Dan has tried and won more railroad cases than any other defense attorney in the Chicago area. He has represented railroads, real estate companies, manufacturers, and other target defendants in civil litigation in federal and state courts on both a regional and national level for over 30 years. He founded Mohan Groble Scolaro in 1995 on the principle that attorneys should represent clients’ businesses as rigorously and efficiently as if they were representing their own.

Dan spent the first ten years of his career with a Fortune 500 railroad company as a trial attorney, where he earned an exceptional record of jury verdict wins, He then worked in an executive role, where he gained special insight and empathy for the challenges facing business management. Dan serves as national and regional counsel for publicly traded companies, as outside general counsel for privately held businesses and in leadership roles of national industry associations. He served as President of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC) in 2017 & 2018, and has taught at, and helped run, a national trial college for over a decade.

Dan frequently instructs other attorneys and risk management personnel in investigation, litigation and trial practice strategies at national industry and association seminars and at client specific events. He is licensed to practice law in four Midwestern states and handles and tries cases nationally. Dan has been named a Leading Lawyer from 2019 through 2022 for the state of Illinois, an honor earned by fewer than 5% of Illinois attorneys.

EDUCATION

Loyola University School of Law, J.D., 1984
University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1981

BAR ADMISSIONS

Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Wisconsin

COURT MEMBERSHIPS

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Member, Trial Bar)
U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

TEACHING / PRESENTATIONS / PUBLICATIONS / HONORS

Effectively and Ethically Preparing Witnesses for Testimony, NARTC Annual Meeting, (Denver 2019)
Venue, Jurisdiction and Forum Considerations When Investigating Claims. AAR General Claims Conference, (Denver 2019)
Biometric Liability – The Next Big Litigation Trend, NARTC Special Litigation Conference, (Aspen 2019)
Litigating FRSA Cases, NARTC Fall Meeting, (New Orleans 2018)
President – National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC) – 2017-2018
Author – The Good Company Defense – Railroad Litigator’s Notebook
Instructor – National College of Trial Advocacy – NARTC (Dallas 2008-2018)
Tried and won first Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA Whistleblower) case in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago 2016; affirmed on appeal, 2018)
Accident Investigations from a Trial Lawyer’s Perspective – BNSF Triennial Law/Claims Meeting (Chicago 2016)
Legal Ethics Lessons from Popular Culture – NARTC Seminar (San Diego 2015)
How to Try a Railroad Handbrake Case- NARTC Seminar (Phoenix, 2015)
FELA and Common Law with Cross Claims – Pattern Jury Instructions – NARTC Seminar (New Orleans 2014)
Untangling the Chaos of Mixed Standards Jury Instructions – NARTC Seminar (2011)
Federal and State Regulations as a Basis of Strict Liability Under the FELA – NARTC Seminar (2011)
Effective Litigation Strategies – Inland Real Estate Corporation Property Managers Training Seminar (Chicago 2009)
FELA Strict Liability for Violation of State Railroad Safety Laws – NARTC Seminar (2009)
Effective Motions in Limine – NARTC Seminar (Colorado Springs 2008)
FELA Cases in Crossing Accidents – Short Line & Regional Railroad Association Seminar (Kansas City 2008)
Section 53 and Section 54 of the FELA/Recent Case Involving a State Safety Statute – NARTC Seminar (2008)
Safety Statutes Under the FELA – AAR Midwest Claims Conference (Chicago 2008)
Electronic Discovery – Canadian Pacific Law/Claims Seminar (Minnesota 2007)
FELA Nuts & Bolts – METRA Commuter Rail Claims Department Training Session (Chicago 2007)
The Absolute Pollution Insurance Exclusion – NARTC Seminar (2007)
Sanctions Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedures 37(c) – NARTC Seminar (2006)
Evidence Collection and Preservation – AAR Midwest Claims Conference (Chicago 2006)
Federal Rules and Ethics – Union Pacific Railroad Law/Claims Seminar (Wisconsin 2006)
Insurance Coverage and the Absolute Pollution Exclusion – Short Line & Regional Railroad Association Seminar (Denver 2006)
Presenting Medical Evidence in Personal Injury Cases – Canadian Pacific Law/Claims Conference (Minnesota 2006)
Asbestos Litigation Defenses – AAR National Claims Conference (Maine 2005)
Third Party FELA Practice – NARTC Seminar (2002)
Making the Most of Your Railroad’s Rehabilitation Efforts – NARTC Seminar (2002)
Federal Preemptions in Community Relations Cases – NARTC Seminar (2000)
Pain or Addiction: The Abuse of Prescription Narcotics in Injury Cases – NARTC Seminar (1998)
Transportation Companies’ Disputes with Shipping Customers – NARTC Seminar (1996)
Attacking Opponent Witness’ Credibility (1993)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Founder and Co-Chairman with Michelle Obama: Comer Kids Classic 5K Run/Walk (now Race for the Kids) Fundraiser benefitting University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital
Chairman – Family Advisory Board – University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital
Runner – Boston Marathon Fundraiser for Childhood Cancer Research