PARTNERS OF FIRM
John W. Patton, Jr. (Partner) born Evanston, Illinois, July 26, 1958; admitted to bar, 1983, Illinois, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois and Federal Trial Bar; 1984, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan; 1999, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; 2001, U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois; 2002, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri. Education: Miami University (B.A., 1980); DePaul University (J.D., 1983). AUTHOR: "Tort Reform Issues and Trends," 1990; "Preparation and Trial of the Automobile Collision Case," 1992; "Preparing and Handling Toxic Tort Cases," 1993; "Handling Slip and Fall Cases," 1993; "Defending the Employer in Construction Cases," 1993, 1994; "Successful Preparation and Handling of Discovery Objections and Trial Motions," 1995; "Defense of the Catastrophic Loss Trucking Case," 1997; "Insurance Coverage Issues/Trucking Policies," 1997; "Placard/Logo Liability and Punitive Damage Liability of Motor Carriers," 1998; "Negligent Hiring and Negligent Entrustment as Causes of Action Against the Motor Carrier," 1998; "The Defense of the Employer Post-Kotecki, Braye, Briseno, and Lannom," 1999; "That Delete Key May Bite You: Spoliation Claims Against Trucking Companies for Destruction of Electronic Data," 1999; "Defending Employers In Third Party Liability Litigation," 2002; "Defending the Nuisance Value/Soft Tissue Claim," 2002; "Negligent Hiring and Negligent Entrustment," 2002; "Catastrophic Loss Cases," 2002. Speaker: Casualty Adjusters Association: Illinois Tort Reform Present and Future, 1996; Insurance and Transportation Industry Seminars on the investigation, defense and trial of catastrophic loss claims, cargo claims, insurance coverage, and compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations; The Investigation and Defense of Trucking Cases for the International Air Cargo Association of Chicago, 2002; Rusin Patton Maciorowski & Friedman's Successful Defense of Transportation and Tort Claims Seminar. Speaker: Motor Transport Underwiters Seminar, 2005; Casualty Adjusters Association of Chicago 2005 Spring Seminar: Apportionment of Fault; Chicago Bar Association Seminars on general tort topics including auto/trucking, products liabilty, premises liability, trial strategies, professional liability, and construction: 1992; Casualty Adjusters Association: Illinois Tort Reform Present and Future, 1996 Insurance and Transportation Industry seminars on investigation, defense, and trial catastrophic loss claims, cargo claims, insurance coverage, and compliance with Federal Motor Carrier safety regulations; The Investigation and Defense of Trucking Cases for International Air Cargo Association of Chicago, 2002; Client In-House Seminar on Successful Defense of Transportation and Tort Claims Seminar, 2002. Community: 2002. COMMUNITY: Village Trustee, Village of Glenview. Alternate Director, Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County. Alternative Director, Board of Directors, Northwest Municipal Conference of Mayors. Member: American (Vice-Chair of Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee) Chicago (Mediator), and Illinois State ) Bar Associations; American Trucking Association; America Trial Association Litigation Center; Chicago Casualty Adjuster Association; Defense Research Institute; Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel; Illinois Transportation Association; National Council of Self-Insurers; Professional Liability Underwriting Society; Trucking Industry Defense Association, Leading Lawyers Network (Top Lawyer 2005). (Managing Partner). Reported Cases: Groth v. Levergood Compass Enterprise, Michigan, 98CV 120 (1999): Demand of $2,000,000/Verdict of $362,500; Hayes v. Warren Transport, Inc., Pennsylvannia, 1442 (2000): Demand of $1,000,000/ Defendant found not guilty; Clark v. Dept. of Transportation, Pennslyvannia, 10165-1995 (1999): Demand of $40,000,000/Confidential verdict (minimal amt.); Burke v. Kreger renting Co., Garcia, and Regional Freight Systems, New York, 97-44722 (2001): Demand of $6,800,000/Defendant found not guilty; Jones v. McAllister and H&W Motor Express, Minnesota, P99-5100 (2000): Demand of $8,000,000/Defendant found not guilty; Crooks v. Sammons Trucking, Inc., California, CVS97-1812 (1999): Demand of $6,090,090/Defendant found not guilty; Hernandez v. F.H. Paschen, Inc., Illinois, 92 L 4845 (2000): Demand of $6,000,000/Defendant found not guilty; Hernandez v. F.H. Paschen, Inc., Illinois, App. 01-1208 (2002): Appellate court affirmed trial court decision in favor of defendants. Practice Areas: Tort Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Law; Environmental Law; Construction Law; Insurance Coverage.Email: John W. Patton, Jr.
David F. Ryan (Partner) born Evanston, Illinois, April 26, 1953; admitted to bar, 1985, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 1990, Federal Trial Bar; 1997, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 2002, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; 2003, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.B.A., 1975); Quinnipiac College of Law (J.D., 1984). Associate Editor, Chicago Bar News, 1995; Arbitrator, Circuit Court of Lake County, 1989. Author: "Imputed Negligence Doctrine in Automobile Cases," Illinois Bar Journal, October 1994. Speaker: "Civil Trial Support," The Illinois Paralegal Association Education Seminar, 2003; "The Law of Spoliation of Evidence," Rusin Patton Maciorowski & Friedman's Successful Defense of Transportation and Tort Claims Seminar, 2002; "Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit," Kiwanis Club Highland Park, 1995; "Jury Instruction," Landau, Omahana & Kopka Seminar, 1994; "Law Firm Marketing," Seminar, Chicago Bar Association News, Spring 1995. Member, Lake County Chamber of Commerce. Member: Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations, Defense Research Institute, American Bar Association. Reported Cases: Bruce v. Diamond Transportation, Racine County, Wisconsin, 03 CV 0 (2004): demand of $3 million, verdict of $560,000; Wilson-McCray v. Strokes, 2003WL 22901569, N.D.Ill (2003); Kimble v. Jorgenson Co., Cook County, Illinois, 00 L 010031 (2003); demand of $10 million, verdict of $3 million; McCaffrey v. T & L Trucking, Cook County, Illinois, 97 L 1835 (2003); demand of $3 million, verdict of $982,000; Quinn v. Kopf Trucking, Wayne County, Detroit, Michigan (1999); demand of $2 million, verdict of $750,000; Indlecoffer v. Village of Wadsworth, 671 N.E.2d 1128 (1996); Significant Settlements: Johnson v. Dynergy, 02 L 112 (2005): Demand $10 Milion, Settlemant $5.9 Million;. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Insurance Defense.Email: David F. Ryan
C. F. Boyle, Jr. (Partner) born 1948; admitted to bar, Supreme Court of the United States, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth and Seventh Circuits, All United States District Courts in Illinois and Michigan, All state trial courts in Illinois and Michigan, State Bar of Michigan, 1977, Illinois Bar, 1998. Education: Michigan State University (B.S., 1970); University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1977). Lecturer, Trial Practice, Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan. First Chair, Tried 100+ cases to verdict. Chairperson Arbitrator, Cook County Circuit Court, Chicago. Treasurer and Board Member, Mediation Tribunal Association division of the Wayne County Circuit Court, Detroit, Michigan. Magistrate Judge, 19th Judicial District Court, Dearborn, Michigan. Chairperson, Dearborn Public Schools Education Foundation. Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois. Member: Michigan Association of Defense Trial Counsel Illinois (President). Reported Cases: Appellate counsel in twenty-one published decisions in a variety of appellate forums from 1982 to present, most recently in Moon v. Harrison Piping Supply, 465 F.3d 719 (6th Cir, 2006) cert den_U.S._(2007). Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Transportation; Construction Law; Products Liability.
Richard W. Schumacher (Partner) born Tulsa, Oklahoma, November 28, 1952; admitted to bar, 1978, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: University of Illinois (A.B., 1975); Boston University (J.D., 1978). Pro Hac Vice: Arizona; California; Florida; Indiana; Missouri; Michigan; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Texas; Wisconsin. Member: Chicago Bar and Illinois State Bar Association; Society of Trial Lawyers (Illinois); Circuit Court of Cook County Panel of Arbitrators. [USNR, 1971-1977]. Reported Cases: Hinojosa v City of Chicago Heights (proximate cause); Whalen v Kmart (waiver of duty to insure); Caisson Corp. v Home Insurance (care, custody & control); Childers v Western States (stacking underinsured motorist policies); Holcomb v Peric (duty of care and proximate cause). Practice Areas: Intellectual Property Litigation; Commercial Litigation.
ASSOCIATES
Elizabeth Bardauskis (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, Illinois. Education: University of Illinois (B.A., 2001); Washington University (J.D., 2008). Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations.Email: Elizabeth Bardauskis
Corinne L. Conrad (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Arizona State University (B.A., 2001); DePaul University College of Law (J.D., 2005). Ms. Conrad's practice areas have focused on litigation, primarily in products and premises liability, construction, transportation, and wrongful death matters. Member: Colorado, Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Litigation; Premises Liability; Products Liability; Construction Law; Transportation Law; Wrongful Death.Email: Corinne L. Conrad
Mark A. Schaeve (Associate) born Madison, Wisconsin, May 31; admitted to bar, 2006, Illinois. Education: Illinois State University (B.S., 2002); John Marshall Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2006). Member: The Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations.
Jessica K. T. Ohlson (Associate) born Arlington Heights, Illinois, 1978; admitted to bar, 2005, Illinois; 2006, Indiana and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 2007, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana. Education: University of Iowa (B.A., 2000); John Marshall Law School (J.D., 2005). Volunteer, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Volunteer and Donor, American Red Cross. Sponsor, World Vision. Partner, Wheeler Mission. Member, WFYI. Member: Chicago, Illinois State, Indiana State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Insurance Litigation.Email: Jessica K. T. Ohlson
Don Carrillo (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, Illinois. Education: Indiana University (B.A., Political Science, 2005); DePaul University (J.D., 2008). Member, Moot Court Honor Society. Editorial Board Member, DePaul Business and Commercial Law Journal. Member: Illinois State Bar Association.
Sarah Cruse (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Illinois. Education: University of Missouri at Columbia (B.A.); John Marshall Law School (J.D., 2007). Member: Chicago, Illinois State, American and Women's Bar Associations.Email: Sarah Cruse
Amanda K. Bagley (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Illinois; 2008, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: Marquette University (B.S.B.A., 2004); Loyola University (J.D., 2007). Member: Illinois State and Chicago Bar Association.
Melissa Hunt (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: University of Colorado (B.A., 2002); Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D., 2005). Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations.
Melissa Blankinship (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Illinois. Education: University of Dayton (B.A., 2003); John Marshall Law School (J.D., 2007). Member: Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations.
Brian McGinnis (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Illinois. Education: Loyola University Chicago, IL (B.A., 2002); The John Marshall Law School, IL (J.D., 2007). Member: Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations.
Kristen A. Schank (Associate) born Arlington Heights, Illinois, 1980; admitted to bar, 2005, Illinois; 2006, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: University of Notre Dame (B.A., Summa Cum Laude, 2002); Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 2005). Member: Chicago, Illinois and American Bar Associations.
Michael G. Vranicar (Associate) born Hammond, Indiana, March 11, 1961; admitted to bar, 1987, California; 1988, Illinois. Education: University of Illinois (B.S.E.E., with honors, 1983); University of San Diego (J.D., 1987). Arbitrator, Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Panel, 1995. Member: Chicago Bar Association. [Capt., U.S. Marine Corps., 1988-1991; LT. Col., U.S. Marine Corp. Reserve, 1992]. Practice Areas: Patent Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation.
Zach Vaughn (Associate) admitted to bar, 2004, Missouri; 2006, Illinois. Education: Eastern Illinois University (B.A., 2001); Southern Illinois University (J.D., 2004). Member: Illinois State Bar Association; The Missouri Bar.
Michael Fenwick (Associate) born 1977; admitted to bar, 2006, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.A., 2000); John Marshall Law School (J.D., 2006). Member: Chicago and Illinois Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Legal Malpractice; Nursing Home Negligence; Products Liability; Contracts; Noncompetition and Non-Solicitation Agreements; Commercial Law; Premises Liability; Landlord and Tenant Law.
David W. Gray (Associate) born Indianapolis, Indiana, November 28, 1966; admitted to bar, 1996, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 2002, Federal Trial Bar. Education: Indiana University (B.A., Philosophy, 1989); John Marshall Law School (J.D., 1996). Licensed Chair Arbitrator, Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Program. Practice Areas: Tort Litigation; Insurance Defense; Insurance Coverage; Commercial Litigation.Email: David W. Gray
Krysten C. Kelly (Associate) born 1972; admitted to bar, 1996, Illinois. Education: Northern Illinois University, Illinois (B.A., 1993); John Marshall School of Law, Illinois (J.D., 1996). Member: Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations. Languages: English and French.Email: Krysten C. Kelly
LEGAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL
Tonet Ballard
Michael J. Patton