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.
“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
Pat Hartfield
15 days 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
McKinzie Arneson
29 days ago
I never received my safe ride home voucher but they reached out to me and made sure I would get one, I really appreciate the gesture! So awesome of them to do so!
Neil Reynolds
29 days ago
I think this is a great idea(Offering a Uber ride) that this Law firm is doing. As someone who worked in Law Enforcement for over 28 yrs. I've seen my share of accidents involving someone who was driving while impaired. This frim is providing a service that benifits the community. Programs like this can make a real difference. They are giving a safe & easy alternative when someone otherwise may make a risky decision. It's encouraging to see a local business step up in this manner.
Kelly King
1 month ago
Kyle has been amazing! I went to them right after i was injured and they dialed right in to the process and I did not have to look back. I do not know what I would have done without them. By far the best company out there. I would highly recommend them.
Travis Falk
2 months ago
Jeremy did a great job with my case. He kept me informed and had my best interest. I recommend this firm to fight for your rights during a difficult time.
Shanelle Clark
2 months ago
They were friendly, efficient, and handled everything, which gave me peace of mind throughout the process. They advocated for me when Progressive was pushing back, and I was very pleased with the service and the way my case was handled. Jeremy was especially great to work with. He explained the process clearly, made sure I understood everything, and kept me informed every step of the way.
patrick morehead
2 months ago
Tim was absolutely outstanding from start to finish. His hard work, dedication, and professionalism made all the difference in our case, and thanks to his persistence we were able to win. He kept us informed throughout the entire process, answered every question we had, and truly fought for us every step of the way. You can tell Tim genuinely cares about his clients and puts everything he has into getting the best possible outcome. If you want a lawyer who is knowledgeable, dependable, and willing to go the extra mile, I highly recommend Tim. We are beyond grateful for everything he did for our family.
della brasuhn
2 months ago
We are very happy with David he was always very polite and respectful. Thank you so much for.
Jake Fuller
2 months ago
Michael Khalili did a great job working my case and keeping me informed each step of the way while getting my desired outcome. I would highly recommend .
Marge Fields
3 months ago
My case ended about a year ago, but I just want to give a shout out to Tim OBrien for all he did for me after my accident. I didn’t have any idea what to do or where to begin and he walked me through the whole time. He made sure I understood everything and always kept in touch with me through the whole process. I would recommend this law firm to anyone!!
Maurice Fox
3 months ago
Very helpful and explaining the process Step-by-step David and his staff done a great job keeping me informed of every step of the process
Emily Czyz
3 months ago
David’s team was amazing! I had a very unique situation and not a lot of hope. David took on my case, went above and beyond to help me. They were open with me, told me the process step by step and made sure I had everything I needed. We had a better outcome than I ever anticipated, I can’t thank him and his team enough.
Mike Dahir
4 months ago
Excellent people to work with!!! Highly recommend.
Nikki Green
4 months ago
Thank you so much for the St. Patrick’s Day safe ride home. It was such an easy process! I appreciate the opportunity to use it.
Sam Farris
4 months ago
Great people to work with. Very enjoyable experience. Thank you guys very much.
DeAnna McSorley
4 months ago
Absolutely the best around. They work extremely hard to get done what’s needs done and what you deserve. Would give 10 stars if it would let me.
Laron Stewart
4 months ago
David cripe is a amazing attorney he will fight for you.
john lucky
4 months ago
Great people who really care
Dan Nelson
4 months ago
Mike Khalili and his team were great to work with after my accident. They were always responsive, patient with my questions, and really helped me understand what was happening throughout my workers’ comp/personal injury case. It’s a stressful process, but they made it feel much more manageable. I truly appreciate their help and would absolutely recommend Mike and his team to anyone needing a workers’ comp attorney.
Justice Keene
5 months ago
This was the 1st time I've ever had to use this type of service. Hands down would recommend this team for all your injury needs. They were professional, made sure everything was understood and was by my side step by step. I really felt like they were in my corner at all times! Kathryn Hartnett went above and beyond to meet my needs as a unexpected life change happened. Everyone from the front desk to the back where amazing! Thank you so much!
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