Cases
Representative Matters: Meriturn Partners LLC, et al. v. Banner & Witcoff Ltd., et al.
Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
Secured $6 million jury verdict after three-week trial in favor of private equity investors in legal malpractice action against their patent lawyers for failed patent due diligence.
Belleville Toyota v. Toyota Motor Sales, et al.
Circuit Court of St. Clair County, Ill.
316 Ill. App. 3d 227 (5th Dist. 2000), reversed in part, 199 Ill.2d 325 (2002)
Defended auto manufacturer
distributor in three-week jury trial
appeals of franchise act
breach of contract lawsuit brought by dealer arising from dispute over allocation of vehicles. In case of first impression, Illinois Supreme Court found that UCC statute of limitations applies to franchise agreements
that statute of limitations is not tolled by continuing breaches of contract or continuing violations of Franchise Act.
Fuller v. Decatur School District No. 61, et al.
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
Obtained not guilty verdict for school board in civil rights lawsuit brought by six students expelled for a gang fight at a football game. Claims were prosecuted by Operation PUSH
Rev. Jesse Jackson
garnered national attention due to board's so-called zero tolerance policy. Decision reported at 78 F.Supp.2d 812 (C.D. Ill. 2000), affirmed, 251 F.3d 662 (7th Cir. 2001).
Artline v. Universal Statuary
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Defended trade libel
prosecuted copyright infringement claims between manufacturers of naturalistic animal statuary in two-week jury trial. Case resolved through confidential settlement.
Royal Surplus Lines v. Mariner Health Care
647 F. 3d 524 (5th Cir. 2011)
Obtained summary judgment
affirmance on appeal on $10.5 million bad faith
breach of contract claims against excess insurance carrier.
Northern Illinois Emergency Physicians v. S
s, et al.
216 Ill.2d 294 (2005)
Obtained summary judgment
successfully argued appeals of seminal Illinois Supreme Court attorney malpractice case on damages.
800 South Wells Commercial LLC v. Horwood Marcus & Berk
Ill. App. 3rd Dist.
In first of its kind case, obtained summary judgment
affirmance of appeal by convincing courts that the two-year statute of limitations in Section 13-214.3 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure - not the longer five-year statute of limitations - applies to aiding
abetting claims against lawyers that are connected to their performance of legal services.
Mitchell Bros. v. Warady & Davis
Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
Successfully defended accounting firm in two-week jury trial in claims alleging failure to detect
report defalcation.
Cho v. Environmental Management Group
Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
Obtained dismissal of $3 million lost profits claim against environmental auditor client arising from a Phase I environmental site assessment on property containing asbestos. Claims dismissed during two-week jury trial.
Liberty Mutual v. Ross & Hardies
(Ill. App. 1st Dist. 2001)
H
led case of first impression in Illinois involving claims of attorney malpractice. Appellate court found insurer had no right of subrogation against its insured's defense counsel.
Midwest Imports v. Coval
71 F.3d 1311 (7th Cir. 1995)
Obtained summary judgment
successfully argued appeal of accountant's malpractice case. Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for auditor client finding no breach of duty of care.
Wolf & Company v. Cevin
(Ill. App. 2nd Dist. 1997)
Obtained summary judgment for auditor in accountant's malpractice case where plaintiff sought $21 million in damages. Appellate court affirmed, finding that parent corporation had no st
ing to assert claims for failed subsidiaries.
