Timothy R. Ocasek, Attorney

Mr. Ocasek received his J.D. from DePaul University School of Law in 1979 andhis B.A from the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1976. Mr. Ocasek joined thefirm in 1979 and represents clients at both the trial and appellate levels.

Mr. Ocasek has won numerous personal injury verdicts and settlements for hisclients in a variety of areas including wrongful death, medical and professionalmalpractice, product liability, construction negligence, premises andtransportation liability, in various counties throughout the State of Illinois.He has also obtained settlement of many significant cases including aseven-figure settlement of the only personal injury lawsuit occurring as aresult of the Chicago Flood.

He is admitted to practice before the Illinois State Bar and the UnitedStates District Court and is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association,the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Illinois State Bar Association andthe Fenwick Bar Association, and has provided service as a moot court appellatejudge and as an independent and court-appointed arbitrator.

Cases of local and national significance

Sims v. 32 West Randolph Limited Partnership, et al., MarySims, a Cook County clerical worker, suffered a leg injury when she wasdescending 22 flights of a dark stairwell when the building was forced toevacuate during the Chicago Flood. The leg injury accelerated a diabetic relatedamputation below the knee.  Mr. Ocasek filed an action against the buildingowners for inadequate life safety systems within the building. Investigation revealed that the building's failure to have an evacuation planand emergency lighting caused her injuries.  This result was feature in theChicago Daily Law Bulletin.

Michelle Gaines v. Harrah's Casino, involved a casino dealerwho severely injured her knee when required to quickly transfer buckets of coinsfrom a bank to a cart.  Investigation during this lawsuit revealed that thecasino had conflicting mandates that employees must follow for safety of themoney which required lifting procedures that were not safe for theworkers.  A Cook County jury awarded substantial damages based on Mr.Ocasek's argument that Ms. Gaines was not provided with a safe place to work asrequired by the Jones Act maritime law.  The result was published in theCook County Jury Verdict Reporter and the National Law Journal.

Clark v. City of Chicago, involved a transport bus driver whocrashed into the rear of Aviation truck repairing the roadway which entersO'Hare Airport, resulting in multiple fractures and nerve damage in theleg.  With the aid of expert testimony regarding road construction, Mr.Ocasek successfully argued to a jury that the Department violated numerous roadsafety codes mandating traffic control and warnings to motorists resulting in asubstantial jury verdict in favor of Mr. Clark.

Construction Negligence:  Mr. Ocasek has achieved numeroussuccessful results for substantial damages for construction workers throughlitigation, including McAdoo v. Meadowood Bldrs. (jury verdict forcrushed ankle from falling drywall stack); Johnson v. AirTech (juryverdict for arm fractures from unsafe scaffold); Durham v. Amoco (kneereconstruction as a result of unsafe access to work area); Heelien v. CSR(ankle fusion as a result of unsafe job conditions).  Mr. Ocasek hasauthored and argued numerous court briefs and memoranda supporting his clients'right to a safe place to work.

Product Liability:  Mr. Ocasek has achieved numeroussuccessful results through litigation for substantial damages for consumers andworkers injured by defective products including Nguyen v. Brown (traumaticfinger amputations in a forming press); Gettis v. Asplundh (multiplefractures and nerve damage of the arm from defective mechanical and hydraulicsystems of a bucket truck); Davidson v. Standard (serious hand injuriesdue to a design defect in a conveyor system); Walski v. Bd. of Ed., (burninjuries from defective classroom chemistry equipment); Hansen v. Galion (defectiveaccess system on a road grader).

Premises Liability:  Mr. Ocasek has achieved successfulresults for substantial damages through litigation for individuals injured dueto premises defects including Sims v. 32 West Randolph Building ($1.1million for acceleration of diabetic amputation from unsafe evacuation); Josicv. Florsheim (jury verdict for multiple ankle fractures after fall fromloading dock); Salmen v. A. Suburban (jury verdict for multiple wristfractures from faulty storage and maintenance); Reisenmy v. Lewin(multiple ankle fractures from defective exterior stairs).

Vehicular and Transportation Negligence: Mr. Ocasek hasachieved numerous successful results by jury trial, mediation, arbitration andsettlement for clients injured in collisions including Chatskis v. Schulte ($1.3million for an elderly pedestrian struck by a vehicle).

Jones Act, Maritime:  Mr. Ocasek has achieved severalsuccessful results for substantial damages for maritime employees throughlitigation including Gaines v. Harrah's (knee injuries from employer'sunsafe work policies and procedures): Paytosh v. Harrah's (necrotizingfasciitis flesh eating disease form employer's unsafe place to work and failureto provide supervision and medical care).