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Robert William Munley Jr. (November 22, 1930 – November 30, 2019) was an American personal injury lawyer and the founder of Munley Law.[1]
Robert W. Munley Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Robert W. Munley Jr | |
| Born | 22 November 1930 |
| Died | November 30, 2019 (aged 89) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Scranton, Temple University of Law |
| Occupation | Personal injury lawyer |
| Known for | founding Munley Law |
| Parents |
|
| Website | munley.com |
Early life and education
editBorn on November 22, 1930, Munley was the son of Pennsylvania state representatives Robert W. Munley and Marion L. Munley, the first female officer of the Pennsylvania State Legislature.[1]
Munley served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Following his service, he attended the University of Scranton and Temple University of Law, where he was a member of the Temple Law Review.[2]
Career
editMunley was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1959 and served as an assistant district attorney for Lackawanna County before opening Munley Law with his brother, James Martin Munley who was the former Senior U.S. District judge.[3]
In 1969, Munley ran for Lackawanna County District Attorney as a Democrat.[4] He lost the race to Attorney Paul R. Mazzoni.
Munley served as president of both the Lackawanna County Bar Association[5] as well as the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association.[6] He also served on the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice.[7] He was a Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the International Society of Barristers.[7]
Notable Cases
editThe Mid Valley Eight
editOn March 6, 1981, eight teenagers from the Mid Valley High School in Throop, PA, were killed after the driver lost control of the car and struck the guardrail, causing the vehicle to go airborne and land upside down in a gully. It was later discovered that the driver and passengers had been drinking alcohol at a party before the accident.
Representing the victims' families, Munley had filed a civil lawsuit against the parents of the teenage driver. The case went to trial, and a jury awarded the families a total verdict of $17.5 million -- at that time, one of the largest verdicts ever for a single-vehicle accident.[8]
O'Malley v. Peerless Petroleum
editIn June 1973, a plumber suffered severe burn injuries following a gas explosion while he was installing a sewer line at a client's home. It was later learned that a leak in the pipe at a service station owned by Peerless Petroleum caused 12,000 gallons of gasoline to escape in a 10-week period. Much of the gas had got into the sewer lines, resulting in the explosion.
Munley represented the plaintiff against the oil company in a personal injury lawsuit. Munley was able to prove that Peerless did not keep accurate records to discover the loss of the gasoline which led to the explosion. The sewer authority was also blamed for not listening to customers' complaints that they could smell gasoline coming from the sewer lines.
The jury found the defendants to be responsible for O'Malley's injuries and awarded $400,000.[9]
Award and recognition
edit- 1993 – Listed in the Best Lawyers in America[1]
- Received board certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy.[1]
- 2020 – The American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group renamed its annual award from the Chairman's Award to the Robert W. Munley Pursuit of Justice Award in recognition of his pioneering work in truck accident law.[citation needed]
Charity work
editMunley offered scholarships to students pursuing careers in law at the University of Scranton, Marywood University, Landmark College, and Temple University Beasley School of Law.[1] He was a supporter of Lackawanna Pro Bono, a non-profit organization that established the Robert W. Munley Distinguished Service Award in his name.[10]
Death
editMunley passed away on Saturday, November 22, 1930, at the age of 89.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Jon O'connell,"Attorney Robert W. Munley Jr. dies at 89; his legal career and charity outside the courtroom inspired many". thetimes-tribune.com. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Robert Munley Obituary 1930 – Scranton Times". legacy.com. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Here's a Story . . . of a Firm Called Munley". Wall Street Journal. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Munley Pledges to Aid Students". The Scranton Tribune. October 28, 1969. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Past Presidents". lackawannabar.org. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "President's Page". pajustice.org. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Robert Munley Obituary (1930–2019)". legacy.com. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ Casey, Tom (June 14, 1985). "Jury Returns Record Verdict". The Times Tribune. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Court Upholds $400,000 Record Award Jury Made in Personal Injury Lawsuit". The Scranton Times. October 3, 1978. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Pro Bono Honors Due at Sixth Gala". The Scranton Times-Tribune. September 30, 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Attorney Robert W. Munley Jr. dies at 89; his legal career and charity outside the courtroom inspired many". standardspeaker.com. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2024.