More than 400 trial attorneys and Illinois judges were in attendance on the evening of October 29th 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-six professionals from both sides of the trial bar received individual Trial Lawyer Excellence awards in one of seventeen 2025 categories.

Additionally, William F. Cunningham of Cunningham Meyer & Vedrine, P.C. and Todd A. Smith of Smith LaCien 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

Outstanding Defense Verdict in an Auto Case – Lake County
Brett M. Henne, Jacob D. Caudill, Swanson Martin & Bell LLP

Highest Reported McClean County Verdict or Settlement in a Pedestrian Case
David C. Wise, Wise Law Offices LLC

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Fela Case
William P. Ryan, Margaret L. MacNair, Marwedel Minichello & Reeb PC
M. Patrick Yingling, Reed Smith LLP

Highest Reported DuPage County Verdict or Settlement for Medical Malpractice Case
Matthew M. Patterson, Beam Legal Team

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case – DuPage County
Mark M. Burden, Justin T. Evans, Donohue Brown Smyth LLC

Highest Reported Sangamon County Verdict or Settlement
Brian Hurst, Thomas F. Boleky, Hurst Boleky LLC

Plaintiff Attorney Achievement Award
Patrick A. Salvi II, Salvi Schostok & Pritchard PC

Defense Attorney Achievement Award
Margaret E. Schneider, City of Chicago Law Department
Mark J. Smith, Smith Blake Hill LLC

Highest Reported Lake County Verdict or Settlement for a Work Injury Case
Joseph A. Power, Jr., Thomas M. Power, Power Rogers LLP

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case – Will County
Stephen H. DiNolfo, Meganne Trela, Ottosen DiNolfo Hasenbalg & Castaldo Ltd

Highest Reported St. Clair County Verdict or Settlement for an Auto Case
Timothy J. Cavanagh, Michael J. Sorich, Cavanagh Sorich Law Group

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case – Cook County
Dominick W. Savaiano, Elizabeth R. Grover, Nielsen Zehe & Antas PC

Highest Reported Bureau County Verdict or Settlement
Miguel A. Ruiz, John M. Power, Samantha N. LaFata, Laura A. Canulli, Cogan & Power PC

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Carrier Case
Anne M. Madormo, Gerald T. Donoghue, Chicago Transit Authority, Law Department

Highest Reported Illinois Verdict or Settlement for a Birth Injury Case
Keith A. Hebeisen, Bradley M. Cosgrove, Sarah F. King, Charles R. Haskins, Clifford Law Offices

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case – Cook County
Richard J. Hickey, Claire E. McNally, Hickey & Associates LLC

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

Award Winners

  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in an Auto Case - Lake County Award winners Brett Henne and Jacob Caudill
  • Highest Reported McClean County Verdict or Settlement in a Pedestrian Case Award winner David Wise
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Fela Case Award winners William Ryan, Margaret MacNair, and M. Patrick Yingling
  • Highest Reported DuPage County Verdict or Settlement for Medical Malpractice Case Award winner Matthew Patterson
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case - DuPage County Award winners Mark Burden and Justin Evans
  • Highest Reported Sangamon County Verdict or Settlement Award winners Brian Hurst and Thomas Boleky
  • Plaintiff Attorney Achievement Award winner Patrick Salvi II
  • Defense Attorney Achievement Award winners Margaret Schneider and Mark Smith
  • Highest Reported Lake County Verdict or Settlement for a Work Injury Case Award winner Thomas Power
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case - Will County Award winners Stephen DiNolfo and Meganne Trela
  • Highest Reported St. Clair County Verdict or Settlement for an Auto Case Award winners Timothy Cavanagh and Michael Sorich
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case - Cook County Award winners Dominick Savaiano and Elizabeth Grover
  • Highest Reported Bureau County Verdict or Settlement Award winners Miguel Ruiz, John Power, Samantha LaFata, and Laura Canulli
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Carrier Case Award winner Gerald Donoghue
  • Highest Reported Illinois Verdict or Settlement for a Birth Injury Case Award winners Keith Hebeisen, Bradley Cosgrove, Sarah King, and Charles Haskins
  • Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case - Cook County Award winner Richard Hickey
  • Top Firm in the Chicago Lawyer JVR Settlements Report Salvi Schostok & Pritchard PC
  • Lifetime Achievement Award winner Bill Cunningham
  • Lifetime Achievement Award winner Todd Smith