And Jeff Lundy, an Ohio Northern Law School graduate, is happy to be Phil's representative. Yes, the nation's most famous groundhog does have issues. Why, some people try to use Phil's representation without asking. Plus, there are all those licensing and trademark matters. Mr. Lundy represents the Groundhog Club's inner circle, the official club of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, which manages Phil's burdens.
Mr. Lundy has struck deals with Toyota, Cheerios, and others. He's had to send out cease-and-desist letters. He's filed lawsuits against ski companies. It's all in a day's work for a groundhog's legal counsel.
During the slow months apparently Mr. Lundy represents deer (they probably have some good pain and suffering claims) as well. And in his spare time he does real estate deals, personal injury stuff — a general practice.
But still, Phil is his biggest client. And Phil gets a killer deal — how he got Mr. Lundy to represent him for free, I don't know. But hey, it's a great gig. Who else can claim to have the world's most famous groundhog as a client?
As Mr. Lundy says, "some lawyers have the opportunity to argue before the United States Supreme Court. But only one represents Punxsutawney Phil."
Thanks to the Wall Street Journal Law Blog for alerting us to this story!
