WINNING

Irving Steinberg

Irving Steinberg never let a little thing like childhood polio hold him back, he went on to become a lawyer. When he opened his law office at 61 Broad Street in downtown Charleston in 1927, he never let a little thing like antisemitism hold him back either, he built a successful law practice representing clients other gentile lawyers wouldn’t represent. He helped draft and pass the Workers’ Compensation Act in 1936 protecting all South Carolina workers. He helped organize the churches during the struggle for civil rights becoming a member of the politically powerful Broad Street Ring of lawyers. And, somehow he found the time to mentor a very young lawyer showing him the true meaning of winning .

          As a new associate in Irving Steinberg’s law firm, he asked me to accompany him to a worker’s compensation hearing in Dorchester County. He gave me his keys and sent me to fetch his car parked at Batson’s, the last service station in downtown Charleston, where only Mr. Steinberg was allowed to park. Mr. Batson, wearing his signature pith helmet, had Mr. Steinberg’s white Cadillac Eldorado convertible, with red leather interior, all gassed up and the top down ready to go before I got there. Not recognizing me meant Mr. Batson had to give me a long speech telling me how lucky I was to be working for Mr. Steinberg while I became more and more anxious not wanting to keep Mr. Steinberg waiting. I finally got away and picked Mr. Steinberg up in front of the office. He jumped into the passenger seat and told me to head for the interstate. It was a beautiful day that no one enjoyed more than we did riding out of town in Mr. Steinberg’s Eldorado with the top down.

          The hearing wasn’t scheduled until later that afternoon and I wondered why we were leaving so early. First stop was a little corner store off the side of the road in the tiny town of Dorchester, South Carolina where Mr. Steinberg was greeted like Hollywood royalty. He talked for a good forty-five minutes with the store owner. As I waited with the car drinking a coke word of Mr. Steinberg’s visit must have spread as children began to appear out of nowhere just to get a look at him. Finally, after laughs, hugs, handshakes, and endless pats on children’s heads, we were on our way again but still not heading to the hearing. Next stop was a lawyer’s office in downtown St. George where Mr. Steinberg spent a good hour politically strategizing and shoring up a long-standing client referral source. Mr. Steinberg had a quick wit and kept the lawyer laughing throughout their meeting but, as with the store owner, I could tell there was a true bond of friendship between them.

          Finally, it was time to drive to the hearing. We arrived a good half hour early. To my surprise Mr. Steinberg told the Commissioner he’d settled the case with the insurance adjuster. The Commissioner was glad to hear it but told Mr. Steinberg, that being the case, there was no need for Mr. Steinberg to have made the trip. Mr. Steinberg disagreed, saying he had other business in the area and how he was always glad to see the Commissioner reaffirming their friendship as well. He then explained to the Commissioner when the hearing was called, he was going to ask that the Commissioner award his client a twenty percent disability to her foot, the adjuster would argue for five percent based on the doctor’s impairment rating, and the Commissioner should then award his client fifteen percent, the amount he and the adjuster had agreed upon to settle the case. By this time the adjuster had arrived with the clincher settlement agreement and check in hand, agreed to the settlement, and jokingly accused Mr. Steinberg of highway robbery. Mr. Steinberg jokingly shot back accusing the adjuster of being a miserly skinflint and said he was lucky to be getting off so easy. The Commissioner, adjuster, and Mr. Steinberg all had a good laugh. About that time, Mr. Steinberg’s client arrived and Mr. Steinberg asked to speak with her outside.

          We went outside and Mr. Steinberg uncharacteristically fussed at his client, asking her, what are you doing? The bewildered client didn’t know what to say. Mr. Steinberg told her to untie the shoe and instructed her on how to limp around on her left foot as he explained how the no-good, good for nothing company doctor had only given her a five percent rating to her foot but he knew the Commissioner and was going to get her way more than that. So, back into the hearing we went. The client limping on her untied left shoe, Mr. Steinberg passionately arguing she was entitled to a twenty percent award, and the adjuster just as emphatically arguing for the doctor’s rating. The Commissioner complimented both of them for their fine advocacy on behalf of their clients and, following the script, awarded Mr. Steinberg’s client fifteen percent. The actual hearing didn’t take five minutes. The clincher agreement was signed by the client, signed off on by the commissioner, and the settlement check delivered to Mr. Steinberg. Everybody was happy and hands were shook all around. The adjuster knew Mr. Steinberg probably could have gotten twenty percent and was glad to close his claim without having to hire a lawyer. The Commissioner was glad to have a free afternoon and clear another case off his docket. Mr. Steinberg’s client thought Mr. Steinberg hung the moon and she was right. And, me, well I learned what real winning in a courtroom looks like. A good lawyer leaves the courtroom with a smiling client. A truly great lawyer leaves with everybody smiling.