History
In 1946, a group of plaintiffs' attorneys involved in workers' compensation litigation founded the National Association of Claimants' Compensation Attorneys (NACCA). As their work broadened beyond workers' compensation, in 1960 the NACCA changed its name to the National Association of Claimants' Counsel of America, and four years later, to the American Trial Lawyers Association. In 1972, these groups merged as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA). In 1977, ATLA's headquarters moved from Boston to Washington, D.C. Today, AAJ is a broad-based, international coalition of attorneys, law professors, paralegals, and law students.
Past presidents include:
- Harry Philo, 1980–1981
- David Shrager, 1983–1984
- Peter Perlman, 1985–1986
- Robert Habush, 1986–1987
- Eugene Pavalon, 1987–1988
- Bill Wagner, 1988–1989
- Bob Gibbins, 1991–1992
- Larry S. Stewart, 1994–1995
- Pamela Angagos Liapalies, 1995–1996
- Mark S Mandell, 1998–1999
- Richard h. Middleton, Jr., 1999–2000
- Mary Alexander, 2002–2003
- Gary Paul, 2011–2012
AAJ has more than 56,000 members worldwide, and a network of state and local affiliates involved in all areas of trial advocacy. AAJ provides lawyers with the information and professional assistance needed to "serve clients successfully and protect the democratic values inherent in the civil justice system." Like many professional organizations, AAJ also engages in lobbying on matters of concern to its members and their clients: "AAJ supports the civil justice system as a fundamental check on the power of businesses and governments and opposes efforts to limit the legal rights of citizens." It has opposed many changes related to "tort reform," including the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, which gives defendant companies the right to remove state court class actions to federal court.
Read more about this topic: American Association For Justice
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“The history of philosophy is to a great extent that of a certain clash of human temperaments.”
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