Thomas E. "Tommy" Greer of Greer Tisinger. (Courtesy photo)

Friends in the legal community are shocked and saddened by the death of Thomas E. "Tommy" Greer of the Greer Tisinger law firm in Carrollton, who died Sunday of injuries from a car crash on Friday. He was 70.

"I can tell you that there are many lawyers and judges who dearly loved Tommy," said Matt Cook of the Cook Law Group in Gainesville. "Personally, I can tell you that Tommy was a mentor and great friend to me. Having some friends that are older than you in this profession is helpful. Tommy provided a sounding board with a great perspective on the arc of life and work and how to keep it all in perspective."

Richie Foster of Swift Currie McGhee & Hiers said Greer had mediated many cases for him.

"He personified the word 'gentleman,'" Foster said. "He always gave me a big hug—even though the plaintiff's lawyer was right there. That's how much we liked each other."

Greer had practiced law for the past 45 years, since earning his J.D. at the University of Georgia School of Law in 1975. He did defense work, plaintiffs' work, family law and served as a part-time juvenile court judge. Greer was also a lay minister and preached regularly at Victory United Methodist Church outside of Carrollton. In recent years, he worked as a mediator, eventually encouraging his former longtime partner, David Tisinger of Tisinger Vance, into work as a neutral as well.

"We talked every single day," Tisinger said Tuesday. "It's made a hole in my life—and a lot of others."

Cook said Greer "was at a really good place in life," and "was in good health." He and his wife lived on a farm, where one of their sons also lived with his wife and children. They rose before daylight to feed the livestock.

On Thursday, one of his granddaughters had helped her quiz bowl team win a championship.

"Tommy had told some folks he was more proud of that than nearly anything he had ever won himself," Cook said.

The next morning, Greer was on his way to meet his son for breakfast driving on the Carrollton Bypass highway when a school bus turned left in front of him. The bus was empty except for the driver, who was not injured. Published photos from the scene show the side of the bus dented and the front of Greer's car destroyed. He was taken to the Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, where he was stabilized and then moved to Atlanta, friends said.  

The outpouring of concern and questions was so great that one of his law partners, Erica Tisinger—daughter-in-law of David Tisinger—created a CaringBridge website to update friends on his condition. Entries on Saturday said he had multiple fractures, had not regained consciousness since the crash and was being moved to hospice for palliative care. A later entry said he died on Sunday afternoon.

A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church of Carrollton, with a reception following in the fellowship hall. 

"I first met Tommy 20 years ago as a family friend of my now-husband," Erica Tisinger said in an email. 

"Through time, Tommy married my husband, Joel, and me; he dedicated our children at Victory United Methodist; and he became my law partner," Erica Tisinger said. "Words cannot describe the impact Tommy had on my life as a friend, mentor, pastor, and law partner. I considered him family—as he certainly made me feel that way. He valued a strong work ethic and his time with friends. But above all, Tommy taught me that what mattered most was family and faith. And he certainly lived what he taught. Tommy is one of the greatest men I have ever known. His words will live with me forever, and I will greatly miss him."

Greer's son and law partner, Jon Greer, said he has been moved by the response from friends in the legal community.

"As you know, there can be a lot of acrimony between the defense bar and the plaintiffs' bar.  I plead guilty to playing my part in that at times. However, as a plaintiff's lawyer, whenever I would get frustrated with opposing counsel my dad would say, 'Son, remember defense work paid for your upbringing'," Jon Greer said.

"His passing has been a strong reminder of what he believed: that there are very good people on both sides of the 'v,'" his son said. "From the plaintiff's standpoint, Matt Cook has been an absolute rock for my entire family since the collision. I can't name all the other firms that have reached out or offered assistance, but they include Butler Wooten and Law & Moran.  From the defense side it's the same. I can't name all of them off the top of my head. I know people from Swift Currie, Weinberg Wheeler, Lewis Brisbois and Drew Eckl have reached out or offered assistance. I have cases against Paul Weathington and Tisinger Vance.  Yet Paul Weathington, David Tisinger and Tommy Vance have been crutches for my entire family to lean on. I believe that reflects positively on my dad that he had so many friends from both sides of the bar. But he would say that it reflects more positively on the bar, both sides of which pulled together to assist his family the one time he wasn't able to.  On behalf of my family and my law partner, Erica Tisinger, we thank you all."