Gordy Hauptman

Founder

In Memory of Gordy Hauptman (1947 – 2008)
Founder; Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop

” … if there was ever a guy I met that left this world in better shape than he found it, it was Gordy Hauptman.”

– Matt Butler, ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­chairman, president and CEO, Hunt Transportation


“Gordy was a bigger-than-life individual. His personality, his warmth … he would just brighten up the place.”

– Ken Bird, executive director, Bright Futures Foundation, and former superintendent of Westside Schools where the Hauptman children attended

Gordon R. Hauptman’s long and distinguished law career began in 1974 when he was awarded a Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. But he had been preparing for the job most of his life. His innate respect for the individual, his ability to put people at ease, his love of family, sense of humor and zest for life made personal injury law the perfect choice for Gordy.

He founded Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop in 1987. A tireless worker on behalf of his clients, Gordy believed passionately in fair compensation for those injured through the carelessness of others. His talent for advocacy made him a force to be reckoned with at the negotiating table and in the courtroom.

Winning a great settlement, however, did not always compensate a client facing a life of pain or incapacitation. Gordy’s compassion for victims of catastrophic accidents led him to establish the Safe Ride Home Program, the first of its kind in the country.

Introduced in 1990, Safe Ride Home encourages holiday partiers to call Happy Cab for a ride home if they’ve had too much alcohol to operate a vehicle safely. The program keeps people from injuring themselves and others, and the law firm pays for the cab rides.

Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop has proudly sponsored the program ever since, and has expanded it to include the entire Christmas/New Year’s season and St. Patrick’s Day. The firm also partners with the YWCA to offer safe rides to shelters for victims of abuse. The firm pays for more than 1,800 rides each year, as well as the marketing efforts to make the public aware of its existence.

As Butler also stated, “I think there’s a special place in heaven for Gordy, because we will never know the lives that were saved each year. It was one of the single best community service programs I’ve ever seen, and who knew it would have lasted for such a long time.”

Gordy and his wife, Maureen, were the proud parents of six children: four boys (David, Paul, Grant and Erik) and one daughter (Mara). Their son Joel died in infancy. A close-knit family, Gordy supported his children in all their pursuits. But he had an uncanny ability to make even strangers feel like family.

Gordy Hauptman

“My dad had a talent. He could speak to people at every level. It was an unbelievable gift. He loved to meet new people and make new friends.”
– Dave Hauptman, oldest son of the Hauptman family


“He was the perfect example of the qualities that make a good lawyer. He set a tone in our office that made it a rare place to practice law. He was a terrific friend and I’ll always remember him for being such a kind-hearted person.”
– Steve Lathrop, Nebraska state senator and partner with Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop


In 2003, Gordy was told he had prostate cancer. He faced the news with the courage, tenacity and humor that had always characterized him. On Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008, after five years of keeping the disease at bay, he lost the battle. An outpouring of condolences came from every part of the country, from people in every walk of life, family, friends, acquaintances and colleagues. They expressed sadness, explained how Gordy had touched their lives, and most importantly, made them laugh.

Client Testimonials

4.9 rating of 594 reviews
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Reginald B York IV avatar

Reginald B York IV

2 days ago

As a college educated working professional, I never wanted or thought I or my family would need the services of a personal injury attorney. When someone in our immediate family was involved in an accident, my wife and I thought we could navigate the insurance process on our own, (after all we weren’t looking to profit from it). We quickly realized the process has become complicated and can turn into a full time job, costing our family in ways we never even dreamed. While I pray we never find ourselves in a situation to need their services again. David will be my first call. Everyone from top to bottom was patient and understanding. They walked us through the process and advised us along the way, filling in the gaps that hospitals, insurance companies and representatives failed to provide. Thanks to David and his wonderful team our family was able to focus on the emotional and physical healing while they found resolution and we were able to move on.

Chris M avatar

Chris M

4 days ago

David and his team were great and made the whole process seamless. Would highly recommend them to anyone seeking a personal injury lawyer.

Della Farris avatar

Della Farris

5 days ago

Choosing Hauptman ,O'Brien , Wolf & Lathrop for my personal injury lawsuit, was one of my better decisions . They were always available & considerate to us . We were kept updated & informed all the way through . Jeremy & Nicole were awesome.. I would highly recommend.

Paulette Henderson avatar

Paulette Henderson

10 days ago

David O’Neill, Jody Bowman & Desiree at the Bellevue Nebraska location were amazing! They explained things thoroughly, It was easy to communicate with them. They outlined exactly the documentation that was needed. They helped us through every step of the process and kept us informed of the progress. It was a pleasure working with them, and we are extremely satisfied with the outcome. I highly recommend them, they are professional, knowledgeable and handle every aspect with efficiency.

Linda C avatar

Linda C

19 days ago

A little over 2 yrs ago I walked through the doors @ Hauptman O’Brian Wolf & Lathrop, a little nervous and a little scared. I was in a car accident on the interstate, my car was totaled and I’m thankful to be here. With their help and reassurance that everything will be fine. And it is. Jeremiah Elliott and his fantastic staff kept me well informed through out the process. It took patients on my part and time to heal too. They were always there to answer my question and so kind. I would recommend their legal service’s for any type of situation you might be in. It will only take a little time to tell your story or situation and listen to what they say. They are there to help you through the legal process and protect you. I will say I’m grateful for their compassion and knowledge of the legal process. I couldn’t do it without them. Thanks to them my case was successful.

Dan Aitken avatar

Dan Aitken

25 days ago

Fortunately I haven’t required their legal services, but I have made use of their “Safe Ride Home” program. I feel safer knowing that this service is available for everyone, not just clients, during the holidays.

Connor Villen avatar

Connor Villen

29 days ago

First time getting into a motor vehicle accident and the team was really helpful during this process. The piece that made me feel better to work with the Hauptman Bellevue office was that they were always asking how I was doing. The office really ensured my health and recovery was the priority. They made me comfortable throughout the whole process, and would recommend anyone in a motor vehicle accident to reach out to this office. Thank you all!

Hannah Miller avatar

Hannah Miller

1 month ago

Fantastic job!! I am so grateful they kept me updated through every step of the process. Thank you so much!

Tiera Robinette avatar

Tiera Robinette

1 month ago

Was a pleasure working with the team. They really fought for us

Michael Ciaccio avatar

Michael Ciaccio

1 month ago

Great communication and amazing work this group did with my settlement

Laron Stewart avatar

Laron Stewart

1 month ago

David cripe is very helpful he will get the job done and get you a good amount of money for your case..I would recommend him to anybody that being injured in a accident thank you David and staff…

Sadie Hall avatar

Sadie Hall

1 month ago

David O’Neill and his team were wonderful. I was in a car accident with my young son that left me with no vehicle and a broken arm. I was getting overwhelmed with phone calls from insurance and hospitals while trying to heal and care for my two young sons. David and his team took care of every communication and kept me in the loop about how things were progressing. Definitely recommend as he and his team are very empathetic and professional!

Jeanne Belitz Jr avatar

Jeanne Belitz Jr

1 month ago

Tim and his asst Janet made everything very easy for me the entire time so I could concentrate on healing. They communicated with me every step of the way. I was not rushed or told what to do. They let me make decisions on how we wanted to approach things. I felt heard and I was happy with the outcome. Thank you for your hard work. I will definitely be recommending you.

Chris Hoel avatar

Chris Hoel

1 month ago

With 10 years left until retirement I had an accident at work requiring back surgery. Due to the severity of the injury I am no longer physically able to work. Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf and Lathrop was able to secure a settlement to help bridge that gap. Without them, I would have nothing.

Danielle Sheets avatar

Danielle Sheets

2 months ago

David and staff were efficient, professional and honest. There was zero time or money wasted, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome. 10/10 recommend!

Michelle Fibich avatar

Michelle Fibich

2 months ago

David O’Neill did an excellent job on my case. Very professional and thorough with the work he and his team provided.

April Eaves avatar

April Eaves

2 months ago

After the car accident I was a little Beyond Shook Up Mr O'Neal. David was phenomenal he handled my case professionally, made sure all my questions were answered in a timely manner. Got me the settlement I deserve even though I didn't know it. Thank you David O'Neal at Hoffman O'Brien wolf and Lathrop LLC

Virginia H avatar

Virginia H

2 months ago

My attorney, Kyle, at Hauptman O'Brien was fantastic. It was a long process, at no fault of the attorney, and He kept me in the loop of the progress on my case, and fought for our victory until the end. I highly recommend them for their professionalism, care of the little guy, perseverance, and personal dedication to detail.

Doug Banks avatar

Doug Banks

2 months ago

David and his team are amazing. They made a very stressful situation easy to deal with. They handled all the medical bills, and were always there to answer any questions. They truly care about the client. I hope I never have to use them again, but if I do I definitely will. Simply the best.

Pat Hartfield avatar

Pat Hartfield

2 months ago

I highly recommend Klye McGinn as an injury lawyer. Klye went over and beyond with my mom. My mom is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and Kyle was patient, caring, and listen to her concerns. He took the time to explain thing to my mom, over and over again as required. His professionalism, energy and experience showed when it came time to deal with the big insurance company. He did much more than I expedite. He worked very hard with the other insurance company and doctors to get the required documentation needed. Thanks, Kyle, for a seamless transition. My mom was very pleased with her settlement. Thank You Judy Woods

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