Some lawyers fall into their careers by accident. That wasn’t true for experienced Rhode Island attorney Mark Gemma. His father and brother were already practicing law together at Gemma Law Associates, Inc., so he knew what the work involved long before he decided to become a personal injury lawyer.
“Back when I was in college and deciding what to do for a living, I watched my father and brother,” Gemma said. “My father had been practicing this type of law for decades and I saw how many people he and my brother were helping with this firm.”
Helping injured people was a big part of the appeal, but there was more to it. Gemma saw that his father and brother built real relationships with the people they represented, and they spent a lot of time in the courtroom.
“I saw that they got to deal with the clients directly, and I saw that they got to be in court a lot,” Gemma said. “Those things really attracted me, not only to being a lawyer, but to being a lawyer at my dad’s firm.”
Respected by Peers and Judges
Today, the Providence attorney focuses on personal injury and car accident cases, and he has built a reputation of his own. In December 2009, he earned an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating of its kind for legal ability and ethics. He has also served as President of the Rhode Island Association for Justice and as President of the Council of Presidents for the American Association for Justice.
“Because these honors and distinctions come from my peers, and from the judges familiar with my work, these achievements mean a great deal to me,” Gemma said.
The Client He Won’t Forget
For Gemma, the best part of the job is still the people. One case from early in his career has stayed with him. He represented a woman who was badly hurt in a car crash and needed several surgeries. Getting her insurance company to pay up to her policy limits took a long fight, and she started to wonder why her case was taking so long.
The case eventually went to binding arbitration. In his closing argument, Gemma talked about her life and her injuries in personal detail. Before the award was even announced, she stopped by his office.
“She told me how much it meant to her that I devoted myself to her case the way I did,” Gemma said. “She told me that she knew she had a lawyer who really understood her situation. What she said was very important to me, and it felt even better when we learned that she had been awarded an amount far beyond the limits of her policy.”
Readers who want to learn more about his background and what clients say about him can visit his Avvo profile.
Why Timing Matters
Not every story ends that well. Gemma has met many people who came to him after it was too late for him to help.
“It is incredibly important for a person or family to seek legal representation in the beginning, right after the injury, before entering any agreement with the insurance company,” he said. “I have seen it all too many times when people come to see me after they have resolved a claim, and they don’t think they were treated fairly. They have already signed their rights away.”
Leveling the Playing Field With Insurers
Gemma says a lawyer’s experience with insurance companies can make a big difference in settlement talks.
“A person who is injured often may not know anything about the process they are getting into,” he said. “They don’t have any way to know what an insurance company might be willing to pay. They may have no idea how valuable their case may be.”
He also points out that clients who work with an attorney at Gemma Law Associates, Inc. can usually get a larger settlement, even after legal fees, than they would get by handling the claim themselves.
Listening Comes First
Ask Gemma what makes a good lawyer, and he’ll tell you it’s the ability to listen and connect with people.
“I think if I have any innate abilities that help me as a lawyer, it is my ability to listen to people and really connect with people,” he said. “I think this same communication skill transfers to juries as well.”
Life Outside the Courtroom
Away from the office, Gemma plays competitive tennis locally, which he’s done since high school. He also cares a lot about The Tomorrow Fund, a nonprofit that supports children with cancer who are treated at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence.
His favorite legal movie is The Verdict with Paul Newman. “The writer of that film went to Boston College, where I went to college,” Gemma said. “And the character played by Paul Newman also went to Boston College.”
His favorite legal book is A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr. “That was also set in Massachusetts,” he said. “Right here in my own backyard.”
