I would like to expand on the report by Paul Lambert, president of the National Association of Chiropractic Attorneys (NACA), in the January 4, 1991 issue of Dynamic Chiropractic.
I have been a member of the NACA for five years, but the meeting in San Antonio, Texas was the first that I have attended.
On the way to San Antonio from Dallas, I remarked to Wendy Sitrin, my invaluable executive legal assistant, that I didn't think we would be in San Antonio for the entire meeting, because, quite frankly, as a member of the legal profession for more than two decades, I really don't like being around lawyers all that much, and there are darned few that I like on a personal basis.
Wendy said that she was surprised that I was going to attend the meeting at all, knowing my general feelings.
Upon our arrival, we walked into a small meeting room with perhaps 20-25 people, all of whom seemed to be rather pleasant, but I was still skeptical.
Paul Lambert, the moderator, asked each of us to give a brief biographical sketch when introduced, and I suddenly began to realize that this was no "ordinary" group of lawyers.
For one thing, each used the term "we" when talking about chiropractic, an indication that they understand and empathize with chiropractors and the chiropractic profession, an extremely important characteristic of a really good lawyer.
Ed Harker, of the New Jersey Association, and James Harrison, general counsel for the International Chiropractic Association (ICA) have been serving chiropractic since the 1940s, and the stories that they can tell about those days and their wars on behalf of the chiropractic profession would really make your hair stand on end!
Robert L. Hirtle, counsel for the Connecticut Association, serves as executive director of NACA, without pay I might add, and was a driving force in getting together the lawyers who eventually formed NACA. Bob is quiet, unassuming, effective, and utterly devoted to NACA and chiropractic.
Paul Lambert, president of NACA and counsel for the Florida Chiropractic Association (FCA) is, without doubt, one of the finest moderators that I have ever seen, particularly when it comes to getting a bunch of lawyers to work together. I am told by friends in Florida that he, as much as anyone, has helped to make FCA one of the finest state associations in this country.
Mike Kelly, counsel for the South Carolina Association, stated that he is neither Democratic nor Republican, but a "chirocrat," i.e., he can work with anyone who can help chiropractic.
Steven M. Dickson, also referred to as the "Bart Simpson model," counsel to the Kansas Association, is very active in state politics and recently got a verdict against an insurance company, after a 3-1/2 day trial, for non-payment of $1,700 for chiropractic fees, and $12,500 for attorneys' fees. You can rest assured the insurance industry took note of that one!
Steve Elliott of the Ohio Association put together an educational program called "Chiropractors Letting Insurance Companies Know" (CLICK).
John Vos III of the Michigan counsel wanted very much to go to chiropractic college several years ago, but has opted to let his son, who is currently finishing up his pre-chiropractic studies at Michigan State, take on that role. I obviously lobbied long and hard for John to send his son to Parker college!
Aubrey Villines, Georgia Association counsel, told of Georgia Insurance Commissioner Evans who made some very anti-chiropractic statements one day, to which Aubrey replied, "You are going to be known as 'dead meat Evans' after the new election." Aubrey put together a coalition of chiropractors and patients and, for the first time in Georgia history, defeated an incumbent insurance commissioner.
After that first day of meetings, Wendy, who has worked for lawyers in England and the United States since she was 16, commented, "Up until today, I thought that you were the only lawyer who really cared about chiropractic, and I thought that was just because you are also a chiropractor. But these lawyers are different: They are kind, warm, and giving, like the chiropractic profession itself. It makes me realize that there really are some pretty special attorneys out there who aren't in practice just for the money."
Please make certain that each and every chiropractic association and chiropractic college with which you are affiliated has an attorney, and that that attorney belongs to NACA.
NACA is the one place where you will find a combination of intelligence, legal expertise, understanding, and empathy, all used to enhance and improve the chiropractic profession.
For an application, please contact:
Robert L. Hirtle
Rogin, Nassau, Caplan, Lassman, and Hirtle
City Place
Hartford, Connecticut 06103-3460
(203) 278-7480
Rodney M. Phelps, J.D., D.C.
Dallas, Texas
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