Source: http://nw2017.scharfbanks.com/what-we-do/results/litigation
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 04:07:55+00:00

Document:
Our attorneys have litigated in many different jurisdictions, as shown on the map in blue. Below are some recent results.
Defended securities and breach of contract claims against multiple client entities. Trial court’s dismissal of all claims affirmed on appeal in Seventh Circuit. Wu v. Prudential Fin., Inc., 651 Fed. Appx. 549 (7th Cir. 2016).
Litigation over use of trademarks and trade names for a consumer food product, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The case was dismissed in the trial court under Rule 12 and affirmed on appeal by the Seventh Circuit. Hunter v. Pinnacle Foods, et al., Seventh Circuit, No. 14-CV-6011.
Represented an online education business in obtaining a successful dismissal of class-action, consumer fraud, and breach of contract claims, brought by former Institute students. The case involved allegations that the defendant deceptively marketed a continuing education program. After obtaining a dismissal in the trial court before a class was certified, the result was affirmed on appeal by the Illinois Appellate Court. Deweese et al. v. Stratford Career Institute, Illinois Appellate Court, No. 1-14-0074.
Successful coordination and defense of mass tort/personal injury actions in the Circuit Court of Cook County involving multimillion dollar personal injury claims brought by approximately two dozen plaintiffs against client and over 30 other defendants, in which plaintiffs claimed that client manufactured or distributed defective and dangerous food flavoring products that caused them serious lung disease. All claims resolved in client’s favor following strategic early motion practice.
Represented the City of Chicago in a multibillion dollar claim for injunctive relief filed by United Airlines and American Airlines to stop the O'Hare Modernization Program, a multi-year effort that is the largest civil construction program in the United States. After expedited motion practice and discovery, the litigation was successfully resolved, and the Program is proceeding to completion. American Airlines, et al. v. City of Chicago, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Chancery Division, No. 11-CH-02081.
Represented liability insurer plaintiff in a high-profile multimillion dollar product liability contribution claim. The lawsuit was filed following the death of a Northwestern University football player. The case settled during a jury trial prior to verdict after favorable testimony from four witnesses. United Educators Insurance Risk Retention Group v. Next Proteins, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, No. 09-1-7407.
Defended leading international business and technology consulting firm in AAA arbitration concerning former subcontractor’s allegations that client violated Illinois Trade Secrets Act and Lanham Act when bidding on public contract. Case resolved through confidential mediation.
Successful forum non conveniens challenge to product liability and property damage claim filed in Cook County, Illinois against leading pesticide manufacturer, in which plaintiff farmer alleged that product defects in client’s insecticide caused damage to his livestock. Successfully persuaded the court that plaintiff had filed suit in an inconvenient forum, and plaintiff was ordered to pursue his claims in McHenry County, Illinois. Claims against client resolved following ruling.
Represented two private equity firms seeking insurance coverage of actions involving contested “holdback amount” payments to portfolio company sellers. The matters involved the issues of coverage for breach of contract claims as well as asserted “disgorgement.” Through effective mediations by the clients, the Firm attained coverage for underlying breach of contract settlements.
Won dismissal of Illinois class-action lawsuit, brought by a former County correctional officer fired for unauthorized absences from the Jail, in which plaintiff sought equitable and declaratory relief allegedly amounting to more than $70 million in backpay and other damages against the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Trial court dismissed all claims as a matter of law. Plaintiff’s appeal pending before the Illinois Appellate Court. Acevedo v. Dart et al., Case No. 2017 CH 7092 (dismissed May 2, 2018).
Won dismissal of Illinois class-action lawsuit brought by six current Sheriff’s correctional and police officers facing disciplinary charges, including charges of overtime fraud, violence to a disabled detainee, and fraternizing with a criminal suspect. Plaintiffs sought more than $20 million in backpay, consequential and punitive damages to the putative class, alleging civil fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and various alleged Illinois statutory violations. Trial court dismissed all of the plaintiffs’ claims, on the ground that all six plaintiffs failed to exhaust their administrative remedies before filing the lawsuit. Plaintiffs’ appeal pending before the Illinois Appellate Court. Goral et al. v. Dart et al., Case No. 2017 CH 15546 (dismissed Jul. 26, 2018).
Personal injury action in Rock Island County, Illinois. Client, a food flavoring manufacturer who operated an industrial plant, was sued by a railroad employee for an alleged injury arising out of delivery of cargo to the plant site. After developing defenses based on pre-existing medical conditions and trespass, the case was successfully resolved.
Defense of medical device manufacturer in multidefendant personal injury lawsuit alleging serious surgical injury. Claims against client resolved following strategic development in discovery of a defense based on pre-existing medical conditions and alternative causes of injury. Case remains pending against other defendants. Venue was Circuit Court of Kane County, Illinois.
Representation of plaintiff frac sand provider in wide-ranging contractual dispute with multiple business partners alleging contractual bad faith, breach of fiduciary duty, violations of the Wisconsin Limited Liability Company Law, and other claims relating to defendants’ alleged mismanagement of a proposed sand mining project and bad-faith efforts to reduce client’s equity in the project, which caused client millions of dollars in compensatory and lost profit damages. Successfully defeated majority of defendants’ counterclaims on motions to dismiss. Successfully defeated defendants’ summary judgment motions, allowing claims to proceed to a jury trial. Case subsequently resolved on the eve of trial.
Successfully defended federal First Amendment and whistleblower retaliation allegations brought by correctional lieutenant against Cook County Sheriff, Undersheriff, and various Sheriff's internal affairs investigators, with dismissal of case pre-trial. Zimny v. Hake et al., Case No. 2012 CV 5963 (N.D. Ill.) (dismissed in October 2017).
Defeated federal class action lawsuit brought under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act against client in connection with alleged improper credit card debt reporting practices. District judge held that cardholder plaintiff’s arbitration agreement barred all claims as a matter of law, and dismissed case under the Federal Arbitration Act. Fuller v. Frontline Asset Strategies, LLC et al., Case No. 17 CV 7901 (N.D. Ill.) (dismissed Apr. 11, 2018).
Defeated correctional officer union’s motion in Illinois state court for temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Cook County Sheriff's Office, in which union sought to stop all pending disciplinary matters involving correctional officer misconduct. The trial court denied the TRO, and the union later voluntarily dismissed its case. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters Local 700 v. Dart et al., Case No. 17 CH 14410, Cir. Ct., Cook County, Ill. (TRO denied Nov. 27, 2017).
Defeat police sergeant union/correctional sergeant union's wide-ranging contractual and equitable claims against the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Trial court dismissed all of the union's claims with prejudice. AFSCME Council 31 v. Dart et al., Case No. 17 CH 14982, Cir. Ct., Cook County, Ill. (dismissed May 21, 2018).
Breach of contract arbitration over work under a large government contract. The case, which involved complex issues of government contracting and the parties’ rights and obligations, was effectively resolved through an arbitration proceeding.
Represented a national background check company when it was sued for allegedly obtaining a consumer report without a permissible purpose and failing to have reasonable procedures to ensure its consumer reports were accurate. After a successful motion to dismiss the permissible purpose claim and expedited discovery, summary judgment was entered in favor of the company. Vernon Bonner v. General Information Services, Inc., Northern District of Indiana, No. 2:14-CV-318-RLM.
Represented manufacturer in a personal injury case involving a serious vehicular accident. After successfully removing the case to federal court and proceeding to expedited discovery the case was successfully resolved before trial. Manjarrez v. Georgia-Pacific, LLC, et al., Northern District of Illinois, No. 12-CV-01257.
Defended a global pharmaceutical company against failure-to-warn product liability claims in a wrongful death action in Illinois. The matter was resolved using early case assessment. Philipps v. The University of Chicago Hospitals et al., Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 2012-L-012693.
Obtained a complete defense verdict on behalf of client hospital at a 2012 jury trial in a nursing malpractice case involving surgery after an auto accident. After a two-week jury trial that included testimony from competing nursing care experts, the jury placed blame on and awarded damages against the drunk driver who caused the accident and awarded damages against him. The judge subsequently ruled that the jury verdict was “conflicted” and ordered a new trial to proceed against the hospital in 2013. The case settled during the third day of the second jury trial. Mach v. Adochio et al., Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, No. 04-L-28.

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