ken levinson

Founding Partner Ken Levinson to speak at Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys Seminar Series

March 7, 2016 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Ken’s presentation takes place on Wednesday, March 9

Levinson and Stefani founding partner Ken Levinson will headline the upcoming edition of the Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys Seminar Series, an ongoing presentation that welcomes prominent trial lawyers to share practical insight on ways to better represent their clients. The Seminar Series takes place on Wednesday, March 9 from 12-1:30pm at The Club at Key Center (127 Public Square, Cleveland, OH).

Titled Using Focus Groups to Maximize Case Value, Levinson’s talk will address the use of focus groups to improve odds of winning cases. The process involves recruiting a panel to evaluate evidence and testimony to help attorneys analyze facts, frame positions, and shape questioning based on answers provided by participating group members.

Levinson has successfully conducted hundreds of focus groups on behalf of attorneys and firms both locally and nationally, many of which have gone on to achieve successful jury verdicts as a result. He frequently speaks at seminars around the country to discuss best practices and ways to capitalize on the information gathered during the litigation process.

Levinson is a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College and the author of Litigating Major Automobile Injury and Death Cases, the newest volume of the reference litigation series published by AAJ Press/Thomson Reuters. He was recently listed in the Illinois Super Lawyers Top 100 in 2016, his second appearance on the list. He is the founding partner of Levinson and Stefani, a Chicago-based law firm offering client-first legal representation. The firm focuses on truck, auto and bus-related accidents, as well as child injury cases.

Download a PDF version of the release by clicking here

Levinson and Stefani attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers

January 13, 2016 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Levinson and Stefani is thrilled to announce that all three of its attorneys have been recognized by the rating service Super Lawyers in 2016. Ken has been selected to the 2016 Illinois Super Lawyers Top 100 list, his second appearance on the list, while Jay and Brett have been recognized as 2016 Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Stars. More information can be found in the release below. Congratulations, gentlemen!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2016

CHICAGO — Founding partner Ken Levinson has been selected to the 2016 Illinois Super Lawyers Top 100, part of Super Lawyers’ annual listing. This marks Levinson’s second appearance on the Top 100 list; he has been listed an Illinois Super Lawyer every year since 2010. No more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

Levinson was recognized for his work on behalf of injury survivors and child abuse victims, including a record $43 million jury verdict for a child abuse victim. He has successfully handled hundreds of personal injury and wrongful death cases. Levinson is also the co-author of the newly released 2015-2016 edition of Litigating Major Automobile Injury and Death Cases, an ongoing series that helps plaintiff’s attorneys build strong cases for their clients. The two-volume set is published by AAJ Press/Thomson Reuters.

Additionally, Partner Jay Stefani and Associate Attorney Brett Manchel were honored as Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Stars. Stefani was previously named to the list in 2012, 2014 and 2015. This year marks Manchel’s first appearance on the Rising Stars list. Fewer than 2.5 percent of Illinois lawyers under the age of 40 are selected Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Super Lawyers Magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-accredited law school libraries. Super Lawyers is also published as a special section in leading city and regional magazines across the country.

In the United States, Super Lawyers Magazine is published in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., reaching more than 13 million readers.

Founded in 2014, Levinson and Stefani is a Chicago-based law firm offering client-first legal representation. Founded by Ken Levinson and Jay Stefani, the firm focuses on truck, auto and bus-related accidents, as well as child injury cases.

Download a PDF version by clicking here

Founding Partner Ken Levinson Authors Latest Edition of ‘Litigating Major Automobile Injury Cases’

January 12, 2016 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Ken has co-authored the 2015-2016 edition of Litigating Major Automobile Injury and Death Cases, the newest volume of the reference litigation series published by AAJ Press/Thomson Reuters. The series is designed to help plaintiff’s attorneys build strong cases for their clients by highlighting real-life case studies related to Major Auto Injury and Death.

Read the complete release below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2016

PARTNER KEN LEVINSON AUTHORS LATEST EDITION OF LITIGATING MAJOR AUTOMOBILE INJURY AND DEATH CASES

CHICAGO — Levinson and Stefani founding partner Ken Levinson has co-authored the 2015-2016 edition of Litigating Major Automobile Injury and Death Cases, the newest volume of the reference litigation series published by AAJ Press/Thomson Reuters.

Part of an ongoing series, Litigating Major Automobile Injury and Death Cases is designed to help plaintiff’s attorneys build strong cases for their clients by highlighting real-life case studies related to Major Auto Injury and Death. The series features written discovery, depositions, medical and other expert witness testimony, and aspects of automobile jury trials, among dozens of other topics. The latest edition includes two high-profile cases that have dominated headlines in 2015, including:

The legal requirements of air bag installation and a recent case involving Takata airbag inflators, which, in some instances, ignited with explosive force, causing metal shards to spray across the vehicle. Reports showed that eight people have been killed and at least 160 have been injured by exploding Takata air bags with more than 70 proposed class action lawsuits and dozens more cases filed in state courts.
Ignition switch litigation due to negligent practices, most notably a recall of 10 million motor vehicles manufactured by General Motors that resulted in 114 deaths and 229 injuries. The overview contained here is intended to provide a basic understanding of the problems with the GM ignitions switches and GM’s knowledge of them, and to summarize the current state of litigation.

The two-volume series is co-authored by Thomas D’Amore, Karen Koehler, and Michael D. Freeman.

About Ken Levinson
Ken Levinson is a passionate advocate for accident survivors and child safety. He has been practicing law in Illinois for more than 20 years, during which time he was appointed an Assistant Illinois Attorney General before entering private practice. He was named one of the “40 Lawyers under 40 to Watch” in Illinois in 2002 by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company and was listed by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine as one of the top attorneys in Illinois between 2010–2016; he was listed in the Illinois Super Lawyers Top 100 in 2012 and 2016.

Levinson frequently speaks on child safety issues to parent and community groups. In addition, he teaches other lawyers how to better represent injured clients through nationwide speaking engagements. Levinson received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Hobart College in 1989 and his Juris Doctor in 1992 from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

About Levinson and Stefani
Founded in 2014, Levinson and Stefani is a Chicago-based law firm offering client-first legal representation. Founded by Ken Levinson and Jay Stefani, the firm focuses on truck, auto and bus-related accidents, as well as child injury cases.

Download a PDF version by clicking here

Ken makes guest appearance at Florida Justice Association seminar

December 28, 2015 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Earlier this month, Ken was invited to speak as a guest faculty member for the Hell on the Highways: Motorcycles, Trucks and Roads Seminar, presented by the Florida Justice Association.

The three-day conference provided hands-on, practical experience on litigation practices for lawyers, as told by nationally renowned trucking accident lawyers from around the country. Ken and his fellow faculty members led sessions by noting examples and successful litigation methods, based on previously tried cases and their experiences in the field.

Ken spoke on the benefits of utilizing focus groups as a way to prove liability and damages in trucking cases. During the session, Ken provided insight on how to select members of focus groups and how to ask the right questions to improve the odds of a winning a case.

Throughout his career, Ken has organized and led focus groups for high-profile cases involving auto and trucking accidents. While managing his own case load, Ken travels the country working with firms to gather important information to formulate strategies before going to trial.

The Florida Justice Association, formerly the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (AFTL), is dedicated to strengthening and upholding Florida’s civil justice system and protecting the rights of Florida’s citizens and consumers. FJA works in the legislative, political and public arenas to ensure that Floridians know and understand the importance of their rights to justice and to make certain that these rights, which are at the very core of what it means to be American, are safeguarded and protected.

Orientation Day: Back to law school

August 31, 2015 by Ken Levinson Leave a Comment

A special stop at DePaul University.

Almost 26 years to the day, I started my first day of law school. I was excited, nervous and not sure what to expect. I was meeting new people, getting to know the campus and privately wondering if I’d make it through three years of intense study. There were always moments of doubt, but I knew I was making the right decision.

Roughly a week ago, I was reminded of that decision and how much I love being a lawyer. On Wednesday, DePaul University welcomed its newest crop of law students for the 2015–2016 academic year, part of the Professionalism Orientation Program, a statewide initiative that takes place annually at all nine of Illinois’ law schools. The program is designed to give students an opportunity to interact with their peers and a few experienced lawyers from around the city. The best part: it gives local attorneys like me a chance to mingle with the future of the profession.

As part of the program, an Illinois Supreme Court Justice speaks to incoming students about the responsibilities of being a lawyer. Students then take the Pledge of Professionalism, and later, they participate in a facilitated discussion (led by practicing attorneys) that touches on the ethical and moral dilemmas that often arise in the practice of law.

Our group talked about a range of topics: The process of disclosing delicate information, even if it might be detrimental to a case; the context with which deleted social media posts constitutes destroying evidence and violating ethical rules; client confidentiality; and professionalism, especially. The students voiced their thoughts on courtesy and cordialness, right and wrong, which turned into an important part of our discussion that afternoon.

Before then, I had a great conversation with members of the DePaul Law faculty and the invited attorneys who were facilitating other groups. We talked a lot about the responsibilities we have to our clients, but also to one another. I was reminded of one of my first cases as a young lawyer. I’d been working with a much more experienced colleague who’d been haggling with a defense attorney all morning. It was a heated discussion, firing on all cylinders. Two people couldn’t have been at greater odds. So it was surprising when both attorneys, after the fact, decided to grab lunch together.

I don’t expect all opposing counsels will want to break bread after a heated debate, but I was struck by the similarities in the context of the 20-or-so students that I’d been charged to lead. There were lots of passionate opinions, but respectful ones nonetheless. And when it comes down to it, respect is the most important as we work with our peers. It was nice to see that same feeling reflected during the first day of law school. The students at DePaul are embarking on a great journey, and they all seem headed in a great direction. I felt privileged to be just a small part of it.

Talking liability waivers with Ken (Shhh, it’s a webinar!)

August 27, 2015 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Do waivers mean no liability?

We all know Ken is thrilled when he doesn’t have to wear a suit and tie to a conference, one of the added benefits of being asked to take part in a webinar.

Here he is as one of the panelists on Defeating Liability Waivers in Personal Injury Cases, organized by Strafford Publications. You’ve likely signed a waiver at some point in your life, whether at the gym, an amusement park or a spa. Ken’s at work right now discussing how signing a waiver form doesn’t necessarily protect a company or individual from negligence.

Under the right circumstances, a waiver can be challenged as unenforceable according to state laws. Some of the key issues he and the other panelists are discussing at the moment:

What makes a liability release form valid or invalid?
How can personal injury attorneys defeat liability releases on substantive law grounds?
How can personal injury attorneys use procedural strategies to defeat personal injury releases?
What are the public policy considerations that support and oppose liability waivers?
Are liability releases signed by a parent on behalf of a minor child enforceable?
When are liability releases prohibited?

If you’d like to know more or have questions about liability waivers, feel free to drop Ken a line.