Tommy Malone’s financial success in plaintiffs’ law is legendary, as is his ease in front of a jury. He has a long list of well-known multimillion-dollar verdicts to his credit and far more high-dollar settlements than anyone knows, since many of those have been confidential. His lifestyle has been publicized as well: homes in Sandy Springs, Palm Beach and the Bahamas, a boat for fishing and a plane for commuting.

But when he reviews his 51-year career, it’s not money that he talks about. It’s “making a difference in people’s lives.” He talks about notes and pictures he’s received from clients who’ve been able to care for a paralyzed child because of the multimillion-dollar payments he’s secured.