Michigan Association for Justice
The Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ), formerly the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA) is a professional association of over 1,400 plaintiff's attorneys and staff, with offices in Lansing, Michigan.
MAJ provides members with professional networking, online listserves, a data bank of relevant court documents and legal experts, and a member directory. The organization also provides an extensive continuing legal education (CLE) program in locations throughout Michigan. Additionally, MAJ's Lansing-based government affairs staff lobbies legislators and state agencies to advance a pro-civil justice legislative agenda, intended to preserve and enhance the rights of injured people.
MAJ states that it "promotes justice and fairness for injured persons, safeguards victims' rights--particularly the right to trial by jury--and strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety."[1] It provides information and professional assistance to its members. It is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. The MAJ is an affiliated member of the American Association for Justice.
History[edit]
Past presidents[edit]
- 1945 - 49 Samuel Charfoos (d)
- 1949 - 53 Hon. Theodore R. Bohn
- 1953 - 55 Benjamin Marcus (d)
- 1955 - 56 Carl Gussen (d)
- 1956 - 57 James A. Markle (d)
- 1957 - 58 Saul M. Leach
- 1958 - 59 Duane S. Van Benschoten (d)
- 1959 - 60 I. Goodman Cohen (d)
- 1960 - 61 D. Charles Marsten
- 1961 - 62 Dean Robb
- 1962 - 63 Max Dean
- 1963 - 64 George L. Downing
- 1964 - 65 Lee C. Dramis (d)
- 1965 - 66 Howard Silver
- 1966 - 67 James E. Burns (d)
- 1967 - 68 Cassius E. Street
- 1968 - 69 James W. Baker (d)
- 1969 - 70 Eugene D. Mossner
- 1970 - 71 Irving Kroll
- 1971 - 72 Morton E. Schneider
- 1972 - 74 Harry M. Philo
- 1974 - 75 George Bedrosian
- 1975 - 76 Sheldon L. Miller
- 1976 - 77 James F. Logan
- 1977 - 78 Clifford H. Hart
- 1978 - 79 George M. Maurer, Jr.
- 1979 - 80 Jack H. Bindes
- 1980 - 81 Jeffrey N. Shillman
- 1981 - 82 Paul A. Rosen (d)
- 1982 - 83 George T. Sinas
- 1983 - 84 Beverly Clark
- 1984 - 85 Sherwin Schreier
- 1985 - 86 Nicholas J. Rine
- 1986 - 87 Hon. William B. Murphy
- 1987 - 88 Carl R. Edwards
- 1988 - 89 Charles J. Barr
- 1989 - 90 Sheldon D. Erlich
- 1990 - 91 Barry Waldman
- 1991 - 92 Thomas Hay
- 1992 - 93 Marjory Cohen
- 1993 - 94 Michael Pianin
- 1994 - 95 Dave Getto
- 1995 - 96 Mark Weiss (d)
- 1996 - 97 Richard Skutt
- 1997 - 98 Kathy Bogas
- 1998 - 99 Carol McNeilage
- 1999 - 2000 Barry Goodman
- 2000 - 01 Jules Olsman
- 2001 - 02 Norman Tucker
- 2002 - 03 Alan Helmkamp
- 2003 - 04 Brian Waldman
- 2004 - 05 Michael Pitt
- 2005 - 06 Linda Miller Atkinson
- 2006 - 07 Jesse Reiter[2]
- 2007 - 08 Robert Raitt[3]
- 2008 - 09 Judy Susskind
- 2009 - 10 Richard Warsh
- 2010 - 11 Barry J. Gates
- 2011 - 12 Michael J. Behm
- 2012 - 13 Marc E. Lipton
- 2013 - 14 Gerald H. Acker[4]
- 2014 - 15 Scott A. Goodwin[5][better source needed]
- 2015 - 16 Ven R. Johnson
- 2016 - 17 Thomas W. Waun
- 2017 - 18 Brian J. McKeen
- 2018 - 19 Debra A. Freid[6]
- 2019 - 20 Robert J. MacDonald[7]
- 2020 - 21 Donna M. MacKenzie[8]
- 2021 - 22 Ronald K. Weiner[9]
- 2022 - 23 Stuart A. Sklar[10]
Membership and governance[edit]
The MAJ is currently presided over by President Stuart A. Sklar. He works with the other officers and MAJ Executive Director Steve Pontoni, who oversees the day-to-day operation of the organization. The executive board, which meets throughout the year, is made up of 120 members including all past presidents.
References[edit]
- ^ "MAJ Mission Statement". www.michiganjustice.org.
- ^ "Jesse Reiter | Exclusive Focus on Birth Injury". www.abclawcenters.com.
- ^ "Business & Professional Memos". The Detroit Jewish News. The Detroit Jewish News Virtual Archives. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ "HUNTINGTON WOODS RESIDENT, GERALD ACKER OF GOODMAN ACKER P.C., ELECTED PRESIDENT OF MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE". Huntington Woods-Berkley, MI Patch. June 19, 2013.
- ^ Goodwin, Scott. "Scott Goodwin Named President-Elect of the Michigan Association for Justice". www.1888goodwin.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020.
- ^ Nobles, Holly (February 2019). "UPDATE: MAJ applauds MSU for the firing of Young". www.wilx.com.
- ^ "Daily Briefs > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com.
- ^ "MacKenzie is new president of the MAJ". Michigan Lawyers Weekly. 5 June 2020.
- ^ "Ronald K. Weiner sworn in as 69th MAJ president". Michigan Lawyers Weekly. 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Crossroads: New MAJ President Takes Helm at Pivotal Time > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com.