Rich Kolodziej has more than 75 first chair jury trials to his credit. He focuses his practice primarily in professional liability litigation with an emphasis in the area of medical malpractice defense, and has successfully defended both hospitals and physicians against such claims.
He also has significant experience in a variety of types of litigation including commercial, construction, contract and personal injury litigation of all types. Mr. Kolodziej also has experience in representing local school districts in the prosecution and defense of a variety of types of claims, including labor disputes, contract actions, federal funding issues (E-Rate) and residency cases. In addition to his extensive trial work at the state level, Mr. Kolodziej is experienced in arbitration and mediation work.
Mr. Kolodziej has secured verdicts and positive dispositions on behalf of his clients. A selection of representative examples of his counsel include:
- Obtained a defense verdict for an anesthesiologist/pain management physician. The plaintiff claimed brain damage as a result of a fall from a surgical table. The plaintiff proceeded on both general malpractice theories as well as on res ipsa loquitor. (Co-counsel, Lake County, Illinois)
- Obtained a barring of plaintiff's proximate cause expert based on Frye, and a subsequent granting of summary judgment for a family practice physician. Plaintiff was diagnosed with retinoblastoma at the age of 20 months resulting in enucleation, and radiation therapy causing significant facial deformity and other problems. Plaintiff's proximate cause expert claimed that if the tumor had been discovered 8-10 weeks sooner, radiation therapy would not have been necessary. The trial court barred the opinion of the timing of the diagnosis based on Frye v. United States and foundation grounds. Defendant was granted summary judgment. (Co-counsel, Lake County, Illinois)
Mr. Kolodziej joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in July 2004. From 1996 until 2004, he worked as a plaintiff personal injury attorney, obtaining a great deal of jury trial experience.
Mr. Kolodziej is a member of the Lake County Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and the Lake County Contractor's Association.
He has completed extensive continuing legal education programs in trial techniques, and has attended the Lake County Medical Society's Mini Internship.
Mr. Kolodziej volunteers with Lawyers For The Creative Arts.
Rich enjoys astronomy and is an avid musician, playing guitar, bass and drums, and currently plays bass in a local rock band. He also is a fan of classic automobiles, and regularly attends car shows during the summer with his 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback.