Quinn Johnston

I am very proud of all of the Quinn attorneys and staff who contributed their time, talent, and treasure to pro bono this year.

The Peoria County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee awarded Quinn Johnston the 2024 Law Firm of the Year for its commitment to pro bono service. The annual award recognizes a law firm with attorneys providing life-changing legal services to low-income individuals and charitable organizations in the Tenth Judicial Circuit. Quinn Johnston is actively involved with the Tenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, Prairie State Legal services, Heart of Illinois United Way, Public Interest Law Initiative, and numerous other charitable causes which all facilitate resources and support for poverty-stricken litigants across Central Illinois. Managing partner, John Kamin, accepted the award on behalf of the firm stating, “Everyone at Quinn Johnston is grateful for the recognition of the Peoria County Bar Pro Bono Committee for our pro bono work. It’s our honor to serve individuals and organizations who would otherwise not have the quality legal representation they need. Our attorneys, Mitch Gilfillan, Christopher Crawford, and Alicia VanRheeden lead our team’s pro bono efforts. Their service and commitment inspire us all.” ? Quinn Johnston and other award recipients were honored at the annual Pro Bono Reception, Monday, October 21st. Numerous Judges, lawyers, and Appellate Court Justice, Amy Lannerd, were all present for the reception.

Following a three-day jury trial before Judge Stephen A. Kouri, a Tazewell County (IL)?jury awarded Quinn Johnston’s client a stunning $502,648.42 from a slip-and-fall accident. On April 28, 2021, QJ client entered a local automotive service dealership and suffered a broken ankle after slipping on an interior floor. Notably, a yellow caution sign was lying flat on the ground approximately 10 yards from the fall. Video evidence was submitted to the jury with multiple angles of the fall. QJ client, a 57-year-old female, incurred approximately $57,000 in medical bills and $15,000 in lost wages. Medical testimony suggested the client’s ankle injury was permanent. The jury found 0% comparative fault against QJ’s client. “This was a significant verdict and we are grateful the jury took this case seriously,” QJ partner, Mitch Gilfillan, said following the verdict. “We are a defense firm by trade, but trial litigators by nature. Every so often a conflict check clears and we can skillfully represent a client on the injured side of the caption. This verdict further proves that and our client could not be happier.” Gilfillan tried the case with QJ attorney, Ryan Keeton. The verdict was returned on August 28, 2024, and does not include prejudgment interest or costs of suit. The verdict is one of the largest reported slip-and-fall jury verdicts in the 10th Judicial Circuit Court’s history. The case caption: Tully v. Uftring Chevrolet, Inc., 21 L 58.

Quinn Johnston partner, Mitch Gilfillan, was named to Silver Waves Media’s 70 Most Impactful People in the Country as it relates to the NCAA’s new Name, Image, & Likeness legislation. Gilfillan was one of two people selected in the State of Illinois from a list that includes the nation’s most influential and well-known collegiate sports professionals. Based in Peoria, Illinois, Gilfillan is a frequent guest speaker regarding NIL representation and has traveled the country discussing sports law.?He will speak as a panel member at the Silver Waves Media NIL Summit in Las Vegas this October. ? As part of his law practice, Gilfillan advocates for clients in all forms of personal injury, medical malpractice defense, family dissolution, sports management, and advises individuals seeking both personal and professional guidance.?As a former NCAA March Madness Tournament participant, Gilfillan has carved out a practice working with coaches, players and NIL Collectives ranging from the Ivy League to the Big Ten. As part of his work, he has been featured and referenced on ESPN, CBS, NBC Sports, and the New York Post, among others. ? Silver Waves Media is based out of Los Angeles, California. The other top advisors can be found at: https://lnkd.in/gjtPpVmz

Quinn Johnston attorneys Matthew Smith and Samuel Perkins recently obtained summary judgment for a surgeon and his practice group in a negligence lawsuit in Peoria County. ? The plaintiff, a surgical nurse, alleged to have sustained a rotator cuff injury in the operating room when the defendant surgeon repositioned an overhead surgical monitor she was holding. As a result, the plaintiff required surgical repair of her rotator cuff and was unable to work for almost a year. The plaintiff alleged the surgeon owed a duty to avoid a foreseeable risk of injury associated with moving the monitor. The plaintiff also alleged the surgeon failed to follow appropriate safety protocols and policies when repositioning the surgical equipment. ? Smith and Perkins sought summary judgment on the basis that her injuries were unforeseeable and unlikely to occur, and thus the surgeon owed no duty to the plaintiff under Illinois law based upon the specific circumstances presented. They further argued that imposing a duty upon a surgeon to guard against injuries the plaintiff suffered would be overly burdensome and negatively impact the surgeon’s ability to provide appropriate care to patients during surgery, and imposing such a duty on surgeons would violate Illinois’ public policy. ? Following a hearing on the motion, the court agreed with the defendants’ position and granted summary judgment in their favor, holding that Illinois law did not impose a duty upon the surgeon to avoid the plaintiff’s injuries under the specific circumstances of the case. The successful defense of this case follows Smith’s recent string of four defense verdicts in medical malpractice cases in the last six months. https://lnkd.in/gyFqY3Dr

Quinn Johnston attorneys Matthew Smith and Alicia VanRheeden obtained a defense verdict for a surgeon and his practice group in a recent medical malpractice case in Peoria County. The plaintiff alleged that the surgeon failed to timely recognize and treat a bowel perforation during an epigastric hernia repair procedure. Smith and VanRheeden defended the surgeon on multiple grounds. After one week of trial, the plaintiff asked the jury for a combined $150,000 for pain and suffering and loss of normal life as well as approximately $108,000 toward medical expenses. The jury returned a defense verdict after 43 minutes of deliberations. This was Smith’s fourth defense verdict in the last five months. Read the details of the trial at https://lnkd.in/gnq8qxQs

Quinn Johnston attorneys Matthew Smith and Ryan Keeton obtained a not guilty verdict for a surgical group and three of its employed physicians in a recent medical malpractice case in Peoria County. ? The plaintiff alleged a failure to diagnose an anastomotic leak following a laparoscopic low anterior colon resection procedure resulting in the patient’s death two days after discharge from the hospital. Plaintiff argued that the surgeons negligently failed to recognize signs and symptoms of a leak during a four-day post-surgery hospitalization. Additionally, Plaintiff argued that the surgeons should have ordered additional diagnostic imaging and/or blood work to rule out a post-operative leak prior to discharge. During the course of trial, Smith and Keeton were able to eliminate certain allegations so that the only question posed to the jury was whether additional testing and imaging should have been ordered prior to the patient’s discharge. After two weeks of trial, Plaintiff asked the jury for over $10.9 million. The jury returned a defense verdict after approximately 3 hours of deliberations. This was Smith’s third defense verdict in the past 5 months (and the second on which Keeton assisted at trial). Read the full summary of the case at https://lnkd.in/gKVGPn7W

Quinn Johnston recently promoted Matthew Warner to partner. Matt joined Quinn Johnston in 2018 after working as a State’s Attorney for Peoria County. After trying more than 100 misdemeanor and felony cases, Matt was ready to broaden his experiences and take on new challenges. Since joining Quinn Johnston, Matt has worked with clients to leverage his prosecution experience to support their defense strategies in all areas of litigation with a focus on civil rights and governmental defense. “Matt’s trial experience as a felony prosecutor and work ethic at Quinn have made him a fearless advocate for our clients, particularly in defending law enforcement and correctional civil rights claims with me,” said Peter Jennetten. His demeanor, legal acumen, and ethics will make him a great partner, and we are proud to promote him. I look forward to watching his practice grow.” ? Please join us in congratulating Matt on his promotion.

Quinn Johnston recently promoted Matthew Warner to partner. Matt joined Quinn Johnston in 2018 after working as a State’s Attorney for Peoria County. After trying more than 100 misdemeanor and felony cases, Matt was ready to broaden his experiences and take on new challenges. Since joining Quinn Johnston, Matt has worked with clients to leverage his prosecution experience to support their defense strategies in all areas of litigation with a focus on civil rights and governmental defense. “Matt’s trial experience as a felony prosecutor and work ethic at Quinn have made him a fearless advocate for our clients, particularly in defending law enforcement and correctional civil rights claims with me,” said Peter Jennetten. His demeanor, legal acumen, and ethics will make him a great partner, and we are proud to promote him. I look forward to watching his practice grow.” ? Please join us in congratulating Matt on his promotion.

All of us at Quinn Johnston wish you a safe and happy holiday season.