“ I have known Bruce Pfaff for many years and have had a front-row seat to his ex- ceptional commitment to justice, his un- wavering integrity throughout his career and an unparalleled dedication to his cli- ents. Recognizing Bruce is recognizing ex- cellence in every aspect of the profession. Perhaps one of his most remarkable qualities is his dedication to the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. His countless contributions to appellate writings that ad- vance the Rule of Law and the 7th Amend- ment Right to Trial by Jury are remarkable and make the justice system in Illinois one of the best in the nation. His dedication and expertise have earned him a reputa- tion as one of the most respected legal professionals in Chicago and beyond. His commitment to pro bono work does not go unnoticed. He believes in using his legal acumen to support individuals to further justice, and he makes a positive impact on the lives of innocent victims of wrongful conduct. It is a privilege to call Bruce Pfaff my colleague and my friend.”
represent that person.” “
If I think I can’t win at trial, I don’t
Pfaff points to his case in Tazewell County. The reason behind the successful verdict? Pfaff said that he had tried about 40 cases before taking on this one, giving him the experience needed to develop the best case for his client. Pfaff also credited his expert witness, who spoke eloquently and factually about the design defect of the machine that crushed the leg of Pfaff’s client. This ex- pert, Pfaff said, was brilliant but also knew how to speak like a regular person. Pfaff did his own legwork, too. When a local lawyer called him about the ac- cident, Pfaff drove to the hospital room in Tazewell County to speak with the victim. He also drove to the factory where the victim worked and spoke to the foreman there about the accident. The foreman allowed Pfaff to take photos on the factory floor. “In the space of a 12-hour day, I met with two witnesses and investigated the site of the accident,” Pfaff said. “I immediately hired my experts. When I sent one of them my photos and video, he told me I was on the right path. Then we just worked on the case until we got the verdict we wanted. It’s rare to get every- thing you ask for, but that’s what happened here. Some lawyers take cases with the hope of extracting a settlement and are afraid to go to trial. That’s not what I do. If I think I can’t win at trial, I don’t represent that person.” The Tazewell County case is far from Pfaff’s only significant victory. Pfaff, though, says that he has a difficult time singling out any cases as being espe - cially impactful. As he says, his trials are like his children: They are all equal and they all matter.
Robert A. Clifford, Founder and Senior Partner, Clifford Law Offices
Speakers for The Illinois Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), welcoming 180 Chicago public high school students and teachers to Chicago-Kent College of Law for civics education — from left, Jill M. Webb, Honorable Lorna Propes (ret.), Justice P. Scott Neville Jr., Bruce R. Pfaff and Christopher M. Norem. Photo courtesy of ABOTA
62 JURY VERDICT REPORTER • 2024 ANNUAL TRIAL LAWYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS
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