One of the most important components of the litigation process leading up to trial is the discovery deposition. Deposition is a fancy legal word for a process by which a person sits down in front of a court reporter and gives testimony under oath that is transcribed by that court reporter. A deposition may end up being the only time that a person is allowed to tell their "story" in their own words while being asked Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: The Importance of Completeness
The Importance of Completeness In every case, there is a "discovery process" where parties exchange information and begin to weed out the issues of a case. Many attorneys make the mistake, however, of assuming that just because materials (be they interrogatories (a fancy word for "questions" in writing), requests to produce documents, requests to admit facts, amongst others) have been sent to the opposing counsel, Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: Trial Aspects of a Case
A case often develops and "takes on a life of its own" due to the strategies attempted to be employed by defense attorneys. Essentially, a trial strategy can often draw a striking contrast between the way an incident seemed at the time of its occurrence, and how things are actually presented at trial. A good trial attorney must keep the Judge and Jury focused on the truth at all times - and with the utmost Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: Felony or Criminal Backgrounds and Auto Accidents
It is one of the hallmarks of our judicial system that everyone is entitled to the same level of fairness in their access to the courts as everyone else. But sometimes, people are afraid to pursue their rights because they are afraid that things they have done in their past--particularly crimes--may be used against them. For the first time, however, Illinois has joined the majority of states in enacting procedures to Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation
Tomorrow is a day we should keep in perspective, take a deep breath and remember. It was Abraham Lincoln who, in 1863, proclaimed (and no matter what side of the political fence you are on, the words are from the heart) "The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget Read More
Guatemala Syphilis Study-Was Your Loved One Affected?
On October 1, 2010, numerous news articles were released regarding the recently-discovered Syphilis experiment or "study" in Guatemala on unknowing mental health "participants." Apparently, according to the numerous news articles including one from the Chicago Tribune found here where the doctor involved in the infamous Tuskegee experiment on African-American males in Alabama in the 1970s, Dr. John C. Cutler, and the Read More
Exposing the Greatest Corporate Malfeasance?
I am often questioned how the Toyota cases will "end up" in the Court system. No way to tell yet. At least for the class action cases. A recent article by The Wall Street Journal here, said a decision is expected in weeks as to the class action "venue" or where the cases could be consolidated and heard by attorneys vying for the "rights" to lead the charge. Ben Barnow of Chicago, an attorney I co-counseled with on Read More
Toyota Hid Damaging Information per Ex-Toyota Attorney…
In a breaking news story here on CNN, former in-house Toyota defense attorney, Dimitrios Biller, declares that he has some 6,000 internal Toyota documents that are "very damaging." According to the CNN article, Biller claims such documents were routinely withheld from Plaintiff's lawyers in product liability and negligence cases. Disturbingly, Biller says: 'There is a regular pattern and practice of not producing Read More
The Attorney That Answers His Own Phone…24/7/365
A colleague of mine, friend and great attorney in Wisconsin, Jonathan Groth, noted the signs of an attorney who listens and cares on his blog here when he said: I just finished a jury trial in Milwaukee County. During the trial preparation my client and I were talking about how long we’ve known each other. I was the attorney that answered the phone when he called in the very first time soon after the collision. He Read More
First Suit Against Toyota in Chicago and Illinois…
According to Robert Langendorf, one of the attorneys for Mr. Izenstark, and an attorney I am working with on Toyota cases, we believe we have filed the first suit against Toyota in Chicago and perhaps Illinois for the gas pedal problem. Mr. Langendorf was quoted in the front page of the Business Section of the Chicago Tribune on February 6, 2010 here. In addition, unique to this case is that we also sued Hertz for Read More
