Kurowski Shultz LLC

Kurowski Shultz is pleased to announce the addition of Jennifer M. Valentino as an Associate of the Firm

mrau — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:57:32 +0000

Jennifer Valentino received her undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University. While attending SLU, Jennifer was a member of the Division I Women’s Swim Team and held the 200 butterfly school record. A native of St. Louis, Jennifer … Continue reading →

Kurowski Shultz is pleased to announce the addition of Robert C. Creighton, Lacy M. Fields, and Timothy P. Tryniecki as Associates of the Firm

mrau — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:46:20 +0000

Rob Creighton is a native of St. Clair county Illinois and graduated with his Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Lacy Fields received her undergraduate degree in Human Biology and Psychology from the University of Kansas. She graduated with her … Continue reading →

Kurowski Shultz is pleased to announce Candice C. Kusmer has become a Principal in the Firm

mrau — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:45:27 +0000

Having demonstrated outstanding legal and trial skills, leadership, and excellence in client service Candice Kusmer has been named a Principal in the firm effective January 1, 2013. Candice joined Kurowski Shultz in 2007 and represents clients involved in several areas of complex litigation. She is experienced in all phases of pre-trial and trial practice, with special concentration in briefing and oral argument at both the appellate and trial-court levels. She has been selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer – Rising Star in 2009-2010 and 2012-2013, which accounts for no more than 2.5% of attorneys in Illinois under the age of 40 or those in practice for 10 years or less.

Candice is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and received her J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. She resides in Belleville, Illinois with her husband, Bob, and daughters, Jennifer and Dylan Beth.

John Kurowski Again Leads Human Rights Symposium in Poland

mrau — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:44:24 +0000

On October 21^st and 22^nd, 2012, John Kurowski led the Seventh annual symposium, Human Rights and a Just Society – Contemporary Problems of Human Rights and International Law – views from the United States of America and Poland, in Torun, Poland. This year’s program was entitled “Human Trafficking: A 21^st Century International Human Rights Issue”. The sponsors were proud to host three renowned experts for its program: Italian Barbara Sidoti who has taught and consulted in this field for many years, Iana Matei, founder and Executive Director of Reaching Out Romania and Joanna Garnier of La Strada International in Warsaw.

The program was cosponsored by Nicolaus Copernicus University, the John Felice Rome Center of Loyola University of Chicago located in Rome, Italy, Mr. Kurowski’s alma mater, and the Polish Studies Program of Loyola University of Chicago. This symposium is the creation of Mr. Kurowski and NCU faculty members Dr. Michal Balcerzak and Dr. Marcin Kaldunski. Mr. Kurowski is a Visiting Professor at the NCU School of Law and Administration. At various times over the past five years he has taught courses there in American Civil Litigation and Human Rights in the NCU comparative law program.

Monroe County Judge Awards Summary Judgment to KS Client in Wrongful Death Case Involving Suicide of Student

mrau — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 22:42:17 +0000

On August 20, 2012 Monroe County, lllinois Circuit Judge Dennis Doyle entered the last in a series of orders that granted summary judgment and dismissed a claim based upon the Illinois Tort Immunity Act against KS client, the Valmeyer Illinois Community Unit School District No. 3. The plaintiffs were the parents of a 15 year old Valmeyer high school student who committed suicide in October, 2008. They claimed that the conduct of two Valmeyer administrators during the course of the investigation of a disciplinary incident involving their son caused or contributed to their son’s suicide. The defendants had vigorously denied the allegations and successfully sought and obtained dismissal based upon Section 2-201 of the Tort Immunity Act which immunizes school administrator conduct while making policy and acting in their discretion. The court found that the disciplinary investigation fell within the immunity provisions. This case appears to be the first of its kind in Illinois and was closely watched by school districts and their insurers throughout the state. John Kurowski argued the case and was assisted with briefing and investigation of the case by associate John Hipskind.

Kurowski and Shultz are Featured Speakers at the Perrin Conference, “Asbestos Litigation Conference: A National Overview & Outlook”, September 10th – 12th, 2012 in San Francisco

mrau — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 20:45:05 +0000

KS partners John Kurowski and Bill Shultz were among a distinguished panel of leading plaintiff and defense asbestos attorneys who spoke at the national Perrin Conference in September. Mr. Shultz discussed Emerging and Specialized Claims on Monday, September 10th. With Motley, Rice plaintiff lawyer Anne Kearse, Mr. Kurowski focused on MDL 875: New Issues & Challenges in Managing the Federal Court Docket on Wednesday, September 12th. Mr. Kurowski tried one of the first cases remanded from MDL 875 before MDL judge, the Honorable Eduardo Robreno in November, 2010.

The Firm Continues Its Support of the St. Louis Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

mrau — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:11:21 +0000

For the fifth consecutive year, KS sponsored a team for The St. Louis Walk for the Cure to benefit the JDRF on October 7th, 2012 in Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri. John Kurowski serves on the Board of Directors of the St. Louis JDRF and is active in fundraising and Government Affairs. This year the firm reached its goal of raising $10,000.

St. Clair County Judge Rules in Favor of KS Clients in Critical Forum Non Conveniens Motions in Asbestos Claims

mrau — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:10:30 +0000

On June 9, 2011 St. Clair County trial judge Andrew Gleeson granted four motions to dismiss based upon forum non conveniens in the cases of Kumiega, Langevin, Greenwalt and Daniel. The motions were briefed and argued by KS partners, John Kurowski and William Shultz and two others. Fourteen KS clients were the recipients of the relief requested. The moving parties successfully claimed that none of the cases belonged in St. Clair County or Illinois for that matter where they were all brought by out of state plaintiffs with alleged asbestos exposures in other states with no meaningful connection to Illinois or St. Clair County.

KS Attorney Provides International Expert Witness Testimony in Israel

mrau — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:09:58 +0000

In May, 2011, David Fisher testified as an expert witness in a products liability case filed in the District Court, Jerusalem Israel. Israeli advocate Jonathan Misheiker asked Mr. Fisher to testify concerning choice of law issues, the learned intermediary doctrine and certain discovery matters unique to Texas. The focus of the testimony was the procedural versus substantive aspect of the law and discovery information learned in similar cases handled by Mr. Fisher while he practiced in Texas.

John T. Hipskind Appointed to Executive Board of Southwestern Illinois Development Authority

mrau — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:08:29 +0000

KS associate attorney John T. Hipskind has been appointed by Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn and confirmed by the Illinois Senate to serve a three year term as an Executive Board member of the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority. SWIDA is a special-purpose, municipal corporation and local government unit created by the Illinois state legislature to promote, encourage and facilitate economic development in four southwestern Illinois counties including Bond, Clinton, Madison and St. Clair. SWIDA provides financing ranging from $2,000 to over $100,000,000 through the sale of taxable and tax-exempt bonds.

Madison County Jury Returns Verdict for KS Client in Madison County Benzene Case

mrau — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:07:25 +0000

A KS client was awarded a defense verdict on August 30, 2010 in Madison County. KS partner Bill Shultz was part of a national trial team that obtained the verdict in a benzene exposure case. The jury took just over two hours to return a complete defense verdict against the plaintiff Veto Kleinaitis. Kleinaitis claimed exposure to an adhesive product caused his cancer which has been in remission several years. KS associate Candice Kusmer was also part of the trial team. The trial lasted two weeks before 3rd Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Ann Callis. For more information, contact Bill Shultz.