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David Wise is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell. Martindale-Hubbell rates over 100,000 lawyers nationwide. The AV rating is the highest rating possible under the Martindale-Hubbell rating system. The AV rating represents “very high to preeminent legal abilities” and the highest ethical standards. Less than 9% of the lawyers in the United States are rated AV.
David is also listed as a Leading Lawyer as determined by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. The Illinois Leading Lawyer designation is awarded to only the top 5% of Illinois Lawyers in each particular field. Dave has been listed as an Illinois Leading Lawyer since the recognition began.
In January, 2007 Dave was named an “Illinois Super Lawyer” for the third year in a survey of his peers. The survey is published by Chicago Magazine.
In 2001, David was recognized as one of the 40 Under 40 Illinois attorneys to watch. This award can only be given to a lawyer once. David was recognized when he was 34 years old. The recognition is based upon review and recommendations of judges, bar leaders and other lawyers. The recognition is awarded to only forty lawyers each year and is restricted to lawyers under forty years of age.
David has won eight multi-million dollar jury verdicts and has resolved 47 cases in excess of a million dollars each. His verdicts and settlements now total over $170 million.
David practices law in the following areas of law and has successfully represented clients in these areas:
• Wrongful Death
• Personal Injury
• Product Liability
• Aviation and Air Crashes (General and Commercial Aviation)
• Workplace Accidents
• Medical Malpractice
• Transportation Negligence
• Premises Liability
• Vehicular Negligence
• Trucking Accidents
• Maritime Actions
• Railroad Liability
• Federal Employee’s Liability Act (FELA)
• Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)
Other notable settlements and verdicts include:
• $3.2 million for an injured boiler-maker. Budrik v. R.C. Wegman Construction Company.
• $1.1 million for the aggravation of a pre-existing back injury at a construction site. Farmer v. Turner Construction, et al.
• $5 million settlement for 68-year-old paralyzed by a fitness equipment failure. Tinney v. The Fitness Experience.
• $5.2 million in a crane accident which killed a 58 year old man. This is a record amount in a wrongful death case for an individual of this age. Kubicek v. Central Intermodal.
• $5 million settlement for an electrician injured after falling off a ladder. Bartos v. Gallant Construction, Inc..
• $1.2 million for a construction worker who injured his back on the job. Wojtecki v. Wegman Construction.
• $900,000 settlement for a repairman who injured his knee servicing an air conditioning unit. Owens v. Rochford.
• $900,000 settlement for a man injured in a motorcycle accident in Peru. Livingston v. Lotus Consulting Services, Inc.
• $5 million settlement after fatal explosion in a woman’s home. Bowen v. Smykal & Assoc., et al.
• $2 million settlement for the family of a girl killed while crossing the street. Kandemir v. LePetre.
• $35 million for a child injured at birth. Arkebauer v. Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
• $5.5 million for a man hit by a truck. Munoz v. Mayfield.
• $3.2 million for the death of a mother hit by a school district van. Lecat v. Wilmette School District 39.
• $2.5 million for boilermaker injured while inside of a vessel. Robak v. Citgo Petroleum Company.
• $1.25 million for the family of a boy killed in an auto accident. Bolin v. Schroeder.
• $24 million in verdicts and settlements for the families of four people killed and one injured on an American Eagle plane crash. Parker v. American Airlines; Peters v. American Airlines; Lewis v. American Airlines; Stellato v. American Airlines; and Johnson v. American Airlines.
• $2 million for the family of a man killed in a Cessna airplane crash. Norris v. Cessna.
• $4.15 million for the family of a man electrocuted while installing wiring. Mezydlo v. Filip Metal.
• $4.5 million for the family of a man killed when he was hit by falling ice while walking on the sidewalk on Michigan Avenue. Booth v. Nieman Marcus.
• $4.25 million for a man who lost part of his leg in a train accident. Abrogast v. Illinois Central Railroad.
• $3 million for the family of a child strangled in a defective crib/playpen. Ginzel v. Kolcraft.
• $2.6 million verdict for a man injured at work. Pennington v. Tech Sales, Inc..
• $5 million for a man electrocuted on a construction site. Griffin v. Commonwealth Edison.
• Confidential sum for a woman paralyzed in a Nissan pick-up truck rollover. Kennedy v. Nissan.
• Confidential sum for man paralyzed in an auto accident. Pickett v. General Motors.
ADMITTED
Illinois Supreme Court – 1993
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois – 1993
Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals – 1994
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Bar Association (ABA)
Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA)
Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA)
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association – Board of Managers
Chicago Bar Association (CBA)
LECTURER
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE),
“Taking Your First Doctor’s Deposition,” December 19, 2007
ISBA Ethics Seminar, “Practical Ethical Advice – From ARDC Complaints to Courtroom Dilemmas,” August 17, 2007.
ISBA Ethics Seminar, “Ethical and Courtroom Dilemmas for Plaintiff Practitioner,” October 6, 2006
DePaul University College of Law Center for Law and Science,
“Current Trends in Product Liability Discovery,” March, 2006
CBA Seminar – Preparation and Trial of Automobile Cases,
“Liability of Trucking Companies,” 1995
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE),
Chicago, Illinois, “Speaking on Tort Reform,” October, 1995
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, “Discovery,” October, 1995
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE)
Collinsville, Illinois, “Speaking on Tort Reform,” September, 1995