Gdla Action Fund Inc

“DUE TO GDLA 0 500”

“The corporation is organized and shall be operated to promote the social welfare, specifically by supporting policies that promote a well- functioning legal system and advance economic success for the state of georgia.”

“Gdla action fund, inc. Is an issue organization that helps the georgia defense lawyers association (gdla) implement its mission, which includes improving the operation of the legal system, eliminating court congestion and delays in civil litigation, promoting fairness and balance in the administration of justice, and increasing the quantity and quality of legal services rendered to the community, state, and nation. To this end, gdla action fund, inc. Has created a legislative action committee, which consists of several members of gdla, and since 2021 has retained a lobbyist to promote its legislative goals in the georgia general assembly. Each year, our lobbyist monitors many bills that are of interest to gdla's members and their clients, and, in consultation with the legislative action committee, he advocates for gdla's position on these bills on a daily basis at the capitol during the legislative session. In 2024, the leadership of the general assembly wanted to focus its litigation reform efforts on two bills, one involving the direct action statute, which allows the insurer of a motor carrier to be named as a defendant in a lawsuit against the motor carrier arising out of a vehicular accident, and one on the statute governing settlement offers in cases arising out of vehicular accidents.gdla supported both bills, and both were enacted.in addition, our lobbyist was involved in negotiations for both bills, and two members of our legislative action committee were invited to participate in a meeting with legislators about these bills. Although the leadership wanted a limited focus on litigation reform in 2024, our lobbyist nevertheless monitored at least a dozen other bills and provided weekly updates to gdla's entire membership about the status and progress of those bills. Our members continued to engage in the legislative process by responding to our requests to call and/or e-mail legislators to support or oppose certain bills, including a bill to reinstate the seat belt defense and a bill to revise the parameters for claims based on allegedly negligent security. These efforts are an effective non-monetary way of participating in the legislative process.”