Leaves having led AAJ in a new direction at a critical time for justice in America
(July 19, 2006, Washington, DC)— Kenneth M. Suggs assumed the presidency of the American Association for Justice at a challenging moment for the civil justice system but his labors helped chart a new course for the 60-year-old group, laying a foundation for progress in the years ahead.
Suggs, a principal in the Columbia, South Carolina and Baltimore, Maryland, law firm of Janet, Jenner & Suggs, completed his one-year term atop the world’s largest trial bar during the association’s annual convention in Seattle.
“Trial lawyers owe Ken Suggs a debt of gratitude,” said Jon Haber, chief executive officer of the 56,000-member association based in Washington, D.C. “Ken led us in a new, dynamic direction that ultimately will let people know about the vital role the civil justice system and the law itself play in our society.’’
Suggs assumed the presidency at a difficult time. Corporate special interests, intent on destroying the civil justice system to eliminate accountability and enhance their bottom line, have spent billions of dollars on a propaganda campaign aimed at demeaning trial lawyers.
Under Suggs leadership, AAJ strengthened its communications efforts as well as public outreach to let the American people know what the association stands for – a vital and vibrant civil justice system – while providing information about the multi-national corporations, oil companies and insurance industry intent on doing it harm.
But the record shows Suggs helped move the association forward in other areas as well:
- Under Suggs leadership, AAJ achieved several legislative victories on Capitol Hill despite a problematic political climate. An effort to place caps on damages in medical malpractice cases, unjust to victims of medical errors, failed, as did an attempt to enact legislation favorable to companies that knowingly exposed people to the asbestos, a deadly substance
- Suggs played a crucial role in the enhanced participation of members in Leaders Forum, an exclusive membership category for law firms that fund AAJ’s communications and outreach efforts.He led the development of the National Finance Council, a group with fundraising as its primary focus. As a result of his commitment, tenacity and foresight, AAJ tripled the number of Leaders Forum firms and raised revenue by 43 percent.
- During Suggs’ tenure, New Lawyer membership hit an all-time high, featuring 14,277 members. New lawyer memberships -- attorneys in practice 10 years or less – now represent more than 25 percent of AAJ's membership.
- The U.S. Supreme Court cited an AAJ amicus brief in Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services v. Ahlborn, 126 S.Ct. 1752 (2006), holding unanimously that states are limited in how much they can take from Medicaid recipients' lawsuit settlements while seeking reimbursement for medical costs.
- In another case, In Re: Petition to Amend Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Rule 4-1.5(f)(4)(B), No. SC05-1150 (Fla.), the Florida Supreme Court denied a petition that would have amended Florida's Rules of Professional Conduct. The change would have limited legal fees in medical malpractice cases.
Suggs, 59, long has been recognized as one of the nation’s top trial lawyers. After graduating from Clemson University in 1968 with a degree in economics, the Greenville, S.C. native served four years in the U.S. Navy, including two years in the Vietnam Theater. Following his return from the service, Suggs earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1975 and began practicing trial law.
Among his many honors, Suggs was recognized in 2006 as the "Advocate of the Year" by the
South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center. He also has been recognized as a Fellow of the National College of Advocacy. He served as President of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association in 1981. Suggs was also awarded the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Public Citizen Award in 2002.
And there are other areas in which he is deserving of honors. As a participant in Trial Lawyers Care, Suggs performed pro bono work in behalf of Sept. 11 victims and families. More than 1,000 AAJ members provided free legal representation, including Suggs, who personally represented three families.
“AAJ was lucky to have Ken at the helm of AAJ at such a critical time,’’ Haber said. “We stand proud of his accomplishments.’’
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AAJ, with 60,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad, is the world’s largest trial bar. It was established in 1946 to safeguard victims’ rights, strengthen the civil justice system, promote injury prevention, and foster the disclosure of information critical to public health and safety. Visit http://www.AAJ.org/
