Someone You Should Know

Byron Mason, Senior Attorney

In December 1999, Jennifer Klimek, a woman with Prader-Willi Syndrome, died from drinking a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. For 10 years she had lived at a community integrated living facility for people with developmental disabilities, and her disability, which included an uncontrollable impulse to eat both edible and inedible objects, had been well monitored. But over the Christmas holidays in 1999, the facility sent her to another location. None of her files or critical care information was transferred with her, and on her first day in the new location she found an open medicine cabinet. After ingesting the alcohol and spending hours in excruciating pain, she died. Her grieving father asked Equip for Equality to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Byron Mason, Senior Attorney at Equip for Equality After the suit was filed, Legal Advocacy Director Barry Taylor was searching for a new Senior Attorney at Equip for Equality to represent Jennifer and handle other important litigation. A search soon attracted the attention of a dapper, soft-spoken lawyer in his late 30s who had worked for several years on catastrophic injury cases. Byron Mason showed a passion for representing the under-served, and he deeply impressed the search team.

"Byron's litigation skills and his experience representing people who became disabled through a personal injury was a perfect fit for Equip for Equality," says Barry. "Although Byron has a pleasant and calm demeanor, once he gets involved in a case, he becomes a very passionate and persuasive litigator."

Byron recalls describing his connection and commitment to people with disabilities: "Being a person of color provides you some of the understanding you need to be sensitive to discrimination. I also believe that, as a lawyer, you have an obligation to help people whose voice would otherwise not be heard."

Although he is the first attorney in his family, Byron, born and raised in Chicago, knew from a young age that law was in his blood. "It wasn't from watching Perry Mason either," he insists, smiling, "though people tease me about the name."

After attending the University of Tennessee, he received a scholarship from Southern Illinois University, College of Law, and graduated in 2½ years. He worked as a prosecutor for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office before moving into the private sector for several years, including working at what was then the country's largest minority-owned law firm, Jones, Ware & Grenard. During this time, Byron developed his litigation skills and a solid reputation in the courtroom.

One of Byron's last cases before going into solo practice won a $3.6 million verdict for a man who lost his leg when an earth-moving machine rolled on him. But, even while successfully managing his own practice for four years, he knew that something didn't feel right about his career. It left him with little time for his wife, Arnetta, busy with a career of her own, and their two young children, Byron II (so named because his birthday is on the same day as Byron's) and Morgan.

"You have to look at what makes you happy, what is fulfilling for you," he says. "And there were many times when I would go to work before my kids got up and come home after they went to bed. I was looking for a change, a saner environment, one where I'd have time to spend with my family."

Although Equip for Equality doesn't provide the same financial benefits he had been accustomed to in the private sector, Byron's bottom line includes a strong commitment to family and social issues. He says that, in this respect, his wealth has grown immeasurably since coming on board. When not practicing law, Byron enjoys coaching soccer for the American Youth Soccer Organization and participating on the Local School Counsel for Murray Language Academy in Hyde Park as chair of the Budget & Finance Committee. He also serves on the board of "One Church One School," an organization that partners schools with churches, and was previously on the board of Chicago Youth Centers. Both he and his wife are leaders of the marriage ministry at their church.

Byron brought Jennifer's case to a sizable settlement. He forced the facility to invoke new procedures ensuring the safety of people with disabilities transferring to other locations. Since then, Byron has successfully managed several significant cases for Equip for Equality, including a precedent-setting ruling against a private psychiatric hospital that prevented Equip for Equality access to monitor for incidents of abuse and neglect.

Although tenacious in his pursuit of justice, outside the courtroom Byron remains immaculately modest. Asked to recount his professional achievements, he demurs: "I've learned that you're more effective when they don't see you coming," he laughs. "I'm not one to toot my own horn. I think results speak better."

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