Lawyers sometimes reach into
their own 'deep pockets'

May 19-25, 1988 Opinion Column

HONOLULU - It isn't often that we hear of lawyers donating a portion of their fees to help a worthy cause. But it has happened in Hawaii Kai, with two law firms donating funds to build and furnish a rehabilitation clinic.

The law firms are Shim Tam Kirimitsu Kitamura & Chang and Davis & Levin. They donated $85,000 in frees they received after winning a judgment for the family of a 16-year-old girl killed two years ago by a drunken driver.

The facility that this money will build is a clinic to be operated by the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific. The clinic will be named for Dawn Marie Julian, the girl who was killed, and will be opened on her birthday, July 30.

It is good to hear of things like this. We almost always think of personal injury lawyers lining their own pockets with a percentage of the proceeds they win for their clients.

The two law firms that decided to forego a portion of their legal fees to help provide a needed service deserve the thanks of the community. They have our thanks as well.

email Mark Davis