by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
Attorney Tom Edwards’ work with the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers extends his advocacy beyond the courtroom to the halls of the Florida Capitol.
As one of the AFTL’s top lobbyists, Edwards spends about two months out of the year in Tallahassee where his job is to insert a trial lawyer’s perspective into the legislative process.
Edwards sees the AFTL’s role as a counterbalance to the pro-business crowds roaming the Capitol during the legislative sessions. It’s in that arena that the AFTL engages in an ongoing tug of war with business interests over consumer rights and corporate liability, he said.
“The way the sausage is made in Tallahassee, you have insurance carriers and the various chambers of commerce constantly advocating to change the rights of consumers,” said Edwards. “Those interests are typically very well-funded, but there’s very few advocacy groups working for consumers. The AFTL stepped to the forefront to fill that void.”
Liability is the currency of the high-stakes game between the AFTL and business advocates. The corporate community typically looks to shed it, while the AFTL tries to shore it up.
The give-and-take was on display in last year’s debate over nursing home legislation. Nursing homes were complaining that their liability exposure was making it difficult to get insurance. The AFTL contended that the liability was essential to keeping the homes accountable to their patients.
As often happens, the debate ended in compromise. Nursing home patients lost their legislative right to attorney’s fees. In exchange, the homes were required to enhance their staffs.
Nursing home legislation is just one area of Florida law with which Edwards must be well-versed to perform for the AFTL. Edwards is preparing this year for legislative debates over hurricane and car insurance, medical malpractice reforms and HMO rights.
He credits his broad-based experience as a litigator with providing him the background to intelligently discuss the varied issues that arise during the legislative year.
“Week to week, I’ll handle just about every issue for the Academy,” he said. “In the morning, I might be discussing medical malpractice. In the afternoon it might be construction. It makes for busy days.”
The AFTL tracks every word of legislation proposed in a given year. The Academy employs a full-time staff to comb through every page produced in the Legislature, looking for legislation with the potential to impact consumers.
The bills that make it out of the Legislature’s committees are then tracked as they work their way through the Legislative session. The AFTL makes its case on targeted bills throughout the session. Edwards said the process “builds to a crescendo” as the session draws to a close.
“The last two weeks get fast and furious, it’s basically a dawn ‘til dawn job at that point,” he said. “Last year was extraordinary. We had a number of bills under consideration until 11 o’clock, right up until the session shut down. We’re all on pins and needles wondering how things are going to work out.”
Edwards’ lobbying responsibilities have grown as he has moved up the AFTL’s leadership ladder. During 15 years as a member, Edwards has gone from rank-and-file member to committee member to committee chairman and now serves as the Academy’s secretary. His current trajectory puts him on course to take over as treasurer next year, then president-elect before taking over the presidency in 2009. But Edwards isn’t taking those steps for granted.
“If I’m challenged, I’ll have to win an election. Each step of the way I’ll have to earn it,” said Edwards. “I want to continue to achieve good things for the Academy and the state’s consumers.”
If his ascendancy continues, Edwards would continue Jacksonville’s legacy at the Academy’s head. Jacksonville trial lawyers Chester Bedell and Perry Nichols helped found the Academy in 1961 and past presidents include W.C. Gentry in 1985, Wayne Hogan in 1992 and Howard Coker in 2002.
“Jacksonville has a proud tradition of producing high-caliber litigation lawyers,” said Edwards. “We have a long history as one of the finest trial bars in the state on both sides, plaintiff and defendant.”
Since its founding in 1961, the AFTL’s membership has grown from 50 lawyers to about 3,800 today. In addition to its lobbying duties, the AFTL focuses on developing effective trial lawyers through Continuing Legal Education courses and law school programs.