Source: https://walkerandwilliamspc.com/attorneys/
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 09:53:11+00:00

Document:
Walker and Williams, P.C., was established in the 1930’s in East St. Louis before moving to Belleville in 1969. The firm was incorporated as an Illinois Professional Corporation in 1970.
Donald J. Dahlmann is the managing partner of Walker & Williams, and has been a practicing trial attorney for more than 40 years. He began his career with the firm in 1975. Mr. Dahlmann’s practice focuses on complex civil litigation on a national scale. He specializes in the areas of insurance, product liability, and toxic tort defense, particularly asbestos, benzene, and silica litigation in Madison County, St. Clair County, and surrounding areas in Southern Illinois.
Mr. Dahlmann has been retained as counsel of record in asbestos litigation matters since the 1980’s. As National and Regional counsel for several manufacturers, distributors, and contractors throughout the United States, he has managed and supervised thousands of claims. In that capacity, he advises his clients regarding national strategy, asbestos litigation trends, and conducts negotiation with opposing counsel.
Having tried an extensive number of jury cases, Mr. Dahlmann is an experienced litigator in the areas of asbestos, product liability, and insurance defense. His trial experience has been at the state and federal court in Illinois and Missouri, including St. Clair, Madison, and other Southern Illinois Counties.
Dale L. Bode was born in Edwardsville, Illinois, and graduated from Edwardsville High School in 1963. He received his B.A. in 1967 and M.A. in 1969 from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He received his J.D. degree in 1976 from University of Missouri-Columbia. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Illinois and Missouri and admitted to various Federal Courts. He has tried in excess of 100 civil trials to conclusion in the Federal and State courts of Missouri and Illinois. He is a member of the Madison County, St. Clair County, and Illinois and Missouri State Bar Associations.
Mr. Bode specializes in insurance defense, primarily asbestos, automobile, premises liability, and construction accidents. He also specializes in insurance coverage issues. He has presented lectures before various groups on issues such as insurance, litigation defense and tactics, and actions brought under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act. He has appeared before and presented briefs to the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts.
Mr. Bode has also served as an arbitrator and mediator in numerous cases in Madison and St. Clair County, Illinois over the past 30 years.
James C. Cook received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1973 and law degree in 1976 from Loyola University of Chicago. He is licensed to practice law in the States of Illinois and Missouri and admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States (1979), U. S. Courts of Appeal for the D. C. Circuit (1977), Seventh Circuit (1978) and Eighth Circuit (2002); and U. S. District Courts for the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois (1978 and 1979).
Following graduation from law school in 1976, Cook served a two-year clerkship with Justice John T. Reardon of the Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District. He joined the law firm in 1978 establishing a trial and appellate practice in the Federal and State Courts focusing on insurance defense in Southern Illinois including Madison and St. Clair Counties.
Cook is experienced in trying major civil litigation including class actions, professional liability cases (medical, dental and attorney malpractice), automobile/product liability/employment liability/defamation cases and similar insurance-defense work, construction injury claims, industrial injury claims, and claims under the Federal Civil Rights Acts, Federal Employers Liability Act and environmental damage cases. He has briefed and/or argued numerous appeals in the Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth and Fifth Districts, Supreme Court of the United States and United States Court of Appeals, Seventh and Eighth Circuits and written amicus curiae briefs for the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Missouri Pacific Railroad Company and The Alton & Southern Railway Co. He has also represented numerous Southern Illinois and Missouri local public entities and officials in police misconduct cases including alleged sexual misconduct, excessive force, search and seizure, and fatal police chases; official misconduct, Title VII cases and public sector employment discrimination matters. He has handled RICO and securities fraud cases including “fraud on new market” claims involving public bond issues for hospital development, and professional negligence claims against bond counsel.
Lewis v. Union Pacific Railroad Police (USDC S.D. Ill. No. 11-cv-00579-JPG-DGW) (asserted unlawful traffic stop, arrest and search by railroad police officers).
Mabry v. Mercia International Products, Ltd. (1st Cir., Saline County, Ill., No. 2010-L-64) (product liability, assertion of Illinois jurisdiction over British manufacturer, Pennsylvania distributor).
Wiley v. Cronic, 2008 WL 450461, (S.D. Ill., Feb. 15, 2008) (Federal jurisdiction over Georgia sheriff; Interstate Transportation of Dangerous Criminals Act of 2000, 42 USC 13726 et seq.).
Trustees of Marion Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses v. City of Marion (USDC S.D. Ill. Nos. 07-cv-00530-GPM-DGW; 08-cv-00480-GPM-CJP) (due process challenge to annexation/zoning).
Wiley v. Hall County, Georgia (7th Cir. Jersey County, Ill. No. 06-L-18) (Illinois jurisdiction over Georgia sheriff for seizure of Illinois resident on Georgia warrant).
Protestant Memorial Medical Center v. Maram, 471 F.3d 724 (7th Cir. 2006) (declaratory and injunctive relief sought from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Illinois Department of Public Aid).
Cox v. Taylorville Police Department (USDC C.D. Ill. No. 06-cv-03197-HAB-BGC) (excessive force).
Bonner v. Union Pacific Railroad Company (USDC S.D. Ill. No. 06-cv-00226-DRH-DGW) (wrongful death claim, shooting by railroad police officer).
Murray v. Butler, 355 Ill.App. 3d 1208, 319 Ill.Dec. 318, 885 N.E.2d 589 (5th Dist. 2005) (table), cert. denied 547 US 1129, 126 S.Ct. 2024, 164 L.Ed.2d 781 (US 2006) (constitutionality of vehicle towing ordinance).
Snyder v. Nolen, 380 F.3d 279 (7th Cir. 2004) (quasi-judicial immunity of court clerk; denial of access to courts).
Kijonka v. Seitzinger, 363 F.3d 645 (7th Cir. 2004) (qualified immunity of prosecutor; probable cause to arrest).
Lott v. Ferrell, 109 Fed.Appx. 827 (8th Cir. 2004); E.D. Mo., No. 00-cv-0073-LMB, (denial of jail medical care).
ESM Development v. Dawson, 342 Ill.App.3d 688, 277 Ill.Dec. 30, 795 N.E.2d 397 (5th Dist. 2003) (limitation on use of equitable estoppel against public entity).
Anderson v. County of Montgomery, 111 F.3d 494, 37 Fed.R.Serv. 625 (7th Cir. 1997), overruled by DeWalt v. Carter, 224 F.3d 607 (7th Cir. 2000) (Fed.R.Civ.P. 11 attorney sanctions).
Moore v. M. A. Mortenson Company (USDC S.D. Ill. No. 95-cv-00832-PER transferred to E.D. Mo. No. 96-cv-01356) (employment discrimination, sexual harassment).
Lynch v. Board of Education, 82 Ill.2d 415, 45 Ill.Dec. 96, 412 N.E.2d 447 (1980) (teacher’s apparent authority renders school district liable for negligence in unauthorized powder puff football game).
Listman, Bandy & Hamilton, Assn. v. Wilson, 94 Ill.2d 60, 67 Ill.Dec. 843, 445 N.E.2d 323 (1983) (effect of marital settlement agreement on distribution of insurance settlement).
Koehler v. Illinois Central Gulf R.R. Co., 109 Ill.2d 473, 94 Ill.Dec. 543, 488 N.E.2d 542 (1986) (amicus curiae; State Courts without jurisdiction to hear retaliatory discharge claim under Railway Labor Act).
HPI Health Care Servs., Inc. v. Mt. Vernon Hosp., Inc., 131 Ill.2d 145, 137 Ill.Dec. 19, 545 N.E.2d 672 (1989) (qualified privilege in intentional interference with contract).
Cook is a founding Board Member of The Bar Association for the Central and Southern Federal Districts of Illinois, having served as its Secretary and President (2005-2007). He is also a member of the Defense Research Institute, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Illinois State Bar Association, Missouri Bar, Chicago Bar Association and Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.
He is principal author of Qualified Privilege in Intentional Interference with Contract Cases, 79 Illinois Bar Journal 90 (Feb., 1991).
Peer Review Rating: Martindale-Hubbell – AV rating.
Paul P. Waller, III received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1977 and his law degree from St. Louis University in 1980. After graduating from law school, he served as a Law Clerk to U.S. District Court Judge William Beatty in the Southern District of Illinois for one year and since has focused his practice on insurance defense and insurance coverage litigation, primarily in the Southern Illinois counties of Madison and St. Clair, and the City of St. Louis, MO. He joined the firm in 1987.
He is licensed to practice in the state courts of Illinois and Missouri, as well the U.S District Courts for the Southern and Central Districts of Illinois and the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
He has tried dozens of major civil jury and arbitration cases to verdict including F.E.L.A., automobile, premises liability and first party property claims. He currently spends a majority of his time participating in the firm’s large asbestos defense practice. He has obtained summary judgment in multiple insurance coverage cases. In addition he has participated in numerous civil mediations and is a regular arbitrator in uninsured and underinsured motorist claims. He has argued appeals in the Illinois Fifth District Court of Appeals and the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
He is a life-long resident of St. Clair County where his father practiced law for over 50 years and his grandfather served as St. Clair County Circuit Clerk. While in law school, he worked as a law clerk to Judge Robert Dowd in the Appellate Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Prior to law school, he worked as a legislative intern to U.S. Congressman Melvin Price in Washington, D.C.
He is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (Insurance Law Committee), the Illinois Bar Association, the Missouri Bar Association and the St. Clair County Bar Association.
He authored the following articles published in the IDC Quarterly of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel: Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Set-offs, Vol.22, No. 4 (4th Qtr. 2012), and Piecemeal Amendments to Illinois’ UIM Statute Have Increased Carriers’ Potential Exposure, Vol.17, No.4 (Fall 2007).
Leslie Offergeld practices defense civil litigation focusing on toxic torts in the trial and appellate courts. She represents numerous companies in asbestos related litigation in Illinois and Missouri state and federal courts. She handles all aspects of this litigation from initial pleadings through the settlement and trial process. Leslie is the settlement coordinator for the firm working with insurers and plaintiffs’ attorneys to draft necessary settlement documents and ensure compliance with Medicare reporting.
Leslie is also experienced in environmental law, products liability, governmental liability and civil rights. She has argued cases before the Fifth District Appellate Court of Illinois and the Supreme Court of Illinois. She has filed petitions and briefs with the United States Supreme Court.
Leslie is admitted to practice in Illinois federal and state courts, Missouri state courts and the United States Supreme Court. She is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, the St. Clair Bar County Bar Association, the Missouri Bar Association and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.
Leslie obtained her J.D. from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1987 and her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. Originally from Moline, Illinois, Leslie now resides in Edwardsville, Illinois.
In her free time, Leslie enjoys playing tennis and golf and spending time with her family.
Christian has focused most of his career defending companies in hundreds of litigation matters with an emphasis on toxic torts and product liability. He has handled claims involving exposures to asbestos, benzene, and mold as well as other commercial litigation matters. He also has handled numerous matters involving real estate transactions including drafting deeds, contracts and sales agreements involving personal homes as well large tracts of land for commercial development.
Elizabeth A. Dahlmann joined Walker & Williams in 2010 as an associate attorney. She concentrates her practice on the defense of complex civil litigation, including toxic tort and personal injury lawsuits in St. Clair County, Madison County, and surrounding areas in Southern Illinois and St. Louis City. Additionally, she oversees the firm’s asbestos docket in St. Clair County.
As counsel for companies involved in insurance defense, Ms. Dahlmann has provided services including motion practice, defending depositions, and settlement negotiation. She has successfully arbitrated several automobile insurance defense lawsuits, and won a defense verdict after trying a case to jury in Clinton County.
Ms. Dahlmann is a native of Belleville, Illinois, where she graduated from Althoff Catholic High School. She then attended Purdue University for her undergraduate degree, and earned her law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law. While in law school, Ms. Dahlmann was named to the Dean’s List, and was a member of the Moot Court Board. She twice competed in the William E. McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition in Minneapolis, MN. In recognition of her courtroom advocacy skills, Ms. Dahlmann was selected in 2010 as a National Member of The Order of Barristers.
Ms. Dahlmann currently lives in Belleville, Illinois and is an active member of the Greater St. Louis and Southern Illinois communities. Of personal importance is her membership in the Junior Service Club of St. Clair County, a service organization that supports numerous charitable organizations in St. Clair County. Outside of work and service she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her dogs, yoga, running, and attending hometown sporting events.
John Wendler has practiced in the areas of automobile negligence, insurance defense and business law for the past 38 years. He has been with private firms and managed a field litigation office for CIGNA Insurance in the past. He has practiced in all areas of Missouri and Illinois and has practice in Federal Court in Illinois. He has also had experience in courts in Chicago, Illinois and the Kansas City, Missouri area. He taught construction law at the SIU Edwardsville School of Energy for 27 years. He has jury and administrative trial experience. He has advised clients on state, federal and local issues. In the past he has been a speaker at a number of continuing education seminars. He has had extensive experience on challenging expert witnesses under the Frye and Dauber Rules. John is familiar with Medicare reporting and compliance and has Appellate experience. John maintains an extensive workers compensation defense practice.
John grew up in Edwardsville, Illinois and was a scholarship athlete in football. He received the Lloyd K. Harris award at SIU Edwardsville for being the outstanding government student.
Patrick J. Waller joined Walker & Williams in August of 2017 as an associate attorney. He concentrates his practice on the defense of complex civil litigation, including toxic tort and personal injury lawsuits in St. Clair County, Madison County, and surrounding areas in southern Illinois and St. Louis City.
Mr. Waller was raised in Belleville, Illinois and graduated from Althoff Catholic High School. He then attended the University of Missouri, Columbia receiving a B.A. in 2014, and earned his J.D. in 2017 from St. Louis University School of Law. While in Law School Waller was an intern for the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office working on high level criminal trials. After receiving a Rule 13 Certification in Missouri, Waller was assigned to the preliminary hearing docket in the Prosecutor’s Office handling victimless felony preliminary hearings as well as bond hearings.
Mr. Waller resides in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Waller also enjoys working in Intellectual Property Law. Outside of work he enjoys playing sports such as basketball, tennis and golf.

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