InTheKnowPast

In This Section

In The Know

In This Issue

Ops for Political Involvement

Pay 2010 Dues Online!

Civil Justice PAC

Mark Your Calendar!

GTLA's Blog & Website

Know Someone
Who Should
Be A Member?

Ask them to join GTLA! Or have them call or email Emily Wring at 404.522.8487 ext. 32 or ewring@gtla.org for more information or an application. You can also direct them to join online at www.gtla.org.

When paying your dues, please be sure the credit card GTLA has on file is not expired and that Gail Brown, our Finance Director, has your Security Code.

Super Champs are Champion Members of both GTLA and the PAC!

Contact Emily Wring at ewring@gtla.org or 404.522.8487 ext. 32 to become a Super Champ today!

Welcome New Members!

Andrei Antohi

Drew Bishop

Kathryn W. Carpenter

Debbie Coker

Kathy L. Dutson

Barbara A. Figueroa

Dana S. Gerstner

Sarah Hamilton

Dorothy Jackson

Peter Kang

Victoria Britt King

George A. Koenig

Emily A. Lawson

Andrew R. Lynch

Lindsay M. Mckinney

John Stephen Mixon, Jr.

Hugh Morris

Elizabeth C. Noellien

Gregory J. Parent

Claire Rodriguez

Hayley Bergman Turner

Anne H. Wallace

Pat White

Thank You New
Champion Members!

Don Evans

Andy Goldner

Melinda Holloway

Support Civil Justice PAC!

Contribute today at www.civiljusticepac.com or contact Dawn Lasusky Painter at 678.491.0462 or dawn@civiljusticepac.com.

A Message From Our President,
Michael Warshauer

See You In Destin!

Over the last few days, many of our members have voiced concerns about our 2010 Auto Torts Workshop to be held at the beautiful Hilton Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort on July 29 - 31. Their concern is that the otherwise lovely blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico will be covered by an ugly brown oil slick.

After a great deal of thought, I have decided that cancellation is simply not an option that is consistent with who we are as an organization. The people of the Gulf region are hurting. Collectively, they are the victims of perhaps the most egregious tortious conduct ever committed in the United States. Our organization, like many others throughout America, is committed to helping people who have been harmed by the careless, reckless, wrongful conduct of greedy corporations. To abandon the victims of BP's callous conduct, when they need us most, would be to join BP and be part of the Gulf's problem. That is not what we, the lawyers of GTLA, do. As some of my friends say, "that's not how we roll."

Instead, we are going to go to Destin, we are going to spend money in their bars and restaurants, we're going to buy stupid T-shirts and sun tan lotion and we're going to play on their golf courses. We will be proud to say that the trial lawyers of GTLA are part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Please join your fellow lawyers in Destin for this program. With or without a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf, this is a beautiful resort. And, I must tell you, they need and want us badly! Look for announcements from Executive Director Lynn Colston relating to special offers the hotel is extending to encourage us to come. The Hilton is doing its part in these difficult circumstances. Our program co-chairs, Glenn Loewenthal and Darren Penn, have done their part; our speakers have done their part; our sponsors have done their part; and that leaves you - do your part and attend this program. I want so many people to show up that it makes the news!

Also, keep in mind that if this program was at the EconoLodge in Smyrna it would still be a great program. Let's all hope and pray that the oil stops flowing, doesn't reach Destin and gets cleaned up properly. But if our prayers are not answered, let's all act by joining together and having a great time at a beautiful hotel with its huge pool and great golf courses. I'll see you there - I'll be the one in the goofy hat!

Opportunities for Political Involvement Now

Four ways you can get politically involved this summer and help your clients (and your practice) the rest of the year:

1. Participate in GTLA's Grassroots Outreach Efforts. This year, President Michael Warshauer has dubbed our statewide outreach efforts the "236 Outreach Project." That label appropriately emphasizes our need for greater, more intentional interaction between you - our GTLA members - and your State Representatives and Senators all across Georgia. For it is within that one-on-one personal interaction that real legislative progress can be achieved for defenders of the Civil Justice System.

The GTLA Executive Committee has just hired an additional professional for our staff whose sole responsibility will be to enhance, nurture, manage and facilitate this statewide effort to reach out to all 236 members of the Georgia General Assembly. Her name is Wendi Clifton. Wendi was born and raised in Statesboro, Georgia and is a graduate of Georgia State University Law School. She has extensive experience in building statewide coalitions and networks of legislative contacts for the sole purpose of passing legislation. When Wendi calls on you to discuss your local legislators, to find out all we can about what is important to that legislator back home and to find out who he or she will listen to on important issues, please take Wendi's call and work with her. If we all work together this summer, it will make all the difference under the Gold Dome in January of 2011.

2. Participate in Your Local TLA. A key step in our constant effort to enhance GTLA's outreach strength was the systematic formation of local TLA's. Your GTLA leadership saw that it was their responsibility - and that of your GTLA Staff - to bring GTLA to you, right where you are. In the two plus years we have been working on creating and reviving local TLA's, we have gone from four or five unaffiliated local TLA's to now having more than 20 who have a full-time GTLA staff member (Micah Gravley) available to help plan their events, and secure sponsors and speakers for their events. Most of those speakers have been either local state legislators or candidates for statewide office.

These events have been well-attended and have generated enthusiastic feedback. They also create tremendous opportunities for trial lawyers to interact with your local legislators, to build the relationships that will help out when they return to Atlanta in January and address issues relating to the Civil Justice System. There is no downside to joining your local TLA, and doing so will provide great opportunities for you to help your clients and benefit your practice.

3. Participate in the Civil Justice PAC of GTLA. By contributing as little as $10 per month (or as much as you can), you can be an important part of our overall effort to elect legislators who support and defend your ability to serve the needs of your clients. I have heard more than one dedicated GTLA member say, "Making my monthly PAC contribution is no less important to my clients and my practice than making my monthly payroll, paying my monthly rent or staying apprised of the latest appellate decisions."

Contributing to the PAC enables GTLA to help friends of the Civil Justice System get re-elected. Sadly, only about a third of GTLA members help carry this load. That's only about 600 people in the whole State of Georgia. If only another third of GTLA members stepped up to the plate and gave only $20 per month to the PAC, that would raise nearly $150,000! Can you imagine how many friends in the legislature we could assist with that additional money?! It's just another way you can do your part to promote the best interests of your clients - just by getting involved in the political battles we are waging together.

4. Participate in the Directed Giving (DG) Campaign. Directed Giving is a program that brings to bear the collective strength of "The Trial Lawyers" on certain targeted legislative campaigns. If the PAC contributions are our "ground forces" (large in number but small in caliber), DG contributions are our "Special Ops" efforts (small in number but capable of bringing overwhelming force to the table). In the Directed Giving campaign, trial lawyers commit to giving a certain amount of money to be spread out across certain targeted races. The individual DG contributions are combined with contributions from other trial lawyers and then given to specifically identified candidates. Those candidates are chosen to be recipients of DG contributions based on an informed analysis that shows they can win the election and based on the fact that their election - either because they are a long-time ally or because they have a very real chance of defeating a long-time adversary - can make a huge difference under the Gold Dome for your clients and practice.

Your role in each of these areas of political involvement is vital to our collective success. If you want to do any or all of them and you don't know where to get started, call or e-mail GTLA Political Director Bill Clark at (404) 759-5042 or bclark@gtla.org. Bill will be glad to help you get started doing all you can to make a difference in GTLA's efforts.

Haven't Renewed Your 2010 Dues?

Renew online today. It simple!

1. Login with your username and password.
(Don't know it? Click "Forgot Password?")

2. Click on Membership Renewal under the
Members Services menu at the top.

3. Verify your information and submit payment.

Visit www.gtla.org to renew today!

Civil Justice PAC

A Call to Action

The number of lawyers in the state legislature has reached historic lows, and this year we are losing even more lawyer-legislators, including some of our strongest supporters, to retirement, campaigns for higher office and opposition within their districts. In addition, the Supreme Court's decision to strike down caps on damages in medical cases will undoubtedly bring renewed calls for so-called "tort reform" in the 2011 Legislative Session.

We must meet this challenge by supporting candidates who will stand by the Civil Justice System. If we rise to the challenge, we could help elect a new generation of legislators who will fight for justice. If we fail, then we can expect the worst. One thing is clear: We cannot wait to get involved.

Your Civil Justice PAC is the political arm of GTLA. We have received a huge number of requests from candidates for contributions, and we need your help now.

Please contribute now. Click here for a quick and easy form with everything you need to make a contribution. Make whatever contribution you feel comfortable doing, but please do something.

Sincerely,
Marc Howard, Chair
Civil Justice PAC, Inc. of GTLA

Mark Your Calendar!

July 29-31

Auto Torts Workshop

Location: Hilton Sandestin Resort

City: Destin, FL

October 1

Fall Workshop

Location: Mansion on Forsyth Park

City: Savannah, GA

November 11

Nursing Home Workshop

City: Atlanta, GA

December 10

Holiday Workshop

Location: St.Regis Hotel

City: Atlanta, GA

GTLA's Blog & Website
Your GTLA website, at www.gtla.org, hosts the trial calendar, document bank, member directory and more. GTLA's blog at www.georgiajustice.blogspot.com keeps the net up-to-date with Civil Justice happenings.

Georgia Trial Lawyers Association

3350 Centennial Tower
101 Marietta Street
Atlanta, GA 30303

Phone: (404) 522-8487

Fax: (404) 522-3705

About Us

Since 1956, GTLA has worked tirelessly to ensure that everyday citizens, Georgia families and small businesses are never deprived of their constitutional guarantee of access to true justice. The Mission of GTLA is simple: We are dedicated to protecting the Constitutional promise of justice for all by guaranteeing the right to trial by jury, preserving an independent judiciary, and providing access to the courts for all Georgians.