Search for "John D. Mereness"

Trial attorney (not merely a negotiator). Criminal defense (misdemeanors and felonies), Civil (personal injury) and Appellate (criminal and civil). Worked on the defense team for then San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock. Written successful briefs and oral argument in both Civil and Criminal Appeals.

Specialize in Criminal Defense cases up to and including trial.

Joseph Curcio was raised in Chicago in the old Italian neighborhood along Grand and Damen Avenues on Chicago’s West Side. The son of a shoemaker, Mr. Curcio learned very early the importance of hard work and paid his own way through college at DePaul University and law school at John Marshall working various night jobs, including repossessing cars. Upon his graduation from law school in 1956, Joe had a very brief stint as a claims adjuster for an insurance company before striking out on his own as a solo practitioner. From the beginning of his career, he had a passion and...

"What I have found meaningful and rewarding is the opportunity to make a real difference in my client’s lives. Oftentimes, our clients come to us in a time of real crisis and in need of help navigating the legal process, which we can, of course, do for them. What is different and interesting about this area of practice is how often the needs of our clients go beyond the need for legal advice. Our clients and their families face life choices and decisions about real life issues; parents growing older and infirm, children with special needs, persons with disabilities or...

In 1991, after graduating near the top of his class, an insurance company hired Paul Zuckerman to be their lawyer. Paul approached the job with optimism. He believed the company’s advertisement and thought that he was hired to be there, like a good neighbor, for policyholders in need. However, Paul soon discovered that his work was merely padding the pockets of his employer, and not ensuring that injured people were compensated fairly. Thus, Paul, with his law school classmate John Carpenter, established a new kind of law firm: A law firm that only represents injured people against insurance companies. Paul...