Thomas Demetrio Speaks about the History of Corboy & Demetrio and his Prolific Career on “Masters of Trial Law” Podcast
In Episode 4 of the “Masters of Trial Law” video podcast, Corboy & Demetrio Co-founder Thomas A. Demetrio says his greatest career satisfaction has come, not from the $5 billion in verdicts and settlements the firm has obtained, but instead from his pro bono work on behalf of victims of the Sept. 11th terror attacks.
“It gave me a great sense of pride in our country and in our profession, and I was thankful I had the ability to do that, so that’s always going to be number one for me,” Tom said.
The episode features Tom who is interviewed by Corboy & Demetrio Partner William T. Gibbs, whom Tom has mentored. Tom discusses the firm’s history and values, including the importance of mentorship.
“I’ve told you this before in private, and now I’m telling you in public, that the mentorship that you have provided to a lawyer like myself is invaluable, absolutely invaluable. It makes me who I am today,” Gibbs said.
“Certainly you have selected and attracted talent, talented lawyers and staff and talent that wants to stay here and wants to be a part of the commitment to excellence, really that this firm has demonstrated over the years, and I think that commitment to excellence endures and will endure because of mentorship,” Gibbs added.
Tom Demetrio shares that Bill Gibbs and Managing Partner Ken Lumb were recently added as shareholders of the firm as it continues to grow.
Tom, who has practiced law for more than 50 years, expressed optimism about the future of the legal profession, emphasizing the importance of protecting constitutional rights and the need for high-quality lawyers to address emerging challenges.
During the podcast, Bill reads a long list of Tom’s accomplishments that includes obtaining the first 8-figure compensatory verdict in Illinois, being ranked the top lawyer in IL for six consecutive years by Super Lawyers, and never having one of his verdicts overturned on appeal.
In the episode, Tom also discusses a few of his notable cases, including the 1979 DC-10 crash at O’Hare Airport; the plane crash that took the life of singer Jim Croce and crew in Louisiana in 1973; and the federal NFL concussion litigation. Tom talks about his objection to the $1 billion NFL-CTE settlement, calling it inadequate and criticizing lead plaintiffs’ counsel for allowing the exclusion of compensation for any future CTE-related deaths in the terms of the agreement.
Tom discusses the numerous mentors he, himself, has had, including the late Philip Corboy, as well as his friendship with the late famed lawyer, Johnnie Cochran, whom Tom said had invited him and Mr. Corboy to breakfast to discuss his opening an office in Chicago with them.
But it was under the condition of changing Corboy & Demetrio’s name to Cochran’s. “And with that, Corboy, who was chewing on some scrambled eggs at the time, blurted them out all over the restaurant,” Tom said.