Philip R. Kujawa
About Phil
With more than 30 years of litigation experience, Phil represents Fortune 100 companies and national and regionally based alarm and security service companies in commercial and tort litigation. He focuses on defending clients facing catastrophic claims and advising them on contract matters.
Phil created and serves as the leader of Hinshaw's Alarm and Security Services practice, providing a full array of legal services, including litigation, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) representation, due diligence, labor and employment services, and cybersecurity counseling to the alarm and security services industry.
Phil’s clients rely upon his business acumen and aggressive litigation skills to resolve matters efficiently.
Areas of Focus
Experience
- Defended an alarm company in a catastrophic industrial fire loss with claimed property damages in excess of $290 million (the second largest property loss in 2001 following only the damages to the World Trade Center in New York City). The settlement obtained for the alarm company was 10% of the applicable insurance coverage limit. The case resulted in a $39.5 million jury verdict against a non-settling defendant, the largest jury verdict in Iowa's history.
- Defended an alarm company in a theft suit seeking in excess of $7.5 million and punitive damages. After a complete victory at the trial court level, the appellate court remanded the case for further proceedings on a narrow issue. The case settled for 10% of the applicable insurance coverage limit.
- Successful representation of alarm companies in numerous cases involving exposure beyond the applicable insurance coverage limits without formal litigation by pressing enforceability of contract terms and through the utilization of leading national experts in the alarm industry.
- Represented a governmental landowner seeking recovery of costs voluntarily expended in the remediation of environmental contamination. After successful rulings from the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the US Supreme Court, a significant settlement was obtained from the parent corporation of a former tenant.
- Successful representation of an alarm monitoring company in litigation arising out of a residential fire resulting in the deaths of two residents and two responding firefighters. Although the alarm monitoring company reported the fire on a non-emergency line, it was determined through extensive discovery and utilization of leading national experts that the company that sold and installed the alarm system was contractually responsible. The vast majority of the extensive damages arose from various wrongful death claims.
- Lead trial counsel for a Fortune 10 corporation targeted as the main defendant in a multiparty suit brought by a union electrician who suffered catastrophic injuries in an electrocution accident. The initial settlement demand was $16 million, and the case was resolved on the eve of the jury trial for a settlement paid by subcontractors' insurers. The case was aggressively litigated for nearly five years with nationally renowned liability and damage experts without incurring any cost to the client for either defense or indemnity.
Recognition
- Leading Lawyer, Commercial Litigation; Products Liability Defense Law
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rating
Credentials
Education
- Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology, JD, 1991
- Loyola University Chicago, BA, 1986
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- US District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Thought Leadership
Presentations
- "Contracts and the Impact on Your Business: Protect Your Future," IESA Annual Dinner, Addison, Illinois, November 13, 2024
- "So You Think Your Alarm Contract Is Bulletproof?" IESA Dinner Meeting, Addison, Illinois, May 19, 2021
- Co-Presenter, "The HITECH Act Unencrypted: An Overview of the HITECH: An Overview of the HITECH Act and its Impact on the Receipt, Transmission, Creation, and Maintenance of Protected Health Information," Illinois Paralegal Association's Fall Education Conference, Virtual Event, November 5, 2020
Events
- Philip Kujawa to Present "So You Think Your Alarm Contract Is Bulletproof?", May 19, 2021
- Phil Kujawa and Adam Saper to Present on Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements, Nov 11, 2017
- Phil Kujawa to Present on Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) Cases in Court at PERS Summit 2017, Sep 27, 2017
- Conrad Nowak Speaks at Honeywell International Conference, Nov 12, 2016
- Philip R. Kujawa and Steven M. Puiszis to Present at the Honeywell Annual Connect Conference, Oct 23, 2015
Hinshaw Alerts
- PERS Company Prevails at Trial of Wrongful Death Suit, Jun 21, 2017
- Court Ruling Underscores Importance of Certain Contract Provisions for Alarm Companies, Feb 24, 2015
- Limitation of Liability Provision Upheld, Aug 28, 2012
- Security Company’s Ambiguous Contractual Language May Create Duty to Protect Residents Against Third Party Criminal Acts, Aug 16, 2012
- The Contract Does Not Always Protect the Alarm Company, Sep 16, 2011
Hinshaw Newsletter
- Employment Practices Alert - February 2010 Edition, Feb 1, 2010
In The News
- Scott Seaman, Philip Kujawa, and William Cook Author Chapters in Seventh Edition of IICLE Handbook on Wrongful-Death and Survival Actions, Dec 19, 2022
- The Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education Publishes the Sixth Edition of "Wrongful-Death and Survival Actions" Book, Jul 18, 2019
- Philip Kujawa Authors Security Dealer & Integrator Article on Privacy Rights of Third Persons Recoded on a PERS, Oct 10, 2014
- Philip Kujawa Authors SecurityInfoWatch Article on Early Termination Fees, Feb 6, 2014
Webinar
Interests
Community/Civic Activities
- Park Lawn Association, Board of Directors
- Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Volunteer
- Wills for Heroes, Volunteer
- Chicago Public School System, Principal for a Day Program, Volunteer
- Beverly Improvement Association, Past President; Board of Directors, Former Member
- Beverly Area Planning Association, Past member of the Counsel of Delegates
- Get Behind the Vest campaign volunteer in support of Chicago Police Officer
Thought Leadership
Presentations
- "Contracts and the Impact on Your Business: Protect Your Future," IESA Annual Dinner, Addison, Illinois, November 13, 2024
- "So You Think Your Alarm Contract Is Bulletproof?" IESA Dinner Meeting, Addison, Illinois, May 19, 2021
- Co-Presenter, "The HITECH Act Unencrypted: An Overview of the HITECH: An Overview of the HITECH Act and its Impact on the Receipt, Transmission, Creation, and Maintenance of Protected Health Information," Illinois Paralegal Association's Fall Education Conference, Virtual Event, November 5, 2020
Events
- Philip Kujawa to Present "So You Think Your Alarm Contract Is Bulletproof?", May 19, 2021
- Phil Kujawa and Adam Saper to Present on Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements, Nov 11, 2017
- Phil Kujawa to Present on Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) Cases in Court at PERS Summit 2017, Sep 27, 2017
- Conrad Nowak Speaks at Honeywell International Conference, Nov 12, 2016
- Philip R. Kujawa and Steven M. Puiszis to Present at the Honeywell Annual Connect Conference, Oct 23, 2015
Hinshaw Alerts
- PERS Company Prevails at Trial of Wrongful Death Suit, Jun 21, 2017
- Court Ruling Underscores Importance of Certain Contract Provisions for Alarm Companies, Feb 24, 2015
- Limitation of Liability Provision Upheld, Aug 28, 2012
- Security Company’s Ambiguous Contractual Language May Create Duty to Protect Residents Against Third Party Criminal Acts, Aug 16, 2012
- The Contract Does Not Always Protect the Alarm Company, Sep 16, 2011
Hinshaw Newsletter
- Employment Practices Alert - February 2010 Edition, Feb 1, 2010
In The News
- Scott Seaman, Philip Kujawa, and William Cook Author Chapters in Seventh Edition of IICLE Handbook on Wrongful-Death and Survival Actions, Dec 19, 2022
- The Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education Publishes the Sixth Edition of "Wrongful-Death and Survival Actions" Book, Jul 18, 2019
- Philip Kujawa Authors Security Dealer & Integrator Article on Privacy Rights of Third Persons Recoded on a PERS, Oct 10, 2014
- Philip Kujawa Authors SecurityInfoWatch Article on Early Termination Fees, Feb 6, 2014
Webinar
Phil's Insights
Hinshaw Alert
Jun 21, 2017
Event
Nov 12, 2016
Hinshaw Alert
Feb 24, 2015
Court Ruling Underscores Importance of Certain Contract Provisions for Alarm Companies
Event
Nov 13, 2014
