Mission Statement
Taking cognizance of the changing law and the new techniques necessary for the defense of products liability litigation, a group of highly experienced trial attorneys recognized the need for a professional organization which would maintain, enhance and promote the knowledge and skills of its members in this area of the law. As a result, the Trial Attorneys of America was founded in 1969.
Membership is limited to 200 trial attorneys who devote a substantial portion of their practice to the defense of product liability litigation and to corporate counsel who work primarily in that area.
Membership is by invitation only upon the recommendation of a member.
If you are primarily engaged in the defense of product liability litigation and would like to be considered for membership, contact our Executive Secretary who will refer your inquiry to a member in your area to discuss membership with you.
Membership Services
TAA Directory
Through the TAA directory member attorneys have a ready reference to counsel throughout the continental United States, Alaska and Puerto Rico who can undertake or assist in the defense of product liability lawsuits.
Recognition
Membership distinguishes an attorney as one who is recognized by his peers as a trial lawyer or corporate counsel who is knowledgeable and skilled in the defense of product liability litigation.
Loose-Leaf Service
The TAA “loose-leaf service” provides members with bulletins on recent decisions and other items of interest to defense counsel. As product liability legislation is adopted, our members are kept apprised of these new laws.
Expert Witnesses
TAA operates as a clearing house for information on expert witnesses – both those used by the defense and those frequently called by plaintiffs.
Cabbages & Kings
“The time has come the Walrus said to speak of many things, of shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings”.
TAA WAA
Beginning with the Annual Meeting in 1995, each year one of the members receives the prestigious Workers Achievement Award (TAA WAA) in recognition of his or her contribution to the work of TAA. The past recipients of the award are:
1995 – Tom Lynch (New York, NY)
1996 – * Kevin Condron (Chicago, IL)
1997 – Fred Aebi (Portland, OR)
1998 – Frank Daily (Milwaukee, WI)
1999 – * Terry Crebs (St. Louis, MO)
2000 – Joe Pomeroy (Fon du Lac, WI)
2001 – Kemp Morton (Huntington, WV)
2002 – Ellen Cohen (Boston, MA)
2003 – Craig Nelson (New Orleans, LA)
2004 – David Canter (Los Angeles, CA)
2005 – * Joe Daly (Philadelphia, PA)
2006 – Frankie Colon-Pagan (San Juan, P.R.)
2007 – Richard M. Leslie (Miami, FL)
2008 – * Paul Leitner (Chattanooga, TN)
2009 – John T. Wagener (Chicago, IL)
2010 – Joseph P. H. Babington (Mobile, AL)
2010 – Louis A. Lehr, Jr. (Chicago, IL), TaaWaa Superstar Award
2011 – Carrie L. Palmer (Oklahoma City, OK)
2012 – Anita Modak-Truran (Ridgeland, MS)
2013 – R. Todd Gaffney (Des Moines, IA)
2014 – Joel M. Funtowitz (Lisle, IL)
2015 – Craig F. Lowther (Springfield, MO)
2016 – Richard T. Coyne (Cleveland, OH)
2017 – Paul A. Dominick (Charleston, SC)
2018 – Melissa Dorman Matthews (Dallas, TX)
2019 – Les Katona, Jr (San Antonio, TX)
2022 – Stephen G.A. Myers (New Orleans, LA)
2023 – Jennifer L. Steinmetz (Cleveland, OH)
2024 – Jennifer L. Steinmetz (Cleveland, OH)
* Deceased
Member News
At the 2016 Board meeting Frank Daily of Milwaukee, Wisconsin was awarded a plaque honoring him as a Director Emeritus for his many years of service as a member and director of TAA.
At the 2016 Annual meeting Francisco J. Colόn-Pagán, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, a previous TAA WAA recipient, was awarded a bronze oak leaf cluster for his TAA WAA in recognition of his outstanding performance in the 2016 membership program. Frankie sponsored 11 new members.
Past Presidents
George E. Bushnell, Jr. 1971-1989
Louis A. Lehr, Jr. 1990-2008
Craig Robert Nelson 2009-2011
Thomas P. Lynch 2011-2013
R. Todd Gaffney 2013-2015
John T. Wagener 2015-2017
Joseph P.H. Babington 2017-2019
Carrie L. Palmer 2019-2022
Paul A. Dominick 2021-2022
Anita Modak-Truran 2022-2024
Officers
Melissa Dorman Matthews – President
Stephen G.A. Myers – Vice President
Michael C. Zogby – Secretary
Les Katona, Jr. – Treasurer
Directors
Richard T. Coyne
Donald R. Parshall, Jr.
John J. Powers
Jennifer L. Steinmetz
Claire C. Weglarz
Kimberly D. Young
Directors Emeritus
Joseph P.H. Babington
Kevin E. Condron
Frank J. Daily
David F. Grimaldi
R. Kemp Morton
Ronald L. Reid
Harry A. Short, Jr.
R. Todd Gaffney
Executive Administration
Louis A. Lehr, Jr. Executive Director Emeritus
John T. Wagener Executive Director
Kathleen A. Hanus Executive Secretary
Susan Cirignani Executive Secretary Emeritus
Event Photos
Publications
“Lessons Learned in Three Decades as National Coordinating Counsel”
By: Scott Dickens
“Defending Class Actions Of Indirect Purchaser”
By: Melissa Dorman Matthews
“A Disruptive Technology: How Will 3D Printing Alter the Products-Liability Landscape?”
By: Stephen G.A. Myers, Judd S. Day and Richard J. Underwood
“The Impact of Plaintiffs’ Lawyer Advertising on Mass Tort Litigation”
By: Stephen G.A. Myers and Rustin Silverstein
“Who Resolves Class Arbitrability?”
By: David A. Reif
CAN A PARTY ETHICALLY INFLUENCE THE INTERNET IN ANTICIPATION OF JUROR MISCONDUCT,
By: Brian N. Johnson, Amanda M. Cialkowski & Benjamin C. Johnson.
CALIFORNIA PRODUCTS LIABILITY LAW: A PRIMER
By: David H. Canter, Kevin P. McNamara, Michael E. Jenkins & Julia Gower
Executive Assistant: Vanessa Flores
TRIBAL COURT JURISDICTION
By: Charles E. McNeil
Executive Assistant: Vanessa Flores
LITIGATION OF PRODUCTS LIABILITY CASES IN PUERTO RICO
By: Franciso J. Colón-Pagán, assisted by Francisco E. Colón- Ramírez, and Rocío Ramos-Santiago