The New York Post has the exclusive story about Johnnie Cochran's surgery--
He has a reputation for slickness and winning, so when controversial lawyer Johnnie Cochran was diagnosed with a tumor requiring brain surgery, the man who normally seeks the limelight dropped into a self-imposed isolation — keeping his condition secret even from his mother-in-law.
Five months later, in an exclusive first interview with The Post, Cochran says he's "90 percent" recovered from his life-threatening illness — and gearing up for a massive expansion of his personal-injury practice.
"I'm feeling pretty good," said the natty legal eagle, who went under the knife at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles on April 7, just six days after a press conference at his office in the Woolworth Building at 233 Broadway.
It's been quite awhile since I did an update on Johnnie Cochran's attempt to snatch up clients in Madison County, Illinois--the last one was in March. Shortly after that, I heard some rumors that Johnnie was going to be in town to shoot TV commercials, which were supposedly going to run in St. Louis all summer. But I never saw them, and I wondered what had happened.
The Post article explains the mystery. Apparently the surgery won't slow Cochran down. According to the Post, his return "comes as he plans a major expansion of the Cochran Firm, which bills itself as the country's largest personal-injury practice for plaintiffs. Plans are to double the 14 current locations and ramp up a new marketing campaign that touts Cochran as 'America's Lawyer.'"
To Johnnie, I say "good luck"--except in Madison County, of course, where I'm still waiting to buy him lunch.
UPDATE: Two posts on Johnnie's death: Goodbye Jonnnie Cochran and Law-Related Things that Suck: The Death of Johnnie Cochran
We did manage to completely redo the cochran website while he was down and out:
http://thecochranfirm.com/
Posted by: Jenna | September 27, 2004 at 11:18 AM
Nice job on the website, Jenna. "Do You Have A Case?" is a very user-friendly lead generator. I think that's really smart. I'm not so sure about the photos of the Evil Trial Lawyer and Mini Me on the home page, though. I guess the idea behind the two identical photos on the same page is to reinforce the Cochran brand--that all the partners are clones of Johnnie Cochran.
Posted by: Abnu | September 27, 2004 at 04:06 PM
Do I have a case against The Cochran Firm for copyright infringement for the blatant abuse of the name of my book to promote their website?
Posted by: John | September 27, 2004 at 04:34 PM
I don't know, John, it might be the other way around.
By the way: are you related to Cher and other mononymous celebrities?
Posted by: David Giacalone | September 27, 2004 at 06:54 PM
I can't take credit for the site. Actually the guys behind it are our New Orleans office (www.thecochranfirmno.com ) They are our techno geeks.
The clone statement left me inhaling my coffee. I'm just grateful the mini-me's aren't ALL wearing the pimp suits. It's actually kind of funny. In his book, Johnnie talks about his "sense of fashion". He blames a jewish boy he went to school with.
John, darling, it'd be an interesting debate to say the least ;)
Posted by: Jenna | September 28, 2004 at 10:37 AM
He is dead....what was the tumor?
Posted by: John | March 29, 2005 at 07:16 PM
Most news artiles say that Johnnie died of an inoperable brain tumor. Did he have a biopsy Cedars-Sinai or an operation? What kind of brain tumor did he have?
Posted by: bill | March 29, 2005 at 07:58 PM
What doctor would operate on Johnnie Cochran? Or any trial lawyer for that matter? I suppose its like picking up a rattlesnake. If they bite you, you should have known better.
Posted by: Jeff | March 29, 2005 at 08:56 PM
Jeff, I'm only saying this because, perhaps, no one else ever has -- You have no class.
Posted by: Mike | March 29, 2005 at 11:52 PM
I would imagine it was a Glioblastoma. It is the worst of all brain tumors. It can be removed but literally grows back within days. It has "fingers" that go deep within the brain and soon becomes inoperable or untreatable.
Posted by: Cindy G | March 30, 2005 at 09:32 AM
I know his Tumor was not operable. Where was it and what was its classification?
Posted by: Penny | March 30, 2005 at 09:47 AM
Penny, than you don't know about Glioblastomas.
Posted by: cindy g | March 30, 2005 at 01:16 PM
My Dad died about a month ago from a glioblastoma brain tumor. Its a horrible thing, but the good of it is - if there is any good - is that it can be a painless way to go for the victim. Its not painless for the family, however. Pray for them.
Posted by: Heather | March 30, 2005 at 05:42 PM
My daughter has an inoperable low-grade glioma located on the right dorsal pons. All that can be done is to monitor her with MRIs for changes. I would like to know what kind of tumor Cochran had.
Posted by: David Martin | March 31, 2005 at 02:16 PM
It's tragic...suffering from a brain tumor.
Posted by: Diana | May 18, 2007 at 04:34 PM