Economic Loss Doctrine Symposium Nov. 9

Wayne State University Law School and the law firm of Miller Canfield are sponsoring a symposium on the economic loss doctrine on Thursday, November 9, 2006.

The event begins with a coffee reception at 3:30 pm.  The keynote address and panel discussions will begin at 4 pm and the closing reception will be at 6:30 pm in the Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium at the Wayne State University Law School , 471 W. Palmer Street , Detroit .  The event is free and open to the public.

Speakers will include Vincent Wellman, professor of law at WSU; Judges Gerald Rosen and Timothy Connors; Professor James J. White; and attorneys Gregory L. Curtner, Rivka Schochet, and John Trentacosta.

Professor Wellman will deliver the keynote address.  “We are approaching the 15-year anniversary of the Michigan Supreme Court's decision in Neibarger v. Universal Cooperatives, Inc. , which adopted the economic loss doctrine, but there has been little discussion of the consequences,” Wellman said.  “I think the adoption of the doctrine, and its corresponding elimination of tort remedies for various kinds of claims for defective products is an important development,” he said, “and it deserves examination.”

Wellman organized the symposium because he felt there was too little discussion between the bench, the bar, and legal academics about developments in Michigan law.  He noted two panels will discuss various applications of the doctrine as well as situations where there is no privity of contract, the boundary between tort law and contract, and the role of judges in developing and extending the doctrine.

Parking for the symposium is available for $3.50 in Structure #1, across from the Law School .  For more information, please contact Robin Dortenzio at (313) 577-3934 or email her at robind@wayne.edu .