Gordon’s Story
The Moment That Changed Everything
In the first half of 1977, I was a 27-year-old partner in a conventional Beverly Hills law firm. My focus was on cases like auto accidents and workers' compensation. Then, one day, a tall thin man in his early 60s wearing overalls entered my office. He was a Long Beach Naval Shipyard Worker, recently diagnosed with Mesothelioma, who had roughly six months to live. He wanted me to ensure his family would be provided for. That changed my life forever.
The Rapid Growth of Asbestos Litigation
After that life-changing meeting, I realized this man was not alone; his coworkers needed representation too. He asked if I was willing to consider their representation. I extended my office hours into the night to accommodate them so they would not lose time from work. Within weeks, I had to rent larger facilities to confer with everyone, and within a year, we required the largest room at the Long Beach Convention Center for client meetings.
Deep Dive into Asbestos Research
Dr. Erving Selikoff, the world's preeminent epidemiologist on the hazards of asbestos, became a vital resource for me. I read his groundbreaking book, 'Asbestos Disease,' three times in one week. I attended his intensive seminars and left those meetings armed with invaluable information and connections for the litigation to come.
Representing the Unsung Heroes
Most of my clients were shipyard and tire workers, the unsung heroes of WWII. They were skilled tradesmen—boilermakers, riggers, laggers, electricians. Despite their contributions, they were kept in the dark about the asbestos hazards, even well into the 1980s.
Innovating Legal Strategies
Facing billion-dollar corporations required innovation. One of my contributions was the formation of what I termed “Litigation Projects.” This approach allowed multiple top-tier law firms to collaborate to share expenses and workload, which improved the services we could offer our clients.
A Leading Role in Asbestos Litigation
By the time Johns Manville, the largest asbestos manufacturer, filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection in August 1982, my firm represented 25% of all asbestos cases filed in United States against it. I served on the Asbestos Health Claimants Committee in those New York proceedings and in other asbestos company Bankruptcy cases to follow. These cases ultimately led to the Asbestos Trust Funds we know of today.
Expanding Beyond Asbestos
My firm didn't stop at asbestos. We applied our Litigation Project approach to other serious environmental and health issues. From nuclear radiation fallout in the Marshall Islands to groundwater contamination in California, we've held powerful corporations accountable. The model we pioneered in asbestos cases became a template for fighting other toxic harms.
A Final Note
I still enjoy working, especially by assisting former clients and their families from the asbestos projects. It still makes me feel great to have work that simply helps people. At the last meeting with the first group of clients who received and approved of their settlements, after our final group meeting, I got down from the stage. A line formed. The clients stuck around just to give me hugs. That was one of the best days of my life. It was a pretty long line. There were about 2,000 in the room.
Do You Have a Card Like This?
If you or a loved one have or had a Shipyard or Tire Worker card, it's more than a piece of laminated paper; it's a key to understanding your legal rights, especially amid changing statutes of limitations. Don't let an asbestos-related diagnosis catch you unprepared—your card could be a critical reminder, a piece of the puzzle for securing justice and compensation. You may still have viable rights to pursue.