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Michael W. Clancy
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Michael W. Clancy
Clancy Law Offices
7 South 2nd Ave.
St. Charles, IL 60174-1921
Phone: (630) 584-7666 | Fax: (630) 584-1649
http://www.clancylaw.com/
Dedicated. Experienced. Trusted.
Legal Topic
Personal Injury
Preferred New Clients
We typically represent seriously injured clients and their families. A complete listing of our practice areas is on our website.
Sub-Categories
Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Personal Injury Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Construction Site Injuries
- Slip & Fall
- Sports Injuries
- Defamation
- Invasion of Privacy
- Libel
- Slander
- Design Defects
- Manufacturing Defects
- Assault & Battery
- Child abuse
- Dog Bites & Animal Attacks
- Domestic Violence
- Police Misconduct
- Sexual Assault
- Airplanes
- Buildings
- Mass Transit - Bus, Train, Subway
- Financial Malpractice
- Legal Malpractice
- Religious Malpractice
- Dangerous Drugs & Products
- Medical Products & Devices
Bar Admissions
IL, Aug 1992
Bar Number: 6208704
WI, Dec 1998
Bar Number: 1033347
Specialty Certifications
Civil Trial Attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1995 (re certified 2000, 2005).
Other Court Admissions
• Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, 1985
• Illinois Supreme Court, 1992
• Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1998
• United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 1985
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar), 1992
• United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, 1995
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1998
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, 2005
• United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 1985
• United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1992
Association Memberships
• State Bar Association (member Board of Governors 1999-2002)
• Wisconsin State Bar Association
• Kane County Bar Association
• Dupage County Bar Association
• Will County Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
• Illinois Bar Foundation
• Kane County Bar Foundation (member Board of Governors 2003-2005)
Continuing Education
I teach continuing legal education seminars locally, statewide, and nationally on the subjects of evidence, trial practice, and personal injury case intake. I always exceed the required amount of CLE credits as a consequence of my teaching.
Papers and Publications
• Claim Evaluation (Chapter 3) in IICLE's Medical Malpractice Handbook, Levy and Brown Eds, 2006 (co-authored with Richard Hunsaker)
• Medical Malpractice Claims Evaulation and Intake, Tort Trends, Illinois State Bar Association Tort Law Section Council, Vol. 39, No. 5, pp 1-3 (May, 2004)
• Selection and Management of Expert Witnesses, Tort Trends, Illinois State Bar Association Tort Law Section Council, Vol. 38, No. 3 pp. 1-5 (Jan. 2003
• Handling Accident Cases, Vol. 1, Ch 116, Sect. 156C (contributed pleadings) West, 2001.
Example Cases
• Granger v. Health Professionals, Ltd., 03 L 65, Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Joliet, Illinois. Tried January, 2007 ($3,016,250 verdict in a medical malpractice case involving substandard care resulting in a stroke suffered by an inmate incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections).
• Smith v. Dongas, et al., 01 L 124, Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Will County (settlement of $2,000,000 in a failure to timely diagnose and treat aortic dissection case); Moreno v. Community Unit School District 304, 00 C 5142, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (settlement of $4,340,000.00 in automobile collision involving two fatalities and significant orthopedic injuries to a third passenger).
Click here to view additional cases.
Education
Degree:
B.A.
School:
Amherst College
City:
Amherst
State:
MA
Year:
1981
Honors:
Cum Laude
Degree:
Juris Doctor
School:
Boston College School of Law
City:
Newton Centre
State:
MA
Year:
1984
Focus and Accomplishments:
National Moot Court Team, 1983-1984.
Number of Attorneys
2
State Licensed In
Illinois
Firm Focus and History
Our firm focuses exclusively on representing seriously injured people and their families.
A member of my family has been practicing law in the Chicago-land area continuously for more than 100 years. This firm started in 1978 as a litigation firm doing both plaintiff and defense work. We decided to limit our practice to the representation of plaintiffs about 10 years ago.
Previous Employment Summary
I was a litigation associate at the Massachusetts firm of Bowditch & Dewey from 1985-1987. I founded the Law Offices of Michael W. Clancy in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1987 and practiced there until 1992 when I joined this firm.
Activities and Awards
American Board of Trial Advocates, 2001; Illinois Super Lawyer (2006, 2007, and 2008); Lawdragon 3000 Leading Lawyers in America, Fall 2006, Winter 2007; Dupage American Inn of Courts, Master of the Bar and Team Leader, 2006-2007; Martindale-Hubbell AV rated.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
We're absolutely in favor of clients who are knowledgeable about their claims and the legal issues involved in them.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
Reviewing things prepared by our clients is an essential part of case preparation. We consider communication with our clients to be our most fundamental job.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
It depends on the issue. If I think that I can adequately equip a client to handle something themselves, I'm happy to do it.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I became a lawyer because it gave me an opportunity to empower and help reshape the lives of people who had encountered tragedy.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I have been fortunate to try a number of cases in the state and federal courts of three states. My trial experience and results set us apart. I've also worked as a carpenter, driven a tractor trailer, and had a variety of other life experiences which help me to better understand the things that my clients face in the wake of a serious injury.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I couldn't imagine doing anything else.
What do you like best about your career?
Helping people who come into the office in the midst of one of the worst times in their lives to regain a measure of control and stability and a sense of hope is the most satisfying thing I can imagine.
Tell us about your law firm:
I practice with my father, a trial lawyer with 45 years of experience. My sister, who used to practice with us, was recently named an associate judge in the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, Kane County, Illinois. We have three wonderful paralegals, Sara, Karen, and Coleen, who work with us—they've all been a part of our practice for more than 10 years.
What are your strengths and style?
We are smart, aggressive, experienced, and we simply work harder than our opponents. We are proud of our client communication and involvement.
Personal Interests:
My wife and I are involved in dog rescue and emergency animal rescue. I'm a member of the Humane Society of the United States National Disaster Animal Rescue Team (NDART) and a trained volunteer for United Animal Nations' EARS (Emergency Animal Rescue Service) and Noah's Wish. I'm also a trained human search and rescue specialist (SARTECH II).
Office Manager/Assistant
Sara Harrigan
Fax
(630) 584-1649
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Weekend and evenings by appointment.
Emergency After Hours
No
Additional Offices
Chicago, IL
70 West Madison St.
Chicago, IL 60602
(630) 584-7666
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
The vast majority of our cases are taken on a contingency fee basis. Although the contracts can vary, most call for an attorney's fee of 33 1/3%.
Hourly Rates
On the rare occasion that we take an hourly case, $400-500.
Free Initial Consultation?
Yes.
Typical Retainer
No.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
