President’s Message (Continued from page 3)
gram. In March of this year, a training program was held in Baltimore. ATLA lawyers and other experts came from around the country to Baltimore to teach our local attorneys how best to represent the families of the victims. The program, sponsored by MTLA, had approximately 90 attorneys in attendance. Many of our MTLA members are not only assisting local families who were affected by the Pentagon crash, but are also traveling to New York to assist families who lost loved ones or were injured in the World Trade Center disaster. During my year as President of MTLA, other significant changes took place. In January, we were left without an Execu- tive Director. Even before we lost our Executive Director, our staff was already short handed. However, our then Assis- tant Executive Director, Jeffrey Rees, stepped up and did the work of two people for several months until our Executive Director could be replaced. Jeff did not do this job alone. Our other staff mem- bers, Michelle Linck and April Reed, worked very hard and they each deserve our tremendous thanks and gratitude. If we did not have such an exceptional staff, this could have been a very difficult time for the Maryland Trial Lawyers Associa- tion. It would be unfair not to point out the many things that MTLA continues to do well. The Education and Programs Com- mittee co-chaired by Ruth Jakubowski and Evelyn Darden continued to put out the best legal education programs in the state. Congratulations to Ruth Jakubowski on her appointment to the bench of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. We wish her well and will cer- tainly miss her on our Board of Governors. We are also very proud to see two other former MTLA board members appointed to the Circuit Court for Balti- more County and congratulate the Honorable Vickie Watts and the Honor- able Susan Sauder on their appointments. MTLA is very well respected in An-
napolis. Our legislative team has always worked incredibly hard. During the past two years under the leadership of Mitch Lambros and our professional lobbyists, Daniel Doherty, Michael Arrington and Mindy Binderman, our legislative profi- ciency has been taken to an even higher level. I am certain that in the next legis- lative session, we will make great advances. When I first joined the Board of Gov- ernors many years ago, Mo Balser ably led
Summer 2002
Congratulations Once Again to the 2001-2002 MTLA Award Winners
During the Annual Convention and Presidents Dinner held at the Pier 5 Hotel in Baltimore on June 7, 2002, MTLA presented its three (3) annual awards during the program and installation of new officers dinner.
The winner of the President’s Award, awarded by outgoing President Bruce Plaxen,
for his hard work and special service to MTLA during the past year was past president and PAC Chair Dan Clements of Baltimore. The President’s Award is given annually to a member of the Association whose contributions to and work on behalf of the organization during the prior year were above and beyond the usual and are appreciated by the outgo- ing President and deemed especially worthy of recognition. The winner of the prestigious Distinguished Trial Lawyer Award is past president and
ATLA Governor Leonard Orman of Baltimore. Normally, the award is given to the trial lawyer of the year, but recognizing Lenny’s outstanding long term service to the organiza- tion and the causes we espouse, this year the award was made for his distinguished work over the course of his entire career. The Trial Lawyer of the Year Award is bestowed upon the Maryland trial lawyer or team of trial lawyers who have made the greatest contribution to the public interest by trying or settling a case of precedential value— precedential either because it changed the law in a way that is beneficial to Marylanders or has for other reasons “sent a message” to those who might otherwise trample upon the rights of Mary- land citizens.
In receiving the Distinguished Trial Lawyer Award, Leonard Orman was
recognized for attaining and advancing those goals during his entire legal career. The winner of the Civil Justice Award was Trial Lawyers Care, the pro bono organiza- tion set up by ATLA to represent the families of victims of the 9/11disaster. Accepting the award on behalf of TLC was its President Larry Stewart of Miami, FL, a past president of ATLA. The award is given each year to a person or organization which demonstrates a compassion and commitment to keeping Maryland families safe, through advocacy on behalf of Maryland consumers and/or on behalf of those seeking to advance or preserve access to the courts.
the fundraising efforts with boundless enthusiasm and unlimited amounts of energy. It is hard to imagine that anyone could fill the shoes of Mo Balser, but our current fundraising chair, David Albright is a one man dynamo. When David calls on any of you to solicit money, he is sim- ply trying to fund these many great programs and services which we try to provide for our members. Dues alone cannot possibly pay for all of the programs and services provided by MTLA. In addition to influencing legislation and legal issues in Annapolis, MTLA rep- resents and advocates on behalf of the interests of civil justice system with an Amicus Committee that often is called upon to write briefs on some of the most important decisions rendered in the State. Much thanks to Tom Cardaro and the members of his committee. Special thanks to Rick Jaklitsch for chairing our Golf Committee and outing again. Our golf tournament is always a tremendous social and financial success. In addition to her duties as Treasurer, Alison Kohler chaired our Membership Committee this past year and did an excellent job. Den- nis O’Brien, our Editor in Chief, deserves special recognition for the exceptional quality of our Trial Reporter Magazine. Conventions, seminars, golf tourna-
Trial Reporter
ments, Amicus briefs, magazines, new laws in Annapolis and websites do not happen on their own. The Maryland Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors is the hardest working group of people I have ever been involved with. I am proud to have served as their President and want to thank each and every officer and mem- ber of the Board of Governors, each and every member of every MTLA commit- tee and each and every one of our MTLA members that contributes financially or donates time to MTLA. Finally, I want to welcome our new Executive Director, Bob Lembo. Thus far, Bob has shown himself to be an intelligent, hard work- ing Executive Director with tremendous insight.
On a personal note, I want to express my gratitude and thanks to my family, my partner and the associates and staff of my firm.
As I end my presidency of MTLA, I
have no doubt that the organization is in great hands. I am certain that Rob Jenner will be a great President and that MTLA will continue to flourish. Thank you all for allowing me the
greatest opportunity any MTLA member can have— that of serving as your Presi- dent. It is a year I will long remember and cherish.
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