Darrell Dudzik, throughout his 30-year career as a trial lawyer, has devoted the majority of his practice to the handling of complex tort defense matters and insurance coverage issues. His courtroom experience is extensive.

Mr. Dudzik has tried a variety of litigation matters including construction death and injury claims, construction defect claims, premises liability actions, products liability cases, toxic tort claims, negligent building design matters, commercial damages claims and general negligence cases. He also has substantial experience involving professional liability cases.

In addition to his trial practice, at the request of the courts Mr. Dudzik has acted as an arbitrator in a variety of commercial and civil claims.

His major areas of emphasis include:

Professional Liability. He has substantial experience in professional liability cases involving claims directed against architects, engineers and other design professionals. He has also handled cases involving medical malpractice and legal malpractice claims.

As a part of his construction law practice Mr. Dudzik has represented architects and engineers against claims of professional malpractice with respect to design deficiencies and design errors.

In his career Mr. Dudzik has also successfully defended orthopedic surgeons, internists, pediatric surgeons, plastic reconstructive and vascular surgeons, as well as general practice surgeons. He has handled malpractice actions in the areas of anesthesiology, oncology, endocrinology, pulmonology, orthopedics, obstetrics, infectious diseases, psychotherapy, internal medicine and emergency medicine. He has also represented dental practitioners and nurses in various matters.

In addition to his undergraduate experience in medical-related studies, as a lawyer and as part of his early legal/medical training, he has attended classes at the Chicago Medical School.

Construction and Toxic Tort Litigation. Mr. Dudzik has handled a variety of complex litigation cases involving building design and construction defects, including mold and other building contaminants. He has handled a multimillion-dollar construction defect case, mold remediation cases, homeowners' association actions and environmental coverage issues in addition to commercial liability and class action suits varying in scope from mass food poisoning cases to large-scale homeowner association actions.

Insurance Coverage. Mr. Dudzik’s trial experience extends to insurance coverage issues as well. He has represented clients on all aspects of insurance coverage, including tender issues, acceptance or denial of coverage, and the prosecution or defense of declaratory judgment actions from motions for summary judgment through trial, if necessary. His medical liability experience has well suited him in a number of cases where he has been called upon to defend insurance companies against questionable medical coverage and permanent disability claims. In each such case, through careful examination of medical records and depositions of treating physicians, Mr. Dudzik was able to prove that the permanent disability claim was unfounded, resulting in the dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims. Mr. Dudzik joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in 1996 and participated in the creation of the firm’s Phoenix, Arizona office.

Prior to joining Hinshaw, he practiced with two other well-respected Chicago firms, Williams & Montgomery and Brydges, Riseborough, Morris, Franke & Miller.

In 2009, Mr. Dudzik was selected to become a member of the Council on Litigation Management (CLM), a nonpartisan alliance of corporations, insurance companies, law firms and service providers committed to furthering the highest standards of litigation management.

He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Arizona State Bar Association and the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Dudzik is the author of “Arizona Begins to Turn the Tide and Favor Contractual Arbitration Provisions,” published in the Construction Law Update section of "Real Estate Finance," June 2006.

Mr. Dudzik has lectured on issues of mold exposure and the status of medical science as it relates to personal injury claims. He has also addressed mold claims as they relate to insurance coverage issues. His presentations include:

• “Liability for Design Professionals,” Lorman Education Services, audio conference, August 2011.
• “Ethics: How Technology is Changing the Attorney-Client Relationship,” National Business Institute, live teleconference, June 2010.
• “Construction Insurance Fundamentals,” “Insurance-Related Clauses in Contracts Between Owners, Contractors and Subcontractors,” “Coverage Disputes,” and “Ethics in Insurance Disputes,” National Business Institute seminar “Construction Insurance and Disputes,” Phoenix, Arizona, March 2009.
• “Liability Issues for Design Professionals,” Lorman Education Services live teleconference, February 2009.
• “Professional Liability in Design and Construction Contracts,” National Business Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, September 2008.
• “Commercial General Liability Insurance," Lorman Education Services seminar, “Construction Claims in Arizona,” Phoenix, Arizona, April 2008.
• “Commercial General Liability Insurance,” Lorman Education Services seminar, “Construction Insurance, Bonds and Liens,” Phoenix, Arizona, February 2008.
• “How to Be Creative With Resolving Disputes,” and “Insurance and Risk Management Issues,” Lorman Education Services seminar, “Architect / Engineer Liability and Practice in Arizona,” Phoenix, Arizona, January 2008.
• "Arizona Construction Defect and Mold Litigation," National business Institute seminar, Phoenix, Arizona, November 2004.
• "Change Orders in Arizona," July 2004.