Update from the General Service Office: RE: Litigation/Manuscript

A.A. World Services, Inc. on November 27, 2017 applied to the New York State Supreme Court to voluntarily dismiss its case related to the 1939 Printer’s Copy Manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous, our Big Book.

Information on the matter was provided to all members of the General Service Conference by an email, today, November 28, 2017 from Greg T, General Manager of the General Service Office of A.A.

The rationale for applying for the dismissal and some additional detail from Greg’s email follows.

“A.A. World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S.). maintained, and continues to maintain, that the manuscript rightfully belongs to A.A.W.S., pursuant to a specific, irrevocable gift that was conveyed by Barry L. In addition, for all of the reasons given by A.A.W.S. in its initial papers in May, temporary restraints were fully appropriate and supported by law, given (among other things) A.A.W.S.’s superior claim to title, the singular nature of the Manuscript, and the impending auction and anticipated removal of the Manuscript from New York.

Since the time that this action was filed, A.A.W.S. has decided that it is no longer in our best interests to pursue this litigation, despite the uniqueness of the document and A.A.W.S.’s clear ownership right. The time and expense of engaging in protracted litigation has become too significant a distraction from A.A.W.S.’s and the General Service Board’s responsibility as the organized service structure of our Fellowship, whose primary purpose is assisting recovering alcoholics.”

Please contact me if you have any questions.
In your service, Joe S., Delegate P67/A47 CNY