Legal professional Larry Rogers Sr. was a household man — a lot in order that his work impressed the subsequent two generations of his household to additionally work in legislation.
Rogers, 75, who gained lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in verdicts “for the little man” over an almost four-decade profession, died Thursday night time at 75 resulting from issues from his five-year battle with most cancers, his son Larry Rogers Jr., additionally an lawyer, stated Friday.
A Roseland native, Rogers Sr. pursued legislation as a “second profession” after beginning a household and dealing as a respiratory therapist, together with two different jobs.
Whereas working at a gasoline station throughout the road from Comiskey Park, he met Joe Energy Jr., and the 2 turned quick buddies.
Energy really helpful Rogers Sr. apply for a legislation clerk place the place he was working and end legislation college, saying he’d “fill a void” because of the lack of Black attorneys on the time.
The 2 males later began the Energy Rogers legislation agency.
“He was the Michael Jordan of legislation earlier than Michael Jordan was the Michael Jordan of basketball,” Larry Rogers Jr. stated. “He was the epitome of what it means to organize your self for a possibility after which to carry issues collectively to achieve success.”
One in every of his most well-known instances concerned Syntex child formulation. Rogers St. gained an eight-figure verdict shortly after the Division of justice declined to press prices towards the corporate. A study by the Nationwide Institutes of Well being discovered kids who’d used the chloride-deficient formulation longer scored decrease on exams measuring mental improvement.
About 15 years later, Rogers Sr. helped win a $55 million verdict — one of many largest in Illinois historical past — for a girl who suffered irreversible mind injury throughout a bronchoscopy examination.
“After we entered the courtroom, we leveled the taking part in the sphere,” Energy Jr. stated.
A congressional decision honoring Rogers was being drafted by Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Sick., in keeping with her workplace.
Rogers Sr. was the patriarch of three generations of attorneys — seven folks in all who work within the subject.
Son Dom is an harm lawyer; his daughter Ann Marie is a courtroom reporter; his stepson Frederic is an lawyer; his niece Carmen Cole is an employment lawyer; his nephew Sean works in actual property litigation; and his grandson Trevor now works in harm legislation as nicely.
There could also be an eighth on the best way as nicely, as his granddaughter Erin Rogers was simply accepted to a number of legislation colleges, Rogers Jr. in keeping with his son, Larry Rogers Jr.
Rogers Jr. lately gained a $16 million settlement for the households of three aged ladies who died within the James Sneider residences throughout a warmth wave final yr. He additionally has served on the Cook dinner County Board of Assessment since 2004.
Larry Rogers Sr. together with his son Larry Rogers Jr. at an occasion in December.
Rogers Sr. would take the time to subject calls from younger attorneys who reached out with questions on instances or simply in regards to the occupation.
However time with household, and different attorneys, wasn’t at all times spent round a courtroom.
Rogers loved taking his Sea Ray sport boat out on Lake Michigan and sometimes to Florida or the Bahamas for holidays, typically bringing alongside household and even different attorneys.
On one trip with Energy in Michigan Metropolis, Indiana, Rogers Sr. drove his boat there and slept on it — one thing he typically did whereas taking journeys on the vessel.
When not out on the open water, the boat was docked at Burnham Harbor close to Soldier Discipline, the house of one among his different pastimes outdoors of labor: Chicago sports activities.
When not in courtroom, he might typically be discovered close to a courtroom — as a decades-long season ticket holder for the Bulls. He had Bears season tickets as nicely.
“He was extremely regarded not solely due to his talent as a trial lawyer, however due to his character,” Energy Jr. stated. “A number of the time somebody is cherished out on the planet however his buddies and relations don’t notably like them. The extra folks knew Larry, the extra they cherished him.”
