Category: 1980s

Brian Henry has written a book containing 97 case notes illustrating lessons and unique experiences during the 200+ jury trials.

Paul M. Lisnek was voted into the Silver Circle Television Hall of Fame for Chicago, with the induction ceremony to be held in May 2027. The Silver Circle honors broadcasters with 25 years or more of service within the television industry. Lisnek enters with 40 years of experience as a television news anchor, host of political, legal and theater shows and as a political and legal analyst for WGN-TV, WGN+, CLTV, Comcast, and NBC News.

F. Christopher Chrisbens passed away on July 31 at the age of 63. Throughout his distinguished career, he practiced with several respected law firms in Colorado, earning a reputation as a skilled attorney specializing in labor and employment law. A full obituary is available online.

Jim Kaucher ’83 was named the 2027 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Defense in Tucson, Arizona. Jim is a partner in Gust Rosenfeld, PLC, which has offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, and Wickenburg, Arizona. Jim is the Chair of the firm’s Health Care Law group which, for the second year in a row, has been ranked as the #1 health care law firm in Arizona by Ranking Arizona. He is the managing partner of the firm’s Tucson office, and Vice Chairman of the firm’s Executive Committee.

After an extended sabbatical, Dan Slack is joining the Boston, Massachusetts, law firm of Block & Leviton, LLP, as Of Counsel. He’ll be assisting Block & Leviton in its representation of institutional investors in securities litigation and matters involving fiduciary duty and corporate governance.

Laura Neubauer was appointed Chief of Organized Crime and Racketeering at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, New York, where she has served for over 30 years since earning her JD from Illinois in ’89. She also served two overseas assignments with the United States Department of Justice in 2001–05 and 2015–17.

Bruce Rather recently retired after spending 7 years as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney, 2 years as a Special U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, 24 years as a Supervisory Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and 10 years as a contract Polygraph Examiner for the Federal Air Marshals and the U.S. Postal Inspection service. He now lives in Florida loving the Lord and working on his Pickleball game.

Leonard R. Rumery of Monticello lost his battle with ALS on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the age of 78. Rumery earned a doctor of music and had a career in conducting concert choirs before deciding to pursue a career in law. He worked in private practice and as a public servant, being elected to two terms as a state’s attorney.

Dave Kanter (’84) retired after 42 years of practice. Dave primarily represented chemical companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers in product liability and toxic tort cases nationwide. He was a member of ABOTA – the American Board of Trial Advocates. He worked his first 29 years at the Wildman, Harrold firm and then spent 13 years at Swanson, Martin & Bell – both in Chicago.

After 200+ civil jury verdicts and with 2 trials left to go in February 2026, Brian Henry will be retiring as a trial attorney after 45 years in courtrooms and after having joined Pretzel & Stouffer in 1980 following graduation from the College of Law.