Chris Coons: “on the day that we are remembering our dear friend and colleague John Lewis, ``someone who got in good trouble, someone…”

“on the day that we are remembering our dear friend and colleague John Lewis, ``someone who got in good trouble, someone who got in the way,'' I rise to join with my colleague from the State of Rhode Island to offer tribute to a dear friend who also knew how to get in good trouble and get in the way. Our friend Steve Susman of Houston, TX, at age 79, passed away on July 14 after sustaining serious injuries from a cycling accident and suffering from COVID-19. Steve will be remembered by all he inspired as one of the greatest trial attorneys ever in the United States. Steve is someone who, with incredible skill, prepared painstakingly, mastering the facts, so that he could back up every single thing he said in front of a jury. When it came to courtrooms, it is said that Steve was the smartest guy in the room, but he also believed deeply in teaching young lawyers trial skills. And unlike many famous and leading trial attorneys, he was happy to share the spotlight with younger lawyers--in fact, insisted on it. Two of those younger lawyers happen to be friends of mine from law school, Jonathan Ross and Andrew Golub, who first introduced me to Steve and gave me the joy of getting to know him and all who practiced with him. Steve was passionate about law and justice. He spent his entire life thinking and talking about and working for ways to improve the system of civil justice in America.…”