Source: https://www.bestlawyers.com/lawyers/c-barry-montgomery/3776
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 01:54:30+00:00

Document:
C. Barry Montgomery is a founding partner of the 40-lawyer commercial litigation firm of Williams Montgomery & John Ltd. Mr. Montgomery, together with Peter John, is co-chair of the firm's commercial litigation practice. He also is a member of the firm's product liability and professional liability practice groups. Mr. Montgomery focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, product liability, class actions and construction litigation, as well as directors' and officers' liability and professional liability litigation. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers and a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. He is "AV Preeminent" peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability.
Mr. Montgomery has been recognized by his fellow lawyers and numerous publications as one of the outstanding trial lawyers in the United States. He has been recognized by The National Law Journal as one of the "Top 10 Litigators in the United States," and recently was selected by Leading Lawyers Network as one of the "Top 10 Leading Business Litigators in Illinois." Each year since 1987, Mr. Montgomery has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and currently is listed in this publication for bet-the-company litigation, commercial litigation and personal injury litigation. Leading Lawyers Network has named Mr. Montgomery one of the leading lawyers in Illinois for the defense of product liability actions as well as one of the "Top Ten Commercial Litigation Lawyers in Illinois." Since 2002, Mr. Montgomery has been recognized in the International Who's Who of Product Liability Defense Lawyers.
Mr. Montgomery is an active trial lawyer who has tried more than 150 jury trials to verdict in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
In the commercial litigation area, Mr. Montgomery's significant representations include the successful defense of a major hedge fund firm in a lawsuit for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. He successfully represented a director and a member of the audit committee in a multimillion-dollar breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit by a trustee in bankruptcy involving a major publicly traded company. Mr. Montgomery's representation of a national construction company in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit for breach of contract and delay damages resulted in his selection by The National Law Journal as one of the "Top 10 Litigators in the United States."
Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
Won medical malpractice suit for defendant hospital. Plaintiff alleged brain injury to newborn during forceps delivery. (Selected by The National Law Journal as one of the "Outstanding Defense Verdicts" in the United States).
Successfully resolved product liability lawsuits against Bausch & Lomb, Inc. and Walgreen Co. involving contact lens solution. Plaintiffs alleged contamination caused adverse health effects.
Successfully resolved product liability tire separation case brought against client Goodyear. Case previously tried by different defense counsel, resulting in $12 million verdict that was overturned on appeal.
Central Illinois Light Co. v. Freeman United Coal Co.
Won breach of contract suit on behalf of Central Illinois Light Co. Plaintiff sought damages and termination in connection with a long-term coal supply agreement.
Estate of Cody Quimby, minor v. Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Obtained defense verdict in product liability lawsuit against Sears involving above-ground pool manufactured and sold by Sears. Plaintiff alleged defective design resulted in serious personal injuries to 15-year-old who dove into the pool.
Obtained dismissal for client General Electric of individual and class action lawsuits throughout the United States involving product liability and conspiracy claims based on alleged defective welding products.
James M. McKevitt, et al. v. The Chicago Athletic Association, et al.
Settled class action lawsuit on behalf of plaintiffs against officers of Chicago Athletic Association for breach of fiduciary duty.
Lister v. Bill Kelley Athletic, Inc.
Circuit Court of DuPage County, Ill.
Obtained defense verdict in a product liability lawsuit against Bill Kelley Athletic, Inc. involving football helmet manufactured by defendant. Plaintiff alleged defective design and failure to warn after sustaining serious personal injuries when making a tackle during a high school football game. Case cited by The National Law Journal as one of the "Outstanding Defense Verdicts" in the United States.
Montgomery, et al. v. Aetna Plywood, et al.
Polsky v. Indeck Energy Service, Inc.
Obtained reversal of $17 million of a $24 million arbitration award against client in breach of employment and stock agreements lawsuit.
Won $9 million breach of contract and promissory fraud counterclaim for defendant Turner Construction. Plaintiff originally sought $37 million in delay and remedial damages arising out of the construction of Two Prudential Plaza. (Selected by The National Law Journal as one of the "Outstanding Defense Verdicts" in the United States).
Rachel Barton v. Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Authority (METRA) and Union Pacific Railroad Co.
Represented defendants Metra and Union Pacific in a highly publicized lawsuit brought by celebrity violinist Rachel Barton. Plaintiff sustained serious personal injuries when she was caught in door and dragged by commuter train.
Secured $85 million recovery on behalf of the U.S. government representing qui tam plaintiff after the United States declined to intervene. Lawsuit brought against Medline for its national practice of securing contracts by providing kickbacks to medical care facilities using complex methods that made it impossible for providers to accurately report savings to the government in accordance with applicable regulations. Case settled after discovery for $85 million plus attorney's fees.
Sears Roebuck and Co. v. Duke-Weeks Realty Limited Partnership, et al.
Circuit Court of Will County, Ill.
Settled multimillion-dollar lawsuit brought against owner by tenant involving a large midwest distribution warehouse used by Sears. Tenant alleged roof collapse was caused by faulty construction, design and failure to maintain. Settlement obtained from contractor and subcontractors, resulting in no payment by client owner.
Smith as Bankruptcy Plan Trustee for Estate of Boston Chicken, Inc. v. Arthur Andersen, et al.
Represented individual director and member of audit committee of Boston Chicken, Inc. in suit against breach of fiduciary duty claims arising out of the Boston Chicken bankruptcy. Settled after extensive discovery and while summary judgment motions were pending.
Obtained a defense verdict in a product liability lawsuit against Black & Decker involving a power saw manufactured by defendant. Plaintiff alleged the defective design resulted in accident that caused serious personal injuries. Case cited by The National Law Journal as one of the "Outstanding Defense Verdicts" in the United States.
United States of America v. International Paper Company, et al.
Won criminal antitrust case on behalf of Weyerhaeuser employee alleging national conspiracy to fix prices in the corrugated box industry in violation of the Sherman Act. At the time, was the largest criminal antitrust suit brought by the U.S. government against a single industry.
Settled lawsuit on behalf of defendant Zurich in suit brought by insured claiming insurance bad faith and breach of contract. Case arose out of a $26 million excess verdict against Zurich's insured.
Whirlpool Corporation v. Sensata Technologies, Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc.
Represented consumer products manufacturer in product liability lawsuit brought against supplier to recover damages caused by recall of 1.8 million refrigerators. Supplier manufactured start relay connected to compressor. Successfully resolved on eve of trial.
Defended Roundy's, Inc. in lawsuit seeking $110 million in damages for multiple catastrophic injuries and a death resulting from a 15-car pile-up on Interstate 90 in Chicago. Verdict of $10.3 million against Roundy's was one-half of the lowest pretrial demand.

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