The Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association (CDLA) held its annual meeting recently at The Hartford Club, including noteworthy presentations and the election of a new slate of officers.
The event began with a seminar on the use and misuse of social media. Tim Gephart, vice president of claims at Minnesota Lawyers Mutual, presented the discussion on how lawyers have a duty to understand the risks, benefits and ethical implications associated with social media as a communications and advertising tool, as well as for research and investigation. Gephart cautioned attorneys to be mindful of social media in case investigations, fact-gathering, managing client communications, preserving evidence and jury selection. He recommended that “lawyers should think of social media as another form of communication, subject to the same ethical guidelines as the more traditional modes.”
