Knight Hoppe Kurnik & Knight, LTD | Quality | Integrity | Commitment

Knight, Hoppe, Kurnik & Knight, Ltd. utilizes an efficient, case-management approach aimed at producing results in a cost-effective manner. The firm seeks reasonable resolutions without burdensome and costly litigation. Should that be unsuccessful, we then step up to the courtroom challenge for a decision by the judge or jury.

Our firm members have established a track record of success at the trial and appellate levels, producing outstanding results and substantial cost savings for our clients.

Our practice encompasses the States of Illinois and Indiana, in both State and Federal Courts. Our familiarity and experience with these Court systems enable us to provide the highest quality legal representation, from initial analysis of a lawsuit through its conclusion. We pride ourselves in fostering an environment whereby the expertise and legal acumen of the firm’s partners is passed down to our associates through in-depth training and mentoring. It is this environment that provides the consistency and quality of legal services expected and noted by our diverse client base.

Trial Victory

In Aguirre v. TBMK, et. al, Byron Knight served as lead counsel and Matthew Clark was second chair in a successful trial based on diversity jurisdiction in the Northern District of Illinois Court. Plaintiff alleged construction negligence related to his fall off of a scaffold during the construction of the new Soldier Field. Plaintiff asked the jury to return a verdict for more than $10 million, but the jury rejected this request and found for the defendant.
Verdict for Defendants

In Suarez v. Burns Harbor, et. al. Matthew Clark served as lead counsel and Elizabeth Knight second chaired obtaining a not guilty verdict related to an allegation of excessive force in the Northern District of Indiana. Counsels successfully argued to the jury that the use of pepper spray was a reasonable amount of force to effectuate of the arrest Plaintiff who attempted to flee and hide and then resisted when discovered.
First New School Code Appellate Win

In Pioli v. North Chicago Comm. Unit Sch. Dist. No. 187, Matthew Clark and Amanda Zdarsky were successful in having the Second District Appellate Court affirm the trial court’s grant of summary judgment. The Court interpreted the provisions of the Illinois School Code which had been amended in 2012. As such, the Appellate Code in a matter of first impression held that the school board did not violate the School Code by laying off tenured teachers.
Absolute Immunity Under the Illinois Tort Claims Act

In Stingley v. City of North Chicago, et. al, Matthew Clark and Amanda Zdarsky were successful in having the Court grant the motion to dismissed filed. The Northern District of Illinois Court held that the School District defendant was absolutely immune under Section 4-102 of the Illinois Tort Immunity Act for alleged failure to provide police protective services at the school.
Statute of Limitations Successful in Pursuit Case

In Cooper v Shaw, the plaintiff alleged that a police officer pursued him at high speeds leading him to have a car accident resulting in the death of a passenger and serious injury to others. However, the Winnebago state court adopted the argument made by Amanda Zdarsky and Matthew Clark and held that Plaintiff failed to comply with the one year statute of limitations period under the Illinois Tort Immunity Act.
7th Circuit Precedent Created

In Wheeler v. Lawson, Matthew Clark as lead counsel and primary author with Elizabeth Knight successfully argued and affirmed the grant of summary judgment. The 7th Circuit that the detective defendant was entitled to qualified immunity in that his decision to arrest the Plaintiff was reasonable based on the explosion of a methamphetamine lab that burned down her garage which had cameras on it. The Wheeler decision has been cited almost 400 times and is one of the leading decisions for the qualified immunity defense in the 7th Circuit.
Rule 11 Letter Leads to Dismissal

In Moseley v. Village of Anitoch, the plaintiff alleged in his complaint that the defendant falsely arrested him, committed battery and assault, subjected him to malicious prosecution, and would be liable under other state law theories. After a review of the officer’s squad car video, Amanda Zdarsky under the supervision of Matthew Clark sent a Rule 11 letter with a copy of the video tape. Shortly thereafter, Plaintiff dismissed his complaint in the Northern District of Illinois court.
Legal Motion to Dismiss a Success

In Wish v.Baxa, the plaintiff made Monell allegations against the municipal entity contending that the entity failed to train officers on how to conduct a strip search. Amanda Zdarsky, Michael Atkus, and Matthew Clark argued on a motion to dismiss that the plaintiff failed to make sufficient allegations under the Iqbal standards. The Northern District of Illinois court agreed and granted the motion to dismiss, although the case remains pending against other defendants.

RECORD OF SUCCESS

Our firm members have established a track record of success at the trial and appellate levels, producing outstanding results and substantial cost savings for our clients.

Statute of Limitations Successful in Pursuit Case

In Cooper v Shaw, the plaintiff alleged that a police officer pursued him at high speeds leading him to have a car accident resulting in the death of a passenger and serious injury to others. However, the Winnebago state court adopted the argument made by Amanda Zdarsky and Matthew Clark and held that Plaintiff failed to comply with the one year statute of limitations period under the Illinois Tort Immunity Act.
Trial Victory

In Aguirre v. TBMK, et. al, Byron Knight served as lead counsel and Matthew Clark was second chair in a successful trial based on diversity jurisdiction in the Northern District of Illinois Court. Plaintiff alleged construction negligence related to his fall off of a scaffold during the construction of the new Soldier Field. Plaintiff asked the jury to return a verdict for more than $10 million, but the jury rejected this request and found for the defendant.
Verdict for Defendants

In Suarez v. Burns Harbor, et. al. Matthew Clark served as lead counsel and Elizabeth Knight second chaired obtaining a not guilty verdict related to an allegation of excessive force in the Northern District of Indiana. Counsels successfully argued to the jury that the use of pepper spray was a reasonable amount of force to effectuate of the arrest Plaintiff who attempted to flee and hide and then resisted when discovered.
Legal Motion to Dismiss a Success

In Wish v.Baxa, the plaintiff made Monell allegations against the municipal entity contending that the entity failed to train officers on how to conduct a strip search. Amanda Zdarsky, Michael Atkus, and Matthew Clark argued on a motion to dismiss that the plaintiff failed to make sufficient allegations under the Iqbal standards. The Northern District of Illinois court agreed and granted the motion to dismiss, although the case remains pending against other defendants.
7th Circuit Precedent Created

In Wheeler v. Lawson, Matthew Clark as lead counsel and primary author with Elizabeth Knight successfully argued and affirmed the grant of summary judgment. The 7th Circuit that the detective defendant was entitled to qualified immunity in that his decision to arrest the Plaintiff was reasonable based on the explosion of a methamphetamine lab that burned down her garage which had cameras on it. The Wheeler decision has been cited almost 400 times and is one of the leading decisions for the qualified immunity defense in the 7th Circuit.
Absolute Immunity Under the Illinois Tort Claims Act

In Stingley v. City of North Chicago, et. al, Matthew Clark and Amanda Zdarsky were successful in having the Court grant the motion to dismissed filed. The Northern District of Illinois Court held that the School District defendant was absolutely immune under Section 4-102 of the Illinois Tort Immunity Act for alleged failure to provide police protective services at the school.
First New School Code Appellate Win

In Pioli v. North Chicago Comm. Unit Sch. Dist. No. 187, Matthew Clark and Amanda Zdarsky were successful in having the Second District Appellate Court affirm the trial court’s grant of summary judgment. The Court interpreted the provisions of the Illinois School Code which had been amended in 2012. As such, the Appellate Code in a matter of first impression held that the school board did not violate the School Code by laying off tenured teachers.
Rule 11 Letter Leads to Dismissal

In Moseley v. Village of Anitoch, the plaintiff alleged in his complaint that the defendant falsely arrested him, committed battery and assault, subjected him to malicious prosecution, and would be liable under other state law theories. After a review of the officer’s squad car video, Amanda Zdarsky under the supervision of Matthew Clark sent a Rule 11 letter with a copy of the video tape. Shortly thereafter, Plaintiff dismissed his complaint in the Northern District of Illinois court.

RECORD OF SUCCESS

Our firm members have established a track record of success at the trial and appellate levels, producing outstanding results and substantial cost savings for our clients.

Legal Motion to Dismiss a Success

In Wish v.Baxa, the plaintiff made Monell allegations against the municipal entity contending that the entity failed to train officers on how to conduct a strip search. Amanda Zdarsky, Michael Atkus, and Matthew Clark argued on a motion to dismiss that the plaintiff failed to make sufficient allegations under the Iqbal standards. The Northern District of Illinois court agreed and granted the motion to dismiss, although the case remains pending against other defendants.
Verdict for Defendants

In Suarez v. Burns Harbor, et. al. Matthew Clark served as lead counsel and Elizabeth Knight second chaired obtaining a not guilty verdict related to an allegation of excessive force in the Northern District of Indiana. Counsels successfully argued to the jury that the use of pepper spray was a reasonable amount of force to effectuate of the arrest Plaintiff who attempted to flee and hide and then resisted when discovered.
7th Circuit Precedent Created

In Wheeler v. Lawson, Matthew Clark as lead counsel and primary author with Elizabeth Knight successfully argued and affirmed the grant of summary judgment. The 7th Circuit that the detective defendant was entitled to qualified immunity in that his decision to arrest the Plaintiff was reasonable based on the explosion of a methamphetamine lab that burned down her garage which had cameras on it. The Wheeler decision has been cited almost 400 times and is one of the leading decisions for the qualified immunity defense in the 7th Circuit.
Rule 11 Letter Leads to Dismissal

In Moseley v. Village of Anitoch, the plaintiff alleged in his complaint that the defendant falsely arrested him, committed battery and assault, subjected him to malicious prosecution, and would be liable under other state law theories. After a review of the officer’s squad car video, Amanda Zdarsky under the supervision of Matthew Clark sent a Rule 11 letter with a copy of the video tape. Shortly thereafter, Plaintiff dismissed his complaint in the Northern District of Illinois court.
Statute of Limitations Successful in Pursuit Case

In Cooper v Shaw, the plaintiff alleged that a police officer pursued him at high speeds leading him to have a car accident resulting in the death of a passenger and serious injury to others. However, the Winnebago state court adopted the argument made by Amanda Zdarsky and Matthew Clark and held that Plaintiff failed to comply with the one year statute of limitations period under the Illinois Tort Immunity Act.
Absolute Immunity Under the Illinois Tort Claims Act

In Stingley v. City of North Chicago, et. al, Matthew Clark and Amanda Zdarsky were successful in having the Court grant the motion to dismissed filed. The Northern District of Illinois Court held that the School District defendant was absolutely immune under Section 4-102 of the Illinois Tort Immunity Act for alleged failure to provide police protective services at the school.
First New School Code Appellate Win

In Pioli v. North Chicago Comm. Unit Sch. Dist. No. 187, Matthew Clark and Amanda Zdarsky were successful in having the Second District Appellate Court affirm the trial court’s grant of summary judgment. The Court interpreted the provisions of the Illinois School Code which had been amended in 2012. As such, the Appellate Code in a matter of first impression held that the school board did not violate the School Code by laying off tenured teachers.
Trial Victory

In Aguirre v. TBMK, et. al, Byron Knight served as lead counsel and Matthew Clark was second chair in a successful trial based on diversity jurisdiction in the Northern District of Illinois Court. Plaintiff alleged construction negligence related to his fall off of a scaffold during the construction of the new Soldier Field. Plaintiff asked the jury to return a verdict for more than $10 million, but the jury rejected this request and found for the defendant.

RECORD OF SUCCESS