Thomas “Tom” J. Lawler handles a variety of insurance defense claims for clients in Illinois, including premises liability, malpractice, wrongful death, and civil rights matters with a focus on Age Discrimination in Employment Acts, Title VII, the Equal Pay Act, Family Medical Leave Act, and charges presented to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, representing his clients in both state and federal courts. He also has experience with business litigation matters including breach of contract, and actions brought pursuant to the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, Telemarketing Sales Rule, and Consumer Financial Protection Act.
Tom has years of litigation experience representing both the government and private clients, having served for years in the City of Chicago Torts Division before entering private practice. While working for the City, he took 67 jury trials to verdict, and successfully brought many cases to a just result through dispositive motion. Since leaving the City, he has arbitrated or tried to verdict several commercial cases, and represented clients in numerous courts around Illinois and Wisconsin.
He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law Schook, and a 1984 graduate of the University of Chicago, from which he graduated with honors. He is a member of the state bars of Illinois and Wisconsin and admitted to practice in the Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar. Tom is also AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
- Harris v. City, wherein plaintiff claimed that City paramedics failed to meet the standard of care in providing onsite care and transport to a gravely ill child.
- Pennelle v. City, brought by the estate of a motorcyclist that claimed that a City bridge presented a dangerous condition that caused the motorcyclist to crash and lose his life.
- Gilchrist v. City, which centered on allegations that the City had improperly designed and installed a pedestrian crossing that led to a college student being struck by a third party’s vehicle and suffering a traumatic brain injury.
- Williams v. City, a case involving a high-speed police pursuit that resulted in a claim for wrongful death and claims under the Survival Act.
