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Blank Rome partner and Energy, Environment, and Mass Torts practice group co-chair <a href="http://greenspan">Deborah Greenspan</a> will serve as panel moderator for three sessions at the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals’ (“ACAN”) <a href="https://acan.memberclicks.net/annual-meeting-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2026 Annual Meeting</a>, being held March 11 through 14, 2026, in Berkeley, California.

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Deborah, in her role as president of ACAN, will also present the welcome address for the Meeting.

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Challenges Requiring Appointment of Neutrals: Mass Tort Bankruptcy—Current Developments Thursday, March 12&nbsp; |&nbsp; 3:00–4:00 p.m.

Mass Tort bankruptcies present significant challenges to judges and litigants alike. The panel will address the case law developments, the challenging issues, anticipated trends, and the ways in which courts and litigants have used neutrals.

Moderator: Deborah Greenspan, ACAN President, Blank Rome LLP

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Hon. Michael B. Kaplan, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey

Kenneth R. Feinberg, The Law Offices of Kenneth R Feinberg PC

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Challenges—Justice in Settlements: Potential Pitfalls and How Neutrals Can Help Friday, March 13&nbsp; |&nbsp; 10:00–11:00 a.m.

This session explores the role of court-appointed neutrals in ensuring fair and effective settlements involving minors. Panelists will discuss best practices, ethical considerations, and strategies for protecting the interests of children while supporting the court and parties.

Dr. Julie Kaplow, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute

Dr. H. Luke Shaefer, University of Michigan, City of Detroit Chief of Health, Human Services, and Poverty Solutions

Miriam Wolock, Law Office of Miriam Z. Wolock, PLLC

Court-Appointed Neutrals in Action—Access to Justice Friday, March 13  |  3:00–4:30 p.m.

This panel will explore ongoing challenges arising from the increasing number of largely unrepresented claimants, as well as increasingly complex cases involving tens of thousands of claimants asserting claims of abuse, toxic exposure, environmental harms, and civil rights violations.

Hon. Paul L. Friedman, United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Hon. Judith Levy, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Hon. Sergio C. Tapia II, Presiding Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court, former Supervising Judge of Criminal Division, and former Public Defender

Randi Ilyse Roth, ACAN Immediate Past President

ACAN’s members include former state and federal court judges and thought leaders on the use of court-appointed neutrals&nbsp;as tools to assist in the administration of justice and on how to develop and broaden the&nbsp;profession. To learn more, visit <a href="https://www.courtappointedneutrals.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">courtappointedneutrals.org</a>.

For more information, please visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://acan.memberclicks.net/annual-meeting-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">event webpage</a>.

ACAN 2026 Annual Meeting

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ACAN 2026 Annual Meeting

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