Firm News

Levinson and Stefani sponsors Bike Lids 4 Safe Kids during National Night Out

August 2, 2017 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

For the second consecutive year, Levinson and Stefani proudly sponsored Bike Lids 4 Safe Kids, a summer-long advocacy program hosted by PediaTrust and the Pediatric Associates of Barrington, designed to encourage safe bike riding among local kids. Once again, the firm donated helmets for last night’s raffle.

The premise for Bike Lids 4 Safe Kids is effective and fun. Every summer, the city of Cary and Fox River Grove enlists local police officers to patrol the streets looking for children riding bikes. If the kids are wearing helmets, the officers give them tokens for free items and treats at local businesses. The campaign culminates just prior to the upcoming school year as part of National Night Out, the community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and camaraderie in neighborhoods across the country. Millions of people take part in National Night Out by hosting block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and exhibits.

The firm has close ties to Bike Lids 4 Safe Kids. Jay’s wife, Maggie Stefani, a physician and member of the Pediatric Associates of Barrington, founded the program. Jay and Maggie were both on hand last night to dole out helmets and take part in activities. It’s a special event for Jay, an active bike rider and safety advocate. As part of his practice, Jay represents bike crash victims who have suffered severe injury in and around the Chicago area.

Helmets are just one of the many ways to prevent serious head injuries, yet many cyclists choose to ride without them. A 2016 study published by Australian statisticians Jake Olivier and Prudence Creighton from the University of New South Wales found that the use of helmets by cyclist from around the world reduced significant head injuries by nearly 70 percent. The state of Illinois does not currently enforce a helmet law.

Ken elected Chair of the AAJ Motor Vehicle Section

July 31, 2017 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Serving a one-year term through 2018

Founding partner Ken Levinson has been elected Chair of the American Association for Justice Motor Vehicle Section, serving a one-year term through 2018. This comes on the heels of the AAJ’s annual convention in Boston, which welcomes thousands of trial lawyers each year for a series of seminars and networking events designed to help attorneys when representing clients.

The Motor Vehicle Section of the AAJ addresses federal no-fault issues and focuses on auto collision cases, truck safety, highway design, low speed impact, soft tissue injuries and premises liability. The section is comprised of experienced trial lawyers whose practice focuses on truck litigation and personal injury.

As Chair, Ken will oversee its members and bylaws. He will lead efforts to change and/or modify existing policy as it relates to the section’s goals and objectives, work with members to organize webinars and other informational programs related to injury litigation, and serve as representative during other AAJ events. Ken was formerly the Chair of the AAJ’s Trucking Litigation Group Education Committee, and currently serves as the Illinois Trial Lawyer Association’s Illinois State Delegate to AAJ. Ken is also a Co-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Solo/Small Firm Committee and is frequently invited to speak as a faculty member at various trial lawyer programs throughout the country.

The AAJ provides trial attorneys with information, professional support and a nationwide network that enables them to most effectively and expertly represent clients. The mission of the American Association for Justice is to promote a fair and effective justice system—and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice in America’s courtrooms, even when taking on the most powerful interests.

Ken and Jay head to Boston for annual AAJ Convention

July 18, 2017 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Founding Partner Ken Levinson and Managing Partner Jay Stefani will attend the American Association for Justice 2017 annual convention at the Hynes Convention Center, July 22-25 in Boston, Massachusetts. The annual AAJ convention welcomes thousands of accomplished trial lawyers from around the country for a combination of networking events and seminars to discuss the latest developments in trial advocacy.

As leaders of the AAJ’s Interstate Trucking Litigation Group and other sections, Ken and Jay will both moderate discussions related to trucking litigation and ways for lawyers to improve relationships with their clients. They will also touch on recent developments related to federal de-regulation and how trial lawyers must act to protect crash victims from special interests.

Ken currently serves as the ITLG section’s Chair of the Education Committee, Vice Chair of the Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway & Premises Liability Section, and Secretary of Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway, and Premises Liability Section. Ken is also the co-author of 2016-17 edition of Litigating Major Automobile Injury and Death Cases, a comprehensive litigation series published by AAJ Press/Thomson Reuters. Ken recently oversaw the successful $6.25 million settlement related to a wrongful death case involving a van owned and operated by a major trucking company.

Jay serves as Parliamentarian for the AAJ’s Sole Practitioner & Small Firm Section. He is a member of the AAJ’s Trucking Litigation Group, Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section, and the Nursing Home Litigation Group. He also works with the Trucking Litigation Group’s Side Underride Guard Task Force, advocating for a federal mandate that would require all large trucks to equip their vehicles with protective side guards. He has been recognized by various publications, including the local Chicago Reader, for his advocacy.

Court Ordered: Pegasus in Greektown

June 8, 2017 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

We decided to put our appetites to good use

One look at our Facebook page confirms that we enjoy eating. A lot. We’ve decided to put our appetites to good use. The focus of our new philanthropic effort is called Court Ordered, and it’s a fun way to enjoy our meals, pay tribute to Chicago’s diverse food scene, and give back to those less fortunate.

For a good meal sampled on special occasions, we’ll make a small donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository as a reminder that many people can’t afford small luxuries. We’ll also take a crack at chronicling our food adventures (with special guests here and there).

For our inaugural outing, we welcomed our friend and Hamilton star Remmie Bourgeois (thanks to our legal assistant, Julius Carter, for the introduction). Remmie is an actor, singer, dancer, and one of the nicest guys you’ll meet. During lunch, Remmie regaled us with stories from the Hamilton set, sharing a few industry secrets and what it’s like to perform for one of the most successful musicals in Broadway history. Thanks for joining us, Remmie. We have no doubt we’ll be seeing you in many more shows in the years ahead.

Our first outing (a brief highlight)

When you go to Greektown, you’re going for the Greek. A stalwart since 1990, Pegasus is one of many homegrown spots with an eye towards tradition and fresh ingredients. The portions are reliably big and the bread baskets get replenished often. But what stands out here is the setting in which they’re received, and it starts with the people.

There’s an element of the Old World at Pegasus. Among the murals of ocean vistas and islands is a serving staff that ensures you’re taken care of, with all the pleasantries of friends amongst friends. Ours was particularly generous and accommodating, delivering each dish with a smile. Our server was helpful and always ready to answer questions, stopping by on occasion to enjoy a few laughs with our group as we feasted on grilled octopus, authentic Greek gyro, and delicious Greek salad, among many other things.

Needless to say, at Pegasus the Greek isn’t just good, it’s great.

Jay speaks at the NJAJ Boardwalk Seminar

May 10, 2017 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Levinson and Stefani Managing Partner Jay Stefani was invited to speak at last month’s New Jersey Association for Justice Boardwalk Seminar, one of the country’s largest legal seminars for trial attorneys.

During the seminar, Stefani spoke about issues related to discovery. His presentation included ways in which attorneys can utilize surveillance cameras to improve their odds of obtaining successful verdicts, as well as interpreting the effects of social media on prospective cases. He also spoke on issues related to unique damages in child injury cases and how to account for overlooked details during the discovery period.

Stefani has handled numerous cases stemming from personal injury matters over the past 12 years. The majority have required extensive discovery, including the recent $6.25 million settlement for the wrongful death of a father of five young children.

The 2017 Boardwalk Seminar welcomed more than 1,000 lawyers from around the country and featured 32 seminars over three days—a unique format designed to allow attorneys to move from seminar to seminar, hearing different topics as desired and thereby creating a seminar tailored to their specific needs.

In 2016, Jay was elected Parliamentarian for the American Association for Justice’s Sole Practitioner & Small Firm Section, serving a one-year term for 2016-2017. He is also a member of the AAJ’s Trucking Litigation Group, Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section, and the Nursing Home Litigation Group. He also works with the Trucking Litigation Group’s Side Underride Guard Task Force (2015-present), advocating for improved trucking safety in cities across the country, most notably in Chicago.

Ken moderates a conversation at the Chicago Bar Association, May 25

May 3, 2017 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

From left: Levinson and Stefani associate attorney Brett Manchel, founding partner Ken Levinson, and managing partner Jay Stefani

Levinson and Stefani founding partner and Chicago Bar Association Solo/Small Firm Practitioners Committee co-chair Ken Levinson is set to moderate a conversation titled “The Lawyer’s Role in a Changing Society,” presented by the CBA’s Solo/Small Firm Practitioners Committee. The talk takes place on Thursday, May 25 from 3-6pm at the CBA.

The law is changing and so is society. Many lawyers look for new, trending areas to hone their niche, but many more are asking, “How can I get involved?” The program features a panel of experienced attorneys from across the legal spectrum, addressing the ways in which lawyers can build their client base by focusing on the nuances their practice.

Participating attorneys include:

Jon Loevy of Loevy & Loevy (Civil Rights: Your Gate to Involvement);
Fiona McEntee of McEntee Law Group (Immigration: What Can You Do? What Can an Immigration Lawyer Do?);
Laura Jacksack of Jacksack Law Offices (Election Law: running for Office and Participating in the Election Process);
Hannah Garst of the Law Offices of Hannah Garst (Appointments in Federal Court and Other Opportunities for Involvement);
and Wendy Muchman of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Committee (Ethical Considerations for Lawyers Working in Unfamiliar Areas)

The CBA presents over 120 seminars a year that meet minimum continuing legal education requirements in Illinois and many other states. Seminars are held in-person at the CBA Building, 321 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago.