Christopher T. Hurley
Managing PartnerDownload VCard
Phone: (312) 553-4900
Fax: (312) 553-0964
33 N. Dearborn St., Suite 1430
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Mr. Hurley is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. The College, founded in 1950, is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the College is offered by invitation only and only after careful investigation. Fellowship is only offered to those lawyers with a minimum of 15 years trial experience and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism and civility. Membership in the College is limited to 1% of the practicing lawyers in any state or province.
Mr. Hurley also is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Membership in the Academy is limited to 500 Fellows under the age of 70 from the United States. The standards for admission are high and the nominating process is very extensive and thorough. Outstanding skills and extensive experience as a trial lawyer, unimpeachable personal and professional character, integrity and honesty are required of every nominee. Based on peer recommendations and statewide surveys, Mr. Hurley also was selected as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois. Most recently, Mr. Hurley was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA), an invitation-only organization for highly experienced trial lawyers who have exhibited civility, integrity and professionalism in their work.
Mr. Hurley serves as an adjunct professor of law at Northwestern University School of Law where he teaches trial practice. He is a member of the Alumni Board of Governors of Loyola University of Chicago Law School, serves on the Elder Initiative Advisory Board, and sponsors a lecture series for Loyola's law school on legal issues affecting the elderly. Mr. Hurley also is a Trustee Emeritus and member of the Alumni Board of Advisors for La Lumiere High School in La Porte, Indiana. In addition, he is a member of the Council for Winnetka Congregational Church.
Mr. Hurley and his family are active volunteers with Project Common Hope, an organization that provides assistance and support to the disadvantaged of Guatemala through education, housing, and health care.
Education
J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, IL, 1984
Alumni Board of Managers, 2005- present; Secretary 2007
B.A., Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, 1981
Honors: Dean’s List
Major: Political Science
Major: Economics
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Illinois, 1984U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1984
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1997
U. S. District Court District of Utah, 1990
U. S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1997
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
La Lumiere School
Board of Trustees, 1991 - 2003
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Board of Managers, 1996 - Present; Board of Advocates, 1994 - 1996;
American Trial Lawyers Association
Member Since: 1991 - Present
Illinois State Bar Assocation
Member Since: 1984 - Present
Chicago Bar Association
Member, 1984 - Present; Legislative Committee, 1998 - Present; Tort Law Committee, 1992 - Present; Civil Practice Committee, 1998 - Present; Committee Co-Chair, Young Lawyers Section, Tort Litigation, 2003 – Present;
Trial Lawyers Club of Chicago
Board of Managers, 1992 - Present;
Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Illinois Bar Association
American Bar Association
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Member Since: 2007
Elected to membership (invitation only organization)
Illinois Chapter of ABOTA
Member Since: 2007
Elected to membership (invitation only organization)
Published Works
Taking Control, Law Practice Management, May 2002
Representative Cases
Keef v. Widuch, 321 Ill.App.3d 571, 747 N.E.2d 992 (1st Dist. 2001).
Hernandez v. Woodbridge Nursing Home, 287 Ill.App.3d 641, 678 N.E.2d 788
Britton v. Soltes, 205 Ill.App.3d 943, 563 N.E.2d 910
Northern Trust Bank v. Carl, 200 Ill.App.3d 773, 558 N.E. 2d 451
Delgatto v. Brandon Associates, Ltd., 172 Ill.App.3d 424, 526 N.E.2d 384
Kasper v. Saint Mary of Nazareth Hosp., 135 F.3d 1170
Credo v. Zema Systems Corp., 944 F.Supp. 677
Sonnemaker v. U.S., 807 F.Supp 483
Modelski v. Navistar International trade Corporation, 302 Ill.App.3d 879, 707N.E.2d 239, 236 Il.Dec 394 (1st Dist 1999)
Johnson v. Zema Systems Inc., 170 F.3d 734 (7th Cir. 1999)
Kunz v. Little Co. of Mary Hospital, 373 Ill.App.3d 615, 869 N.E.2d 328, 311 Ill.Dec. 654 (1st Dist. 2007)
Frigo v. Silver Cross Hospital, 2007 WL 2736595 (Sept. 20, 2007)
Classes/Seminars Taught
Federal Trial Bar Practice Course, Chicago Bar Association, 1995 - 1996
Damages, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1996
Prior Similar Accidents, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1997
Wrongful Death Damages, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1998
Proof of Proximate Cause, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1994
Impact of Impact, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1995
Civility, Illinois Defense Council, 1995 - 1998
Damages — From Intake to Trial, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2002
Developing Damage Evidence, ITLA, December 2001
Effective Illinois Jury Selection, IICLE, Spring 2003
Essentials of Entering the PM&R Practice, Rush University Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, October 2002
Plaintiff's Perspective on Settlement, CBA, October 2003
Opening Statements, Chicago Bar Association, October 2006
Nursing Home Litigation, Loyola University School of Law, September 2006
Arthur and Wills, ITLA Update and Review Seminar, October 2007
Legal Testimony: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Roosevelt University Neuropsychological Society, October 2007
Presenting the Injured Plaintiff: The Most Difficult Trial Witness, ITLA, December 2007
Expert Witness Testimony, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, San Fransisco, March 2008
Verdicts and Settlements
Honors and Awards
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow since 2002
Leading Illinois Lawyer since 2003
International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow since 2006
American Board of Trial Advocates, Member since 2006