Gordon: |
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As one of Chicago's leading attorneys, could you comment on
your practice and specialties?
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Dennis:
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My
practice and that of my firm focuses on civil litigation
representing clients in federal and state courts and before
administrative agencies.
A significant percentage of our
work involves serious, catastrophic accidents and personal
injury cases involving ocean, lake and
recreational vessels
and motor carriers. We also represent numerous
transportation entities and their insurers in a variety of
contractual
and insurance related matters. My firm also
handles other general commercial litigation. For a number of
years I also was counsel to an
insurance company that
insured numerous churches and charitable organizations and
represented their insurers in civil cases. |
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Gordon: |
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What motivated you to study law? |
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Dennis: |
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Good
question. I can't really say except that I knew in high
school that is what I wanted to do. I guess you could
say it was a "calling."
It has been an interesting and
challenging journey. |
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Gordon: |
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Were you parents supportive when you made this career
choice? |
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Dennis: |
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Yes-and
very proud I might add. |
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Gordon: |
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OI understand that you also practice maritime law. Could you
give us an overview of the type of maritime cases that you have
addressed in your practice? |
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Dennis:
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That would take a few pages to be complete! In short, I have handled cases
involving seamen injured on vessels, accidents involving recreational
craft and
commercial vessels on the Great Lakes and the Western Rivers, environmental
spills in the waterways, personal injuries involving various
kinds of
watercraft, the list can go on. Perhaps the most notable is a case involving
maritime jurisdiction which went to the U. S. Supreme Court in
1990 (we won). |
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Gordon: |
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When and why did you join
Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish? |
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Dennis:
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1987 after
Janine and I were married. At the time, we lived at Diversey
and Sheridan but stayed on as parishioners after we moved to
where we
now live. |
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Gordon: |
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If you were suggesting to friends that they consider joining
Our Lady of Mount Carmel , what would be your three top reasons? |
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Dennis: |
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The
vitality of the parish in its diversity; the music program;
the many opportunities available for enhancing one's
Catholic religious identity.
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