ABM former counsel David Straus dies

January 17, 2012 -- David Straus, ABM's former Washington counsel, postal expert of 20-plus years and former partner at Thompson Coburn LLP, lost his battle with cancer on Jan. 15.

Straus fought and won many battles on behalf of the b-to-b industry. Among them: In 1995, the U.S. Postal Service proposed a reclassification plan that would split the Periodicals class in two, drawing an arbitrary line between large- and small-volume publications. This plan would have caused a 20% rate increase for most ABM member publications. And in 2004, Time Warner and several allies filed a complaint with the Postal Rate Commission that the Periodical rate design was illegal because it benefited smaller-volume publications, those of ABM members. Straus’s efforts were integral to achieving a successful resolution to those and other issues.

Much of Straus’s earlier work for ABM was limited to postal rate issues and regulation compliance. Later, he was active in lobbying for the CAN-SPAM Act, which regulates commercial e-mail, as well as defending members against fax lawsuits.

Tom Minogue, managing partner at Thompson Coburn LLP, said, "David's career with us was truly first-rate in every respect. He led our Washington office as managing partner for many years, and served in that role with skill, grace and a wonderful sense of humor. He chaired our Utilities Group immediately upon joining us in 1997, and played a key role in it becoming an integral part of our firm. He enjoyed the respect and admiration of all of the clients he served, so much so that he received lifetime achievement awards from American Municipal Power of Ohio and American Business Media – both clients he worked with for decades. His passing after a long and valiant fight with cancer is a loss to us all."

A memorial service will be scheduled in the near future. Please contact American Business Media at 212-784-6352 or info@abmmail.com for more information.