Client Testimonials

Gordon is an attorney with whom I have a long-standing professional relationship. In March of 2018, my uncle who raised me, then living in Oregon, received a provisional diagnosis of Mesothelioma. The family was grief stricken. After it was confirmed, we quickly contacted Gordon as we knew he was one of the most experienced attorneys in that subject area.

Within hours, Gordon contacted one of his acquaintances from Texas. That attorney had significant trial experience in the area and quickly went to work. After some preliminary phone conversations, the attorney travelled to Oregon twice to meet the family and to gather information in support of what would eventually become my cousins’ wrongful death case filed in San Francisco.

Partial settlements were made with some defendants as the matter moved through the litigation process. All defendants settled prior to trial in August of 2023. Resolutions continue with the Asbestos Settlement Trusts. Not only were the services that Gordon and his associates professionally administered, but the services were also delivered in a very humanistic manner taking time to explain to the family all of the next steps.

We are truly grateful to Gordon for facilitating this process.

Paul

My father worked at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard as a pipefitter and was a client of Gordon’s in the 1980’s. All my life he told me should he get sick or pass away to get in touch with Gordon Stemple. After his retirement my father relocated to Las Vegas Nevada. In late 2011 he was having labored breathing, so he called Gordon.

After a chest x-ray detected a mass, he called to tell him a biopsy was scheduled. Gordon had my father inform his primary physician, given his long industrial exposure to asbestos, he would appreciate it if the pathologist would look for the existence of asbestos fibers, in addition to determining malignancy and the cell type. Not only did the pathologist find asbestos fibers, but he determined they had triggered an autoimmune reaction. This greatly assisted in proving his cancer was caused by asbestos.

He arranged to have one of the leading asbestos litigation firms in San Francisco represent my father. Most of the defendants settled out before trial. When the case did go to trial, my father was an excellent witness. The remaining defendants settled out prior to allowing the case being submitted to the jury. Though no amount of money would have been enough, my father was able to buy a new house, car and provide financial assistance to his family members. I know this gave him a sense of pride for the remainder of his life.

My brother and I are still receiving settlements from the various Asbestos Settlement Trusts. I have worked in a foundry where I was exposed to asbestos. If I ever have any asbestos related health issues, you can bet I will call him too. More than the attorney client relationship, Gordon and my father were friends. They spoke frequently. He always knew what to expect next.

Branden

In late 2004, I went to a nationally known department store to purchase a Washing Machine. On the day it was delivered to my home one of the delivery men made a few inappropriate comments to me. When they arrived at my home, he came in by himself to see where the Washer was going and asked if I lived alone. Later, after the Washer was installed, he asked if he could use my phone to verify with the company that the delivery was completed. After hanging up he said he gives massages and asked if I was interested in getting one. I told him no, I was not, and soon after he left.

I am a single mother with a young son and at that time we lived alone in a two-story house. One week after the delivery at about 1:30 a.m., I was falling asleep when I heard my kitchen door squeak open. The sound awoke me. I waited several minutes and then heard someone kick my cats’ food bowl. Once I realized there was someone in my home, I called 911 several times. I didn’t speak out of fear the intruder would hear me. I was certain they would dispatch the police to my home.

Before they arrived, the intruder came up the stairs to my bedroom. I was terrified and had only a Mag Flashlight to defend myself. He came at me, and I struck him with it. He was much bigger and stronger than me, and as I fought for my life, it seemed to go on forever. He dragged me out of my bedroom, through the hallway and into the bathroom where his violent attack continued. After struggling with him, he left the bathroom. I went to the bathroom window; however, he came back in and told me to get into the shower and left again. As soon as he left, I went back to the window, opened it to jump out but the police were there, below me at my front door. They had scared my attacker away, however, were able to later track him down.

To this day, the trauma of this event has stayed with me in many ways.

Once the criminal trial was over, Gordon researched several attorneys to represent me in the civil case. After he found the right law firm, I retained them, and they requested Gordon become part of the legal team. The civil case was against a national department store chain that failed to fully investigate third-party companies that were responsible for the people who were allowed to provide delivery services of goods, including entering customer’s homes. When Gordon joined the team, I was very confident that I was being well represented. Because of Gordon’s involvement, my case was resolved by a confidential settlement, shortly before trial.

Recently, a new law was passed in my state designed to reduce the prison population. This new law made it easy for inmates like my assailant to secure an unwarranted early release. My attacker applied to both the trial court and parole board to reduce his sentence to time served and be afforded the freedom to go back into society where he could harm and terrorize me or someone else.

When an early parole matter came up, Gordon was extremely confident and advised that I should not let this worry me at all and he would do everything within his power to prevent my attacker from obtaining early release. He became immersed in the relevant law and read the transcript of the criminal trial. He explained his strategy step-by-step and stayed in contact with me throughout the entire ordeal. We had to appear in the trial court where the proceedings required both me and my assailant to testify. Gordon wrote an amazing brief that truly moved the trial judge. We had prepared for this hearing together and I felt an immense amount of strength because of Gordon’s professionalism, thoroughness, and care. Given our preparation, I was not frightened at all. Gordon said he was amazed at how well I conducted myself before the court.

A few days later, the opinion came down. The man who subjected me to such a horrific life shattering experience was held over to serve the rest of his sentence. It was an incredible relief for me. I couldn’t even begin to think of how I could repay Gordon. When I asked how much I owed him, his response was “Are you kidding? Don’t insult me.” This was an unbelievable moment in my life, and I feel very honored to have had Gordon represent me.

Anne

I reached out to Gordon in 2019 because my shipyard and municipal jobs, as a pipefitter, beginning in the 1970’s, subjected me to industrial asbestos exposure and I was having some difficulty breathing. He remembered me, though he had so many clients, and it was more than 30 years since we last spoke. It was his idea to navigate my HMO insurance provider to assist me being seen by both a pulmonologist and “B” reader radiologist. His ideas worked. I was thankful to learn I had no serious asbestos related disease at that time.

He learned that I had been tied up with a workers compensation claim for over five years. My attorney was not and has not been keeping me updated concerning my claims. Gordon said I was one of the most injured workers he has met for many years. I have head injuries; my teeth were knocked out by a steel pipe on the job. It was taking so much time for me to get them replaced, years. More recently, I was being treated by a workers compensation doctor who managed to knock them out a second time, during a new procedure. My attorney was doing nothing to have them repaired the second time. I had to handle this matter by myself.

There are multilevel injuries to my neck, mid and lower back, with herniated discs. I’ve had a hearing loss injury, mobility issues, not being able to obtain pain relief medication, and to have the physical therapy the workers compensation doctor said I needed. The list goes on and on. Yet my attorney will not keep me informed, so I can at least know what to do or expect from the system or when. I have been obtaining most of my information from the workers compensation defense adjuster. He told me my attorney has not filed any papers in my case since 2021.

I keep getting the runaround. Another law firm told me I have an excellent case, but they cannot take it over because my present attorney will have a lien claim for many years. In short, I’m stuck between a rock and a hard spot. Gordon has tried to help me light a fire under my attorney, but nothing has worked. Now, Gordon says, he believes it is time for him to get involved in a more direct and meaningful way. He said this was one of the worse cases of non-communication between an attorney and his client he has seen.

I told Gordon I had no money to pay for his time. He said not to worry about that. He is taking this personally and will do what he can to get my attorney to communicate with me and bring this matter to a conclusion. He said let’s see what can be done and I will keep you updated every step of the way, in advance.

I don’t feel like I’m going through this alone anymore.

Sam

In June of 2017 my husband of thirty years died of lung cancer. Workers at the B. F. Goodrich Tire factory where he worked in management, suggested that I call Gordon Stemple in California. Gordon told me that Indiana was not a friendly state to pursue my wrongful death claim. He said the legislature had written many laws favoring insurance companies and the juries were less likely to deliver verdicts he considered adequate. After weeks of reviewing my husband’s medical and work history records, Gordon said I had grounds to file the case in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where he had located a competent asbestos trial firm. He said they would accept my case. But so many other people were pressuring me to either not file at all or if I did to file in Indiana. So, that is what did.

Gordon called recently to just check up on me and see if I was happy with the Alabama law firm. He was surprised when I told him I decided to go with a local firm here in Indiana. He said that was absolutely my right and asked about the job they were doing for me. He was not surprised when I told him I was not happy at all. They were just filing claims against the asbestos trusts, with exceptionally poor results. For example, they told me the Johns Manville Trust was near broke and they were lucky to obtain a $2,000 settlement on my behalf. In other matters it appeared they have over charged me.

Gordon told me if I gather all the paperwork together that had been sent to me from my current attorneys, he will review them and do his best to have some of these matters set right, though he would not be able to take over my representation, because too many years had passed.

With 20/20 hindsight, clearly, I should have followed Gordon’s advice. During these last few years due to financial strains, it was necessary for me to leave my home and rent an apartment. I couldn’t believe Gordon is still willing to help me at no charge. I appreciate his help so much!

Edy

My ex-husband came home one night very drunk. He began to attack me. My 17-year-old son got between us to keep me from being hurt. My ex-husband shot and killed him. Then he grabbed a butcher knife and stabbed me twice. During this nightmare, I was able to place a 911 call. The police arrived just in time to save me. After he was apprehended and tried, he was required to serve a 30-year sentence at San Quintin. However, after only 15 years, he petitioned the parole board for early release.

A friend of mine, one of Gordon’s shipyard asbestos clients, suggested I call him. He agreed to represent me before the parole board in 2014 to oppose the requested early release. Gordon researched the issue and proceeded forward. His early release was denied, and my ex-husband was held to serve more of his sentence. I can’t put into words how much of a relief I felt.

Gordon and I did have a disagreement concerning the fees I owed him. Gordon said: Nothing. It was my honor to be of service. Eventually, we agreed on a Starbucks gift card. He said that was more than enough. He checks in on me from time to time to see how I am doing.

Viv