Stanley M. Chesley

Stanley M. Chesley (b. March 26, 1936) is an Ohio trial lawyer and the husband of federal judge Susan Dlott.

Chesley, the son of Ukrainian immigrants, graduated from University of Cincinnati and University of Cincinnati Law School. He first came to fame as a plaintiffs' lawyer in litigation arising from the 1977 Beverly Hills Supper Club fire, which killed 165 people. Rather than merely sue the nightclub, Chesley sued the entire aluminum electrical wire industry, blaming them for the fire. The aggressive and unprecedented tactic of seeking enterprise liability for an entire industry worked, and he won $49 million in verdicts and settlements; individual defendants settled for about a million dollars in the face of Chesley waving gruesome photos of fire victims rather than risk going to trial and losing much more, though those who did defend themselves often won.Chuck Martin, "Champion for the little guy", "Cincinnati Enquirer", 28 May 2006]

Chesley won billions of dollars more in other mass torts, contributing to bankrupting Pan Am over the Lockerbie terrorist attack and helping to bankrupt Dow Corning in controversial breast implant litigation.Andrew Wolfson, [http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701210391 "A breach of duty; wealth mounts for 'prince of torts'"] , "Louisville Courier-Journal" 21 Jan 2007] Chesley was one of the "inner circle" of the plaintiffs' bar that negotiated the controversial $246 billion tobacco settlement on behalf of state governments.

He was ProBono Counsel in the Jewish material claims against German, Austrian, and Swiss financial istitutions.

Chesley is a Life Board Member of the NAACP and was for five years Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Cincinnati

Controversy

Stan Chesley is named in a lawsuit related to the settlement of fen-phen litigation in Kentucky. Former clients have sued Chesley and three other plaintiffs' attorneys for allegedly breaching their duties by diverting most of a $200 million settlement fund to themselves with only one third to the plaintiffs.Andrew Wolfson, [http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/NEWS01/701210441 "Lawyer: Fen-phen notes destroyed"] , "Louisville Courier-Journal", 21 Jan. 2007] Judge Joseph F. Bamberger approved the settlement, but resigned when it was revealed that he was paid $5000 a month as a director of a charitable entity funded by the settlement and directed by the attorneys. [Beth Musgrave, "Fen-phen lawsuit judge resigns", "Lexington Herald-Leader", 28 Feb. 2006; Jim Hannah, "Judge quits amid allegations", "Cincinnati Enquirer", 28 Feb. 2006; "Investigation of Bamberger warranted" (editorial), "Cincinnati Enquirer", 1 Mar. 2006; "A blistering rebuke" (editorial), Cincinnati Post, 1 Mar. 2006; Peter Bronson, "Hold this judge in contempt", Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2006] Chesley, who collected a $20.5 million fee for negotiating the settlement, maintains that he was not co-counsel for the plaintiffs and was not aware that the attorneys were deceiving their clients and that he therefore owes no duty to the 440 plaintiffs

References

Three of the plaintiffs' attorneys, but not Chesley, were indicted and tried in U.S. District Court in Northern Kentucky for conspiracy to committ wire fraud. The jury acquitted one lawyer, but hung on two others. The federal government has promised to retry the two lawyers, both of whom remain in custody pending their retrial. Chesley's attorney is Scott C. Cox of Louisville, Kentucky.