In this interview, Thomas E. Cooney, J.D. reflects with great humor upon his childhood, law career, and the direction of medical-legal challenges. He graduated from the University of Portland (B.A. in Philosophy) and Willamette University (J.D.). After graduation, Cooney was admitted to the Oregon bar in 1956. Cooney was a founding member of the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel. He specialized in insurance defense, focusing primarily on complex litigation in medical malpractice defense, professional liability, and health law. Beginning in 1972, he served as general counsel for the Oregon Medical Association. In this interview, he discusses the tremendous changes he has seen in the field and what he expects the future will hold. Additionally, he authored the first Oregon Medical-Legal handbook for physicians, commonly called the "Cheerios Book."