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Washington DC 20049
In 1958, the American Association of Retired Persons was created by leaders of the National Association of Retired Teachers (NRTA) who saw a need for a similar organization, national in scope, to "enhance the quality of life for older Americans; to promote independence, dignity and purpose for older persons; to help to understand aging and its ramifications; and to offer older citizens opportunities to plan a way of life designed to obtain maximum enrichment ... and economic status to which they are accustomed and entitled."
Today, AARP and NRTA are affiliated and jointly administered as not-for-profit membership organizations of more than 12 million persons over the age of 55. While litigation is not its major purpose, NRTA routinely files amicus briefs in cases affecting the rights of the elderly. It generally hires outside counsel for this purpose. In Arizona v. Maricopa County Medical Center (1982), AARP and NRTA as amici argued that fee schedules among competing physicians were illegal. In the next term of the Court, the two associations again filed an amicus in Buzqynski v. General Motors (1981), this time urging the court not to allow employers to offset pension benefits by worker's compensation funds. When necessary, AARP also litigates directly on behalf of its members' interests. AARP, for example, has sued insurance companies alleging discrimination against the elderly. AARP also has sued the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to force that agency to issue anti-discrimination regulations.
