Fair & Just Questionnaire: James Harrington

Fair & Just Questionnaire: James Harrington

James J. Harrington IV was named partner in 2013 after more than a decade at the firm. He is the youngest attorney ever to make partner at Fieger Law. Jim began working for Fieger Law as a clerk while he was still in law school. Now, more than a decade later, he is the go-to guy for many of the firm's most complex cases. Here, the former college football star shares his thoughts on hunting, fishing, family and his propensity to be “a little” intense.

What is your favorite color?
Michigan fall colors.

What is your favorite song?
Live version of “Free” by the Zac Brown Band.

What is your favorite restaurant?
Locally, Bonefish Grill (Novi). Up North, Vivio's (Indian River).

Who is your favorite Detroit celebrity?
If forced to pick, it would be a collection of the rock stars and their music from the Detroit area. Detroit rock has the right mix of soul and attitude.

Where is your favorite place to be?
The North Shore at Burt Lake.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Andreea, myself and our kids, James, Grace and Jack are at Vivio's in Indian River. The pizza just arrived, the kids are not throwing food at each other. Andreea and I are enjoying a nice glass of wine ... and we don't have to clean up the mess when we leave.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
The 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team.

Which living person do you most admire?
Andreea.

Which trait in yourself do you most deplore?
Procrastination.

What trait do you most deplore in others?
Dishonesty.

What's your greatest extravagance?
It's a very close call between my fishing and hunting gear vs. my fishing and hunting trips.

What is your favorite journey?
Fatherhood.

On what occasion do you lie?
When I tell my kids that if they don't go to bed right now, I'll call Santa.

Which living person do you most dislike?
Insurance companies.

What is your greatest regret?
In high school I was sometimes mean to others. I wish I would have instead reached out to those I may have hurt, or just left them alone.

When & where were you the happiest?
Sunday after church at a cider mill with my family; in a tree stand in Branch County; and fishing on Esnagi Lake in Canada.

Which talent would you most like to have?
To play the piano.

What is your current state of mind?
Content, fortunate and thankful.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would clone myself so I could get more work done, take more depositions and file more cases. Realistically, I would appreciate each day a little more than I do.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Personally, my kids. Professionally, winning my first jury trial. Selfishly, catching more fish than my brother on our Canadian fishing trips.

What is your most treasured possession?
I don't have one. They can all be replaced. You can't replace family.

Where would you most like to live?
On a farm with plenty of acreage to run my two Springer Spaniels Gus and Piper, where I can teach my kids to hunt, where I can see nothing but fields, brush and trees. The farm would also have a stream large enough to fish, and a huge garden for Andreea.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Sometimes I can be a little intense. Just a little.

What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty.

Who are your favorite writers?
Judges who write opinions ruling in my favor and Gerry Spence.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction:
Indiana Jones.

Who is your hero in real life?
I have always admired and drawn inspiration from individuals who have overcome incredible struggles and achieved great success.

How would you like to die?
In the process of saving someone's life.

If you were a car, what kind would you be?
F250.

If you were food, what kind would you be?
Probably a pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw and two sweet pickles on a semi-toasted bun.

If you were an animal, what kind would you be?
I think I would be an eagle. Out of curiosity, I took an online test to see what animal I would be, and it said I was a badger. I asked my wife Andreea what animal she thought I would be and she laughed and said an opossum. Her reasoning was "you are always snacking in the cupboards in the middle of the night making a mess." I still think being an eagle would be cool.

What's your motto?
"Work hard, improve daily, expect to win" At Adrian College before every football game, practice or team meeting we hit a sign with those words. When you have that mind set every day without fail, things can get done.

What's your favorite quote about the law?
"An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot." - Thomas Paine