On behalf of the more than 1230 members of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, I welcome you to our web site. We are a diverse group of lawyers, from law firms and towns, large and small. We are all united in our mission-to bring together lawyers of Alabama who devote a substantial amount of their professional time to the defense of civil cases in order to:

(1) exchange information, ideas, techniques and court rulings relating to the defense of civil litigation;

(2) become better lawyers;

(3) promote and maintain the highest standard of ethical and professional conduct;

(4) support and work for the preservation and improvement of the adversary system of jurisprudence; and

(5) improve the administration and quality of justice; and

(6) promote fellowship among our members.

Now in its 43rd year, the ADLA has a distinguished past and has played a significant role in the formation of similar defense organizations in the southeastern United States. In 1964, Tommy Parker (Montgomery), James Clark (Birmingham), Paul Brock (Mobile), Ralph Ford (Huntsville), Alto Lee (Dothan), Clarence Simmons (Gadsden) and Bibb Allen (Birmingham) met at Tommy Parker's home in Montgomery, Alabama to discuss forming a defense lawyer association. Shortly thereafter, the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association was formed and began publication of the Journal. It is humbling to me to review the list of ADLA Past Presidents, because it reads like a veritable "Who's Who" of lawyers in the State of Alabama.

Through the years, the Journal has been a vital part of the organization's framework, and many lawyers have donated time and effort to write quality legal articles for members of our organization. A review of the Journal over the years reveals interesting information about the role of the ADLA in connection with the formation of other state organizations, as well as ADLA's strong ties to DRI from an early point. At one of the first meetings in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1965, Jim Ghiardi, the Executive Secretary of DRI, made a presentation. Kraft Eidman, President of the International Association of Insurance Counsel (now the IADC), made a presentation. Lawyers from Mississippi attended the 1965 meeting, looking for guidance in the formation of their own organization, and a year later, in 1966, lawyers from Tennessee gathered in Biloxi to meet with ADLA and the newly-formed Mississippi Defense Lawyers group. Once again, DRI was present in 1966 as Samuel J. Powers of Miami, Florida delivered a presentation.

In the third year of ADLA's existence, defense lawyers from both Georgia and Florida met with our group for the purpose of organizing their own associations. These early meetings continued and eventually came to be known as the "Quad States Meeting." For over 20 years Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee had an annual meeting at various places within the southeast. Don Pierce (Mobile) served as Convention Chairman the entire time. This practice was discontinued upon the formation of the DRI Southeast Region, but today the Alabama, Georgia, and Florida associations continue to host their counterpart officers and directors at their annual meetings. In addition, we engage regularly with our sister associations in Mississippi and South Carolina.

We are proud of the ADLA's heritage and of the leadership role it has taken in the formation of other defense organizations. This role has not gone unnoticed. The ADLA was honored by DRI and awarded the 2005 Rudolph A. Janata Award for the most outstanding state and local defense organization ("SLDO") in the country.

The coming year will be another exciting one for the ADLA.

Our Young Lawyer's Trial Academy takes place August 2-4, 2007 at Cumberland School of Law. The Trial Academy has for many years provided members with unparalleled instruction in trial skills. I am very pleased to report that the ADLA Board of Directors voted to rename our Trial Academy the "ADLA Bibb Allen Memorial Trial Academy." Bibb was a founder of the ADLA, served as its President, and was always an ardent supporter of this organization. He also loved interaction with younger members of the bar. Bibb passed away on March 17, 2007, and we could not think of a better way to honor his legacy and contributions to the ADLA.

From September 27-30, 2007 we will host our Fall Meeting at the Amelia Island Plantation in Florida. As always, we will have excellent CLE and networking opportunities. But this year we have an added bonus: the Alabama v. Florida State game will be on September 29 in Jacksonville, and Auburn and Florida will play that same day in Gainesville. To get everyone ready for the games, Terry Bowden will be our luncheon keynote speaker. Terry was the 1993 Coach of the Year and has been a college football TV and radio analyst since leaving Auburn. You don't want to miss the Fall Meeting!

As always, we expect a strong contingent of officers and members to attend the DRI Annual Meeting in Washington from October 10-14, 2007. I hope you will join us.

Our innovative Deposition Boot Camp will take place again in March 2008 at Cumberland. This program has achieved national recognition, and several other SLDO's have asked ADLA to help them create similar programs. Just as with the Trial Academy, I encourage you to sign up early for this program.

From June 19-21, 2008, we will have our Annual Meeting at the Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin, Florida. I hope you will join us for this family-friendly and informative meeting.

It is a great time to be a member of the ADLA! I encourage you to seek 100% participation by lawyers in your firm and to get involved in the work of the organization. Membership services include the excellent Alabama Defense Lawyers Association Journal, published biannually and read extensively by the defense lawyers and judges of our State. We also provide an expert witness database and clearing house which is now completely paperless and e-mail based. The ADLA Amicus Curiae Committee is available to submit appellate briefs on issues of vital interest to our members and clients.

The ADLA Board of Directors is engaging in strategic planning to ensure that the ADLA continues to meet the needs of its members and the mandates of our founders. If any of you have any suggestions, please don't hesitate to let me know at bbarze@balch.com. I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming meeting and to another great year for the ADLA.