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Appellate
Commercial Litigation
Construction Litigation
Institutional Liability
Insurance Coverage
Mass Tort & Class Action
Medical Malpractice
Product Liability
Professional Liability
Practice Areas
Appellate
Commercial Litigation
Construction Litigation
Institutional Liability
Insurance Coverage
Mass Tort & Class Action
Medical Malpractice
Product Liability
Professional Liability

Appellate

A successful appellate strategy requires understanding what needs to happen at trial – both before and after a verdict. At DBMS, our nationally-recognized appellate team works closely with our trial lawyers to ensure the greatest opportunity for a favorable outcome on appeal. Our appellate team is comprised of experienced trial attorneys who are highly-skilled and knowledgeable about the complex procedures and nuances of appellate practice and emerging trends in the law. The appellate team handles post-trial practice and appeals stemming from the firm’s own matters and represents a steady stream of clients whose cases were handled at the trial level by other firms. The appellate team at DBMS is frequently consulted by existing and new clients regarding novel and sophisticated legal issues – at the trial court level as well as in the reviewing courts. DBMS’ excellence in appellate practice is best exemplified by the frequent referral to the DBMS appellate team of appeals involving cases that were tried to verdict by other defense firms, who entrust DBMS with protecting their legal position on appeal.

The DBMS appellate team frequently submits briefs and argues appeals in cases of first impression, cases involving complex, intertwined issues of law and procedure, and in cases requiring the challenge of excessive jury verdicts. DBMS’ appellate attorneys have a successful record in all districts of the Illinois Appellate Court and in the Illinois Supreme Court. Our appellate attorneys also have secured victories for clients in other state courts throughout the Midwest and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The DBMS appellate team has obtained precedent-setting results for its clients on key procedural and evidentiary matters, and in substantive areas including products liability, professional liability, institutional liability and commercial disputes.

Related Attorneys

Karen Kies DeGrand (312) 422-0910
Laura C. Ieremia (312) 422-4905
Monica L. Smit 312-422-2511
Christina D. Ketcham 312-422-9962

Weston v. Hospital and Physician

06/06/2016 Client:

Defendant Hospital and Physician

Outcome:

Appellate court affirmed order entering summary judgment for firm’s clients.

With the defendants represented by Donohue Brown’s Karen DeGrand, Stetson Atwood and Laura Testa, the appellate court affirmed the trial court’s order granting summary judgment to the firm’s clients in ...

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Wilkins v. Defendant Ambulance Driver and Ambulance Service

06/20/2013 Client:

Defendant Ambulance Driver and Ambulance Service

Outcome:

Supreme Court reinstated order granting summary judgment to the defendants after reversal by the appellate court..

A motorist collided with an ambulance transporting a patient on a non-emergency basis from a hospital to a nursing home. Sustaining severe head trauma in the collision, the motorist sued ...

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Show v. Defendant Automobile Manufacturer

09/19/2011 Client:

Defendant Automobile Manufacturer

Outcome:

Affirmed judgment in favor of the firm's client.

The plaintiffs were the driver and passenger in a vehicle that was in a “T-bone” intersection collision with another vehicle, causing the plaintiff’s vehicle to roll over. Plaintiffs contended that ...

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Smith v. Defendant Driver and Corporate Employer

06/28/2011 Client:

Defendant Driver and Corporate Employer

Outcome:

Defense Verdict; Verdict Affirmed on Appeal.

On June 28, 2011, the Illinois Appellate Court, Third District, affirmed the judgment entered on May 7, 2010, in favor of Donohue Brown’s corporate construction client and the company’s driver. ...

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Uldrych v. Defendant Surgeon and Hospital

01/21/2011 Client:

Defendant Surgeon

Outcome:

Affirmed judgment in favor of surgeon and against hospital on implied indemnity cross claim.

In a medical negligence case, DBMS attorneys successfully defended their client, a surgeon, from the co-defendant hospital’s belated attempt to recover the amount the hospital paid to settle the case ...

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Iaccino v. Defendant Obstetrician et al.

12/20/2010 Client:

Defendant Obstetrician

Outcome:

Not guilty verdict in first trial and affirmed judgment on jury verdict on appeal.

In this medical negligence case, the mother and father of a child filed a lawsuit against two obstetricians, among others, who assisted with the child’s delivery. The plaintiffs claimed that ...

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Steinhoff v. Defendant Snow Vehicle Manufacturer

08/04/2009 Client:

Defendant Snow Vehicle Manufacturer

Outcome:

Reversed in favor of defendant.

In February 2006, plaintiff, a Michigan resident, was allegedly rendered a quadriplegic while operating a snow-grooming tractor in Michigan. Plaintiff filed suit against the Oregon manufacturer of the tractor in ...

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DiGuilio v. Defendant Manufacturer

03/12/2009 Client:

Defendant Manufacturer

Outcome:

Summary judgment in favor of defendant affirmed.

Plaintiff filed a strict liability and negligence complaint against the defendant manufacturer for workplace injuries allegedly sustained while plaintiff was using a printing press. The defendant moved for summary judgment ...

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Mikolajczyk v. Defendant Automobile Manufacturer

02/01/2009 Client:

Defendant Automobile Manufacturer

Outcome:

Jury verdict for Plaintiff remanded, new trial ordered.

The Illinois Supreme Court issued a decision that establishes the necessity of instructing the jury on the elements of the “risk-utility” test relevant to the defense of a product’s design. ...

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