Boy DUI Victim Holds Special Place in Attorney Joe Dunn’s Heart

December 21st, 2010. By BrendaC

LawyersandSettlements.com has a new column that looks at a side of lawyers you don’t hear too much about—the side that gives back…pays it forward..and shares the love. We’ve found quite a number of attorneys who log non-billable hours helping others—simply because they believe it’s the right thing to do. Their stories are inspiring, and hey, who knew lawyers were so…good? If you’ve got a story to share about an attorney who’s doing the right thing, let us know—we’d love to let others know, too. Today, we talk with Attorney Joseph Dunn of Wigington, Rumley & Dunn…

Attorney Joe Dunn: “People think lawyers don’t have feelings, well, we do”

Attorneys Joseph Dunn and David Rumley haveinvited 11-year-old Mason Archer to go hunting with them again this year in January on Rumley’s ranch in Texas. They first met little Mason when he was just five. A drunk driver slammed into the family’s truck leaving Mason paralyzed from the chest down and lawyers from Wigington, Rumley & Dunn were asked to represent the family in a complex personal injury lawsuit.

“We’ve come to know Mason and his family very well over the years. He is just such a special kid and he has such a positive attitude,” says Dunn.  

“He likes to hunt,” says Joesph Dunn. “So, I asked him last hunting season if he wanted to come down [to the ranch]. He got excited about that. We got all set up for him and flew him down.”

Charlie Archer, Mason Archer, Mason Dunn & Attorney Joe Dunn

“We got some wheelchair accessible hunting blinds,” says Dunn. “I brought my two boys and my partner, David Rumley, brought his son and we had a boys weekend, hunting and sitting around the campfire at night.”

“We were out hunting on the ranch for 3 or 4 days and it was a special time,” says Dunn.

It’s been five years since Mason’s accident and life has changed for the Archers in so many ways since that night on a twisty Arkansas road in 2005. Mason was riding in the back seat of the family’s GM extended cab truck. The seat belt failed to protect Mason and it wrapped around Mason like a barber pole says Dunn. To make matters worse, the medical team at the hospital took hours to notice that the little boy couldn’t move his legs. Quick and proper treatment likely would have mitigated his injuries.

Dunn and the other members of the legal team representing the Archers obtained a confidential settlement from GM in a product liability suit for defective seat belts and another medical malpractice suit against the hospital for delayed treatment. The 24-year-old drunk driver who caused the accident died at the scene. The Archers sued his estate.

“Mason has done wonderful things even from a wheelchair,” says Dunn. “He started an awareness campaign about the dangers of drunk driving and he is just a great role model.”

With the money from the settlements, the Archers have been able to a set up their home to accommodate Mason and provide him with the care he needs. His dad bought him a 6-wheel ATV that he can drive around their property.

“I think it is one of the highlights of my career, meeting Mason and his family,” says Dunn. “I know people don’t think lawyers have feelings, but we do. And it just feels good to have Mason come down here to visit and to help people like the Archers.”

“He’s special. Just look at how well he’s doing.”

Joseph (Joe) Dunn is a name partner with the firm of Wigington, Rumley & Dunn. He holds a B.S. from Texas A&M and a J.D. from St. Mary’s University Law School. He handles a variety of personal injury and medical malpractice cases. He also likes to hunt.

Tags: Joseph Dunn, Lawyers Giving Back, Wigington Rumley & Dunn

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