Bradley C. Nahrstadt, Esq.
Practice Areas:
Product Liability, Professional Liability, Insurance, Labor & Employment, Class Action & MDL Litigation
Biography
Bradley C. Nahrstadt is a partner of Williams Montgomery & John Ltd., serves as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, is co-chair of the insurance coverage practice group, and a member of the product liability, professional liability and tort defense practice groups. He focuses his practice on defending product liability, professional liability, premises liability, insurance coverage, and bad faith and commercial matters in state and federal courts around the country, and also has handled a number of matters at the appellate level. Mr. Nahrstadt serves as chair of the Primerus Defense Institute and has been elected to membership in the American Law Institute. He is “AV Preeminent” peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability.
Mr. Nahrstadt has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Illinois Leading Lawyers for product liability defense and medical malpractice defense. In 2007, 2010 and 2011, he was selected for inclusion in Illinois Super Lawyers for product liability defense, and in 2006 was selected by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as one of the “40 Illinois Attorneys under 40 to Watch.”
In the product liability area, Mr. Nahrstadt has litigated cases involving a wide variety of products, including fine grinding machines, silicone breast implants, dietary supplements, automobile axles, hydraulic automotive lifts, hydraulic jacks, brakes, clutches, child safety seats, chemical floor wax strippers, signal components, genetically engineered corn, rewinders, pharmaceuticals, thermal oxidizers, gravimetric feeders, welding rods and contact lens solution. Mr. Nahrstadt has served as regional counsel for a national testing laboratory, regional counsel for a large consumer of welding rods, and regional counsel for one of the leading optical manufacturers in the country. He currently serves as regional counsel in asbestos litigation for a major brake and clutch manufacturer.
As part of his general tort defense practice, Mr. Nahrstadt has represented trucking companies in large-scale accident cases, entertainment venues in cases alleging negligence in the provision of security, and retailers in cases alleging failure to provide a safe business environment. He also has defended general contractors and subcontractors in suits alleging unsafe construction practices.
Mr. Nahrstadt has represented a wide variety of professionals in cases involving claims of malpractice or misfeasance. He has defended insurance agents and brokers in claims alleging fraud and misrepresentation. He has defended nurses and physicians in dozens of malpractice actions. He also has defended engineers, architects and nursing home operators against claims of professional negligence.
As co-chair of the firm’s insurance coverage practice group, Mr. Nahrstadt has served as Chicago counsel for a number of insurance companies, including Progressive Insurance Company, Allianz Insurance Company, Capitol Insurance Company and Endurance. He has been involved in counseling insurance clients regarding the handling of claims. He has prosecuted and defended declaratory judgment actions seeking judicial interpretation of various provisions of general liability and commercial auto policies, and has defended numerous claims alleging insurance company bad faith.
Education/Bar Admissions
Mr. Nahrstadt received a B.A. in English and political science, summa cum laude, with distinction, in 1989 from Monmouth College. He received his J.D., cum laude, in 1992 from the University of Illinois College of Law. He has served as an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at DePaul University College of Law and for several years taught a course on litigation as part of the paralegal studies program at the College of Lake County.
Mr. Nahrstadt was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1992, and also has been admitted in the following federal trial and appellate courts:
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (including the trial bar)
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
Professional Activities/Recognition
Since April 2010, Mr. Nahrstadt has served as chair of the Primerus Defense Institute, a consortium of 87 small- to medium-sized defense firms located throughout the country. He also serves on the Primerus Leadership Counsel and recently agreed to serve as the inaugural chair of the Primerus Education Committee.
Mr. Nahrstadt is active in numerous professional organizations, including:
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Board of Directors
- Defense Research Institute, webinar chairman, Electronic Discovery Committee
- The Chicago-Lincoln Inn of Court, membership co-chair, Executive Committee
- The Council on Litigation Management
- Professional Liability Underwriters Society
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
- International Association of Defense Counsel
In addition, Mr. Nahrstadt has served as a member of the Monmouth College Board of Trustees since 2002. He is a member of the board of governors of Sigma Phi Epsilon and has served as the fraternity’s district governor for Illinois since 2007.
Mr. Nahrstadt is the author or co-author of 70 articles on a wide variety of legal topics and has contributed more than two dozen book chapters to various legal publications. He has served as the general editor of two highly regarded legal reference works: Illinois Product Liability Practice and Illinois Insurance Law. He also is a frequent speaker on legal topics.
Representative Cases
Quinones v. Prater Industries, Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.: Obtained favorable settlement for Prater Industries in product liability lawsuit. Plaintiff had his foot nearly amputated when he attempted to stop a large rotary grinding machine manufactured by the defendant. On the second day of trial, case settled for $25,000.
McCaffery v. General Electric, et al., Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.: Obtained dismissal on behalf of the defendants in product liability lawsuit. Plaintiff claimed he developed Parkinson’s disease as a result of exposure to manganese contained in the fumes given off during the welding process. Plaintiff’s complaint was dismissed by the court for failure to state a cause of action.
White v. Durr Environmental, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois: Obtained dismissal of lawsuit against client Durr Environmental involving an explosion at a large printing facility. Plaintiff, who was severely injured in the explosion, blamed gas build-up on a failure of the thermal oxidizer manufactured by the defendant to function properly. Defendant filed a motion for summary judgment, and plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the case. After the case was re-filed, defendant renewed the motion for summary judgment and plaintiff dismissed his claims, with prejudice.
Hanna v. Genentech, Inc., Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.: Favorably resolved lawsuit against client Genentech in which plaintiff claimed he suffered an extreme exacerbation of his psoriasis, along with debilitating joint pain, after using the defendant’s anti-psoriasis drug in an experimental trial. Case settled for nominal amount shortly after plaintiff’s deposition was taken.
Debra Dowe, et al. v. National Passenger Railroad Corp., et al., U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois: Obtained dismissal on behalf of client General Signal Corporation in a lawsuit arising from a train-truck collision in Bourbonnais, Ill. Client was the manufacturer of the railroad crossing signal device at the location of the collision, which resulted in 61 lawsuits alleging multiple deaths and injuries. Case against General Signal was voluntarily dismissed.
Genetically Altered Corn Cases, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois: Defended the seller of corn flour in class actions brought by multiple consumers claiming they were injured after consuming taco products allegedly contaminated with genetically altered corn (Starlink). Was successful in having another defendant assume the defense (upon reimbursement for our defense costs).
Choi v. L.G. Greenview, et al., Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.: Obtained favorable settlement for defendants in lawsuit brought by a female who was sexually assaulted and repeatedly stabbed in her apartment in Carol Stream, Ill. Plaintiff filed suit against the owners of the apartment complex, as well as the management company, alleging failure to maintain the premises and to provide adequate security. Plaintiff’s demand prior to trial was $1.25 million. Following a two-week trial, the jury was deadlocked 11 to 1 in favor of the defendants, and a mistrial was declared. Case subsequently settled for $120,000.
Garcez v. Michel, et al., Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.: Achieved “not guilty” verdict for the defendants in malpractice lawsuit seeking damages of $15 million. Minor plaintiff was born with hypoxic brain damage and claimed that multiple breaches of the standard of care resulted in cerebral palsy, cognitive deficits, severe physical handicaps and speech and language problems. After deliberating for three hours, jury returned verdict for defendants.
Eiccholz v. Kritsas, Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.: Achieved “not guilty” verdict for the defendant in malpractice lawsuit seeking more than $2.3 million in damages. Plaintiff underwent a radical retropubic prostatectomy for the removal of his cancerous prostate gland. Following surgery, it was discovered that plaintiff had lost function of his left lower extremity due to injury to the femoral nerve. After deliberating for one hour, the jury returned verdict for defendant.
Dumas v. Infinity Broadcasting Corp., U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois: Obtained summary judgment for Infinity Broadcasting in lawsuit brought by a country radio disc jockey seeking more than $1 million in damages. Plaintiff alleged breach of contract and promissory estoppel against Infinity when he failed to obtain a position as a morning show host on the top Chicago country music station.
Bown v. Taoramina, Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.: Obtained summary judgment on behalf of defendant landlord in lawsuit brought by plaintiff claiming she was repeatedly sexually assaulted inside her apartment after returning home from a St. Patrick’s Day party. Plaintiff alleged her assailant (who was never caught) was able to gain access to her apartment due to inadequate lighting, inadequate security and inadequate security devices.
Practicing: Professional Liability Defense, Class Actions, Commercial Law, Construction Law, Insurance Defense, Medical Malpractice, Toxic Torts, General Litigation, Premises Liability, Products Liability
