Litigation

KTJ has experience and significant expertise in all areas of federal and state litigation involving municipalities, school districts, other units of local government, corporations and individuals from the simplest cases to the most complex.  Our litigators also have experience in administrative proceedings and alternative dispute forums, including mediation and arbitration. KTJ has applied this experience and expertise to the benefit of several private sector clients, insurance companies, self-insured groups and pools.  On behalf of its corporate and individual clients, KTJ has litigated and tried corporate disputes, probate and trust disputes, as well as estate, gift and income tax audits.  


Our attorneys are skilled in handling cases at the post-trial and appellate stages at all levels of the State and Federal court systems. We not only handle post-trial proceedings in cases already assigned to KTJ's lawyers, but also help to formulate and pursue post-trial strategies in cases tried by other firms. Indeed, our appellate attorneys have served as judicial clerks to Illinois Supreme Court and Appellate Court justices and have argued cases in the United States Supreme Court, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Illinois Supreme Court and all five districts of the Illinois Appellate Court.

Our appellate attorneys frequently become involved in actions at the pre-trial and trial levels in significant cases to assist in developing and preserving issues for potential appeal. We have also prepared amicus briefs on behalf of different organizations or units of government. Our considerable appellate experience enables us to incisively evaluate cases, suggest effective strategies and render informed opinions as to the likelihood of success in post-trial proceedings.

Our attorneys also serve as the local prosecutor in the circuit court and the administrative adjudication systems for several municipalities.  We also represent intergovernmental risk management programs as special litigation counsel including the Illinois Risk Management Agency (IRMA), the Suburban Library System, the Park District Risk Management Agency, and the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Pool.  We have obtained several landmark rulings to the benefit of our clients, and we have also obtained countless final judgment rulings in our clients’ favor via dispositive motion practice and trial.  In all of our litigation matters we strive to achieve results in the most cost-efficient manner possible while maintaining a standard of excellence.


Our experience includes but is not limited to:

·         personal injury, wrongful death and torts

·         labor and employment, including worker’s compensation and employment discrimination and benefits

·         student discipline and residency hearings

·         special education

·         constitutional and civil rights

·         administrative review actions

·         zoning, real estate, development and land use

·         condemnation/eminent domain

·         construction disputes

·         demolition of unsafe structures and lien foreclosures

·         business disputes

·         injunctions and other equitable remedies

·         environmental

·         insurance
 
·      housing
 
·         contract disputes and fraud

·         finance

·         engineering and architectural

·         tax exemption
 
·         probate, trusts and estates, and

·         election, voting and campaign disputes.

Litigation Area Partners and Associates and Areas of Expertise

For questions regarding Trial Matters, please contact Lance C. Malina or James V. Ferolo. 

For questions regarding Appeals, please contact Lance C. Malina, Kathleen T. Henn or James W. Fessler.