March 2025 Pacesetter Nate Harrington
Conybeare Law Office, P.C. | St. Joseph

What motivated you to become a trial lawyer? I enjoy the competition and telling clients’ stories. I appreciate battling respectfully with defense counsel and sitting with hurting people. I’ve learned that the latter is a strength of mine. Many people don’t know what to say in those situations, but I belong in those rooms.

When did you become a member of MAJ? Why did you decide to join? My boss told me to join, probably 10-12 years ago. At the time, I didn’t give it a lot of thought. But that changed. Over time, it’s become a professional and personal support network.

PI lawyers get a bad rap (ambulance chasers, etc.), but people don’t see how we support each other. Where else do you see direct competitors doing so much to help one another? I’m proud to be part of this community.

Why do you feel it is important for trial lawyers to be a part of MAJ? Growth and support. To serve your clients well, you have to be a member of MAJ. This job is too hard to do alone. Our clients and communities are better served when we pool our resources and skills. And there’s going to be dark days. You need people you can call to lift you up, and MAJ provides that.

What is distinctive about your practice? And your firm? Hard work and excellence.

The lawyers in our firm are grinders, and we work hard for our clients. I have tremendous respect for PI firms and lawyers throughout the state. They are doing phenomenal work, but I would put our work product up against anyone’s. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.

What is your most memorable case? I had a bad car-crash case with a particularly challenging defense lawyer. Defense deposed plaintiff, his wife, his 22-year-old son, his sister, and his aunt. Defense issued subpoenas to 42 non-medical providers for records for impeachment. Defense filed at least three motions for summary disposition.

Conversely, we had to file motions to compel for nearly all discovery. The lead defense lawyer was used to wearing people out. Around that time, I watched an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on the “Bad Boy” Pistons. It talked about how the Pistons decided they were going to be physical with Michael Jordan every time he drove to the basket, so that eventually, he would think twice about driving, and it worked.

I decided to do the same. Every time defense filed a motion, I filed one too, including offensive summary disposition motions. When they objected to discovery, I filed motions to compel. When they issued discovery, I issued it too. After a while, defense’s motion practice slowed. After a while longer, they offered to settle the case for a high dollar value. 

The case probably took a year off my life, but I’m proud of how I fought for my client. And I gained a mantra for the future: “Meet them at the rim.” It’s how I try to litigate now.

What was your most satisfying case? That’s a tough one. I recently had a case involving the death of a single mother. A drunk driver crossed the centerline and killed her. Her daughter was 10. The insurance company offered the $50,000 bodily injury limit. Plaintiff’s attorney Anne Mabbitt represented a co-plaintiff a passenger. Anne flagged an issue with the bodily injury step-down.

Anne and I made our arguments, and the insurance company filed a declaration action asking the Court to hold that the limits were $50,000/$100,000, not $250,000/$500,000.

Anne and I drafted strong briefs. We were successful in getting the trial court to hold that the step down was invalid because a stepdown form was not completed before or contemporaneous with the last renewal, and the limits were $250,000/$500,000.

The insurance company declined to appeal. I recently got to call the grandmother who is now raising her granddaughter and tell her the news. That was a good call.

Please provide a brief description of your interests outside the practice of law. When not practicing law, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family. I’m married with three kids. We enjoy spending time outdoors together. I also enjoy all racquet sports, travelling and spending time with family and friends.

Is there anything else that you would like to share? The more lawyers I connect with, the more I enjoy my work, and the better I serve my clients. To younger lawyers, people want to help. Reach out.