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Our Illinois defense panel retains some of the most seasoned medical malpractice attorneys in the state. They have extensive experience in trial and appellate work and have well-established reputations for aggressively defending healthcare professionals. Capson's defense counsel is focused on protecting the interests of our physicians, being responsive to physician's needs and working closely with the Capson claims team.
Here are the firms Capson has selected to help defend our members. Click on the links below to see the attorneys and their biographies:
Robert is a founding partner of Nora & Tanzillo, LLP. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1977, received his JD from DePaul University in 1980 and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1980. Robert's practice has focused on the defense of healthcare professionals for over 30 years. Robert was named "Top Twenty Tort Defense Lawyers in Chicago" by Chicago Lawyer and "Top Lawyers in Illinois" by Crain's Chicago Business. Robert was also named "Illinois Super Lawyer" in Chicago Magazine and Illinois Super Lawyer Magazine. He is a member of the Leading Lawyers Network and a Founding Fellow of Litigation Counsel of America. His trial results are regularly reported by the Chicago Law Bulletin, Crain's Chicago Business, National Law Journal and Verdicts, Settlements & Tactics.
David is a founding partner of Hall Prangle & Schoonveld. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1980, received his JD from University of Michigan in 1983, cum laude and was admitted into the Illinois Bar in 1983. David's practice has focused on defending healthcare providers for over 25 years. Prior to being one of the founding fathers of HPS, David previously was the Department Leader of Lord Bissell & Brooks' Medical Litigation Department. In 2007 he was inducted as a fellow into the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. Chicago Lawyer Magazine recognized David as one of the top 20 tort defense attorneys in all of Chicago. He just received a Career Achievement 2010 Trial Lawyer Excellence award from the Jury Verdict Reporter and is honored to be a member of Leading Lawyer Magazine and Super Lawyers.
Mike is a founding partner of Hall, Prangle & Schoonveld. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1986, received his JD from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1990, magna cum laude as well as receiving his MBA. Mike was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1990 and the Nevada Bar in 2003. Mike's 20 year practice is litigation- based and focuses on medical malpractice defense. He has taken more than 35 cases to verdict, many with exposure in the 8-figure range. He also has significant appellate experience, having briefed and argued numerous appeals before the First District Court of Appeals, and recently before the Illinois Supreme Court and Nevada Supreme Court. In 2003 Mike was named as one of the Chicago Law Bulletin "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch." He has been named to the "Illinois Super Lawyer" list by Chicago Magazine in 2005 thru 2011. He has been a "Leading Lawyer" since 2008.
Mary is an equity partner at Hall Prangle & Schoonveld. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1991, received her JD from Southern Illinois University 1994, magna cum laude, admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1994 and the Missouri Bar in 1995. Mary's current practice involves all aspects of medical litigation, including depositions of parties and expert witnesses, dispositive motions, trial preparation and trials. She has also been involved in the negotiation and settlement of cases involving catastrophic injuries. Mary is experienced in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. She also has experience with product liability, automobile rollover and medical device litigation.
Eric Schoonveld is a trial lawyer who currently focuses his practice on defending catastrophic injury claims around the country. Eric has represented healthcare providers and their employees since 1991. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Utah and has practiced in state and Federal courts in Illinois, Utah, Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Indiana, and elsewhere. He graduated from Trinity Christian College with high honors in 1988, received his J.D. from Northwestern University in 1991, and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1991 as well as the Utah Bar on 2005. Eric seeks to provide each individual that he represents the assurance and confidence that they have an advocate and a voice that will stand up for them throughout the often protracted litigation process. Eric has co-authored chapters on wrongful death and medical malpractice. He has lectured before hospital and physician groups. Eric has been named to the "Illinois Super Lawyer" list by Chicago Magazine and has achieved the highest rating possible in Martindale Hubbell's peer review system and is a member of the Leading Lawyer Network.
Ben is an equity partner at Hall Prangle & Schoonveld. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 1989, received his JD from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1993 with high honors, admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1993, admitted to the Nevada Bar 2003, and to the Florida Bar in 2010. Ben specializes in medical malpractice litigation, primarily in defense of hospitals and healthcare institutions, representing many hospitals in Cook and DuPage counties. He has also represented healthcare clients with a national presence. Ben aggressively defends hospitals against claims based upon apparent agency and in numerous instances has obtained summary judgment and directed verdict findings in favor of his hospital clients.
Rodney Sharp, a shareholder of Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard has been practicing law for over 25 years. Rodney received his B.A., with honors, from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1982. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Southern Illinois University in 1985. Afterwards, Rodney clerked for the Appellate Court of Illinois, 4th District, before practicing at a defense firm in Belleville, Illinois. He joined Sandberg Phoenix in 1988 and been a shareholder at the firm for over 15 years. Rodney served as the head of the firm's Health Law Practice Group from 2000 to 2004. He is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Most of Rodney's practice focuses on the defense of physicians, hospitals and other health care providers. He has defended health care providers in more than twenty counties in Central and Southern Illinois, to include his home county of St. Clair, as well as throughout the State of Missouri. A sampling of Rodney's trial results in defending physicians and hospitals in serious injury and wrongful death cases can be found on the firm's website.
Charles is a shareholder and director of Schuyler, Roche & Crisham. He graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1974, received his JD from John Marshall School of Law in 1977 and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1977. Charles is an active trial attorney specializing in complex litigation with a primary focus on medical malpractice defense. He recently completed a term as Secretary-Treasurer of DRI–The Voice of the Defense Bar, the national association of over 22,000 defense attorneys, where he also served on the Board of Directors for four years. He was a Past President of the Illinois Defense Counsel and has been a frequent lecturer and author in the medical malpractice field. Charles is a member of the prestigious International Association of Defense Counsel and has served on its distinguished Trial Academy Faculty at Stanford University. Charles is AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell, has been selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer and as a Leading American Lawyer for over 5 years. Charles has tried over 60 lawsuits involving catastrophic injuries and death in medical cases.
David A. Sorensen is a partner in the Chicago office of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, which he joined in September 2000. His practice focuses in the areas of professional liability and products liability defense, with particular emphasis on the representation of physicians, hospitals, lawyers, medical device users and manufacturers, and companies in toxic tort matters. David works closely with physicians, hospital staff and risk management professionals to devise creative and effective approaches to defending claims. David has substantial courtroom experience, including successful verdicts in over twenty trials. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), and was awarded his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law (Bloomington). David is a regular invited speaker to healthcare industry groups on risk management topics, and is a member of the Leading Lawyers Network, where he has been selected by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Medical Malpractice Defense Law and Professional Malpractice Defense Law.
David L. Drake is a founding member of the law firm of Drake, Narup & Mead, P.C. David did his undergraduate work at Western Illinois University and graduated in 1970. David graduated from Chicago Kent Law School in 1973. David's practice has focused on defending healthcare providers for over 30 years. David is an adjunct professor with SIU School of Medicine and was voted a leading lawyer in the State of Illinois. He is a frequent lecturer and author on legal issues with an emphasis on malpractice related litigation.
Richard Narup is a founding partner in Drake, Narup & Mead, P.C. He graduated from Blackburn College in 1978. He received his JD from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1981. Rick has been named as a leading lawyer in the State of Illinois. A large portion of Rick's practice is focused on defending healthcare providers for over 25 years, and has tried numerous malpractice cases defending medical providers.
Susan E. Conner is an equity partner at Cassiday Schade LLP. She graduated magna cum laude from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1981, received her JD from Loyola University Law School in 1984 and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1984. She clerked for Thomas J O'Brien in the Circuit Court of Cook County before joining Cassiday Schade LLP. Sue is an experienced trial attorney specializing in medical malpractice defense litigation for health professionals and hospitals. She frequently lectures on medical-legal issues including the liability aspects of electronic records, and a Cassiday Schade hosted CLE presentation on Apparent Agency Issues in Illinois. Sue is AV rated in Martindale-Hubbell and has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer and Leading Lawyer in Medical Malpractice Defense Law by her peers.
Amit Chakrabarty
Urologist | Alabama
Scott Lauer
OB/GYN | Texas
Roberto Prieto-Harris
OB/GYN | Texas
