Prejudgment interest, long the dream of the plaintiffs’ bar and a threat in negotiations over other civil justice issues, has been enacted. It is one of the largest changes to civil litigation in Illinois since the doomed mid-90’s tort reform and the failed attempt to force six-person juries. A panel from across the state in various practice areas will discuss the history and text of the bill that was eventually passed and the implications and tactics to address this new aspect of defending a lawsuit in Illinois.

Featured Speakers

	Kristin A. Ahmadian is a Partner with L&G Law Group, LLP in Chicago. Ms. Ahmadian practices in both the Corporate Governance & Compliance Group and the Medical Malpractice Defense Litigation Group, combining her knowledge of the two to handle issues such as Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, and HIPAA Compliance. She provides corporate guidance for private companies, banks, insurers, medical groups, hospitals, and physicians regarding compliance with the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act, the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, and HIPAA. She also represents physicians, nurses, hospitals, and insurers in complex medical malpractice litigation, including obstetrical cases involving fetal death and disabled minors.
	Donald Patrick Eckler is a partner at Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered. He practices in both Illinois and Indiana in the areas of commercial litigation, professional malpractice defense, tort defense, and insurance coverage. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and his law degree from the University of Florida. He is a member of the Illinois Association Defense Trial Counsel and the Professional Liability Defense Federation. The views expressed in his article are his, and do not reflect those of his firm or its clients.
	Danielle R. Luisi is an attorney with the law firm Husch Blackwell LLP where she focuses her practice on the defense of product liability, premises liability, toxic tort and environmental claims. She has experience defending clients in various industries against claims alleging personal injury as a result of toxic exposures. Ms. Luisi also serves as part of the national coordinating counsel and trial teams for corporations in toxic tort litigation. She is licensed in Illinois and Missouri and is a member of the Defense Research Institute, Illinois Defense Counsel, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, and Chicago Bar Association.
	Untress “Trez” Quinn is a partner and seasoned trial lawyer at Armstrong Teasdale LLP, focusing his practice on the defense of medical malpractice and other catastrophic loss lawsuits. He has defended multiple complex litigation cases in both state and federal courts involving civil rights, product liability, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims. He serves as the Diversity Committee Chair for the Illinois Association for Defense Trial Lawyers and has been recognized by Leading LawyersSM, National Black Lawyers Top 100, and received the NAACP’s 54th Freedom Fund Awards for Excellence in Law.

Continuing Legal Education Credit

This course has been approved for 1.0 hours of Illinois general CLE credit.

Registration Information

Registration is $30 for IDC members.