HR1168 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1168 LRB097 21898 GRL 70607 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Philip H. Corboy; and

WHEREAS, Philip Corboy grew up in West Rogers Park and attended St. Margaret Mary Grade School in Rogers Park and St. George's High School in Evanston; he subsequently attended 4 colleges and graduated first in his class from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1949; and

WHEREAS, Philip Corboy served with pride as a member of the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, After working for a short time with the City of Chicago, Philip Corboy began working for James Dooley, a prominent personal injury lawyer who eventually became an Illinois Supreme Court justice; and

WHEREAS, Philip Corboy began his own legal practice in 1952; he practiced personal injury trial law for more than 50 years and was the co-founder of the Chicago firm Corboy & Demetrio; he continued practicing law into his early 80s; and

WHEREAS, From 1974 through 2000, the law firm of Corboy & Demetrio secured 387 settlements in excess of $1 million; his firm worked on the Tylenol poisoning case, the crashes of commercial jetliners, and the 1995 collision between a train and school bus that killed 7 students in Fox River Grove; and

WHEREAS, Philip Corboy was listed by the National Law Journal as one of the top 100 most influential lawyers in the country since beginning its survey in 1985 and was one of only 13 lawyers nationwide to hold that distinction; he was listed in "The Best Lawyers in America" since its inception in 1987; he was also the recipient of the 1996 Big Shoulders Humanitarian Award for their commitment to a fund for inner-city Catholic schools; and

WHEREAS, Philip Corboy was the first personal injury lawyer to be elected president of the Chicago Bar Association in 1972; he served as president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association; he was a former chairman of the Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association and a former chair of the American Bar Association's Special Committee on Medical Professional Liability; he also served as general counsel for the Illinois Democratic Party and served on the boards of directors of numerous business, legal, and charitable groups and as a member of numerous medical and legal task forces; and

WHEREAS, Philip Corboy was well known throughout his community for his charity work; he led the Catholic Archdiocese 'Big Shoulders' fund for years; buildings were also dedicated to him at the Loyola University School of Law and a room was named for him at the Chicago Bar Association; he was also involved in the Catholic Church Extension Society and was a confidante to Cardinal Joseph Bernardin; and

WHEREAS, Philip Corboy was preceded in death by his children, Bobby and Joan Corboy; and

WHEREAS, Philip Corboy is survived by his wife, Mary Dempsey; his sons, Philip H. "Flip" Corboy Jr., John R. Corboy, and Thomas M. Corboy; his 8 grandchildren; and his brother; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Philip H. Corboy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Philip Corboy as an expression of our sympathy.