Best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Chicago
Stephen D. Phillips
Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Stephen D. Phillips is the managing partner at Phillips Law Offices in Chicago. He has fought for and secured record verdicts and settlements for injured people and families in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Mr. Phillips is the past President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the largest bar association for trial lawyers in the state of Illinois, and he remains an executive committee member. He also was inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers – limited to 500 attorneys worldwide – in 2011 as well the International Society of Barristers in 2020. He is frequently asked by opposing counsel to represent their family members and friends in personal injury and wrongful death matters.
Stephen earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola University and his B.A. from the University of Iowa. He is an extensively published writer and sought-after lecturer on legal topics ranging from personal injury to medical malpractice to tort reform. Mr. Phillips is also the recipient of a number of awards and honors from various legal and community groups. His law practice focuses on personal injury, catastrophic injury, traffic accidents, truck crashes, wrongful death, nursing home and medical malpractice, aviation, construction liability, and product liability. He is also a member of, and has held a number of positions with, the Illinois State Bar Association. Additionally, Mr. Phillips has served as an adjunct professor at the Loyola University School of Law.
Background and Credentials You Can Trust
Stephen Phillips is admitted to practice law in Illinois, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and in the United States Supreme Court. Stephen Phillips has been designated as an Illinois Super Lawyer for 11 successive years. The National Trial Lawyers re-elected Mr. Phillips as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers each year from 2008 through 2020. He has also been selected as one of the top 100 litigators in the United States.
Personal injury attorney Stephen D. Phillips has obtained record multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for a long list of clients in a considerable number of automobile, trucking, medical malpractice, product liability, construction and a wide variety of and personal injury and wrongful death cases. His experience at resolving the toughest legal issues makes him a powerfully effective advocate for injury victims throughout Illinois.
Steven M. Levin
Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Nationally known for successfully representing clients in personal injury matters, Steven Levin is an outstanding attorney, successful entrepreneur and, most importantly, a committed family man. Steve’s family values carry over into everything he does, from representing people seeking better care for their elderly loved ones to building a law firm that has become one of the best in the nation at winning substantial verdicts and settlements for people affected by medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, or other personal injury cases.
Steve Levin grew up in the Chicagoland area and has lived there with his family his entire life. He married his childhood sweetheart Marsha. Steve is the father of three boys and one girl, and grandpa to fourteen grandchildren. He also proudly plays the role of ‘dad’ to some of the younger attorneys he mentors, including his now partners Mike Bonamarte and Margaret Battersby. Steve was a groomsman in Mike’s wedding and spoke at Margaret’s rehearsal dinner.
He has instilled a family-like culture at Levin & Perconti since the firm’s inception in 1992. The firm began with Steve, John Perconti and Steve’s sister and partner Susan Novosad. Steve and Susan have worked together for over 30 years. Steve has helped grow the law firm of three to more than 30 attorneys handling hundreds of serious injury and death cases. Through the practice of law Steve has touched and influenced the lives of thousands of colleagues and clients since beginning his legal career in 1976.
Steven Malman
Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, premises liability, construction, and workers’ compensation cases. He is one of Chicago’s leading authorities on personal injury law and has taken a special interest in defending the elderly from neglect and abuse.
As an advocate for working on contingency, Attorney Malman believes that all injured persons should be able to obtain legal representation when they need it most, regardless of whether they have the financial means to pay for it at the time. For that reason, his clients only pay for services rendered if the case wins—you only pay if you collect compensation, and the payment comes from that collection, not from your own pocket up front.
At a very young age, Attorney Malman decided to commit his life to providing a voice for those who the misdeeds of others have harmed. His greatest strength is the ability to empathize with his clients and recognize the impact a personal injury can have on his client’s life.
To ensure each of the firm’s clients is properly taken care of, Attorney Malman is often involved in all of his firm’s cases. He always makes himself available to clients and is committed to helping every client his firm represents so that even under difficult circumstances, they end their case with an optimal outcome and a positive impression of the legal profession.
Attorney Malman takes every step to ensure his clients feel cared for and receive the best legal services possible. He’s proud of the fact that he’s in the office every day of the week, always available to handle any of the firm’s clients’ questions or concerns.
A lifelong resident of the Chicago area, Attorney Malman spends most of his free time with his family or on the golf course.
Jonathan Rosenfeld
Medical Malpractice Lawyer
I’m an Illinois lawyer with a nationwide practice who represents members of our society who have been seriously injured or killed due to the irresponsible acts of an individual or company. The injured have the same rights as everyone else — to be treated with compassion and respect — but their vulnerability means they need special protection and representation against those who injure, neglect or abuse them. This is my life’s work.
SCOTT D. LANE
Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Scott D. Lane is the senior partner of Lane Brown, LLC, a plaintiff’s personal injury firm which specializes in the fields of medical and professional negligence, motor vehicle accidents, premises and product liability, and related areas involving serious personal injury and wrongful death.
Prior to his present practice, Scott was a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney for several years. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree, Cum Laude, in 1984 from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. In 1988, Scott received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, where he served as a member of the Law Review and Trial Team. For his accomplishments on the Trial Team, Scott received the American College of Trial Lawyers Medal for Excellence in Advocacy. Scott is admitted to the following bars: Illinois; United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois; and United States Supreme Court. Scott is a Life Member of the National Registry of Who’s Who in America. He is also a founding member of Loyola Law School’s Circle of Advocates and serves as a mentor in Loyola’s mentoring of law students program. In 2002, Scott was selected as one of the 40 Attorneys Under 40 in Illinois To Watch. He has also been consistently selected as an “Illinois Super Lawyer” as published by Law & Politics and Chicago Magazine. In 2014, Scott became a member of The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100.
Scott frequently lectures at bar association seminars on topics pertaining to civil litigation. Additionally, Scott is the director and instructor of the Illinois State Bar Association Trial Technique Institute. Scott is also an adjunct professor at the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law where he has coached Loyola’s Trial Team. Scott is a contributing author of Lane’s Goldstein Trial Technique and Lane Medical Litigation Guide and has authored numerous articles, chapters and texts pertaining to various aspects of civil litigation, including the widely used text, “Illinois Motions in Limine”, published by Thomson West.
Scott is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice (fka “ATLA”) and the American College of Legal Medicine.
JOSEPH A. POWER JR.
Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Joseph Power has obtained more than 200 jury verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million, including the largest jury verdict in Illinois history for a medical malpractice case ($55.4 million) and a recovery of $100 million in a trucking case which led to 76 criminal convictions, including the former Governor of Illinois in the “licenses for bribes” scandal, which triggered the retesting of over 2,000 truck drivers.
In 2022, Joseph Power and James Power obtained a settlement in the amount of $10,000,000 for the family of a man who suffered fatal injuries when while working as a bricklayer, was crushed from a large piece of earth that caved in burying him while still alive. Also, that same year, Joseph Power, Tom Power and James Power obtained a settlement in the amount of $50,000,00 for a man who sustained a severe electric shock when attempting to remove a tree in his backyard came into contact with a sagging overhead power line.
In 2017, Joseph Power and James Power obtained a verdict of $95.4 million for a plaintiff who lost both of his legs when he was working as a truck driver and the cargo he was transporting fell onto him. The day after obtaining that verdict, Joseph Power, Larry Rogers, Jr. and James Power set out on another complex trial and obtained a verdict of $33.4 million for their clients in a negligent security case against Allied Barton.
At age 28, he became the youngest lawyer in the country to obtain a jury verdict in excess of a million dollars for his client. Mr. Power tried the case alone after the offer to settle for $75,000 was declined. In another noteworthy case, a local hospital allowed a teenage gunshot victim to bleed until he was near death in an alley outside its doors until the police came to his rescue and carried him into the hospital. He later died. This case resulted in a federal investigation, review, and clarification of the federal law concerning hospital emergency room duties. The family of the deceased teenager ultimately recovered $12.5 million.
Mr. Power has obtained similar success in each of his trucking cases. For example, an Illinois family recovered almost $40 million, which was all the insurance coverage available, when a husband and father of two was killed and his teenage daughter suffered serious injuries as a result of a negligent truck driver in Indiana. Mr. Power also obtained a $23 million dollar verdict for a 50-year-old man seriously injured in a trucking collision in Illinois. In another case, Mr. Power represented the then Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court where a jury awarded $7,000,000.00 for defamation.
In 2016, Mr. Power obtained a settlement in the amount of $17,500,000.00 for a bicyclist who lost her leg after being struck by a semi-tractor trailer who was making a right-hand turn.
In 2015, Mr. Power and Joseph Balesteri teamed up to recover $30,000,000.00 for a patient who ended up losing two kidneys after a surgery that was only supposed to remove one. Again in 2015, Mr. Power and Mr. Balesteri recovered $6,900,000.00 for the wrongful death of a wife and mother as a result of negligent post-delivery care. In addition, Mr. Power and Devon Bruce recovered $3,750,000.00 in Sangamon County for a 19-year-old who suffered from juvenile glaucoma and lost vision as a result of malpractice.
TARA R. DEVINE
Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Tara R. Devine joined Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., in March 2004 and became the firm’s first female partner in 2011. In 2018, Ms. Devine was promoted to Managing Partner of the firm’s Waukegan office. She concentrates her practice in the areas of personal injury, nursing home negligence, wrongful death, medical malpractice and product liability cases.
Ms. Devine has helped achieve numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of her clients in personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death suits. In August 2017, she was part of the trial team that obtained a record-setting $148 million jury verdict on behalf of a dancer paralyzed by a collapsed pedestrian shelter at O’Hare International Airport. The verdict is the largest personal injury verdict ever awarded to an individual plaintiff in Illinois history. Several months later, the city of Chicago appealed the verdict and the case settled for a record-breaking $115 million. In 2016, Ms. Devine obtained an $18.5 million settlement on behalf of a child who suffered a serious brain injury due to a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of meningitis. That same year, Ms. Devine obtained a $1.6 million verdict in a wrongful death case, the highest recorded verdict in Stephenson County.
Ms. Devine is licensed and practices in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Windy City Justice: Why You Deserve a Top-Tier Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Chicago
Chicago, the “City of Big Shoulders,” pulsates with a vibrant energy, rich history, and a world-renowned medical scene. Yet, even in the most esteemed hospitals, medical errors can occur. When a healthcare professional’s negligence leaves you injured and facing mounting medical bills, the path to recovery can feel like navigating a blizzard. Here’s where a top-tier medical malpractice lawyer in Chicago steps in, becoming your fierce advocate and guide through the legal complexities of seeking justice and compensation. This comprehensive guide explores the immense benefits of retaining a skilled medical malpractice attorney who will fight tirelessly to ensure you receive the financial support you deserve while healing from the physical and emotional trauma caused by medical negligence.
Understanding Medical Malpractice and Your Rights in Illinois
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider, such as a doctor, nurse, or hospital, deviates from the accepted standard of care and causes harm to a patient. Illinois law recognizes your right to seek compensation for damages arising from medical negligence. A knowledgeable Chicago medical malpractice attorney can help you with the following:
- Know Your Rights and Recoverable Damages: Illinois statutes allow you to recover compensation for a variety of damages caused by medical malpractice, including:
- Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death (if a loved one passed away due to medical negligence)
- Gathering Evidence to Build a Winning Case: Building a compelling medical malpractice case hinges on meticulous evidence gathering. Your lawyer will assist you in collecting medical records, doctor reports, hospital bills, witness testimonies (including medical experts), and other relevant documentation that showcases the medical error, its impact on your health, and the deviation from the standard of care.
- Leveling the Playing Field with Insurance Companies: Healthcare providers and their insurance companies often have vast resources at their disposal and may attempt to settle medical malpractice claims for a fraction of their true value. A seasoned Chicago medical malpractice lawyer negotiates aggressively on your behalf, ensuring you receive a fair settlement that reflects the full extent of your injuries and losses.
- Demystifying Medical Jargon: Medical records and legal documents can be filled with technical jargon that can be difficult to understand. Your attorney will translate this complex language into clear terms and guide you through the intricacies of the legal process.
- Securing Reputable Expert Witness Testimony: Medical malpractice cases often require expert witness testimony from qualified medical professionals who can confirm the deviation from the standard of care and the resulting harm you suffered. Your lawyer will secure these expert witnesses to strengthen your case and present a compelling argument in court.
- Understanding Illinois’ Statute of Limitations: Illinois imposes a strict deadline for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, typically two years from the date you discovered the injury. Your lawyer ensures you meet all deadlines and file your claim within the designated timeframe.
Beyond Legal Expertise: The Qualities of a Top-Tier Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Chicago
Not all medical malpractice attorneys are created equal. Here’s what sets the best Chicago medical malpractice lawyers apart:
- Extensive Experience in Illinois Medical Malpractice Law: In-depth knowledge of Illinois’ specific medical malpractice laws, precedents, and the intricacies of the healthcare system in Chicago is crucial. Look for an attorney with a proven track record of success handling cases similar to yours in Illinois.
- Focus on Medical Malpractice: Seek an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice law. This specialization ensures they possess the specific expertise and resources needed to effectively manage your complex case and navigate the legal system specific to Illinois.
- Understanding of Medical Specialties: Medical malpractice cases can involve a wide range of medical specialties. Your lawyer should have a strong understanding of your specific medical situation, the standard of care expected from the healthcare provider involved, and the potential long-term impact of the medical error on your health.
- Compassion and Understanding: Coping with the aftermath of a medical error can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating. Your lawyer should approach your case with empathy, providing emotional support and guidance throughout the process.
- Clear Communication and Accessibility: Clear and consistent communication is vital. A top-tier attorney keeps you informed on case developments, answers your questions promptly, and addresses your concerns openly and honestly.
- Competitive Fees and Flexible Payment Structures: Many medical malpractice attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay if they win your case and secure compensation for you. Discuss fee structures upfront to ensure transparency and explore options that fit your financial circumstances.