Donald E. Stellato Sr.
The Stellato Law Office 2018 - Present at The Stellato Law Office
Top Rated Family Law Attorney with 50 years of experience
Personal Injury, Construction, Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Injuries
P.O. Box 870, Barrington, IL 60011
About Donald E. Stellato Sr.
Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Construction
- Ethics & Professional Responsibility
- Injuries
Education
- University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois
- University of IllinoisB.A.
- Wright College
Representative Cases
- 1984 Blacconeri v Aguayo (Cook), This verdict established a State of Illinois record that still stands. It was a pedestrian/auto accident case involving 15 fractures. It is significant for the largest percentage of comparative fault (99%) assessed by a jury against a plaintiff in a personal injury trial. It was also affirmed on appeal. See 478 N.E.2d 546 (1985).
- 1985 Estate of Pilolla v Trezise (Cook), This was a wrongful death case arising out of a fatal pedestrian/auto accident. The jury found the decedent 49% at fault in causing her own death, denied the surviving husband any recovery due to a recent separation, and awarded extremely minimal damages to four adult children. Opposing counsel was a former ITLA President.
- 1987 Evans v Marcoh Investment (Cook), This case involved an invitee customer who was seriously injured at a commercial water slide. There was extensive expert testimony on both aquatic safety and rare medical complications. A favorable verdict was obtained after a 17 day jury trial.
- 1992 Frantz v Per Mar Security (Cook), This case involved a night shift worker who sued a security company and its guards for severe injuries stemming from a criminal assault on the protected premises. A favorable verdict was obtained after a lengthy jury trial with extensive expert testimony on security procedures and protocol and various medical issues.
- 1994 Estate of Craig v Jewel Food Stores (Rolling Meadows), This was a classic slip and fall case involving a customer in a grocery store. A fracture allegedly led to a fatal pulmonary embolism in this wrongful death case. The jury rejected the claims of negligence and a causal relationship between the event and the death.
- 1994 Amu v K-Mart (Cook), This was basically a civil rights case. A shopper sued the store for battery, false arrest, and malicious prosecution. Both compensatory and punitive damages were sought and the assets of the corporate defendant became an issue as a result of the latter damages claim. However, absolutely nothing was awarded.
- 1996 Shahsavar v Siske (Cook), This difficult case involved severe injury claims including brain damage arising out of an intersectional auto accident. Both liability and damages were contested issues in the trial. Extensive expert testimony was given on cognitive matters and independent medical examinations as well as accident reconstruction. A complete exoneration of the defense was obtained. Additionally, and importantly, this result was not only honored as a
- 1996 Estate of Rivas v El Hogar Del Nino (Cook), This was a tragic educational malpractice case involving the death of a child. On a field trip with students to a skating rink, a six year old on skates fell and suffered a severe head injury. After a nine month coma, he expired. Numerous expert witnesses testified in the fields of recreation, education, and medicine. This defense verdict was also selected as one of the
- 1998 Bottcher v Wernquist (McHenry), This was a work injury case where a worker fell off of a roof. He was impaled on a post resulting in serious and unique injuries, medical care, and treatment. This was one of the
- 2007 Mallen v Regional Distribution (Cook), This was a motorcycle/truck accident case with severe injuries. A respectable high school teacher was on a motorcycle when he
Classes and Seminars
- "The Preparation and Trial of the Automobile Collision Case", Chicago Bar Association - CLE Program Lecturer, - 1991
- "Deposition Strategies and Techniques", Chicago Bar Association - YLS Program Lecturer, - 1990
- "Trial Techniques Micro Class - Voir Dire", Chicago Bar Association - YLS Program Lecturer/Demonstration, - 1990
- "Deposition Strategies - Deposing the Medical Expert", Chicago Bar Association - YLS Program Lecturer, - 1990
- Judge, Mock Trials, DePaul University College of Law - Trial Advocacy Course, 1989 - 1991
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1973
- United States Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
- Supreme Court of Illinois
Other Affiliations
- Martindale-Hubbell ("AV Preeminent" Rating)
- Super Lawyer/Blue Ribbon Panel, 2012 - 2022
- Leading Lawyer/Blue Ribbon Panel, 2012 - 2022
- Top 100 Illinois Attorneys
Past Positions
- Williams & Montgomery, Ltd., Partner/Trial Lawyer, 1973 - 1989
- Stellato & Schwartz, Ltd., 1989 - 2017
Office Info
Nearby Lawyers
- Personal Injury
- Construction
- Ethics & Professional Responsibility
- Injuries
- 16.9 miles away
- 17.3 miles away
- 22.5 miles away
- 22.9 miles away
The power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law.