George J. Barron Interview

What do you like best about your job?

It’s always interesting – boredom has been conspicuously absent for over three decades.

Do you have a favorite quote?

“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” –John Wooden

What has been the biggest case of your career thus far?

A four month jury trial, involving warranty problems on a product after the sale of a business, where the jury verdict awarded my client all of the $7 million it claimed and entirely defeated the opposition’s cross-claim for $50 million.

Any favorite case(s)?

1) the night shift employee turkey bowler (who surreptitiously “bowled” butterballs down a grocery aisle into 10 2 liter Pepsi bottles) who was terminated for cocaine use and thereby cut short his unique athletic career; his lawyer appreciated the noontime breaks in his deposition so she could watch “General Hospital”; 2) the employee fired for theft who actually testified in court that his dog ate the missing receipt; one juror fell off her chair laughing; 3) 5 other employment cases where the salacious facts are not appropriate for prime time (or for publication our our firm’s website).

Do you have generally applicable words of wisdom for clients?

Try to look at the problem from a business perspective even when it’s very personal: Try to walk a mile in the oppposition’s shoes, then analyze and decide on a course of action.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Meet and converse with people I admire professionally (for their accomplishments) and personally (for the way they live their life), e.g., John Wooden and John Madden.