1. What was the first job you had?
My first ‘real’ job was as a professional baseball player with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Before that, I did some odd jobs like cutting grass, working in a warehouse, and coaching youth baseball.
2. What’s your proudest moment as a trial lawyer?
I can’t say it’s one moment, but I am never more proud of what I do than when I stand shoulder to shoulder with my client and help get them through their most difficult life experiences. I am very proud to be a member of the trial team that represented members of an under-served portion of our community against a corporation that completely disregarded their presence. I love seeing the satisfaction on my clients’ faces when they realize that we truly care about them and are willing to fight for them when they feel alone.
3. I attribute my success to….
Learning how to deal with adversity at a young age, and not being afraid to fail. I am also extremely thankful to my wife, who is an excellent teammate in helping my career progress to this point. She and my daughter help to keep me balanced and keep things in perspective.
4. What is your most notable verdict or settlement?
I successfully litigated a first-party bad faith case to the point where the defendant insurance company paid my client more than twice their stated policy limits. It was a great day for my client!
5. What is your fantasy job?
I am living it! But, if I had to choose something outside the legal field, I would be pretty cool to have my own hunting/outdoor TV show.
6. What is your guilty pleasure?
A nice fire, good music, and Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.
7. What do you like to do in your time off?
I love to spend time with my family. It is such a pleasure to be my wife’s husband and my daughter’s father. I love to cook for them, and I love to travel with them.
8. What’s your favorite hobby?
Hunting. My favorite game is deer, but I love to hunt anything!
9. What’s one word that describes you?
Competitive.
10. What keeps you awake at night?
Trying to make sure I do everything humanly possible to get the best possible outcome for my clients. I will often wake up with new voir dire questions, or ideas for my opening/closings.
11. What newspaper do you generally read daily?
I really don’t read newspapers. I prefer podcasts, and I would say my favorites are “The Joe Rogan Experience,” and “Who’s Driving Your Car?” My friend and colleague is a host on the “Who’s Driving Your Car?” podcast, and it is really cool to hear his non-legal perspective on life.
12. What advice would you give a young attorney?
Remember that you are fortunate to represent people, not claim numbers or files. They all have stories and we all need to do a better job telling their whole story. Also, the most important thing I have done so far in my career is find a healthy work/life balance. There are some things that I refuse to miss when it comes to my family, and that allows me to focus my time and energy on setting a good schedule/balance.
13. How do you relax?
After a long, sometimes stressful day, I love to turn on some good music and cook dinner for my family.
14. What’s your most embarrassing moment in life?
I have quite a few of them, but I would say it has to be the time I was dancing with my buddy’s grandmother at his wedding. The band was playing “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey and I went in for the air guitar solo, which caused me to rip my suit pants in the process. It was the first song played after the customary family dances, so it ended up being a really long night for me with my underwear hanging out of my trousers. We all still get a good laugh out of it today.
