"Negligence" (Anatomy of a $13.7 Million Verdict)
Chicago, Illinois, November 17, 2009 - Law Bulletin Seminars

"Damages" - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Chicago, Illinois, October 12, 2009

"Winning the Verdict and Protecting the Record" - Law Bulletin Seminars
Chicago, Illinois, May 20, 2009

"Cross-Examination Techniques" - Law Bulletin Seminars
Chicago, Illinois, April 23, 2009

"Trains" - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Chicago, Illinois, February 16, 2009

"Winning Strategies (Case Studies)" - Law Bulletin Seminars
Chicago, Illinois, May 16, 2008

"Uninsured--Underinsured Motorist" - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Chicago, Illinois, February 18, 2008

"Railroad v. Vehicle Crashes" - Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE)
Chicago, Illinois, October 31, 2007

"Key Considerations in Evaluating a Case at the Engagement Stage, Settlement Stage and Trial: Case Studies" - Law Bulletin Seminars
Chicago, Illinois, October 24, 2007

"Governmental Immunity: The current case law" - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Chicago, Illinois, February 15, 2005

"Proper Parties to Lawsuit" - Illinois State Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, January 9, 2004

"Damages Evidence" - Lorman Education Services;
Oak Brook, Illinois, December 17, 2003

"Railroad Evidence" - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association;
Chicago, Illinois, October 13, 2003

"Presenting the Expert for Deposition" - Chicago Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, October 3, 2002

"Opening and Closing Statements" - Chicago Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, May 8, 2001

"Evidence Seminar" - Moderator, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association;
Chicago, Illinois, May 5, 2001

"The Art of Maximizing Damages" - Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal
Education (IICLE); Chicago, Illinois, December 13, 2000

"Litigating a Civil Case in Cook County" - Illinois State Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, December 9, 1999

"The Plaintiffs' Attorney's View of Current Medical Malpractice Issues" -
Hospital Insurance Risk Managers (CHRMS)
Chicago, Illinois, May 5, 1999

"Illinois Issues in Review" - Television program panelist;
Chicago, Illinois, February 19, 1999

"Trial Techniques" - Moderator - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association;
Chicago, Illinois, January 9, 1999

"Litigating a Civil Case in Cook County" - Illinois State Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, December 10, 1998

"Aggravation of a Pre-Existing Condition - Plaintiff's View" - Illinois Trial
Lawyers Association, Chicago, Illinois, May 9, 1998

"Arbitration" - Chicago Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, January 22, 1998

"Litigating a Civil Case in Cook County" - Illinois State Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, December 11, 1997

"Trial Objections and Effectively Responding to Objections" - Chicago Bar
Association, Chicago, Illinois, December 4, 1997

"Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Claims" - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association;
Chicago, Illinois, September 6, 1997

"Jury Deliberations and After the Verdict" - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association;
Chicago, Illinois, May 3, 1997

"Litigating a Civil Case in Cook County" - Illinois State Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, December 12, 1996

"Trial Techniques" - Program Planning Chair - Illinois Trial Lawyers
Association; Chicago, Illinois, October 14, 1996

"Litigating a Civil Case in Cook County" - Illinois State Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, May 31, 1996

Civil Pre-Trial Practice Seminar "Slimming Down" - Illinois Trial
Lawyer Association; Springfield, Illinois, February 3, 1996

"Litigating a Civil Case in Cook County" - Illinois State Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, November 30, 1995

"Life Before and After House Bill 20 - Premises Liability Reforms" - Illinois
Trial Lawyers Association; Chicago, Illinois, May 6, 1995

"A Plaintiff's Counsel's Perspective on Joint & Several Liability and Section
2-1117" - Chicago Bar Association; Chicago, Illinois, January 25, 1995

"Litigating a Civil Case in Cook County" - Illinois State Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, December 2, 1994

"Litigating a Civil Case in Cook County" - Illinois State Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, November 11, 1993

"Public Service" - Illinois State Bar Association;
Chicago, Illinois, November 5, 1992

"Section 2-1117: Modified Joint and Several Liability in Illinois" Illinois State Bar Association – Trial Briefs, 1995

"Supreme Court Hands Victory to Railroad Industry in Crossing Case" Illinois State Bar Association - Tort Trends, 2000

1990 to Present

    NBC's Today Show
    The O'Reilly Factor-Fox Network
    The Abrams Report---MSNBC
    Cable Program "Illinois Issues in Review"
    CBS Channel 2 News
    CLTV News
    NBC Channel 5 News
    ABC Channel 7 News
    Channel 66 News
    WGN News
    Fox Local News

John Carroll University - "Community Service Award;" December 12, 1999

Law Bulletin Publishing Company - "40 Illinois Attorneys Under the Age of 40 to Watch;" 2001

John Carroll University - :Making a Difference Award;" 2001

Super Lawyers – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Leading Lawyers – 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

LawDragon Magazine – 2007 – Mr. Cavanagh was named one of the top 500 plaintiff attorneys in the country by LawDragon Magazine (www.LawDragon.com)

Czapski v. Maher
Verdict: $13,720,007.98
Offer: $1.9 million

On April 20, 2009, Tim Cavanagh obtained a $13.7 million verdict on behalf of the Estate of Roger Czapski against Christopher Maher arising from a deadly automobile crash. After a two week long trial and 3 hours of deliberation, the jury returned the verdict finding Maher was 98% responsible for the wrongful death of Czapski.

On August 4, 2004, Czapski, age 22, was a salesman for Motor Werks of Barrington, Inc. That afternoon, Maher, a 20 year old from Inverness, Illinois, took a BMW 530i on a test drive, with Czapski riding as the front seat passenger and Maher's two friends seated in the back seat. The BMW violently collided with a left turning vehicle at the intersection of Algonquin Road and Willow Creek Church Drive. The BMW then ricocheted into a light post and exploded on impact.

At trial, witnesses to the collision, including the two back seat passengers in the BMW, testified that the BMW was traveling at 95 mph at the time of impact. The posted speed limit on Algonquin Road is 45 mph. Czapski was pronounced dead at the scene.

Czapski is survived by his father, mother and brother. At the time of his death, Czapski was living in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He graduated from Lane Tech College Preparatory High School in Chicago, Illinois on the honor roll and attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana for a brief time. He worked as a Motor Werks salesman for approximately 18 months before his death.

Santillana v. City of Chicago and Jesus Gomez
Verdict: $2,005,798
Offer: None

On December 12, 2003, Cook County Circuit Court Jury awarded Elizabeth Santillana $2 million in a hotly disputed wrongful death case. The case arose out of a "police pursuit" on July 18, 2000 that resulted in Dalia Santillana's death when her vehicle was struck by a car driven by a man fleeing a Chicago Police Department squad car engaged in a "police pursuit." Evidence was presented that the police officers "rammed" the Gomez vehicle causing it to lose control and cross the center line. City of Chicago rules on "police pursuits" outlined in General Order 97-3 specifically prohibit "ramming" by squad cars. A Cook County jury rejected the City of Chicago's position that it was not engaged in the pursuit at the time of the fatal collision. Because the City was found 25% at fault, it is responsible for the entire verdict amount. The City declined to make a settlement offer prior to trial. News Article Available

Velarde v. Illinois Central Railroad Co., et. al.
Verdict: $21,310,406
Offer: $ 3,000,000

On February 8, 2002, Cook County Circuit Court Jury awarded Fidel and Francisca Velarde a total of $21,310,406.65 for injuries suffered in a January 9, 2001 car train collision. Fidel, age 73, and Francisca, age 73, were passengers of an SUV struck by an 8 million pound train at 50 miles per hour. The crossing gates and lights were not working and the dispatcher erroneously told the train crew that the crossing was protected. The plaintiffs suffered traumatic brain injuries in the collision. The total award to the Velardes and their daughter, who was the driver of the car, totaled over $54 million--a state record in Illinois for a railroad crossing collision case.

Police Officer v. Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency
Award: $5,758,495
Offer: $2,000,000

A twenty-eight year old female Mundelein police officer was pinned between a limousine and her squad car when a limousine driver rear-ended plaintiff's squad car. Plaintiff suffered a near traumatic amputation of her right leg above the knee, multiple fractures of her left leg and the loss of her unborn fetus weeks later. The award is the highest reported uninsured motorist award in Illinois history. News Article Available

Webb v. Dikcis Cab Company
Verdict: $586,000
Offer: None

The case arose from a two vehicle collision in which an uninsured drunk driver ran a red light and struck a cab in which the plaintiff was a passenger. Webb suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in his death. Webb, who had AIDS, had only months to live. The jury found the cab company twenty-five percent responsible for its driver's decision to pull into the intersection without observing the approaching speeding car. The jury verdict resulted in joint and several liability against the cab company

Coglianese v. Cardiovascular Renal Consultants
Verdict: $600,000
Offer: None

Medical Malpractice - Adult female patient died at Blue Island Hospital from sepsis after doctors failed to detect a perforated colon despite a history of a recent colonoscopy and x-ray films that demonstrated free air. Case settled pre-trial for $2,000,000.00 against the radiologist.

Catala v. City of Chicago
Verdict: $310,000
Offer: None

Premises Liability - Adult female fell due to a sinkhole in the crosswalk at the intersection of Belmont and Western Avenues, sustaining a spiral fracture of her femur requiring several surgeries. The City of Chicago which owned and maintained the crosswalk and street denied that it had any notice of the sinkhole.

Tidwell v. Oh
Verdict: $241,718
Offer: $100,000

A seventeen year-old girl was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a one-car crash in Colorado. The plaintiff sustained a de-gloving injury to her arm requiring surgery. The verdict was the highest reported verdict in the history of Morgan County, Colorado.

Gost v.Finney
Verdict: $208,800
Offer: $10,000

A sixteen year-old girl was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a two-car crash. The plaintiff sustained a back injury requiring medical treatment which cost eighteen hundred dollars.

REPRESENTATIVE SETTLEMENTS

This wrongful death case arises after a man was brought to Loyola for burn injuries but died when the doctors failed to treat him correctly.

Koning v. Morris $1,000,000

A man drove his Jaguar into a Starbucks Coffee shop striking a table occupied by two women. One of the women suffered neck and shoulder injuries.

Brown v. Seaberry $1,000,000

A truck crossed the center line crashing into vehicle driven by a young man who suffered traumatic injuries to his left arm.

DeJule v. Solberg $1,000,000

A young man suffered neck injury in car crash leading to cervical fusion surgery.

Shafer v. Wolin-Levin $3,000,000

A 32 year old woman suffered an electrical shock in her kitchen because the landlord improperly wired an electrical outlet. The woman developed four level complex regional pain syndrome resulting in a surgery implanting a pain device in her back. The case settled on the eve of trial for $3 million.

Vlachos v. Hungerford, et al., $14,000,000

The family of a 5-year-old Chicago boy was awarded $14 million in a settlement after he suffered a severe brain injury during birth after hospital staff members allegedly mixed up his heart rate with his mother's pulse. The malpractice complaint against Northwestern Memorial Hospital contended the baby was not breathing when he was born and that emergency staffers were not prepared to resuscitate him because of the monitoring error. The 7-minute lapse without oxygen caused the child to suffer from cerebral palsy, leaving his arms and legs paralyzed, according to the complaint.

Barnes v. Berry Electric Contracting Company, Inc., et al., $4,100,000

A seventy year old grandmother was driving to the store when her vehicle was broadsided by a truck driven by an employee of Dennis Svec, an employee of Berry Electric. Svec was lost and looking at his Blackberry device when his vehicle entered the intersection. Witnesses testified that Svec ran the red light although one witness disagreed. Mrs. Barnes suffered multiple traumatic injuries including a C4-5 distraction injury and dura tears requiring anterior and posterior fusion surgeries, multiple pelvic fractures requiring external fixation surgery, punctured heart, rib fractures, closed head injury and cranial nerve palsy. The case settled immediately before opening statements one year to the day of the crash. The case was advanced to trial after Mr. Cavanagh took over 30 depositions in twelve months.

Munoz v. Mack Trucks, et al., $3,000,000

A thirty-two year old employee at Waste Management suffered amputation of leg below the knee after his leg was caught in between the arm and cab of a dump truck. A product liability lawsuit was filed alleging that the truck was designed defectively because the pinch point was not protected.

Hopkins v. Westlake Hospital $7,500,000

A forty-two year old mother of three presented at emergency room with chest pain. The hospital staff failed to provide an EKG immediately and provided a drug that sped up the heart. Plaintiff suffered a myocardial infarction and suffered brain damage.

Taylor v. Salvation Army $4,500,000

In October, 2003, Mr. Cavanagh obtained a $4.5 Million wrongful death settlement for the family of a woman killed in a collision between a van and a semi tractor-trailer. The case settled immediately prior to jury selection after lengthy discovery.

Ajmeri v. Illinois Central Railroad Company $9,100,000

Passenger of car injured when train and car collided on March 9, 1998. Case settled on third day of trial for state record amount according to the Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter. News Articles Available

Cottrell v. State Farm Automobile Insurance Company $1,200,000

Seventeen year old high school honor student killed in one-vehicle crash in McHenry County, Illinois. The case settled for the full amount of the insurance policies available on the vehicle after State Farm Automobile Insurance Company was sued for spoliation of evidence.

McGill v. G.G. Connections, Inc. $1,000,000

Mother and son were killed in a two-vehicle collision when a truck driver ran a red light. The case settled for the full limits of the trucking companies' insurance policy.