiser on May 28, 2026, at the Barley Beach House in Rye, New York. The event supports the PWJC's commitment to increasing access to justice by providing free legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. The funds raised will support the PWJC’s critical services for survivors of abuse. Jackie is a long-time PWJC Advisory Board member and a past recipient of the Center's “Making A Difference” award. She also serves on the Board of Visitors at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. The PWJC, housed at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains, New York, is a self-funded, nonprofit legal center that falls under Pace University's 501(c)(3) status. The Center conducts or participates in more than 140 training and outreach events annually, providing free legal services to some 3,500 survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. Serving Westchester and Putnam Counties, the PWJC's mission is to pursue justice for victims and prevent abuse by offering quality legal services, fostering community partnerships, and promoting education and awareness. 
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Events
Scope of Services: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives for Claims Professionals
Kimberly Blair (Partner-Chicago, IL), Peter Catalanotti (Partner-San Francisco), Joseph Francoeur (Partner-New York, NY), and Alexandra Skarka (Associate-Philadelphia, PA) will present the Wilson Elser Forum webinar “Scope of Services: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives for Claims Professionals” on June 8, 2026. The session provides a cross-disciplinary overview of how scope of services issues arise across design and construction, legal, brokerage, and real estate professions. Presenters will address how engagement agreements define and limit the scope of professional services, the risks of scope creep and undocumented service expansion, defenses available based on scope limitations, and evidentiary sources and trial strategies for scope disputes. Also covered are deposition tactics specific to scope of services claims, underwriting red flags and claims investigation best practices, third-party liability exposure when non-clients rely on an insured’s work product, and potential subrogation opportunities.
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Events
Labor & Supply Chain Pressures: ADR's Role in Managing Workforce and Material Disruptions
Denise Motta (Of Counsel-Louisville) will be a panelist at the 2026 AAA-ICDR Construction Conference in Marina Del Rey on June 4, 2026. She will join an expert panel of arbitrators/mediators and in-house counsel to discuss the implications of labor and supply chain issues increasingly impacting the construction industry. Denise and her fellow panelists will offer insights into navigating these claims and examine how early mediation, arbitration, and dispute review boards may help parties reach resolutions before disputes escalate.
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Client Wins
Felder and Allin Prevail in Suspected Marine Li-Ion Battery Fire in Utah Federal Court
Otis Felder (Partner-Los Angeles, CA) and Taylor Allin (Partner-Phoenix, AZ) combined to obtain a judgment in favor of a boat owner before the U.S. District Court for Utah. The Salt Lake federal court entered judgment in exoneration of the owner in connection with a fire that occurred on October 26, 2023, on Lake Powell, causing damage to the vessel along with the surrounding dock infrastructure and other vessels. It was suspected that the fire was caused by lithium-ion batteries. While no one was on board the vessel at the time of the incident, neighboring vessel owners set the boat adrift after observing smoke billowing from its windows. Unfortunately, winds blew the vessel from one part of the marina to another, resulting in significant damage to the marina's dock, other vessels and surrounding property. Claimants in the proceeding included the marina operator, which had asserted claims for damages related to dock repairs and vessel salvage costs. With no evidence proving the vessel owner had any knowledge of the cause of the fire, the marine withdrew its claims. With the Court's exoneration order, the vessel owner petitioner has been found free of liability, and the action is now closed.
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Publications
An Update on Virginia’s Medical Malpractice Reporting Bill
A prior analysis examined the Virginia legislature’s rejection of a sweeping proposal to overhaul the state’s medical malpractice damages cap. That proposal would have doubled the cap from $3 million to $6 million, allowed prejudgment interest, expanded the statute of limitations, and imposed new insurance requirements on nursing homes. Instead, the legislature passed a narrower, reconciled version of Senate Bill 536 that left the existing damages cap schedule under Virginia Code § 8.01-581.15 untouched but created a new reporting framework requiring commercial insurers and self-insured hospitals to disclose detailed malpractice claims data to legislative leaders. At the time of publication, the reconciled bill had been sent to Governor Spanberger, who had until April 13 to sign, veto, or propose amendments.  Rather than sign or veto the reconciled bill, Governor Spanberger returned it to the legislature on April 12, 2026, with a set of proposed amendments that reshaped several key aspects of the reporting framework. On April 22, the amended reconciled bill was enacted, with an effective date of July 1, 2026. Bottom Line for Virginia Healthcare Entities The medical malpractice damages cap remains unchanged, but a new reporting law takes effect on July 1, 2026, with an initial disclosure deadline of October 1, 2026. The governor’s amendments broadened who must report, redirected all disclosures through the Bureau of Insurance (the “Bureau”), strengthened confidentiality protections, and eliminated the most sensitive reporting metric. However, it also expanded the scope of the law beyond hospitals to reach a wider range of healthcare entities.  Key Changes Under the Enacted Law Expanded Scope of Reporting Entities Unlike the original bill that applied to only hospitals or health systems licensed under Virginia Code § 32.1-123 that self insure or maintain retained-risk arrangements, the enacted law applies to every “medical care facility, as defined in § 32.1-3, or other health care provider” that maintains self insurance, captive insurance, risk retention arrangements, or other retained financial risk. As a result, Virginia healthcare entities that did not consider themselves subject to the original bill should assess whether they now fall within the enacted law’s broader reach. Elimination of the Revenue-Percentage Metric The original bill required self-insured hospitals to disclose total malpractice liability expenditures expressed as a percentage of the hospital’s total patient service revenue. The enacted law eliminates this requirement, leaving three categories of disclosure: (1) the number of covered physicians and providers, (2) claims activity, and (3) malpractice expenditures. This is a meaningful change. The revenue-percentage metric would have provided a uniquely revealing window into each hospital’s financial exposure relative to its operations. Anti-Duplication Provision The enacted law adds a practical provision to prevent duplicative reporting: a healthcare provider is not required to report information that has already been included in a report submitted by the entity providing its self insurance, captive insurance, or risk retention coverage. In other words, if a hospital system’s captive insurer files the required disclosures, individual hospitals covered by that program need not file separate, duplicative reports. Hospitals should confirm with their insurers or risk retention groups whether coverage-level reporting will satisfy their individual obligations. New Insurer Disclosure Requirement For commercial insurers, the enacted law adds a requirement not found in the original bill: insurers must now disclose the identity of the named insureds under their medical malpractice policies. Hospitals insured by commercial carriers should be aware that their identity as a named insured will be part of the insurer’s disclosure to the Bureau. Centralization Through the Bureau of Insurance Perhaps the most structurally significant change involves where disclosures are submitted and how they are processed. The original bill directed all reporting to the chairs and ranking minority members of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice, with the Clerks of each chamber making the information publicly available on the General Assembly’s website. The enacted law redirects this entire process through the State Corporation Commission’s Bureau. Disclosures must now be submitted to the Bureau in a uniform format that it prescribes that is consistent with the format of claim-reporting requirements already established under Virginia Code § 38.2-2228.2. The Bureau is responsible for compiling and analyzing the data, preparing an aggregate summary report, and submitting that report to the legislative committee leaders. Importantly, the Bureau’s aggregate report (not the raw disclosures) is what will be made publicly available on the General Assembly’s website. This is a significant structural improvement and reduces the risk of raw data being taken out of context or used selectively in public debate. Comparison by Size, Region, and Facility Type The enacted law directs the Bureau to present data, to the extent practicable, “in a manner that allows comparison among healthcare providers by size, region, or type of facility,” using anonymized or de-identified formats. While the law prohibits identifying any individual provider, hospitals should be aware that comparisons by size, region, or facility type could narrow the field enough to make identification possible as a practical matter. This provision warrants careful attention when preparing disclosures. Strengthened Confidentiality Protections The original bill stated broadly that disclosures would be confidential and exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act except in aggregate form. The enacted law replaces this with a more detailed and protective mechanism. Reporting entities may designate specific data as confidential proprietary information upon submission, provided they: (i) invoke the exclusion in writing, (ii) identify the protected material, and (iii) state the reason protection is necessary. Information properly designated as confidential will be protected from subpoena responses and public inspection. Officer Certification Requirement Disclosures must be “certified as accurate and complete by an officer of the reporting entity.” This places personal responsibility on a hospital officer for the accuracy of the filing.  Extended Initial Deadline The original bill set the first disclosure deadline as September 1, 2026. The enacted law extends this to October 1, 2026. Subsequent annual disclosures remain due on or before March 31 of each year for the preceding calendar year. Verdicts Exceeding the Cap Both the original and enacted versions require all reporting entities to submit a list of verdicts exceeding the statutory cap. Each entry must include the verdict amount, the amount recoverable after application of the cap, and the year the cause of action accrued. No personally-identifiable information may be disclosed. This provision is clearly designed to build a public record demonstrating the gap between what juries award and what plaintiffs can recover. Automatic Sunset Both versions contain the same expiration mechanism: the reporting requirements expire upon the effective date of any future legislation establishing a new limitation on recovery for medical malpractice actions. This confirms the legislative intent that the reporting framework is a temporary, data-gathering tool designed to inform future changes to the cap. Strategic Implications Virginia’s medical malpractice damages cap is intact but is under active review, and the data collected under this new law will fuel the next round of legislative efforts to increase it. With the October 1, 2026 initial deadline approaching, Virginia hospitals and healthcare entities should consider taking the following steps: 1) determine whether an institution falls within the enacted law’s expanded definition of “medical care facility” or “other healthcare provider;” 2) coordinate the production of the required materials with insurers or risk retention groups; 3) compile the necessary information for disclosure; 4) identify and designate confidential proprietary information; 5) designate a certifying officer; 6) monitor the Bureau’s prescribed format; and 7) prepare for future debates on raising the medical malpractice damages cap.
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News
InvestmentNews Quotes Alexander on New York’s Push for Transparency in Litigation Finance Amid Growing Advisor Interest in the Asset Class
Maryan Alexander (Partner-Baltimore, MD) is quoted in the article “RIAs Explore Litigation Finance Via SEI Access,” appearing in the May 15, 2026, posting of InvestmentNews. The article discusses how alternative investment platforms are increasingly offering litigation finance opportunities to financial advisors, enabling investors to potentially profit from courtroom outcomes in lawsuits rather than relying on traditional market performance. While proponents say the asset class can deliver strong, non-market-correlated returns, many registered investment advisors remain cautious because outcomes depend heavily on legal proceedings, creating uncertainty and valuation challenges. The article also highlights growing regulatory scrutiny, particularly in New York, where new legislation aims to increase transparency and consumer protections in litigation funding arrangements. Maryan notes, “New York has moved litigation financing from the shadows to a supervised, disclosure-heavy regime, while empowering courts to probe funding when it bears on motive or misconduct,” adding that “stakeholders should prepare for regulatory compliance and more nuanced discovery practice as these changes take hold.”
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Client Wins
Piatkowski and Morales Secure Summary Judgment on Behalf of Global Tech Firm
Kelsi Piatkowski (Partner-Houston, TX) and Angela Morales (Associate-Houston, TX) successfully defended their client in a suit arising from a motor vehicle accident, where multiple theories were alleged, including vicarious liability. The plaintiff advanced an increasingly utilized – but legally unrecognized – theory that cellphone application notifications sent to an independent contractor delivery driver transformed the relationship into one of employment. They also contended that the client owed a duty to prevent independent drivers from engaging in distracted driving. After extensive briefing and oral argument, including an argument that Texas law does not recognize a cause of action imposing tort liability on technology platforms for an independent driver’s decision to interact with a mobile device while driving, the Court granted our client’s motion for summary judgment. Indeed, the Court ordered all claims dismissed with prejudice.
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Publications
PLUS Blog Features Kelly Article on How New Laws Are Rewriting Risk for Manufactured Housing
John Kelly (Partner-New York, NY) authored “From Personal to Real Property: How New Laws Are Rewriting Risk for Manufactured Housing,” posted on the May 14, 2026, PLUS Blog. In the article, John discusses how recent state and proposed federal legislation might reshape the legal and insurance landscape for manufactured housing. He explains that New York’s Land-Home Property Act now allows certain manufactured homes to be reclassified from personal property to real property if they meet requirements such as permanent foundations, land ownership, or long-term lease arrangements. This change could ease financing and tax burdens for homeowners while aligning these homes more closely with traditional single-family residences. The article also discusses proposed federal legislation that would eliminate the longstanding requirement that manufactured homes be built on permanent steel chassis. John notes that removing this mandate could reduce construction costs, encourage permanent placement of homes and expand affordable housing opportunities, particularly in urban areas.
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Publications
The Cannabis Industry’s “Big Tobacco” Moment: What Insurers Need to Know About Murray v. Cresco
A massive 320-page class action complaint filed on May 4, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has the attention of the cannabis sector. The insurance professionals who underwrite it should also be paying close attention. The case, Murray et al. v. Cresco Labs Inc. et al., represents the most ambitious legal assault yet on the marketing practices of major cannabis multistate operators (MSOs). The complaint makes explicit comparisons to the litigation playbook against “Big Tobacco” in the 1990s. With claims across 12 states and spanning allegations of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), consumer fraud, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation and more, this lawsuit signals a new era of litigation risk that could reshape how cannabis companies are underwritten and insured. What the Case is About Murray v. Cresco is a consumer class action brought by more than 40 named plaintiffs on behalf of recreational cannabis purchasers in Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Virginia. The defendants are three of the nation's largest cannabis MSOs: Cresco Labs Inc., Green Thumb Industries Inc. and Verano Holdings Corp. Each defendant is a vertically-integrated cannabis operator, meaning they cultivate, process, distribute and sell cannabis products under a portfolio of consumer-facing brands. Cresco sells under brands like Sunnyside, High Supply, FloraCal, and Wonder Wellness; Green Thumb uses brands like Rhythm, Dogwalkers, Good Green and Rise; Verano operates under Zen Leaf, Encore Edibles, BITS and Cabbage Club, among others. The case was filed under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) in the Northern District of Illinois, the location of the defendants’ principal places of business. The complaint explicitly carves out claims related to physician-prescribed medical cannabis, focusing solely on adult-use purchases. A companion case targeting Curaleaf Holdings was filed the same day in the District of Connecticut. The Central Narrative Plaintiffs allege that the defendants knew, or should have known, that cannabis products pose serious mental and physical health risks, yet chose to market those same products as safe, therapeutic, and even medicinal. The complaint paints a picture of an industry that borrowed from Big Tobacco's playbook, allegedly sponsoring less-than-rigorous research to generate consumer friendly health claims while burying the mounting scientific evidence of harm. As the complaint puts it, the defendants “deceptively marketed cannabis as medicine capable of alleviating or treating the very mental health disorders” they “knew or should have known were caused or exacerbated by the use of their products.” The Liability Theories The core liability theory is the federal RICO cause of action. The plaintiffs allege that the defendants operated an “enterprise” engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity, including dealing in controlled substances illegal under federal law, mail fraud, wire fraud, and monetary transactions in criminally derived property. The RICO claim is significant because it opens the door to potential treble damages, meaning any actual damages could be tripled, plus attorneys' fees. The U.S. Supreme Court's 2025 decision in Medical Marijuana, Inc. v. Horn confirmed that RICO can apply to economic harms tied to mislabeled cannabis products. The complaint also asserts state-specific consumer protection claims in all 12 states where the representative plaintiffs reside. These include violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, New York's General Business Law Section 349, the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, and analogous statutes in each remaining jurisdiction. Across all states, plaintiffs argued that defendants made affirmative misrepresentations about health benefits while concealing known risks, inducing consumers to purchase products they otherwise would not have bought, or to overpay for them. The complaint further alleges breach of express and implied warranties under each state’s version of the Uniform Commercial Code. By representing their products as treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, pain and other conditions, defendants allegedly created and violated express warranties that the products would perform as described. Implied warranty claims assert that cannabis products marketed as wellness aids were not “fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used.” Finally, negligent misrepresentation claims target the defendants’ alleged failure to exercise reasonable care in communicating health information to consumers. The Health Science at the Heart of the Case The factual backbone of the complaint runs over a hundred pages of citations to various scientific studies and papers. The plaintiffs reference research alleging connections of cannabis use to psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, suicidal ideation, and anxiety. The complaint cites a 2025 study finding that states with open recreational dispensaries experienced a 12 percent increase in admissions to state mental health facilities for psychotic disorders. A 2021 Danish study is also referenced for its finding that schizophrenia cases associated with cannabis use disorder increased 300 percent to 400 percent over 20 years as potency doubled. The complaint also cites cardiovascular studies, including a 2025 meta-analysis that reportedly found cannabis use doubled the risk of cardiovascular death and increased stroke risk by 20 percent. Another cited study estimates the odds of heart attack among cannabis users at more than six times higher than non-users. The complaint also highlights prenatal risks, citing a 2025 review linking cannabis use during pregnancy to increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm birth. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) and cannabis use disorder (CUD) are include in the complaint’s litany of health harms. Focus on Industry Awareness The complaint emphasizes that these health risks are not new discoveries. It alleges that the defendants had “actual and constructive knowledge” of these dangers, derived from years of publicly available peer-reviewed studies and governmental advisories, yet “failed to adequately warn their customers.” Instead, plaintiffs contend the defendants went in the opposite direction by marketing cannabis as a remedy for the conditions it allegedly makes worse. The Playbook is Growing The lead attorney in Murray v. Cresco, Patrick Kenneally, is a former Illinois county prosecutor with a track record of taking on cannabis companies. In 2023, he compelled dispensaries in McHenry County, Illinois to post in-store warnings about cannabis-related mental health risks, a first in the country, and to fund a billboard campaign linking cannabis to suicide and schizophrenia. An earlier, similar lawsuit against Verano was dismissed in March 2026, but the new complaint appears broader and more detailed. A spokesperson for Verano told MJBizDaily that the suit “mirrors claims that have been rejected by courts in similar legal actions against multistate operators in the industry earlier this year.” Whether the 320-page complaint overcomes those defenses remains to be seen. Rescheduling Adds Fuel The timing is notable. On April 23, 2026, the Department of Justice issued an order rescheduling state-licensed medical marijuana and FDA-approved cannabis products to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Greater federal legitimacy may bring greater legal exposure. Rescheduling is likely to expand market access and raise expectations for product safety and accurate labeling, making negligence and consumer protection claims more likely for compliance lapses. Canada Offers a Preview Canada legalized recreational cannabis nationally in 2018, and its litigation experience since then is instructive. The country has seen a wave of product liability class actions, including Downton v. Organigram Holdings, the first certified cannabis product liability class action in Canada, involving pesticide contamination. Proposed actions have also targeted major Canadian producers over inadequate risk disclosures related to CHS. The pattern is consistent with what now appears to be emerging in the United States – consumer litigation follows the market opening up. Why This Matters for Cannabis Insurers For insurance professionals, Murray v. Cresco crystallizes several risks that the industry has long discussed in the abstract. The case represents a concrete, large-scale litigation event with the potential for enormous exposure. The RICO claim alone, with its treble-damage multiplier, could transform a significant jury verdict into a catastrophic one. Class certification across 12 states would dramatically multiply the defendant pool and the aggregate damages. The underwriting on cannabis product liability has, to date, focused on potential contamination, mislabeling, and the occasional exposure or ingestion-based bodily injury claim. Murray v. Cresco, however, introduces a different species of claim, one rooted in marketing conduct rather than product defect in the traditional sense. Currently, the insurance industry is largely insulated from large consumer class actions like Murray v. Cresco. Many cannabis policies contain broad health-hazard exclusions, which could deny coverage for claims involving specified adverse health effects from cannabis products. Class action exclusions are common, as are exclusions for statutory penalties like treble damages under RICO and state consumer protection awards. RICO-based claims are also vulnerable to criminal-acts exclusions or specific carve-outs for racketeering-related conduct. Coverage Disputes on the Horizon Notwithstanding this insulation, insurers should expect that defendants in cases like Murray will tender claims under their commercial general liability (CGL) policies, products completed operations policies, directors and officers (D&O) policies, and any specialty cannabis coverage they hold. The question of whether deceptive marketing and failure-to-warn allegations fall within a products-completed operations hazard, an advertising injury provision, or some other coverage grant will likely be fiercely contested. What Underwriters Should be Asking Going forward, underwriters writing cannabis risks should scrutinize their insureds' marketing practices with the same focus they currently bring to product testing and labeling. Documented testing integrity, warning protocols, supply-chain oversight, and recall history are all important along with marketing discipline. Policies should be reviewed for RICO and state consumer statute exposure. Underwriters should pay attention to emerging scientific studies on the health effect of cannabis use. Insureds that continue to make unsupported health claims, the kind at the center of Murray v. Cresco, present a different risk profile than those that keep their marketing factual and scientifically supported. Conclusion Murray v. Cresco may or may not succeed on the merits. Defendants will raise formidable challenges, including preemption arguments, standing issues, the difficulty of class certification across a dozen state consumer-protection regimes, causation defenses and the still-evolving science around cannabis and health. But the complaint’s sheer scale, its RICO backbone, and its explicit comparisons to Big Tobacco litigation signal that the era of treating cannabis product liability as a hypothetical future risk is over. For insurers and their cannabis policyholders, the takeaway is practical and immediate. Marketing claims are now a front-line litigation target, and the industry needs to treat them accordingly. Risk-mitigation programs should include compliance audits of all consumer-facing health claims, robust product warnings modeled on the warnings that accompany over-the-counter medical products, and honest internal assessments of what the science supports. Meanwhile, insurers should be reviewing policy language to understand their own exposure in the event that lawsuits like this one multiply. This article was published in the May 18, 2026, posting of Insurance Journal.
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