
PRACTICES
Insurance DefenseInsurance Coverage Opinion, Analysis, & Litigation
Employment Law & Litigation
General Litigation
EDUCATION
- The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois
- J.D., 2006
- Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island
- B.A., Political Science, 2003
ADMISSIONS
- Illinois, 2006
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
-
Defense Verdict - Negligent Entrustment case where Plaintiffs asked the jury to award $43 million
Lori A. Vanderlaan and Mathew K. HargraveMarch 2020BVH obtains a defense jury verdict in a negligent entrustment case where two young men died and Plaintiffs asked the jury to award $43 million.
-
2-615 Dismissal With Prejudice Affirmed on Appeal - Alleged Injury due to Restaurant Melee
Lori A. Vanderlaan and Mathew K. HargraveMay 2017BVH prevails on appeal after obtaining dismissal with prejudice on behalf of an alleged restaurant owner where Plaintiff alleges to have been injured during a fight at the restaurant.
-
Dismissal with Prejudice - Flooring Subcontractor Sued by General Contractor
Mathew K. HargraveMay 2017BVH obtains a dismissal with prejudice of a third party complaint for contribution where investigation revealed that the general contractor did not conduct a proper investigation or have a good faith basis for bringing the flooring contractor into the case where Plaintiff claimed over $100,000 in medical bills.
-
Summary Judgment Affirmed on Appeal - Alleged Injury from Concrete Pump on Construction Site
Lori A. Vanderlaan and Mathew K. HargraveMay 2017BVH prevails on appeal after obtaining summary judgment in favor of a concrete pumping company where Plaintiff alleged a career-ending injury due to the concrete pump operator's actions in controlling the pump.
-
Settlement – Parking Lot Wrongful Death
Mathew K. HargraveJuly 2016BVH obtains favorable settlement in wrongful death and injury case involving an alleged dangerous parking lot design and configuration
-
Settlement – Parking Lot Trip and Fall
Mathew K. HargraveJune 2016BVH obtains favorable settlement soon after eliciting treating physician testimony reducing claimed medical by $85,000
-
Dismissal - Animal Attack/No Duty and Exclusivity of Worker’s Compensation
Lori A. Vanderlaan and Mathew K. HargraveApril 2015BVH obtains dismissal of a dog attack claim based on there being no duty owed by Defendant and separately based on the exclusivity of worker’s compensation as the remedy for Plaintiff’s claim.
-
Settlement - Miscarriage/Motor Vehicle Accident
Lori A. Vanderlaan and Mathew K. HargraveMay 2014BVH obtains favorable settlement in favor of a commercial vehicle owner and operator in a case alleging a rear-end motor vehicle accident caused Plaintiff’s miscarriage.
-
Binding Arbitration Decision - Homeowner Not Liable for Chimney Collapse
Scott D. McKenna and Mathew K. HargraveMay 2013BVH obtains not liable finding at Binding Arbitration in favor of a rental property owner in a case alleging a failure to maintain and inspect the property allegedly resulting in a chimney collapse and Plaintiff falling 24' off the roof and sustaining severe hip fractures and $1.3 million in special damages claimed.
-
Jury Verdict - Bicyclist Rides Into Trench Under Construction
Scott D. McKenna and Mathew K. HargraveMarch 2013BVH obtains a jury verdict significantly lower than the amount the jury was asked to award in a spinal cord injury case.
-
Settlement - Wrongful Death/Product Design Defect
James F. Best and Mathew K. HargraveNovember 2012BVH obtains favorable settlement in favor of a design engineering firm that designed bicycle racks used by transit authorities throughout the country in a case where Plaintiff died after being run over by a transit bus while attempting to remove her bicycle from the front-mounted bicycle rack. Discovery proved that the design was not defective in any way and complied with the transit authority's specifications. As a result, and while the design firm's Motion for Summary Judgment was pending, Plaintiff settled with it for less than 1% of the total settlement.