PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2009

Toledo, OH – At a special ceremony Wednesday evening, Gerald R. Kowalski received the prestigious Order of the Heel.  Highly coveted, the award is presented annually by the Toledo Junior Bar Association to recognize a senior Toledo attorney who has been devoted to mentoring and guiding young lawyers.

“We are very proud of Gerry, and we are proud of the work that has earned him this award.  He is a mentor to our young attorneys at Cooper & Walinski, and he has been just as generous with his time and advice to other young lawyers in this area.  More than just giving his time, he is an exemplary model of professionalism for lawyers throughout the region,” said Margaret Lockhart, President of Cooper & Walinski.  “Gerry is an asset to our firm, to the legal profession, and to the community.  He is most deserving of this honor.”

Mr. Kowalski is a trial specialist and has been practicing for 30 years.  He has been a partner in the Toledo law firm of Cooper & Walinski for the last eight years.  Before that, he was a member of another Toledo firm for over 20 years.

His trial experience is vast, having handled 75 jury trial cases before he reached age 47.  He has been named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a great honor bestowed on only a few of the most experienced trial lawyers, and is currently serving as its Ohio chairperson.  Some of Mr. Kowalski’s other honors include being listed in The Best Lawyers in America and in annual editions of Ohio Super Lawyers since 2004.

“There will always be a demand for experienced trial lawyers, and I have a passion for helping young attorneys gain trial skills and experience,” said Mr. Kowalski.  “This is a tremendous honor for me.”

Mr. Kowalski’s most notable trial decision was Sawicki v. Village of Ottawa Hills in 1986.  The case eventually reached the Ohio Supreme Court and established the public-duty rule in Ohio law.

He is a member of the Toledo Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.  He serves as Board Chair of TASC, an organization that provides alcohol and drug counseling and services for people in the criminal justice system.  Mr. Kowalski frequently teaches.  His writings have been published in The University of Toledo Law Review and The Insurance Coverage Law Bulletin.

About Cooper & Walinski, LPA
Cooper & Walinski was founded in 1969 by Cary Cooper and Richard Walinski, both of whom are still active partners. The firm is the largest majority women-owned law firm in the nation.  It is the litigation firm of choice for national, regional, and local clients – from Fortune 500 companies to individuals - in diverse legal matters throughout the country.  Cooper & Walinski specializes in business litigation, insurance recovery for policyholders, labor and employment, litigation management, products liability, and white-collar criminal defense.

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