blog home Firm News Big city experience. Small town care.

Big city experience. Small town care.

By Beth Gibson on June 1, 2018

A conversation with Ken Gibson & John Singleton

To let you know a little more about why we at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys do what we do, here are exclusive interviews with Ken and John!


Q: Ken, which big cities have you lived and worked in?

A: I have lived and worked in Washington, D.C.; Richmond, Virginia; and Norfolk, Virginia. I also spent long periods living and working in Los Angeles, California; and San Juan, Puerto Rico; when I was trying cases as a federal prosecutor.

Q: What brought you to the smaller-town world of Gloucester, Virginia?

A: My wife and I were new parents with twins, and we wanted to slow our lives down from the rat race of Washington, D.C. Beth loved growing up in a small town in Texas, and we both fell in love with the small, coastal community of Gloucester. We felt that this would be an ideal place to live, work, and bring up our children. We were right!

Q: What was it like prosecuting criminals in Virginia state courts, and later around the country in big federal courts? What was it like working in the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington? How do you use all that experience in helping people with personal injury cases in Virginia today?

A: Serving as a state and federal prosecutor was extremely rewarding. I loved the opportunity to achieve justice for crime victims and their families and fight their battles in court on an almost-daily basis.

As my career as a prosecutor progressed, I had the honor to serve at the U.S. Department of Justice and handle cases across the country. The stakes are raised at the federal-court level, and it was exciting to partner with the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies in putting cases together for trial.

The experience I gained as a prosecutor translates extremely well to personal injury cases. Good prosecutors possess three qualities – trial skills, compassion for crime victims and their families, and a heart for justice. These are the very same skills, compassion, and sense of justice that are needed to effectively represent injury victims.

Q: What did serving in the U.S Marine Corps teach you about serving people in Virginia who’ve been injured or treated unfairly?

A: Marines are trained to be “the first to fight” in our nation’s defense and to focus relentlessly on achieving victory in battle. Fortunately, in the civilian world, citizens have the right to a jury trial and the protections of the American justice system to resolve their disputes peacefully.

However, a hard-fought trial is a battle for truth and for justice. John and I bring that fighting spirit, learned in the Marine Corps, to every case we handle.

Q: What’s the main thing you want clients to take away from working with GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys? (besides a big check, of course!)

A: Our goal is that when a case is completed, our clients will know they have been treated like our family members or neighbors, not ever like a number.

Q: Do you have a favorite “small-town” memory from your life out here in Eastern Virginia?

A: My family has so many wonderful memories of our time here, but one that stands out would be our first Christmas in Gloucester. My wife and I attended a Rotary Christmas Party at a beautiful home on the river, and we felt so welcomed by our new friends in the community.

As we were leaving the party, it started to snow. By the time we reached Gloucester’s Main Street, it looked like a scene from the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. Lights were twinkling, snow was falling, and a quaint Christmas scene played out before our eyes. We knew we had found “home.”

Q: We noticed you play the drums in a local rock group, The Ballast Band. Who is your favorite drummer?

A: Well, as many drummers would likely say, Neal Peart of the Canadian band Rush is my favorite drummer. He has amazing technical skills, seemingly endless creativity on the drum set, and to top it all off, he writes all his band’s lyrics. Sadly, he recently retired, but I can still get my fix on Spotify any time!

Q: John, which big cities have you lived and worked in?

A: As a lawyer, I lived and worked in Charleston, West Virginia. I worked for a large insurance defense firm there, helping insurance companies defend their insureds against claims, and helping them reduce their payouts on claims.

As a road construction worker, I lived and worked in Atlanta, Georgia, but that’s a whole other story.

Q: What do you like about living in Gloucester, Virginia?

A: I like that we know our neighbors, fellow lawyers, law enforcement officials, shopkeepers, mechanics, wreckers, construction workers, and pretty much everyone else here.

I like that the person you talk to could be a rocket scientist, a marine biologist, or a shipbuilder. They all have great insights and stories, and I enjoy hearing them.

I like that we have a get-the-job-done attitude here. People don’t wait around for someone else to do the heavy work.

Q: What did you learn from working for insurance corporations? How do you use that to help people who have been injured in Virginia?

A: I know what insurance companies are looking for in a case, how they evaluate a claim, and how their internal processes work.

My knowledge about the insurance industry starts with knowing their vocabulary. I speak their language, and I use their words. We as a law firm understand why they do certain things that do not make sense to someone who hasn’t worked closely with them.

It is gratifying to me to use what I know about the insurance industry to help individuals and families who have been hurt get paid what they deserve.

Q: What did serving in the U.S Marine Corps around the world teach you about serving people in Virginia today who’ve been injured or treated unfairly?

A: Self-discipline. No job is too big. Learn and respect the local culture and language.

Q: What’s the main thing you want clients to take away after working with GibsonSingleton?

A: I want our clients to know that we did everything in our power to get them the best result possible, and that we care about them as a person every step of the way.

Q: Do you have a favorite memory from your life here in Eastern Virginia?

A: In 2011, a tornado hit Gloucester and destroyed Page Middle School. It struck on a Saturday when no one was at the school.

My family and I were at home nearby. My friend called from his house about a mile away. He asked: “Are you okay?”

“Yes. We’re fine.” I replied, “What happened?”

“A tornado just tore up the school,” he said. “The road is completely blocked.”

Another neighbor and I immediately loaded up my pick-up truck with a chain saw, a Peavey timber tool, a land spike, a first-aid kit, and flashlights. We headed for the blocked road.

In the dark, we started clearing what seemed like a mountain of trees and branches. Within 15 minutes, several other people had joined us, all trying to clear the road. No one was in charge; everyone was working hard.

Eventually, we cleared that road. We shook hands with each other, and we all went on to find the next spot that needed help. No one was looking to get rewarded. We were all just doing what needed to be done.

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Community service

Prevention, empathy, and diligence are hallmarks of everything we do at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys. Our community can see these ideals lived out in our work to prevent personal injuries from happening.

  • Safety Education
    GibsonSingleton launches a “Texts=Wrecks” campaign to reduce the number of people injured or killed by distracted drivers.
  • Annual Coat Drive
    During the fall, our team works to distribute coats to people in need in our community.
  • Hands-on Service
    John and Ken join the Gloucester Point Rotary Club in cleaning up the community.
  • Supporting Local Schools
    The Gibson family participates in Gloucester’s Botetourt Elementary Shuffle fundraiser.