IN THE NEWS

Chicago Tribune - August 31, 2000

Naperville attorney gets national honor from legal publication

By Art Barnum - Tribune Staff Writer

There's another feather in the cap of Naperville attorney Kathleen Zellner.

The National Law Journal has put Zellner on this year's list of the top 10 lawyers in the nation who always out-prepare their opponents. Members of the exclusive club include Dan Webb, Edward Bennett Williams, Gerry Spence, Susan Getzendanner, Philip Corboy, and Thomas Demetrio.

"I feel honored to be in such company," said Zellner, who built much of her reputation on criminal appeals and now focuses on civil litigation.

The Journal details her efforts in a case in which she representated the family of a woman who committed suicide after being denied treatment by a Chicago hospital. The case ended with a multimillion-dollar award.

"Representing victims in a civil suit allows me to be more passionate about my defense than representing criminal defendants," said Zellner.

$15.5 Million
For Kevin Fox, who was falsely arrested, prosecuted and convicted in the murder of his 4 year old daughter

$13.05 Million
For a suicide after the hospital refused to admit. Highest verdict in the nation for medical malpractice suicide

$4.25 Million
Settlement against city of Chicago for two police officers who failed to respond in a timely manner

$3 Million
Settlment for 25-week premature baby boy who lost eyesight due to treatment delay

$3 Million
For brachial plexus injury that occurred at birth resulting in partial paralysis of right hand and arm

$2.43 Million
Settlement for cardiac arrest suffered by a 3-week old in the ER after wrongfully adminsitered drug

$2.2 Million
For sexual assault victim raped at the Chicago Bar Association building, the largest sexual assault verdict in Illinois at the time 

$2.0 Million
For a prisoner who lost his left eye as a result of deliberate indifference, the largest civil rights verdict for a prisoner at the time

$1.5 Million
For wrongful conviction and coerced confession of plaintiff when he was 14 years old, imprisoned for 15 years, overturned by DNA evidence

See all of our results by clicking here