Sean concentrates his practice in defending product liability, construction negligence and other tort cases involving wrongful death and serious personal injury. During his thirty years of practice, Sean has had the privilege of representing utilities, industrial plant operators, petroleum refiners, gas liquids producers, manufacturers, railroads and similar companies where a hard hat is a required accessory, even for the senior business leaders.

Sean has extensive experience defending catastrophic fire and explosion cases involving multiple defendants, complex issues of causation, liability and insurance coverage, and the potential for extreme jury verdicts. He regularly appears in federal and state courts throughout the country on behalf of clients facing the worst case scenarios.

Sean provides his clients the bedrock skills needed to protect their rights at trial and on appeal — writing clearly, arguing forcefully, and making complicated issues easy to understand. He offers the judgment necessary to navigate the often twisting path to successful defense of major multi-defendant cases.

Sean respects the trust his clients place in him, and welcomes the responsibility of being their advocate. He has handled many sophisticated business lawsuits, but his greatest satisfaction comes from those catastrophic cases where emotion and sympathy make it most difficult for a company to receive a fair trial. It is those cases, where the challenges are the most daunting, that offer the greatest reward.

Sean is a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Defense Research Institute, the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the Propane Gas Defense Association, and has been a frequent speaker on litigation topics to both legal and industry groups. Sean has been named a Leading Lawyer in Illinois from 2019 through 2022, an honor earned by less than 5% of Illinois attorneys.

EDUCATION

University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., with honors, 1985
Eastern Illinois University, B.A. with honors, 1982

BAR ADMISSIONS

Illinois, 1985

COURT MEMBERSHIPS

U.S. Supreme Court
Illinois Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Member, Trial Bar)
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

PRESENTATIONS/PUBLICATIONS

Forensic Chemistry at Trial: Refuting Claims of Diesel Fuel Contamination at a Complex Industrial Site, 21st Annual Railroad Environmental Conference, Champaign, IL, 2019
Who’s In Control? Why the Defense Bar Should Challenge the IPI Instructions on Construction Negligence, IDC Quarterly
Recent Trends in the Implied Duty of Good Faith, Commercial Lending Review
Can You Prove It? Why and how to document your good deeds, Propane Gas Defense Association
Preparing Accounting Expert Testimony, Illinois CPA Society & Foundation
Understanding the Illinois Credit Agreements Act, Illinois Bankers Association
Lender Liability Litigation – American Style. Can it happen in Canada?, Ontario Chapter/Canadian Bar Association
The Enforceability of Guarantees – Are they worth the paper they’re written on?, Turnaround Management Group

REPORTED DECISIONS

Baldi v. Samuel Son & Company, Ltd., 548 F.3d 579 (7th Cir. 2008)
Marseilles Hydro Power, LLC v. Marsailles Land and Water Company, 518 F.3d 459 (7th Cir. 2008)
Cacia v. Norfolk & Western Railway Company, 290 F.3d 914 (7th Cir. 2002)
Hitachi Credit America Corporation v. Signet Bank, 166 F.3d 614 (4th Cir. 1999)
Beck v. Deloitte & Touche, 144 F3d. 732 (11th Cir. 1998)
Resolution Trust Corporation v. Gallagher, 10 F.3d 416 (7th Cir. 1993)
Mid-Continent Wood Products v. Harris, 936 F.2d 297 (7th Cir. 1991)
Wedgewood Investment Fund, Ltd. v. Wedgewood Realty Group, Ltd., 878 F.2d 693 (3d Cir. 1989)
Logan & Kanawha Coal Company, Inc. v. Banque Francaise Du Commercie Exterieur, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14197 (S.D.N.Y. 1996)
Baxt v. Liloia, 656 A.2d 835 (N.J. App. 1995) and 714 A.2d 271 (N.J. 1998)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
Propane Gas Defense Association (Board of Directors)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Chicago Challenge (Board of Directors, 1997-2000)
Youth Soccer Coach