Mark H. Boyle

Biography

Mark H. Boyle concentrates his practice in defending a variety of tort, product, and class-action related matters. His primary area of focus is automotive product liability.

He has defended cases as national counsel in dozens of states across the country. He has obtained successful defense verdicts in automotive product liability cases involving wrongful death or catastrophic injuries in state and federal courts throughout the country, including Chicago, Illinois, Perry County, Illinois, Rock Island, Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, Will County, Illinois, Morgan County, Illinois, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

His jury trial success and experience in unique and difficult product design cases has been recognized in the past as reflected in the Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter’s selection and publication of three notable defense verdicts in its 1998 and 2001-2002 Special Supplements where he was the lead or co-trial counsel. On October 24, 2019, he was again recognized by the JVR with a 2019 Trial Lawyer Excellence Award for the most outstanding defense verdict in a product liability action.

Mr. Boyle’s trial efforts have shaped Illinois’ product liability laws. On October 17, 2008, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed an adverse trial result finding that Mr. Boyle’s client was entitled to more favorable jury instructions explaining the risk-utility test in design defect cases. This prominent appellate victory was predicated on Mr. Boyle’s solid record developed in the trial court. This landmark decision has benefitted all manufacturing defendants facing design defect allegations.

In 2010, the judges of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association honored Mr. Boyle with an Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service. This prestigious award recognized Mr. Boyle’s outstanding work as appointed counsel.

Mr. Boyle joined Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC in 1996 from Baker & McKenzie and served as a partner at Donohue Brown from 1997 until 2022.

Credentials