Monaco Joins Panel Discussion at DRI’s 2026 Strictly Automotive Seminar

Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP equity partner Anthony J. Monaco will serve as a panelist at DRI’s 2026 Strictly Automotive Seminar, taking place in San Antonio, Texas, September 16–18, 2026.

Monaco will participate in the panel discussion, “ADAS in the Real World: What Drivers Prioritize, Understand, and Disable—and How Those Choices Are Evaluated in Litigation,” alongside Eldon Leaphart of YA Group and Farheen Khan of Secretariat. The panel will examine how drivers’ awareness, selection and real-world use of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can affect product liability litigation, including design defect, failure-to-warn, failure-to-equip, causation and consumer-expectation arguments.

DRI’s Strictly Automotive Seminar brings together defense attorneys, in-house counsel, manufacturers and industry professionals to explore emerging issues affecting automotive litigation. This year’s program will address topics including emerging automotive technologies, tariffs, ethical AI use and managing high-stakes crises, along with interactive programming such as a crash demonstration and ADAS vehicle simulation.

Anthony J. Monaco is an equity partner and trial attorney at Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP in Chicago. Having served as chair of the firm’s Product Liability Practice Group for many years, he regularly handles litigation involving aviation, automotive, drugs and medical devices, construction and industrial equipment, consumer and recreational products, children’s toys and food safety. He also has experience defending manufacturers in multidistrict litigation (MDL) and mass tort and class action litigation. Learn more about Tony and his practice here.