JVR Trial Excellence Awards 2022

Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Product Liability Case

Renee Ziolkowski Renee Ziolkowski focuses her practice on defending corporate clients in construc- tion liability, premise liability, product liabil- ity and toxic tort actions. She has obtained successful results on behalf of those clients through complex motion practice, arbitra- tions, mediations and trials. Recently, Renee served as trial counsel in a products liability case wherein a 47-year-old professional mechanic was diagnosed with mesothelioma and requested a $45 million verdict. After four hours of deliberation, a Cook County, IL jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendant, a major auto vehicle manufacturer. Prior to that, she obtained a defense verdict in Cook County, Illinois on behalf of a driver that was involved in an automobile accident. The plaintiff, a pro- fessional truck driver, claimed that he sus- tained permanent injuries as a result of the accident, including the need for a future lum- bar fusion. The plaintiff requested an award of almost three million dollars; however, the jury awarded less than six thousand dollars. Renee has served as a trial team member representing a major auto manufacturer in toxic tort actions filed in both Illinois and Missouri. In that capacity, she has defended hundreds of product liability and premises liability cases. Renee has conducted numer- ous depositions throughout the country, argued substantive motions and has assist- ed in preparing and taking matters to trial.

40 JURY VERDICT REPORTER • 2022 ANNUAL TRIAL LAWYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS

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