Orland Fire officials offer condolences on passing of Attorney James Roche
Officials of the Orland Fire Protection District offered their condolences to the family of James Roche, who passed away this week.
Roche had served as the attorney for the OFPD for nearly two decades, officials said.
“Jim was a strong advocate for the fire district, firefighters and all first responders and we are saddened by his passing,” said OFPD President Chris Evoy said, speaking on behalf of all of the board’s trustees, staff and employees.
“Jim understood the challenges facing fire districts and fire departments, and he was always an effective voice for our needs. We express our heartfelt condolences to Jim’s family.”
Orland Fire Chief Mike Schofield also expressed his condolences to the Roche family.
“Jim Roche was always a class act who championed our needs with professionalism and a deep insight of the law,” Schofield said.
“He will be missed. I know all of us are saddened by his passing and we wish the Roche family our deepest condolences.”
Mr. Roche founded James. J. Roche & Associates in 1989. He focused his private practice specializing in the representation of local municipalities, transportation companies, businesses, and automotive dealers in complex commercial litigation and tort litigation. He has successfully represented automotive dealers in complex automobile manufacturer/dealer litigation, and in all stages of asset purchasing.
Mr. Roche’s practice encompasses appellate litigation, general business litigation, and representing clients’ interests in front of governmental agencies such as the EEOC, the Human Rights Commission, and the Illinois and Federal Departments of Labor. He has obtained countless favorable verdicts on every level from the municipal departments to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Since 1980, Mr. Roche has served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois. Prior to founding James. J. Roche & Associates, Mr. Roche was a Senior Partner of the law firm of Condon, Cook & Roche. Mr. Roche began his legal career as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago in 1975. There, Mr. Roche handled everything from City ordinances, City contracts, defending personal injury lawsuits with the City, and employment discrimination cases.
Mr. Roche was born Chicago, Illinois. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University Chicago in 1971. Mr. Roche earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1975. Mr. Roche is a proud member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Municipal Section of the Illinois Bar Association, the Federal Trial Bar Association, and the Insurance Defense Bar. Mr. Roche is lifetime trustee of the Erikson Institute of Chicago Illinois.
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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