Past Successes

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OUTCOME:

Received largest jury verdict in Effingham County history on behalf of local family who was hit by drunk driver. Successfully defended Effingham Community Unit 40, Effingham Board of Education and l ... ocal administrators in three week jury trial wherein the plaintiff requested that his clients pay in excess of 3 million dollars. The jury returned a verdict in favor of all Defendants. Successfully defended Bible Pork, Inc. in lawsuit filed by 21 residents claiming that the state-of-the-art facility was a "public and private nuisance". The Clay County jury returned a verdict in favor of Bible Pork after hearing nearly 3 weeks of testimony. The case received national attention from pork and beef producers across the United States. The verdict was affirmed by the Fifth District Appellate Court of Illinois on November 15, 2011. Successfully represented Bible Pork, Inc. in an insurance coverage dispute between Country Mutual Insurance Company ("CMIC") and Bible Pork, Inc. The Clay County Circuit Court of Louisville, Illinois issued an opinion finding that CMIC wrongfully refused to defend its longtime insured, Bible Pork, Inc. in the nuisance case of Pierson, et al. v. Bible Pork, Inc. This ruling will have a significant impact upon agriculture and insurance policyholders in Illinois, as it provides some assurance that producers should be able to rely upon their insurance carriers to provide a defense against third-party claims promised under the terms of the policies. Represents Menard, Inc, a home improvement retail business with stores throughout the Midwest. In March 2010, Mr. Koester successfully defended Menards in Effingham Circuit Court in a lawsuit filed by a patron claiming to have received personal injuries while shopping at store. The jury entered judgment in favor of Menards and denied the Plaintiff’s request for damages. The verdict was affirmed by the Fifth District Appellate Court on December 7, 2011. Successfully represented families, individuals, businesses in connection with persons involved in automobile accidents and wrongful death claims. Mr. Koester has successfully negotiated settlements on behalf of his clients utilizing mediation, arbitration and litigation.