Robert P. Huebsch, Shareholder

Robert P. Huebsch is a shareholder and co-chair of the firm's Health Care  Practice Group. While attending Chicago-Kent College of Law, he was employed as an investigator for the Argonaut Insurance Company, specializing in the defense of medical malpractice claims made against hospitals, which set in motion his development as an advocate for the health care industry.

Since joining Querrey & Harrow in 1975, Mr. Huebsch has been actively involved in the trial of civil litigation in the Circuit Court of Cook County as well as the surrounding collar counties.  In total, he has tried more than 75 cases to verdict before a jury.  While some of these cases involve general liability and commercial issues, over the past 20 years his trial practice has evolved exclusively into the defense of medical malpractice claims.

Mr. Huebsch has defended physicians, hospitals, and nursing homes. These cases include claims involving death, amputation and catastrophic neurological injuries to adults, children, and newborns.  From this experience, he has become well-versed in medical terminology.  Moreover, he has developed an extensive network of physicians, nurses, etc. willing to act as opinion witnesses at trial.

Mr. Huebsch has had occasion to deliver seminars and lectures to various medical/legal organizations.  For example, he was invited by Lloyd’s of London to act as the lead defense attorney in a mock trial presentation conducted at the Lloyd’s of London home office.  He has also been invited to speak by the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, where he lectured regarding the defense of nursing home cases.  He is also a member of the Chicago, Illinois State, and American Bar Associations, the Defense Research Institute, and the American Academy of Hospital Attorneys. 

Mr. Huebsch is married and the father of three sons.  He serves on the Board of Directors of the Gateway Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to recovery of children and young adults suffering from substance abuse.  He has earned an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Memberships

• Chicago Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• American Academy of Hospital Attorneys
• Defense Research Institute
• Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
• Board of Directors of the Gateway Foundation

Representative Matters

Trial Successes Since 2000

2000 - Defended physician in lawsuit involving a severe skin reaction caused by a prescription drug to 16-year-old male.  Patient was seen by 2 doctors; one prescribed Septra, the second prescribed Albuterol but did not discontinue Septra.  Skin lesions resulted in skin loss over 90% of body.  Demand: $750,000; Asked of jury: $2.1 million; Verdict: Not Guilty

2001 - Defended physician in suit alleging failure to diagnose sagittal sinus thrombosis causing permanent blindness in 35-year-old woman employed as attorney.  Demand: $2 million; Asked of Jury: $15 million; Verdict: Not Guilty

2003 - Defended physician in suit alleging negligence where a bilateral hernia repair caused sterility in 29-year-old male. Demand: $700,000; Verdict: Not Guilty

2006 - Defended physician in suit alleging failure to properly interpret x-ray causing non-union of wrist bone resulting in fusion of wrist in 22-year-old male. Demand: $2.9 million; Verdict: Not Guilty