Host Elizabeth Walden of the Beasley Allen firm sits down with titans of Alabama Trial Law Steve Heninger and Greg Cusimano. The three discuss new books being released by each guest and give a preview of what is to come at the ALAJ Winter Summit at the end of January.

Steve's bio: Steve grew up in a small farming community in Southern Illinois not far from the Kentucky border known as Salem, Illinois. His hometown was also the birthplace of William Jennings Bryan. Steve was the President of his high school’s student government and was also a standout on its football, basketball and track teams. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1972 where he was a sprinter on its varsity track team. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army on the day of his graduation and immediately went on active duty for two years. While serving in Ft. Benning, Georgia, he was asked to become the Brigade Legal Officer for the 197th Infantry Brigade even though he was not yet a lawyer.

He served in this position for 18 months and tried over 100 Special Courts Martial, ten of which were jury trials as a prosecutor. After he completed his tour in the Army, he attended Cumberland School of Law where he graduated summa cum laude in 1977. After clerking for U.S. District Judge, James H. Hancock, he began his legal career in representing plaintiffs in civil ligation for the past 40 years. He has taught courses in trial work for the American Association for Justice (AAJ) at such prestigious law schools as Harvard, Georgetown, Stanford, University of Wisconsin, University of North Carolina and the University of Alabama. He has been listed as a top 50 lawyer for Alabama in Super Lawyers for the past 8 years. Steve has been married to his wife, Karen, for 51 years and has three children and five grandchildren who all live in the Birmingham area.

Greg's Bio: Few resumes are as decorated with as many prestigious board appointments, awards and recognitions as that of Gregory S. Cusimano. Known as a leader in his field and accepted as one of the nations’ top attorneys, he is a sought-after speaker at conferences across the U.S. where he lectures on trial law, tactics and persuasion. But for those he represents, Greg is known for his kind heart, caring personality and masterful ability to electrify juries, win cases, and bring justice to those he represents. As a client, you are never alone when Greg is on your side.

Born in Gadsden, Alabama, Greg attended Gadsden High School and later received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Alabama. While in undergraduate school, he became a founder and first president of Beta Theta Pi social fraternity at the University and was included in “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. While attending law school at the University of Alabama, he served as president of the student body. Greg was tapped into the Bench and Bar Honor Society and invited to serve on Law Review as a freshman. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1968. In support of his legal career, Greg has served as executive board member, treasurer, vice president, president and past president of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association. In 1995, Cusimano was appointed to the Council of the Alabama Law Institute, an organization that systematically reviews and rewrites statutory laws of Alabama. Greg was also appointed to the American Bar Association’s Advisory Panel. Cusimano has served as president of the Etowah County Trial Lawyers Association, the Etowah County Young Lawyers, and the Etowah County Bar Association. He is an active member of the American Bar Association and the Alabama Bar Association.