INTRODUCTION
Over the past 30 years, the Jury Verdict Reporter has evolved from a weekly one-page printed newsletter to a research tool with over 55,000 Illinois cases in Lawyerport and a digital eNewsletter that features verdicts and settlements from across the state and beyond. Leading this tremendous growth was JVR Editor John Kirkton and senior staff Christine Davis and Beth Zaretsky. Their knowledge of verdicts and settlements as well as the respect they have earned with members of the trial bar have allowed them to evolve the JVR into an essential research tool that JVR founder Max Sonderby would never have imagined. However, Max would have appreciated and been proud of their efforts to significantly expand the information provided in JVR case reports. Illinois attorneys and judges use Jury Verdict Reporter information to find comparable verdicts and settlements, expert witness trial history and overall trial strategy. JVR reports have become a must-have case evaluation resource for civil litigators. As we grow and improve, our JVR writers continue Law Bulletin’s standard of fair and accurate reporting. On November 1, 2023, the Jury Verdict Reporter and Law Bulletin Media hosted their annual JVR Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards ceremony and reception in the RPM Events space in Chicago. The event, which was attended by over 350 trial lawyers and judges, recognized significant achievements by lawyers for both the plaintiff and defense. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of Lifetime Achievement awards to attorneys John W. Bell and Thomas A. Demetrio. This magazine commemorates the ceremony and includes photographs of the lawyers who were honored for their trial work, as well as other notable guests. On behalf of the Law Bulletin Media and the staff of the Jury Verdict Reporter, we extend our thanks to the plaintiff and defense trial attorneys for their contributions of case information and the cooperation we receive throughout our investigative process. We acknowledge that, without your participation, the Jury Verdict Reporter would not be the valuable resource it has become.
Peter V. Mierzwa President & Publisher
4 JURY VERDICT REPORTER • 2023 ANNUAL TRIAL LAWYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS
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