Stanley M. Chesley

Stanley M. Chesley
Born (1936-03-26) March 26, 1936 (age 88)
United States
Occupationformer lawyer
SpouseSusan J. Dlott

Stanley M. Chesley (born March 26, 1936) is a disbarred former Ohio trial lawyer. He is the husband of federal judge Susan J. Dlott.[1]

Chesley, the son of Jewish Ukrainian immigrants, graduated from Walnut Hills High School, the 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 (and two unborn infants). 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, winning $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.[2]

Chesley won billions of dollars for his clients in other mass torts, representing clients suing Pan Am over the Lockerbie terrorist attack and clients suing Dow Corning in controversial breast implant litigation.[1][3] Chesley was one of the "inner circle" of the plaintiffs' bar that negotiated the controversial $246 billion tobacco settlement on behalf of state governments, and settlements against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati for sexual abuse.

He was Pro Bono Counsel in the Jewish material claims against German, Austrian, and Swiss financial institutions.

In May 2008, President George W. Bush appointed Chesley to serve on the Honorary Delegation to accompany him to Jerusalem for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel.[4]

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.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Disbarment was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Martin, Chuck (May 28, 2006). "Champion for the little guy". Cincinnati Enquirer.
  3. ^ Wolfson, Andrew (January 21, 2007). "A breach of duty; wealth mounts for 'prince of torts'". Louisville Courier-Journal.
  4. ^ Lake, Eli (May 13, 2008). "Bush Visit May Boost Olmert". The New York Sun. Archived from the original on October 12, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2015.