“A friend of mine who’s a defense attorney said to me, ‘I told the guy in my office who you have that case against, just give Phillips what he wants because he’s not going to let go. He’s going to drag you back to court until he gets it, so you might as well just give it to him.’”

In a statewide survey of lawyers, Steve was voted in the top 100 Consumer Lawyers in the State of Illinois. In another statewide survey of lawyers he was voted as one of the “Leading Personal Injury Lawyers in Illinois”. He was voted a “Superlawyer” by his peers in yet another statewide survey of lawyers. He has been recognized in Chicago Lawyers Magazine as resolving the most million dollar plus cases than any other lawyer in Illinois in a year.

Avvo.com, an independent rating service of all United States attorneys, has recently rated Stephen D. Phillips the top Personal Injury Attorney in Illinois with a rating of 10.0 of 10.0, Superb. Mr. Phillips was also ranked by Avvo.com as highest rated Medical Malpractice, Brain Injury Lawyer, Birth Injury Lawyer , Trucking Accident Lawyer  and Wrong Death Lawyer in Illinois.

Steve has also been recognized in International Who’s Who of Professionals, and is a member of the prestigious Society of Trial Lawyers. Steve is an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law School Chicago, where he teaches Civil Procedure Prior to Trial. He serves on the Scholarship Committee of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, and he has received the highest possible ratings for legal ability and ethics from Martindale-Hubbell.

He has served consecutive terms on the executive committee of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, where he also co-chairs the Medical Negligence Committee and the Publications Committee.

He has been elected governor for the Illinois State Bar Association and has served in the State Bar assembly for three (3) terms.

When asked what it was like to follow in his father’s footsteps Steve replies, “I had big shoes to fill when I was a young lawyer straight out of law school. So I was always prepared, I always knew the law. I never took shortcuts ever, ever, ever.” Steve began to establish himself right out of school, turning seemingly dead cases into surprising wins through his persistence and dedication. He has maintained his no holds barred work ethic throughout his more than 22 years of law practice.

Steve is also a well-respected author and speaker on Personal Injury issues.

If you ask Steve how many years he’s been practicing law, he may answer, “Twenty-two going on sixty.” If he could do anything else for a living, he would probably work in the boating industry or as a fishing guide. But he would still represent a handful of clients every year.

CURRICULUM VITAE

UNDERGRADUATE: University of Iowa Bachelor of Arts 1981
LAW SCHOOL AND YEAR: Loyola University - Juris Doctor 1985
LICENSURE: Illinois 1985
ADMITTED: Northern District of Illinois, United States District Court 1985
PRINCIPAL AREAS OF PRACTICE: Personal Injury, Tort Law, Catastrophic Injury,  and Wrongful Death.
Emphasis: Automobile and Truck Accidents, Construction Liability, Medical Malpractice, Aviation, Products Liability.

BAR ASSOCIATIONS
ILLINOIS STATE BAR ASSOCIATION:

1985 to 1987 Member
1993 to ____ Member
1995 to 1996 Board Liaison - Young Lawyers Division
1995 to 1997 Board Liaison - South Suburban Bar Association
1995 to 1997 Board Liaison - Justinian Society of Lawyers
1995 to 1997 Board Liaison - Admiralty & Maritime Section
1996 to 1997 Board Liaison - Arab American Bar Association
1996 to 1997 Board Liaison - Justinian Society of Du Page County
1996 to 1997 Board Liaison - Tort Law Section Council
1996 to 1997 Member - Ad Hoc Committee for Judicial Advisory Polls
1995 to 1997 Assembly member
1995 to 1997 Elected Governor (Cook County under Age 37)
1996 to 1997 Member - Standing Committee on ISBA Properties
1997 to 1998 Member – Standing Committee on Legislation
1999 to 2004 Assembly Member

Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
1984 to 1996 Member
1991 to ____ Chairman - Expert Testimony Exchange
1992 to 1994 Sustaining Member
1993 to ____ Elected Manager - Board of Managers
1993 to ____ Member - Medical Negligence Committee
1994 to 2003 Co-Chairman - Publications Committee
1994 to ____ Contributing Member
1995 to 1996 Parliamentarian
1996 to 1997 Treasurer
1996 to 1997 Member - Special Advisory Committee to the Constitutional
Challenge Committee
1996 to ____ Member - Legislative Committee
1997 to 1998 Executive Committee
1998 to____ Editorial Board—ITLA Journal
1999 to 2000 Treasurer
2000 Nominating Committee for ITLA Officers
2002 to 2004 Executive Committee
2003 - 2009 Co-Chairman Medical Negligence Committee
2004 – 2009 Co-Chairman Publications Committee

American Trial Lawyers Association
Member since 1985
Member Birth Trauma Litigation Group

American Bar Association
Member 1985 – 1997

OTHER ASSOCIATIONS AND HONORS:
Fellow - Illinois Bar Foundation
Justinian Society of Lawyers - Mentor for Mentor Program
Justinian Society Scholarship Committee
John G. Phillips Scholarship Chairman
Loyola University - Presidents Club
University of Iowa Alumni Association - Lifetime Member
Elected to Consumer Guide Book - Leading Attorneys in Illinois 1995 –present
(Determined by a state-wide survey of lawyers.) Published by American Research
Corporation.
International Who’s Who of Professionals (1995), Published by Gilbralter Marketing
Strathmore’s Who’s Who Registry (1999 -2000 Edition)
Society of Trial Lawyers (1999 to present)
Illinois Network of Leading American Attorneys (2000 to present)
Recognized in the Chicago Lawyer Magazine as resolving the most million dollar plus cases
than any other lawyer in Illinois in 1999 survey.

Martindale-Hubbell Rating
AV - Legal Ability Very High to preeminent.
Ethical Standards - Very High.
Highest Rating for Both

2005 Illinois Trial Lawyers Association President’s Award

2004 – 2009 Law and Leading Attorneys Statewide Survey Lawyers.
Advisory Board – Top 5% of Lawyers in the State of Illinois

2005 – 2009 Recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer in a statewide survey of lawyers.

2006 – 2009 Loyola University School of Law – Adjunct Professor – Illinois Civil Litigation Prior to Trial

2007 – ____ Rated the Top Personal Injury Lawyer in Illinois by Avvo.com Also Top Trucking Lawyer, Brain Injury Lawyer and Birth Trauma Lawyer.

2008 – 2009 Voted Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Illinois. American Trial Lawyers Association

LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS:
05/02/92 - ITLA - Young Lawyers Seminar - “Obtaining and Presenting Expert Witnesses”
09/12/92 - ITLA - Civil Practice “Update and Review Seminar” - Moderator
09/11/93 - ITLA - Civil Practice “Update and Review Seminar” “Settlement/Kotecki Update/Confidentiality Order”
02/20/95 - ITLA - “The Nuts and Bolts of Handling Automobile Accident Cases” - “Preparing Your Case For Trial”
12/02/95 - ITLA - Medical Malpractice Seminar - “Combating Defense Tactics”
03/13/96 - CBA - Countdown to Trial - “Preparing Your Case For Trial”
09/07/96 - ITLA - Update and Review Seminar - “Structural Work Act and Construction Negligence”
11/11/96 - ISBA - Trial Techniques Seminar - Getting a Case Ready; Getting A Verdict - “Opening Statements”
12/07/96 - ITLA - Medical Malpractice Seminar - “Presenting the Plaintiff’s Expert for Deposition.”
2/17/97 - ITLA - Maximizing results through settlement and TRIAL - “Prosecuting the Negligence Case”. Opening statement and Closing Argument.
5/3/97 - ITLA – You’re on trial shotgun seminar. “Subsequent Remedial Measures”
9/6/97 - ITLA – Issues, Answers, and Legal Trends. “Liens”
1/29/98 - Valparaiso Law School – Litigation – Plaintiff vs Defense Practice.
2/16/98 - ITLA – Negotiating and Settling Personal Injury Cases—“Initial Settlement Considerations”
8/14/98 - Ross and Hardies Litigation Group Lectures—Preparing a Case for Trial
10/19/98 - John Marshall Law School—Preparation and Trial of a Product Liability Case—Plaintiff’s Perspective
12/5/98 - ITLA - Under the Microscope: The Anatomy of a Malpractice Trial  — Jury Instructions
4/6/99 - IICLE - Modern Medical Malpractice Litigation — “Standard of Care”
10/11/99 - ITLA - Trial Techniques Seminar - Moderator
10/9/00 - ITLA - Anatomy of a Trial Seminar- Handling the Defense Experts
12/9/00 - ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar –Investigating the Defense Witnesses
11/29/01 - IICLE - How to Depose a Doctor - Moderator
12/8/01 - ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar – Cardiac Cases
1/19/02 - ITLA – Tort Litigation: From Intake to Verdict Seminar – Moderator
5/21/02 - Ross and Hardies Litigation Group Lectures—Preparing a Case for Trial
1/18/03 - ITLA – Overcoming Juror Bias Seminar – Trial Story – Presenting the Case
3/14/03 - American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine – Occupational Medicine: “Where Medicine Meets the Workplace”.  How to Prepare to Testify.
5/22/03 - Wilmette Rotary Club, Wilmette, Illinois Tort Reform – What it Means.
12/6/03 - ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar – Obstetrics and Gynecology Malpractice.
3/11/05 - The American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Greater Miami Chapter, Miami Teaching Institute – How to Avoid the Deposition Jitters
4/7/05 - Tort Reform Debate Participant. Hellenic Bar Association.
5/7/05 - ITLA – Advocacy Showcase: The Art of Advocacy – A one day Trial. Cross Examination of Plaintiff’s Damage Exert Witness.
12/2/06 - ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar – Crunch Time 120 Days to Trial.
6/27/08 - IICLE – Personal Injury Practice Update – Top developments in motor vehicle cases, premises liability, product liability, governmental immunity, insurance coverage, etc.
12/6/08 - ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar. Deposing and Cross Examining Defendants and defense Experts
2/27/09 - ISBA – Law Education Series – Sharpen Your Trial Skills – Opening Statement

3/28/09 - ITLA  - Insurance, Liens & Settlements Seminar - Maximizing Settlement

PUBLICATIONS:
1993 - Proving and Disproving Damages in Personal Injury Cases 1993 Illinois Institute for continuing Legal Education. Chapter 1 — Physical Injuries - Plaintiff’s Perspective.
1993 - Illinois Structural Work Act Practice 1993 Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Chapter 5 — Trial Practice - Plaintiff.
1995 - Illinois Politics December 1995 - Viewpoint “Why We Don’t Need a Law Prohibiting Jury Selection Consultants”
1996 - Illinois State Bar Association Bar News Volume 36, No. 14, February 1, 1996 - Jury Selection Consultants Are Needed
1996 - Proving and Disproving Damages in personal Injury Cases 1996; Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education Chapter I - Supplement for Physical Injuries - Plaintiff’s Perspective
1996 - Letter to the Editor, “Unethical Conduct–Allstate Insurance”. Crain’s Chicago Business, June 3 - 9, 1996, pg. 23, Vol. 19.
1996 - Illinois Civil Discovery Practice, 1996 Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education Chapter 2. “Limitations on Discovery”
1996 - Illinois State Bar Association Bar News Volume 37, No. 12, January 3, 1997 - Tort Reform Uninformed
1997 - ITLA Edition of the Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook-Learned Medical Treatises.
1998 - Letter to the Editor, Response to “Publishers’ Prerogative” on Tort  Reform. Illinois Legal Times. Vol.12, No.131. March 1998.
1998 - ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook—Learned Medical Treatises Supplement
1998 - IICLE - Modern Medical Malpractice Litigation — “Standard of Care”
1999 - ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook-Learned Medical Treatises
2000 - ITLA Trial Journal — The Use and Abuse of Medical Literature, Volume 2, Number 1, Winter 2000.
2000 - IICLE Practice Handbook — Proving and Disproving Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 2000 Edition.
1998 - ITLA Trial Journal — Lost Pension Benefits in a Wrongful Death Action- A Wrong without a Remedy.
1998 - ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook Supplement.
2002 - Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education “Development of the Case on Fact and Law.
2003 - Chicago Tribune – Voice of the People Letter to the Editor 2/17/03. Medical Malpractice Insurance Premiums.
2003 - Chicago Sun Times –  Letter to the Editor 7-10-03 Medical Malpractice Premiums, Legal Malpractice Premiums and Boat Insurance Premiums.
2004 - Present Justinian Society Newsletter From a Plaintiff’s Lawyer’s Desk—-Quarterly Columnist
2006 - ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook Supplement
2007 - ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook Supplement
2008 - ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook Supplement.
2008 - IICLE – Illinois Civil Practice Vol. 1, Chapter 2, Development of the Case on Facts and Law.
2009 - IICLE – Illinois Civil Practice Vol. 1, Chapter 2, Development of the Case on Facts and Law.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES:
____ vs. Suburban Lung Associates, Et. al.
Court No. 02 L 04984, recovery of $7.4 million
___ vs Loyola University Hospitals
Court No. 96 L 04665, recovery of $7 million
___ vs. Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, et al.,
Court No. 90 L 6080, recovery of $5.6 million
___ vs. Watts, et. al.
Court No. 93 L 04210, recovery of $5.1 million
___ v. Frezza, M.D., et. al.
Court No. 02 L 008907, recovery of $5 million
___ vs. St. Francis Hospital of Evanston, et al.,
Court No. 86 L 11283, recovery of $4.25 million
___ v. FSC Paper Corp., et. al.
Court No. 00 L 6154, recovery of $4.032 million
___ vs. Rush Trucking and Gary Turner et al,
Court No. 97 L 5791, recovery of $4 million
___ vs. Pace Suburban Bus Co., et al.,
Court No. 96 L 2566, recovery of $3.5 million
___ vs. Metrick,
Court No. 84 M4 273126, recovery of $3.45 million
___ vs. Little Company of Mary Hospital, et al.,
Court No. 85 L 18457, recovery $3.4 million
______v. Confidential Defendant Court No. 05 L 855, recovery $3.25 million
___ v. Stephen Behnke, M.D., et al.,
Court No. 02 L 002309, recovery $3,052,283
___ v. Columbia Michael Reese Hospital, et al.,
Court No. 99 L 03453, recovery $2.8 million
___ vs. Circle W Tractor & Equipment, et al.,
Court No. 91 L 2014, recovery of $2.7 million
___ v. ABK Construction
Court No. 04 L 14157 recovery of $2.7 million
___ v. Pace
Court No. 01 L 012443, recovery of $2.7 million
___ v. Children’s Memorial Hospital, et, al.
Court No. 04 L 008717, recovery of $2.5 million
___ v. Holy Cross Hospital, et. al.
Court No. 96 L 13007, recovery of $2.5 million
___ vs. Shipley Co.
Court No. 87 L 22709, recovery of $2.5 million
___ vs. Zadeh, et. al.
Court No. 95 L 00840, recovery of $2,425,000.00
_________vs. CONFIDENTIAL HOSPITAL
Court No. 08 L 009157, recovery of $2,400,000.00
___ vs. Harrison, et.al.
Court No. 91 L 2014, recovery of $2,000,000.00
___ v. Hunter, Et.al.
Court No. 02 L 16138, Recovery of $1,950,000.00
___ vs. Loyola, et al.
Recovery of $1,875,000.00
___ vs. Moore, et al.,
Court No. 86 L 02240, recovery of $1.8 million
___ vs. St. Francis, et al.,
Court No. 81 L 28974, recovery of $1.75 million
___ v. Brown, et. al.
Court No. 96 L 12855, recovery of $1.575 million
___ v. Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center
Court No. 93 L 02134, recovery of 1.35 million
___ v. Abrams, et al.
Court No. 01 L 05374, recovery of 1.3 million
___ v. Miczuga, et al.,
Court No. 84 L 25597, recovery of $1.25 million
___ v. Gardner, et. al.
Court #99 l 141251, recovery of 1.125 million
___ v. Rosi, et al.,
Court No. 90 L 10323, recovery of $1,085,000.00
___ v.Cohen, M.D.
Court No. 81 L 3025, recovery of $1.1 million
___ v. Werner Troesken, et al.,
Court No. 91 L 2014, recovery of $1,090,000.00
___ v. Roseland, et al.
Court No. 01 L 14480, recovery of $1 million
___ v. Ahmadian,
Court No. 93 L 9802, recovery of $1 million
___ v. Todd, et. al.
Court No. 94 L 14442, recovery of $1 million
___ v. St. Joseph’s Hospital
Court No. 95 L 05838, recovery of $1 million
___ v. Clark
Court No. 98 L 02047, recovery of $1 million
___ v. Subramanian
Court No. 97 L 02951, recovery of $1 million
___ v. Deerbrook Medical Associates
Court #00 L 44, recovery of $1 million

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