Joseph Thomas Morrison

            I have been a trial lawyer for more than 36 years, and my focus lies in resolving highly complex civil litigation matters. As a trial lawyer, I have tried approximately 100 cases, including complex medical malpractice and personal injury cases. These cases have sometimes involved amounts in excess of $1,000,. Our firm has received a number of multi-million verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.
   
 I have also tried other types of cases, such as those involving eminent domain, damage to real estate, and easement issues.  I regularly appear in Chancery Court involving partnership disputes, commercial litigation, and injunction actions. As a trial lawyer, I personally appear in court every week on behalf on my clients.

 I have tried over 50 civil jury trials. Some of these cases were medical negligence cases, on behalf of injured parties. Recently, I obtained a jury verdict for my client against a plastic surgeon in Kane County, Illinois. I have also tried numerous personal injury cases resulting in substantial verdicts for injured parties. 

 I have also tried dozens of eminent domain cases. I believe that I have tried more eminent domain cases in Lake County, Illinois, than any other attorney. At least five of those cases involved verdicts in excess of $1,000,. I have represented a variety of public bodies, including the Lake County Forest Preserve District, Village of Deerfield, Buffalo Grove Park District, Village of Lincolnshire, and other municipalities. I currently represent numerous owners in eminent domain cases and have tried a number of those cases to jury verdict, resulting in awards in excess of the compensation offered by the public body.

 My trial experience also includes other types of civil litigation, including damage to real estate, cases of fraud, and cases of deceptive and faulty construction practices. Some of these cases have involved real estate with values in excess of $1,000,.
I have also tried numerous bench trials, including partnership disputes, breach of employment contracts, consumer fraud, real estate issues, and zoning cases.

 I was listed as the busiest individual trial lawyer in the State of Illinois for the year ending September 1, 1990, by the Cook County and Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter, having tried nine jury trials to verdict that year.

 I attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and obtained a B.A. in Biology in 1979. I played four years on the basketball team, NCAA Div. III. I then attended De Paul University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois, and received my degree in May, 1982, and then joined my father's firm, Donald T. Morrison & Associates.

 I was admitted to the Federal Trial Bar in the Northern District Court of Illinois in 1985. I am member of the Illinois State Bar Association, serving on the Assembly since 2013. I am also a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and a former member of the Jefferson Inn of the American Inns of Court. I am also a member of the Lake County Bar Association. 

 I was the Chair of the Executive Committee for coordination of Salmonella Litigation in Lake County. I was formerly the Chair of the Civil Trial Committee of the Lake County Bar Association, as well as Chair of the Young Lawyers Committee. From 1989-1992, I served as Chair of the Lake County Judicial Selection and Retention Committee.

 I am the author of numerous chapters and articles, including several editions of a book chapter entitled "Punitive Damages in Product Liability Cases," for IICLE. I am also the author of a chapter entitled "Basic Real Estate Practice" in the book Starting Points: The Fundamentals of 11 Practice Areas for IICLE. I am the author of "Motions in Limine: Can the Practice be Made Perfect?" and produced a public service videotape instruction presentation for nursing home residents entitled "Your Access to the Law." He was moderator of the Lake County Bar Association seminar entitled "Techniques of Jury Persuasion" and has been a seminar speaker on such topics as "Preparation of Expert Witnesses," "Investigation and Evaluation of Product Liability Cases," and "The Expert Witness - Pitfalls for the Unwary."

Throughout his career, I have been known as a "trial lawyer." In fact, I have represented several lawyers who were parties in complex litigation.