Most Memorable Case:
Nancy Clay vs. City of Chicago
No other civil injury-death case in my career has stood for the proposition that civil tort litigation can serve as a vehicle for meaningful correction of unsafe practices impacting millions of people. The questions that that case has raised about the need for effective high-rise firefighting procedures, and 911 emergency medical service response, will have significant local and national impact. The correction of systemic deficiencies that led to Nancy's tragic death will make the City of Chicago a safer place to live and work. The introspection taking place because of the firefighting emergency debacle will result in sweeping procedural changes in every major metropolitan community in the country.

Best Personal Moment:
Falling in love with my wife. We knew each other superficially before meeting at a dance where I had brought another date. I was president of my fraternity at the time. I fell head over heels for Joni at the dance, so I made one of the pledges take my date home and I took Joni home. I never dated anyone else after that.

Words To Live By:
Perseverance, sincerity, honesty, commitment, doing your best. The more you give, the more you grow.

Favorite Quote:
"Do the right thing the right way."

I Want To Be Remembered For:
A lot of things. My strong commitment to balancing my personal life with my professional life. Also, it's very important to me to give back some of my many blessings to the institutions that have made my success possible. In many ways I support my profession, my government, my church and a variety of other worthy areas of concern for me as an individual.

It Is Time Lawyers:
Realize that they have to do something about the backlog, instead of using the volume and judiciary as the excuse for growing delays.

The Role Of A Lawyer:
To think with clarity, unimpeded by distracting emotion at times when the client is incapable of doing it.

On Professional Responsibility:
Too many lawyers are treating the law as a business and forgetting about the personalism and high calling inherent in the practice. Yes, there are business dimensions to our work. However, we deal with people when they're most vulnerable. Our professionalism demands that that calling be treated with the highest level of integrity, respect and concern.

The Most Common Shortcoming Of Attorneys:
Failing to be prepared when the case is called to trial.

Advice To Young Lawyers:
Read the Dallas Lawyer's Creed and its emphasis on professionalism and civility. There's no reason to call your adversary a "liar" just because you disagree.

Favorite War Story:
I recently got a verdict for $4.2 million dollars. I pride myself on knowing the value of a case. Indeed, I tell young associates that the hardest part of this business is learning to place the correct value on a case. I received many phone calls after that verdict, most of them were congratulating me. However, those who called and really knew the case were laughing at me because I had only asked the jury for $3 million dollars. So much for my claim of knowing the value of a case!

Legal Writing Tip:
The use of the rhetorical question can be a powerful and persuasive tool. Incorporate the technique wherever possible.

Behind My Back My Friends Say:
It's a good thing he's a lawyer because he's really a lousy driver and he deserves to get a lot of tickets.

Hardest Decision You Have Had To Make As An Attorney:
Whether to leave Corboy and Demetrio and open my own office. In today's environment there's tremendous risk associated with opening up a plaintiffs' contingency fee personal injury practice.

Most Embarrassing Courtroom Experience:
I was trying an intersection collision case. My opponent and I subpoenaed the Streets and Sanitation guy to come in and talk about the traffic light sequence. The plaintiff testified at his deposition that the light was green. The subpoenaed witness told us both that he would come, but he didn't know why we wanted him because there were no traffic lights at the intersection at the time of the accident. We settled the case shortly thereafter.

Recipe For Success:
Positive mental attitude; remembering that the brightest people in law school may not be the brightest practicing lawyers; patience; preparation - always preparation. Most important, supportive wife, family, and office staff. There's no such thing as an indispensable person. Always remember that you can't do it all.

Favorite Spare Time Activity:
Golf and the "family meetings" that I have with my wife, my 16-year old and my 19-year old daughters.

Why Have You Been So Outspoken In Your Opposition To The Tort Reform Movement?
I am so strongly opposed to tort reform because it's an unlevel playing field. Insurance companies, medical societies and manufacturers have a wealth of resources available to promote a certain message. Depending upon your level of cynicism, you can either characterize the message as fair and objective or devious and evil. In contrast, the innocent injured victims don't have the economic ability to evenly fight back, and when their lawyers do it for them, the plaintiff's bar is immediately characterized as being greedy and motivated by self-interest. I think it is so unfair that some corporate sectors of America can make enormous sums of money pedaling unsafe products and then turn around and label the injured individual or a decedent's heirs as charlatans that are attempting to line their pockets. Everyone is in favor of tort reform until they're the one in 100,000 persons injured by a defective product, malpractice or negligence. My sincere hope is that some day there will be a meaningful balance between legitimate victim's rights and legitimate business interests. My naivety tells me it's possible; my cynicism tells me it will be a while before that time arrives.