John M. Stalmack (Ret.) has extensive experience in civil
litigation and trial work and has been obtaining outstanding
results for over 35 years. He has tried over 75 complex cases
to verdict throughout Illinois and the country in the areas of
medical malpractice, products liability, premises liability,
governmental liability, trucking negligence and toxic torts.
He also specializes in the area of the Structural Work Act and
large property damage losses. He frequently lectures and
writes in the field of medical malpractice as well as trial
evidence. Recently, John went to verdict in a case involving
allegations of exposure to lead poisoning in paint and in a case
involving exposure to polyurethane in a floor sealant. John
has deposed and cross-examined at trial hundreds of retained expert
witnesses including engineers, physicians, accountants, scientific
experts, reconstruction experts and economic experts.
John was named by the Chicago Lawyer as one of Chicago's Top 20
Defense Lawyers. Year after year, John has been consistently
named by Chicago magazine as an Illinois Super Lawyer. He has
also been consistently named to the Leading Lawyers Network.
John is also a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and
an Advocate in the American Board of Trial
Advocates. He also served as President of the
Illinois Society of Trial Lawyers. John has written over
20 major articles for publication in the areas of evidence, trial
practice, and medical negligence. He has also been a frequent
lecturer for the CBA, ISBA, and IICLE.
John was presented with a Career Achievement Award at the 2014
Jury Verdict Reporter Awards for Trial Lawyer Excellence Ceremony,
held at the Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier.
In 2017, John joined the adjunct faculty at UIC John Marshall
Law School.
John was formerly with the United States Department of Justice
and was hired under the United States Attorney General's Program
for Honor Law Graduates. Later, he received his L.L.M. from
the George Washington University National Law Center.
Some noteworthy verdicts and excellent results that he has
obtained in complex civil cases over the years include:
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Estate of Carl Longnecker v. Sirish Parvathaneni,
M.D. - State Court, Chicago, Illinois. Plaintiff
underwent a heart transplant surgery and never regained
consciousness after surgery and died three days later.
Plaintiff was a retired Engineer who was survived by a wife and
three adult children. John obtained a defense verdict in
favor of the heart transplant surgeon, Dr. Sirish Parvathaneni.
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Willie Mayberry, Jr., a minor v. Chicago Housing
Authority - State Court, Chicago, Illinois. The
plaintiff, who was three years old at the time, ate paint chips,
which allegedly contained lead, from a building owned by the
Chicago Housing Authority that resulted in severe mental
retardation. John obtained a defense verdict in favor of the
Chicago Housing Authority.
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Estate of Eleodora Bruno v. Nam S. Huh, M.D. -
State Court, Chicago, Illinois. The patient underwent a
sigmoid colon resection with an anastamosis and adhesiolysis to
relieve her severe diverticulosis, colonic stricture, and partial
large bowel obstruction. Several days later, the plaintiff
developed a fungal blood infection that resulted in her
death. John obtained a defense verdict on behalf of Dr. Nam
S. Huh.
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Norma J. O'Connor v. John A. Larocco and Arlington
Trucking Company - State Court, Chicago, Illinois.
The car driven by Norma J. O'Connor was rear-ended by a semi truck
driven by defendant, John A. Larocco. The plaintiff alleged
that she had severe traumatic epilepsy resulting from the rear-end
collision. The plaintiff asked the jury to return a verdict
in excess of $500,000. Mr. Stalmack was able to obtain a
favorable verdict of $3,000 that was reduced after a 30% reduction
from $5,000.
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Estate of Robert Williams v. Venkata Vedam,
M.D. - State Court, Chicago, Illinois. The plaintiff
alleged that an IV infusion of the antifungal medication,
Amphotericin B, caused a septicemia that ultimately resulted in
decedent's death. John obtained a defense verdict for the
defendant, Dr. Venkata Vedam.
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Robert Schultz v. Norton Company - State Court,
Chicago, Illinois. The plaintiff lost his right dominant hand
while operating a grinding machine made by the
defendant. John was able to obtain a defense verdict on
behalf of the defendant, Norton Company.
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Maureen V. Mandell v. Robert A. LaPata, M.D. -
State Court, Chicago, Illinois. The plaintiff alleged that
failure to diagnose gestational diabetes and cephalopelvic
disproportion led to a delivered child having severe wing scapular
with a droop shoulder and Erb's palsy. John obtained a
defense verdict for Dr. Robert A. LaPata.
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Standard Brands v. Spencer Kellogg Company -
State Court, Chicago, Illinois. Plaintiff stored 39,280 cases
of Baby Ruth and Butterfinger candy bars at a warehouse in which
defendant's concrete floor sealant was applied. The entire
39,280 cases of Baby Ruth and Butterfinger candy bars were
destroyed. John obtained a favorable verdict on behalf
of the Spencer Kellogg Company.
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Estate of Walter Fisher v. Fred Slager, M.D. -
State Court, Chicago, Illinois. Plaintiff was a 56-year-old
Clinical Psychologist who was director of the Madden Center for the
State of Illinois. During a craniotomy he developed an
abscess and thereafter died. John obtained a defense
verdict for the defendant, Dr. Fred Slager.
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Rohe v. Randy Angst, Tom Ort Trucking, Inc., and OTR
Trucking, Inc., - Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois. A
truck driven by the plaintiff rear-ended a semi truck driven by the
defendant, Randy Angst. The plaintiff alleged that
defendant's truck came back into his lane of traffic after being on
the shoulder and prevented plaintiff from having enough time to
brake his truck properly. Plaintiff alleged multiple injuries
resulting in over five surgical procedures and an inability to
return to work. The plaintiff asked the jury to return a
verdict in excess of $6,800,000. John was able to obtain a
favorable verdict of $1,802,500 that was reduced after a 30%
reduction from $2,575,000, four truck driver rear-ended a semi
truck driven.