Wednesday, October 6, 1993
'SHORT STINT' WITH LAW FIRM HAS LASTED 23 YEARS LYNN JOHNSON IS CHAIRMAN OF STATE NOMINATING PANEL FOR SUPREME COURT.
It's been almost 25 years since Lynn R. Johnson, a partner with the Shamberg, Johnson, Bergman & Morris law firm in Overland Park, planned to do a short stint with a Kansas City, Kan., law firm.
That stint became a lifetime commitment that led him to a recent election as chairman of the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission.
After graduating from Washburn Law School in 1970, Johnson became an associate with a Kansas City, Kan., law firm, known then as Schnider, Shamberg and May, where he planned to work for a couple of years before returning to the Oberlin, Kan., area where he was born and grew up.
"I first said no when they asked me to go to work because I really wanted to go back to western Kansas, but nothing really turned up so I called them back," Johnson said. "I thought I'd come here and get experience for two years and then go. Twenty-three years later, I'm still here. But one of the things I'm proudest of is that I'm with the same firm I started with in 1970."
Throughout the years, Johnson's firm has undergone partner changes as well as an address change. A Johnson County branch was opened in the early 1970s. In 1981, the Kansas City, Kan., and the Johnson County branches merged offices and relocated to Johnson County. In 1986, the firm moved to its current offices at 4551 W. 107th St.
In 1984, the firm cut back from 17 to five lawyers and changed the name of the organization to Shamberg, Johnson, Bergman and Goldman. In 1988, it changed again - to its current partnership.
"Now we have about 10 lawyers in the firm, and that's about the size we want to be," he said.
That size, complement of attorneys and the firm's emphasis in litigation has all become part of Johnson's passion and commitment in his career.
"I certainly couldn't say I had a burning desire to be a plaintiff's attorney (when in school)," he said. "We do complex litigation involving personal injury or death. We don't do rear-end automobile accidents or slip-and-falls. I strictly represent people who have been significantly injured (or killed)."
Investigation and research are such intricate aspects of his case load that he takes on few cases; he averages 20 to 25 cases at a time.
"I tell people this all the time," he said. "I'm one of those lucky, lucky people to fall into the right practice. If I hadn't come to this firm, I think I would have been a very unhappy lawyer.
"I have very strong feelings about the justice system. This type of litigation serves as a deterrent to those who might behave irresponsibly otherwise.
One of Johnson's clients was David Hurlbut, who was severely burned in a 1989 industrial accident. Johnson also represented the estates of two men killed in the same accident.
"David Hurlbut, compared with Conoco in the great scheme of things, is a little guy in Paola," he said. "In front of the jury they were equal."
His convictions and beliefs are what helped lead him to his interest in chairing the Supreme Court Nominating Commission.
"I feel very strongly that we need a strong independent judiciary," he said. "The judiciary and especially the appellate courts are watchdogs. It's essential in a democratic society to safeguard the rights afforded to us in the Kansas Constitution. I feel it's part of my responsibility as an attorney to give of my time."
The commission is comprised of four lawyers and four lay people, one of each from each congressional district and one chairman. Johnson was elected by a vote of all Kansas lawyers. He is the first plaintiff's trial lawyer ever to serve as the chairman. Johnson will serve a four-year term and probably seek a second term in 1997.
Johnson also served as president of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association in 1978-79, the youngest person to serve in that position.
Johnson lives in Mission Hills with his wife, Jacqueline, and 5-year-old son, Randy.
THE KANSAS CITY STAR
Section: ZONE/BLUE VALLEY-LEAWOOD
Page: 19
By ROXI TAYLOR, Special to The Star
All content © 1993 THE KANSAS CITY STAR and may not be republished without permission.
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