JESSICA LEVITT ACUNA
AGE 37
FIRM Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP
LAW SCHOOL Valparaiso University School of Law
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Medical negligence and healthcare
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
“
T he numbers tell the story: During the last several years, Jessica Levitt Acuna has secured seven defense verdicts for total damages exceeding $55 million. That's especially im- pressive considering that Acuna has not yet reached her 40th birthday. And it's this record of success that has earned Acuna a reputation as one of the rising stars in Chicago's medical de- fense field. Acuna has thrived when taking on general negligence work, too, securing summary judgment three times for major health- care institutions in the last year alone. Lisa Homer, senior claims analyst with the University of Illinois System, said that Acuna has become a valuable asset in the sys- tem's efforts to defend its nurses and doctors against medical malpractice claims. "Jessica works well with her co-workers during a trial," Homer said. "Coordinating the trials along with organizing the witnesses and the evidence without a hitch gives us the greatest confi- dence in Jessica and her firm to provide our office with the best defense. We are very blessed to work with Jessica." Catherine Basque Weiler with Chicago's Hinshaw & Culb- ertson says that Acuna's string of victories is no fluke. Acuna is well-versed in the details of medical law. She doesn't hesitate to log long hours. And she's deeply committed to her clients, Weiler said. "When she works on a case, she understands every detail and how to ensure that she provides the best possible defense for
She understands every detail and how to ensure that she provides the best possible defense for her clients. ”
her clients," Weiler said. "There are many, many things about Jess's professional skill that are unique and extraordinary. She is very smart. She is very knowledgeable. She is one of the hard- est-working people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She is also charismatic and an excellent judge of character, which serves her well both inside and outside of the courtroom." Acuna has found success outside the courtroom, too. For the last several years, she has served as a co-chair of Swan- son Martin and Bell's Medical Negligence and Healthcare Prac- tice Group. Acuna also played college soccer and remains active as an endurance athlete, completing four Ironman triathlons to date. "Jessica is an exceptional attorney," said Laura DeDecker, claims counsel at Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. "She is always professional, well-spoken and prepared. She can remain calm and composed under stressful situations and in the most complex legal matters. She also has a great attention to detail and is always willing to work long hours going above and beyond what anyone would expect from her."
40 Under Forty 2024
16
CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN
Powered by FlippingBook