Trial Magazine

Every year, AAJ works with its caucuses and the state trial lawyers associations to organize lobby days that are vital to AAJ’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. From Mar. 28–29, 40 members of the Republican Trial Lawyers Caucus (RTLC) came to Washington, D.C., to lobby their members of Congress on pro-civil-justice issues.

RTLC members from 23 states met with nearly 100 congressional offices. They encouraged members of Congress and their staff to oppose H.R. 1215, the “Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017”—a bill that would limit the legal rights of injured patients and families of those killed by negligent health care. The bill includes cases involving medical malpractice, unsafe drugs, and nursing home abuse and neglect.

RTLC members also lobbied against H.R. 985, the “Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act”—a bill that would essentially wipe out all employment, consumer, civil rights, and investor class actions.

It is important for trial lawyers to educate members of Congress on issues critical to the plaintiff bar and remind them about the impact of tort “reform” on the civil justice system. Lobby Days is a fantastic way to get involved.

“Lobby Days was one of the best experiences I’ve had through AAJ,” said RTLC Chair Geoff Hamby of ­Rogers, Ark. “Not only was it encouraging to see our caucus put such a robust group together, but it really felt like we made a difference through our meetings on the Hill. I highly suggest every member of AAJ find a way to participate in a Lobby Day in the future.”

For more information about future Lobby Days, please contact AAJ’s Director of State Affairs Patricia Cooley at patricia.cooley@justice.org.