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Recent years have seen an increase in the number of lawsuits against business professionals.  Current economic conditions have magnified this trend.  Johnson & Bell’s attorneys are recognized leaders in defending against existing professional liability claims as well as providing counsel to business professionals to minimize risk against future claims.

Johnson & Bell’s Professional Liability attorneys have successfully defended lawyers, accountants, engineers, appraisers, architects, and real estate agents/brokers against a variety of professional liability claims.  In addition, Johnson & Bell has defended corporate directors and officers in numerous lawsuits alleging negligent and willful breaches of their fiduciary duties.

Our attorneys have developed a reputation for efficiently achieving positive results.  We have tried numerous professional liability claims to successful verdicts and have also disposed of claims prior to trial.  We work closely with our clients to develop case-specific strategies to resolve and dispose of claims with the least amount of intrusion and expense. 

Representative Cases

  1. Received verdict of not guilty after two-week jury trial on behalf of attorneys who represented bank that made $19 million construction loan for development of condominium complex that defaulted.  The bank sued its lawyers for legal malpractice claiming that the lawyers failed to adequately protect its interests in drafting the construction loan agreement and in closing the loan.  Oak Brook Bank v. Crowley, Barrett & Karaba, Ltd., Cook County Case No. 04 L 1249 (2010)


  2. Received verdict of not guilty on behalf of attorney and law firm charged with negligently representing start-up company and its incorporators in setting up business and pursuing corporate opportunity of one of incorporator’s former employer.  Plaintiff sought $19 million in damages in trial that lasted three weeks.  The jury’s verdict was later affirmed on appeal.  Victory Energy Operations, LLC v. Connelly, Illinois Appellate Case No. 1-09-1116 (1st Dist. 2010)

  3. Obtained directed verdict after six days of jury trial on behalf of two real estate appraisers charged with breach of contract stemming from their alleged negligent appraisal of an office building.  Plaintiff, a national bank, alleged that it made a loan based on the negligent appraisal that subsequently went into default.  Case was later affirmed on appeal.  Citizens Financial Services, FSB v. Richmond, Illinois Appellate Case No. 1-05-1694 (1st Dist. 2008)


  4. Successfully defended law firm charged with malpractice stemming from its representation of former client in the sale of an internet business. The former client charged that the law firm failed to provide for a “cashless exercise” of securities that were given in exchange for the business, thereby triggering a one-year holding period under applicable securities laws before the securities could be sold. After a two-week trial, a jury returned a “not guilty” verdict that was later upheld on appeal.  Ritchey v. Nations, Illinois Appellate Case No. 1-04-3889 (1st Dist. 2006)


  5. Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Illinois attorney who was sued by purported beneficiaries of an OBRA trust set up by attorney.  The court ruled that plaintiffs did not have standing to assert their claims and that claims were barred by statute of limitations.  Roth v. Spain, Cook County Case No. 06 L 3729 (2009)


  6. Obtained dismissal of defamation complaint filed against Illinois attorney who was charged to have defamed parties who were defendants in arbitration hearing.  The court ruled that the attorney’s statements were absolutely privileged.  Skender Constr. Co. v. Kubes, Cook County Case No. No. 06 L 011073 (2007)

Recent Published Opinions

  1. Addison Ins. Co. v. Knight, Hoppe, Kurnick & Knight, LLC, 2009 Iowa App. LEXIS 680 (July 22, 2009) (obtained summary judgment on behalf of law firm sued for malpractice on basis that insurer did not have right to sue as subrogee)


  2. Weisman v. Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck, Ltd., 368 Ill.App.3d 41, 856 N.E.2d 1124 (1st Dist. 2006) (obtained jury verdict of “not guilty” in suit against attorneys alleging negligence in representation of plaintiff in underlying divorce proceedings that was affirmed by appellate court)


  3. Hyundai v. Illinois Nat’l Ins. Co., 2005 WL 1229740 (N.D. Ill. May 12, 2005) (Obtained dismissal of legal malpractice claim because of improper venue in action filed by international machine tools manufacturer against insurer and law firm)


  4. Sterling Radio Stations, Inc. v. Weinstein, 328 Ill.App.3d 58, 765 N.E.2d 56 (1st Dist. 2002) (obtained summary judgment on legal malpractice claim on basis that plaintiff could not prove damages that were proximately caused by attorney)

Professional Liability Attorneys