MATTHEW D'AVANZO
AGE 36
FIRM Johnson & Bell, Ltd.
LAW SCHOOL Loyola University Chicago School of Law AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Defendant personal injury, medical malpractice
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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H ow skilled is Matthew D'Avanzo? One nominator points to a defense verdict he earned in the Circuit Court of Cook County for a nursing home client. Typically, plaintiffs have a built-in advantage in such cases because of language in the Illi- nois Nursing Home Care Act and the public perception of nurs- ing homes. Such cases can be very difficult to defend. But D'Avanzo still earned a verdict of not guilty for his nursing home client in a pressure-wound case. The plaintiff had sought $1.85 million in damages. This, said nominator Christopher Cortese with Chicago law firm Hurley McKenna & Metz, is an almost unheard-of result. "The defense verdict Matt obtained in that case is a testa- ment to his skill and dedication as a litigator," Cortese said. "Matt is able to successfully represent his clients and obtain excep- tional results because he is thoughtful, prepared and dedicated." D'Avanzo began his career representing plaintiffs before switching to the defense side of personal injury and medical malpractice law. He still practices law with the compassion he learned as a plaintiff's lawyer and recognizes the human element in his cases. This gives D'Avanzo instant credibility before jurors, his peers and judges. Before switching to the defense side of the law, D'Avanzo notched several impressive results for his plaintiff clients. This includes a settlement of more than $2.8 million against a hos- pital and nursing home for failing to stop the development of pressure injuries to a quadriplegic patient and a settlement of
The defense verdict Matt obtained in that case is a testament to his skill and dedication as a litigator. ”
more than $1.4 million for the estate of a 50-year-old develop- mentally disabled resident who choked and died in a medical facility. "Matt is a strong advocate on behalf of his clients," said Greta Powell with Chicago's Smith Blake Hill. "He is committed to his clients and has consistently demonstrated remarkable skill and unwavering integrity. His unwavering commitment to excellence and advocacy makes him a trusted ally for his clients and well-re- spected member of the bar." Katherine Moorhouse, an attorney with Skokie's McCabe & Kirshner, calls D'Avanzo an expert in his field, especially when it comes to nursing home litigation, continually securing winning results for his clients. "Beyond the impressive results he achieves, his profession- alism and reputation among his peers are equally impressive," Moorhouse said. "Although he is a fierce advocate for his clients, he is able to foster positive relationships with the attorneys he works with whether they are opposing counsel, co-counsel or counsel for a co-defendant."
40 Under Forty 2024
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