Background
Gifford, Geoffrey L. was born on November 26, 1946 in Kirksville, Missouri, United States.
Gifford, Geoffrey L. was born on November 26, 1946 in Kirksville, Missouri, United States.
University of Missouri (Bachelor of Arts, 1968), University Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa. University of Michigan (Juris Doctor, 1971), Phi Alpha Delta. Who"s Who in American Law.
Who’s Who in the World.
Who’s Who in America.
Jack Twitty v. American Gage & Machine Company, 105 Illinois.App.3d 455, 434 North.E.2d 493, 61 Illinois.Dec. 340 (1st District, 1982); Eva Ruff, Individually and as Special Administrator of the Estate of Sheldon Ruff, Deceased v. Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 159 Illinois.App.3d 811, 513 North.E.2d 7, 111 Illinois.Dec. 761 (1st District, 1987); John Darrill Connelly v. General Motors Corporation, 184 Illinois.App.3d 378, 540 North.E.2d 370, 132 Illinois.Dec. 630 (1st District, 1989); Shaffer v. Dalrymple, 507 South.W.2d 65 (Missouri Court Appendix 1974); Foster v. Henderson, 538 South.W.2d 910 (Missouri Court Appendix 1976); Kelly v. Franco, 72 Illinois.App.3d 642, 391 North.E.2d 54, 28 Illinois.Dec. 855 (1st District, 1979).Worked at Pavalon & Gifford (Chicago, Illinois) specializing in Civil Trial and Appellate Practice in all Courts. Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Railroad Injuries, (F.E.L.A.), Medical Malpractice, Products Liability and Aviation Law. Admitted to the bar, 1971, Missouri.
1972, Michigan.
1973, United States. District Court, Western District of Missouri. 1977, Illinois; 1978, United States.
District Court, Northern District of Illinois. 1983, United States. District Court, Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar.
1995, United States. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
Phi Beta Kappa. Phi Alpha Delta. University Scholar. Who"s Who in American Law.
Associate, Law Firm of Forsythe, Campbell, Vandenberg & Clevenger, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1972.
Partner, Gifford & Gifford, Green City, Missouri, 1973-1977. Prosecuting Attorney and Corporation Counsel, Kirksville, Missouri, 1973-1977. Adjunct Professor of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law, 1977-1978.
Principal, Asher, Pavalon, Gittler & Greenfield, Limited., 1981-1989.
Partner, Pavalon & Gifford, 1989. Of Counsel, Gifford & Richardson, Green City, Missouri, 1978.
Author: "Wilson v. Clark: Evolution or Revolution," Illinois Trial Lawyers Journal, Volume 3, #4 (1981).
"Discovery of Consulting Experts," Illinois Trial Lawyers Journal, Volume 4, (1982). "Malpractice Crisis," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, (1986).
Types of Witnesses," publication for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education Depositions Seminar, 12/2/87. "Videotaped Depositions," publications for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 12/2/87, 2/10/89, 2/16/89.
"Theories of Liability in Products Liability Cases," publication for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 4/6/88.
"Demonstrative Evidence," publication for Chicago Bar Association, 10/12/88. "Pleadings and Discovery," publication for Chicago Bar Association, 11/1/88. "Videotape Evidence," publication for Illinois State Bar Association, 11/11/88.
"Discovery," Chapter for the 1989 and 1991 Supplement, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education Medical Malpractice Handbook.
"The Year in Torts," for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Annual Survey of Illinois Law, (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991). "Effective Preparation and Use of Exhibits," publication for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 3/23/89, 3/29/89.
Book Review for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, "The Litigators," (1989). "Negotiating Personal Injury Settlements Under Recently Revised Tort Law," publication for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2/19/90.
"Comparative Negligence History and New Developments," publication for Chicago Bar Association, 2/27/90.
"Planning and Preparing for the Use of Demonstrative Evidence," publication for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 10/8/90. "Different Methods in Determining the Value of the Case - a Plaintiff"s Perspective," publication for the Chicago Bar Association, 10/18/90. "Documentary Evidence and the Hearsay Rule," publication for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 4/20/91.
"Planning and Preparing for the Use of Demonstrative Evidence," publication for the Chicago Bar Association, 5/7/91, 11/21/91 and 11/9/92.
"How to be Ethical and Aggressive During Trial: Just Because You Follow the Rules Doesn"t Make You a Wimp," publication for the American Bar Association Tort and Insurance Practice Section, 8/14/91. "Market-Based Factors that Determine the Value of the Case: The Plaintiff"s Perspective," College of Business Administration Record, Volume 5, Number.
7, September 1991. Book Review, "The Litigation Explosion: What Happened When America Unleashed the Lawsuit?" by Walter K. Olson, for The Chicago Daily Bulletin, 2/28/92 and Illinois State Bar Association Bar News, 4/13/92, Volume 32, Number.
19; "The Use and Limitations of Inspections in Products Liability Litigation," Illinois State Bar Association Products Liability: In-Depth Study of Litigation Involving Products Seminar, 4/16/92. "The Professional Negligence Case," Dupage County Bar Association Civil Law and Practice Committee Discovery Seminar, 11/21/92.
"Plaintiff"s Discovery Tactics and Discoverable Materials," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Medical Negligence Seminar, 12/5/92. "Trial Strategy - Plaintiff"s Perspective," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Products Liability Seminar, 1/9/93.
"Proof and Argument of Economic Damages," Chicago Bar Association Wrongful Death Cases - Obtaining the Successful Result Seminar, 2/11/93.
"Lee v. CTA: A Modest Change in the Duty Towards Trespassers, The Plaintiff"s Perspective," Illinois Bar Journal, April 1993, Volume 81, Number. 4. "Using Adverse Witnesses in a Products Liability Case," American Trial Lawyers Association Products Liability Law Reporter, Volume 12, Number 7, August, 1993.
"Controlling the Defendant and Defense Expert in Deposition," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Medical Malpractice Seminar, 12/4/93.
"Real Trial Lawyers Use Alternative Dispute Resolution," Illinois Bar Journal, Volume 82, Number 3, March 1994. "Cross Examination - How to Sharpen the Dull Sword," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Blue Print for Building a Successful Case Seminar, 4/16/94. " Opinion Evidence/Learned Treatises," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Evidence Seminar, 5/7/94.
"The Art of Establishing Damages - Wrongful Death," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Point-Counterpoint Seminar, 10/10/94.
"Demonstrative Evidence, Models and Human Factors," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Product Liability Litigation Seminar, 1/14/95. "The Product Liability Case: How a Products Theory Affects Your Investigation and Discovery," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association The Nuts & Bolts of Handling Automobile Accident Cases Seminar, 2/20/95.
"Product Liability Changes," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Life Before and After House Bill 20 Seminar, 5/6/95. "Evidence: Planning and Preparing for the Use of Demonstrative Evidence," Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education Products Liability: Planning & Preparing Your Case Seminar, 5/9/95.
"Opening Statements," Chicago Bar Association Summer Boot Camp for Aspiring Litigators Seminar, 8/21/95.
"The Impact of Tort Reform on a Plaintiff"s Medical Condition," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Discovery Seminar, 10/9/95. "Proving Negligence: The Standard of Care," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Medical Malpractice Seminar, 12/2/95. "Cross Examination of the Expert Witness at Deposition and Trial-"The Uncle versus
The Suit"," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Products Liability Litigation Seminar, 1/13/96.
Company-Author: Illinois Practice Guide-Personal Injury, Second Edition, (Two Volumes), Lawyers Cooperative Publishing and Illinois State Bar Association, Copyright December 1995. "Cross Examination of Expert Witnesses at Deposition and at Trial in Medical Malpractice and Products Liability Cases," Success in Trial Advocacy Seminar, Southern Illinois University School of Law, Chapter of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 4/19/96.
"Direct Examination-Law, Tactics & Techniques," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Trial Practice Law Tactics & Techniques Seminar, 4/20/96. "Is Tort Reform a Panacea? Problems and Trends in Tort Reform Today," 29th Annual Transportation Law Institute, Jointly Sponsored by American Bar Association, Transportation Lawyers Association, University of Denver College of Law, Association for Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy, October 22, 1996, Arlington, Virginia.
"Trial Preparation Strategies: Proving Damages Claims," Employment Litigation: Preparing for a Jury Trial Seminar, sponsored by the Chicago Bar Association, January 24, 1997, Chicago, Illinois.
Lecturer: Trial Advocacy, University of Wisconsin, Summer 1982. Association of Trial Lawyers, "Expert Witnesses," 1983. Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Company-Director, Annual Evidence Seminar, 1983-1985.
Speaker: Deposition Seminar, 12/1/87, 2/20/89 and 2/16/89.
Comparative Negligence Seminar, 1987. Products Liability Seminar, 4/6/88 and 4/13/88.
Presentation of Evidence Seminar, 1988. Evidence with Impact Seminar, 6/17/88 and 6/27/88.
Illinois Civil Trial Practice Seminar, 3/23/89 and 3/29/89.
Negotiating and Settling Personal Injury Cases Seminar, 2/19/90. 25th Annual Trial Evidence Seminar, 10/8/90. Speaker:Products Liability: Planning and Preparing Your Case Seminar, 5/9/95.
Chicago Bar Association, Products Liability Update Seminar, 3/11/88.
Illinois Evidence Update Seminar, 10/12/88. Comparative Negligence Update and Analysis Seminar, 11/1/88 and 2/27/90.
Settling Personal Injury Cases Seminar, 10/18/90, 10/31/91. Proof of Facts Seminar, 5/22/91, 11/21/91 and 11/9/92.
Wrongful Death Cases - Obtaining the Successful Result Seminar, 2/11/93.
"Illinois Tort Reform," Luncheon Meeting, Health & Hospital Law Committee of the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association, 4/27/95. Lecturer, 1995 Young Lawyers Section Trial Practice Course, "Expert Witnesses," The Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association, 4/17/95. Speaker, "Trial Preparation Strategies: Proving Damages Claims," Employment Litigation: Preparing for a Jury Trial Seminar, Chicago Bar Association, 1/24/97.
Speaker: Illinois State Bar Association, Effective Trial Presentation Seminar, 11/18/88.
Civil Practice and Procedure Proof of Damages Seminar, 4/13/90. Products Liability: In-Depth Study of Litigation Involving Products Seminar, 4/16/92.
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Comprehensive Evidence Seminar, 11/12/84. Past Presidents Seminar, 2/18/85.
Update & Review Seminar, 9/7/85.
Expert Witnesses & Trends in Civil Practice, 9/20/85. Strategy & Organization of Pre-Suit Details for Practicing Attorneys, 4/26/86. Demonstrative Evidence Seminar, 6/6/87.
Trial Notebook Series - Session II - Evidence, 12/1/89.
Trial Evidence and Hearsay Seminar, 4/20/91. Medical Malpractice Seminar, 12/7/91.
Seminar Planning Chair and Program Moderator, Annual Convention and Seminar, 6/13/92. Medical Negligence Seminar, 12/5/92.
Products Liability Seminar, 1/9/93.
Medical Malpractice Seminar, 12/4/93. Blue Print for Building a Successful Case Seminar, 4/16/94. Evidence Seminar, 5/7/94.
Point-Counterpoint Seminar, 10/10/94.
Product Liability Seminar, 1/14/95. The Nuts & Bolts of Handling Automobile Accident Cases Seminar, 2/20/95.
Life Before and After House Bill 20 Seminar, 5/6/95. Discovery Seminar, 10/9/95.
Products Liability Litigation Seminar, 1/13/96.
Trial Practice: Law, Tactics and Techniques Seminar, 4/20/96. Guest Speaker: West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, 1986. Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, 1986.
Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Weekend Seminar, 1989.
Speaker: DuPage County Bar Association Civil Law and Practice Committee Discovery Seminar, 11/21/92. American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, "The Practical Perspectives of Personal Injury Litigation," Chicago, Illinois 4/16/93.
Speaker/Lecturer: National Board of Trial Advocacy Civil Trial Specialization Course Review, "Law and Practice - Personal Injury Cases," 7/16/93. Debate with Representative of Defense Research Institute, "Issues in Tort Reform," IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law, 9/7/93.
Evaluator, National Trial Competition, Chicago Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, 2/5/94.
Judge/Evaluator, The National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition, co-sponsored by the John Marshall Law School and the American Bar Association"s Criminal Justice Section, 3/31/95. Judge, 1996 National Student Trial Advocacy Competition, sponsored by American Trial Lawyers Association-Chicago Kent School of Law, 1/24/96. Speaker, Mediation and the Medical Malpractice Dispute Seminar, Sponsored by Rush-Presbyterian Saint Luke"s Medical Center and Institute for Health Law, Loyola University School of Law-Chicago, 8/31/95.
Speaker, Trial of a Medical Malpractice Case, Institute for Health Law at Loyola University Law School, 10/9/95.
Guest Speaker, Casualty Actuarial Society"s 1995 Annual Meeting, 11/15/95. Guest Speaker, Radio Talk Show, "Chicago Law," hosted by Greg Adamski and Karen Conti, WJJD Radio Station, 3/3/96.
Speaker, Success in Trial Advocacy Seminar, Southern Illinois University School of Law, Chapter of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 4/19/96. Speaker, Debate on Tort Reform with Professor Victor Schwartz, 29th Annual Transportation Law Institute, Jointly Sponsored by American Bar Association, Transportation Lawyers Association, University of Denver College of Law, Association for Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy, 10/22/96.
Member of Advisory Committee, National Continuing legal education Program on "The Experts Analyze Brain Damaged Baby Cases, American Bar Association, April 19, 1997, San Francisco, California.
Offices: Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Immediate Past-President, 1997-1998, President, 1996-1997, President-Elect, 1995-1996. Second Vice President, 1994-1995. Third Vice President, 1993-1994.
Secretary, 1989-1990, 1990-1991.
Associate Editor of Journal, 1980-1982, Editor, 1983-1985. Elected Board of Managers, 1983-1989, 1991-1993.
Member, Executive Committee, Committee, 1991-1992, 1992-1993, 1993-1994, 1994-1995. Member, Legislative Committee, 1986.
Chairman, Seminar Planning Committee, 1983-1985.
Chairman, Products Liability Committee, 1983-1985. Chairman, Medical Negligence Committee, 1985-1987. Member, Committee on Professional Standards, 1985-1987.
Member, Rules of Professional Conduct, 1990.
Member, Nominating Committee, 1991-1992. Chairman, Publications Committee, 1992-1993.
Company-Chairman, 1993-1994, 1994-1995. Member, Medical Negligence Committee, 1992-1993.
Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Company-Chairman, Law Student Committee, 1987-1988.
Member, Membership Committee, 1990. Legal Affairs Committee, 1994-1997. Member, Constitutional Litigation Committee, (1997).
Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Member, Board of Directors, 1990.
Member, Civil Litigation Curriculum Advisory Group, 1990. Member, Capital Gifts Committee, 1990.
Member, Program/Publication Planning Committee, 1990. Illinois State Bar Association, Member, Standing Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, 1990-1991, 1991-1992, 1992-1993.
Chair, Standing Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, 1991-1992.
Chicago Bar Association Civil Practice Committee, Division I, Vice-Chair, 1997-1998. Member, Missouri Select Committee on Uniform Criminal Jury Instructions, 1976. Member, Jefferson Club of the University of Missouri.
Member, Law Society of the University of Missouri School of Law.
Certified by Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Institute for Health Law as a Qualified Medical Malpractice Case Mediator, 1995. Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, 1992.
Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. State Bar of Michigan.
The Missouri Bar; Society of Trial Lawyers.
Trial Lawyers Club. Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers.
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
Patron Fellow, The Roscoe Pound American Trial Lawyers Foundation (1986). Fellow: American Bar Foundation (1990). American College of Trial Lawyers.
Fellow, International Society of Barristers.
Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. The law firm of Pavalon & Gifford concentrates in civil trial and appellate work in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and complex commercial cases in all state courts and federal courts.
Foreign twenty years, until its establishment in 1989, the founders of the firm were practicing their expertise as part of the firm then known as Asher, Pavalon, Gittler & Greenfield, Limited. of which Mr. Pavalon was president and a partner and Messrs.
Gifford and Laatsch were partners and directors.
The firm members collectively provide over 65 years of experience as trial lawyers working on behalf of plaintiffs in all the diversified areas of personal injury and wrongful death matters. The firm is designated as FELA counsel for the Transportation Workers Union of America, American Federation of Labor-Congress-Chief Information Officer and Transportation-Communications International Union, American Federation of Labor-Congress-Chief Information Officer. The vast majority of the firm"s clientele is referred by other lawyers seeking the experience and high degree of capabilities offered by the firm in the preparation and trial of personal injury, wrongful death and complex commercial cases.
Member, Executive Committee, Committee, 1991-1992, 1992-1993, 1993-1994, 1994-1995. Member, Legislative Committee, 1986. Chairman, Seminar Planning Committee, 1983-1985.
Chairman, Products Liability Committee, 1983-1985.
Chairman, Medical Negligence Committee, 1985-1987. Member, Committee on Professional Standards, 1985-1987.
Member, Rules of Professional Conduct, 1990. Member, Nominating Committee, 1991-1992.
Chairman, Publications Committee, 1992-1993.
Company-Chairman, 1993-1994, 1994-1995. Member, Medical Negligence Committee, 1992-1993. Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Company-Chairman, Law Student Committee, 1987-1988.
Member, Membership Committee, 1990.
Legal Affairs Committee, 1994-1997. Member, Constitutional Litigation Committee, (1997).
Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Member, Board of Directors, 1990. Member, Civil Litigation Curriculum Advisory Group, 1990.
Member, Capital Gifts Committee, 1990.
Member, Program/Publication Planning Committee, 1990. Illinois State Bar Association, Member, Standing Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, 1990-1991, 1991-1992, 1992-1993. Chair, Standing Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, 1991-1992.
Chicago Bar Association Civil Practice Committee, Division I, Vice-Chair, 1997-1998.
Member, Missouri Select Committee on Uniform Criminal Jury Instructions, 1976. Member, Jefferson Club of the University of Missouri.
Member, Law Society of the University of Missouri School of Law. Certified by Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Institute for Health Law as a Qualified Medical Malpractice Case Mediator, 1995.
Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, 1992.
Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. State Bar of Michigan. The Missouri Bar; Society of Trial Lawyers.
Trial Lawyers Club.
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers. The Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
Patron Fellow, The Roscoe Pound American Trial Lawyers Foundation (1986).
Fellow, The Roscoe Pound American Trial Lawyers Foundation (1986).