Legal Services & Lawyers

Susan L. Novosad is a partner at Levin & Perconti and has practiced law since 1985. Susan concentrates primarily in the areas of nursing home litigation, medical malpractice, automobile and premises liability matters. Susan is a highly experienced trial attorney, having been counsel in numerous complex medical malpractice cases. Her most noted achievement in this arena is a $6.7 million verdict in a birth-related medical malpractice case. Most recently she obtained a $995,000 verdict for a 67-year-old single assisted living resident who choked and died after being given food prohibited by his diet. Susan also achieved a $1,000,000 settlement on behalf of her client in a nursing home case in Lake County, Illinois. The settlement resulted from a case against a Lake County owned home who failed to take proper fall precautions with regard to Susan’s client. This failure resulted in numerous falls and Susan’s client sustained a brain injury and hip and elbow fractures ultimately contributing to the death of the resident. This settlement represents the highest settlement in a Lake County nursing home case

Susan is renowned as a highly skilled negotiator with an exceptional ability to successfully bring opposing parties to resolutions and end disputes. These skills were utilized recently to achieve a $1.5 million resolution for an 87-year-old nursing home resident who suffered burns to her buttocks after being placed in a sitz bath; a $500,000 resolution in a case involving a woman who lived in two different nursing homes and developed multiple pressure sores complicated by numerous hospitalizations, and a $510,000 resolution in a premises liability case against a restaurant where the 88-year-old plaintiff fell down a flight of stairs claiming they were too close to the waiting area resulting in a hip and foot fracture. This ability to resolve cases has earned her the enduring respect of her peers on both sides of the courtroom as well as that of her partners and associates here at Levin & Perconti.

Susan prides herself on the comprehensive manner in which she addresses the needs of her client’s and their cases. She grew up in Evanston, Illinois, earned her J.D. Cum Laude from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1986, and has been practicing for the benefit of her clients ever since. Levin & Perconti is extremely proud of Susan's distinguished accomplishments and commitment to her profession and her clients.

Licensed attorney in Illinois since 1984 with an active civil litigation practice relating to complex injuries, premises liability, insurance coverage, construction claims, scaffold, crane and work platform matters, commercial litigation, intellectual property and other legal concerns.

Past Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association's Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council. Past Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association's Standing Committee on Professional Conduct. Recipient of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation's Distinguished Service Award. Frequent lecturer and author.

Susan is a ball of fire attorney who will listen to you. She has plenty of life experience and is easy to talk to. Susan has her own practice, has flexible hours and takes on a variety of cases.
Her extensive experience in manufacturing management is a valuable asset to her corporate clients.
She's licensed in both Indiana and Illinois.

Give Sue a call for a free consultation - 219-663-2588

Chris Kennedy is an accomplished trial attorney concentrating in serious personal injury cases, including products liability, wrongful death, automobile and trucking accidents, construction and workplace injuries, and other high-stakes litigation. Christopher Kennedy has practiced in Chicago and Lake County since 1994, and has won numerous verdicts and settlements for his clients.

Our firm represents people invoived in accidents, but we also represent businesses in commercial litigation, and we provide legal services in a range of areas, including real estate, wills, estate planning, and probate. We have offices in the Chicago Loop and in Lake Forest, Lake County.

For a free consultation, please call us at (847) 295-0300 or (312) 829-7000. For more information, visit our website at www.kennedypierson.com.

ILLINOIS PERSONAL INJURY & ACCIDENTS

* Abuse
* Accidents
* Animal Bite Injury
* Automobile Accident
* Auto Accident and Injuries
* Back Injury
* Bicycle - Bike Accident
* Birth Injury
* Boat Accident
* Brain Injury
* Burn Injury
* Car Accidents
* Construction Accidents
* Defective Products
* Discrimination
* Diving / Dive Injury
* Dog Bite Injury
* Drunk Driving or DUI Accidents
* Disabled Abuse
* Elder Abuse
* Fractures
* Highway Accident
* Industrial Accident
* Injured at Work - Work Injuries
* Jet Ski Accident
* Lead Paint Exposure
* Machine Accident
* Medical Malpractice
* Medical Negligence
* Motor Vehicle Defects
* Motorcycle Accident
* Nursing Home Abuse
* Nursing Home Negligence
* Pedestrian Accident
* Political Firing
* Products Liability
* Rail Road Injury Accident
* Railroad Accident
* Retaliation
* Semi Truck Accident
* Slip and Fall
* Spinal Cord Injury
* Swimming Accidents and Injuries
* Train Accident
* Traumatic Brain Injury
* Truck Accident
* Work Injury
* Worker Accident
* Workers Compensation
* Wrongful Death


Chicago and Lake County Illinois CORPORATE & BUSINESS MATTERS

* Acquisitions
* Americans with Disabilities Act
* Asset Protection
* Business Financing
* Business Operations
* Business Regulations
* Buy/Sell Agreements
* Bylaws
* Closing a Business
* Confidentiality Agreements
* Contracts
* Copyright
* Corporations
* Employment Agreements
* Estate Planning
* Family Partnersips
* Forms & Contracts
* Franchises
* Incorporation & Legal Structures
* Independent Contractor Agreements
* Intellectual Property
* Joint Ventures
* Labor and Employment Law
* Licensing Agreements
* Limited Liability Companies
* Limited Liability Partnerships
* Litigation
* Mergers
* Non-Compete or Noncompete Agreements
* Non-Disclosure Agreements
* Non-Profit Corporations
* OSHA
* Securities
* Separation or Severance Agreements
* Shareholder Agreeements
* Sole Proprietorships
* Starting a Business
* Stock Option Plans
* Succession Planning
* Trusts
* Wage & Hour Laws
* Wills

Chicago and Lake County Illinois Business and Corporate Real Estate Matters

* Adverse Possession
* Architect Agreements
* Assessments
* Construction Contracts
* Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CCR's)
* Developer Agreements
* Easements
* Engineer Agreements
* Environmental Compliance
* Foreign Nationals with US Real Estate Holdings
* Leases
* Ownership Considerations
* Zoning

Our firm, KENNEDY PIERSON & STRACHAN, LLP, represents people who live, do business, or encounter difficulties in these and other communities:

Arlington Heights
Antioch
Bannockburn
Barrington
Barrington Hills
Beach Park
Buffalo Grove
Deer Park
Deerfield
Des Plaines
Evanston
Fox Lake
Fox River Grove
Glencoe
Glenview
Grayslake
Green Oaks
Gurnee
Hainesville
Hawthorn Woods
Highland Park
Highwood
Island Lake
Kenilworth
Kildeer
Lake Barrington
Lake Bluff
Lake Forest
Lake Villa
Lake Zurich
Lakemoor
Libertyville
Lincolnshire
Lindenhurst
Long Grove
Mettawa
Morton Grove
Mundelein
North Barrington
Northbrook
North Chicago
Northfield
Park City
Prospect Heights
Riverwoods
Round Lake
Round Lake Beach
Round Lake Heights
Round Lake Park
Skokie
Third Lake
Tower Lakes
Vernon Hills
Volo
Wadsworth
Wauconda
Waukegan
Wheeling
Winthrop Harbor
Zion
Kenosha, WI
Lake Geneva, WI
Pleasant Prairie, WI
Racine, WI
Sturtevant, WI

30 years of trial experience concentrating in representing plaintiffs and their families who are victims of wrongful death, serious personal injury and work related injuries.

Mr. Passen is a personal injury attorney at Chicago-based Passen Law Group. Mr. Passen concentrates in all areas of personal injury, including truck accidents, brain and spinal cord injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death.

Prior to joining Passen Law Group, Mr. Passen was an attorney in the litigation department of Jenner & Block LLP.

Mr. Passen received his B.A. magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in Economics from the University of Michigan in 2002.

Mr. Passen obtained his law degree, summa cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law in 2006, where he graduated Order of the Coif. During law school, Mr. Passen was as a member of the DePaul Law Review.

During the 2003-04 academic year, Mr. Passen clerked for the Honorable Ronald A. Guzman, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He also spent the following semester clerking at the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois.

Mr. Passen is a member of the Illinois Bar. He is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice. In addition, Mr. Passen volunteers to work with elementary teachers and students in Chicago-area public schools as part of the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago's "Lawyers in the Classroom" program.

At R.F. Wittmeyer, Ltd., we care about all of our clients. Along with our experienced and dedicated staff, Mr. Wittmeyer will personally handle your case from start to finish. Your case will not be shuffled off to a junior level attorney. We strongly recommend to injured parties that they retain competent legal representation early on, so a qualified attorney, such as Mr. Wittmeyer, can manage every aspect of their case, from the beginning. Our reputation has been built on the trust that we will professionally and aggressively prosecute every case we accept.

Mark Rouleau
5301 East State Street, 215D
Rockford, IL 61108
815/229-7246
Summary of qualifications

Mark Rouleau, attorney at law
Rockford, Illinois
Has been an Illinois attorney for a quarter of a century. For the last fourteen years he has been a sole practitioner after leaving the law firm of Crosby & Lambert. He was admitted to practice before the state of Illinois Supreme Court on November 9, 1983; the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois December 21, 1983 and the Supreme Court of the United States on Aug. 11, 1995.

Education
DePaul University College of Law
Chicago, Illinois
Graduated in the Class of 1983

Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, Illinois
President's Scholar Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, 1980
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, 1980

Professional experience
Has been engaged in the general practice of law in the Rockford community for more than 25 years. The principle focus of his practice has been in the area of civil litigation. He has appeared as a speaker on in Sky Radio's America's Premier Lawyers Hosted by Marc Holland; appellate cases include: People v. Joseph Spiezer, (2nd Dist. 2000), 316 Ill.App.3d 75, 735 N.E.2d 1017, 249 Ill.Dec. 192; Hills v. Bridgeview Little League Ass'n, (Ill.App. 1 Dist. 1999) 713 N.E.2d 616, 306 Ill.App.3d 13, (Amicus brief of counsel, for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association); People v. Quigley, (Ill. 1998) 697 N.E.2d 735, 183 Ill.2d 1, (trial and appellate counsel); People v. Lavariega, (Ill. 1997) 676 N.E.2d 643, 175 Ill.2d 153, (trial and appellate counsel); City of Rockford v. Xayasouk, (Ill.App. 2 Dist. 1998) 705 N.E.2d 110, 301 Ill.App.3d 663, (trial and appellate counsel); Krivitskie v. Cramlett, (Ill.App. 2 Dist. 1998) 704 N.E.2d 957, 301 Ill.App.3d 705, (trial and appellate counsel); Shelton v. Gourley, Rule 23 opinion ($350K negligence verdict barroom stabbing case upheld versus tavern Ill.App 2d 87 L 17 & 18); People v. Crabbe, (Ill.App. 2 Dist. 1990) 552 N.E.2d 19, 195 Ill.App.3d 163, (trial and appellate counsel); Application of County Collector, (Ill.App. 2 Dist. 1988) 530 N.E.2d 598, 175 Ill.App.3d 985, (trial and appellate counsel).

Publications
Unreliability of the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test, 4 Am.Jur. Proof Facts 3d 439;
Wills v. Foster and the "Reasonable Value" Approach To The Collateral Source Rule, Vol. 54, No. 2 ISBA Trial Briefs (August 2008);
Contacting an Opponent's Employee and Former Employees, Vol. 53, No. 5, ISBA Trial Briefs (Dec. 2007);
Impact of Plea of guilty on civil proceedings, DCBA Brief, November 2001.
Impact of Plea of guilty on civil proceedings, Vol 44, No. 3, ISBA Criminal Justice Newsletter,
Compensation for the value of lost time and not lost wages, Vol. 36, No. 3, ISBA Tort Trends Newsletter;
Is Tort Liability in Illinois Joint or Several? Vol. 34, No. 1, ISBA Tort Trends Newsletter;
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Launches Assault on Trial Lawyers, Business Profile Magazine Aug/Sept 98;
Declaring Forfeitures on Contracts for Deed, Vol. 35, No. 1 ISBA YLD Newsletter;
A Case for Fall Civil Discovery and Statutory Summary Suspension Hearings, Vol. 36, No. 1 ISBA YLD Newsletter;
Supreme Court Adds Teeth To Arbitration Rules, Vol. 37, No. 4 ISBA YLD Newsletter;
Subpoena Duces Tecum, by and 38, No. 1, ISBA YLD Newsletter;
A Simple Solution for Obtaining Records Prior to Trial, Vol. 38, No. 3 ISBA YLD Newsletter;
Discovering Petrillo Violations, Vol. 39, No. 1, ISBA YLD Newsletter;
Is Loss of Enjoyment of Life Recoverable Under the Civil Justice Reform Amendments of 1995?, Vol. 31, No. 2, ISBA Tort Trends Newsletter;
Discharge of Attorney Employed by Contingency Fee Contract, Vol. 32, No. 5, ISBA Tort Trends Newsletter;
Hospital Liens, Vol. XLIV, No. 2, WCBA The Lawyer;
Are Your Real Estate Clients Insuring The Insurer?, Vol. XLIV, No. 7 WCBA The Lawyer.

Additional professional activities
Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Member of the Editorial Advisory Board for James Publishing, Cross Publications and Ford Publications 1989.
ITLA Board of Managers Member (1997-1998)
ITLA Amicus Committee & Supreme Court Rules Committee
ISBA Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council Member (2005- )
ISBA Continuing Legal Education Section Council Member (2005- )
ISBA assembly 1998-2000
ISBA Tort Section Council Chair (2000-2001)
ISBA Tort Section Council Vice-chair (1999-2000)
ISBA Tort Section Council Secretary (1998-1999)
ISBA Tort Section Council Member (1996-2002)
ISBA Task Force on Allocation of Judges (1998-1999)
ISBA Task Force on Certification (1997)
Illinois Legal Education Conclave (Oct. 19-20, 1995)
ISBA Organized Bar Leadership Conference (June 1994)
Chair of the YLD Section of the ISBA (1994-1995)
Editor of the ISBA YLD Newsletter (1991-1994)
ISBA delegate to the 1994 & 1995 ABA - YLD conventions

Presentations
Basic Skills: The New Attorney's Introduction to the Effective Practice of Law, "Pleading From A Plaintiff's View" ISBA Law Ed Series December 4-6, 2007 (Chicago).
Tort Law Update 2005, "Liens" ISBA Tort and Insurance Law sections, Law Ed Series, June 17, 2005 (ISBA Annual meeting, Lake Geneva Wisc.).
The Anatomy of an Automobile Case, "Liens & Reimbursement" ISBA Tort and Insurance Law sections, Law Ed Series, May 10, 2004 (Chicago).
Potpourri of Civil Practice, Tort and Insurance Law, "Adjudicating Medicaid Liens" ISBA Civil Practice & Procedure, Tort and Insurance Law sections, Law Ed Series, June 20, 2003 (ISBA Annual meeting, Lake Geneva Wisc.).
Motor Vehicle Cases A to Z, "Adjudicating Medicaid and Medicare Liens" ISBA Tort Law Section, Law Emergency department Series, May 22, 2003 (Chicago, Ill.)
Illinois Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Benefits, a Study and Analysis, "Who is covered?" ISBA Tort Law Section, Law Ed Series, May 9, 2002 (Bloomington, Ill.).
Illinois Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Benefits, a Study and Analysis, "Who is covered?" ISBA Tort Law Section, Law Ed Series, May 30, 2002 (Chicago, Ill.).
An Update for Tort Practitioners, "Responding to 213 (f) & (g) Interrogatories," ISBA Tort Law Section, Insurance Law Section, and Special Committee of Appellate Practice, Law Ed Series, June 22, 2001 (ISBA Annual meeting, Lake Geneva Wisc.
Insurance Coverage: An Update, "The Tort of Bad Faith: A Sleeping Giant" ISBA Insurance Law Section, Law Ed Series, April 19, 2001
Supreme Court Rule 213 and its Impact in Tort Litigation, "What is opinion Testimony?" ISBA Tort Law Section, Law Ed Series, October 9, 2000
Issues and Techniques for the Settlement of Personal Injury Cases, Moderator, ISBA Insurance Law and Tort Sections, Law Ed Series, ISBA Annual Meeting June 23, 2000
An Update for Tort and Insurance Litigators, "Responding to Rule 213 (f) & (g) Interrogatories," ISBA Insurance Law and Tort Sections, Law Ed Series, May 18, 2000
Litigating Tort Cases Without Going Bankrupt, Moderator, ISBA Tort Section, Law Ed Series, October 11, 1999
Hot Tips for Trials, Getting Witnesses to the Courthouse, Winnebago County Bar Association Seminar, Oct. 1, 1998
What's Up; A Tort, Insurance and Civil Practice Update, ISBA Civil Practice, Insurance Law and Tort Law Sections, ISBA midyear meeting December 13, 1996
Trial Techniques-Getting a Case Ready; Getting a Verdict (Pretrial Discovery) ISBA Tort Section Law Ed Series, Nov. 20 1995
Tort Reform: Day-To-Day Issues (Failure To Warn)-ISBA Tort Reform Law Ed Program, Nov. 1995
Building A Well-Balanced Life In The Law, ISBA YLD Law Ed Series, ISBA Annual Meeting June, 1995
How To Open A Small Law Office - ISBA Bridge the Gap Program, December, 1994

Professional memberships
American Association for Justice, Illinois State Bar Association, and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, past member of the Winnebago County Bar Association

Community activities
Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouting (Eagle Scout - past assistant Scout Master), Blackhawk Presbytery Commissioner to the PC(USA) General Assembly, June 2004; Blackhawk Presbytery PC(USA) Committee on Ministry (2005 - present); Westminster Presbyterian Church (Active Elder 2001-2003), Pastoral Nominating Committee (2004), Christian Education Commission (2001-2003), and Witness Commission (1999-2000), Habitat for Humanity local congregation liaison (1998-99)

Jigar K. Patel is an Illinois licensed Attorney with an office in Westchester, Illinois, and practicing in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Mr. Patel's firm, The JKP Law Group, Ltd. is a full service firm. Practice areas include Real Estate Transactions, Bankruptcy, Business Counseling, Construction Law, Family Law, Immigration, Estate Planning, Personal Injury, and Litigation.

Rick's focus is catastrophic injury litigation including medical malpractice, automobile and trucking accidents, and nursing home negligence.