Michigan Association for Justice explained

The Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ), formerly the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA) is a professional association of over 1,400 plaintiff's attorneys and staff, with offices in Lansing, Michigan.

MAJ provides members with professional networking, online listserves, a data bank of relevant court documents and legal experts, and a member directory. The organization also provides an extensive continuing legal education (CLE) program in locations throughout Michigan. Additionally, MAJ's Lansing-based government affairs staff lobbies legislators and state agencies to advance a pro-civil justice legislative agenda, intended to preserve and enhance the rights of injured people.

MAJ states that it "promotes justice and fairness for injured persons, safeguards victims' rights--particularly the right to trial by jury--and strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety."^[1] It provides information and professional assistance to its members. It is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. The MAJ is an affiliated member of the American Association for Justice.

History

Past presidents

• 1945 - 49 Samuel Charfoos (d)
• 1949 - 53 Hon. Theodore R. Bohn
• 1953 - 55 Benjamin Marcus (d)
• 1955 - 56 Carl Gussen (d)
• 1956 - 57 James A. Markle (d)
• 1957 - 58 Saul M. Leach
• 1958 - 59 Duane S. Van Benschoten (d)
• 1959 - 60 I. Goodman Cohen (d)
• 1960 - 61 D. Charles Marsten
• 1961 - 62 Dean Robb
• 1962 - 63 Max Dean
• 1963 - 64 George L. Downing
• 1964 - 65 Lee C. Dramis (d)
• 1965 - 66 Howard Silver
• 1966 - 67 James E. Burns (d)
• 1967 - 68 Cassius E. Street
• 1968 - 69 James W. Baker (d)
• 1969 - 70 Eugene D. Mossner
• 1970 - 71 Irving Kroll
• 1971 - 72 Morton E. Schneider
• 1972 - 74 Harry M. Philo
• 1974 - 75 George Bedrosian
• 1975 - 76 Sheldon L. Miller
• 1976 - 77 James F. Logan
• 1977 - 78 Clifford H. Hart
• 1978 - 79 George M. Maurer, Jr.
• 1979 - 80 Jack H. Bindes
• 1980 - 81 Jeffrey N. Shillman
• 1981 - 82 Paul A. Rosen (d)
• 1982 - 83 George T. Sinas
• 1983 - 84 Beverly Clark
• 1984 - 85 Sherwin Schreier
• 1985 - 86 Nicholas J. Rine
• 1986 - 87 Hon. William B. Murphy
• 1987 - 88 Carl R. Edwards
• 1988 - 89 Charles J. Barr
• 1989 - 90 Sheldon D. Erlich
• 1990 - 91 Barry Waldman
• 1991 - 92 Thomas Hay
• 1992 - 93 Marjory Cohen
• 1993 - 94 Michael Pianin
• 1994 - 95 Dave Getto
• 1995 - 96 Mark Weiss (d)
• 1996 - 97 Richard Skutt
• 1997 - 98 Kathy Bogas
• 1998 - 99 Carol McNeilage
• 1999 - 2000 Barry Goodman
• 2000 - 01 Jules Olsman
• 2001 - 02 Norman Tucker
• 2002 - 03 Alan Helmkamp
• 2003 - 04 Brian Waldman
• 2004 - 05 Michael Pitt
• 2005 - 06 Linda Miller Atkinson
• 2006 - 07 Jesse Reiter^[2]
• 2007 - 08 Robert Raitt^[3]
• 2008 - 09 Judy Susskind
• 2009 - 10 Richard Warsh
• 2010 - 11 Barry J. Gates
• 2011 - 12 Michael J. Behm
• 2012 - 13 Marc E. Lipton
• 2013 - 14 Gerald H. Acker^[4]
• 2014 - 15 Scott A. Goodwin^[5]
• 2015 - 16 Ven R. Johnson
• 2016 - 17 Thomas W. Waun
• 2017 - 18 Brian J. McKeen
• 2018 - 19 Debra A. Freid^[6]
• 2019 - 20 Robert J. MacDonald^[7]
• 2020 - 21 Donna M. MacKenzie^[8]
• 2021 - 22 Ronald K. Weiner^[9]
• 2022 - 23 Stuart A. Sklar^[10]

Membership and governance

The MAJ is currently presided over by President Stuart A. Sklar. He works with the other officers and MAJ Executive Director Steve Pontoni, who oversees the day-to-day operation of the organization. The executive board, which meets throughout the year, is made up of 120 members including all past presidents.

Notes and References

1. Web site: MAJ Mission Statement. www.michiganjustice.org.
2. Web site: Jesse Reiter | Exclusive Focus on Birth Injury. www.abclawcenters.com.
3. News: Business & Professional Memos . 29 April 2021 . The Detroit Jewish News . The Detroit Jewish News Virtual Archives . 31 May 2007.
4. Web site: HUNTINGTON WOODS RESIDENT, GERALD ACKER OF GOODMAN ACKER P.C., ELECTED PRESIDENT OF MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE. June 19, 2013. Huntington Woods-Berkley, MI Patch.
5. Web site: Goodwin . Scott . Scott Goodwin Named President-Elect of the Michigan Association for Justice . www.1888goodwin.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20200929052744/https://www.1888goodwin.com/2013/08/06/scott-goodwin-named-president-elect-of-the-michigan-associate-for-justice/ . 29 September 2020.
6. Web site: UPDATE: MAJ applauds MSU for the firing of Young. Holly. Nobles. www.wilx.com. February 2019 .
7. Web site: Daily Briefs > Detroit Legal News. legalnews.com.
8. Web site: MacKenzie is new president of the MAJ . Michigan Lawyers Weekly . 5 June 2020.
9. Web site: Ronald K. Weiner sworn in as 69th MAJ president . Michigan Lawyers Weekly . 8 June 2021.
10. Web site: Crossroads: New MAJ President Takes Helm at Pivotal Time > Detroit Legal News. legalnews.com.