Presidential candidates at convention join call for strong civil justice system.

AAJ's Fight for Justice Communications Campaign is building on important successes as it looks ahead to continuing its efforts this fall.

The high point of the summer was a special political forum at the AAJ Annual Convention in Chicago, where five Democratic presidential candidates spoke about their commitment to the civil justice system. The candidates included Sens. Joe Biden (Del.), Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), and Barack Obama (Ill.), former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), and Gov. Bill Richardson (N.M.). The communications campaign helped coordinate the event and managed its large and positive press coverage.

In 2006, pro-civil-justice candidates scored major election victories and sent the 2008 presidential hopefuls a clear message: Supporting a strong civil justice system means standing up for everyday Americans. Edwards, although he was speaking for himself, expressed the candidates' shared concern about the war being waged against the civil justice system.

"I see a very concerted, very orchestrated radical right agenda to limit and take away the rights of ordinary people--to limit their access to the courts," Edwards said.

Other highlights of recent months:

Med-mal insurance study. The campaign released a report in late May showing that malpractice insurers are price-gouging doctors and driving up the cost of care. The report faulted malpractice insurers for charging excessive premiums and misleading the public about an alleged "tort crisis." It was produced by former Missouri insurance commissioner Jay Angoff, a leading advocate in the fight to expose anticonsumer insurance company business practices.

Coverage of the report appeared in major trade publications, and the campaign ran an ad in parts of the country where patients' rights to hold wrongdoers accountable are at stake. The ad also appeared in the Seattle edition of USA Today, forcing the Physicians Insurers Association of America to face the report's findings during its annual convention in that city. The ad prompted doctors to ask their insurers where their premiums are going if claims are down.

The communications campaign plans to use similar targeted advertising strategies in the future.

Response to auto safety rules changes. The campaign has seen another long-term project grow in importance as the Bush administration attempts to circumvent the court system via rule changes in federal agencies.

Last spring, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a final rule requiring automakers to equip vehicles with electronic stability control systems (ESC). However, it included language in the rule's preamble that could be interpreted to preempt state tort law. Also, the rule declined to require automakers to include potentially lifesaving rollover stability control devices as part of the ESC systems.

AAJ filed a petition asking NHTSA to reconsider the new rule, saying the agency has the authority to gather data from automakers that could show that rollover stability control devices can help prevent injuries and deaths. It also said the preemption language in the rule was legally incorrect and had been included without proper notice and opportunity for comment. AAJ urged NHTSA to strike the language from the rule.

At press time, the petition was pending.