David J. Sullivan, JD, CPA

Areas of Practice

Trucking & transportation, nursing and medical malpractice, professional liability defense, commercial litigation, corporate & transactional

Career Successes

Satisfied clients include numerous Fortune 500 companies, international shipping and transportation companies, attorneys, accountants, architects & engineers, health care professionals, real estate brokers and financial services firms. Some notable matters and career highlights include:
• Successfully defended an international shipping company in a catastrophic personal injury suit, with client paying nothing toward settlement and obtained indemnification from a co-defendant for all attorney fees
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of an international shipping company in a wrongful death action
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a major pharmaceutical manufacturer in a product liability action alleging birth defects due to medication taken during pregnancy
• Obtained summary judgment for a nursing home in a serious personal injury suit
• Defended a nursing home in a binding arbitration hearing, obtaining judgment for the client on one of two claims and greatly limiting damages on the other claim
• Successfully defended an automobile leasing company at the trial court and in two appeals in a putative class action involving Truth in Leasing Act claims (Robinson v. Point One Toyota, Evanston, 2017 IL App (1st) 152114 and 2012 IL App (1st) 111889) 
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a health club management company in a premises liability case with the judgment being affirmed on appeal 
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of an engineering firm in a premises liability case involving the alleged negligent design of a parking lot 
• Recovered nearly $700,000 in attorney fees for client under a contractual indemnification provision
• Representation of a major financial services firm in asset recovery matters before FINRA, including numerous binding arbitration hearings, and obtained awards for full amounts owed plus recovery of attorney fees

Education

University of Notre Dame, BBA - Accountancy

Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, JD, cum laude

Illinois Certified Public Accountant

Publications

Products Liability Practice, Chapter 8:  Pleadings, Motions, and Third-Party Practice (co-author), Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2020
IADC Survey of the Law, medical malpractice and professional liability sections, 2012-14
“’Simultaneous Disclosure’ and Rule 213(g)” IADC Newsletter, May 2013
"Unforeseen Injury or Unforeseen Plaintiff?” IADC Newsletter, April 2012
"Protecting the Confidentiality of Mediation Communications - An Analysis of the Uniform Mediation Act" IADC Newsletter, January 2005
"When Your Best Guess Is Not Good Enough - The Pitfalls for Design Professionals in Providing Construction Cost Estimates" IADC Newsletter, June 2005

Lectures

Legal Issues in the Practice of Nursing, North Park University School of Nursing, 2010–present

Professional Memberships (past & current)

Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (Tort Law Committee, Chair – 2013-2014)
Chicago Bar Association (past member of Judicial Evaluation and Tort Law Committees)
Defense Research Institute 
Illinois State Bar Association
American Bar Association (Truck Accident Law Board Certification exam reviewer - 2018)

Service

St. Gertrude Church development committee
The Friendship Center - Lincoln Square food panty