The Giant Killers

Robert V. Parenti, World War II veteran, struggles with his conflicts faced in the war and his career as a lawyer, when he teams up with power house trial lawyer, Willie Gary, in a battle bringing corporate America to its knees in nationally known high profile cases against Walt Disney Company, Anheuser-Busch Inc, Motorola Company and Loewen Funeral Homes. Based on true courtroom experiences, this is a fascinating insight into behind-the-scenes strategy and court room drama that led to their unprecedented victories against tenacious foes financed by unlimited resources. The courtroom drama begins when Jeremiah O'Keefe, the owner of a small family owned funeral home business in Mississippi, sought out the services of Gary and Parenti and requested they join him in a battle against the Loewen Group, an international funeral home conglomerate, seeking to monopolize the funeral home business in Mississippi, by engaging in illegal trade practices. Jerry, a World War II decorated Marine pilot, credited with shooting down five Japanese fighters in the early stages of the Pacific war, claimed Loewen, financed by the Asian bankers, was committing illegal trade practices and attempting to corner and monopolize the funeral business in Mississippi and drive him out of business. He was right. Their joining forces and pursuing a suit against the Loewen group led in a stunning victory and a jury verdict of five hundred million dollars. That victory was the first, resulting in a series of subsequent victories, by Gary and Parenti, all related hereafter in riveting detail, with the actual excerpts and transcripts from the trials. It is an example of how racial and cultural barriers are lost when men join together in a common cause in the pursuit of justice. In a closing argument Parenti expresses his faith in the underlying principles of our Country, so long as ultimate power Is insured to rest in U.S. citizens as America's jury.
About the Author: Robert Parenti, a trial lawyer for over 50 years, became interested in writing after his discovery of letters written in 1943-44 as a young soldier from the battlefields of Europe. The recipient was his sweetheart, Laurie, now his wife of over 50 years, who saved the letters which were to become the inspiration and foundation for his recently published book, "A Story of Love and War". Upon his return from Europe he married Laurie, began to raise a family and completed his education on the "G.I. bill", a program offered to returning veterans for financing their interrupted educational opportunities. In 1951 he graduated from the Detroit College of Law, now merged with Michigan State University, and was admitted to the practice of law in Pontiac, Michigan. He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in 1958. In 1965 he was elected President of the Oakland County Bar Association and to the Board of the State Bar of Michigan in 1978. He was appointed chairman of the Oakland County Selective Service System by President Lyndon Johnson and served for 10 years on that board. He served on numerous civic and veteran's organizations and represented various corporate and municipal entities during his tenure. He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in 1958. In 1978 he was admitted to the Florida Bar and admitted to practice before the Florida Supreme Court. In 1980 he opened an office in Stuart, Florida. In 1985 he joined Willie Gary and Lorenzo Williams, noted Florida trial attorneys, and formed the litigation law firm of Gary, Williams & Parenti and for the next 20 years engaged in multiple jury trials throughout the country. With his impending retirement he gathered what little journalistic experience he gained from his first literary endeavor and decided to write "The Giant Killers", a memoir based on his true life trial experiences in court battles against some of America's largest corporations. The story should appeal to any lawyer, law student or citizen interested in trial technique and tactics and behind the scenes strategy engaged in by the country's top law firms and their clients. As he learned from his first writing endeavor, writing reality in not easy, especially for a lawyer. Now retired from the full time practice of law he serves as "Of Counsel" to the law firm, and continues his membership in the State Bar of Florida and the Michigan State Bar as Lawyer Emeritus. Now residing in Stuart, Florida, he spends his leisure time traveling with Laurie, their children and grandchildren, fishing, boating and contemplating his next journalistic endeavor.