134. How Can Compassion and Empathy Transform the Practice of Law?

In this podcast episode, Gary introduces Eric Fong, a trial attorney known for his impressive results and compassionate approach. Eric shares his professional journey, including stumbling into the field of law as a public defender. He discusses a challenging case involving a convenience store robbery and how he uncovered a complex corporate structure behind it. Eric and his partner prepared the case meticulously, ultimately winning a verdict of $91 million. They also discuss the qualities of a good trial attorney and the importance of compassion and empathy in the legal profession. A dynamic episode! With decades of experience, over 100 cases tried to a jury with monumental failures and success, Eric uniquely tries civil and criminal cases with equal passion and sophistication. Landmark cases include creating the constitutional right to Intimate Association (Eric protected the rights of low-income housing residents against oppressive “crime control” measures) and his historic $91,000,000 verdict is the largest compensatory damages verdict for one person in Washington State. As George Clinton's lawyer, the iconic funk musician/artist, Eric's unique view into the entertainment industry crafted a result that allowed him to maintain his collection of music as the lead attorney on the definitive copyright case in American jurisprudence. Eric’s passion is to create and move juries in the courtroom, seek out the truth, and deliver justice. He is recognized as an innovator in trial work and the only Washington lawyer to be recognized by the plaintiffs trial bar (WSAJ) and the defense trial bar (WDTLA) for their prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year awards. A teacher of over 17 years at the Trial Lawyers College and a student there for 22, Eric is committed to the grace of continued learning. Eric’s deep friendships and mentors, Gerry Spence, Paul Luvera, Rick Friedman, Nick Rowley, and Bill Barton, gift interchange of thought and offer tapestries of insights that inspire and guide him every day.