Jeff is a veteran trial lawyer and has tried dozens of cases in state and federal courts in Illinois and Indiana. He handles litigation and appeals in areas of transportation, premises liability, product liability, and construction liability, medical malpractice, and municipal liability. He has represented religious institutions, construction companies, governmental agencies, manufacturers, national trucking companies, railroads, and air transportation companies in catastrophic death and personal injury cases. In addition to his extensive trial experience, he has appeared before appellate courts in Illinois, Indiana, and the Seventh Circuit on numerous occasions. He has also appeared before the United States Supreme Court and the Illinois Supreme Court.

Jeff is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Texas, Illinois and Indiana. He is a member of the Texas State Bar Association and the Indiana State Bar Association. He is a sustaining member of the Texas State Bar Litigation Section. He is also a member of the CLM Transportation Committee.

• Education:

  • J.D., Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana
  • B.A., Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois

• Professional Memberships & Associations:

  • CLM Transportation Committee
  • DuPage County Bar Association
  • Indiana State Bar Association
  • Texas State Bar Association – Litigation Section

• Seminars & Presentations:

  • “Premises Liability Training,” Cincinnati Insurance March 2024
  • “Claims Training,” Texas Insurance, October 2022
  • “Reopening Your Business Amid COVID-19,” Downey & Lenkov Clients, July 2020
  • “Assessing Liability in Evans v. Walmart & Other COVID-19 Wrongful Death Suits,” April 2020
  • “Employer Third Party Liability & the Kotecki Doctrine,” Downey & Lenkov Clients, March 2020
  • “Kotecki At 25: The Minefield of Employer Liability In Third Party Tort Actions In Illinois,” Downey & Lenkov Clients, May 2016
  • “Spills, Thrills and Bills,” Downey & Lenkov Clients, November 2014
  • “Understanding NTSB Accident Investigations,” Downey & Lenkov Clients, February 2014

• Articles & Publications:

  • “CLM National: May 2021,” CLM Magazine, May 2021
  • “Discovering New Protections,” CLM Magazine, January 2021
  • “Walmart’s COVID-19 Problem,” CLM Magazine, June 2020
  • Co-Editor – Downey & Lenkov General Liability Newsletter, September 2013 – present