New Speaker Added!

Get Healthy—See Marco Borges, Trainer to the Stars and Author of Power Moves, Discussing How to Get in Shape and Stay There

1:00 pm–2:00 pm
Hilton San Francisco
Continental 6 (Ballroom Level)

Colson Hicks Eidson presents Marco Borges, world-renowned Exercise Physiologist. Borges has spent the past sixteen years teaching people how to lead healthier lives and achieve what they once thought impossible. His innovative, accessible, and highly effective approach to fitness has made him one of the most sought-after experts in the industry. His full-body transformative health programs have been successfully applied to everyone from severely obese individuals to top professional athletes, business moguls and entertainers. Marco writes a regular fitness column for the Miami Herald and has been featured in numerous other publications. He has developed extremely successful group fitness programs for both adults and children. Through his passion for people and communicating a healthy lifestyle, Marco continues to fight the obesity epidemic one person at a time.

Event sponsored by Colson Hicks Eidson.
Open to all attendees.

Convention Preview Brochure is Now Online

Click here for a preview of the educational programs, featured speakers, and more for the Annual Convention.

Deadline for Tour Sign Up Extended to July 3

There is no end of ways to enjoy the Bay Area. Take in a tour of one of the world’s most beautiful cities, ride the ferry over to explore the history of Alcatraz, enjoy the Wine Country’s lush vineyards, get a behind the scenes look at the famous AT&T Park including the players-only areas and then go on to cheer on the San Francisco Giants to victory . This is a land that is world-renowned and the beloved destination of savvy travelers from all over.

The tour program for the AAJ 2009 Annual Convention is now open. Visit http://www.justiceannualconvention.org/ for more details and to register.
We hope you enjoy the beautiful San Francisco Area and we look forward to seeing you in July!

Tour Summary:
Saturday, July 25—San Francisco City Tour and Alcatraz
TIME: 11:00 am–6:00 pm
COST: $79.00 per Person (Ages 12+); $69.00 per Person (Ages under 11)

Sunday, July 26—Behind the Scenes at AT&T Park
Youth Tour
TIME: 11:00 am–3:00 pm
COST: $95.00 per Person

Monday, July 27—Wine Tour
Adult Tour
TIME: 9:00 am–5:00 pm
COST: $200.00 per Person

Tuesday, July 28—Let’s Play Ball!
Family Tour
TIME: 7:15 pm
COST: $67.00 per Person

Major Hotel and Registration Discounts Announced

Colleagues:

I am looking forward to the Annual Convention in San Francisco, July 25–29, 2009—seeing old friends and making new ones. This national gathering of the plaintiff bar comes at a very important time for our association, and to make it easier for you attend, I’m pleased to announce some new cost saving initiatives. Attending the Annual Convention is now even friendlier to your bottom line!

The official convention hotels have drastically reduced their room rates for AAJ members, with some room types being reduced by nearly $50 per night. And for more savings, the $50 early bird registration discount has been extended. The deadline for reserving your hotel room and receiving the registration discount is June 26, 2009. Significant hotel and registration savings are now yours, but you must take advantage of them before the deadline.

I hope these deep savings have now convinced you to join the plaintiff community this summer in San Francisco. The contacts you will make, plus the strategies you will get from business meetings and continuing legal education programs, make this a must-attend event. What’s more, the keynote speakers and social and political events will keep you busy and engaged throughout the convention. Register now and reserve your hotel room before the June 26, 2009 deadline.

Register now for $50 savings at http://www.justiceannualconvention.org/
Reserve hotel room now for best rates and availability

I look forward to seeing you in San Francisco.

Sincerely,

Tom Henderson
CEO

Schedule of Events Announced for Youth Suite

This year's youth suite is focused on sports, sports, sports! Take part in creating and decorating your own team banner, make your own uniforms, decorate foam fingers and other sports memorabilia. Two Wii stations will be set up for Wii sports tournaments where you can show your skill in games ranging from tennis to bowling to soccer.

The suite will also feature daily in-room features such as a acting classes, hip hop dance classes, or take part in a potions and wonders chemistry workshop. There's something for everyone in the AAJ Youth Suite.

Click here for an outline of daily events in the suite.

Fred D Gray to speak during the Civil Rights Section Education Program

Veteran civil rights attorney Fred D. Gray’s legal career began in the midst of America’s modern-day civil rights movement. With a quiet demeanor, strong determination and secret commitment made in college, he vowed, "to become a lawyer, return to Alabama, and destroy everything segregated I could find."

Gray began his legal career as a sole practitioner, less than a year out of law school, and at age 24, he represented Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat to a white man on a city bus—the action that initiated the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Gray was also Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s first civil rights lawyer. This was the beginning of a legal career that now spans more than 45 years.

Gray has been at the forefront of changing the social fabric of America regarding desegregation; integration; constitutional law; racial discrimination in voting; housing; education; jury service; farm subsidies; medicine and ethics; and generally in improving the national judicial system.
Gray is senior partner at the law firm of Gray, Langford, Sapp, McGowan, Gray & Nathanson, which has offices in Tuskegee and Montgomery. In July 2002, he became the first African-American to hold the position of President of the Alabama Bar Association.”Fred D. Gray will be speaking Monday July 27, 2009, at the AAJ Annual Convention in San Francisco, CA, during the Civil Rights Section Education Program

David Frederick to Speak at AAJ Membership Luncheon

The American Association for Justice is pleased to welcome David Frederick as the invited keynote speaker at AAJ’s Membership Luncheon. Mr. Frederick is a partner at Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans, & Figel P.L.L.C. His practice encompasses a broad array of subject matters including the American with Disabilities Act, antitrust, appellate and civil procedure, cable television rules, energy, foreign sovereign immunity, patent, preemption, RICO, riparian rights, securities, transportation, and tribal court jurisdiction. He has argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. He was an Assistant to the Solicitor General at the United States Department of Justice from 1996 to 2001. At the Membership Luncheon you will hear about Mr. Frederick’s recent success in Wyeth v Levine. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Vermont jury’s decision that Diana Levine, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case, could hold the drug manufacturer accountable for the injuries she suffered—which included the loss of her arm—after taking one of Wyeth’s medicines.


Please join your colleagues at the Membership Awards Luncheon to honor winters of the prestigious Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Steven Sharp and the Pro-Bono Award

Governor Tim Kaine , Chairman, Democratic National Committee to speak at the AAJ Leadership Breakfast

The American Association for Justice is pleased to welcome Governor Tim Kaine as the keynote speaker at AAJ's Leadership Breakfast. For nearly twenty years, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine practiced civil rights law in the capitol city of Richmond.

His work representing plaintiffs in fair housing claims won him both local and national acclaim. Governor Kaine's legal career is indicative of a life-long commitment to serving people in need and creating positive change in people's lives through principled pragmatism.

Today, in addition to serving the people of Virginia, Governor Kaine chairs the Democratic National Committee, having accepted that post at the request of President Obama earlier this year.

The Leadership Breakfast is held in honor of the AAJ Endowment, Leaders Forum and President’s Club members, past AAJ Presidents, AAJ PAC Eagles and Friends of Justice.

This event is by invitation only.

NEW LAWYER DIVISION PARTY VENUE ANNOUNCED!

From NLD Committee Chair - Chris Glover

The NLD hosts a fantastic party at every convention and this year’s event at 1015 will be no exception. With a VIP room for sponsors, a DJ upstairs, and a band downstairs in a 20,000 square foot nightclub, this party will be a memorable evening of food, drink and fun.
Open to all attendees.

New Lawyers Division Party
Sunday, July 26
9:00 pm–until
1015

http://www.1015.com/
1015 Folsom Street

Opening Reception to be held at the California Academy of Sciences

Power in Networking
Join in on the AAJ Opening Reception. Meet up with colleagues, members you’ve known over the years, and meet new members. This is an opportunity to mix and mingle while taking in one of California’s most renowned newly renovated museums.

About the Academy -
Nearly 10 years and $500 million dollars in the making, it's finally here. The new Academy is a masterpiece in sustainable architecture, blends seamlessly into the park's natural setting, and is filled with hundreds of innovative exhibits and thousands of extraordinary plants and animals. It's as if the new Academy brings the whole universe under one roof - an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum and more!

Tickets are included in the total convention registration package and are available for purchase.

The official tour program for the AAJ 2009 Annual Convention in San Francisco is announced!

From AAJ Auxiliary President – Elaine Henrickson

There is no end of ways to enjoy the Bay Area. Take in a tour of one of the world’s most beautiful cities, ride the ferry over to explore the history of Alcatraz, enjoy the Wine Country’s lush vineyards, get a behind the scenes look at the famous AT&T Park including the players-only areas and then go on to cheer on the San Francisco Giants to victory . This is a land that is world-renowned and the beloved destination of savvy travelers from all over.

The tour program for the AAJ 2009 Annual Convention is now open. Click here for more details and to register.

We hope you enjoy the beautiful San Francisco Area and we look forward to seeing you in July!

May 1 - save $100 off onsite regsitration

A quick reminder that May 1st is our second registration discount cut off. Save $100 off the onsite registration rate - register today at https://www.justiceannualconvention.org/register_now.cfm

Also - check back at the end of this week for an update on the fantastic tours we'll be offering in San Francisco and updates on the spouse and youth programs.

-Colleen Phalen, Associate Director Meetings and Conventions

JUST ANNOUNCED - SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI TO ADDRESS AAJ 2009 ANNUAL CONVENTION

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), will be the featured speaker at the Opening Plenary scheduled for Saturday, July 25, 2009 at the AAJ 2009 Annual Convention.
Since 1987, Nancy Pelosi has represented California's Eighth District in the House of Representatives. The Eighth District includes most of the City of San Francisco including Golden Gate Park, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, and many of the diverse neighborhoods that make San Francisco a vibrant and prosperous community. Overwhelmingly elected by her colleagues in the fall of 2002 as Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi is the first woman in American history to lead a major party in the U.S. Congress. Before being elected Leader, she served as House Democratic Whip for one year and was responsible for the party's legislative strategy in the House. On January 4, 2007, Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

April 10th Registration Discount Cut Off - Save $150

From Colleen Phalen, Associate Director Meetings and Conventions

Register by April 10th and save $150 off the onsite registration rate. Click here to register now.

Everyone is looking for ways to save in this economy. Save $150 off our onsite registration rate if you register by April 10th. You get amazing value for this price: a year's worth of CLE in just five days, networking opportunities at over 250 events and an exhibit floor full of new products and services to help your practice run more efficiently. Sign up today!

Meeting or Social Event Request Deadline- April 3, 2009

From Jacqueline Barnes, AAJ Convention Manager -

Plans are underway for the San Francisco Convention. The headquarter hotel will be the Hilton San Francisco where the education programs and most events will be held. Meetings and events will also be held at the Hotel Nikko and the Parc 55.

If your organization would like to hold a meeting or social event at the convention, please complete the on line request meeting event form at http://www.justiceannualconvention.org/meeting_request_form.cfm and return it by Friday, April 3, 2009, to my attention. All requests will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Once requests are received you will receive confirmation in writing and will be advised of the location for your event, the appropriate hotel contact person with whom to make all your logistical and catering arrangements, and the suggested audio-visual contact person with whom to make all your audio visual arrangements.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in San Francisco!

A Report from the Field –

Anthony Tarricone, AAJ President Elect

I just got back from pre-convention visit to San Francisco. It’s a great walking city, the views are spectacular. Golden Gate Park and Botanical Gardens are great places to visit. The largest digital planetarium in the world is at the California Academy of Sciences. Restaurants are sensational. Make sure to make time for Napa and a Wine tour. Visit the Ferry Terminal and over the weekend there’s a market with all the local farmers. The food is awesome and there’s wine tastings as well.

The AAJ 2009 Annual Convention has moved!

The AAJ 2009 Annual Convention will now be held in San Francisco, CA on July 25-29, 2009! For more information click here.

Registration is Now Open

Registration for the AAJ 2009 Annual Convention is now open. Click here to register