For more than two decades, Michael Cunningham has focused his practice in the area of tort litigation including products liability, premises liability, construction site accidents, automobile liability, municipal liability and toxic torts. Most of his work involves catastrophic injuries on wrongful death claims. Many such cases also involve a large number of injured parties.

Mr. Cunningham handles all phases of the litigation process with particular emphasis on trial. He has also successfully mediated or arbitrated a large number of cases. Mr. Cunningham has experience representing companies in a broad spectrum of cases involving national retail stores; restaurants and shopping centers; property management companies and property owners; general contractors and subcontractors; manufacturers of products including HVAC equipment, safety glass, child safety restraints, exercise equipment, scaffolding and other products; national school bus companies; national common carriers; trucking companies; and media and broadcasting companies.

A selection of his representative cases includes:

• Successfully defended the East Bank Club in a personal injury lawsuit involving a plaintiff with an incomplete quadriplegic injury. The jury reached a no liability verdict in favor of the East Bank Club. The plaintiff asked for $16,500,000.
• Successfully defended the Laidlaw school bus company in a case in which a four-year-old girl was struck by a bus, resulting in a fractured pelvis, bone deformity and reproductive loss. Laidlaw successfully argued that plaintiff’s caretaker and mother were the cause of the accident. The jury returned a verdict of $800,000, but found Laidlaw to be only 5% responsible. During jury deliberations the plaintiff made a demand of $2.1 million as to Laidlaw.
• Successfully tried multiple cases for WalMart, involving injuries to knee, back and neck. Each of those cases resulted in a finding for defendant or a minimal reward.
• Represented the Chicago School Board in a case involving sexual assault. He was able to reach a settlement in that case through the mediation process.
• Successfully represented a permanent contractor in the DuPage County “sick building syndrome” case involving hundreds of claimed injuries.
• Successfully represented building ownership in the litigation involving 3 deaths and other injuries following an accident in which scaffolding fell from the side of the John Hancock Building.
• Successfully represented a national media company following an alleged sexual assault arising after a radio promotional event.
• Successfully represented a crane manufacturer following an accident in which the crane tipped over and seriously injured the driver.

Mr. Cunningham joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in March 1998. He was formerly a legislative aide for the Indiana House of Representatives.

Mr. Cunningham serves as a faculty member for Hinshaw University, the firm’s nationwide attorney training and education program. He is a member of the Society of Trial Lawyers.