Joe practices in areas of complex civil litigation including trucking/transportation, product liability, sexual torts, premises liability, auto, and commercial litigation. He is a Co-Chair of the firm's Trucking/Motor Carrier Practice.
Joe's extensive trial experience includes the successful trials and mediations of numerous trucking cases involving serious injuries throughout Illinois. He is a member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association and has spoken and published in the area, including presentations and articles on Investigating Catastrophic Accidents and Defending Claims Against Motor Carriers for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education.
Although always prepared to try cases when necessary, Joe is a skilled negotiator and has had great success resolving cases through mediation. Over the last five years, Joe has resolved over 40 lawsuits through mediation.
In recent years, Joe has defended a number of high profile sexual tort claims, particularly those brought against corporations and religious entities. Many of his cases are against leading Chicago and national counsel where damages sought against these target defendants typically reach several million dollars.
Joe is a frequent speaker at programs and seminars on civil litigation, including such topics as effective trial techniques, expert witnesses, and evidentiary issues. He has published many articles on various trial practice and evidence issues. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly, the official journal of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, and has been a regular contributor to the IDC Quarterly's Evidence and Practice Tips column for several years. Joe authored the chapter on Remedies for Noncompliance in the Discovery Handbook published in 2013 and 2011 by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Joe also authored the chapter on UCC Warranties in the Contract Law Handbook published in 2013, 2008 and 2005 by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education.
Joe currently serves on the IDC Board of Directors. He is a past Chair of the Peoria County Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education Committee and past President of the Abraham Lincoln American Inn of Court.
Joe has earned Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV Preeminent rating for legal ethics and ability. He has been designated an Illinois Super Lawyer - one of the top 5% lawyers in the state based on a survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. He has also been selected by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois, which is also based on a peer review process and limited to the top 5% of the lawyers in the state.
News
57 Heyl Royster Attorneys Recognized by Leading Lawyers - 04/22/2016
26 Heyl Royster Attorneys Selected as 2016 Illinois Super Lawyers - 02/05/2016
Six Attorneys Author IDC Quarterly Publications - 01/15/2016
Nine Attorneys Author IDC Quarterly Publication - 12/07/2015
27 Heyl Royster Attorneys Selected as Super Lawyers - 02/20/2015
Heyl Royster Attorneys Author Articles for IDC Quarterly - 12/16/2014
Attorneys Author Articles for 2014 IDC Quarterly Issue No. 3 - 09/04/2014
Firm Attorneys Active in 2014-15 IDC Leadership - 08/28/2014
Heyl Royster Joins in 50th Anniversary of The Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel - 07/18/2014
Heyl Royster Attorneys Author Articles for 2014 IDC Quarterly Issue No. 2 - 06/18/2014
Heyl Royster Attorneys Author Articles for IDC Quarterly - 04/18/2014
Feehan Authors Chapter on Remedies for Noncompliance - 03/28/2014
26 Heyl Royster Attorneys Selected as Super Lawyers - 02/21/2014
Feehan Authors Chapter on Commercial Contract Law - 11/12/2013
25 Heyl Royster Attorneys Selected as Super Lawyers - 01/31/2013
Fifteen Heyl Royster Attorneys Selected as Super Lawyers and Eight Named as Rising Stars - 04/25/2012
Public Speaking
•“Defending Motor Carrier Crash Cases From Occurrence to Trial”
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 2012
•“Investigation of Catastrophic Accidents”
Heyl Royster Claims Handling Seminar 2011
•“Third-Party Liability: Contribution, Indemnity, and Set-Offs”
Heyl Royster Claims Handling Seminar 2010
•“Legal Issues in Catholic Ministry”
Diocese of Peoria 2007
•“Avoiding Common Mistakes in Accident Investigations”
Heyl Royster Claims Handling Seminar 2007
•“An Update on Standards for Admissibility of Expert Testimony in State Court”
Peoria County Bar Association 2007
•“Tort Law Update”
IDC Spring Seminar 2006
•“Employer Defenses to Sexual Misconduct Claims”
Heyl Royster Claims Handling Seminar 2005
•“Sexual Abuse by Those in Positions of Authority”
IDC, Chicago, IL 2004
•“Negligent Hiring and Supervision of the Sexual Perpetrator - Are There Viable Defenses Available to an Employer When Its Employee Commits a Sexual Tort?”
IDC, Chicago, IL 2004
•“Taking and Defending Depositions”
IDC, Chicago, IL 2004
Professional Recognition
•Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
•Named to the Illinois Super Lawyers list (2008-2016). The Super Lawyers selection process is based on peer recognition and professional achievement. Only five percent of the lawyers in each state earn this designation.
•Selected as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois. Only five percent of lawyers in the state are named as Leading Lawyers
•Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel Distinguished Service Award, 2007
Community Involvement
•Heart of Illinois United Way Pillars Society
•Frequent Coach/Manager of youth baseball, softball and basketball, including PGSL softball, grade school and Biddy basketball, etc.
•Active supporter of many local charities and nonprofit groups
Publications
• Establishing an Affirmative Matter Under Section 2-619(a)(9), Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2015)
• Evidence and Practice Tips, Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2015)
• Evidence and Practice Tips: Admissibility of Statements under Illinois Rule of Evidence 408: Control Solutions, LLC v. Elecsys, Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2014)
• Fraser v. Jackson: Second District Affirms Orders Barring Expert as Discovery Sanction and Awarding Fees Associated with Proving Reasonableness of Medical Bills, Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2014)
• The Evidence and Practice Tips Column: Statement Made in Motion Practice Admissible at Trial, Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2014)
• Tips for Forum Non Conveniens Motions - Taylor v. Lemans Corp. and Sutton v. Ekong: Examination of a Plaintiff's Use of 735 ILCS 5/2-203.1 to Allow for Special Service, Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2014)
• Remedies for Noncompliance chapter supplement in Illinois Civil Discovery Practice, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2011, 2014)
• Warranties, Disclaimers, and Limitations chapter in Contract Law, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2013)
• First District Affirms Dismissal With Prejudice as Sanction for Destruction of Electronic Evidence, Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2011)
• First District Holds that Trial Court Properly Allowed Defense Medical Expert to Rely Upon Police Report and Vehicle Photographs as Basis for Medical Opinion Testimony, Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2011)
• Illinois Supreme Court Holds that Expert Testimony is Not Required to Support a Claim for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2010)
• Illinois Supreme Court Holds That July 2003 Amendments to Childhood Sex Abuse Statutes of Limitations do not Apply Retroactively to Revive Previously Barred Claims, Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2009)
• Illinois Appellate Court First District Vacates $25 Million Jury Verdict Because Trial Court Improperly Barred Expert Testimony Regarding Plaintiff's Blood-Alcohol Level, Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2008)
• Warranties, Disclaimers and Limitations, chapter in Contract Law, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2008 and 2005 editions)
• Trial Court Properly Refused Plaintiff's Jury Instruction Seeking Damages for Future Pain and Suffering, Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2006)
• Life After Daubert and Kumho Tire: An Update on the Admissibility of Expert Testimony, Illinois Bar Journal (2000)
• Life After 'Same Part of the Body:' An Update on Admissibility of Prior Injuries, Illinois Bar Journal (2004)
Year Joined Firm
1988
