Family, Faith and the Fight for Justice with Craig and Toni Schlapprizzi

St. Louis, Missouri trial lawyers Craig and Toni Schlapprizzi learned what it means to be a trial lawyer from their successful trial lawyer father, Don Schlapprizzi.  Now, both Craig and Toni are prominent trial lawyers in their own right who have won many large verdicts, and recently, achieved a record-setting $37 million settlement in a product liability case.  Join Rahul (https://www.psbr.law/ravipudi.html) and Ben (https://gideonasen.com/attorney-benjamin-gideon/) for a discussion with Craig and Toni about how their family and faith shaped their career as trial lawyers and the keys to their incredible success.About Craig SchlapprizziCRAIG SCHLAPPRIZZICraig@SchlapprizziPC.comVice President & Personal Injury LawyerGrowing up, Craig Schlapprizzi always knew he wanted to be a lawyer; it was ingrained in him from an early age, but it wasn’t until he was in law school at Washington University that it clicked that he truly wanted to be a trial lawyer, and a good one at that. “Anybody who does this, represents plaintiffs in personal injury cases, knows it becomes a huge part of your identity and your life.”His favorite aspect of his job is the courtroom experience. He’s most passionate about representing everyday people in a courtroom in front of a jury because he believes it’s a privilege, an honor, an incredible experience, and, of course, a competition. He played football during his time at Dartmouth and was motivated by the competition and dedication involved. He experiences that same competition through his trial work.“There is a deep sense of satisfaction in standing up for someone who has been unjustly pushed around.”He likes going into something representing a person; he has always felt like he was on the right side, representing and fighting for somebody who was wronged. He’s able to bring closure, and get people who wouldn’t otherwise have the means, to live out the rest of their lives with dignity–that is what motivated him to be a personal injury trial lawyer.When Craig’s not in court, he’s pursuing his other passion: cooking. He gets inspiration for his concoctions from Mario Batali, Michael Mina, and Emeril. When he’s not creating his latest pasta recipe, he enjoys trying new restaurants, exercising, travel, and spending time with family and friends.Craig is also a big history fan, his favorite historical figures being Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill. He’s read many books on Lincoln, but he most frequently references the "The Quotable Winston Churchill" for a quick laugh or bit of motivation.He is a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys and is on the Board of Governors, as well as a member of the ABA, and the American Association for Justice.About Toni SchlapprizziTONI SCHLAPPRIZZIToni@SchlapprizziPC.comVice President & Personal Injury LawyerAntoinette (Toni) Schlapprizzi is a trial lawyer at Schlapprizzi Attorneys at Law, licensed in Missouri and Illinois. She believes that every human being has a unique dignity that must be honored and respected, and through her work as a trial attorney, she aggressively defends and protects this unique dignity each and every day.  Battling for truth on behalf of those who have survived serious injury and the loss of a loved one is at the core of who Toni is.She received her undergraduate degree at Tulane University, where she played Division I soccer as a central defender.  After riding the bench her freshman year, she earned a starting spot, and remained a starter on her team’s defensive line until her career ended. She went on to graduate from Washington University School of Law. Since then, she’s been defending the survivors of serious injury and wrongful deaths in both state and federal courts in Missouri and Illinois alongside her brother, Craig, and her father, Don.Certainly what drew Toni to the law was her father, Don Schlapprizzi. His conviction, moral code, and talent seep from every pore of his being to serve injured people and their families decade after decade. As a little girl, her father would tell her the stories of his clients and the courtroom, and she would pray for those people every night before bed. Toni considers her father to be one of the greatest mentors, teachers, and men she has ever known.“I have a heart and drive to serve our clients; I learn from them every day; they are gifts in my life; I work as hard and smart as I possibly can for them.”Toni fervently believes in the jury process.“A singular person is secured an equal playing field against powerful industry – whether insurance, government or business.  Juries ensure that the each of us will have a fighting chance against the powers that be.”Toni continues the legacy of Schlapprizzi Attorneys at Law with her father, Don, and brother, Craig. She feels blessed to be a plaintiffs’ trial lawyer, and has great esteem for the legal profession and the courageous jurors, past, present, and future, in our community.