Al Meyerhoff
Encyclopedia
Albert Henry "Al" Meyerhoff Jr. (September 20, 1947 – December 21, 2008) was an American
labor, environmental and civil rights
attorney. One of his cases sought to eliminate sweatshop
conditions for workers on the island of Saipan
, a part of the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands
that operates under the jurisdiction of the United States court system.
. He attended the University of Connecticut
, graduating in 1969, and received his law degree from the Cornell Law School
in 1972. He later told the Cornell Web magazine that he had been bullied as a boy, an experience that helped develop within him "an active dislike of the abuse of power".
, a non-profit legal and political advocacy group that promotes the interests of migrant laborers and the rural poor. One lawsuit he filed against the University of California
challenged its practice of promoting farm mechanization research based on the harm it did to family farms and farm workers.
Hired by the Natural Resources Defense Council
in 1981, he became director of its public health program, where he pursued litigation aimed at eliminating the use of certain pesticides. Meyerhoff pursued his effort using an amendment of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
that banned the presence of chemicals that were carcinogenic to animals in processed foods.
Meyerhoff died at age 61 on December 21, 2008 in Los Angeles
, where he lived, due to complications of leukemia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
labor, environmental and civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
attorney. One of his cases sought to eliminate sweatshop
Sweatshop
Sweatshop is a negatively connoted term for any working environment considered to be unacceptably difficult or dangerous. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labour laws may be violated. Sweatshops may have...
conditions for workers on the island of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, a part of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth (United States insular area)
In the terminology of the United States insular areas, a Commonwealth is a type of organized but unincorporated dependent territory.The definition of "Commonwealth" according to current U.S. State Department policy reads: "The term 'Commonwealth' does not describe or provide for any specific...
of the Northern Mariana Islands
Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , is a commonwealth in political union with the United States, occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines...
that operates under the jurisdiction of the United States court system.
Early life and education
Meyerhoff was born on September 20, 1947 in Ellington, ConnecticutEllington, Connecticut
Ellington is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. Ellington was incorporated in May, 1786, from East Windsor. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 12,921...
. He attended the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, graduating in 1969, and received his law degree from the Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
in 1972. He later told the Cornell Web magazine that he had been bullied as a boy, an experience that helped develop within him "an active dislike of the abuse of power".
Career as attorney
He took a $60-a-week job with California Rural Legal AssistanceCalifornia Rural Legal Assistance
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. is a 501 non-profit legal and political advocacy group that promotes the interests of migrant laborers and the rural poor. The organization provides legal assistance in the areas of housing and eviction, public benefits, and educational access...
, a non-profit legal and political advocacy group that promotes the interests of migrant laborers and the rural poor. One lawsuit he filed against the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
challenged its practice of promoting farm mechanization research based on the harm it did to family farms and farm workers.
Hired by the Natural Resources Defense Council
Natural Resources Defense Council
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a New York City-based, non-profit, non-partisan international environmental advocacy group, with offices in Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Beijing...
in 1981, he became director of its public health program, where he pursued litigation aimed at eliminating the use of certain pesticides. Meyerhoff pursued his effort using an amendment of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
The United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act , is a set of laws passed by Congress in 1938 giving authority to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to oversee the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics. A principal author of this law was Royal S. Copeland, a three-term U.S. Senator from...
that banned the presence of chemicals that were carcinogenic to animals in processed foods.
Meyerhoff died at age 61 on December 21, 2008 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he lived, due to complications of leukemia.
External links
- Chemicals: Our Champions, Our Killers --Al Meyerhoff's final article
- Huffington Post --A profile and listing of Meyerhoff's writings for the Huffington Post