David Casey named ATLA president-elect

CONTACT: Sydnie Moore (619) 283-8896
E-mail: Moore2com@aol.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — David S. Casey, Jr. — a senior partner with the San Diego law offices of Casey Gerry Reed & Schenk — has been named president-elect of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s (ATLA), the world’s largest trial bar.

According to Thomas Henderson, executive director of ATLA, Casey is next in line to head up this 56,000 member organization. Casey’s new position was announced at a recent ATLA convention in Atlanta, and he is slated to be named president in August of 2003. The only San Diego attorney currently serving on the ATLA executive board, he is also a member of ATLA’s board of governors and public education committee.

“David has been an outstanding advocate for injured Americans and a leader on many issues in California,” Henderson said. “As an ATLA officer, his expertise and leadership have assisted in shaping ATLA policies that support consumers, workers, and families nationwide.”

A member of the ATLA board since 1984, Casey was especially instrumental during his tenure as vice president last year. During this time, Casey played key role in organizing a moratorium on civil lawsuits related to the events of Sept. 11 and helped develop a Victims’ Fund — ensuring that the victims’ families receive financial relief without expensive and lengthy litigation. The fund was passed into law by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

With his support, ATLA also made a commitment to providing
Pro bono work on behalf of the victims’ families.

According to Mary Alexander, a San Francisco-based attorney who was recently inducted as president of ATLA, “I worked closely with David on behalf
of the people during the 1996 California initiative battles and could not be more pleased that he is ATLA’s president-elect. He and I will be an effective team in the coming year to advance consumer-safety issues and educate the public about the importance of the right to trial by jury.”

A non-profit association headquartered in Washington D.C., ATLA was established in 1946 to safeguard victim’s rights and strengthen the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to the health and safety of the American public.

Casey has spent more than 25 years practicing law. Specializing in serious personal injury, wrongful death and business and consumer fraud cases, he has long been recognized as a top lawyer in his field, and has obtained successful verdicts and settlements for dozens of high profile cases.

A third generation attorney, he has also garnered a number of professional accolades, most recently the San Diego County Bar Association’s “Legal Professional of the Year” award and a Peacemaker Award from the San Diego Mediation Center. In addition, he has received more than 40 accolades from the Trial Bar Association and the “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” award from the San Diego Trial Lawyer’s Association (SDTLA).

He is past president of both the SDTLA and the Consumer Attorneys of California, and has also been inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and is a fellow of the International Academy of Barristers.

The native La Jollan received his bachelor’s degree from Trinity College and was awarded a law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. In 1974, he joined what is now Casey Gerry Reed & Schenk, a law firm his father founded 50 years ago.

Established in 1947, Casey Gerry Reed & Schenk is the oldest plaintiffs’ law firm in San Diego. The firm’s eleven attorneys practice in numerous areas, including personal injury, business torts, medical malpractice, asbestos litigation, maritime law, class action and products liability. The firm is located at 110 Laurel Street in the Banker’s Hill neighborhood of San Diego. For further information call (619) 238-1811 or Contact Us online.