Our Team

John M. Stalmack

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.  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 has been 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:

  • Basheer Abu Harb vs. American Service Ins. Co., involved the rescission of an automobile policy based on the insured's material misrepresentation.  The judge entered judgment in favor of John's client, American Service Ins. Co. and held that the automobile policy was null and void. 
  • Estate of Floyd Hornback v. River Valley Coatings, Inc. - State Court, Geneva, Illinois.  Plaintiff worked in a manufacturing plant where significant painting occurred.  Plaintiff's Estate alleged that decedent, Floyd Hornback, contracted leukemia and died as a result of that disease because he was exposed to Benzene contained in the paints and solvents supplied by the defendant to the decedent's employer.  John obtained a defense verdict in favor of the defendant, River Valley Coatings, Inc.
  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.  John was able to obtaine a favorable verdict of $3,000 that was reduced after a 30% reduction from $5,000.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

View All Attorneys »

 

John-Stalmack-NBG.jpg

Contact

300 South Wacker Dr., Suite 3250

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Phone: 312-466-8050

Email: John.Stalmack@ruberry-law.com

Practice Area:

  • Bad Faith
  • Commercial Litigation
  • General Litigation
  • General Tort Litigation
  • Healthcare Liability
  • Insurance defense and litigation
  • Insurance coverage litigation
  • Insurance coverage analysis
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Liability
  • Toxic Torts

Practice / Specifications:

Complex Civil Litigation; Product Liability; Trucking Negligence; Toxic Torts

Professional Affiliations:

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers;
  • Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates;
  • Member of the Society of Trial Lawyers;
  • Member of The Abraham Lincoln Marovitz American Inn of Court;
  • Member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Club;
  • Member of the American Bar Association
  • Member of the Illinois State Bar Association;
  • Member of the Chicago Bar Association;
  • Member of the Defense Research Institute; and
  • Member of the Illinois Defense Counsel.
  • Chicago Lawyer's Top 20 Tort Defense Lawyers, Chicago Lawyer;
  • Leading Lawyers Network, (distinction earned by fewer than 5% of all lawyers licensed in the State of Illinois);
  • Illinois Super Lawyers, Chicago magazine and Illinois Super Lawyers magazine, (only 5% of the Illinois Bar is given this honor).

Education:

  • L.L.M, George Washington University
  • J.D., Loyola University of Chicago (Editor on the Law Review)
  • B.A., cum laude, Coe College

Admissions:

  • Supreme Court of Illinois;
  • District of Columbia;
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar);
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan;
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit;
  • United States Supreme Court;

Publications:

  • Anti Riot Statute Upheld in United States v. Dellinger, Vol. 4, Loyola University of Chicago Law Journal, 579;
  • Prior Inconsistent Statements: Congress Takes a Compromising Step Backward in Enacting Rule 801(d) (1) (A),Vol. 8, Loyola University of Chicago Law Journal, 251;
  • The Illinois Landlord's Obligation to Protect Persons on His Premises Against the Criminal Activities of Third Persons, Vol. 68, Illinois Bar Journal, 668 ;
  • Wilson v. Clark and its Progeny; The Application of Federal Rules 703 and 705 in Illinois, 67 Chicago Bar Record, 4;
  • Medical Records as Evidence in Illinois Courts, Vol. 77, Illinois Bar Journal, 484;
  • The Proffer, Procedure and Practice of Demonstrative and Real Evidence, Vol. 3, No. 12, Shepards Illinois Tort Reporter, 386;
  • The Scope and Substance of Medical Expert Cross-Examination, Vol. 86, Illinois Bar Journal, 581;
  • Texts Should Have Vital Role In Litigation, Vol. 147, No. 206, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 6;
  • Subsequent Remedial Measure - An Update, Vol. 39, No. 4, Tort Trends, 1;
  • Opening Statement, Vol. 50, No. 1, Trial Briefs, 2;
  • Opening Statement, Civil Litigation: Update and Overview of Civil Practice and Procedure, Illinois State Bar Association;
  • State of Mind, Vol. 51, No. 1, Trial Briefs, 1;
  • Cross-examination of a medical expert witness regarding the expert's personal opinion or personal practice, Vol. 43, No. 1, Tort Trends, 1;
  • Admissions (Evidentiary), Vol. 53, No. 1, Trial Briefs, 1;
  • Admissions (Judicial), Vol. 53, No. 2, Trial Briefs, 1;
  • Veracity, Vol. 54, No. 1, Trial Briefs, 1;
  • It Is a Mistake to Admit a Mistake, Vol. 6, Issue 8, Chicago Hospital News, 7;
  • Your Record - Your Rock, Vol. 6, Issue 9, Chicago Hospital News, 3.
  • An Active Involvement, Vol. 6, Issue 12, Chicago Hospital News, 2.
  • The Right to Submit Questions to Witnesses, Vol. 23, No. 4, Chicago Bar Association Record, 36.
  • The Admissibility of Other Acts or Occurrences, Vol. 45, No. 1, Tort Trends, 1.
  • Jurors Should Have the Right to Submit Questions to be Answered by Witnesses, Vol. 16, Issue 2, Voir Dire, 24.
  • Consent Form Protection From Independent Contractors, Vol. 7, Issue 8, Chicago Hospital News, 5.
  • Financial Motive Admissible on the Issue of Standard of Care, Vol. 8, Issue 1, Chicago Hospital News, 4.
  • "Closing Argument - Some Topics to Consider" in the January 2014 newsletter of the Illinois Bar Association's Trial Briefs.