“The courts are an avenue of change. I believe that’s really what they’re set up to do,” says Jeffrey Laffey, a trial lawyer and founding partner of his Philadelphia-based personal injury law firm, Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan (LBDRR).
This sentiment neatly encapsulates his attitude toward working in the law, specifically his effort to hold corporations accountable for their egregious conduct. Because without trial attorneys, institutions would continue taking advantage of their employees and/or vulnerable individuals – especially those on jobsites or in workplaces.
“What I love about the law is that it’s about evening the playing field. It’s about holding institutions responsible,” Jeffrey says. “It’s about reminding companies that they do have a duty and they will be held accountable if they violate that duty.”
Similarly, Sean Flaherty is another trial lawyer who represents workers and advocates for safer workplaces and better standards. As managing partner at Keches Law Group (KLG) in Bridgewater, Massachusetts – and with roots in the Local 7 Steel and Iron Workers Union – Sean knows firsthand how it feels to be injured and unable to work.
“You can't forget it. You know what it's like to be awaiting multiple operations; what it's like seeing medical bills piling up [with] no funds to pay them,” Sean says. “But it's allowed me to have the perspective that I have now and to speak with my clients in a very informative way. I've been them.”
Setting the Tone
Through every case they represent, both Jeffrey and Sean have the same goals in mind: lay the groundwork for more corporate responsibility, and in turn, a better, safer future for the construction industry as a whole.
“I do believe that [our work] will set the tone on future construction sites; to act as an incentive for a general contractor to be more proactive about safety to prevent future accidents. It will be a reminder for institutions to give [employees] proper training when dealing with children to make sure they are afforded a safe space,” Jeffrey asserts.
In one of Sean’s cases, he recalls a client, an iron worker, that was injured on an unsafe construction site. As his client looked up to watch a crane deliver steel to the structure, he unknowingly stepped through a hole and fell nearly 20 feet, causing significant injuries to his spine, leg and shoulder.
“That [case] will always be memorable to me because I remember what it was like to fall, what it was like to wonder if you’re going to walk again,” Sean says.
The client’s injury wasn’t fatal, but it was costly. Fortunately, Sean was able to guide him through the legal aftermath of the injury, ensuring his family never missed paying a bill while he, the breadwinner, remained in the hospital. In fact, Sean and his law firm’s dedication secured a settlement of more than $2 million for the family.
“To our clients, a settlement means having financial security for the rest of their lives,” Sean explained. “Our job is to make sure we uncover every stone and try to financially and medically assist our clients to the utmost so that they are in a far better position when they leave us than when we found them.”
Drawing on Experience
Jeffrey also draws from personal experience to bolster his fight for justice on behalf of the catastrophically injured. In fact, he was raised by a union carpenter.
“I distinctly remember [being] 12 years old, and my father came home with a Christmas tree over his head…but he had a patch over his eye. He had been injured at work that day. I opened the door to let him inside, and he said to me, ‘Stay in school, kid.’ It just hit home to me that my talents could be used for helping people who have been injured,” Jeffrey remembers.
Together, the work of both LBDRR and KLG are helping forge a path toward more accountability for construction companies and workplaces who may cut corners for a quick buck. While calling out such negligence isn’t an easy living, it’s necessary to ensure the safety of employees nationwide.
Explore More Stories of Social Justice
Learn more about Jeffrey Laffey of LBDRR and Sean Flaherty of KLG, their pursuits of justice and their unwavering commitment to their clients day in and day out. Additionally, find out how their relationships with Esquire Bank helps to make it all possible, as well as other trial lawyers’ stories of advocating to attain justice and client success at justice.esquirebank.com.
