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After years of litigation and a five-day jury trial in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Chartwell attorneys Adam Konopka and John Bickley secured a strong defense verdict on behalf of their client, a national trucking company.
The case involved admitted liability, with causation and damages as the sole issues for the jury’s consideration. Plaintiffs sought a total award of $1.75 million for two individuals, supported by a life expectancy instruction and verdict lines for past and future pain and suffering, loss of normal life, and future medical expenses—including a claimed surgical procedure estimated at $250,000.
At trial, the defense focused on the absence of medical and factual causation, urging the jury to separate sympathy from evidence and carefully evaluate which injuries, if any, were actually attributable to the accident. The jury deliberated with detailed damages instructions and ultimately returned a complete defense verdict for Plaintiff One and a $75,000 verdict for Plaintiff Two.
Throughout trial preparation and the proceedings themselves, the team received meaningful support from Chartwell’s Chicago office liaisons and the firm’s trucking practice liaisons, who were actively engaged behind the scenes, checking in regularly and offering guidance during openings and key trial moments. Their collaboration exemplified the firm’s nationwide, team-based approach to litigation.
