Code,
Subject,Timothy Misny
Date,10-Feb-12
Interviewer,Lisa Alleman
Abstract,"Cleveland area personal injury attorney speaks about his maternal grandfather's involvement with Terminal Tower construction as a bricklayer who was killed in an accident on site, his maternal grandmother taking him to see the tower and telling him about his grandfather, and the law offices he eventually opened there. Also speaks to Rapid Transit Authority lawsuit. "
Tags,
Special Notes,
Minutes:,13:40
0,"Set up & testing. Interviewer notes mike difficulties. Background re family's building of terminal tower. Maternal grandfather, Joseph Volich, came to United States from Croatia as a bricklayer. "
1,"Joseph Volich worked as a bricklayer constructing Terminal Tower. One day, there was a scaffolding accident and he fell to his death. Joseph's wife (Timothy Misny's grandmother), Veronica Volich, was left with 3 small children to raise by herself. She could not read or write English and took in laundry and cleaned offices at night to make ends meet. One day when Timothy was about 7 she took him to Terminal Tower and told him the story about his grandfather.  "
2,"Timothy asked his grandmother who lived at Terminal Tower. She replied no one lived there, but lawyers worked there and he could too one day if he studied hard. Fast forward 25 years he's visiting his grandmother at the Slovenian Nursing Home on 185th street. Told her he moved his offices to Tower City and dedicated his life and practice to the injured victim because he grew up hearing stories about what it was like to not have a husband/father. "
3,His mom still talks about regrets of not having a dad growing up. These stories really affected him and he wanted to make a difference. Life calling. Very happy to be doing this type of work. 
4,"Had (law) offices in Tower Terminal. Entire 38th floor. Each of (4) turrets was a lawyer's office, had amazing panoramic views of the city. Gives examples of views from East and West. Great years, but since moved to the East Side where his lives. (Note: says hello to child in background (Maxo). "
5,"What year did you move offices to Tower City? Does not recall, but remembers it coinciding with renovation of Tower Terminal at the time. "
6,"Recalls tour of renovation. Cleveland Police Officer was there (he represented police union). Got a behind the scene tour. Remembers the fountains, the polished brass, etc. Had goose bumps. Had the thought that his grandfather would be proud on two levels."
7,"(Proud on two levels). The level he worked so hard on was elevated to a world class facility, and his grandson (him) was very much a part of it and had an office there helping people and making a difference. Once of the happiest moments of his life. Interviewer moves on to a different subject, Mr. Misny's involvement with safety improvements for the RTA. "
8,"When he had his offices downtown he received a call from a woman whose husband was killed while working for the RTA on the RTA transit train tracks Train came through, hit & killed him. Several firms turned the case down, but he thought the employer (RTA) was so reckless it was intentional.  "
9,Burden of proof in these cases is higher. Remembers opposing lawyer (RTA) commented that RTA may get indicted by prosecutor. Took 26 depositions  - found out that when RTA hired private contractors they put up red warning flags but when they used their own employees they did not use any red warning flags. 
10,Told opposing lawyer that he had this piece of evidence he thought was key. RTA lawyer asked what it would take to settle the case. He wrote on little piece of paper the number. Settled in 10 minutes. Case settled and changed policy - changed to put up red warning flags in all cases. Since then (17 years) there has been no fatal accident on the RTA lines. 
11,"Anything to add? His background? Self described ""local boy"" born in 1955 in Euclid Ohio, attended St. Paul Elem, St. Joe High, John Carroll University, and John Marshall School of Law at CSU. Prosecutor for 4 years, atty for CLE Police Patrolman's Assoc. for 4 years, and ""representing the injured victim in our hometown"" for 31 years. "
12,"Best thing he ever happened to him was marrying his wife, Stephanie, and they have a little boy, Max, who is 25 months old. Very happy in personal and professional life. "
13,"Tim asks interviewers a question (joke)  about a shrimp and a lobster fighting over a morsel of food, and why do they not share? Tim then answers the question É because they are shellfish. (laughs then exits interview doing an Elvis Presley impression (Thankyouthankyouverymuch). "
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