LITIGATION HISTORY
Clark Johnson & Knight partners have collectively amassed over 250 years of experience litigating cases. While most cases are resolved short of trial via motion or settlement, our trial experience is what sets us apart. We pride ourselves on this experience and promote the involvement of our younger partners and associates at trial to ensure a continued and successful trial practice.
The cases below represent the favorable results we have obtained for our clients over the years, a list that continues to grow.
Abbott v. Village of Winthrop Harbor, Federal Wiretapping Act/civil rights and privacy (68 plaintiffs); U. S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. of lllinois; Verdict for plaintiffs reversed outright. Verdict for defendant on appeal.
Acevedo v. DuPage County Forest Preserve District, death & personal injury/Structural Work Act case; DuPage County; Jr. Verdict for plaintiff, set offs resulted in net liability of $17,000.
Adams v. Szceshinski,. false arrest/excessive force, Section 1983, U.S.N.D. Ill.. Verdict for defendant.
Adams v. University Park, false arrest/excessive force, civil rights, U.S.N.D. Ill.. Verdict for plaintiffs.
Aguirre v. TBMK, construction and res ipsa loquitor trial regarding a fall from scaffolding on the Soldier Field reconstruction project ; U.S.D.C. N.D. Ill.. Verdict for defendants. The jury verdict in favor of the defendants was affirmed finding no jury instruction error." 582 F. 3d 808 (ih Cir . 2009).
Anderson v. Lansing, personal injury/premises; Cook County, 6th Municipal Dist.. Verdict less than amount paid by settling codefendant, defendant paid nothing after setoff.
Baltz v. County of Will, wrongful suspension of deputy sheriff and false arrest; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. illinois. Verdict for plaintiff.
Barron v. Russell Builder, Structural Work Act/construction negligence; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Behl v. Chinski, automobile negligence/death passenger, fell from moving automobile; Kankakee County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Berry v. Brown, race discrimination; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Indiana. Verdict for defendant. Affirmed on appeal.
Bickhaus v. Chatham, employment; U.S. Dist. Court, Central Dist. illinois. Verdict for plaintiff.
Bissett v. Lemont, personal injury/Structural Work Act case; Will County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Bjerga v. Northbrook Lumber, personal injury/construction site negligence case; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Boyd v. Village of Wheeling, civil rights/coerced confession/false arrest case, underlying murder, 5 ½ week trial; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendant, affirmed on appeal.
Brown v. City of Markham, false arrest/wrongful search, civil rights, U.S.N.D. Ill.; Directed verdict for defendants.
Brnusak v. Village of Lombard, age discrimination; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Canzolino v. Edwards Medical, retaliatory discharge; DuPage County. Verdict for plaintiff.
Carlsen v. Village of Oakwood Hills, civil rights/police excessive force case; McHenry County ; Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Cefalu v. Elk Grove Village, false arrest/excessive force; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois . Verdict for defendant. Affirmed on appeal.
Chaudry v. Pingree Grove Fire Protection Dist., personal injury/emergency vehicle case; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois; Retrial damages only. Verdict less than half of original verdict.
Cline v. Student Transit Bus, death of child- bus driver under influence of drugs - admitted liability; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict less than settlement offer.
Coyne V. East Dundee, personal injury/Structural Work Act case; Kane County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Crozier v. Fisel, premises liability; Lake County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Danhof v. Richland, quadriplegic plaintiff/premises design and maintenance case; Marshall County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant. Affirmed on appeal.
Demos v. Shell Oil, tire exploded blinding plaintiff with severe permanent disabilities, including loss of taste and smell; Cook County, Illinois; Plaintiffs counsel, Tom Demetrio of Corboy and Demetrio, asked jury for $32 million - verdict for defendant, Shell Oil. Affirmed on appeal.
Dolder v. Martinton, death/road case; U.S. Dist. Court, Central Dist. Illinois. Verdict for plaintiff, reversed outright by Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, judgment entered for defendant.
Egebergh v. Mount Prospect, U.S. Dist. Ct. N.D.Ill. Diabetic prisoner death in custody state; wrongful death and federal claims of deprivation of medical care. Verdict for all defendants.
Falcone v. Village of Burr Ridge, personal injury/police conduct, excessive force case; DuPage County, Illinois; Plaintiff, ob/gyn, claimed permanent loss of use of hands in incident. Verdict $5,000 affirmed as sufficient on appeal, plaintiffs request for new trial denied.
Faye v. Parrish Blacktop, death of 2 minors/premises, Settled during trial for offer made six months before trial.
Fink v. Royer, wrongful death, MS, Verdict for defendant.
Foelker v. Club Car, product liability; Cook County; Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Groom v. County of DuPage, personal injury/road case; DuPage County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Gustafson v. City of Palos Hills, personal injury/municipal automobile and road case; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict for plaintiff.
Haines v. Village of Park Forest South, personal injury/police emergency vehicle case; Will County, Illinois. Verdict for plaintiff.
Hegwood v. Village of North Aurora, excessive force/false arrest; Kane County. Verdict for defendant.
Hendricks v. City of Braidwood, excessive force/false arrest, civil rights, U.S.N.D. Ill.. Verdict for defendant.
Hennis v. Ferra, Will County, Illinois. Rear end collision. Verdict for defendant.
Hebert v. Porter County, civil rights search and seizure, US District Court, Northern District IN, $1.00 verdict for plaintiff.
Higgins v. Chicago White Sox, personal injury/premises liability; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Hirz & Ulrich v. Village of Mt. Prospect, civil rights/police excessive force case; U. S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendants.
Hozdic v. Northern Chalet, premises liability; Lake County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Indlecoffer v. Village of Wadsworth, premises road case, brain damaged plaintiff; Lake County, Illinois; Case settled reasonably while jury deliberating.
Jackson v. Grant County, IN et al, excessive force, US District Court, Northern District, IN, verdict for defendants.
Jackson v. Michigan City, excessive force/false arrest; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Indiana (South Bend Division); $6,000 verdict for plaintiff.
James v. Village of Winthrop Harbor, false arrest/excessive force; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Johnson v. Village of Rockton, serviceman discrimination, U.S.N.D. Ill.. Verdict for plaintiff.
Jones v. Crown Point, sidewalk defect/falldown, Rennsalear, Indiana. Verdict for defendant.
Kelly v. Village of Lombard, handicap discrimination; Illinois Human Rights Commission. Verdict for defendant.
Lane v. Michigan City, false imprisonment; Starke County, Indiana. Verdict for defendant.
Lewandowski v. County of Will, false arrest/excessive force; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for plaintiff.
Lewis v. Hayes, due process - employment; Kankakee County. Verdict for plaintiff. Reversed on appeal.
Lofton v. Village of Oak Park, civil rights/police excessive force and false arrest case; U. S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendants.
Madura v. Village of Bolingbrook, false arrest/excessive force; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern District Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Malewicha v. Wilmette, road maintenance/negligence; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Marshal v. Porter County, retaliatory discharge/First Amendment; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Indiana (Hammond Division). Verdict for piaintiff.
Martinez v. Village of Mt. Prospect, civil rights/employment, alleged racial targeting and profiling; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict in favor of two individual defendants and verdict for plaintiff against remaining defendants - case settled less than verdict pending appeal.
Mayes v. Burke, pedestrian/auto; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict for plaintiff - 53% comparative fault.
Mazzone v. All Star Pontiac, automobile; Cook County, Illinois, Verdict less than pretrial offer.
McAllister v. Town of Burns Harbor, excessive force, Section 1983 civil rights claim, U.S.N.D. Ind. For defendants. Plaintiff requested $1,000,000 based on $100,000 in specials to the jury with an award of only $2,000.
McCarty v. Pheasant Run Resort, premises/security, guest of hotel sexually assaulted; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendant. Affirmed on appeal.
McCullaron v. Hazelcrest Park District, premises liability; Cook County. Verdict for defendant.
McGee v. Village of Lombard , civil rights/unlawful search and seizure case; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendant police officer and judgment n.o.v. in favor of defendant building inspector. Affirmed on appeal.
McGehee v. McManus, directed liability, remote control airplane accident; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict less than pretrial settlement offer.
McGuinn v. Porter County, road/intersection signing. Starke County, Indiana. Directed verdict for defendant at close of plaintiff's case.
Mesman v. Crane Pro, U.S. Dist Ct. N.D. Ind. Product liability. Steel dropped from overhead crane landing on Plaintiff. $5 million dollar verdict for Plaintiff. Judgment notwithstanding the verdict granted in favor of defendant vacating verdict in its entirety.
Meyer v. Orion Fire Protection District, alleged delayed ambulance response-time, death case; Rock Island County, Illinois. Directed verdict for defendant. Affirmed on appeal.
Miller v. Gilberts, personal injury, well house explosion from methane gas with severe bum injuries to family of three; Kane County, Illinois. Case settled for less than half of verdict pending appeal on undecided legal issue.
Mitberg v. South Pacific Industries, Inc., deathiproduct liability; Lake County, Illinois. Net $7,000 verdict after $30,000 offer.
Moffitt v. Mullen, false arrest/excessive force; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Indiana (Hammond Division). Verdict for defendant.
Morse v. CHA and Diversified Mgt. Co., 5 year old thrown from 14th story housing authority window, premises failure to maintain building and protect from criminal acts, 9 week trial; Cook County, Illinois. Plaintiff asked jury for $60 million; hung jury 10-2 for defense, case settled ($2,000,000, less than one half of original settlement offer at commencement of second trial).
Myer v. Kroger Foods, products liability/food poisoning; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant. Affirmed on appeal.
Native American Arts v. Waldron, Intellectual property case. First trial under Indian Arts and Craft Act. U.S. Dist. Ct. N.D. Ill.. Verdict for defendant.
O'Connor v. Pettit, personal injury/auto accident; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Parrish v. Matteson, premises liability; Cook County, Illinois. Judgment less than half of pretrial settlement demand.
Peeler v. Village of Kingston Mines, employment, retaliatory discharge and discrimination; U.S. Dist. Court, Central Dist. Illinois. Summary judgment civil rights - verdict for plaintiff on retaliatory discharge.
Piper v. County of DuPage, excessive force and theft of gold bullion coins; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Planbeck v. Village of Wheeling, personal injury/civil rights/excessive force case; U. S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Bifurcated trial, case settled after Phase I verdict for plaintiff.
Poff v. Michigan City, premises/park district; Porter County, Indiana. Verdict for plaintiff.
Pressley v. Haeger, race discrimination/employment; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for plaintiff.
Quinn v. Fulton County, road construction/signing; Fulton County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Rainwater v. Best Homes, construction negligence/death; Lake County, Indiana. Case settled at close of plaintiffs case for offer made before trial.
Rassi v. Rogers, excessive force/shooting; U.S. Dist. Court, Central Dist. Illinois (Peoria Division). Bifurcated trial, settled after Phase I.
Reboy v. Cozzi Iron, plaintiff lost his leg working in defendant's scrap yard, caught between railroad cars; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Indiana. Verdict for plaintiff, reversed by Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on exclusivity of workman's compensation issue.
Richards v. Yapor, medical malpractice; Cook County, Illinois. Jury hung, plaintiff dismissed case after appeal before retrial.
Rosato v. City of Park Ridge, civil rights/false arrest/excessive use of force; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendants.
Rosentreater v. Mundig, wrongful shooting, shot in the back; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Roth v. Roanoke Township, premises/road case, death of one passenger, loss of limb to another; Woodford County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Safian v. Village of Palatine, death/police excessive force and suicide in police lock-up case; Cook County, Illinois. Plaintiff 49% comparative fault. Case settled less than verdict pending appeal
Simon v. Hamdaoui, auto/death; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant on wrongful death. $55,000 conscious pain and suffering, survival count. Affirmed on appeal.
Simpson v. Star West Cartage, auto; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Slaten v. Heinrich & City of Geneva, civil rights/police excessive force case; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendants.
Smith v. Urbana, false arrest excessive force - brocken neck, civil rights, U.S.C.D. Ill.. Verdict against one defendant.
Snell v. Village of University Park, death/road case; Cook County, Illinois. Plaintiffs verdict reversed outright, judgment for defendant on appeal.
Sorenson v. Vermillion County, Sheriff's Dept. road closure, brain injured plaintiff; U.S. Dist. Court, Central Dist. Illinois. Directed verdict for defendant.
Steinmetz v. Zinn, auto/defendant rear-ended plaintiff; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict one half pretrial settlement demand.
Stone v. Starke County, excessive force/false arrest; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Indiana (South Bend Division). Verdict for defendant.
Straka v. City of Berwyn, personal injury/municipal premises liability case; Cook County. Minimal verdict for plaintiff.
Suarez v. Officer Tomasko of Burns Harbor, excessive force trial related to use of O.C.S. Spray, U.S.D.C. N.D. Ind.. Verdict for defendants.
Tadla v. Summit Hill and Frankfort Square Park Dist., personal injury/ premises liability case ; Will County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Talamo v. Koskaker, unlawful entry/seizure, civil rights, U.S.C.D. Ill.. Verdict for defendants.
Thomas v. Scroggins, excessive force/false arrest; U.S. Dist. Court, Southern Dist. Indiana (Indianapolis Division). Verdict for defendant.
Tidemann v. Club Car, product liability; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Village of Wadsworth v. Immanuel Baptist Church, Lake County, IL. A contribution action negligence claim related to a church sponsored automobile treasure hunt. Verdict for Village in the amount of $50,000.
Voss v. Elmhurst Motors, negligence/products liability; DuPage County, Illinois. Verdict for defendant.
Vukadinovic v. Zentz, false arrest/excessive force, civil rights, U.S.N.D. Ind.. Verdict for defendant.
Warner v. County of Du Page, inverse condemnation and negligence/flooding case, multi-million dollar property loss; U. S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict less than amount paid by settling co defendant, with set off, defendant owed nothing. Affirmed on appeal.
Wedderburn v. Levy Security Co., psychiatric nurse attacked by patient, alleged negligence in security response; Cook County, Illinois. Verdict for plaintiff.
White v. Village of Oak Park, excessive force/false arrest; U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. Illinois. Verdict for defendant.