Johnson & Bell, Trial Lawyers

Johnson & Bell is currently hiring Associate Attorneys for our Chicago and Northern Indiana offices. If you have a J.D. from an accredited law school, 1-4 years of litigation experience, and the desire to represent top companies and organizations in court, we want to meet you. Come work with and learn from some of the best trial lawyers in the country while earning good pay, great benefits, and becoming part of a welcoming and supportive culture. Johnson & Bell - We are trial lawyers.

Johnson & Bell, a successful litigation firm with offices in Chicago and Northern Indiana, is seeking an experienced e-billing specialist for our Accounting team. If you have 3+ years experience with electronic billing in a law firm environment we want to talk with you. J&B offers great benefits and a great work environment. Come join a thriving, friendly firm where team tenure is often measured in decades.

J&B associate Michael P. Halpin was recently appointed as the vice chair of The Chicago Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Committee. Mike joined Johnson & Bell in March 2024 after two years as assistant general counsel with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. We are very glad he has brought his skill and insight to our firm. Congratulations Mike!

Johnson & Bell shareholder David A Warnick was recently honored by the Illinois Defense Counsel as the organization's "2024 Volunteer of the Year." Speaking at the group's June 7th annual meeting, IDC Executive Director Sandra Wulf, CAE, IOM said "David has dedicated an incredible amount of time and energy to the association over the years, but particularly this last year. He has led the Civil Practice Committee, co-authored a Monograph, and spoke at our 2023 Civil Practice Seminar. In addition, he has just joined the IDC Quarterly Editorial Board. David is truly a valued member of our organization. IDC is better for having him involved and engaged. Our sincere thanks for his work." IDC's mission is to advance the interests of the defense bar by ensuring civil justice with integrity, civility, and professional competence. It is the premier association for Illinois attorneys who devote their practice to the representation of businesses and organizations in civil litigation. David joined Johnson & Bell in 2016. He represents defendants in products liability, general liability, transportation and insurance coverage disputes. He also serves as national coordinating counsel for an international insurance company regarding product liability litigation involving commercial lighting products. Congratulations David!

Johnson & Bell shareholder Carlos Vera was recently appointed chair of the Illinois State Bar Association's Civil Practice & Procedure Section Council for 2024-2025. The section council holds regular meetings to enhance the knowledge and professional capabilities of lawyers who practice civil law in all its substantive branches. Toward this goal, the section council provides commentary on proposed legislation and court rules that affect civil practice, publishes a monthly newsletter, and plans and hosts CLE webinars and seminars. Congratulations Carlos!

Johnson & Bell is currently hiring Associate Attorneys for our Chicago and Northern Indiana offices. If you have a J.D. from an accredited law school, 1-4 years of litigation experience, and the desire to represent top companies and organizations in court, we want to meet you. Come work with and learn from some of the best trial lawyers in the country while earning good pay, great benefits, and becoming part of a welcoming and supportive culture. Johnson & Bell - We are trial lawyers

The Illinois Appellate Court issued an opinion in Rocha v. Munson Ski et al. that affirmed a 2022 judgment in favor of Johnson & Bell, Trial Lawyers clients, Munson Ski & Marine. The case involved a boat sale to a first-time owner, who claimed steering problems and later ran over a dock line that became entangled in the boat’s prop, leading to more repairs. Work was completed under warranty but was delayed due to supply chain issues. The Plaintiff revoked her acceptance of the boat and filed suit against Munson. After the filing, Munson resold the boat and sale proceeds above Plaintiff’s loan amounts were kept in escrow. Steve Ellenbecker successfully tried warranty, common law fraud, and consumer fraud counts before a jury. Remaining counts related to the escrow funds were decided by the bench. Plaintiff appealed and Garrett Boehm handled it. Defendants argued that Plaintiff’s appeal of the jury verdict was untimely. Instead of filing a posttrial motion within 30 days of entry of judgment on the jury verdict, Plaintiff waited to file a posttrial motion until after the escrow counts were resolved months later. The Appellate Court held it lacked jurisdiction to consider appeal of the jury verdict because Plaintiff failed to timely file a posttrial motion. With regard to the escrow funds, the Appellate Court held that the trial court’s division of escrow funds was not an abuse of discretion. Congratulations to Steve and Garrett on a great outcome for our client. #IllinoisAppellateCourt #appellatelitigation

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Congratulations to Monica Burkoth and Sam Branum who received a not guilty verdict in federal court on behalf of the Sheriff of Cook County after a week-long trial. Plaintiff, a former jail detainee who uses a wheelchair, alleged that the Sheriff’s Office and Cook County discriminated against him in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act during his incarceration at the Cook County Jail in 2019-2020. Plaintiff claimed that the Sheriff failed to provide reasonable accommodations to provide him with restroom access while being held in the lockup at two different courthouses as well as reasonable access entering and exiting those courthouses. The jury agreed that Plaintiff had not met his burden of proving that the Sheriff of Cook County violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and found both the Sheriff and the County not liable. 

Johnson & Bell is pleased to announce our support of the Crown Point Police Department through Adopt-A-Car. The relationship between J&B and Crown Point PD has been strengthened through this partnership, which ensures squad cars are equipped with necessary emergency equipment.