• B.S., Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, 1981.
• J.D., John Marshall Law School, 1991
.

• Admitted to the Bar of Illinois and United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 1991
.

• United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, 2003.

• United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, 2004.
• Pro Hac Vice Admission: Wisconsin and Indiana.

Practice Areas

Insurance Defense Professional Negligence, Legal and Medical Malpractice Construction Liability Catastrophic Injury Transportation Product Liability Premises Liability

Professional Memberships and Activities:

• American Bar Association
• National Association of Nurse Attorneys
• Chicago Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Critical Care Nurses Association, 1984-1990
  

Presentations:

• EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act) Update for inpatient psychiatric facility, 2007; Update for Emergency Department Medical and Nursing Staff of Deaconess Hospital, Evansville, Indiana, 2002; EMTALA Update for Emergency Department Medical and Nursing Staff of Highland Park Hospital, Highland Park, Illinois 1999
• Effective Telephone Triage Assessment for Nurses in the Outpatient Setting, Wheaton Clinic, Wheaton, Illinois, 1998

Author:

• Deaconess Hospital EMTALA Update 2003; Survey of EMTALA Requirements for Outpatient Care Centers, 2005 and 2003; Review of Deaconess Hospital Emergency Department EMTALA Policies and Procedures, 2002 .
• Emergency Department Nursing Training Handbook, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, 1989.

Certifications:

• Registered Nurse, 1981-present
• Trauma Nurse Specialist (TNA), 1985-1990
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor (ACLS), 1986-1990

Cases:

In addition to preparing and participating in over 100 medical malpractice cases involving hospitals, physicians, and dentists, I have tried more than 30 significant cases to verdict, including:

• Tara Williams v. James Vail, a personal injury case, where plaintiff was struck by a car while crossing the street. Settled for $8.3 million, with a $41 million demand.
• U.S. Bank, Administrator of the Estate of Roe Ann Lockhart, a minor v. YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and Terrell Sanderson, 01 L 4891, retrial of a personal injury case, verdict in favor of plaintiff, $15.3 million, (asked of jury 66 million).
• Gordon v. CTA, 02 L 001306, pedestrian-bus accident, involving traumatic brain injury and paralysis. Demand $49 million - Verdict $0.00 as to our client CTA.
• U.S. Bank, Administrator of the Estate of Roe Ann Lockhart, a minor v. YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and Terrell Sanderson, 01 L 4891. The demand was $35 million; offers were for $1.7 million, $2.6 million, and $4.5 million and they were all rejected; $35.9 million was asked of the jury; the verdict was for the defense.
• Loukia Alafogianis v. George Bahramis and Michael O’Neil, 99 L 7031, a personal injury case. $300,000 was asked of the jury, the verdict was for the defense.
• Tamara Couch v. Madonna Arredonda, 99 L 3593, a personal injury case. $2.5 million asked of jury, verdict $490,000.
• Ryszard Chrzanowski v. Sallie Ervin, 99 L 12832, a construction negligence case. $1.7 million was asked of jury, the verdict was for the defense.
• Renee Wagner v. Gwillym Williams, 98 L 8884, a personal injury case. $9.9 million was asked of jury, the verdict was for the defense.

 

Community:

• American Youth Soccer Organization Coach, Highland Park, Illinois, 1998- present.