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BROOKS R. MAGRATTEN is a partner with Pierce Atwood LLP, practicing in the areas of commercial, insurance and products liability litigation. Mr. Magratten is the Northeast regional director of the Defense Research Institute and chairs its Life, Health & Disability Insurance Committee. He also is a member of the FDCC, IADC and ADTA. Mr. Magratten is a former chair of the Federal Bench/Bar Committee of the Rhode Island Bar Association, is vice president of the Federal Bar Association (Rhode Island Chapter) and a fellow of the Rhode Island Bar Foundation. Mr. Magratten is the president-elect of the Defense Counsel of Rhode Island. He earned his B.A. degree from Hamilton College, his J.D. degree from Dickinson School of Law and his M.B.A. degree from Bryant College. Mr. Magratten is the editor of the ABA's ERISA Survey of Federal Circuits. JAMES T. MURPHY is a partner at the law firm of Hanson Curran LLP, where his practice focuses on trial, appellate and general counsel in a broad spectrum of areas, including personal injury, products liability, employment, contracts and maritime cases and municipal law, zoning, planning and land use regulation. Mr. Murphy represents clients in the defense of serious and complex environmental, toxic tort, psychological injury, admiralty and medical malpractice claims. He frequently represents commercial and residential property owners, as well as businesses and non-profits in litigation. Mr. Murphy's experience includes more than 30 jury trials, numerous bench trials and more than a dozen appellate arguments in the state and federal courts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He practices in the state and federal courts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Mr. Murphy is a member of the Rhode Island and Massachusetts bar associations, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. He is a proctor member of the Maritime Law Association of the U.S., the Defense Research Institute, and the Environmental, Torts and Insurance, and Litigation Sections of the American Bar Association. Mr. Murphy is a founder and former president of the Defense Counsel of Rhode Island and former president of the Federal Bar Association chapter for Rhode Island. He served as Rhode Island's representative to the Defense Research Institute. Mr. Murphy was selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers list for 2007 - 2009 in the civil litigation defense category and in the Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition for 2008 and 2009. He also was honored with the selection to Litigation Counsel of America. Currently Mr. Murphy serves on the Rhode Island Commission for Judicial Tenure and Discipline and is co-chair of the Local Rules Revision Committee, USDC-RI. He earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, at Boston College and his J.D. degree, cum laude, at Suffolk University School of Law. Following graduation, he served on active duty as a trial lawyer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the U.S. Navy. TODD D. WHITE is a partner in the litigation group of Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C., in both the Providence and Boston offices. He focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, licensing disputes, business disputes, product liability, premises liability, personal injury, insurance defense and insurance coverage issues. Mr. White earned his B.A. degree from Columbia University and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Suffolk University. He is a member of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island bar associations, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Federal District Court for the districts of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit. Mr. White also is a member of the Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. HON. PATRICIA A. HURST is a senior trial justice with the state of Rhode Island Superior Court. Justice Hurst has served on the Superior Court Bench for 20 years during which she has presided over countless cases including complex civil and criminal jury trials, and cases involving complex discovery disputes. By special assignment of the Presiding Justice of the state of Rhode Island Superior Court, she has managed and tried multi-party and complex litigation including, cases involving multifaceted constitutional issues, intricate legal and factual questions, and evidence of a highly technical and scientific nature. Justice Hurst has written decisions and rulings that have set new law in Rhode Island and which have been cited in state appellate court decisions, federal administrative rulings, law journals, and law review articles. She is the co-author and editor of the "Rhode Island Model Civil Jury Instructions" and an editor of MCLE/New England's forthcoming series, "A Practical Guide to Discovery Practice in Rhode Island." Justice Hurst also pioneered the use of modern jury techniques in the Rhode Island state trial court including the use of preliminary charges, juror note taking and other innovations. She regularly participates in local legal and educational programs. Justice Hurst serves on various court committees and has served as a delegate to regional and national judicial conferences. She was a featured speaker at The Association of Trial Lawyers of America's 50th annual national convention, an invitation extended by ATLA's National College of Advocacy. Justice Hurst was awarded the state trial lawyers association's Judicial Merit Award in September 2001, and received certificates of special recognition and accomplishment from the Congress of the United States of America, House of Representatives and Senate and from the Governor of the State of Rhode Island. Until her appointment to the Rhode Island Superior Court Bench in 1990, she maintained a private law practice and concentrated in the area of civil litigation. Justice Hurst is a former member of the American Bar Association, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the American Arbitration Association Panel of Arbitrators, the Rhode Island Bar Association, the Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association and the Rhode Island Women's Bar Association. She served as a volunteer attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union and as a member of various public and private boards and committees. Justice Hurst also was active in charitable and civic organizations and in local politics. She serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the National Association of Women Judges. Justice Hurst also is an active member of the International Association of Women Judges.
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