Helping Tornado Victims in Oklahoma

A massive tornado has ripped through a suburb of Oklahoma City, leaving dozens dead and injured. Many AAJ members have emailed, asking how they can help. Here are some suggestions.

Elected officials must ensure that equality is not just an idea, but a reality

Happy National Law Day! This year’s theme is “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All.”

AAJ President Mary Alice McLarty comment on this year’s theme:

“A cornerstone of equality and civil rights in America is the Constitutional right of individuals to have their claims heard by an impartial judge and jury through the civil justice system. This gives all Americans the power and ability to ensure their rights are upheld. As President John Adams said, 'Representative government and trial by jury are the heart and lungs of liberty.’”

Be sure to read AAJ’s full statement and learn more about National Law Day.

AAJ President Named Top 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America

Mary Alice McLarty, AAJ’s president, has been honored by The National Law Journal as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America.  The National Law Journal writes:

Mary Alice McLarty's election last year as president of the American Association Justice made her Public Enemy No. 1 to the forces of "tort reform"—and the prime defender of the right to seek redress in court. The focus for now is in "Take Justice Back," an online campaign targeting government and corporate accountability for preventable medical errors, generic drug labels and more. McLarty, 66, practices law at McLarty Pope in Dallas, is an op-ed contributor to CNN and is frequently quoted in the news media. And she didn't even attend law school or obtain her law license until her mid-30s. How's that for a role model?

Kentucky Nursing Homes Need More Accountability Not Less

Senate Bill 9, which was just introduced in Kentucky, is an alarming effort by the nursing home industry to avoid responsibility and reduce their accountability when caring for our loved ones.

Contrary to the industry proposal, our seniors deserve an unbiased venue in which to make their cases without paying higher costs or increasing the size of our government. 

Please join in this fight to protect those we love living in these facilities. If you live in KY, please call your State Senator today at 1-800-372-7181 and urge them to vote no on SB 9. 

To learn more about SB 9 and its harmful effects, watch the video below and click here. 

SCOTUS to Decide if Corporations Can Grant Themselves Complete Immunity from Federal Laws

 Corporations want a get-out-of-jail-free card for cheating small businesses and individuals

Washington, DC—The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in a case that could provide corporations with unfettered power to evade federal laws by keeping small businesses and individuals out of the courts and forced into a rigged arbitration process. In the case, American Express Co. v. Italian Colors Restaurant, SCOTUS will decide if corporations can force arbitration on small businesses and individuals, even when it can be shown that the cost of forced arbitration would make justice unattainable.

New AAJ Leadership Academy!

AAJ’s Leadership Academy is a new, exciting opportunity for AAJ members interested in developing their leadership skills. The purpose of the Leadership Academy, an initiative of AAJ’s Diversity Committee, is to give AAJ members the skills and techniques needed to make them effective leaders in AAJ and in their communities. Applications are due no later than March 1, 2013. Apply today!

Be sure to leare more here.

Linda Lipsen to discus the web of tort reform

AAJ CEO Linda Lipsen will be a guest on the Ring of Fire radio show with Mike Papantonio this weekend as part of a show entitled, “The Web of Tort Reform.” Be sure to listen in on Saturday, January 12th, from 3-6 PM EST. Ms. Lipsen will address our new online campaign, takejusticeback.com, and talks about how corporations strategically work to undermine your legal rights by limiting access to the civil justice system.

BREAKING NEWS: Senate Passes the SMART Act

The Senate has just passed the SMART Act, which passed earlier this week in the House.  More information to come when it is signed into law.

Please see our statement from the House passage here.

AAJ Response on House Passage of the SMART Act

The House of Representatives has passed the Strengthening Medicare and Repaying Taxpayers (SMART) Act, which was co-sponsored by Reps Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Ron Kind (D-WI).

AAJ President Mary Alice McLarty had this to say:

“This bipartisan legislation is a practical solution that will streamline the Medicare Secondary Payer system to ensure that seniors and persons with disabilities get timely assistance and taxpayers are repaid millions of dollars every year.”

Special Trial Magazine Preview: The web of tort ‘reform’

In lieu of our traditional Trial preview, below is an excerpt from an article in the upcoming December issue of Trial, the flagship magazine of the American Association for Justice (AAJ).  Be sure to read the full article, The web of tort ‘reform,” here.