Corboy & Demetrio

OUR FIRM

Our History

Corboy & Demetrio, co-founded by nationally acclaimed personal injury trial attorneys Philip H. Corboy and Thomas A. Demetrio, is one of the nation's leading plaintiff personal injury and civil trial practice law firms.

We represent individuals and their families in personal injury and wrongful death cases resulting from aviation tragedies, construction negligence, railroad and motor vehicle negligence, medical negligence, product liability, premises liability and construction accidents. Our work also includes business and commercial litigation.

We are extremely proud of our extraordinary history. We have acquired more than $3 billion in settlements and verdicts and have attained nearly 600 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million on behalf of our clients.

We are even more excited about our future. Our highly successful, talented, experienced, and creative trial attorneys, our dedicated, bright, supportive and hard-working management team and staff, and our state of the art technology ensure that our clients will continue to receive the best legal services possible.

There are many law firms practicing personal injury law. What sets us apart from the rest?

Our success.
Our history.
Our experience.
Our attorneys.
Our staff.
Our technology.
Our unwavering commitment, dedication, compassion and relentless drive to acquire fair and full compensation for our clients.

Throughout our history, we have fought against some of the largest and most powerful corporations, hospitals, manufacturers, insurance conglomerates, construction companies, national trucking firms and municipalities in the world.

They include Johnson & Johnson, American Airlines, Hyatt Corporation, Amoco Oil, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the University of Chicago Hospitals, State Farm, Allstate, Turner Construction and Schneider National Trucking. And we have been successful in holding them accountable for the injuries and deaths that have occurred because of their actions.

Our firm has secured recording-setting verdicts and settlements against these and other defendants in all types of cases, including: airplane crashes; work place injuries; defective products; birth injuries; car crashes; medical malpractice; and railroad accidents.

In one such record-setting case, a $25.2 million settlement for the death of a passenger in the US Air jet crash outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the largest compensatory damages recovery ever awarded for the death of a person in an aviation wrongful death action. The previous record - a $25 million settlement in a case stemming from the 1989 crash of a United Airlines jet in Sioux City, Iowa - was one also set by our firm.

Our attorneys tried a case on behalf of a 25 year-old who was rendered a quadriplegic after a semi-trailer truck struck her car on Thanksgiving morning that resulted in a $22 million verdict that became the largest jury award ever upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court. We also acquired a total of $40 million for a woman injured in a car collision and her husband: $34 million for the woman and $6 million for her husband for the loss of his wife's companionship. Both awards were record-setting.

In a case where a mother died shortly after giving birth because the doctor and nurse failed to properly treat her high blood pressure, Corboy & Demetrio attorneys secured a record-setting jury verdict of $22 million. It is the largest verdict ever for the death of a woman in Cook County, Illinois.

In addition to our extraordinary success on behalf of our clients, our work has affected public policy, raised public awareness, and improved public safety.

When the country was fearful of taking any over the counter medicine because of the tampering with Tylenol, our firm negotiated a settlement on the eve of trial with Johnson & Johnson, the product's manufacturer, that led to regulations requiring tamper-resistant packaging on all over-the-counter medicines.

The attorneys at Corboy & Demetrio prosecuted two separate cases where innocent drivers were seriously injured at the same dangerous intersection. As a result of the substantial awards - over $30 million - and the public outcry that resulted from the horrible injuries needlessly suffered, the State of Illinois completely reconfigured the intersection and the adjoining roads to prevent further injuries to innocent victims.

Using a cell phone while driving is a very dangerous practice. After our firm was hired to represent a street crossing guard who was injured when a motorist hit her while talking on a cell phone, the attorneys handling the case became actively involved in persuading the Chicago City Council to enact a ban on using a cell phone while driving. Chicago was one of the first major municipalities to enact the ban.

Our attorneys are a truly exceptional group of lawyers.

Thirteen have been chosen by peer review for inclusion in the Leading Lawyers Network, which recognizes the top five percent of all Illinois lawyers. In addition, all the partners have been recognized as "Super Lawyers," an honor given to only the very best lawyers by other Illinois attorneys. Two of our youngest attorneys have been selected as "Rising Stars," the state's top up-and-coming attorneys. Corboy & Demetrio is the only Chicago law firm to include four former Chicago Bar Association Presidents. They are: Philip H. Corboy, Thomas A. Demetrio, Rene A. Torrado and Michael K. Demetrio. It is also the only law firm to have four attorneys serve as President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, namely Philip H. Corboy, Thomas A. Demetrio, Robert J. Bingle and Philip Harnett Corboy, Jr.

Attorneys at Corboy & Demetrio lecture across the country on civil litigation issues and trial techniques and have held national, state, and local legal leadership positions. They actively participate in continuing legal education programs and regularly share trial skills and knowledge of substantive law with audiences of lawyers, law students, professional associations and medical groups. Our lawyers are also frequent authors of scholarly, editorial and legal articles in law journals, bar publications, continuing legal education manuals, medical or trade group journals and local and national newspapers.

In addition to being renowned for our achievements in the courtroom, we are also renowned for our contributions to the community. We have established and funded scholarships, fellowships and endowments at local and national mentoring programs, high schools, and universities, including all six Chicago law schools. Our partners, associates and office staff contribute by serving on Boards, raising funds, tutoring and lending a hand wherever needed for a variety of charities and nonprofit organizations.

Currently, Philip Harnett Corboy, Jr., serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, a not-for-profit agency that provides free civil legal services to low income and elderly people in Chicago and suburban Cook County. We also support Cristo Rey Jesuit High School's internship program by employing four students, and in 2006, the firm established a pro bono department, which helps the indigent and elderly with legal matters that affect their day-to-day quality of life.

For further information about us, please read:

Our Community

In addition to being renowned for our achievements in the courtroom, we are also renowned for - and proud of - our philanthropic contributions to the community, which have been recognized by a number of organizations.

The firm actively promotes and contributes to charities and nonprofit organizations. It has also established and funded scholarships, fellowships and endowments at local and national mentoring programs, high schools, and universities, including all six Chicago law schools. Our partners, associates and staff "give back" by serving on Boards, raising funds, tutoring, and lending a hand wherever needed for a variety of charities and nonprofit organizations, including Misericordia, Center for Disability and Elder Law, Access Living, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, and Catholic Charities. In 2006, we established a pro bono department, which helps the indigent and elderly with legal matters that affect their day-to-day quality of life.

Honors & Awards

www.lawgarcia.com Corboy & Demetrio http://www.corboydemetrio.com/ is nationally recognized as a leading personal injury law firms. Our personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys have received many awards and honors for their legal work, professional accomplishments and charitable contributions. Our firm is ranked the #1 personal injury and medical malpractice litigation law firm in Chicago and Illinois, has consistently secured the top, highest yearly settlements in Illinois, and has received recognition for many outstanding accomplishments and achievements.

Ranked #1 for the highest yearly settlements in Cook County, Illinois by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 8 out of 16 years, leading all other firms
Ranked #1 in Illinois in Personal Injury Litigation by Best Lawyers®
Ranked #1 in Chicago in Medical Malpractice Law by Best Lawyers®
Ranked #1 in Chicago in Personal Injury Litigation by Best Lawyers®
Has more listed lawyers in Best Lawyers in the field of Personal Injury Litigation than any other firm in Chicago
Only Chicago law firm to have four former Chicago Bar Association Presidents
Only Chicago law firm to have four attorneys serve as President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
All partners are members of the Leading Lawyers Network, which recognizes only the top 5% of all Illinois Lawyers
All partners are recognized as "Super Lawyers"
All partners have earned an AV Rating - the highest possible - from Martindale- Hubbell Law Directory
Continuing Legal Education Center at the Center for Disability & Elder Law named "Corboy & Demetrio Continuing Legal Education Center"
Named a Chicago Bar Foundation Leadership Circle Charter Member

The following Corboy & Demetrio attorneys have received individual honors and awards for their legal work, accomplishments and contributions:

Technology

Corboy & Demetrio is proud of the advancements it has made and continues to make in the technology arena. Our Information Technology department has over 40 years combined experience and delivers a variety of technological solutions to our attorneys and staff in order to enhance and complement their work. Providing advanced technological methods that allows them to concentrate on our clients' needs and expectations is the goal of the dedicated staff of the IT department.

Scanning and coding all documents and files from the mail room to filing promotes productivity and efficiency for all of us at C&D at any time of the day or night. In addition, we have made substantial investments in other areas of technology in order to be a "cut above," ensuring our firm continues to provide full and fair compensation to all our clients. Following is but a few of those investments:

State-of-the-Art computer equipment, featuring reliable, robust servers with unfailing back-up systems;
Special video-conferencing equipment;
Ability to share documents and research at the push of a button;
Advancing towards a paperless library system;

Utilizing a variety of current software programs to assist the attorneys in their practices including ProLaw, Summation, PowerPoint, Sanction, 3d Software, Medical Illustrator, Dazzle Video Creator, Trial Director, Trial Pro, Video Creator, and Smart-Draw for medical time-lines, as well as a host of others;

Technologically trained attorneys and staff who utilize the most current telecommunications systems available to stay connected at all times and at any given place.

Memberships

Our attorneys and staff are members of many prestigious and influential legal, charitable and community associations and organizations, many of which are listed below:

Bar Associations

American Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
District of Columbia Bar Association
DuPage County Bar Association
Federal Trial Bar Association
Fenwick Bar Association
Florida Bar Association
Illinois State Association
Seventh Federal Circuit Bar Association
Women's Bar Association of Illinois

Foundations

Chicago Bar Foundation
Illinois Bar Foundation
Illinois Law Foundation
American Bar Foundation
Leonard Ring Legal Foundation

Legal Organizations

American Arbitration Association
American Association for Justice, formerly known as Association of Trial Lawyers of America
American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
American Board of Trial Advocates
American College of Trial Lawyers
American Judicature Society
American Trial Lawyers Association
Best Lawyers in America
Center for Conflict Resolution
Chicago Inn of Court
Dispute Resolution Research Center Advisory Committee
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Illinois Super Lawyers
Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness
Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instruction in Civil Cases
Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Inner Circle of Advocates
International Academy of Trial Lawyers
International Society of Barristers
Judge Advocates General's Corp
Lawdragon Top 500 Leading Lawyers in America
Leading Lawyers Network Advisory Board
Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
Metropolitan Family Services Legal Aid Bureau
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
Notre Dame Law Association
St. Clements Legal Aid Clinic
The Lawyers Club of Chicago
The Society of Trial Lawyers
Trial Lawyers Club of Chicago
Trial Lawyers for Public Justice

Charitable and Civic Organizations

American Cancer Society
American Youth Soccer Association
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago
Big Shoulders Fund, Archdiocese of Chicago
Boston College Parents' Leadership Council
Cancer Care
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Chicago
Center for Disability and Elder Law
Coordinated Advice & Referral Program for Legal Services
DePaul University College of Law Alumni Board
DePaul University College of Law Capital Development Committee
DePaul University College of Law Dean's Advisory Council
Fenwick High School Board of Trustees
Forbeck Pediatric Cancer Foundation
Golden Lamp Society of Rush University School of Nursing
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law Board of Overseers
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law President's Council
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law Alumni Board of Directors
Illinois Handgun Committee on Violence
Illinois Public Action Council
Irish Fellowship Club
Kids in Danger
Knights of Columbus
Legal Aid Society of Chicago / Metropolitan Family Services
Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth Program
Les Turner ALS Foundation
Loyola Academy Scholarship Endowment Committee
Loyola University Chicago School of Law Board of Governors
Loyola University Chicago School of Law Circle of Advocates
Loyola University Chicago School of Law Presidents' Society
Mercy Home for Boys and Girls Leader Council
Metropolitan Family Services
Misericordia Home
Mundelein College Alumni Association
National Organization for Women
President's Club of DePaul University
Sacred Heart School Board
Sequin Foundation
St. Clement Dad's Association
St. Joseph Seminary Rerum Novarum Committee
St. Vincent DePaul Society
The Institute of Medicine of Chicago
University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Alumni Leadership Committee
University of Notre Dame President's Circle
U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society
Vatican Restoration Committee
WilPower
Who's Who in America
Women Everywhere - Partners in Service Project, Inc.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Corboy & Demetrio is a premier national plaintiffs' trial law firm with over 50 years of experience and success. We have represented thousands of victims and their families in personal injury and wrongful death cases, and individuals and businesses in commercial litigation.

Our one and only focus is our clients. Their rights and concerns are at the core of our practice. The firm's commitment, dedication, compassion and relentless drive on behalf of our clients has resulted in exceptional service and exceptional results. We have acquired over $3 billion in settlements and verdicts and have attained more than 500 settlements and verdicts in excess of $1 million for our clients.

If you have any questions about the types of cases we handle, please don't hesitate to call or contact us.

Our practice areas include:

LAWYERS

LOCATION

Contact Us

We are located in the heart of downtown Chicago at
33 North Dearborn Street on the 21st Floor.

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Corboy & Demetrio

OUR FIRM

AREAS OF PRACTICE

LAWYERS

LOCATION

Lawdragon Inc.