Attorneys
Mark A. Behrens [ Partner ]
Washington, D.C.
P: 202-639-5621 (Direct)
P: 202-783-8400 (Main)
F: 202-783-4211
Biography
Mark has extensive experience in product liability law, defense litigation, liability reform and counseling in the prevention of liability exposure. He has served on the adjunct faculty of the American University, Washington College of Law and is a member of The American Law Institute. In the fall of 2010, Mark will be on sabbatical teaching Advanced Torts as a Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at Pepperdine University School of Law in California.
Mark has been listed by Washingtonian magazine as one of D.C.'s "top lawyers." He has published numerous articles on tort and civil justice issues in leading national journals including the Harvard Journal on Legislation, Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy, Texas Review of Law & Politics, and University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Business Law, among others. Mark's other legal honors include a Burton Award for Legal Achievement for his writing and an award from several national organizations for major research contributing to civil justice issues. Business Insurance named Mark in its 2004 "40 Under 40" list. He has been quoted in publications such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The National Law Journal, and the Journal of Commerce. He has also appeared on radio programs and television segments including CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN, MSNBC, Fox Morning News (D.C.), and C-Span. The Insider Guide to Public Policy Experts and Organizations lists him as an expert in tort and civil justice reform, health care reform, and the judiciary. He has the highest ratings for Legal Ability and General Ethical Standards under the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings system.
Mark is also a member of the Product Liability Advisory Council, Inc., co-counsel to the American Tort Reform Association, co-counsel to the Coalition for Litigation Justice, Inc., co-chair of the Federalist Society’s Tort and Product Liability Subcommittee, advisor to the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Civil Justice Task Force, and a member of the Washington Legal Foundation's Legal Policy Advisory Board. While in law school, Mark was associate articles editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review and received an American Jurisprudence Award for achievement in tort law.
Publications
Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, Report Sheds Light on Parallel World of Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts, 19:19 Legal Opinion Letter (Wash. Legal Found. Aug. 20, 2010). View
Mark A. Behrens, Asbestos Litigation Screening Challenges: An Update, 26 T.M. Cooley L. Rev. 721 (2009). View
Mark A. Behrens & Corey Schaecher, RAND Institute for Civil Justice Report on the Abuse of Medical Diagnostic Practices in Mass Tort Litigation: Lessons Learned from the "Phantom" Silica Epidemic That May Deter Litigation Screening Abuse, 73 Alb. L. Rev. 521 (2010) View
Mark A. Behrens, Alabama High Court Issues Landmark Drug Pricing Decision, Class Action Watch (Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies), May 2010, at 1 View
Mark A. Behrens, Who Should Decide Tort Law? A Fundamental Issue in the Public Debate Over Civil Justice Reform, in Andrew F. Popper, Materials on Tort Reform (2010) View
Mark A. Behrens & Corey M. Schaecher, RAND Report Highlights Abuse of Medical Diagnostics in Mass Torts, 19:6 Legal Opinion Letter (Wash. Legal Found. Mar. 12, 2010) View
Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, Alabama Supreme Court Rejects Pharmaceutical Pricing "Regulation Through Litigation," 19:1 Legal Opinion Letter (Wash. Legal Found. Jan. 15, 2010) View
Mark Behrens & Phil Goldberg, Editorial, Home of the Asbestos Litigation “Gold Rush?,” Daily J. (San Fran.), Nov. 18, 2009, at 5 View
Mark A. Behrens & Corey Schaecher, RAND Issues Report on Abuse of Medical Diagnostic Practices in Mass Litigation, 10:3 Engage – The J. of the Federalist Society’s Prac. Groups 108 (Oct. 2009) View
Mark A. Behrens & Christopher E. Appel, Denial of Federal Tax Deduction for Punitive Damages Threatens Job Growth, 18:12 Legal Opinion Letter (Wash. Legal Found. June 5, 2009) View
Mark A. Behrens, Gregory L. Fowler & Silvia Kim, Global Litigation Trends - Class Actions, Contingency Fees, and Punitive Damages: Moving Toward the American Civil Law Model?, 17 Mich. St. J. Int’l Law 165 (2009) View
Mark Behrens, What’s New in Asbestos Litigation?, 28 Rev. Litig. 501 (2009) View
Mark A. Behrens & William L. Anderson, The “Any Exposure” Theory: An Unsound Basis for Asbestos Causation and Expert Testimony, 37 Sw. U. L. Rev. 479 (2008) View
Mark A. Behrens & Frank Cruz-Alvarez, Rhode Island Supreme Court Joins Other State Courts in Rejecting Product-Based Public Nuisance Claims, Class Action Watch (Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies), Oct. 2008, at 5 View
Mark A. Behrens & Christopher E. Appel, Seventh Circuit Rejects Effort to Bypass Class Action Fairness Act in Mass Action, 9:16 Class Action Litig. Rep. (BNA) 701 (Aug. 22, 2008) View
Mark A. Behrens & Christopher E. Appel, Second Circuit Upholds Federal Liability Reform Law, 18:12 Legal Opinion Letter (Wash. Legal Found. May 16, 2008) View
Mark A. Behrens & Christopher E. Appel, “Reverse Bifurcation” Approach to Punitive Damages Trials in West Virginia, Class Action Watch (Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies), Mar. 2008, at 7 View
Mark A. Behrens, Book Review, Mass Torts in a World of Settlement (by Richard A. Nagareda), 9:1 Engage – The J. of the Federalist Society’s Prac. Groups 151 (Feb. 2008) View
Mark A. Behrens & Christopher E. Appel, Medical Monitoring in Missouri After Meyer Ex Rel. Coplin v. Fluor Corp.: Sound Policy Should be Restored to a Vague and Unsound Directive, 27 St. Louis U. Pub. L. Rev. 135 (2007) View
Mark Behrens & Christopher Appel, New Jersey and Missouri Supreme Courts Reject Lead Paint Public Nuisance Claims, Class Action Watch (Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies), Sept. 2007, at 1 View
Mark A. Behrens, Asbestos and Silica Litigation Reform: Helping the Sick, Curbing Fraud, and Providing Liability Fairness, The State Factor (Am. Legis. Exch. Council Feb. 2007) View
Mark A. Behrens, Fifth Consecutive State High Court Rejects Medical Monitoring, 8:1 Engage – The J. of the Federalist Society’s Prac. Groups 131 (Feb. 2007) View
Mark A. Behrens & Christopher E. Appel, Mississippi Supreme Court Rejects Medical Monitoring, 17:3 Legal Backgrounder (Wash. Legal Found. Feb. 9, 2007) View
Mark A. Behrens & Phil Goldberg, The Asbestos Litigation Crisis: The Tide Appears To Be Turning, 12 Conn. Ins. L.J. 477 (2006)
Mark A. Behrens, Michigan Supreme Court Takes Step to Address Asbestos Litigation Problems, State Court Docket Watch (Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies-State Courts Project), Nov. 2006, at 5 View
Mark A. Behrens & Frank Cruz-Alvarez, Premises Owner Liability for Secondhand Asbestos Exposure: The Next Wave?, 7:2 Engage – The J. of the Federalist Society’s Prac. Groups 145 (Oct. 2006) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Kevin Underhill, Litigation Tourism Hurts Californians, 21:20 Mealey’s Litig. Rep.: Asbestos 41 (Nov. 15, 2006)
Mark A. Behrens & Phil Goldberg, Lawsuit Scandal Reform: Asbestos and Silica Medical Criteria Legislation Needed, Mo. Law. Wkly. (Oct. 9, 2006) View
Mark A. Behrens & Frank Cruz-Alvarez, State-Based Reforms: Making a Difference in Asbestos and Silica Cases, 16:21 Legal Backgrounder (Wash. Legal Found. Aug. 4, 2006), reprinted in 28:22 Andrews Asbestos Litig. Rptr. 12 (Aug. 25, 2006) View
Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, ALEC Model Legislation: Leading the Way to Help Address the Asbestos Litigation Crisis and Discourage Silica Litigation Fraud, 8:2 ALEC Pol’y Forum 4 (Summer 2006) View
Mark A. Behrens, States Address Asbestos Litigation Crisis and Curb Silica Litigation Fraud, Tex. Civ. Justice League J. 5 (Summer 2006) View
Mark A. Behrens & Frank Cruz-Alvarez, A Potential New Frontier in Asbestos Litigation: Premises Owner Liability for “Take Home” Exposure Claims, 21:11 Mealey’s Litig. Rep.: Asbestos 5 (July 5, 2006) View
Mark A. Behrens & Andrew W. Crouse, The Evolving Civil Justice Reform Movement: Procedural Reforms Have Gained Steam, But Critics Still Focus on Arguments of the Past, 31 U. Dayton L. Rev. 173 (2006) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Andrew W. Crouse, Getting The Sand Out of the Eye of the Law: The Need for a Clear Rule for Sand Suppliers in Texas After Humble Sand & Gravel, Inc. v. Gomez, 37 St. Mary’s L.J. 283 (2006) View
Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, Now Open for Business: The Transformation of Mississippi’s Legal Climate, Miss. C. L. Rev. 393; (2005) View
Mark A. Behrens & Phil Goldberg, In Memoriam: Senior United States District Judge Charles R. Weiner, 20:22 Mealey's Litig. Rep.: Asbestos 24 (Dec. 21, 2005) View
Mark A. Behrens & Andrew W. Crouse, High Courts Reject Premises Liability For Secondhand Asbestos Exposure, 15:25 Legal Backgrounder (Wash. Legal Found. Dec. 16, 2005), reprinted in 28:5 Andrews Asbestos Litig. Rptr. 9 (Dec. 30, 2005)
Mark A. Behrens, State Asbestos and Silica Reform: Past Successes - Future Opportunities?, 20:19 Mealey's Litig. Rep.: Asbestos 29 (Nov. 2, 2005) View
Steven B. Hantler, Mark A. Behrens & Leah Lorber, Is the Crisis in the Civil Justice System Real or Imagined?, 38 Loy. L.A. L. Rev. 1121 (2005) View
Mark A. Behrens & Phil Goldberg, State-Based Medical Criteria For Asbestos Suits Gains Momentum, 15:13 Legal Opinion Letter (Wash. Legal Found. July 1, 2005), reprinted in 27:20 Andrews Asbestos Litig. Rptr. 10 (July 29, 2005), and 23:13 Andrews Toxic Torts Litig. Rptr. 11 (Aug. 5, 2005)
Mark A. Behrens & Phil Goldberg, Stopping Asbestos Litigation Abuse, 6:1 Engage – The J. of the Federalist Society’s Prac. Groups 120 (May 2005) View
Mark A. Behrens & Manuel López, Unimpaired Asbestos Dockets: They Are Constitutional, 24 Rev. Litig. 253 (2005) View
Mark A. Behrens, Successor Asbestos-Related Liability Fairness Act, 7:1 ALEC Pol’y Forum 18 (Spring 2005) View
Mark A. Behrens & Phil Goldberg, Asbestos Litigation: Momentum Builds for State-Based Medical Criteria Solutions to Address Filings by the Non-Sick, 20:6 Mealey’s Litig. Rep.: Asbestos 33 (Apr. 13, 2005) View
Mark A. Behrens, Leah Lorber & Cary Silverman, Silica: An Overview of Exposure and Litigation in the United States, 20:2 Mealey's Litig. Rep.: Asbestos 33 (Feb. 21, 2005) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Phil Goldberg, Defining the Edge of Tort Law in Asbestos Bankruptcies: Addressing Claims Filed by the Non-Sick, 14:1 J. Bankr. L. & Prac. 61 (2005) View
Mark A. Behrens & Phil S. Goldberg, Editorial, Asbestos X-rays: Study Points To Abuse, Nat'l L.J., Nov. 1, 2004, at 19 View
Mark A. Behrens & Andrew W. Crouse, Book Review, Shakedown: How Corporations, Government and Trial Lawyers Abuse the Judicial Process (by Robert A. Levy), 5:2 Engage – The J. of the Federalist Society's Prac. Groups 154 (Oct. 2004) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Kimberly D. Sandner, Asbestos Litigation in Madison County, Illinois: The Challenge Ahead, 16 Wash. U. J.L. & Pol'y 235 (2004) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, New California Law Grants State 75% of Punitive Damages Award, 19:20 Legal Opinion Letter (Wash. Legal Found. Sept. 3, 2004) View
Mark A. Behrens & Phil S. Goldberg, The Asbestos Litigation Crisis in a Nutshell, The State Factor (Am. Legis. Exch. Council July 2004) View
Mark A. Behrens & Philip S. Goldberg, Asbestos Litigation Reform: Where Is It Headed?, 15:1 Products Liability (ABA, Sec. Of Litig., Comm. on Prods. Liab. Litig.), Spring/Summer 2004, at 1 View
Mark A. Behrens & Edward O. Gramling, Improving the Jury System in Kansas: A Call For Jury Patriotism Legislation, 13 Kan. J.L. & Pub. Pol’y 1 (2004) View
Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, Asbestos Litigation Reform in 2004 and Beyond, Columns: Asbestos, Apr. 2004, at 2 View
Mark A. Behrens, Asbestos Litigation Reform in 2004, The Nat’l Forum for Envtl. & Toxic Tort Issues Newsletter, Mar. 2004, at 2
Mark A. Behrens & Philip S. Goldberg, The Michigan Supreme Court: Will It Help Curb Asbestos Litigation Abuse And Help The Truly Sick?, 18:24 Mealey’s Litig. Rep.: Asbestos 1 (Jan. 21, 2004) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Rochelle M. Tedesco, Addressing the “Elephantine Mass” of Asbestos Cases: Consolidation Versus Inactive Dockets (Pleural Registries) and Case Management Plans that Defer Claims Filed By the Non-Sick, 31 Pepp. L. Rev. 271 (2004) View
Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, Improving the Jury System in Virginia: Jury Patriotism Legislation is Needed, 11 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 657 (2003) View
Mark A. Behrens & Kimberly D. Sandner, Federal Tax Deduction for Punitive Damage Payments Comes Under Fire, 13:24 Legal Opinion Letter (Wash. Legal Found. Dec. 29, 2003) View
Mark A. Behrens & M. Kevin Underhill, A Call for Jury Patriotism: Why the Jury System Must Be Improved for Californians Called to Serve, 40 Cal. W. L. Rev. 135 (2003) View
Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, Five Ways the Kentucky Legislature Can Improve Jury Service, 42 Brandeis L.J. 1 (2003) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Rochelle Todesco, Congress Should Act to Resolve the National Asbestos Crisis: The Basis in Law and Public Policy for Meaningful Progress, 44 S. Tex. L. Rev. 839 (2003)
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Rochelle M. Tedesco, Selective Due Process: The United States Supreme Court Has Said That Punitive Damages Awards Must Be Reviewed for Excessiveness, But Many Courts Are Failing to Follow The Letter And Spirit of The Law, 82 Or. L. Rev. 33 (2003) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, I’ll Take That: Legal and Policy Problems Raised by Statutes That Require Punitive Damages Awards To Be Shared With The State, 68 Mo. L. Rev. 525 (2003) View
K.B. Battaglini, Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, Jury Patriotism: The Jury System Should Be Improved for Texans Called To Serve, 35 St. Mary’s L.J. 117 (2003) View
J. Walter Sinclair, Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, Making Jury Duty a Little Friendlier, 46:10 The Advocate (Idaho State Bar), Oct. 2003, at 23 View
Victor E. Schwartz and Mark A. Behrens, Symposium: Asbestos Litigation Articles, S. Tex. L. Rev. (Fall 2003) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, The Jury Patriotism Act: Making Jury Service More Appealing and Rewarding to Citizens, The State Factor (Am. Legis. Exchange Council April 2003) View
Keith T. Borman & Mark A. Behrens, Preserving the Right to a Representative Jury, 4:1 Engage - The J. of the Federalist Society’s Prac. Groups (2003) View
Mark A. Behrens & Rochelle M. Tedesco, Two Forks in the Road of Asbestos Litigation, 18:3 Mealey's Litig. Rep.: Asbestos 35 (Mar. 7, 2003) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, Safeguarding the Right to A Representative Jury: The Need for Improved Jury Service Laws, 7:1 Briefly (Nat’l Legal Center for the Pub. Int. Jan. 17, 2003)
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, New Model Law Designed to Improve Jury Service in State Courts, Counsel’s Advisory (Wash. Legal Found. Jan. 17, 2003)
Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, Tort Reform: The Changing Landscape, 4:2 TortSource: A Publication of the Am. Bar Ass’n Tort & Ins. Prac. Sec., Winter 2002, at 1 View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens, Cary Silverman and Rochelle M. Tedesco, Consumer Protection in the Legal Marketplace: A Legal Consumer's Bill of Rights Is Needed, 15 Loy. Consumer L. Rev. 1 (2002) View
Mark A. Behrens, Some Proposals for Courts Interested in Helping Sick Claimants and Solving Serious Problems in Asbestos Litigation, 54 Baylor L. Rev. 331 (2002) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Rochelle M. Tedesco, Kentucky High Court Rejects Medical Monitoring Actions, 10:6 Counsel’s Advisory (Wash. Legal Found. Sept. 6, 2002)
Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, High Court Should Send Strong Signal In Asbestos Cases, Columns: Asbestos, June 2002, at 2
Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, The Case for Adopting Appointive Judicial Selection Systems for State Court Judges, 11 Cornell J.L. & Pub. Pol’y 273 (2002) View
Mark A. Behrens & Rochelle Tedesco, Addressing Regulation Through Litigation: Some Solutions To Government Sponsored Lawsuits, 3 Engage - The J. of the Federalist Society’s Prac. Groups 109 (Apr. 2002) View
Mark A. Behrens, When the Walking Well Sue, Nat’l L.J., Apr. 29, 2002, at A12 View
Mark A. Behrens & Cary Silverman, Promoting Judicial Independence & Public Confidence in the Courts: The Case for Judicial Appointments in Texas, Veritas - A Quarterly J. of Pub. Pol’y in Tex. 27 (Mar. 2002) View
Mark A. Behrens & Richard O. Faulk, The Asbestos Litigation Crisis in a Nutshell, 4:1 ALEC Pol'y Forum 46 (Spring 2002) View
Mark A. Behrens & Barry M. Parsons, Responsible Public Policy Demands and End to the Hemorrhaging Effect of Punitive Damages in Asbestos Cases, 6 Tex. Rev. L. & Pol. 137 (2001)
Mark A. Behrens & Monica Parham, Stewardship for the Sick: Preserving Assets For Asbestos Victims Through Inactive Docket Programs, 33 Tex. Tech. L. Rev.1 (2001) (selected by the Texas Tech Law Review’s Board of Editors as the Outstanding Lead Article of the year)
Mark A. Behrens & Phillip R. Anderson, State Supreme Courts Retreat From Medical Monitoring Causes of Action, 10:5 L.J. Newsletters Prod. Liab. L. & Strategy 1 (Nov. 2001)
Mark A. Behrens & Donald Kochan, Protecting the Right to Appellate Review in the New Era of Civil Actions: A Call for Bonding Fairness, 2:17 Class Action Litig. Rep. (BNA) 644 (Sept. 14, 2001), also printed in 29:21 Prod. Safety & Liab. Rptr. (BNA) 515 (May 21, 2001)
Mark A. Behrens & Donald Kochan, Federal Courts Using “Certification” to Punt On Controversial State Tort Law Issues, 14: 8 L.J. Newsletters Prod. Liab. L. & Strategy 4 (Feb. 2001)
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Monica Parham, Fostering Mutual Respect and Cooperation Between State Courts and State Legislatures: A Sound Alternative to a Tort Tug of War, 103 W. Va. L. Rev. 1 (2000) View
Mark A. Behrens, The Transportation Recall Enhancement: Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act, Translaw, Fall 2000, at 1
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Leah Lorber, Tort Reform Past, Present And Future: Solving Old Problems And Dealing With “New Style” Litigation, 27 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 237 (2000)
Mark A. Behrens & Donald Kochan, Let the Sunshine In: The Need for Open, Competitive Bidding in Government Retention of Private Legal Services, 28:38 Prod. Safety & Liab. Rptr. (BNA) 915 (Oct. 2, 2000)
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Leah Lorber, Fair Federal Forums Should Decide Interstate Class Actions, 1:8 Class Action Litig. (BNA) 285 (Aug. 11, 2000)
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Leah Lorber, Federal Courts Should Decide Multistate Class Actions: A Call For Federal Class Action Diversity Jurisdiction Reform, 37 Harv. J. on Legis. 483 (2000) (winner, Burton Awards for Legal Achievement for excellence in legal writing)
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Joseph P. Mastrosimone, Reining in Punitive Damages “Run Wild”: Proposals for Punitive Damages Reform By Courts and Legislatures, 65 Brook. L. Rev. 1003 (2000)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, A Proposal for Federal Product Liability Reform In The New Millennium, 4 Tex. Rev. L. & Pol. 261 (2000)
Mark Behrens, Scott Winkelman & Victor Schwartz, Y2K Law Not Foolproof, Nat’l L.J., Dec. 6, 1999, at A15
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens, Emma Tubb & Jennifer Groninger, Medical Monitoring – Should Tort Law Say Yes?, 34 Wake Forest L. Rev. 1057 (1999)
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Andrew W. Bagley, The Tort Reform Marathon, Fla. Bus. Insight, Sept./Oct. 1999, at 24
Mark A. Behrens, Reform Consumer Lawsuits, Idaho Statesman, Oct. 9, 1999, at B6
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Judicial Activism In The Civil Justice System: Problems and Solutions, Litig. News (Federalist Soc’y for L. & Pub. Pol’y Stud.), Summer 1999, at 5
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Leavy Mathews III, Federalism and Federal Liability Reform: The United States Constitution Supports Reform, 36 Harv. J. on Leg. 269 (1999) View
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Leah Lorber, Oregon Tort Reform is Latest Victim of Judicial Nullification, Legal Opinion Letter (Wash. Legal Found. Aug 6, 1999)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Equal Justice Denied If Congress Assists DOJ Quest To Sue Unpopular Defendants, 14:17 Legal Backgrounder (Wash. Legal Found. May 14, 1999)
Mark A. Behrens, Editorial, Courts Are The Wrong Forum for Legislation, Bus. Ins., Apr. 5, 1999, at 8
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Punitive Damages Tax Proposal: A New Weapon for Trial Lawyers, Legal Opinion Letter (Wash. Legal Found. Mar. 19, 1999)
Mark A. Behrens & Christopher J. McGuire, Year 2000 Problems Will Leave Many Wanting to Take a “Byte” Out of Computer and Technology Companies: A Preview of Liability Issues Affecting “Y2K” Litigants, Mealey’s Year 2000 Rep. (Mar. 1998)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Federal Legislation To Limit Punitive Damages, Libel Defense Resource Center Libelletter, Feb. 1998
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Curbs on Class Action Abuses, 8 Australian Prod. Liab. Rptr. 83 (July 1997)
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Mark D. Taylor, Should Courts or Legislators Make America’s Tort Law?, in Executive Risk Management Associates, Lawyer to Lawyer, Edition VII, July 1997
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Mark D. Taylor, Illinois Tort Law: A Rich History of Cooperation and Respect Between the Courts and the Legislature, 28 Loy. U. Chi. L.J. 745 (1997)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Federal Product Liability Reform in 1997: History and Public Policy Support Its Enactment Now, 64 Tenn. L. Rev. 595 (1997)
Jerry Phillips, Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Foreword, 64 Tenn. L. Rev. 557 (1997)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Editorial, Liability “Overkill” Threatens Lives, Wallets, Las Vegas Rev.-J., Mar. 30, 1997, at 1E
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Mark D. Taylor, Stamping Out Tort Reform: State Courts Lack Proper Respect for Legislative Judgments, Legal Times, Feb. 10, 1997, at S34
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Mark D. Taylor, Who Should Make America’s Tort Law: Courts Or Legislators?, Wash. Legal Found. (Feb. 1997)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, An Unhappy Return to Confusion in the Common Law Of Products Liability — Denny v. Ford Motor Company Should Be Overturned, 17 Pace L. Rev. 359 (1997)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, The Road To Federal Product Liability Reform, 55 Md. L. Rev. 1363 (1996)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Editorial, Overkill in Liability System Keeps Valuable Products, Services Off the Market, Columbian (Vancouver, WA), Sept. 26, 1996
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Editorial, We Pay Hidden Fees to Some Rich Lawyers, Orange County Register, Sept. 24, 1996
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Editorial, We Should Repeal the “Tort Tax,” Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA), Sept. 23, 1996
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Editorial, “Tort Tax” Repeal Would Help All U.S. Consumers, Houston Chron., Sept. 20, 1996, at 37
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Editorial, The High Cost of Judicial Overkill, J. Comm., Sept. 18, 1996
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Editorial, The “Tort Tax,” Las Vegas Rev.-J., Sept. 18, 1996, at 11B
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Editorial, Tax Reform Must Include “Tort Tax” Which Burdens Business, Consumers, Ariz. Republic (Phoenix), Sept. 18, 1996, a B5
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Editorial, “Tort Tax” Liability Reform Boon To Consumers, Montgomery (Alabama) Advertiser, Sept. 18, 1996, at 21A
Victor E. Schwartz, Robert Charrow & Mark A. Behrens, Special Report: Law After Medtronic, 15:2 Leader’s Prod. Liab. L. & Strategy 5 (Aug. 1996)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Federal Product Liability Reform Is Consistent With Virginia Law And Should Be Strongly Supported, 4 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 279 (1996)
Mark A. Behrens & Daniel Raddock, Japan’s New Product Liability Law: The Citadel Of Strict Liability Falls, But Access To Recovery Is Limited By Formidable Barriers, 16 U. Pa. J. Int’l Bus. Law 669 (1996)
Victor E. Schwartz, Bob Charrow & Mark A. Behrens, Following the Supreme Court’s Analysis in Cipollone, Courts are Finding Broad Preemption in Sophisticated Medical Device Tort Litigation, 17 J. Prod. & Toxic Liab. 31 (1995)
Victor E. Schwartz, Mark A. Behrens & Lori Bean, Multiple Imposition Of Punitive Damages: The Case For Reform, Critical Legal Issues: Working Paper Series (Wash. Legal Found. Mar. 1995)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Preserving Issues For Appeal Of Punitive Damages Awards, 22:42 Prod. Safety & Liab. Rptr. (BNA) 1122 (Oct. 28, 1994)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Product Liability: Making The Law Work Through Fair and Rational Rules, in State Civil Justice Reform: Future Challenges, Past Successes, 7-15 (Roger Clegg ed. 1994)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Following The Spirit of Haslip: Virginia Should Adopt A “Middle” Burden Of Proof In Punitive Damages Cases, 20 Va. Bar Assn. J. 4 (Winter 1994)
Victor Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, The American Law Institute’s Reporters’ Study On Enterprise Responsibility For Personal Injury: A Timely Call For Punitive Damages Reform, 30 San Diego L. Rev. 263 (1993)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Punitive Damages Reform — State Legislatures Can And Should Meet The Challenge Issued By The Supreme Court Of The United States in Haslip, 42 Am. U.L. Rev. 1365 (1993)
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Supreme Opens Challenges to Excessive Punitive Damages Awards, 7:8 Inside Litig., Aug. 1993, at 13
Victor E. Schwartz & Mark A. Behrens, Haslip May Alter Tort-Claim Strategies, Nat’l L.J., Feb. 17, 1992, at 23
Licenses
Mark is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Virginia. He also is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Circuits; and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia.
Education
1990 J.D., Vanderbilt University School of Law
1987 B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Behrens
practice areas
In brief
- Member of The American Law Institute
- Burton Award Recepient
- Named a D.C. "Top Lawyer," Washingtonian magazine

News & Events
- Behrens & Silverman Summarize RAND Report on Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts
8/20/2010
- Law Review Publishes Behrens Article on Asbestos Litigation Screening Abuses
7/13/2010
- Law Review Published Behrens & Schaecher Article on Silica Litigation
5/5/2010
- Behrens Publishes Article on Drug Pricing Decision
5/4/2010
- Behrens & Schaecher Co-Author Article on RAND Report Recommendations for Medical Diagnoses in Mass Litigation
3/26/2010
- Behrens & Schaecher Co-Author WLF Opinion Letter
3/15/2010
- Law and Behrens to Participate at ABA Program on Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation
2/1/2010
- Behrens and Silverman Publish on Alabama Supreme Court Pharmaceutical Pricing Decision
1/21/2010
- Behrens to Present During Asbestos Litigation Trends CLE Conference
1/20/2010
- Behrens & Goldberg Warn of Asbestos Litigation Tsunami in California Courts
11/19/2009

