USD School of Law and Western Alliance Bank Team Up for a Highly Successful Sixth Annual Class Action Law Forum

SAN DIEGO (March 18, 2024) – University of San Diego (USD) School of Law and Western Alliance Bank’s sixth annual Class Action Law Forum (CALF) took place March 12-14, 2024, on the campus of the University of San Diego, carrying out the founding vision of David S. Casey, Jr. ’74 (JD). Casey has always believed that this conference should provide opportunities for students to interact with leading jurists and preeminent litigators. Attendees heard insights and took part in discussions on the most important developments and issues surrounding class actions and mass torts. Panelists included 16 sitting federal judges and top defense and plaintiffs’ attorneys.

This three-day forum was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the complexities of class action and multidistrict litigation as well as to share the scholarly insights of USD faculty members, the legal expertise of our alumni, and the impressive acumen of our outstanding students. Extending the reach of USD School of Law beyond the four corners of the classrooms is an important part of our educational mission. The exceptional educational opportunities, which have come to be the cornerstone of the Class Action Law Forum, stand as testimony to the law school’s commitment to enriching the training and experience USD provides to legal practitioners, business executives, students, and the larger legal community.

Conference Co-Chairs on the plaintiffs’ side were Gayle M. Blatt of CaseyGerry and Ellen Gusikoff Stewart of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, LLP; on the defense side were Erin M. Bosman, ’94 (BBA), ’99 (JD) of Morrison & Foerster and Courtney L. Baird, ’04 (JD) of Duane Morris; and on the mass torts side were Richard Arsenault of Neblett, Beard and Arsenault and Erin Copeland of Fibich, Leebrown, Copeland & Briggs. 

Seventeen accomplished students from USD School of Law played an integral role in the event. They were involved as research assistants organizing discussions and shepherding content for many of the main panel presentations. “CALF is a particularly important event,” said Shawn Miller, Professor in Residence at USD School of Law and a Class Action Law Forum Steering Committee Member. “Not only do our students get to attend and participate, they have the opportunity to learn from some of the most important judges, attorneys and others involved in class actions and mass torts.” 

Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump delivered the keynote address. Crump has built a storied career dedicated to justice, representing the families of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many others who have been victims of injustice. "I am honored to be part of this distinguished gathering and excited to share my insights at Western Alliance Bank's 6th Annual Class Action Law Forum,” said Crump. “It is paramount that we continue to create these opportunities for dialogue and growth in the field of law, particularly concerning civil rights and mass torts. I look forward to contributing to these important conversations. My hope is that we can collectively work towards a more just and equitable legal system for all."

Constitutional law scholars, USD School of Law Dean and C. Hugh Friedman Professor of Law, Robert Schapiro and Michael Ramsey, Warren Distinguished Professor of Law and Director of International and Comparative Law Programs, delivered a lively discussion focusing on the past decisions and current term of the United States Supreme Court. The two academic scholars reviewed past precedents and their influence on upcoming cases, adding their predictions about pending cases and the potential leanings of select Justices.

Class Action Law Forum registration and sponsorship proceeds directly benefit the Western Alliance Bank Scholarship Fund, which supports a law student at USD School of Law, and who is in financial need and participates in CALF. This year’s recipient is Dina Qubain, a 3L student who has served as the Comment Editor of the San Diego International Law Journal, as an extern for US District Court Judge Andrew Schopler, as legal intern with the USD Entrepreneurship Clinic, and as research assistant with the Casa Cornelia Law Center. She is passionate about the protection of personal information and thus ultimately planning on specializing in digital privacy and cybersecurity litigation. Qubain was a summer associate at Eversheds Sutherland, where she will work full time as an associate post-bar.

Six years ago, USD School of Law and Western Alliance Bank teamed up to establish the Class Action Law Forum in an effort to raise awareness of the benefits of designating USD School of Law as a class action cy pres recipient. Cy pres awards are residual funds in class action settlements or judgments that, for any number of reasons, are unclaimed or cannot be distributed to the intended recipients. Instead, these funds can be awarded to a nonprofit organization whose work advances the public interest and indirectly benefits the class members. USD School of Law is adept at drafting support affidavits that substantiate that the funds will be used as directed by the courts in line with the litigation. Directing cy pres funds toward the law school can help USD advance legal education and experience for students while also providing community support when directed to USD law programs such as the Legal Clinics, the Center for Public Interest Law, the Children's Advocacy Institute and the Energy Policy Initiative Center.

About Western Alliance Juris Banking Solutions

Western Alliance Juris Banking Solutions, a national banking group within Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, brings together a full range of legal industry services and expertise under the same umbrella, including Settlement Services for class action, mass torts and bankruptcy attorneys, claims administrators and related businesses; Digital Disbursements to facilitate payments to claimants in these matters; and NewLaw Banking, which offers creative financing solutions, leading technology and a white-glove approach to client service. The Juris Banking Group is part of Western Alliance Bancorporation, which has more than $70 billion in assets. Major accolades include being ranked as a top U.S. bank in 2023 by American Banker and Bank Director. With significant national capabilities, the Juris Banking Group delivers the reach, resources and deep industry knowledge that make a difference for customers. For more information, visit Western Alliance Bank’s Juris Banking Solutions.

About the University San Diego School of Law

Each year, USD educates approximately 800 Juris Doctor and graduate law students from throughout the United States and around the world. The law school is best known for its offerings in the areas of business and corporate law, constitutional law, intellectual property, international and comparative law, public interest law and taxation.

USD School of Law is one of the 84 law schools elected to the Order of the Coif, a national honor society for law school graduates. The law school’s faculty is a strong group of outstanding scholars and teachers with national and international reputations and currently ranks 30th nationally among U.S. law faculties in scholarly impact and 41st nationally in past-year faculty downloads on the Social Sciences Research Network (SSRN). The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.

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