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Non-profit

Florida Justice Association Inc

Website:

www.myfja.org/
Location:

Tallahassee, FL
Tax ID:

59-1291221
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(6)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $4,697,342
Expenses: $4,501,569
Assets: $2,853,650
Type:

Business League
Founded:

1972
President:

Curry G. Pajcic

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Florida Justice Association is a trial lawyers’ association based in Tallahassee, Florida. As of 2023, its president was Curry G. Pajcic. 1

Background

The Florida Justice Association (FJA) began shortly after World War II as the “Negligence and Compensation Lawyers of Florida (NACLAF).” In 1961, it reorganized as the “Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers” with a membership of less than 50. It hired its first executive director in 1970, changing its name to the “Florida Justice Association” in 2007. 2 Today it enjoys a membership of more than 3,000. 3

Activities

Florida Justice Association is a membership association dedicated to promoting the interests of Florida personal injury attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants. It aims to do so through continuing education, a jobs board, conferences and networking opportunities, a journal, lobbying, legislative committees, a political action committee (PAC), and a foundation. 1

The FJA’s political activities are wide ranging. Its 17 legislative committees representing specialties in tort, consumer, and personal injury law, review the Florida Legislature’s upcoming “bills and amendments and […] draft FJA bills and amendment language.” 4 As of 2023, four FJA lobbyists were listed on the Florida Lobbyist Registration and Compensation website. 5

The Florida Justice PAC funnels support and expertise to candidates and organizations aligned with its objectives. It is funded by donations and the dues of EAGLE members, a more expensive membership category which also carries greater prestige and privileges. 4 According to Transparency USA, total PAC expenditures in 2022 were $6,062,510 with total contributions of $5,842,719. The PAC contributed to both Democratic and Republican candidates and organizations during that year. 6

The FJA Research and Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to informing Florida’s citizens and elected officials about “legal and civil justice-related issues” in order to counter “misinformation put out by corporate ‘think tanks.’” To do so, it commissions studies, gives grants, and sponsors a university-level Mock Trial Competition. Its “Titans of Trial” podcast series profiles notable Florida trial lawyers. 7

Funding

In 2020, 78.1 percent ($3,669,595) of FJA’s support was derived from program services and 20.7 percent ($972,359) from other revenue. 8

Controversies

A recent Florida tort reform measure, HB 837, signed into law on March 24, 2023, and effective July 1, 2023, 9 highlights a difference in perspective between the Florida Justice Association and tort reform advocates such as the American Tort Reform Association, 10 the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, 11 and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 13 It protects small businesses from paying exorbitant damages as well as placing a cap on medical damages and virtually eliminating the statute that allows a successful litigant against an insurance company to recoup attorney fees. 14

The Florida Justice Association maintains that the legislation removes essential policyholder protections against insurance company unfair practices. It alleges, “In just three short weeks, Florida lawmakers rushed through some of the largest rights-grabbing legislation in recent history. This bill significantly limits the ability of Floridians to hold wrongdoers accountable and effectively gives Big Insurance the keys to our state and our court process.” 15 It views the legislation as a package exclusively drafted by the insurance industry without input from attorneys representing injured plaintiffs or from the injured themselves. 16

People

As of 2023, Curry G. Pajcic was the President of Florida Justice Association. Pajcic received a B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1991 and a J.D. from the University of Florida in 1994. He worked as a prosecutor with the Florida State Attorney’s Office from 1994 to 1997 and joined the law firm Pajcic & Pajcic, a personal injury law firm, in 1998. Pajcic represented the plaintiff in a $1 billion verdict against two trucking companies. 17 18

References

  1. Florida Justice Association. About. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.myfja.org/
  2. Florida Justice Association. Vision, Mission, and History. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.myfja.org/vision-mission-history/
  3. Lawyer Legion. Florida Justice Association (FJA). Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.lawyerlegion.com/associations/civil-justice/florida-fja
  4. Florida Justice Association. Journal. January/February 2023, #630. Accessed April 5, 2023. https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=44235&i=779209&p=8&ver=html5
  5. Florida Lobbyist. Florida Justice Association – 2023 Legislative Detail. Accessed April 6, 2023. https://floridalobbyist.gov/LobbyistInformation/PrincipalDetail/6138?year=2023&Branch=L
  6. Transparency USA. Florida Justice PAC Florida Committee. Accessed April 6, 2023. https://www.transparencyusa.org/fl/committee/florida-justice-pac-60702-pac
  7. Florida Justice Association. Journal. November/December 2022, #629. Accessed April 5, 2023. https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=767399
  8. ProPublica. Florida Justice Association Inc. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/591291221
  9. The National Law Review. “Florida’s New Tort Reform Package: Changes Affect Admissibility of Evidence and Calculation of Medical Damages.” April 10, 2023, Vol XIII, Number 100. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/florida-s-new-tort-reform-package-changes-affect-admissibility-evidence-and
  10. American Tort Reform Association. About. Accessed April 9, 2023. https://www.atra.org/
  11. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform. About. Accessed April 9, 2023. https://instituteforlegalreform.com/

  13. HB 837 seeks to lower the tort liability of companies operating in Florida through changes in how “lawsuits are filed and litigated.” 12 Sexton, Christine Jordan. “Gov. DeSantis signs sweeping legal reforms passed by Legislature.” Florida Politics. March 24, 2023. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://floridapolitics.com/archives/598141-first-bill-of-2023-session-signed-florida-has-new-tort-law/

  14. Sexton, Christine Jordan. “Gov. DeSantis signs sweeping legal reforms passed by Legislature.” Florida Politics. March 24, 2023. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://floridapolitics.com/archives/598141-first-bill-of-2023-session-signed-florida-has-new-tort-law/
  15. Florida Justice Association. Statement from Florida Justice Association FJA President Curry Pajcic Regarding the Passage of HB 837 by the Florida Senate. Accessed April 7, 2023. https://www.myfja.org/statement-from-florida-justice-association-fja-president-curry-pajcic-regarding-the-passage-of-hb-837-by-the-florida-senate/
  16. Ogles, Jacob. “Legislative Session Preview: Florida Justice Association braces for tort reform battle.” Florida Politics. March 7, 2023. Accessed April 7, 2023. https://floridapolitics.com/archives/592785-legislative-session-preview-florida-justice-association-braces-for-tort-reform-battle/
  17. The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic. Trial Attorney Curry Pajcic. Accessed April 9, 2023. https://www.pajcic.com/our-firm/curry-pajcic/
  18. America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators. Curry Pajcic. Accessed April 9, 2023. https://www.top100highstakeslitigators.com/listing/curry-pajcic/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: September 1, 1972

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form 990 $4,697,342 $4,501,569 $2,853,650 $1,227,472 Y $56,017 $3,669,595 $4,903 $923,981
    2019 Dec Form 990 $5,007,328 $4,915,604 $2,771,672 $1,341,267 Y $69,641 $4,257,782 $5,878 $903,115
    2018 Dec Form 990 $4,782,864 $5,098,229 $2,767,023 $1,428,342 Y $82,186 $3,738,773 $7,116 $893,417 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $4,825,194 $4,601,971 $3,132,078 $1,478,032 Y $21,809 $4,083,146 $7,818 $897,735 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $4,855,572 $5,027,575 $3,306,266 $1,875,443 Y $32,129 $3,746,394 $2,554 $1,129,638 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $4,645,343 $4,514,211 $3,273,900 $1,671,074 Y $14,160 $3,664,037 $8,547 $1,147,446 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $4,588,876 $4,484,945 $3,182,962 $1,711,268 Y $34,448 $3,748,833 $23,845 $1,222,866 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $4,316,004 $4,070,721 $3,125,632 $1,757,868 Y $16,429 $3,727,218 $22,599 $1,184,782 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $4,014,054 $3,999,665 $2,899,084 $1,776,603 Y $17,660 $3,276,188 $24,678 $1,285,233 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $4,269,934 $4,191,106 $2,946,422 $1,791,830 Y $19,160 $3,592,399 $17,883 $1,373,887 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Florida Justice Association Inc


    Tallahassee, FL