The 2021 Shapiro Lecture featuring Bill Groner (LAW '80)

765 Commonwealth Avenue,Boston MA 02215

01 March, 2021

Description

A Lawyer’s Success Paradox from representing 10,000 Ground Zero Responders and Consequent Reflections Bill Groner (BULS ‘80; Adjunct Faculty member 2013-2016) represented ground zero responder heroes exposed to toxic dust in a near decade long litigation called “the most complex tort in US history”. After negotiating a 900+ million dollar settlement Groner found himself in a success paradox. As discussed in the book Bill co-authored, 9/12:The Epic Battle of the Ground Zero Responders (Potomac Books 2019), what he learned relates to the very foundation of lawyers’ roles in society, made ever more critical based upon recent political events. About the Speaker: William H. Groner is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SSAM. Prior, Bill had 35+ years of experience in personal injury and construction law representing personal injury clients as well as insurance and surety companies. During those years Bill participated in hundreds of negotiations involving over One Billion dollars in settlements, with an extensive number of mediations and trials. Bill handled the 9/11 mass tort litigation representing over 10,000 ground zero responders who were exposed to toxins and contaminants post 9/11. He was a principal negotiator in the decade long litigation which resulted in settlements in excess of $900,000,000. During his career, Bill has lectured on topics ranging from mediation to ethics to law firm management. Bill has recently been an Adjunct Faculty member at Boston University School of Law teaching a course for 3 years on the Ground Zero mass tort. He has made numerous radio and TV appearances including 20/20 ABC News, CNN (Worldwide), Good Day NY, Fox, and CBS. Bill has been repeatedly selected as a New York Super Lawyer, characterized as a ‘rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.’ Bill also enjoys the maximum rating available (AV-5.0) from Martindale-Hubbell, which denotes the “highest level of professional excellence.”