Trial Reporter, Winter 2006

In Memoriam: David S. Shrager by James A. Erisman

David Solomon Shrager, ATLA Presi- dent from 1983 to 1984, finally lost a twelve year battle to cancer on November 28, 2005. He was truly a giant of the organized trial bar and a great friend and mentor to all state trial lawyer associations including the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association. Past presidents of ATLA and lawyers from around the country traveled to Philadelphia on December 1, 2005 to honor his memory.

David was a founding member and

President of the Pennsylvania Trial Law- yers Association and generously gave MTLA the full benefit of that experience and knowledge whenever called upon to do so. His wisdom was unmatched. It can be argued that he was the most ar- ticulate spokesperson of the organized trial bar and he never refused a request to share his wisdom at many MTLA CLE events. He gave us credibility. He taught us how

St. Paul & Biddle Medical Associates/ Pacific Rehab

Toll Free: 888-522-8822 410-685-7790

* Orthopedics * Neurology

* Physical Therapy * Radiology

* EMG Nerve Conduction Studies “No fee for court testimony”

Quality Healthcare providers specializing in the treatment of patients injured in automobile accidents and on the job since the 1980’s.

Main office – Downtown Baltimore

Northwest/Patterson Ave Northeast/Sinclair Lane

( At the corner of St. Paul & Biddle Streets) Bel Air

West Baltimore/Garwyn South Baltimore/Cherry Hill Highlandtown

Loch Raven/Northern Pkwy St. Agnes/Wilkens Ave

Towson/Lutherville Rosedale/Golden Ring/Essex

Parkville/Carney/White Marsh Catonsville

Randallstown Dundalk

Owings Mills/Reisterstown Glen Burnie

Annapolis 38 Trial Reporter Winter 2006

Edgewood Columbia

Laurel

Westminster Frederick

Hagerstown Cumberland

Waldorf/Southern Maryland Temple Hills/Washington Silver Spring/Wheaton

Salisbury Cambridge

to better represent our clients in the court- room. He convinced many of us, who have served on the ATLA Board of Gov- ernors, to become seriously involved in ATLA and work with him and others for the betterment of our trial bar. For all of his contributions, input and involvement in ATLA, he was awarded the most pres- tigious ATLA Champion of Justice Award at the 2005 ATLA convention in Toronto. David was a role model for and an in- spiration to all good trial lawyers. He was a founding member of Trial Lawyers for Public Justice. He fought tirelessly for our public representations, professional pride and the rights of all injured plaintiffs. When the Chief Justice of the United States, Warren Burger, held the legal pro- fession up to public ridicule and contempt with references such as “procurers,” “hired guns,” and “hucksters,” David stood up against him. He took the Chief Justice on in his April, 1984 President’s Page of Trial magazine and concluded by saying:

“Well, Mr. Chief Justice, I dissent and so do the tens of thousands of men and women who constitute the organized Trial Bar of this country. We support that our system of justice is intact and on the right course. We believe that most judges and lawyers are working selflessly, honestly and fairly to mete out justice by implement- ing our system of trial by jury, a dispute resolution format which offers free people an alternative to self-help, terrorism or revolution. We are confident as we can be that the system of trial by jury is an immaculate expression of the democratic process by bringing to bear the conscience and sense of fairness of our citizens in ev- ery community in the land. “The water level in the cup of justice in our society is more than half full and we are painfully aware that it is still partially empty. I suggest that by working together, and lowering our voices, we can make the cup overflow as proud advocates of the greatest system of justice in the world.”

Our profession owed him much and we in MTLA are particularly indebted to him and his generosity. Today we are all much better because of David’s example.

All

trial lawyers have suffered a special loss. He will be missed.



Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8 | Page 9 | Page 10 | Page 11 | Page 12 | Page 13 | Page 14 | Page 15 | Page 16 | Page 17 | Page 18 | Page 19 | Page 20 | Page 21 | Page 22 | Page 23 | Page 24 | Page 25 | Page 26 | Page 27 | Page 28 | Page 29 | Page 30 | Page 31 | Page 32 | Page 33 | Page 34 | Page 35 | Page 36 | Page 37 | Page 38 | Page 39 | Page 40 | Page 41 | Page 42 | Page 43 | Page 44 | Page 45 | Page 46 | Page 47 | Page 48 | Page 49 | Page 50 | Page 51 | Page 52