I have been representing tenants since 1983. I began concentrating my practice in the representation of tenants after having prosecuted the case of Lawrence v. Regent Realty in the mid 1990's. That case ultimately resulted in a landmark Decision in the Illinois Supreme Court overruling a previous Appellate Court Decision that required proof of bad faith on the part of landlords as an element of any lawsuit against landlords. After Lawrence, the protections under the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance became essentially strict liability, protecting tenants regardless of the alleged intentions of a landlord.
The Lawrence Decision proved a watershed moment for Chicago tenants. It represented a sudden and dramatic power shift between tenants and landlords, gave new vitality to the Chicago Ordinance, and made representing tenants economically practical for Chicago attorneys in cases they previously could not take. In the course of my practice, I have handled dozens of different types of tenant legal problems, in both individual and class action cases, as well as in hourly consultations with my clients.
I am a referral attorney in the area of landlord tenant law with both the Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO), Legal Aid Chicago and the Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, and I am frequently called by MTO staff, the Lawyer's Committee, and private practitioners for both advice and to take referrals of cases in this area. I received the 2006 Private Service Award by the Metropolitan Tenant Organization for work on the Lawrence appeals, as well as for facilitating a cy pres award to the Metropolitan Tenants Organization in excess of $100,000. I facilitated a subsequent cy pres award from a different class action case which was awarded to Chicago Volunteer Legal Services in excess of $137,000 in furtherance of its mission. I have been a Presenting Speaker at Loyola University School of Law on affirmative suits brought on behalf of residential tenants, and conducted many half day training sessions with the Metropolitan Tenants Organization for its trainee advocates.
I have also prosecuted a number of consumer protection cases, including one acting as co-lead counsel in a class action formerly pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County alleging consumer fraud and other claims and resulting in a settlement valued at more than $16,000,000 in damages for a nationwide class. Pandolfi v. Viking Office Products, Docket No. 97 CH 8875.
I have also represented numerous clients under the Federal Fair Housing Act, frequently involving landlord tenant issues, many of which cases resulted in significant plaintiff recoveries. One such case was tried to jury verdict before Judge Coar in U.S. District Court in which the jury awarded punitive damages in excess of the amount requested. Flowers v. Klatick, No. 93 C 6606.
In addition to trial level proceedings, I have substantial experience in appellate practice, having prosecuted approximately 100 appeals.
I am, above all, very client centered in my practice, attempting to assist clients with practical, not merely legal solutions, drawing on decades of experience in this area.
Let me know how I might be able to help you.
The Lawrence Decision proved a watershed moment for Chicago tenants. It represented a sudden and dramatic power shift between tenants and landlords, gave new vitality to the Chicago Ordinance, and made representing tenants economically practical for Chicago attorneys in cases they previously could not take. In the course of my practice, I have handled dozens of different types of tenant legal problems, in both individual and class action cases, as well as in hourly consultations with my clients.
I am a referral attorney in the area of landlord tenant law with both the Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO), Legal Aid Chicago and the Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, and I am frequently called by MTO staff, the Lawyer's Committee, and private practitioners for both advice and to take referrals of cases in this area. I received the 2006 Private Service Award by the Metropolitan Tenant Organization for work on the Lawrence appeals, as well as for facilitating a cy pres award to the Metropolitan Tenants Organization in excess of $100,000. I facilitated a subsequent cy pres award from a different class action case which was awarded to Chicago Volunteer Legal Services in excess of $137,000 in furtherance of its mission. I have been a Presenting Speaker at Loyola University School of Law on affirmative suits brought on behalf of residential tenants, and conducted many half day training sessions with the Metropolitan Tenants Organization for its trainee advocates.
I have also prosecuted a number of consumer protection cases, including one acting as co-lead counsel in a class action formerly pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County alleging consumer fraud and other claims and resulting in a settlement valued at more than $16,000,000 in damages for a nationwide class. Pandolfi v. Viking Office Products, Docket No. 97 CH 8875.
I have also represented numerous clients under the Federal Fair Housing Act, frequently involving landlord tenant issues, many of which cases resulted in significant plaintiff recoveries. One such case was tried to jury verdict before Judge Coar in U.S. District Court in which the jury awarded punitive damages in excess of the amount requested. Flowers v. Klatick, No. 93 C 6606.
In addition to trial level proceedings, I have substantial experience in appellate practice, having prosecuted approximately 100 appeals.
I am, above all, very client centered in my practice, attempting to assist clients with practical, not merely legal solutions, drawing on decades of experience in this area.
Let me know how I might be able to help you.