Gilbert Joseph Comley

So I am Joey’s brother and a lawyer, but this is a true story that demonstrates what a great lawyer he is and how small our world is. About 8 years ago, I was representing a national welding manufacturer after a fire at an auto seat manufacturing plant in a Cleveland, Miss. Any potential machine make...r that could have been the source of the fire was invited to attend a meeting at the factory and inspect the scene before repairs. The fire occurred on a Saturday when the factory was not operating and fortunately the assistant manager, Todd Woodruff, happened to be at the office, checked the factory floor, saw the fire, and called the fire department. Thus, Todd was at the meeting with 25 other people, like me and my client. Todd was introduced first and I happened to be sitting next to him. I was last to introduce myself as we went around the room. After I introduced my client and myself, Todd Woodruff turned to me and asked, “How do you spell your last name?” I said Comley. He asked if I had a brother. I said yes. He asked, “Major Joey Comley?” Yes, I said. He exclaimed, “He saved my F$&@ing life! Your brother saved my f$&@img life!” Of course, all 25 people in the room are looking and listening now. Because Joey was a Cavalry Officer in combat in Iraq, I assumed Todd was talking about Joey saving his life in Iraq. So I asked, “Were you in Iraq with him?” He yelled, “No, he was my trial defense counsel in my court martial! He saved my F$&@ing life! I was accused of conduct unbecoming an officer for saying all kinds of crazy stuff, but I had an undiagnosed brain tumor. Joey got me a medical exam and my court martial dismissed. He saved my f$&@img life!” Joey was stationed at Fort Irwin, Calif. at that time and I can’t recall where Todd’s case was but it was on the west coast somewhere. Needless to say, at this point, the factory’s lawyers, who would like to blame my client for the fire, were about to vomit because their key witness is loving me because of what Joey did for him. The factory lawyers quickly broke up the meeting for us to tour the fire scene on the factory floor. Those lawyers were mortified as Todd called Joey on his cell and told him he was with me in Cleveland, Miss. and he was buying my lunch, drinks or dinner or anything! Todd followed me throughout the factory raving about Joey. In that moment, I don’t think my client could have been more proud to have me as their lawyer simply because of Todd’s reaction to Joey’s representation of him. Todd Woodruff has passed away, but I think he would want other service members and potential clients to know what Joey did for him.