James DuChateau, Susan Wagener, John Hanson, and Jesse Pollans all have articles published in the latest edition of IDC Quarterly (the journal of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel). DuChateau’s article discusses pre-judgment interest awards in the context of property insurance litigation and offers best practices on how to avoid them. (His article can be read here.) Wagener, Hanson, and Pollans’ article reviews an appellate court case that points out the importance in medical malpractice cases of carefully analyzing a physician’s certificate of merit at every step of discovery to thwart attempts to convert a physician respondent in discovery into a defendant. (Their article can be read here.)

DuChateau, a partner in the firm’s Chicago office, concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and insurance coverage litigation in state and federal courts throughout the Midwest and Mountain West. He also represents financial institution clients in both U.C.C. and R.E.O. matters, as well as trade secret and restrictive covenant litigation. DuChateau has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters.

Wagener, a partner in the firm’s Chicago office, focuses her practice on the defense of medical malpractice, nursing home litigation, personal injury, and healthcare professional licensure cases. She is also experienced in insurance defense litigation. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Wagener was a registered nurse, specializing in orthopedic and medical-surgical nursing care.

Hanson, an associate in the firm’s Edwardsville office, focuses his practice on the defense of litigation involving personal injury, products liability, insurance law, property taxation, governmental matters, and election law. Prior to joining HeplerBroom, Mr. Hanson served as a Madison County Assistant State’s Attorney, with experience in both civil and criminal matters.

Pollans, an associate in the firm’s Chicago office, focuses his practice on the defense of medical, dental, and nursing home matters. He also has extensive experience handling personal injury and wrongful death cases. He earned his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2018 and also holds a B.A. in Journalism and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.