By: Michael A. Ferrara, Jr., Esq. 

July 1, 1987, was a significant date for New Jersey trial lawyers. For on that date, 38 years ago, ATLA-NJ PAC was formed.   

Up until that time, the various trade unions had their PACs and routinely supported pro-union candidates in Trenton. The teachers also had an effective PAC, but the men and women of NJAJ’s predecessor, ATLA-NJ, had no PAC and, therefore, no seat at the table in Trenton.   

Our immediate goal was to get 100 trial lawyers to commit to donating $300 a month on their credit card. That totaled $3,600 a year per contributor. We made the case that this amount was the fee from one $12,500 case. Through the hard work of many, walking door to door in towns up and down the state, we quickly achieved that goal. We were then able to donate over $300,000 a year to candidates who supported our view of the civil justice system. Within a short time, we were the third largest PAC in the state of New Jersey.    

During these years, through the leadership of Debbie Bozarth, we became an effective voice in Trenton. In the beginning, we spent a lot of time on defense, beating back efforts to curtail our client’s rights in auto, products, and medical cases. In more recent times, we have been successful in helping to get legislation passed to raise the amount of mandatory coverage from $15,000 to $25,000 (and to $35,000 in 2026), get a new bad faith law in the UM/UIM setting, and implement significant new changes to help workers in the workers’ compensation system. That’s just a few of our most recent accomplishments that benefit your clients and you. 

We are currently working on legislation that will have a positive impact in areas such as auto insurance, nursing home care, arbitration agreements, and many more. We are constantly on high alert for any legislation that would roll back our clients’ rights and limit access to the courthouse. While there are dozens of business and insurance lobbyists walking the halls of Trenton, often we are the only voice standing up for those who are injured.

 A major disappointment of mine is that despite the great work we’ve accomplished, we could do so much more, if all our members pitched in and did their fair share. I’ve said many times that your PAC contributions are your union dues. However, many NJAJ members, for reasons that I’ve never understood, refuse to join the PAC, even at the minimum level of $25 a month. I’m ever hopeful that after reading this article, many of you will call headquarters at 609-396-0096 or use this link to contribute at some level. While we’d like you all to contribute $300 a month, it is understandable why some cannot do that. But please, do something at some level. 

 I met with Medford attorneys Ann and Bob Segal last week. They told me how appreciative they were of all the work NJAJ has done for them and their clients over the years. They were among the very first to heed my request for the $300 a month contribution 38 years ago. One of our newest PAC members, Neil Durkin, said that once the limits were raised from $15,000 to $25,000, he immediately saw the added benefit to his clients and called and joined the PAC.

In addition to the Governor’s race, all 80 seats of the General Assembly are on the ballot in June’s primary and November’s general election. Races are more expensive than ever. Those who support our positions, Republicans and Democrats alike, have asked us for our support. 

Please use this link to contribute to the PAC at a meaningful level. We cannot do this without you. Thank you so much for considering this appeal.  

Mike Ferrara is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney and a partner in the Cherry Hill firm of Ferrara & Gable. He is a past president of NJAJ and the founder of ATLA NJ PAC and its successor ATLA NJ LEGAL PAC.