Tuesday, March 2, 1999
John Parisi wanted to be a lawyer when he was in high school.
But college sidetracked him to another love: digging in the dirt.
Parisi worked for 10 years as an archaeologist in places as diverse as Kansas City and Egypt. He regarded archaeology highly and still does. But he started thinking that, at the end of his research, he was left with a purely academic debate, because nobody can go back to the past.
That's when he decided to return to his dream of the law.
``In law, you can maybe have more of an impact,'' Parisi said. ``You can make your research more than a theoretical enterprise. ...
``I told my first jury that, when I was an archaeologist, I wished I could go back in time and see what really happened. (I told them that) I wish I could do that now, but it was up to them to decide and take care of my client.'' He lost that case.
But he's won a few since he started work with the Overland Park law firm of Shamberg Johnson & Bergman in 1989. He was named a partner in 1994. He practices mainly in the areas of general torts: medical malpractice, product liability, environmental issues and federal False Claims Act litigation.
He recently received the Thomas E. Sullivan Memorial Award from the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association. The award recognizes association members who have practiced law fewer than 10 years and made noteworthy contributions to the association and the community. It honors Thomas Sullivan, a Johnson County lawyer who died in an automobile accident in 1994.
Parisi is secretary of the lawyers association and has served as its treasurer, vice president of public affairs and vice president of education.
He received bachelor's and master's degrees in anthropology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the University of Kansas. He got his juris doctorate with distinction from the University of Missouri-Kansas City's School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review, among other honors.
Parisi lives in Leawood with his wife, Ellen S. Goldman, a lawyer with Stinson Mag & Fizzell in Kansas City, and their daughters, Laura and Julie.
THE KANSAS CITY STAR
Section: TUESDAY BUSINESS
Page: D16
Margaret Schmitz Rizzo/Special to The Star
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