Steven J. Sharp Public Service Award Recipients

The Sharp Public Service Award is presented annually to attorneys and clients whose cases tell the story of American civil justice and help educate state and national policy makers and the public about the importance of consumers’ rights. This award is named for Steven J. Sharp of Richland, Oregon who lost both arms at the age of 17 because of a defective tractor hay baler. The tractor manufacturer knew one person had been mangled and another decapitated by this defectively designed product. Company executives did nothing, however, even though a small, 70-cent part would have fixed the problem. At the time of Steven's case, legislation was pending that would have barred him from taking his case against the manufacturer to court. He spoke out to show lawmakers how legislation to limit access to the courts would deprive people like him of justice. Steven's case had a positive effect on Capitol Hill and ultimately led to the defeat of this unfair legislation.

2007 Sharp Award Recipients
Brent Coon and Eva Rowe Honored with The Steven J. Sharp Public Service Award
Brandon Maxfield Receives 2005 Steven J. Sharp Award
San Rafael, California attorney Richard R. Ruggieri and his client, Brandon Maxfield, who brought a landmark case against “Saturday Night Special” gun manufacturer Bryco Arms, have been named the winners of the 2005 Steven J. Sharp Public Service Award, the American Association for Justice (AAJ) announced today.
2004 Sharp Award Recipients
Attorney Michael Abourezk, his co-counsels Michael White, Peter Kahana, and Richard Friedman, and their client, Kay Bergonzi, a breast cancer survivor and single mother, recognized for their fight on behalf of all the cancer patients shortchanged by Central States Health & Life Company of Omaha (CSO).
2003 Sharp Award Recipients
Attorneys Glen H. Johnson and Gregory A. Eiesland, Rapid City, S.D, and their clients, Martin, S.D., residents Vernon and Shawnna Gardner, recognized for their roles in pushing for greater patient safety to prevent incidents of medical malpractice.
2002 Sharp Award Recipients
Attorney Laura R. Rose, Martinsburg, West Virginia, and her client -- the village of Blairton, West Virginia -- recognized for their role in ensuring that a multi-million-dollar corporation did not shut off water service to Blairton and remove residents from their homes.
2001 Sharp Award Recipients
Attorney Joe Nicholson was among a group of attorneys recognized for their role in helping to substantially advance the knowledge of the Ford Explorer/Firestone Tire catastrophe that led to the recall of millions of Firestone Tires in August of 2000.
2000 Sharp Award Recipients
Attorney Elizabeth Kuniholm of Raleigh, North Carolina, and her 15 clients involved in a case against an HMO doctor recognized for exposing the exploitative and abusive actions of the physician.
1999 Sharp Award Recipients
Attorneys René Haas and David Perry of Corpus Christi, Tex., and client John Caballero of Victoria, Tex., recognized for their roles in improving safety in the workplace and encouraging responsible corporate decision making.
1998 Sharp Award Recipients
Attorneys Brian D. Monaghan and Sherry Bahrambeygui of San Diego, California, and their client Thomas W. Self, M.D., and attorney Jeffrey P. Foote of Portland, Oregon, and his client Linda McCathern recognized for "making sure that our state and national policymakers fully understand what's at stake when corporations and the medical and insurance industries push for radical liability limits and other changes that limit the legal rights of all Americans."
1997 Sharp Award Recipients
Attorneys Stanley M. Chesley, Terrence Goodman and Theresa Groh of Ohio and client Lola Reinhart, attorney Michael D. Padilla of California and clients Kathy and Scott Olsen, and attorneys John Edwards and David Kirby of North Carolina and clients Sandy and David Lakey recognized for work to "assure that our state and national policymakers fully understand what's at stake when corporations and the medical and insurance industries push for radical liability limits and other changes that limit our legal rights."

Inaugural Award (January 1997)

Attorney Bill Manning of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and his client Steven J. Sharp

Questions? Contact AAJ Communications at 800.424.2725, ext. 8280

The American Association for Justice
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