The son of a journeyman insulator, Tom grew up on the Southside of Chicago. In college, Tom became a member of the Local 17 Heat and Frost Insulators and he was actually licensed to remove asbestos.
Tom has worked in refineries, coal-fired power plants, and other commercial and industrial facilities and he appreciates that the employees and tradesmen make these places work. Tom has spent the majority of his legal career working on cases involving pipefitters, mechanics, farmers, machinists, carpenters, boilermakers, bricklayers, insulators, electricians, millwrights, HVAC workers, sheet metal workers and roustabouts. As a result, he has a unique appreciation for the exposures endured by workers in numerous industries. Most of Tom’s previous cases involved plaintiffs diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and certain digestive cancers. Now mechanics, gasoline haulers, pressmen, painters, and maritime workers who have developed myelodysplastic syndrome, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and certain leukemias call on him for help.
Tom has always tried to find time to serve the community. He has received multiple awards related to his pro bono service, most recently for representing a prisoner in a civil rights matter. He is currently a board member of Cabrini Green Legal Aid, an organization that provides free legal work for people throughout Chicagoland.
After graduating from Northwestern University, Tom attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he was a member of the Dean’s List. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois and is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the Illinois State Bar Association.
Tom has a unique perspective on toxic tort justice because of his personal history: His dad was exposed to asbestos and other chemicals at work and was later diagnosed with cancer. After a long and painful fight, his dad died of cancer. Tom knows that a lawsuit brings little comfort to those left behind, but does believe that restoring financial stability and hope for the future is a powerful part of justice.
