Gary L. Brooks, J.D.
Gary Leon Brooks was a pioneering and accomplished trial lawyer who championed social and medical justice and set precedents throughout his long career. He practiced law for over 40 years, beginning in 1975. Gary spent his entire career fighting for individuals and families who lacked the ability and means to seek justice on their own.
As a young trial attorney, Gary took on the powerful Deaconess Home for Unwed Mothers, which refused to return a newborn baby to a teenage mom. Gary challenged the organization in court and successfully reunited mom and baby.
Gary’s passion for medical malpractice litigation began in the 1980s when he tried a case in Oklahoma County that resulted in a $6,500,000 verdict, the largest known medical malpractice verdict in the country at the time.
These cases solidified Gary’s dedication to the notion of justice for all. He devoted his career to standing up for everyday people against large insurance companies and hospital corporations. He worked tirelessly to ensure that those living in small towns with limited resources were afforded the same quality of care as people in big cities. Gary gave ordinary people a voice by holding healthcare providers responsible for their negligence, helping create a safer and more equitable community for everyone.
Gary also spoke to bar associations and legal organizations throughout the country. He served as President of the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association and sat on the executive board of many other organizations. He was board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. Certification of lawyers became a passion of Gary’s in the latter years of his career, leading him to help found the American College of Board Certified Attorneys.
Gary also served on the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision for eight years. At the time, his appointment concerned physicians in the state. These physicians were used to being supervised only by their medical peers and did not like the idea of a “fox in the henhouse.” But despite the initial controversy, Gary became a well-respected member of the Board. Physicians appreciated his insight, fairness, and compassion.
Gary will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to equal justice and accountability, as well as his relentless desire to improve the lives of his countless clients over the duration of his tremendous career.
Gary died in September 2018 and is survived by his wife, Ann, and son Michael, both partners in their family firm. Gary’s legal legacy will live on through their combined passion for continuing his work that began four decades ago.