“At some point, your grandchild is going to ask you what you did for a living… and I want to be able to say I made a difference in society.” Troy Rafferty
That moment of reflection from Troy Rafferty of Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa during our recent recording of the Trial Lawyer View by Synergy podcast stopped me in my tracks.
Rafferty, who has led litigation in some of the most consequential mass tort cases in U.S. history, think opioids, gadolinium, asbestos, joined me for a conversation that every personal injury lawyer serious about scaling impact and influence needs to hear.
But this wasn’t just another war story session. This was a masterclass in what it means to pursue justice at scale.
🏥 From One Client in a Hospital Bed to Thousands Helped
Troy’s journey into mass torts began 30 years ago with a single client in a hospital bed. That client’s liver was failing because of a widely prescribed diabetes drug. Troy could’ve handled the claim and moved on.
Instead, he saw a systemwide failure and an opportunity to use the power of litigation to change it.
That mindset? That’s what separates elite trial lawyers from everyone else.
“All cases are important. But there’s something about working on a case that changes not just one life, but an entire system.” – Rafferty
👁️ Why Mass Tort Lawyers Are the Watchdogs of Society
Rafferty didn’t sugarcoat the realities. He laid out exactly how pharmaceutical giants operate and why trial lawyers are often the only ones holding them accountable.
He’s seen it all: deceptive marketing, fraud, systemic neglect. Yet what keeps him in the fight isn’t just verdicts or settlements, it’s the societal change that can result when lawyers lean in.
One example: nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a once-devastating condition caused by gadolinium-based contrast agents used in MRIs. Through litigation, warnings were updated, protocols changed, and now… the disease is virtually gone.
That’s not hyperbole. That’s the impact of relentless legal advocacy.
💡 What Innovative Lawyers Should Take From This
If you’re leading a personal injury firm and thinking about growth, real growth, you need to think bigger than caseloads and verdicts.
You need to think in terms of legacy and leverage:
- Legacy: Are you building a firm that changes lives or just files claims?
- Leverage: Are your systems and strategies optimized to make space for high-impact cases?
Mass torts may not be for everyone. But the mindset is.
Troy’s story is a call to rethink how we scale justice and how law firm leaders can do more than just keep pace. They can lead change.
🛡️ Final Word: Courage is a Competitive Advantage
Rafferty reminded us that you can’t outspend the pharmaceutical industry. But you can outthink them. Outwork them. Outlast them.
That takes courage.
It also takes a firm that’s built for battle, not bogged down by administrative bottlenecks or inefficient operations. That’s why the most innovative trial lawyers are rethinking how they run their practices, from lien resolution to litigation finance to case acquisition.
The question isn’t whether the industry is changing. It’s whether you’ll lead that change or be left behind.
🌄 Why This Matters to the Peak Practice Community
Troy Rafferty’s story isn’t just compelling, it’s a roadmap for what’s possible when trial lawyers align purpose with scale. For the Peak Practice community, his approach reinforces why building a profitable practice doesn’t mean compromising on mission. It’s about using your legal skills not only to win cases, but to reshape industries and safeguard the public. His insights validate what we believe at Peak: that the most successful personal injury firms are those that think bigger about operations, outcomes, and impact. Whether you’re handling motor vehicle cases or exploring mass torts, the principles of courage, efficiency, and advocacy apply across the board. This is the kind of thinking that moves the profession forward.
🎧 Listen to the full conversation on Trial Lawyer View here: https://triallawyerview.com/podcast/troy-rafferty/
🗣️ Join the conversation in our growing LinkedIn community
🔗 Want more insights like this?
If you’re a personal injury lawyer ready to scale, streamline, and step into your role as CEO, let’s talk. Join the Peak Practice Community, and learn how Synergy can help you eliminate settlement bottlenecks, resolve complex liens, and maximize recoveries. Learn more here: https://partnerwithsynergy.com/peak-practice/
If you want to grow and scale your law firm more effectively, consider partnering with Synergy for lien resolution. Learn more at: https://partnerwithsynergy.com/liens/
