Vermont Association for Justice

06/23/2025

Access to Justice.
Justice for all.

06/23/2025

June is Social Media Harms Awareness Month—a time to call out Big Tech for putting profits ahead of our kids' health and safety.

This month, we’re speaking out—demanding safer online spaces and real accountability.

05/22/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2025

Contact: Meredith Rogers, [email protected], (771) 241-9680

AAJ Statement Opposing Dangerous AI Provisions in House Republican Reconciliation Package

WASHINGTON, DC—Statement from American Association for Justice (AAJ) CEO Linda Lipsen on passage of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Republican Reconciliation Package:

“We’ve all heard the stories—children being exploited online, vulnerable Americans falling victim to elaborate fraud schemes, and the public having their private information sold and utilized for profit without consent. As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) becomes ingrained in everyday life, we must have safeguards in place to protect children and families from the dangers of this technology. On every level, the AI provisions within the bill passed today fail to keep Americans safe.

“When people are hurt, defrauded, exploited, or discriminated against, those responsible should be held to account, especially when a majority of those who suffer the worst harms are children and older Americans. The AI provisions in this bill would strip Americans of their right to seek justice against AI developers and deployers when their technologies cause significant harm. Simply put, this provision greenlights total immunity for AI companies who profit from hurting and violating the privacy of millions of Americans and must be rejected by the Senate.”

04/11/2025

04/10/2025

https://vtdigger.org/2025/04/09/vermont-supreme-court-associate-justice-karen-carroll-set-to-retire-in-august/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafLwNNeH1PM3LZJxKTYXsj-rCF3oGHNCwBjUausZBJCy-oGdc6q_iTJbIuizA_aem_ndamrRYdQQ-TqFOdZ4x05g

Carroll has served on the high court bench since 2017, when she was sworn into the post by Gov. Phil Scott.

04/10/2025

AAJ Statement on Attacks on Law Firms
April 08, 2025

Washington, DC — The following is a statement from American Association for Justice President Lori Andrus in response to recent attacks on lawyers and law firms:

"The foundation of American democracy is anchored in our judicial system — with our courts, the legal profession, and respect for the rule of law. Whether it's threats made to judges whose decisions don't align with certain interests or punishments doled out to lawyers and law firms for representing certain clients, we must stand against any and all attacks on the legal profession and attempts to penalize or threaten our justice system.

Our Constitution established the judiciary as a separate and equal branch of government, not to reward compliance or punish dissent, but to uphold the rule of law. We strongly oppose any efforts to upend the judicial system and our Constitution."

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The American Association for Justice works to safeguard rights, promote fairness, and strengthen access to civil justice—even when it means taking on the most powerful corporations.
AAJ’s vision is justice for all.

03/17/2025

AAJ Statement on the Rule of Law
"The rule of law is the bedrock of our democracy-and judges play a critical role. Their independence is vital to maintaining the integrity of our legal system and ensuring that our system remains just for all. Now, more than ever, we must defend the rule of law and the judges who uphold it."

07/25/2024

AAJ Statement Praising Bipartisan Legislation to Deter ‘Texas Two-Step’ Bankruptcy Trick
July 23, 2024

Washington, D.C. — Today, American Association for Justice’s CEO Linda Lipsen issued the following statement praising the introduction of the Ending Corporate Bankruptcy Abuse Act (ECBA) by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Representatives Emilia Sykes (D-OH) and Lance Gooden (R-TX). This new, bipartisan legislation would stop corporations from using a little-known bankruptcy maneuver known as the “Texas Two-Step” to evade legal accountability when they hurt or kill people.

“Profitable corporations are filing sham bankruptcies to evade accountability to the Americans they’ve hurt using a legal tactic known as the ‘Texas Two-Step,’” said American Association for Justice CEO Linda Lipsen. “These mega-corporations manipulate the legal system to dodge responsibility for inflicting widespread harm. I applaud Senators Whitehouse, Durbin, Hawley, and Representatives Sykes, Gooden, and Nadler for championing this legislation to reign in this abuse of corporate power.”

The text of the bill can be found here, and a one-page summary can be found here.

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The American Association for Justice works to safeguard rights, promote fairness, and strengthen access to civil justice—even when it means taking on the most powerful corporations.

AAJ’s vision is justice for all.

07/10/2024

“Shields Goliath from David”: House Appropriations Bill Silences Sick Americans
July 09,2024
WASHINGTON, DC — The following is a statement from American Association for Justice CEO Linda Lipsen on the House Appropriations Committee Markup of the Fiscal Year 2025 Interior and Environment Bill, which includes provisions that would wipe out state and local public health protections and immunize corporations from responsibility when pesticides kill and make Americans sick:

"Despite bipartisan state legislatures rejecting chem-conglomerates’ attacks on community protections, the legislation passed today abandons American farmers and families and erases local and state law. By paving the way for Billion-Dollar Bayer and other corporations to silence those made sick by dangerous and deadly chemicals, this bill shields Goliath from the Davids who have been harmed.

“I urge the Senate to reject this measure and stand firm for Americans.”



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The American Association for Justice works to safeguard rights, promote fairness, and strengthen access to civil justice—even when it means taking on the most powerful corporations.

AAJ’s vision is justice for all.

06/04/2024

WE ARE THANKFUL TO OUR PAST LEADERSHIP. 60 Years!
They have shared their unique perspectives, experiences, and knowledge with our members and helped to forge the vision of the Vermont Association for Justice. Their commitment to advancing individual rights and preserving access to justice to all Vermonters had a positive impact on our legal environment.
2023-24 Craig Jarvis
2022-23 Michael Sabbeth
2021-22 Andrew Delaney
2020-21 James Levins
2019-20 Carey Rose
2018-19 Michele Patton
2017-18 James Foley
2016-17 Michael Green
2015-16 Vanessa Kittell
2014-15 Christopher Larson
2013-14 Christopher Maley
2012-13 Beth Danon
2011-12 Emily Joselson
2010-11 Todd Schlossberg
2009-10 Michael Harris
2008-09 P. Scott McGee
2007-08 Sheila Ware
2006-07 Karen Allen
2005-06 Thomas Sherrer
2004-05 Patricia Benelli
2003-04 Jesse Corum
2002-03 Tina Shoup
2001-02 Mark Kolter
2000-01 John Collins
1999-00 William Counos
1998-99 Leighton Detora
1997-98 Rolf Sternberg
1996-97 John Kellner
1995-96 Robert McClallen
1994-95 Patrick Winburn
1993-94 Patrick Biggam
1992-93 Gregory Howe
1991-92 John Evers
1990-91 David Yarnell
1987-90 Jerome O'Neill
1986-87 Daniel Monte
1974-82 Anthony Abatiell
1973-74 Alan Sylvester
1972-73 John Burgess
1971-72 Jose Monte
1965-68 Bernard Lisman

06/03/2024

WASHINGTON, DC — The following is a statement from American Association for Justice President Sean Domnick in response to recent attacks on the American justice system:

“Respect for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary are core principles of our democracy, justice system, and the U.S. Constitution. The everyday Americans who serve as jurors are the lynchpin of our justice system, and the law enforcement officers, judges, attorneys, and civil servants who work every day on behalf of the American people deserve our unwavering support.”

03/04/2024

https://vtdigger.org/2024/03/04/i-want-to-make-a-change-milton-hazing-survivor-advocates-for-change-to-sexual-assault-laws/

Vermont lawmakers are considering a change to state civil laws that allow judges and juries to rest partial blame for sexual assault on the survivor.