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They said sure. Months passed, and no requests came to try thosecases.Billfinallyaskediftheyneededtogetreadyfortrial. She said no, all the trials had gone away. John said that when word got out she was pregnant again, they all settled or were continued. Trying a case against Susan was bad enough when she was not pregnant, but nobody wanted to oppose her in front of a jury when she was.
Susan explains that John’s skills and successes stem from the fact that he is extremely smart and always well pre- pared. “In addition, and just as important, he’s very wit- ty and a wonderful storyteller. He’s able to tell the ‘story’ of his case with examples and analogies that the jury can relate to, and appropriate humor, while still being very professional. He knows his case backward and forward, including the medicine in a med mal case, and can often make the other side’s expert run crying from the room.”
Both Susan and John continue to give of their time to the College. Both have been active on the Kentucky State Committee, serving multiple stints with each as chair. Both have been very active with the National Trial Competition Committee, which John describes as the “best committee in the College.” They have traded roles as National Trial Com- petition Committee members, with Susan just completing her two-year term as Chair, and with both traveling to the regional and national final competitions every year for over
a decade. Not surprisingly, both rave about how good the competition participants have been, and how much they have enjoyed working with the other committee members.
They readily agree that the College is important – and rele- vant – because its emphasis is not only litigation but collegi- ality. While both belong to a lot of other professional orga- nizations, they participate much more fully in the College just because of that collegiality factor. They don’t attend as many national meetings as they would like – due in part to the time commitments of busy trial practices and of the National Trial Competition Committee – but they attend as many functions as they can.
The theme of togetherness continues, with their son, Jack Phillips, now a 6-year associate in their firm. I asked if he was going to follow in all of the paths they have created, but they were quick to say that they, as parents and partners in the firm, have absolutely no say in his compensation or partnership track. But they are proud that they have been able to work with him on at least a few matters. Daughter Witt did not choose the law, instead working in a publish- ing firm in New York City.
Between College events, the Phillips love to travel. Susan loves to cook. They both like to entertain. John says he is not a cook, he is an eater, and an enthusiastic supporter of her cooking. Susan says John is a voracious reader. Together, they practice law, they travel, and they eat and drink well.
Carey Matovich Billings, MT
WINTER 2023 JOURNAL 92