David L. LaPorte, Shareholder

Mr. LaPorte concentrates his practice in general commercial and tort litigation, civil rights litigation, trucking accident litigation, construction, and motor carrier and OSHA regulatory matters.

Prior to practicing law, Mr. LaPorte was employed with the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, where he worked extensively with the motor carrier industry on a host of regulatory issues.  Mr. LaPorte frequently speaks at seminars and before various trade associations on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's alcohol and drug testing regulations and other safety regulations affecting the motor carrier industry.  An article written by Mr. LaPorte, "The Conflict and Interaction of the Americans with Disabilities Act with the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act:  Two Modest Proposals to Achieve Greater Synchrony," appeared in the Winter, 1996 edition of the DePaul Law Review.

Mr. LaPorte is a member of the Transportation Lawyers Association, where he serves on the Casualty Litigation Committee and the Federal Regulatory Practice Committee.  He is also a member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association and the Defense Research Institute’s Trucking Law Committee.  Mr. LaPorte is an adjunct faculty member of the John Marshall Law School, where he teaches in the law school’s Lawyering Skills Program.  Mr. LaPorte is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association, where he serves on the Judicial Evaluation Committee’s executive board.  Mr. LaPorte is also a member of the board of directors of the Chicago Legal Clinic, a not for profit organization providing legal services to the poor,  and the Michigan State University Alumni Club of Metropolitan Chicago.

Memberships

• Chicago Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Trucking Industry Defense Association

Representative Matters

Municipal/Governmental

Gonzalez et al.  v. City of Aurora et al., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Case No. 02 C 8346 – has represented City of Aurora in suit alleging that newly enacted ward map violates the Voting Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

McCarthy v. Village of Hinsdale, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Case No. 03 C 2485 – has represented Village of Hinsdale in suit alleging deprivation of property in violation of the U.S. Constitution in the enforcement of a Village ordinance prohibiting keeping and maintaining Vietnamese pot-belly pigs with Village limits.

Miller v City of Zion,  U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Case No. 99 C 2061 – has defended municipality and its police officers in Section 1983 civil rights claim alleging that the municipality unlawfully evicted the plaintiff from his home. 

Trucking

Esparaza v. K V Express, Inc., – represented trucking company in litigation arising from 10-fatality accident near Sherman, Texas.

Korpov v. Net Trucking Inc.,  – represented trucking company in litigation arising from 4-fatality accident near South Bend, Indiana.

Construction

M. A. Mortenson Co. v. Mt. Carmel Sand & Gravel Co., Inc. – represented subcontractor in arbitration alleging construction defect caused $18 million in damages to hospital.

Avvamovich v. Helpe Enterprises, LLC – represented developer in action alleging construction defect caused significant damage to adjoining property.

Appellate

Jasper v. Chicago National League Ball Club, 309 Ill.App.3d 124 (1^st Dist. 1999) – represented the Chicago Cubs in appeal challenging the constitutionality of the Baseball Facility Owners Liability Act.

Binz v. Brandt Construction Co., 301 F.3d 529 (7^th Cir. 2002) – represented construction company in appeal involving application of federal railroad bridge worker safety standards.

Scott v. Trump Indiana, Inc. et al., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 337 F.3d 939 (7th Cir. 2003) cert. denied 2003 US LEXIS 9035 (US 2003) – represented crane company and operator in appeal involving application of federal maritime law.    

Lombardo v. Reliance Elevator Co., 315 Ill.App.3d 111 (1^st Dist. 2000) – represented elevator maintenance company in plaintiff’s appeal from judgment entered on the verdict of the jury finding the elevator company not guilty.

O’Callahan v. Coakley Bay Condominium Association, Appellate Court of Illinois for the First District, Docket No. 1-00-0867 (Rule 23 Order) – represented condominium association in appeal from dismissal of plaintiff’s defamation claim.  

Professional Activities

• Adjunct faculty member,The John Marshall Law School, Lawyering Skills Program

News

• Querrey & Harrow Wins Voting Rights Case
• Querrey & Harrow Receives Outstanding Member Of The Year Award
• Successful Forum Non Conveniens Motion Dismisses All Illinois Claims
• Summary Judgment Obtained on Behalf of Municipality in Suit Alleging Improper Redistricting
• Favorable Result for Developer - No Obligation to Indemnify Condo Association