1960-1969

In 1960, John A. Mason was elected Secretary-Treasurer and volunteered to serve without compensation as legislative representative. He was paid $50 a month as partial payment for the expenses that he would incur in his duties. In July of 1965, the Trial Lawyers held their seminar at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, and 1965 was apparently the first year the Trial Lawyers held their meeting separate from the South Carolina Bar. In August of 1967, the Association hired Carl Dickert as Executive Secretary. Edward Saleeby made the first offer of contributing $50 a month to provide for the expenses of Mr. Dickert, and other members of the Association joined with him. Carl Dickert made an invaluable contribution in increasing the membership of the Association until succeeded by Ken Childs in 1970.

During the 1960's, trial lawyers constantly battled with the Chamber of Commerce and sometimes the South Carolina Bar in blocking attempts that were made by the insurance carriers and industry to reduce the effectiveness of the Compensation Act. One proposal was to allow the Circuit Court to review the factual findings of the Industrial Commission. This was proposed by the South Carolina Bar and successfully opposed by the Trial Lawyers. During the 1960's, the Chamber of Commerce was constantly complaining that compensation costs should be reduced and urged the adoption of the Appeals Boards with the right to review both the findings of fact and law by the Commission. This proposal was also defeated by the Trial Lawyers Association.

Index    The Beginning    1960 - 1969    1970 - 1974 
1975 - 1979    1980 - 1985    1986 - 1989    1990 - 1999 
2000 - Present    Prologue