On behalf of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, I am pleased to serve as your President for 2010-11. I am honored to serve our organization in this role and I am grateful for the excellent Officers and Directors who serve with me. Our immediate past President is Stephen P. Miller. Robert A. Crawford is our President-Elect and John Barringer was elected Secretary-Treasurer. Directors are Sarah Reisner, Bradford D. Box and D. Scott Bennett. Vice Presidents are Lynn Lawyer, James H. Tucker, Jr. and Cate Cunningham. Kathi C. McKeown is our Executive Director.
The Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association is a group of lawyers primarily engaged in civil defense litigation and provides our members with the opportunity to exchange ideas and information on civil defense practice in Tennessee. The law firm of Adams and Reese provides legislative advocacy on behalf of our membership through Gif Thornton and Brad Lampley. There are many issues each year that affect members of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association before the Tennessee General Assembly. Please feel free to contact Gif or Brad with any legislative issues or questions you may have. Additionally, the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association has representation on the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Counsel the IOLTA Committee, the Bench/Bar Committee as well as an appointment of a State Representative to the Defense Research Institute. If you are not already a member of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, I would encourage you to download an application for membership from our website and join.
Our annual meeting and seminar was held at The Peabody in Memphis from September 23-25, 2010. A good time was had by all. In addition to an excellent CLE program, great dining and a great venue, those remaining enjoyed some of Memphis' best Bar-B-Q at The Rendezvous.
The Law Student Chapter at University of Memphis continues to grow. We have instituted a “shadowing” program to pair local defense attorneys with law students so they can attend various trials, motions, hearings or depositions. Additionally the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association recently sponsored a Lunch and Learn in Memphis for TDLA members and the law students.
In the coming months, we will expand the “Lunch and Learn CLE” programs for Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville and continue to present them in Memphis. This is an excellent way to get quick and informative CLE in your community and an opportunity to introduce younger attorneys to the benefits of TDLA. We encourage you to attend these events. As you know, participation and membership is the lifeblood of any successful organization and we need you to encourage others within your firms to apply for membership, benefit from all the TDLA has to offer and have some fun along the way. There are MANY opportunities to serve the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association. If you have the desire to serve, please contact me.
Finally, I look forward to serving as your President and working with your Board and Officers. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any comments, questions or concerns you may have.
Melanie M. Stewart
