Thomas T. Anderson

Thomas T. Anderson
Evangelist, Attorney, Father, Grandfather, Mentor, Philanthropist.
Friday October 20, 2017, Thomas T. Anderson, at the age of 89, passed away to be with his best friend Jesus Christ. He was an attorney whose success surpassed both the Desert and California to become one of the true preeminent trial lawyers in America. However, since 1976, he had made it his life's goal to be known first as a Believer in Jesus Christ before any other recognition. Tom took the Great Commission (John 3:16) to heart and shared his faith with just about everyone he encountered. Many people accepted the Bible as truth because of his outreach. He truly put his faith into action daily. He was a relentless student of the Bible (his personal Bible is heavily worn with his personal notes filling seemingly every margin and blank space he could find to make notes). A scholarly work arising from his Weekly Bible Study which he sponsored at his home became a book, Verdict: Jesus Christ Is Who He Said He Was, about his Testimony and analysis of the Bible, and how through study, the Bible can be proven reasonably and absolutely. He gave away copies of his Testimony to just about everyone and insisted they read it. Seeing Tom after receiving his book was likely to include cross examination on your progress and understanding of the book. His book is still available online in many places including Amazon and he would want you to read it.
As a lawyer, Tom's accomplishments are barely believable in today's legal world. His strength was as a trial lawyer; he estimated he completed over a thousand jury trials. The sum of his lifetime verdicts earned for his clients was in the hundreds of millions of dollars. He was given the moniker "The Desert Fox" by his colleagues and it was rumored that a proposal to have him killed by an opposing insurance company's Board of Directors was defeated in a narrow vote. However, Tom was never motivated by money, he just wanted to attain justice for his clients.
Tom was a firebrand in his life, and as a lawyer he had cases all over the United States. He spent three years in South Carolina earning a $146 million verdict for hundreds of clients who had been defrauded by TV Evangelist Jim Bakker of The PTL Club in a time share scheme (although the verdict was never paid due to bankruptcy protections).He had a case in Arizona against Ozzie Osbourne for wrongful suicide arising out of Osbourne's album "Suicide Solution." He had a case representing state senator Bill Keith to demand the teaching of Creation Science in Kentucky Schools (which included a two day deposition of Carl Sagan). And, of course, he was a legendary plaintiff's trial lawyer who was known to always meticulously prepare his cases for a jury trial, which he usually won. He was committed to his clients, admired by his colleagues, and feared by his opponents.
Tom earned recognition as a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, and was a founding member of the California Trial Lawyers Association (formerly CTLA, now CAOC). He served on the board and was the President of CTLA. He received honors from virtually every association of lawyers who knew him. His style was aggressive and fearless, yet he was an empathetic every-man who connected with the juries in his trials with ease.
He was also a beloved mentor to his employees, many who spent their entire careers working for Tom. Many of the lawyers that he mentored became the Desert's best lawyers: David Chapman and James Hawkins became Superior Court Judges and Douglas Miller became an appellate court judge. All of his employees would testify that Tom was one of the most influential and important people in their life. When Tom fell ill, his former employees demonstrated their admiration and friendship by fully supporting him to the end.
Tom was a proud father and grandfather. His first marriage to Pat produced daughter Lucy who is happily married and lives and works in Utah. Lucy gave Tom his first grandchild Carly who graduated from Gonzaga University and is in her final year of graduate school at American University and works in Washington D.C. continuing her career in international development and public relations. His second marriage to Jackie produced son Gregory who is a lawyer turned special education teacher in Los Angeles, and step daughter Kelly who graduated from American University is married and lives in Dallas. Gregory gave Tom his second grandchild Noah, who is studying at Stanford University and plans to change the world. Kelly gave Tom his third grandchild Romano who is graduating high school and will soon be a famous movie director. His third marriage was to Joy who brought step children David and Julie who all live in California.
Tom's Christian fellowship was very strong and he developed a long-lasting bond with a group of his Brothers in Christ including Higgins Bailey (deceased), Milt McKenzie, and Pastor Mark Cedar. This "Band of Brothers" was faithful and supportive to the end. He had connections throughout the world in the Christian community and he was a great philanthropist and supporter of many. He was a member of Desert Springs Church where he developed deep relationships with its members. He loved going to church. He attended services throughout his illness and even the week of his death.
Tom was an avid fan of the Oregon Ducks and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was always happy to make a little wager!
Huge amount of gratitude goes to William for his years of taking care of and being a friend to Tom. Also to Moses who over the last few months has been extraordinary.
A book would be more appropriate to describe the incredible life of this great man. His service as a spy during the Korean War, his expedition to Noah's Ark in Turkey, and his journey to conduct an archeological dig in Jerusalem looking for the Ark of the Covenant are just a few more of the expedites of this remarkable man which cannot be covered here.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in Tom's name to Desert Christian Academy, Bermuda Dunes, California.
Memorial Services for Tom Anderson will be Sunday October 29 @ 1:00pm at Desert Springs Church, 43-435 Monterey Ave., Palm Desert, California.