Mario R. Cusumano

Mario R. Cusumano is a partner in KPD’s Chicago office. With more than two decades of courtroom experience as a trial attorney, Mario has handled the defense of matters arising from complex construction, motor vehicle, transportation, and premises liability matters. He has extensive experience in uninsured and underinsured motorist claims and has arbitrated more than 300 of these first-party matters. He also serves as an arbitrator in the tri-panel arbitration process.

Prior to joining Kopka Pinkus Dolin, he practiced for 18 years as house counsel for a major property and casualty carrier defending all types of insurance matters. He has successfully achieved more than 60 jury verdicts.

In addition, Mario had taken a significant role in legislative efforts before the Illinois Legislature in Springfield, Illinois on behalf of insurance carriers. These efforts resulted in statutory changes which reduced restrictions on the carriers’ right of rejection as well as a minimization of the binding limits of arbitration pursuant to the Illinois Uninsured Motorist Statute 215 ILCS 5/143a-2.

Mario is a frequent contributor to claims training and education programs in regard to the unique issues relating to uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist matters.  He has also served as mentor to many first-year attorneys and law students from The John Marshall Law School and DePaul University School of Law. His experience also includes more than a decade of law firm management.

He received his Bachelor of Science from the College of Commerce at DePaul University in Chicago and obtained his Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago.  He also successfully completed training and instruction at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. During his law school and undergraduate education, Mario held a management position with a family-owned transportation company. He also gained immeasurable experience in commercial and residential property management prior to his career in litigation.

Mario is a member of the prestigious Claim Litigation Management Association whereby attorneys are invited to join the association by industry professionals. He is also a member of the Defense Research Institute, the Justinian Society of Lawyers, and ADR Professionals.