In the Know

GTLA Annual Seminar and Gala a Success

This spring’s annual seminar and President’s Ball were both spectacular. The well attended seminar, “What Every Plaintiff’s Attorney Should Know,” was chaired by Joe Fried. The full day of education was topped off by dinner, dancing and fellowship. GTLA member Stephen Chance and his wife Erin received the 2008 Community Service Award for their unwavering commitment to ending childhood cancer. Later, hundreds of members paid tribute to outgoing President, Joe Watkins and welcomed incoming President, Fred Orr.

Mark Your Calendars for September 18th—You Won’t Want to Miss This

GTLA President Fred Orr and the Past Presidents of GTLA are extremely honored to announce a new, unique, and spectacular event hosted by GTLA set to honor Excellence in the Judiciary. This event, which will be September 18th at the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta, will be the premier to-do this fall. With an invitation list of 600—including all the Judges in Georgia, federal judges, and the Supreme Court, guests will have the chance to honor one of Georgia’s finest—Judge Anthony A. Alaimo. Judge Alaimo, who is also a Past President of GTLA and founder of our magazine, The Verdict, will be the first recipient of the annual Anthony A. Alaimo award for Judicial Excellence! Look for your invitation and other exciting advertising in the coming weeks!

Welcome New Members

GTLA welcomes its newest members: Edward Bauer, Chandler Bridges, Stacey Anne Torpey, Kenneth Turner, David Chiodo, Dawn Johnson, Paul Painter, Ester Bardi, Monica Wilburn, Jack Rosenberg, Melissa Frost, Tracey Buttrey, Elizabeth Jacques, Shannon Wheeler, Loretta Smith, Melinda Davis, James Creasy, Doreen Lundrigan, Sheri Phillips, Julie Baxter, Kimberly Williams, David Miceli, Richard Blevins, Hassan High, Ruth Anne Fryer, Nick Taylor, Aida Sanchez, Heather Turner-Shepard, Kelly Williams, Tamar Scott, Rob Teilhet, Roy Yunker, Megan Hill, Angela Peterson, Regina Stamps, and Jeffrey Diamond.

GTLA Gives Special Thanks to our Newest Champion Member

Chandler Bridges is GTLA’s newest Champion member. GTLA thanks Chandler and all of our Champion Members for your continued support. If you are not a Champion member, please consider becoming one today. Call Lynn Colston at (404) 522-8487 to learn what becoming a Champion can mean to you and to your practice.

Welcome New GTLA Staff

GTLA is excited to announce that Emily Wring (ewring@gtla.org) is our new Membership Services Director. Emily is coming to us from Impact Media Solutions where she was the Director of Operations. Prior to that, Emily was a special events coordinator for the Atlanta Symphony. A graduate of Georgia Tech, Emily brings an incredible skill set to GTLA and we are all happy to have her on our team.

GTLA Goes Grassroots

Are you in Columbus? Savannah? Macon? If so, put these events on your calander!
President Fred Orr will be the featured Speaker for the June 25TH luncheon of the Columbus TLA. Joining President Orr will be GTLA Executive Director Lynn Colston and Grassroots Coordinator Micah Gravley. The lunch will be at the Chattahoochee River Club in Downtown Columbus from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Please contact Columbus TLA Chair Morris Mullen at 706-320-0600 or via email at cmm@waldrepmullin.com for more information if you are interested in attending the lunch.

President Fred Orr will be the featured Speaker for the July 9th Luncheon of the Middle Georgia/Macon TLA. GTLA Executive Director Lynn Colston and Grassroots Coordinator Micah Gravley will be attending lunch as well. The lunch will be at the City Club in Downtown Macon. Please contact Middle Georgia/Macon TLA Chair Connie Williford at 478-731-7268 or via email at attywilliford@bellsouth.net for more information if you are interested in attending the lunch.

President Fred Orr will be the featured Speaker for the June 26th “Cocktails and Camaraderie” of the Savannah TLA. GTLA Executive Director Lynn Colston and Grassroots Coordinator Micah Gravley will be attending this evening event as well. Please meet at the Bonna Bella Yacht Club at 6:00 pm and plan on fun and socializing well into the night. Please contact Micah Gravley to RSPV at mgravley@gtla.org. If you are coming in from out of town there is a block of rooms set aside at the Sheraton. Call 912-790-1000 and mention GTLA when booking.

New Trial Lawyers Division of GTLA

Under the direction of members Doug Dumont and Tony Kalka, GTLA has revived its New Trial Lawyers Division. Are you a younger member of GTLA? Or have you practiced for a while but are new to the plaintiff’s bar? If so, this group is for you. Contact Lynn Colston, lcolston@gtla.org, for more information.

Notes from the Civil Justice PAC, Inc.

We are proud to announce the newest additions to our Board of Directors and Leadership. We welcome Jason Branch, Derric Crowther, Linley Jones, & Mike Prieto and thank them for their service to the PAC. The PAC’s Executive Committee was installed in April and now consists of Darren Penn, Chair; Glenn Loewenthal, Chair-Elect; Andrew Jones, Immediate Past Chair; Lyle Warshauer, Secretary; and Andy Childers, Treasurer. The PAC continues to diligently raise the funds we need to elect pro-civil justice candidates in November. 28% of GTLA currently participates in the PAC, and we need every member of GTLA to participate. If you have not made a contribution this year, please contact Dawn Lasusky, Executive Director, at the info listed below. Various contribution levels and payment options are available to meet the needs of anyone and everyone!

Civil Justice PAC, Inc. of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
50 Hurt Plaza; Suite 1250
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-659-5597 (office)
866-427-2208 (toll free)
404-659-5626 (fax)
C_jpac@bellsouth.net

Get Involved!

GTLA is forming committees now and we need you! Please help make a difference in your Association and consider getting involved in a committee of your interest. We have spots open in Membership, CLE, Publications, Legislative, Communications, Grassroots, and Technology. Call Lynn Colston at (404) 522-8487 or email at lcolston@glta.org

Trial Calendar – Save Those Dates

On September 22, Adam Malone will be trying a Medical Malpractice case in Fulton County State Court. Tommy Malone will be trying a Medical Malpractice case in Dekalb County State Court on October 13-24. And Glenn Lowenthal will be trying a Medical Malpractice case in Fulton County State Court from October 20-24. GTLA thanks these members for posting these trials. If you haven’t seen any of these members in action, stop by the courthouse and show your support!

GTLA Document Bank Needs You

Don’t miss out on this valuable resource. Log-on today and search through dozens of complaints, discovery, briefs, motions, orders and other helpful legal documents. You can also help out your fellow members by contributing documents of your own to share. It is extremely simple and quick to start browsing and uploading. Try it out today!

Heading on a Trip This Summer?

Did you know that there is a simple and a quick way to temporarily suspend listserv messages while you are away from your email? You can avoid cluttering your inbox by following the steps outlined below. If you have any questions on this process, we are happy to assist you, just call Lynn Colston or Emily Wring at (404) 522-8487.

*** PLEASE NOTE*** No matter which option you change, BE SURE to click on “Save Settings” at the bottom of the page before exiting: otherwise, none of your changes will take effect.

1. Access http://www.trialsmith.com
2. Login using your TrialSmith login id and password. If you do not yet have a TrialSmith account, select “Join” and complete the registration process, or call 1-800-443-1757 for assistance.
3. Click on “Change My Settings” under List at the top of the page. In this area you will find a number of different options such as, Vacation Mode for times when you need to suspend receiving email, Digest, or Index, etc. These are all found under the drop-down menu for each list.

GTLA’s listservs are a member service hosted by TrialSmith. Members are encouraged to take advantage of TrialSmith’s tremendous library of 200,000 legal documents, including depositions, briefs and trial transcripts from 48 states. To enroll in TrialSmith, all attorneys must be members of their state TLA. GTLA members receive a free account on TrialSmith under the Complimentary Plan Level—this account allows you to search 21 databases of litigation research, including the message archive from GTLA’s lists.

Upcoming Events

July 3-4 Office closes on the 3rd at 3:00 and we are closed on July 4th

July 12-14 AAJ Annual Meeting Philadelphia

July 15 Primary Election

July 29 Communications Committee Meeting

July 31 Executive Committee Meeting

August 7-9 Auto-Torts Seminar

August 20 Executive Committee Meeting at the State Bar

August 20 Unique Claims Workshop

If we can assist you in any way, please contact
your GTLA Staff
(404) 522-8487
www.gtla.org
www.georgiatriallawyers.blogspot.com