David E. Stevenson - Partner

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Biography

David E. Stevenson is a partner of Williams Montgomery & John Ltd. and serves as the firm's managing partner. He is a member of the commercial litigation and construction claims practice groups. Mr. Stevenson focuses his practice on commercial contract disputes, professional liability claims, construction defect claims, and complex insurance and reinsurance claims. He is “AV Preeminent” peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest peer recognition for both ethical standards and legal ability.

Mr. Stevenson has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Illinois Leading Lawyers for commercial litigation and for insurance, insurance coverage and reinsurance law.

Mr. Stevenson's clients include Fortune 500 companies, directors, construction companies, contractors, insurers, insurance brokers and reinsurers.

Examples of significant cases handled by Mr. Stevenson include the representation of a major appliance manufacturer in a lawsuit brought to recover damages arising from the recall of 1.8 million refrigerators; representation of an owner sued for $10 million due to the collapse of the roof at a 500,000-square-foot distribution center utilized by Sears; representation of a major public utility in an arbitration to recover damages under a cost-plus coal supply agreement; defense of a director and audit committee member of a nationwide restaurant chain against claims brought by a bankruptcy trustee; defense of a nationwide money transfer services company against claims brought by a customer that suffered losses due to its employee's criminal conduct; and representation of a primary insurer against claims brought by an excess insurer for alleged bad faith in failing to settle a serious personal injury claim.

Education/Bar Admissions

Mr. Stevenson received a B.A., with high honors, in 1973 from James Madison College at Michigan State University. He received his J.D. in 1978 from Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans, La.

Mr. Stevenson is a member of the Illinois (1981), Michigan (1978) and Florida (1979) bars.

Professional Activities

Mr. Stevenson is a member of the Law Practice Management Section of the American Bar Association. He also is a member of The Lawyers Club of Chicago and currently serves on its board of directors.

Representative Matters

  • Archstone Consulting LLC v. The Cambridge Group, et al.

    Circuit Court of Lake County, Ill.
    Successfully represented defendants in lawsuit alleging breach of employment agreement and trade secret violation. Case resolved with no payment by clients.

  • Baker Mellon Stuart v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Favorably settled claims on behalf of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in lawsuit brought by contractor for payment and by owner for construction defects and delay. Case settled at time of trial.

  • Casualty Insurance Co. v. Constitution Re and AON Reinsurance Agency

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained summary judgment for reinsurance intermediary client in lawsuit involving claims under facultative reinsurance certificate. Utilized late notice defense.

  • Central Illinois Light Co. v. Freeman United Coal Co.

    Arbitration, Chicago, Ill.
    Won breach of contract suit on behalf of Central Illinois Light Co. Plaintiff sought damages and termination in connection with a long-term coal supply agreement.

  • Decor Gates, Inc. v. Fararo

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Obtained settlements from five defendants on behalf of Decor Gates in trade dress lawsuit involving floor registers.

  • Epstein Construction v. US Foodservice

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Resolved lawsuit against client US Foodservice alleging construction defects and delay damages related to a food warehouse and distribution facility in Las Vegas, Nev. Case settled through JAMS mediation.

  • Global Granite & Marble, LLC v. James McHugh Construction Co.

    Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis, Mo.
    Settled various construction claims by and against construction manager arising out of construction of a Westin hotel in St. Louis, Mo.

  • Harleysville Mutual Ins. Co. v. GE Reinsurance Corp.

    U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    Settled lawsuit for client GE Reinsurance claiming $6.8 million under quota share reinsurance treaty.

  • J.M.H.P. Wetherall v. Cole Booth Potter

    U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    Obtained judgment for client intermediary in facultative reinsurance dispute. Judgment for client was reached after trial and was affirmed on appeal.

  • Metropolitan Water Reclamation District v. Knight Architects

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Favorably settled malpractice lawsuit brought on behalf of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District against architects relating to deficient plans for office, shop and warehouse facility.

  • Miken Cartage Inc. v. Comdata Network, Inc.

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained summary judgment for client Comdata Network in litigation brought by Miken Cartage claiming $1 million in damages for alleged fraudulent use of Comdata's money transfer services by plaintiff's employee and truckers.

  • Montgomery, et al. v. Aetna Plywood, et al.

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Won class action on behalf of defendant ESOP trustee. Beneficiaries of ESOP Trust brought lawsuit against corporation and its ESOP trustees for breach of fiduciary duties and ERISA violations.

  • Old Republic Insurance Co. v. Employer's Reinsurance Co.

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Obtained judgment for Employer's Reinsurance in dispute relating to large, complex insurance program. Judgment for client was reached after trial and was affirmed on appeal.

  • Peer Pedersen v. Donna Ring

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Favorably settled lawsuit on behalf of plaintiff seeking to collect under cross-indemnity agreement against shareholder/ investor.

  • Polsky v. Indeck Energy Service, Inc.

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill. (1994)
    Obtained reversal of $17 million of a $24 million arbitration award against client Indeck Energy in breach of employment and stock agreements lawsuit brought by Polsky.

  • Prudential Plaza Associates v. Turner Construction Company

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Won $9 million breach of contract and promissory fraud counterclaim for defendant Turner Construction. Plaintiff originally sought $37 million in delay and remedial damages arising out of the construction of Two Prudential Plaza. (Selected by The National Law Journal as one of the "Outstanding Defense Verdicts" in the United States).

  • Sears Roebuck and Co. v. Duke-Weeks Realty Limited Partnership, et al.

    Circuit Court of Will County, Ill.
    Settled multimillion-dollar lawsuit brought against client Duke-Weeks Realty involving a commercial warehouse owned by the client. Plaintiff tenant alleged roof collapse was caused by faulty construction, design and failure to maintain.

  • Sears v. Benchmark

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Favorably settled claims for roofing consultant client Benchmark in lawsuit relating to single-ply roofs on 450 facilities.

  • Smith as Bankruptcy Plan Trustee for Estate of Boston Chicken, Inc. v. Arthur Anderson, et al.

    U.S. District Court, District Court of Arizona
    Represented individual director and member of audit committee of Boston Chicken, Inc. in suit against breach of fiduciary duty claims arising out of the Boston Chicken bankruptcy. Settled after extensive discovery and while summary judgment motions were pending.

  • Springfield Service Supply, Inc. v. 24 KT. Ironworks

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained judgment through AAA arbitration for client 24 KT. Ironworks, a steel fabricator, in counterclaim for backcharges. Plaintiff brought lawsuit against client seeking damages for additional work and delay in connection with a Chicago Transit Authority project.

  • Whirlpool Corporation v. Sensata Technologies, Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc.

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Currently represent client Whirlpool in product liability lawsuit brought against Texas Instruments to recover damages caused by recall of 1.8 million refrigerators. Texas Instruments is the manufacturer of the component part that allegedly caused the recall. Case pending.

  • William Ryan Homes v. IRED Jackson Creek

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained full recovery of earnest money and letter of credit on behalf of William Ryan Homes.

  • Zurich Insurance Company v. Federal Insurance Co.

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
    Obtained settlement resulting in payment to primary insurer client in breach of contract and bad faith lawsuit against excess insurer.