CBA Record May-June 2022

35 TH ANN I VERSARY OF THE CBA RECORD

its President. I did not quit drinking during this trial, but I believed then and believe now that it was under control. I was definitely not drunk during the trial. The President of the client did say afterwards that I did not seem to be “at the top of my “game.” The associate later said that I seemed my “usual self.” In any event, the jury came in with a verdict of over $3 million against my client. The story made the newspa pers. I was quoted as predicting the jury verdict will be set aside by the trial judge. Four months later it was. Several partners came into my office a few days after the verdict. One of them said, “There were rumors you were drunk during the trial.” I denied it with extreme aplomb and suggested they talk to the others involved in the trial. They left. I was alone. I felt like General Lee just before he surrendered to General Grant. Actually worse. When the Civil War ended for Lee he could begin his life anew. Suddenly I could foresee a day when I would be drunk at a trial or at the office or the Deb would have finally lost her patience and out the doors of both office and home I would go. Either or both of two powerful and invincible forces – the Deb and the Firm – would at last be compelled to withdraw from me the basic elements of my life: my marriage, my children, my job and maybe

even my profession. To protect these ele ments, I only had to do one thing – join the “program” recommended by LAP and the Deb. To save and perhaps restore my life I did it in June of 1985 and haven’t imbibed a drop of alcohol since. What It Is Like Now I retired from Mayer, Brown & Platt as of January 1, 1995. I was delighted to be permitted to stay on as “Senior Counsel.” I keep reasonably busy doing good works and some AAA arbitrations. I attend many “program” meetings. As they say in the “program,” I am “joyous, happy and free.” In July 1999, the Deb and I celebrated our 44th Wedding Anniversary. Our family has grown. It now consists of two daughters with husbands and a total of six children and a son with a wife and three children. Our third daughter is engaged, and the marriage will be in October. They all live in the Chicago area and support themselves with real jobs. We see every body regularly and vacation together each year in the North Woods. One of the joys from the “program” is helping others to free themselves from booze and join the genuine and happy gang. A related and much more important joy is a better life with your family. On my fifth anniversary of sobriety, I happened to be driving somewhere with

Debbie. Out of the blue she said, “The last five years have been the best five years of my life.” On my tenth sobriety anniversary she cooked a grand dinner for some “program” friends and updated the sentiment for the last ten years. If I continue working the “program,” I have some reason to believe I’ll hear that her best years have been updated to fifteen in June 2000. And besides, and finally, my nine grandchildren are prettier, smarter and better behaved than yours! The Lawyers’Assistance Program(LAP) is a non-profit organizationwhosemission is to assist lawyers, judges, and law stu dents with substance abuse, addiction, andmental health issues, protect clients from impaired judges and lawyers, and to educate the Illinois Legal Community about addiction and mental health issues. LAP is 100%confidential for both the client and the referrer and is offered at no cost to participants. Learnmore at illinoislap.org.

Calling all CBA member artists and photographers. If you have an original work that would make a great cover for a future issue of the CBA Record, let us know! Artwork or photograph must be an original work and you must be able to provide a high-resolution image suit able for printing purposes. Submit your work for consideration to CBARecord@ chicagobar.org.

22 May/June 2022