More than 300 trial attorneys and Illinois judges were in attendance on the evening of October 16th as the Jury Verdict Reporter, a division of Chicago-based Law Bulletin Media, hosted its annual reception and awards for Trial Lawyer Excellence at RPM Events. Thirty-five professionals from both sides of the trial bar received individual Trial Lawyer Excellence awards in one of fifteen 2024 categories.

Additionally, Bruce R. Pfaff and William J. Rogers of Swanson Martin & Bell LLP were recognized with Lifetime Achievement awards for their body of trial work, leadership, mentoring and contributions to the legal community.

Award Winners

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE TRIAL ATTORNEYS FOR OUTSTANDING REPRESENTATION OF THEIR CLIENTS

Highest Reported Williamson County Verdict or Settlement
Bradley M. Cosgrove, Charles R. Haskins, Clifford Law Offices
Mark D. Prince, Prince Law Firm

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Premises Case
Adam K. Hanna, Michael D. Gallo & Associates

Highest Reported Dekalb County Wrongful Death Verdict or Settlement
David E. Rapoport, Joshua L. Weisberg, Rapoport Weisberg & Sims P.C.

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case
Christian D. Biswell, Randall A. Mead, Drake Narup & Mead

Highest Reported Lasalle County Verdict or Settlement
James P. Ginzkey, Ginzkey Law Office

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Work Injury Case
Michael A. Schlechtweg, Margaret Firnstein Gebhardt, Amundsen Davis

Highest Reported Verdict or Settlement Since 2023 TLE Awards
Matthew L. Williams, Patrick A. Salvi, II, Heidi L. Wickstrom, Salvi Schostok & Pritchard PC

Defense Attorney Achievement Award
Sheryl M. Arrigo, Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC
Robert S. Baker, Baker & Enright

Plaintiff Attorney Achievement Award
Christopher M. Norem, Parente & Norem
John J. Perconti, Levin & Perconti

Highest Illinois Premises Verdict or Settlement
Joseph A. Power, Jr., Larry R. Rogers, Jr., James I. Power, Power Rogers LLP
Louis A. Berns, Favil David Berns & Associates

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Street Hazard Case
Shilpa A. Patel, Daniel J. Wangler, City of Chicago Law Department

Highest Reported IL Verdict or Settlement for Auto Rear End
Robert J. Napleton, Napleton & Partners
Christopher T. Theisen, James M. Roche, Theisen & Roche

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case
Jenny O. Blake, Kimberly D. Flanigan, Smith Blake Hill LLC

Highest Reported Coles County Verdict or Settlement
Michael F. Bonamarte, IV, Seth L. Cardeli, Cari F. Silverman, Levin & Perconti
Miranda L. Soucie, Spiros Law PC

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case
Brian J. Hickey, Joseph J. Lombardo, Cassiday Schade LLP

Top Firm in the Chicago Lawyer JVR Settlements Report
Salvi Schostok & Pritchard PC

Award Winners

  • Jury Verdict Reporter Trial Lawyer Excellence Award winners
  • Highest Reported Williamson County Verdict or Settlement Award winners Bradley Cosgrove, Charles Haskins and Mark Prince
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Premises Case Award winner Adam Hanna
  • Highest Reported Dekalb County Wrongful Death Verdict or Settlement Award winner Joshua Weisberg
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case Award winner Christian Biswell
  • Highest Reported Lasalle County Verdict or Settlement Award winner James Ginzkey
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Work Injury Case Award winners Michael Schlechtweg and Margaret Firnstein Gebhardt
  • Highest Reported Verdict or Settlement Since 2023 TLE Awards Award winners Matthew Williams, Patrick Salvi II and Heidi Wickstrom
  • Defense Attorney Achievement Award winners Sheryl Arrigo and Robert Baker
  • Plaintiff Attorney Achievement Award winner Christopher Norem
  • Highest Illinois Premises Verdict or Settlement Award winners Joseph A. Power, Jr. and Louis Berns
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Street Hazard Case Award winners Shilpa Patel and Daniel Wangler
  • Highest Reported IL Verdict or Settlement for Auto Rear End Award winners Robert Napleton, Christopher Theisen and James Roche
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case Award winners Jenny Blake and Kimberly Flanigan
  • Highest Reported Coles County Verdict or Settlement Award winners Seth Cardeli, Cari Silverman and Miranda Soucie
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case Award winners Brian Hickey and Joseph Lombardo
  • Top Firm in the Chicago Lawyer JVR Settlements Report Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.
  • JVR Trial Lawyer Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award winner William Rogers
  • JVR Trial Lawyer Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award winner Bruce Pfaff
  • JVR Trial Lawyer Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award winners William Rogers and Bruce Pfaff