Vested Interest - May 1999 Issue

The President’s Thoughts

Next month I will complete my term as President and turn over the reins of ITLA to Michael J. Reagan. He is an excellent trial attorney whose leadership abilities will be a great benefit to our organization. His swearing-in, however, will break a recent tradition. It will be different without the large screens, and the induction and awards ceremony not competing with a playoff game of the Bulls. We won't have the basketball superstar "M.J.", and will have to be content with the outgoing President "M.J.". However, we will have a legal superstar with the incoming President "M.J."

It has been a very exciting year. Not long after the convention, the campaigns for Governor, Representatives and Senators in the General Assembly began in earnest. We had two visits also from the Democratic Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Richard Gephardt, in his quest to become the next Speaker. The November elections brought not everything we worked for, but we did maintain and, in fact, increase the majority of victim and consumer oriented Representatives in the Illinois House.

The Fall also brought a new effort in the National Program of “Keeping Our Families Safe”. The ITLA Bicycle Safety Program began with a kick-off on the bicycle path along Lake Michigan and has increased in momentum throughout the year. The unfortunate fatal accidents of two young, suburban bicyclists riding without helmets emphasized the importance of our awareness campaign. In all of our areas of concern for safety, elimination of brain injury in biking is one of the most easily attainable. The mere use of a helmet would prevent most of it. We just completed the Chicago Kids Safety Fair in Grant Park which included police bicycle patrols from throughout the state and country and where McDonald’s Corporation joined with us in distributing hundreds of helmets. I think the program does some real positive good for child safety and begins to change the negative image that has been unfairly foisted on trial attorneys, in good measure by adversaries of our civil justice system.

The first issue of the new Trial Journal will be published in the near future. It will contain articles about Discovery and Trial Procedures, Tort Immunity, Ethics and Settlement, Medical Negligence and more, including updates in Workers’ Compensation, as well as the opening statement and closing argument in one of Illinois’ largest verdicts for a plaintiff.

The final word has not been spoken on our legislative year. Issues involving the costs of obtaining medical records, HMO reform with the right to sue, and consumer protection and immunities under Y2K have yet to be finally decided. Reform of beneficiary contributory negligence in wrongful death has passed the General Assembly and awaits the Governor’s action. Reinstatement of the Structural Work Act, despite the concerted efforts of our organization and organized labor, while successfully getting out of the House, did not move forward in the Senate.

We had a great legislative reception in April where half of all the legislators joined us in the traditional, yet casual atmosphere at The Inn at 835, a renovated, landmark building. Two constitutional officers, Secretary of State Jesse White and Comptroller Dan Hynes also joined us. The many ITLA members who attended had an opportunity to meet with legislators from both sides of the aisle in a friendly environment. In the week following the reception, it became apparent that interest in leadership of our organization is very strong when four very capable and deserving candidates appeared before the Nominating Committee, seeking the Office of the Third Vice President.

As an organization, we are very fortunate to have an exceptional staff in Springfield. Headed by our very capable Executive Director, Jim Collins, Assistant Director Linda Benedict, Ed Peck, Paula Gansbauer, Tracey Bohannon and Jody Racey do an outstanding job. My sincere thanks to all of them.

I have enjoyed immensely the opportunity to serve as President of this organization over the last year.

Martin J. Healy, Jr.
President, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association