Are you angry yet? You might remember the movie Network, in which Howard Beale, a television news anchor played by Peter Finch, yells, "I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!" Well, the time has come for the trial bar to be that angry.

Corporate malfeasants manipulate facts and distort arguments to politicize the civil justice system. U.S. News & World Report publishes an editorial calling for tort "reform" based on fabricated cases. Certain senators seek a massive surtax on contingent attorney fees—a measure defeated in the Senate Finance Committee and again on the Senate floor. President Bush may support lower taxes for his wealthy friends, but not for trial lawyers.

Anticonsumer forces in Congress also are attempting to federalize virtually all class actions. Proposed legislation would prohibit state courts’ right to hear class action lawsuits against out-of-state corporate wrongdoers. Asbestos companies seek to abolish the right to trial of dying mesothelioma victims and would require them to apply to an inadequate compensation fund instead. And large, highly profitable insurance companies and drug manufacturers argue that they are entitled to federal preemption of medical malpractice and pharmaceutical products liability claims by people seeking compensation for serious injuries and death.

And there are more attacks to come! Ultimately, this enormous assault on individual citizens’ rights has a simple origin: corporate greed.

I have spoken with many plaintiff lawyers across the United States in the past few months who are upset about these developments. Any lawyer who cares about people should be angry. An old political maxim seems apt for these times: "Don’t get mad—get even."

In ATLA, you have an incredibly strong voice that speaks out to protect the civil justice system. Our association has a disciplined and integrated program—involving grassroots and legislative advocacy, media communication, and research capabilities—that is second to none. But what really makes our organization work is you.

Consider for a moment that on one federal tort "reform" bill alone, at least 457 registered lobbyists work for corporate interests in Congress, according to the Washington Post. Can you fight that? Yes. Imagine 60,000 ATLA members, representing millions of individual citizens, getting involved to preserve the civil justice system. Together, we constitute a monumental force against those who want to drastically restrict our clients’ rights and our ability to represent them.

Speaking out

Tort "reformers" are counting on you to do nothing. Do yourself and your clients a favor: Disappoint them. Here is how you can help.

Key persons. You may have existing contacts with legislators or be willing to reach out to legislators. You may have connections in the media, your local Chamber of Commerce, unions, or other local or national organizations. Your contacts and ability to communicate (re critical in our political battles.

Please get in touch with ATLA’s key-person staff by phone at (800) 424-2725, ext. 543, or by e-mail at kristin.keckeisen@atlahq.org, and let them know that you want to volunteer to help defend the civil justice system.

Membership. ATLA’s strength is its members. I urge you to recruit new ones. You can also play a more active role by upgrading to Sustaining or President’s Club membership, which confers additional benefits and qualifies you for a special listing in the ATLA Membership Directory.

To obtain membership applications for your colleagues, or to upgrade your current membership status, please call ext. 611 or e-mail help@atlahq.org.

The Leaders Forum comprises ATLA’s law firm members, including several hundred of the leading trial firms in the United States today. Leaders Forum members are listed in a special section of the directory, are eligible for additional free memberships,±and enjoy special benefits at our conventions. I strongly encourage you to consider adding your firm to the Leaders Forum; membership helps your firm, your clients, and ATLA.

Please call ext. 382 or e-mail leaders.forum@atlahq.org for more information.

ATLA PAC. Our political action committee supports candidates who believe in the civil justice system.

Join the thousands of your colleagues who are already members of ATLA PAC by calling ext. 670 or e-mailing atla-pac@atlahq.org today.

ATLA leaders and staff are ready to help you fight for civil justice. Tell them, "I’m mad as hell, and I want to get involved."

David S. Casey Jr.