Practice / Specifications:
Complex Civil Litigation

Biography:

John M. Stalmack has extensive experience in civil litigation and trial work and has been obtaining outstanding results for over 35 years.  He has tried over 75 complex cases to verdict throughout Illinois and the country in the areas of medical malpractice, products liability, premises liability, governmental liability, trucking negligence and toxic torts.  He has had additional concentration in the area of the Structural Work Act and large property damage losses.  He frequently lectures and writes in the field of medical malpractice as well as trial evidence.  Recently, John has gone to verdict in a case involving allegations of exposure to lead poisoning in paint and in a case involving exposure to polyurethane in a floor sealant.  John has deposed and cross-examined hundreds of retained expert witnesses at trial including engineers, physicians, accountants, scientific experts, reconstruction experts and economic experts.

In January of 2003, John was named by the Chicago Lawyer as one of Chicago’s Top 20 Defense Lawyers.  John has been consistently named by Chicago magazine as an Illinois Super Lawyer from 2005 to 2010.  He has also been consistently named to the Leading Lawyers Network from 2004 to 2010.  John is also a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and an Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates.  From 2000 to 2001, he was President of the Illinois Society of Trial Lawyers.  He has written 20 major articles for publication in the areas of evidence, trial practice, and medical negligence.  He has also been a frequent lecturer for the CBA, ISBA, and IICLE.

John graduated from Coe College in 1971 with a B.A. cum laude.  In 1974, John graduated from Loyola University Law School, where he was Editor on the Law Review, with a J.D.  From 1974 until 1976, John was with the United States Department of Justice and was hired under the United States Attorney General’s Program for Honor Law Graduates.  In 1975, he received his L.L.M. from the George Washington University National Law Center.

Some noteworthy verdicts and excellent results that he has obtained in complex civil cases over the years include:

Estate of Floyd Hornback v. River Valley Coatings, Inc. – State Court, Geneva, Illinois.  Plaintiff worked in a manufacturing plant where significant painting occurred.  Plaintiff’s Estate alleged that decedent, Floyd Hornback, contracted leukemia and died as a result of that disease because he was exposed to Benzene contained in the paints and solvents supplied by the defendant to the decedent’s employer.  Mr. Stalmack obtained a defense verdict in favor of the defendant, River Valley Coatings, Inc.

Estate of Carl Longnecker v. Sirish Parvathaneni, M.D. - State Court, Chicago, Illinois.  Plaintiff underwent a heart transplant surgery and never regained consciousness after surgery and died three days later on June 15, 2001.  Plaintiff was a retired Engineer who was survived by a wife and three adult children.  Mr. Stalmack obtained a defense verdict in favor of the heart transplant surgeon, Dr. Sirish Parvathaneni.

Willie Mayberry, Jr., a minor v. Chicago Housing Authority – State Court, Chicago, Illinois.  The plaintiff, who was three years old at the time, ate paint chips, which allegedly contained lead, from a building owned by the Chicago Housing Authority that resulted in severe mental retardation.  Mr. Stalmack obtained a defense verdict in favor of the Chicago Housing Authority.

Estate of Eleodora Bruno v. Nam S. Huh, M.D. – State Court, Chicago, Illinois.  The patient underwent a sigmoid colon resection with an anastamosis and adhesiolysis to relieve her severe diverticulosis, colonic stricture, and partial large bowel obstruction.  Several days later, the plaintiff developed a fungal blood infection that resulted in her death.  Mr. Stalmack obtained a defense verdict on behalf of Dr. Nam S. Huh.

Norma J. O’Connor v. John A. Larocco and Arlington Trucking Company – State Court, Chicago, Illinois.  The car driven by Norma J. O’Connor was rear-ended by a semi truck driven by defendant, John A. Larocco.  The plaintiff alleged that she had severe traumatic epilepsy resulting from the rear-end collision.  The plaintiff asked the jury to return a verdict in excess of $500,000.  Mr. Stalmack was able to obtain a favorable verdict of $3,000 that was reduced after a 30% reduction from $5,000.

Estate of Robert Williams v. Venkata Vedam, M.D. – State Court, Chicago, Illinois.  The plaintiff alleged that an IV infusion of the antifungal medication, Amphotericin B, caused a septicemia that ultimately resulted in decedent’s death.  Mr. Stalmack obtained a defense verdict for the defendant, Dr. Venkata Vedam.

Robert Schultz v. Norton Company – State Court, Chicago, Illinois.  The plaintiff lost his right dominant hand while operating a grinding machine made by the defendant.  Mr. Stalmack was able to obtain a defense verdict on behalf of the defendant, Norton Company.

Maureen V. Mandell v. Robert A. LaPata, M.D. – State Court, Chicago, Illinois.  The plaintiff alleged that failure to diagnose gestational diabetes and cephalopelvic disproportion led to a delivered child having severe wing scapular with a droop shoulder and Erb’s palsy.  Mr. Stalmack obtained a defense verdict for Dr. Robert A. LaPata.

Standard Brands v. Spencer Kellogg Company – State Court, Chicago, Illinois.  Plaintiff stored 39,280 cases of Baby Ruth and Butterfinger candy bars at a warehouse in which defendant’s concrete floor sealant was applied.  The entire 39,280 cases of Baby Ruth and Butterfinger candy bars were destroyed.  Mr. Stalmack obtained a favorable verdict on behalf of the Spencer Kellogg Company. 

Estate of Victoria Garcia v. Jafar Shah-Mirany, M.D. – State Court, Chicago, Illinois.  The plaintiff decedent, a 37-year-old mother of three daughters, had a mitral valve replacement and died during surgery while her mitral valve was being replaced.  Mr. Stalmack obtained a defense verdict on behalf of Dr. Jafar Shah-Mirany. 

Estate of Walter Fisher v. Fred Slager, M.D. – State Court, Chicago, Illinois.  Plaintiff was a 56-year-old Clinical Psychologist who was director of the Madden Center for the State of Illinois.  During a craniotomy he developed an abscess and thereafter died.  Mr. Stalmack obtained a defense verdict for the defendant, Dr. Fred Slager.

Professional Affiliations:
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers;
Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates;
Member of the Society of Trial Lawyers;
Member of The Abraham Lincoln Marovitz American Inn of Court;
Member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Club;
Member of the American Bar Association
Member of the Illinois State Bar Association;
Member of the Chicago Bar Association;
Member of the Defense Research Institute; and
Member of the Illinois Defense Counsel.

Chicago Lawyer's Top 20 Tort Defense Lawyers, Chicago Lawyer, January 2003;

Leading Lawyers Network, 2004-2010 (distinction earned by fewer than 5% of all lawyers licensed in the State of Illinois);

Illinois Super Lawyers, Chicago magazine and Illinois Super Lawyers magazine, May 2005-2010 (only 5% of the Illinois Bar is given this honor).

Education:
L.L.M, George Washington University (1976)
J.D., Loyola University of Chicago (1974)
(Editor on the Law Review)
B.A., cum laude, Coe College (1971)

Admissions:
Supreme Court of Illinois;
District of Columbia;
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar);
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan;
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit;
United States Supreme Court;

Publications:
1968 Anti Riot Statute Upheld in United States v. Dellinger, Vol. 4, Loyola University of Chicago Law Journal, 579 (1973);

Prior Inconsistent Statements: Congress Takes a Compromising Step Backward in Enacting Rule 801(d) (1) (A), Vol. 8, Loyola University of Chicago Law Journal, 251 (1977);

The Illinois Landlord's Obligation to Protect Persons on His Premises Against the Criminal Activities of Third Persons, Vol. 68, Illinois Bar Journal, 668 (1980);

Wilson v. Clark and its Progeny; The Application of Federal Rules 703 and 705 in Illinois, 67 Chicago Bar Record, 4 (1985);

Medical Records as Evidence in Illinois Courts, Vol. 77, Illinois Bar Journal, 484 (1989);

The Proffer, Procedure and Practice of Demonstrative and Real Evidence, Vol. 3, No. 12, Shepards Illinois Tort Reporter, 386 (1993);

The Scope and Substance of Medical Expert Cross-Examination, Vol. 86, Illinois Bar Journal, 581 (1998);

Texts Should Have Vital Role In Litigation, Vol. 147, No. 206, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 6 (Friday, October 19, 2001);

Subsequent Remedial Measure - An Update, Vol. 39, No. 4, Tort Trends, 1 (April, 2004);

Opening Statement, Vol. 50, No. 1, Trial Briefs, 2 (October, 2004);

Opening Statement, Civil Litigation: Update and Overview of Civil Practice and Procedure, Illinois State Bar Association (April, 2005);

State of Mind, Vol. 51, No. 1, Trial Briefs, 1 (September, 2005);

Cross-examination of a medical expert witness regarding the expert’s personal opinion or personal practice, Vol. 43, No. 1, Tort Trends, 1 (July, 2007);

Admissions (Evidentiary), Vol. 53, No. 1, Trial Briefs, 1 (July, 2007);

Admissions (Judicial), Vol. 53, No. 2, Trial Briefs, 1 (August, 2007);

Veracity, Vol. 54, No. 1, Trial Briefs, 1 (July, 2008);

It Is a Mistake to Admit a Mistake, Vol. 6, Issue 8, Chicago Hospital News, 7 (October, 2008);

Your Record – Your Rock, Vol. 6, Issue 9, Chicago Hospital News, 3 (November, 2008).

An Active Involvement, Vol. 6, Issue 12, Chicago Hospital News, 2 (March, 2009).

The Right to Submit Questions to Witnesses, Vol. 23, No. 4, Chicago Bar Association Record, 36 (May, 2009).

The Admissibility of Other Acts or Occurrences, Vol. 45, No. 1, Tort Trends, 1 (September, 2009).

Jurors Should Have the Right to Submit Questions to be Answered by Witnesses, Vol. 16, Issue 2, Voir Dire, 24 (Summer, 2009).

Consent Form Protection From Independent Contractors, Vol. 7, Issue 8, Chicago Hospital News, 5 (November, 2009).

Financial Motive Admissible on the Issue of Standard of Care, Vol. 8, Issue 1, Chicago Hospital News, 4 (April, 2010).

Other Interests:
Editor, Loyola University Law Journal, 1973-1974

Hired by U.S. Department of  Justice under Attorney General's Program for Honor Law Graduates, 1974-1976.