User:LukasGreenwood
Parker & McConkie
[edit]| Headquarters | Midvale, Utah |
|---|---|
| Key people | Jim McConkie, Brad Parker |
| Date founded | 1978, 45 years ago |
| Website | https://www.parkerandmcconkie.com/ |
Parker & McConkie is a renowned law firm founded by attorneys Jim McConkie[1] and Bradley H. Parker. Since its inception, the firm has primarily focused on personal injury and civil rights cases, establishing a reputation for unwavering dedication to justice.
These recognitions not only attest to Parker & McConkie's legal prowess but also reflect the firm's underlying ethos of fighting for the rights of individuals and promoting community welfare. The firm continues to be a beacon of integrity and advocacy in the legal landscape.
History
[edit]Founded in 1978, Parker & McConkie has established itself as a relentless advocate for justice, prosecuting a series of high-profile and groundbreaking cases that have shaped the legal landscape of Utah and beyond.
Their early success includes the landmark case Allred v. Chenowyth[2], which resulted in Utah's largest wrongful death verdict of over $52 million.
In 2000, Parker & McConkie achieved another remarkable victory in Williams v. IHC[3], obtaining Utah's largest medical malpractice verdict. Their expertise in personal injury law was further highlighted in a case where they represented a child who had been injured at birth due to medical negligence, achieving a $10 million verdict.
Their commitment to civil rights was exemplified in 2004, when they settled a suit against the University of Utah for religious discrimination. In 2009, they represented the State of Idaho against drug manufacturer Eli Lilly, recovering $13 million for deceptive practices related to the drug Zyprexa.
One of the firm's most recent notable successes was the McCluskey v. University of Utah case[4], which resulted in Utah's largest wrongful death settlement against a governmental entity, a $13.5 million settlement. This victory came in the same year co-founder Jim was honored as the "Lawyer of the Year" by the Utah State Bar.
Notable Cases
[edit]- 1992: Represented the sister-wives of a polygamist group, winning a $52 million verdict in a wrongful death case.[2]
- 2000: Obtained a $10 million verdict for a child injured at birth due to medical negligence.
- 2009: Recovered $13 million for the State of Idaho in a deceptive practice case against Eli Lilly regarding the drug Zyprexa.
- 2020: Successfully represented the family of Lauren McCluskey, obtaining a $13.5 million settlement in wrongful death and Title IX discrimination case against the University of Utah.[4]
- 2021: Representing the family of Gabby Petito in $50 million lawsuit against the Moab Police Department.[5]
- 2023: Parker & McConkie Settles Wrongful Death of Breanna Jimenez for $1,500,000[6]
- 2023: University of Utah and Zhifan Dong $5 Million[7] Settlement
Social Responsibility and Community Involvement
[edit]In recent years, the rise in anti-immigrant public attitudes and policies, has resulted in increased incidences of discrimination, injustice and violence against immigrant and refugee communities. However, as Americans and Utahns, we can and must do better. For many Utahns, support for refugees is rooted in our own history of migration as refugees seeking freedom from discrimination and violence.
In 2016, Jim McConkie and Brad Parker co-founded the Refugee Justice League in Utah with the purpose of defending the rights of refugees to live peacefully, to maintain their culture, and to practice their faith without restrictions or harassment. The Refugee Justice League is a group of attorneys and legal consultants dedicated to promoting and defending the civil, religious, and Constitutional rights of individuals who are discriminated against on the basis of their religious beliefs and national origins. Jim and Brad founded the League on the premise that refugees and immigrants in Utah should be welcomed and treated with dignity. The League has over 800 attorney members who have provided millions in free legal services for refugee individuals and families in Utah.
Following the tragic death of University of Utah student-athlete, Lauren McCluskey, in 2018, Jim McConkie and Brad Parker represented her family against the university for its failures that contributed to the cause of her death. The university eventually acknowledged that they “failed Lauren and her family” and agreed to a settlement of $13.5 million. The McCluskey family publicly committed to putting all of the money, after fees and costs, into the Lauren McCluskey Foundation, which seeks to improve campus safety, especially for women.
The Lauren McCluskey Foundation’s vision is to work with the more than 5,000 colleges and universities that receive Title IX federal funding within the United States to honor Lauren McCluskey’s legacy by bringing awareness to, funding research for, and providing resources to change the culture that responds poorly to dating violence and stalking on their campuses.
Media
[edit]
| Year | Coverage |
|---|---|
| 2022 | The Lethal Consequences of Dropping the Ball on Dating Violence (chronicle.com) |
| 2022 | Court TV Video] |
| 2022 | Rolling Stone: Gabby Petito’s Family Files $50 Million Wrongful Death Suit Against Utah Cops |
| 2023 | 48 Hours: Gabby Petito: The Untold Story |
Awards
[edit]- Top 10 Civil Rights Violation Settlements in the United States in 2020[8]
- Top 10 Wrongful Death Settlements in the United States in 2020[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "James W. McConkie".
- ^ a b "Allred v. Chynoweth".
- ^ "Wilson v. IHC Hosps., Inc".
- ^ a b "Family of Lauren McCluskey Agrees to $13.5 Million Settlement in Daughter's Death".
- ^ "Gabby Petito family to file $50M Utah lawsuit, saying Moab police should have done more".
- ^ "Salt Lake County settles out of court for jail death, pays $1.5M to Breanna Jimenez's mom".
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Top 10 Civil Rights Violation Settlements in the United States in 2020".
- ^ "Top 10 Wrongful Death Settlements in the United States in 2020".
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