Insurance Defense and Personal Injury Defense | back to top
PWO's experience in the defense of liability claims includes the representation of insureds through a variety of carriers and self-insured entities.   Approximately 75% of our practice is dedicated to insurance defense, including auto accident liability, premises liability, dram shop defense and intentional tort defense.  PWO handles cases of varying complexity, from the simplest soft tissue and property damage claims to the most catastrophic injuries - including those sensitive matters that receive media attention.

While PWO strives to emphasize cost effective litigation, our attorneys have still accumulated extensive trial experience.  Several of our lead attorneys have tried in excess of 100 personal injury cases to verdict, and we prevail at a rate of 90% (nearly 20% above the industry average).*  In a field dominated by litigators that actually try very few cases, and trial lawyers that are not as successful as they suggest, PWO has the professionalism, credentials, experience and ability to succeed.
*Verdicts can be reviewed at the Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter.

Commercial Carrier Defense | back to top
The importance of identifying the subtle nuances of a claim is magnified exponentially when appearing for a "target defendant".  Restaurant and bar owners, trucking and livery companies, and other target clients cannot be successfully defended in the same manner as an individual policyholder.  Plaintiffs and juries place a far greater burden upon business owners and their agents than they do upon individuals, yet many attorneys fail to exhibit an understanding of the delicate issues that are particular to such cases.   PWO's commercial clientele has steadily expanded with its successful defense of cab companies, bar owners, ice cream vendors, trucking and bus lines, delivery services and other, similarly targeted companies.

Insurance Coverage and Chancery Practice | back to top
PWO's insurance coverage team represents insurance carriers, corporations, and insured individuals in cases stemming from an alleged failure to defend, to indemnify, and to settle.  Further, PWO understands that our ability to evaluate and avoid litigation when appropriate often proves as valuable an asset to our clients as our experience in defending and prosecuting bad faith cases.

The PWO insurance coverage team also has extensive experience in policy drafting and interpretation, perfection of  a carrier's reservations or right, and navigation of the complex relationship between insurers, insureds and defense counsel.

Policy Drafting Practice | back to top
PWO attorneys have drafted insurance policies for numerous carriers. Defending claims in the trial, appellate and chancery courts are but a few methods of defense --sound policy drafting based upon a detailed knowledge of the industry, anticipation of changes in law, and an understanding the goals of individual clients, are among the drafting and interpretation assets offered by PWO.

Appellate Practice | back to top
PWO's appellate team has been securing decisions in state and federal court for over three decades.  Whether affirming a trial verdict in favor of a client, reversing the error of an adversary, raising an issue of first impression or engaging in legislative efforts to ensure the continued success of our clients, our appellate practice has achieved a level of excellence which parallels our outstanding trial results.  Familiarity and experience are invaluable assets at the appellate level, and the PWO appellate team is an entity that continually exhibits both in all of the practice areas described herein.

Plaintiff Practice | back to top
PWO's experience in defending personal injury claims has successfully translated into the prosecution of such matters.  PWO regularly prosecutes and settles plaintiff personal injury cases stemming from auto accidents, airplane crashes, slip and falls, work related injuries, and intentional tort claims.  A representative sample of our plaintiff personal injury practice can reviewed under the Notable Cases heading.

PWO also maintains a successful plaintiff practice prosecuting matters beyond the practice of personal injury.  Sexual harassment, contract disputes, and bad faith claims are but a few areas of PWO's expertise.