More about the American Tort Reform Association

According to its website, the American Tort Reform Organization "was founded in 1986 by the American Council of Engineering Companies. Shortly thereafter, the American Medical Association joined them. Since that time, ATRA has been working to bring greater fairness, predictability and efficiency to America's civil justice system."

The ATRA website says it supports "aggressive civil justice reform agenda that includes:

• Health care liability reform
• Class action reform
• Promotion of jury service
• Abolition of the rule of joint and several liability
• Abolition of the collateral source rule
• Limits on punitive damages
• Limits on noneconomic damages
• Production liability reform
• Appeal bond reform
• Sound science in the courtroom
• Stopping regulation through litigation

Here is a "sample list" of ATRA members:

• 3M
• Advance Medical Technology Association
• Altria Corporate Services
• ASFE
• American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists
• American Council of Engineering Companies
• American Furniture Association
• American Institute of Architects
• American Legislative Exchange Council
• American Medical Association
• American Petroleum Institute
• American Trucking Associations
• America's Blood Centers
• Anheuser-Busch Companies
• Associated Wire Rope Fabricators
• Boeing
• CNA Financial Corporation
• Caterpillar
• Coca-Cola Bottlers' Association
• DaimlerChrysler Corporation
• Doctors' Company
• Erickson Retirement Communities
• General Aviation Manufacturers Association
• Helicopter Association International
• Johnson & Johnson
• Juvenile Products Manufacturers
• Koch Industries, Inc.
• Lovell Safety Management Co.
• Medical Mutual
• National Association of Home Builders
• National Association of Mutual Insurance Co.
• National Association of Shell Marketers
• National Federation of Independent Business
• National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation
• National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association
• New York Blood Center
• PPM Services
• Pennsylvania Medical Society
• Pfizer
• Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America
• Physician Insurers Association of America
• Rio Grande Valley Chamber
• Scandia Family Fun Center
• SeamCraft, Inc.
• State Farm
• Taussig Corporation
• Universal Health Services
• Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America
• Wyeth

Referring article: Cook County a "Judicial Hellhole"? Looking into the claims.