The American Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame Inducts Legendary Trial Attorneys...

On Thursday, March 19, 2009, five of America's most powerful and legendary trial attorneys were inducted into The American Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame. Selected for this prestigious award were attorneys Bobby Lee Cook, Stanley Preiser, Gerry Spence, Morris Dees and Fred Levin.
 

These celebrated honorees were inducted into the Hall of Fame and presented with an award during The American Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon held in conjunction with the Mass Torts Made Perfect and Torts Made Perfect Seminar at the Encore Wynn Las Vegas on March 19 and 20.

 

With over 500 in attendance, attorneys and guests were moved by the genuine emotion and well spoken humor expressed in the acceptance speeches of these distinguished inductees. The Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame is the highest national honor and recognition of civil plaintiff and criminal defense trial lawyers in America.

 

Bobby Lee Cook of Summerville, Georgia, has tried thousands of cases in his sixty years of trial practice. Over 300 of these cases have been murder trials in more than 40 states and several countries. In accepting his award, Mr. Cook told the audience, "I've learned more from my defeats than from my victories."

 

Fred Levin spearheaded Florida's 1998 class action lawsuit against the tobacco industry by rewriting the Florida Medicaid Third Party Recovery Act. This legislation resulted in a $13 Billion settlement for the state of Florida and was described as "the single biggest blow to the tobacco industry in United States history."

 

Stanley Preiser is known for achieving outstanding verdicts in some of the most demanding and difficult case in his sixty years of trial practice in Charleston, West Virginia. "Try your cases," said Mr. Preiser. "You're going to win more than you think." Mr. Preiser, 81, continues his law practice as Of Counsel with the Romano Law Group in West Palm Beach, Florida.

 

All five attorneys spoke about the pride and gratification they have experienced during their professional career by choosing to become a trial attorney.

 

Mr. Dees is co-founder and chief trial counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, AL. As one of the principal architects of an innovative strategy using civil lawsuits to put violent white supremacist organizations and other hate groups out of business, he has received numerous awards recognizing his lifelong dedication to public service.

 

Mr. Dees expressed thanks "for the people I have represented. They make my life meaningful."

 

Introduced by prominent attorney Geoffrey Fieger, Gerry Spence of Jackson, Wyoming, told the audience, "You are born unique. Don't die a copy. Your personhood is your wealth and you can never be broke."

 

During his legal career, Mr. Spence has had more multi-million dollar verdicts without an intervening loss than any other lawyer in the country. Gerry has never lost a criminal case, and he has not lost a jury trial since 1969.

 

The American Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame was established by The American Trial Lawyer magazine and The American Trial Lawyers Association to honor exceptional civil plaintiff and criminal defense trial lawyers throughout American history. These extraordinary trial lawyers have exceeded the expectations of the public and their peers by clearly establishing themselves, through their practice, as true champions and crusaders for American justice.

 

Those honored by The American Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame have left an indelible mark on the American legal tradition through a lifetime of service to the American public, the Constitution, and the American trial bar.

 

Other historical attorneys and previous members of the Hall of Fame include John Adams, Thurgood Marshall, Melvin Belli, Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. and Clarence Darrow.
 

Phil Corboy

 

 

Richard "Racehorse" Haynes

 

Russ Herman

 

Paul Luvera

 

JB Spence