Barry Reed (January 28, 1927 – July 19, 2002) was an American trial lawyer best known for writing the courtroom drama The Verdict (1980), which was made into an acclaimed film in 1982. == Background == Barry Clement Reed was born to Clement Barry and Julia Donahue Reed in Alameda, California, on January 28, 1927. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1947. He obtained a B.S. degree in 1949 from Holy Cross Col…