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Kralovec & Marquard, Chartered
Kralovec & Marquard, Chartered has been providing legal services to the insurance industry for the past 55 years. The present partners, associates and staff continue a long tradition of delivering top flight legal representation at a very reasonable cost. Our primary areas of expertise are the preparation and trial of bodily injury, wrongful death and property damage cases and the analysis, preparation and trial of insurance coverage disputes and oversight of large losses on behalf of excess/umbrella carriers. We have been, and continue to be, active trial lawyers. As a result, our opposition respects our willingness to hear the verdict of the jury or judge, thereby assuring our clients the best possible settlement terms should they decide not to seek a judicial determination of a case.
Years of Experience
Kralovec & Marquard, Chartered is a well known and respected boutique Defense Law Firm located in Chicago. We have been defending our clients for over 55 years.
Who We Represent
We specialize in representing Insureds, Major Self-Insured Corporations and Insurance Carriers in significant catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death litigation as well as insurance coverage disputes..jpg)
Located in the Heart of Chicago's Loop
Our practice area is Cook County, Illinois and its Collar counties. Firm also handles cases across Illinois and in the greater Midwest States.
Firm News
Michael Mullen recognized as an AV Preeminent Rated Attorney
- At April 3, 2012
- By Kralovec
- In Uncategorized
Mike Mullen’s recent Jury Trial
- At April 3, 2012
- By Kralovec
- In Uncategorized
Juan Diaz v. Nettleton Specialized Carriers – Cook County, October, 2011
This catastrophic injury case arose out of a multi-vehicle chain collision accident on the eastbound Edens Spur at approximately 12:00 noon on June 13, 2008. A tractor trailer operated by an employee of Defendant Nettleton Specialized Carriers, Inc. struck a line of stopped passenger vehicles while traveling at a very high rate of speed. Plaintiff Juan Diaz was struck from behind and rendered quadriplegic. He was represented in the ensuing personal injury litigation by Joseph A. Power of Power, Rogers & Smith, PC while Defendant Nettleton was represented by Michael J. Mullen of Kralovec & Marquard, Chartered
When trial began on October 3, 2011, Plaintiff’s settlement demand was $51 million, the combined limits of all available insurance coverage. The offer at the start of trial was $15 million. Shortly before the commencement of jury selection, Defendant Nettleton admitted liability, causation and injury permanency contesting only the extent of the damages to which the Plaintiff was entitled. During the three-week trial, the Plaintiff black boarded $3.4 million dollars in past medical expense and $18.6 million (present cash value) in future medical and care costs. Defendant Nettleton conceded the past medical expense, conceded that the Plaintiff was in need of 24/7 skilled nursing care for life due to the permanency of his tracheotomy, but contested the nature, cost and present cash value of his future medical and care needs through the testimony of a spinal cord injury specialist, a life care planner and an economist.
Prior to closing arguments, Defendant Nettleton offered $25 million to settle the matter which induced the Plaintiff to reduce his demand to $48 million. In his closing, Plaintiff Attorney Power requested the return of a verdict in the sum of $102 million. Mike Mullen on behalf of Nettleton, requested the return of a verdict in the $18 to $22 million range. On October 21, 2011, after deliberating some four and a half hours over two days, the jury returned its verdict in the sum of $23 million. All appeals were waived as part of a $51 million – $25 million high-low agreement entered into after the jury was charged and began its deliberations.