Associate Professor of Law Joan E. Schaffner received the American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section's Andrew C. Hecker Memorial Award on October 27, 2019.
The Hecker Award is given to an individual who consistently demonstrates the qualities of leadership, outreach, enthusiasm, professionalism, and pride in the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section and its accomplishments. TIPS focuses on sharing and cultivating knowledge and leadership on trial practice and critical issues of justice that involve tort and insurance law. Professor Schaffner has been a member of TIPS since 2005.
"I am deeply honored to be the 2019 recipient of the Andrew C. Hecker Award," Professor Schaffner said. "This is truly one of the proudest moments of my life, to receive an award established in memory of a great TIPS leader and a truly remarkable individual."
Andrew C. Hecker (1943-1994) founded Hecker Brown Sherry and Johnson, where he served as Senior Partner. He was chair of TIPS (1988-89) and, the year before he died, was largely responsible for raising the necessary funds to satisfy The Philadelphia Boys Choir's mortgage. TIPS created the Andrew C. Hecker Memorial Award in 1996 to pay tribute to the one lawyer out of its thousands of members across the US, whose outstanding lifetime achievements in the law and the community emulate Mr. Hecker's remarkable career.
"Joan Schaffner has been, and continues to be, an outstanding and enthusiastic leader who continually demonstrates her pride in TIPS through her dedicated work over the years. We are grateful to recognize Joan by bestowing the Hecker Award to her," said Thea M. Capone, TIPS Chair.
Professor Schaffner teaches Civil Procedure, Remedies, and Sexuality and the Law. She is the faculty advisor to Lambda Law, the LGBT student organization at GW Law. Professor Schaffner directs the Animal Law focus area and has presented on animal law panels and conferences worldwide. Her most recent book, An Introduction to Animals and the Law, was published by Palgrave MacMillan in 2011 as part of their Animal Ethics Series. She is a co-author and editor of two books published by the American Bar Association: A Lawyer’s Guide to Dangerous Dog Issues (2009) and Litigating Animal Law Disputes: A Complete Guide for Lawyers (2009).
She is active in various organizations including: past TIPS Councilmember, past Chair and Newsletter Vice-Chair, TIPS Animal Law Committee; founding Chair and past Chair of the AALS Section on Animal Law; and Fellow, Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. In 2013, Professor Schaffner received the ABA TIPS Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award and, in 2018, she received the Excellence in Animal Law Award: Scholarship-Teaching-Service from the Association of American Law Schools, Animal Law Section.
"Throughout my time in TIPS I have been inspired by colleagues who are diligent, dedicated, and professional, who have a great sense of humor and are welcoming and kind, and I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to contribute and inspire others as well. It is a privilege and honor to continue Andrew Hecker's legacy and to work beside you all," Professor Schaffner said. "I look forward to doing so for many years to come."