J. Timothy Eaton

Tim has a distinguished career in commercial and appellate litigation, as well as arbitration, and has been involved in a number of high-profile cases. He has tried cases in both state and federal courts and before arbitration panels for over 40 years. Some of these cases have involved:

• Multi-million dollar contract, joint venture and lease disputes.
• Complex coverage issues.
• Class actions.
• Significant constitutional questions.
• All varieties of employment-related claims.
• Equitable causes of actions, including injunctions.
• Bankruptcy fraud.
• Environmental claims.

Significant Commercial Litigation Representations:

• A Fortune 100 company in matters in federal district court in Boston involving the discharge of a $6 million claim in bankruptcy.
• A Fortune 500 company in a:
  • $40 million claim in the Commercial Division of Cook County arising from claims of a quasi-joint venture in Poland.
  • $250 million breach of contract claim arising from a quasi-joint venture.
  • A multi-million dollar joint venture in a contract dispute before the International Centre for Dispute Resolution.
• An ESOP in a multi-million dollar ERISA claim in the Northern District of Illinois based upon breaches of fiduciary duties by a former owner and trustee.
• A securities brokerage firm in claims involving breach of fiduciary duty and tortuous interference with contract.
• A major investment house in litigation of alleged breaches of trust indenture agreements, contracts, and securities documents.

Recent Appellate Representations:

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

• National Police Association Inc. v. Gannett Co. Inc., et al. (2023) (Represented Newspapers and AP in defamation case involving the single publication rule.)
• Dean v. Wexford (2020) (Represented medical provider in suit brought by inmate.)
• LeDure v. Union Pacific Railroad (2019) (Represented railroad in a FELA appeal.)
• Lisa Marlow v. Mark Hale, et al. (2019) (Represented a Fortune 100 Company in an appeal involving objections to a class action settlement.)
• Liliya Turubchuk, et al. v. Southern Illinois Asphalt Company, Inc. (2018) (Represented a construction company in an alleged negligent misrepresentation claim.)
• Len Boogaard and Joanne Boogaard v. National Hockey League, et al. (2017) (Represented an NHL player in a wrongful death claim.)
• Mark Hale, et al. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile I, et al. (2017) (Represented a Fortune 100 Company in an appeal from a class action certification.)
• United States ex rel. Pileco, Inc. v. Slurry Systems, (2016) (Represented a foreign manufacturer on breach of contract claims.)
• Chicago Teachers Union, Local No. 1 v. Board of Educ. of City of Chicago, (2015) (Represented Board of Education in class certification issue.)
• Charlene Craig, et al. v. FedEx Ground Package System Inc., (2015) (Represented a Fortune 500 company in multiple class action appeals involving employment classification status arising from an MDL.)
• Philadelphia Indemnity Ins. Co. v. Chicago Title Insurance Company and Western Capital Partners, LLC, (2014) (Represented a title company in an insurance coverage dispute with an insurance carrier.)
• Corey H. v. Chicago Bd. Of Educ., (2013) (Represented Board of Education whether a consent decree shall be continued based upon a change in the law.)
• Minn-Chem, Incorporated, et al. v. Agrium Incorporated, et al., (2012) (Represented a group of domestic agricultural companies on a plaintiff’s anti-trust claim.)
• Janice M. Howland and Scott Tegtmeyer v. First American Title Insurance Company, (2012) (Represented a plaintiff’s class from the denial of a class certification.)
• ATA Airlines, Inc. v. Federal Express Corporation, (2011) (Represented a Fortune 500 company in an appeal from a $70 million breach of contract jury verdict.)
• Thompson v. Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, (2012) (Represented hospital in alleged discrimination allegations.)
• Bowens v. Quinn, (2009) (Represented a former governor of Illinois regarding his parole and pardon powers.)
• American River Transp. Co. v. Ryan, (2009) (Represented a Plaintiff in a maritime matter.)
• Illinois School Dist. Agency v. Pacific Ins. Co. Ltd., (2009) (Represented school district agency in a coverage dispute.)
• Ridge Chrysler Jeelp, LLC v. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas LLC, (2008) (Represented a distributor in an alleged wrongful termination case.)
• Certain Underwitersat Lloyd’s London v. Argonaut Ins. Co., (2007) (Represented an insurer in a coverage dispute.)
•  Toledo, Peoria & Western Ry v. Surface Transportation Bd., (2006) (Represented a railroad in an administrative review matter.)
• Schmude v. Sheahan, (2005) (Represented an attorney in a sanctions matter.)

Supreme Court of Illinois

• Doe v. Lyft (2021) (Represented Plaintiff in a case arising from a sexual assault by a Lyft driver.)
• Dent v. Constellation New Energy (2021) (Represented Respondent in Discovery where Petitioner is seeking identity of female who made allegations against him in an internal investigation.)
• Steed v. Rezin Orthopedics (2020) (Filed amicus brief for area hospitals on institutional negligence.)
• Yarbrough v. Northwestern Memorial Hospital (2017) (Filed amicus brief for area hospitals on liability issue.)
• Bueker v. Madison County, (2016) (Represented a surety company on the standing of taxpayers to bring action against the insurer directly on a surety policy for a public official.)
• J&J Ventures Gaming, LLC v. Wild, Inc. et al., (2016) (Represented a video gaming operator on the jurisdiction of state courts over-pre-license agreements.)
• Jones v. Municipal Employees’ Annuity & Benefit Fund of Chicago, et al., (2016) (Represented a laborers’ pension fund on the constitutionality of a state statute.)
• Illinois Competitive Energy Association et al. v. Illinois Commerce Commission, et al., (2016) (Represented an independent energy provider in an electric energy market regulation dispute concerning the authority of Illinois Commerce Commission to compel independent energy providers to purchase energy from agency-dictated sources.)
• Matthews v. Chicago Transit Authority, (2016) (Represented a public transportation company on pension-related issues.)
• O’Toole v. The Chicago Zoological Society d/b/a Brookfield Zoo (2015) (filed amicus brief on behalf of Lincoln Park Zoological Society, Chicago Park District, Chicago Horticultural Society and the Forest Preserve on issues relating to immunity.)
• Folta v. Ferro Engineering, (2015) (Represented a plaintiff on the applicability of the Workers Compensation Act’s statute of limitations.)
• ISBA v. Tuzzolino, (2015) (Represented an insurance company regarding a rescission issue.)
• Goldfine v. Barrack, Ferrazano, Kirschbaum & Perlman et al, (2014) (Represented a Chicago law firm in a legal malpractice case involving the application of a state securities law to damages.)
• Pusateri v. Peoples Gas Light & Coke Company, (2014) (Represented a utility company involving the validity of a whistle-blower’s claim.)
• Shahid R. Khan, et al. v. Deutsche Bank, (2012) (Represented a major bank regarding fiduciary duties and statute of limitations involving a tax shelter.)
• Citizens Opposing Pollution v. ExxonMobil Coal, USA, (2012) (Represented a major oil company involving an environmental cleanup issue.)
• Powell v. Dean Foods Company, et al., (2012) (Represented a plaintiff in a production liability case where the issue was the substitution of judge motion.)
• Weems v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 31, (2012) (Represented a government official regarding an injunction barring the closing of a state prison.)
• Walter Fennell v. Illinois Central Railroad Company, (2012) (Represented a plaintiff in an asbestos lawsuit on the issue of forum non conveniens.)
• Cynthia Simpkins v. CSX Transportation, (2012) (Represented a plaintiff in an asbestos case involving second-hand exposure.)
• Michael E. Avery, et al. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., (2011) (Represented a major insurance company regarding a recusal issue on the court.)
• Caro ex rel. State v. Blagojevich, (2008) (Represented a former governor regarding the legality of a health care program.)
• Beverly Sugar Young, et al. v. North Shore Gas Company, (2007) (Represented a Chicago utility in a mass tort action involving a foreclosure issue.)
• VPOS v. Ginger Haas and Legacy Incorporated, (2007) (Represented a mid-sized company regarding the applicability of Rule 216 sanctions for an unrelated discovery violation.)
• Sonia DeLuna, et al. v. Eloy Burciaga and Barbara Clinite and Michael Rathsack, (2006) (Represented a lawyer on a statute of repose issue in a legal malpractice case.)
• Sharon Price and Michael Fruth, et al. v. Phillip Morris Incorporated, (2005) (Represented all (an) Illinois law school on the issue of a cy pres award in a class action.)
• Eychaner, et al. v. Theodore Gross, et al., (2002) (Represented a Chicago University over the issue of donor intent in creating a trust.)
• People v. Philip Morris, Inc., (2001) (Represented a Chicago law firm over the issue of jurisdiction of a multimillion dollar attorney’s lien petition in the tobacco litigation settlement.)