ATLA awards honor outstanding civil justice efforts.

Telling the world about the power of the civil justice system is part of ATLA's mission. To help spread the word, each year the association recognizes those who have made a difference.

The Steven J. Sharp Public Service Award is presented to attorneys and clients whose cases show how the system can work. The award is named for Steven Sharp, an Oregon man who at the age of 17 lost both arms in a defective tractor hay-baler and whose story helped defeat a federal products liability bill that would have limited the legal rights of all American families.

ATLA's Amicus Award recognizes notable efforts that foster a healthier, safer society. Past recipients include members of Congress and the judiciary, as well as everyday citizens who have had a positive impact on civil justice and safety.

Sharp Award

Attorney Richard Ruggieri of San Rafael, California, and his client, Brandon Maxfield, brought a landmark case against gun manufacturer Bryco Arms. At age seven, Maxfield was shot in the face and left paralyzed below the neck when a defectively designed pistol discharged while being unloaded.

In May 2003, a jury unanimously awarded compensatory damages, finding gun designer Bruce Jennings, Bryco Arms, and distributor B.L. Jennings, Inc., partially liable for knowingly designing and selling unreasonably dangerous and defective products. A California trial court entered a large judgment against all three.

Bryco and Jennings quickly filed for bankruptcy. Jennings relocated his assets to Florida, where he paid $900,000 in cash to purchase a new home and hangar to house his sports cars and aircraft.

Maxfield started a Web site (www. brandonsarms.org/lawsuit.php) to raise money to buy the bankrupt company and turn its remaining inventory of guns and weapons over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to be destroyed. He raised over $500,000, but Bryco's former plant manager outbid him in bankruptcy court. Money for the manager's bid has been traced back to the Jennings family.

The re-formed company, known as Jimenez Arms, makes and sells Jimenez JA-9 pistols that have the same safety defect as Bryco's: a manual safety that must be set to "fire" before the gun can be unloaded. Bryco has yet to provide any compensation to Maxfield. Nevertheless, he and his attorney have captured the attention of the U.S. Congress, the national news media, and the American public at a time when gun industry allies on Capitol Hill are working to prohibit gun lawsuits and shield weapons manufacturers from liability.

Amicus Award

Demonstrating extraordinary judicial independence, the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court of Ukraine ordered a new election during last year's divisive presidential contest in that country after the court found evidence of electoral fraud and intimidation.

Ukraine's young democracy appeared to be in peril after two disputed elections last October and November between Russian-backed incumbent prime minister Viktor Yanukovich and pro-Western candidate Viktor Yushchenko. When the government's Central Election Commission and supporters of Yanukovich claimed victory, riots threatened to split the country.

By the third week in November, the crisis had paralyzed Ukraine, and the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court was asked to step in. After examining the election results and allegations of electoral fraud, it annulled the second round of elections. A new vote was held, and in January, the Ukraine Electoral Commission declared Yushchenko the winner, with 52 percent of the vote.

The Amicus Award recognizes the court's action, which showed the world the importance of a free and independent judiciary to the survival of any civil society.