Thomas P. Burke

Thomas P. Burke has been involved in defending national and regional trucking companies and resolving transportation issues for more than 30 years.  His clients include self-insured trucking companies, Fortune 500 corporations with truck fleets, and trucking industry insurers. He has handled various administrative law matters and commercial litigation matters for trucking companies.  In other areas, he has defended corporations and municipalities in tort and civil rights cases.

Mr. Burke has tried approximately 90 matters (including jury, nonjury and administrative cases) to verdict or decision in his career.  In addition to catastrophic injury cases, he has litigated employment cases, excessive force cases against police officers, administrative claims by regulatory agencies against transportation entities, and commercial claims involving breach of contract and breach of commercial leases. He has handled numerous underinsured and uninsured motorist cases for major insurance company clients.

Mr. Burke has practiced throughout Northern Illinois, and extensively in both Cook and Lake Counties. He is a member of the federal trial bar.  He has represented several Lake County municipalities in general litigation matters.  He is a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by martindale.com.

Mr. Burke has authored articles appearing in the Lake County Bar Association publication, The Docket, and given presentations to the Lake County Bar Association Civil Practice Trial and Appeals Committee, and the American Law Firm Association.

Mr. Burke is certified as an arbitrator and mediator by the Illinois State Bar Association. He serves as both a mediator and arbitrator in the Circuit Court of Lake County and Cook County Mandatory Arbitration programs and offers mediation services through the Chicago Bar Association Mediation service. Click here for a link to the CBA mediation website.  

Representative List of Clients

American Interfidelity Exchange (AIFE)

JB Hunt Transport, Inc.

US Xpress, Inc.

US-1 Industries

Education

Loyola University, JD, 1984

Southern Illinois University, MA, 1978

St. Vincent College, BA, high honors, 1976

Practice Areas

Arbitration/Mediation

Litigation for Municipalities

Transportation

Industries

Insurance

Transportation

Bar and Court Admissions

Illinois, 1984

US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, including Federal Trial Bar

Memberships

Lake County Bar Association

Illinois State Bar Association

Trucking Industry Defense Association

Publications

 Jury Instructions on Aggravation of a Pre-Existing Condition: The Time for a Change

News

Burke and Callicoat Apply Judicial Estoppel and Defeat Federal Court Warehouse/Trucking Claim

Summary Judgment Granted on Slip and Fall Claim Based on Insufficient Evidence

Querrey & Harrow's Appellate Department: On A Winning Streak

Not Guilty - Permanent Brain Damage Injury

Querrey & Harrow Scores Three Big Victories For Taxpayers

Loss of Support Claim Denied on Basis of Illegal Gains

Successful Forum Non Conveniens Motion Dismisses All Illinois Claims

Summary Judgment for Two Lake County Municipalities