SIDEBAR Winter 2019-2020 - 28

MONTGOMERYBAR.ORG

SIDEBAR FEATURE

Hon. Mason Avrigian
Named Trial Lawyer of the Year
By Seth D. Wilson, Esq., President, Trial Lawyers Section

O

n November 13, 2019, before
a packed house of trial lawyers,
judges, and family, the Trial
Lawyers Section of the Montgomery Bar
Association presented The Honorable
Mason Avrigian with the 2019 James P.
Fox Trial Lawyer of the Year Award. I
had the honor of presenting the award
while Judge Avrigian's contemporary,
William Pugh IV, Esq., provided
insight and anecdotes regarding Judge
Avrigian's early trial practice and time
on the bench. Judge Avrigian graciously
accepted the award and spoke of his
deep appreciation for the bar association,
fellow trial lawyers, and family. Judge
Avrigian and the Trial Lawyers Section
were honored to host members of the
family of James P. Fox, Esq., for whom
the award is named, including his widow
Angela, sister-in-law Lois, and nephew
Craig.
Hon. Mason Avrigian was a most
deserving recipient of the award as he
has been a pillar of the Montgomery
County legal community for more than
50 years. Upon graduation from Temple
University Law School in 1959, Judge
Avrigian went into private practice in
Montgomery County. For the better
part of the next two decades, he was an
esteemed trial lawyer representing both
plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety
of cases. He gained considerable acclaim
handling condemnation proceedings as a
Special Assistant to the Attorney General
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
In 1977 Judge Avrigian ascended to the
bench of the Montgomery County Court
of Common Pleas where he served with
distinction until 1984.
Since leaving the bench in 1984, Judge Avrigian has made
immeasurable contributions to the Montgomery County legal
community outside of the courtroom. He is a Past President
of the MBA, Past President of the Montgomery County
Inns of Court, and a Delegate of the House of Delegates of

28 SIDEBAR

the Pennsylvania Bar Association for
more than 35 years. Judge Avrigian
has deservedly been a frequent award
recipient, including recognition as one of
the Best Lawyers in America since 1987
and a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since
2002. In 2004, he received the Henry
Stucker Miller Award from the MBA for
his leadership in community service.
Judge Avrigian is probably best
known for his immensely successful
career as a neutral mediator and
arbitrator. In the more than three
decades since he left the bench,
Montgomery County Trial Lawyers have
continually placed their trust in Judge
Avrigian to resolve cases before trial. As
the preeminent neutral in Montgomery
County, Judge Avrigian has unparalleled
skills. On the one hand, he is a people
person who is able to identify with all
who appear before him. On the other
hand, he is a true legal scholar who
adeptly deciphers complex legal issues.
Litigators appearing before him for
alternative dispute resolution readily
describe him as intelligent, caring, fair,
and respectful. He has mediated and
arbitrated thousands of disputes thereby
freeing up trial lawyers to handle more
cases.
The James P. Fox Trial Lawyer of the
Year Award recognizes excellence both
inside and outside the courtroom. The
late James P. Fox left a lasting legacy
throughout our legal community. He
was a renowned, passionate litigator who
earned the respect of his peers. Like
James Fox, Judge Avrigian has made
unique contributions to the trial lawyers
of Montgomery County. In fact, it would be hard to conclude
that there is anyone who has done more for trial lawyers in this
county over the past 35 years than Mason Avrigian. He has
undoubtedly earned the respect of our legal community and the
honor of being recognized as our Trial Lawyer of the Year.


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SIDEBAR Winter 2019-2020

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