OADC Telephone: (405) 415-7222 |
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| History |
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| The Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel (OADC) was formally incorporated April 8, 1966 by W.J. Otjen, Jr., Enid, John R. Couch, Oklahoma City, Byrne A. Bowman, Oklahoma City, Burton J. Johnson, Oklahoma City, and Elliott Fenton, Oklahoma City. Mr. Johnson, who was then Southwest Regional Vice President for the Defense Research Institute (DRI) was the guiding force in promoting OADC as part of the DRI effort to organize local defense association in every state. The organizational meeting for OADC was held February 5, 1966 at the Downtown Holiday Inn in Oklahoma City. While the list of attendees is missing, it is believed that the initial members of OADC included Mr. Otjen, Mr. Couch, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Fenton, Ben Burdick, Dan Rogers, Jim Poe, Ed Hieronymus, Brian Tabor, Ben Owen, C.D. Northcutt, Chester Armstrong, James W. Shepard, James H. Ross, Alfred B. Knight, E.L. Grigg, Richard D. Gibbon, M. Marcus Holcomb, Ben T. Owen and Carl Robinson. The organization was structured to preserve a balance among the two major metropolitan areas (Oklahoma City and Tulsa) and the rest of the state. Consistent with that objective, the OADC Board of Directors is comprised of three (3) Directors from Oklahoma City, three (3) Directors from Tulsa and three (3) from the state at large, with staggered three year terms to each group. The office of President rotates among Oklahoma City, Tulsa and the state at large and there is a separate Vice President position for each area. The purpose of the OADC, as stated in Article II of its Bylaws, is to bring defense lawyers together through communication and organization, to provide for the exchange of ideas, information, techniques of procedure and court rulings related to defense litigation, to enhance the knowledge and improve the skills of defense lawyers, to elevate the standards of trial practice and work for the improvement of the adversary system of jurisprudence, as well as to promote improvements in the administration of justice and increase the |
quantity and quality of the service and contribution which the legal profession renders to the community, state and nation. The OADC has continued to fulfill its mission statement, serving as an active source of education for lawyers and judges and for the exchange of information and promotion of ideas helpful to the defense of civil lawsuits. The OADC is now comprised of over three hundred attorneys who specialize in defense litigation work. The members serve on OADC committees, including Amicus, CLE, Legislative Strategic Alliance and others. OADC offers its members excellent opportunities to fulfill continuing legal education requirements and share experience and information at CLE programs and at OADC's annual winter, summer and fall meetings. While the winter and fall meetings are held in Oklahoma, the summer meeting is held in a location outside of Oklahoma that provides OADC members the opportunity to secure CLE credits in a relaxing and entertaining atmosphere. Past locations include Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Colinas, Texas and Vail, Colorado. OADC members are active in the committees of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the State Capitol, informing members about the nature and status of pending and proposed legislation affecting the defense practice and assisting state legislators. OADC employs an Executive Director and the Defense Political Action Committee (D-PAC) retains a professional lobbyist to monitor legislation and impact the legislative process. Membership in OADC also provides lawyers with the opportunity to join the DRI, at a reduced price. OADC stays involved in issues of central importance to the defense bar and often supports its members with amicus briefs in the courts. OADC members can remain informed about issues and events through the OADC Newsletter and the website - www.oadc.org. OADC is an active and growing organization. If you are a lawyer who spends a substantial amount of time in defense litigation, you cannot afford not to be a member of the OADC. |
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