The Lynch Personal Injury Legacy
Arthur V. Lynch graduated from St. John’s University School of Law in 1932. He was immediately hired to work as a trial attorney for The Hartford Insurance Company. His reputation for excellence became quickly known in the New York courts and beyond. In 1939, J. Edgar Hoover personally requested that Mr. Lynch become a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Lynch had been considering beginning his own law practice and respectfully declined. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Lynch began his personal injury practice. His wife, Elizabeth T. Lynch (“Betty”), was also an attorney. She was one of only three women in her graduating class at St. John’s University School of Law. Betty Lynch joined her husband in this endeavor.
Betty Lynch had been inspired by her father, attorney James J. O’Byrne. Mr. O’Byrne had been very active in Washington politics and New Jersey politics. He ran for United States Congress in 1914. With deep roots in Paterson, New Jersey, Mr. O’Byrne became secretary to famed Senator William “Billy” Hughes, whose statue remains today in front of the Passaic County Courthouse.
The Lynch practice flourished and Arthur Lynch’s reputation grew as a trial attorney. Eventually,St. John’s University Law School recruited Mr. Lynch to pass his skills and knowledge to law students. He became a full Professor of Laws in 1956. Over the years, Professor Lynch taught thousands of law students trial practice and insurance law. He is credited with starting the first trial practice course at any law school in the United States.
Arthur and Betty Lynch’s son Harry Lynch, after serving in the Navy as personal secretary to Admiral John McCain, also earned a degree St. John’s University School of Law. He then joined the family practice. His large verdicts and courtroom antics became well known to judges and trial lawyers. He grew to become one of the premier personal injury trial lawyers in New York State. Harry Lynch was elected President of the Orange County Bar Association in 1980.
Fifty-six years after his grandfather, Arthur V. Lynch graduated from St. John’s University School of Law in 1988, followed by his brother James S. Lynch in 1991. Each are published authors, requested speakers and successful trial attorneys. They proudly continue the Lynch tradition of personal injury trial excellence. Their extensive accomplishments are included in the biography section of this website.