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Biography

St. Clair County Bar Association:
Chair, Education Committee 1985-1987 Member, Legislative Committee 1996 - 1997

East St. Louis Bar Association
Bar Association of the Central and Southern Federal Districts of Illinois

Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board of the Illinois Supreme Court, Member, 2006-2015. Treasurer, 2011 to present.

Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America

Illinois State Bar Association:

Secretary, 1991 - 1992;
Member, Board of Governors, 1981 to 1983, 1987 - 1994;
Assembly, 1978 to 1996;
Member, Assembly Finance Committee, 1984-1987;
Member, Committee on Hearings, 1987;
Member, Assembly Rules and Bylaws Committee 1985-1986, 1995 - 1996; Member, Special Committee to Improve Assembly - Board of Governors Relations, 1986 - 1988;
Member, Council of the Individual Rights and Responsibilities Section, 1980 to 1981;
Member, Personnel Committee, 1982 to 1983;
Member, Membership & Bar Activities Committee, 1983 to 1986;
Member, ISBA-CBA Joint Commission on Judicial Compensation, 1983 to 1995;
Member, ISBA-CBA Joint Committee on Implementation of the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois, 1983 to 1986;
Member, Legislation Committee, 1984 - 1991, 1995 - 1996;
Member, Special Committee on Mandatory Continuing Legal Education, 1984-1988;
Member, Special Committee to Review the Institute of Public Affairs 1986-1988; Member, ISBA-CBA Joint Committee on State-Wide Legal Needs Assessment, 1987 - 1993;
Chair, Special Committee on Implementation of the Illinois Legal Needs Study 1990 - 1993;
Member, Scope and Correlation Committee 1991 -1994, and Vice-chair, 1991 - 1992;
Co-chair, Standing Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution 1990 - 1991; Member, Standing Committee on Professional Conduct, 1987-1988, 1995 - 2002, Secretary 1998-1999,Vice-chair, 1999-2000, Chair, 2000-2001;
Member, Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council, 1994 - 1999; Member, Judicial Evaluations Committee (Downstate), 1996 - 2008;
Member, Standing Committee on Legal Education, Admission and Competence, 2002-Present; Secretary, 2006-2007; 2012-2013; Vice-Chair, 2007-2008; 2013-2014; Chair, 2008-2009, 2014-2015;
Member, Illinois Task Force on Gender Bias in the Courts, 1988 - 1991.
Member, Standing Committee on Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, 2009 to Present.

American Bar Association:
Member, House of Delegates, 1989 -1994, 1995 - 1999.

ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Solo & Small Firm Division Liaison, 2007-present.

ABA Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law, Member, 2008-2011. Member, ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, 2007-present.
General Practice Solo and Small Firm Division:
Immediate Past Chair, 2002-2003; Chair, 2001-2002; Chair-Elect, 2000-2001; Secretary, 1999-2000;
Member of Council, 1989-1992, 1999-2003;
Division Director, 1988-1989, 1995-1997, 1998-1999;
Deputy Director, Administrative Division and Membership and Marketing Division 1997-1998;
Chair, Workers Compensation Committee, 1985 to 1988;
Member, Committee on Availability of Legal Services to Lower Income Public, 1973 to 1974;
Member, Committee on Representation of Defendants in Criminal Proceedings, 1974 to 1976;
Member, Litigation Committee, 1976 to 1984, Vice-chair 1980 to 1984; Vice-chair, Sole Practitioners & Small Firms Committee, 1983 - 1984;
Chair, Litigation Subcommittee, 1983 to 1985;
Substantive Law Advisory Board, 1985 - 1988,
Long Range Planning Committee, 1989 - 1991;
Chair, Scope and Correlation Committee 1991 - 1992, member, 1999-2000; Vice-Chair, House of Delegates Committee; 1990 - 1993, member, 1989-1994,1999-2000;
Chair, Meeting Arrangements Committee 1990 - 1991;
Member, Task Force on Lawyer Discipline 1990 - 1991;
Vice-Chair, Tort and Insurance Practice Committee, 1991 - 1995; Member, Task Force on Women's Issues, 1990 - 1991;
Member, Marketing Board, 1992 - 1996,1997-1998, Deputy Chair 1997-1998;
Vice-chair, Specialization, Certification & Law School Curriculum Committee, 1996 - 1998;
Chair, Bylaws Committee, 1999-2000, member, 1995 - 2000;
Member, Resource Development Group, 1998-2000;
Member, Membership Board, 2003-2005;
Member, Diversity Committee 2004-2006;
Member, Corporate Sponsor Committee, 2008-present.
Member, Professionalism & Professional Responsibility Committee, 2009-Present; Co-Chair, 2012-Present.

Senior Lawyers Division
Vice Chair of the Membership Committee 2004-2007.

Tort and Insurance Practice Section:
Member, Automobile Law Committee, 1976 to 1977; Member, Trial Techniques Committee, 1977 to 1979; Vice-chair, Committee on Medicine and Law, 1987 - 1990.

Urban, State and Local Government Law Section:
Member, Committee on Public Borrowing, 1976 to 1978; Member, Committee on Government Tort Liability, 1978 to 1979.

Criminal Justice Section:
Member, Criminal Code Revision Committee, 1980 to 1982; Member, Grand Jury Committee, 1979 to 1980; Member, Narcotics Problems: Policy and Enforcement Committee, 1979 to 1982; Member, Legislative Committee, 1982 to 1987.

Individual Rights and Responsibilities Section:
Member, Criminal Justice Committee 1982 to 1987; Program Chair, Access to Civil Justice Committee, 1982 to 1993; Member, Privacy Committee, 1982 to 1984; Member, Alcoholism and Drug Reform Committee, 1982 to 1984.

Economics of Law Practice Section:
Member, Sole Practitioner and Small Firms Committee, 1975 to 1976.

Litigation Section:
Member, Professional Liability Litigation Committee 1994 - 2008; Individual and Small Firms Committee 1994 - 2008t; Committee on Liaison with State and Local Bar Associations, 1984 - 1994; Trial Practice Committee 1994 - 2008. Attorney's Liability Committee 1997 - 2008. Member, Web Board, Professional Liability Litigation Committee, 2007-2008.
American Association For Justice: Member, 1970-2007; Bar Liaison Committee 1999-2007.
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

Member: Board of Advocates, 1993 - 1997, 1999-2007, Member, Long Range Planning Committee 1982 to 1984; Member, Legislation Committee 1992 - 1997; Member, Civil Practice and Rules Committee, 1996 - present.

Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity.

Illinois Public Defenders Association, 1973 to 1974: Member, Board of Directors, 1973 to 1974.

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers:
Member, Membership Committee, 1977 to 1978; Member, Lawyers Assistance Committee, 1977 to 1980.


Missouri Bar Association:
Member, Civil Practice and Procedure Committee 1977 to 1985; Tort Law Committee 1980 to present.


Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis:
Member, Professional Ethics and Methods of Practice Committee, 1984 - 1987; 2001-2007; Member, Bench and Bar Committee, 1984 - 1987. Chair, Illinois CLE Committee, 2006-2010.


Board of Visitors, University of Illinois College of Law:
Member, 1979-1986; President, 1983-1984.

Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation; Illinois Fellows Co-Chair, 2012 - Present.


Diamond(Charter Patron) Fellow, Illinois Bar Foundation: Member, Board of Directors, 1993 - 2004; Member, Executive Committee, 1994 - 2004 and Chairperson of Bylaws Committee, 1994 - 1998; Treasurer, 1998-2004.
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc.:
Member, Board of Directors, 1982 to 1988, Vice Chair, 1987 to 1988.

Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois:
Member, Board of Directors, 1988 - 1994.

Illinois Technology Center for Law & Public Interest
Member, Board of Directors, 2001-2004.

Illinois Legal Aid On-line
Incorporator, 2005; Member, Board of Directors, 2005-2008; President of Board of Directors, 2006-2008

Honors:
The National Trial Lawyers (by election of peers—top 100 trial lawyers in each state; selected for Illinois)
Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation only, national trial lawyer honorary society, limited to 0.5% of American lawyers.
University of Illinois, College of Law, Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2007. Fellows of the Illinois Bar Foundation: Fellows Award for Distinguished Service
to Law and Society, 2007.
Martindale-Hubbell rating: Illinois, AV; Missouri, AV
Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Senior Counsel, The College of Master Advocates and Barristers
Illinois Super Lawyer, Plaintiff's Tort Law, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 (top 5%)
America's Leading Lawyers: Plaintiff’s tort law and professional malpractice law (top 5%)
Selected for: Law & Leading Attorneys
Selected for Marquis' Who's Who in: The World; America; American Law; the Midwest; Emerging Leaders in America


Civic Organizations:

Member, Board of Directors Illinois Division & Chair Southwestern Illinois Chapter, American Civil Liberties Union, 1971 to 1974, 1976 to 1980.
Boy Scouts of America: Eagle Scout, Ad Altare Dei, Arrow of Light; Brotherhood Member, Order of the Arrow; District Award of Merit, 1976; Den Leader Square Knot Award, 2008; Cubmaster Square Knot Award, 2009; Cub Scout Round Table Staff Square Knot Award, 2010; Scouters Key, St. Clair District Committee, 2012; Wood Badge, 2009; Wood Badge Staff, (troop guide)2014 .
Troop 115, Unit Committee Member 1963 to 1968; Unit Commissioner 1971 to 1972, 2010-2011; Chair, Okaw Valley Council Finance Committee, 1972 to 1973; Chair, Exploring Committee, St. Clair District, 1973 to 1974; Vice-Chair, St. Clair District 1974 to 1978, Member at Large, St. Clair District Committee 2015 to present; St. Clair District Eagle Scout Board of Review 1976 to 1979;
Pack 520: Den Leader, Den 1, 2006-2007, Ast. Den Leader, Den 1, 2007-2010, Chair, Pack Committee, 2007-2008; Cubmaster, 2007 to 2010; Member, Lewis & Clark Council and St. Clair District High Adventure Committees, 2011-present; Lewis & Clark Council NESA Committee, 2014 to Present; Ast. Scoutmaster, Troop 3, 2011-2014; Assoc. Advisor, Crew 3, 2012-Present; Second Ast. Scoutmaster, Lewis & Clark Council, 2013 National Jamboree; Wood Badge C-09-08; Wood Badge Troop Guide C-3-114-14; Committee Member, Cub Scout Pack 12, 2014 to present

Professional Experience:

Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of East St. Louis, Illinois, 1974 to 1979
Legal Counsel, East St. Louis Transit Commission, 1974 to 1976;
Legal Counsel, East St. Louis, Landlord Tenant Relations Board, 1974 to 1976.
George Ripplinger & Associates, 1994-2005; Partner, Ripplinger, Dixon & Johnston, 1990 to 1994; Partner, Ripplinger & Dixon, 1987 to 1990; Partner, Ripplinger, Dixon & Ver Steegh 1987; Partner, Ripplinger, Dixon, Hoffman &
Ver Steegh, 1984 to 1987; Partner, Ripplinger, Dixon & Hoffman, 1981 to 1984; Partner, Ripplinger & Dixon, 1980 to 1981, Belleville, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri; Partner, Ripplinger, Ransom & Dixon, Belleville, Illinois and Clayton, Missouri, 1976 to 1980; Partner, Ripplinger & Walsh, Belleville, Illinois and Clayton, Missouri, 1974 to 1976; Sole Practitioner, Belleville, Illinois, 1974; Associate Meyer & Meyer, Belleville, and Greenville, Illinois, 1970 to 1973;


Military History:

Colonel, Army of the United States (Retired), Medical Service Corps, 1970
to 2001; 21st General Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri 1971 to 1978, with duty assignments of: Security Manager, Unit Fund Custodian, Records Management Officer, Communications Security Officer and Communications Officer, 1971 to 1975; Assistant Registrar and Assistant S-3 (Plans Training and Operations), 1975 to 1976; S-1/Adjutant, 1976; Training Manager, 1976 to 1977; S-3, 1977 to 1978; Instructor, Academy of Health Sciences, Army Medical Department, 1977; Medical Planning Officer (IMA), National Disaster Medical Service, Tripler Army Medical Center, HI, (a two star command), 1991-1994; Medical Plans and Training Officer (IMA), Tripler Army Medical Center, HI, 1994-1996; Chief, Operations (IMA), Pacific Regional Medical Command (a two star command), and Tripler Army Medical Center, HI, 1996-1997; Patient Administrator (IMA), NDMS, Pacific Regional Medical Command, Tripler Army Medical Center, HI, 1997-1998; Operations Officer (IMA), Office of the Command Surgeon (two star position), U.S. Army Pacific Command, Fort Shafter, HI, 1998-2001frequently serving as Deputy Chief of Staff (Medical) for U.S. Army Pacific Command (a three star command) .
Reserve Officers Association, Life member
Chapter 30, Legislative Chair, 1976 to 1977, Corresponding Secretary, 1977 to 1978.

Military Schooling:

Graduate of: Branch Officers Basic Course (Army Medical Department); Battalion Surgeon's Assistant Course; Branch Officers Advanced Course (Army Medical Department); Medical Plans, Training, Operations and Intelligence Course; Army Command and General Staff College; completed non-resident phase
Patient Administration Course.

Awards and Decorations:

Meritorious Service Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Reserve Meritorious Achievement Medal (4 awards); National Defense Service Medal (2 awards); Army Service Ribbon; Expert Field Medical Badge; Sharpshooter Qualification Badge (Rifle); Reserve Officers Association Chapter 30 Officer of the Year (21st General Hospital) 1977.

Publications:

Author: Trial Advocacy in Illinois (with Drake, Holley and Rose) National Business Institute (1992) (Chapters on: Initial Considerations; Opening Statements).
Author: Software: Information Management, GP Solo, December, 2003, General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section, American Bar Association.
Reviewer: Missouri Professional Liability, The Missouri Bar (2005)
Author: Chapters on Missouri Supreme Court Rule 73, Trial by Court and Rule 79, Assignment of Judges in Case of Disability, Civil Procedure, 3rd Ed. The Missouri Bar, 2007 and 2013 Supplement.
Lecturer:

American Bar Association:
Use of Economists in Civil Litigation (Toronto, Canada)
Ethics in Advertising and Marketing for Lawyers (Washington, D.C.) Marketing for the Sole Practitioner and Small Firm (Boston, Mass. And Video)

Illinois Trial Lawyers Association:
Admissions and Declarations Against Interest (1991, St. Louis, MO) Update on Forum Non-Conveniens, Venue and Jurisdiction Discovery Before Suit Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 224 (2002, St. Louis, MO)
Ethics in Wrongful Death: Conflicts and Privileges: Wrongful Death Seminar (2005, St. Louis)

Illinois State Bar Association:
Little Used Methods of Discovery in Civil Cases (1990)
Cross Examination of Experts at Deposition and Trial (1992)
Offers of Proof, Motions to Strike (1994)
Matters Encountered at the Initial Pleading Stage (1995 Bloomington, IL)
Hardball Litigation: What's a Good Lawyer to Do? (2002, Collinsville, IL) Malpractice Prevention, Young Lawyers Division, (2007, Chicago)

Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Developments in Ethics - Litigation (2002, St. Louis, MO)

Missouri Bar Association
Avoiding Common Malpractice Problems and Pitfalls in Personal Injury Litigation (2002, Clayton, MO);
Essentials of Missouri Practice, Avoiding Malpractice (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Columbia, MO, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 St. Louis, MO)
Malpractice Prevention, Professionalism and Ethics (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, (telephone seminar with call-in)
Social Media, The Impact on Lawyer Ethics, Malpractice Prevention and Professionalism, (Malpractice Prevention), 2012 (telephone seminar with call-in)
Changes to Rule 4, Rules of Professional Conduct, 2008. (telephone seminar with call-in)
Keeping Your Law Practice on Track (Office Systems), Columbia, MO, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.
Stepping Up and Stepping Out. Keynote speaker for multi-day young lawyers seminar. Topic: Ethics and Professionalism in the Practice of Law, 2014.

Illinois Government Bar Association:
Attorney as Professional, Professionalism: From Concept to Practice (2010, Springfield, IL)

National Business Institute:
Trial Advocacy in Illinois (eight-hour seminar presented with Dennis Rose) (1992, Collinsville, IL)

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Areas of Law and Practice

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Jurisdictions

• Missouri

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Employment History

• Associate Attorney | Meyer and Meyer

  1970 - 1973

  Personal Injury Trial Lawyer

• Partner | Ripplinger and Walsh

  1974 - 1976

  Trial Lawyer

• Partner | Ripplinger and Dixon

  1980 - 1981

  Trial Lawyer

• Partner | Ripplinger Ransom and Dixon

  1976 - 1980

  Trial Lawyer

• Partner | Ripplinger Dixon and Hoffman

  1981 - 1984

  Trial Lawyer

• Partner | Ripplinger Dixon and Ver Steegh

  1984 - 1987

  Trial Lawyer

• Partner | Ripplinger and Dixon

  1987 - 1990

  Trial Lawyer

• Partner | Ripplinger Dixon and Johnson

  1990 - 1994

  Trial Lawyer

• Partner | Ripplinger and Zimmer

  1994 - 2015

  Trial Lawyer

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Education

• AB Political Science | University of Illinois

  1963 - 1967

• JD Law | University of Illinois

  1967 - 1970

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Attorney Rating and Feedback

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Publications and Presentations

No Publications

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