Brandon K. Lemley

Brandon Lemley concentrates his practice in civil rights defense, municipal liability, defense of employment suits, and appeals. Mr. Lemley has handled cases through all stages of litigation and trial, including appeals before both the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts. He places a particular emphasis on the value of written brief, obtaining the dismissal and summary judgment in countless cases. Mr. Lemley brings a unique perspective to his practice, having previously worked behind the bench as a Federal Judicial Law Clerk to Judge Roger B. Cosbey of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

Mr. Lemley also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the John Marshall Law School, teaching legal writing and appellate advocacy. While in law school, Mr. Lemley was a Lead Articles Editor for The John Marshall Law School.

Education

The John Marshall Law School, JD, cum laude, 2001

Indiana University, BA, with honors, 1998

Practice Areas

Appellate

Commercial Litigation

Defense of Civil Rights Claims

Litigation for Municipalities

Bar and Court Admissions

Illinois, 2001

US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Federal Trial Bar

US District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Memberships

Illinois State Bar Association (Municipal Law Committee, Vice-Chair 2012-present)

Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel

Representative Matters

Obtained summary judgment of a federal class action lawsuit seeking in excess of $7 million in compensatory and injunctive relief against a suburban municipality based on the Equal Protection clause of the United States Constitution. The class of residents in a subdivision claimed that the municipality violated their civil rights in not extending its water system to protect them from the threat of fire caused by an allegedly inadequate water system operated by a private water company.

Obtained dismissal of a False Claims Act and Illinois Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act case on behalf of a governmental entity. These statutes prohibit recipients of federal or state monies from defrauding the government, and allow an individual to bring suit on behalf of the government. The court concluded that the plaintiff had failed to plead a claim.

Obtained dismissal of multi-million dollar suit against suburban municipality and police officers alleging the failure to prevent a double homicide.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of suburban police officers on claims of Civil Rights violations in Federal Court.

Obtained dismissals of claims of sexual, racial, and national origin harassment and discrimination before Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Illinois Department of Human Rights.

Successfully handled massive piracy litigation against approximately 800 defendants under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Federal Communications Act of 1934, and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act in Federal Court.

Professional Activities

Adjunct Professor, The John Marshall Law School, legal writing and appellate advocacy

Author: Effectuating Censorship: Civic Republicanism and the Secondary Effects Doctrine, 35 John Marshall Law Review 189 (2002)

Author: Navigating the Pitfalls of Offers of Judgment, American Bar Association, The Young Lawyer (August 2006)

Author: Fighting Piracy in the Digital Age: The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, American Bar Association, The Young Lawyer (November 2005)

Noteworthy

The John Marshall Law Review, Lead Articles Editor

Publications

Illinois Court Limits Use Of "Entitlement Exclusion" In Insurance Policy 

The New ADA Amendments: Increased Coverage Means Increased Obligations For Employers

Municipal Liability Update: Bad Neighbors Redefine "Fighting Words"

Revisions To The Illinois Human Rights Act Will Likely Lead To Increase In State-Court Discrimination Lawsuits

When Disgruntled Employees Attack: The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Problem of Authorized Access

Are Municipalities and Police Immune for Failure to Respond? - Fall 2006

When are Demolition Blunders Intentional? - Summer 2006

News

Lemley and Rettberg Win First Amendment Retaliation Appeal

Q&H Shareholders Recognized at IDC Annual Meeting

Seventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Political Retaliation Lawsuit

Markadontas v. Woodridge - Class Action Dismissed

Querrey & Harrow Obtains Important Victory of Taxpayers In Seventh Circuit Antitrust Decision

Seventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment on Two Title VII Lawsuits

Querrey & Harrow Scores Three Big Victories For Taxpayers

Q&H Defeats Massive Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Claim

Successful Dismissal of Civil Rights Action