Vested Interest - September 2000 Issue

The President’s Thoughts

The summer has been relatively quite. The legislature has been on summer recess and no major crisis has confronted us so far. This gives us time to reflect on current events and to consider and plan for the future.

Our helmet giveaway program is alive and well. We have donated approximately 500 helmets since the beginning of this year. We all know the importance of protecting our youth from serious head injuries associated with biking, rollerblading and the latest craze, scooters. Hospitals are reporting that injuries associated with scooter use have increased 700% since the beginning of this year. We must continue to do what we can to protect our children from these injuries. The helmet giveaway program, which was in initiated during Martin Healys term and continuing to the present time, is one that we can all take pride in knowing that ITLA is helping from an educational and practical standpoint to show its commitment to the public. Both Marty Healy, for initiating the program, and Mike Reagan, for continuing it through his term, deserve congratulations and our thanks for keeping ITLA focused on its mission.

The Firestone Tire and Ford Explorer fiasco is dominating the news. More than 80 deaths and hundreds of injuries have been associated with the Firestone tire failures in connection with their use on Ford Explorer SUVs. A fight now rages between Ford and Firestone as to who is at fault for these tragic accidents. Firestone is indicating that it recommended 30 pounds per square inch (psi) of inflation in the tires and because Ford reduced that recommendation to 26 psi when those tires are used on its Explorer SUV, that Ford bears some of the responsibility for the injuries and deaths associated with these tire failures.

The U.S. Congress has now become involved and is currently holding hearings to investigate and gather facts concerning this major threat to the publics health and welfare. Of major concern is why recalls of these tires were initiated in foreign countries long before both Ford and Firestone informed the American public and the U.S. governmental agencies of the problems associated with the tires and SUV's. This tragedy establishes as well as anything the importance of the work that we do as advocates of consumer and victims rights. Let us be vigilant and monitor this situation as it unfolds and do whatever we can to meet our responsibility to the public.

The presidential election and elections to Congress and our General Assembly will soon be upon us. I urge all of you to continue to do the work necessary to support those candidates who are sensitive to the interests of consumer and victims rights. Please contact me or our Executive Director, Jim Collins, concerning any important information that you believe should be disseminated to our membership during this election season.

ATLA has determined that an additional governors seat will be assigned to ITLA on the ATLA Board. However, the appointment of that additional ATLA governor will not become effective until May 2001 and the nomination of a person to fill that position will be handled by the Nominating Committee next year.

The ITLA Charitable Foundation is in its final stages of set up. We are now discussing whether there should be a connection between the Charitable Foundation and the Mentor Program, which is in the process of being established. Any suggestions that any of you have concerning the Charitable Foundation or the Mentor Program should be conveyed to either Jim Collins or myself so that they can be given the proper consideration.

The Complaint Book has been finalized and will be available for purchase within the very near future. Any requests for purchase of the Complaint Book should be made to the ITLA office.

We continue to be vigilant with our programs and encourage you to forward any comments or suggestions to Jim or myself.

Remember, Together We Are Strong.

Larry R. Rogers President,
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association