Mike Huber has been named a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.

Mike Huber was an invited speaker at Rush University Medical Center Anesthesia Department’s CME Seminar on Global Practice Strategies on October 29.

On October 19, Rodney VanAusdal and Mike Huber were faculty members/speakers at William Scholl College/Rosalind Franklin University’s Seminar, “Podiatric Malpractice – Revisited III,” in North Chicago, IL.

On October 10, Cray Huber attorneys Ben Beringer and Aimee Lipkis presented an interactive workshop at the Annual Meeting of the Illinois Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants entitled, “The Deposition Survival Guide.”

On October 10, Cray Huber attorneys Rodney VanAusdal and Michael Huber gave a presentation entitled “Podiatric Malpractice – a Review” to the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association in Lincolnshire, IL.

Jeff Siderius obtained a favorable ruling recently from the Second District Illinois appellate court on behalf of a general contractor and its insurance carrier in a declaratory judgment action filed by West Bend Insurance Company.   The general contractor, DJW-Ridgeway Building Consultants, was sued by an employee of one of its subcontractors who slipped in a rut and fell on the construction site.  DJW-Ridgeway tendered its defense to West Bend, the insurance carrier for its masonry subcontractor, Jason the Mason, seeking a defense as an additional insured.  West Bend denied coverage and filed a declaratory judgment action in the Circuit Court of Lake County.  West Bend argued there was no coverage for DJW-Ridgeway as an additional insured because there was no “written contract or written agreement” between Jason the Mason and DJW-Ridgeway.  West Bend also argued that even if DJW qualified as an additional insured, it had no duty to defend since its policy stated it was excess unless a written contract “specifically requires” that it be primary and no such requirement was contained in the contract.  The Second District Illinois appellate court upheld the trial court’s award of summary judgment in favor of DJW on both issues, finding that a proposal and a separate subcontract agreement constituted a single written contract, and that the insurance requirements of the contract required Jason the Mason to provide primary coverage for DJW in spite of the fact it did not contain the word “primary.”  Thus, the court held West Bend owed DJW a duty to defend as an additional insured on a primary basis.

West Bend Mutual Insurance Co. v. DJW-Ridgeway Building Consultants, Inc., 2015 IL App (2d) 140441.

Jeff Siderius recently obtained a favorable ruling on behalf of a general contractor and its insurance carrier in a declaratory judgment action filed by Pekin Insurance Company.   The general contractor, CSR Roofing Contractors, was sued by an employee of its subcontractor who fell off a roof while working and sustained injuries.  CSR tendered its defense to Pekin, which insured the subcontractor, seeking a defense as an additional insured.  Pekin denied coverage and filed a declaratory judgment action in the Chancery Division of Cook County Circuit Court.  Pekin argued its additional insured endorsement, which on its face restricted coverage to vicarious liability, did not apply because its named insured was not a defendant in the employee’s complaint.  The court found the trial court’s refusal to consider the subcontract was error and that the allegations against CSR, when interpreted together with the subcontract, were sufficient to leave open the possibility that CSR could be found vicariously liable for the subcontractor’s negligence.  Thus, the appellate court held Pekin had a duty to defend CSR as an additional insured and reversed the judgment of the trial court.

Pekin Insurance Company v. CSR Roofing Contractors, Inc., No. 14-2473 (Aug. 4, 2015)

On September 10, members of Cray Huber participated in the Race Judicata 5K run/walk presented by Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.  Race Judicata is the only running event geared towards Chicago’s legal community with proceeds benefiting CVLS, which provides free legal services to Chicago’s poor and working poor families.

Aimee Lipkis authored an article entitled “The Abused Respondent in Discovery Statute” which was published in the IDC Quarterly, Third Quarter.  To read the article, click here.

Cray Huber participated in the Communities That Care “Back-to-School” program.  This program provides new backpacks and school supplies to low income students grade 1-8 who, with encouragement and inspiration, have the opportunity to start and stay in school.   Cray Huber employees Janet Baumann and Katie Wilson are seen helping to deliver some of the backpacks donated by Cray Huber.