While the world lost a great man and our firm lost a founder, partner, mentor and dear friend with Phil Corboy’s passing on June 12, 2012, his spirit and legacy live on at the firm.
Phil taught us all that there is no substitute for excellence, and that is the approach we all take to the practice of law and the privilege of representing our clients.
Phil cared very deeply about those unfortunate souls who needed a champion in the legal arena. He wanted them to know how much he cared, and he demonstrated his devotion to their cause by making advocacy his life’s work.
Phil was an outspoken supporter of our American system of justice in which every person, rich or poor, white or black, male or female, has the same right to seek justice in our courts in the form of compensation for injuries caused by the negligence of others. Phil recognized that these rights are precious, even to those who may never need to exercise them. Phil was spot on. The idea that individuals would support tort reform movements designed only to provide greater profits for corporations and insurance companies at the expense of the injured individual reflects that many Americans do not realize the importance of what they have. Since I have been at Corboy & Demetrio, I have been amazed by the number of outspoken supporters of tort reform who have called us to represent them or a loved one when they have been injured, and their eagerness to exercise the rights they have campaigned to extinguish. Funny how attitudes change when the victim is you.
Thank the Lord for Phil Corboy. He knew all along the sanctity of our American system of justice, and we are all the beneficiaries of his efforts.