Bruce Pfaff has been a trial lawyer since 1979, representing people injured or killed by wrongful conduct. He received excellent training from two premier law firms before starting his own practice in 1991. Bruce has succeeded for clients in cases including those hurt by unsafe or defective products, especially vehicles, medical malpractice by obstetricians, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, neurosurgeons, other doctors and hospital personnel, careless driving, poor maintenance of property, sexual assault, legal malpractice, and other forms of personal injury cases in Chicago.
Bruce has received jury verdicts for his clients totaling more than $100 Million. In four cases, his clients have each received more than $10 Million in jury verdicts. He has also settled cases before trial for more than $100 Million for his clients. In addition to representing clients and managing the law firm, Bruce writes Friend of the Court briefs for the Illinois Trial Lawyers' Association and for the American Board of Trial Advocates. He holds committee positions with the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers' Association, and the Chicago Bar Association.
Lawyer Ratings
Bruce holds the highest possible ratings from Martindale-Hubbell ("AV") and AVVO.com ("10.0 superb"). He is among the top 100 of Illinois Super Lawyers issued by Chicago Magazine and has been elected to The Best Lawyers in America for personal injury and medical negligence law.
Memberships & Committees
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- American Association for Justice
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), 1997
- Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
- Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases, 1999-2010
- President of the Illinois Chapter of ABOTA, 1999-2000
- Member of ABOTA's National Board of Directors, 2001-2007
- Elected Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, 2008
- Special Supreme Court Committee on E-Business, Chair, 2011
- Leading Lawyers Network Advisory Board
Representative Published Decisions
Mikolajczyk v. Ford Motor Company, 231 Ill.2d 516 (2008)
Mikolajczyk v. Ford Motor Company, 374 Ill.App.3d 646 (1st Dist. 2007)
Gann v. TTI, Inc., 491 F.Supp.2d 771 (N.D. Ill. 2007)
Rennert v. Great Dane Ltd. Partnership, 543 F.3d 914 (7th Cir. 2008)
Bryant v. LaGrange Memorial Hosp., 345 Ill.App.3d 565 (1st Dist. 2003)
Carrillo v. Ford Motor Co., 325 Ill.App.3d 955 (1st Dist. 2001)
DeYoung v. Alpha Const. Co., 186 Ill.App.3d 758 (1st Dist. 1989)
Schaffner v. Chicago & North Western Transp. Co., 129 Ill.2d 1 (1989)
Speeches/Articles
More than 90 speeches or articles presented, including:
"Multi Party Cases: Who Belongs on the Verdict Form?" accepted for publication in ITLA Journal, Winter 2011
"Product Liability Update & Review," Illinois Trial Laywers Association, October 2010
"Consumer Expectations and Risk Utility in Products Liability," American Association for Justice Annual Convention, July 2009
"The Right to Submit Questions to Witnesses," CBA Record, May 2009
"Direct Examination" and "Closing Argument" presented at the Chicago Bar Association's program, Creative Insights for the Tort Trial Lawyer, March 2009.
"Crashworthiness Cases, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Chicago, November 2007.
Masters in Trial presenter, American Board of Trial Advocate, Dallas, Texas, October 2007.
Masters in Trial presenter, American Board of Trial Advocates, Oxford, Ms., April 2007.
"Automotive Seat Design Liability," Attorney's Information Exchange Group program, Chicago, April 2007.
"Product Liability: Evidence and Jury Instructions," Illinois Trial Lawyers' Association, February 2007.
"Opening Statements," Chicago Bar Association, February 2007.
"Use of Literature," Illinois Trial Lawyers' Association, January 2007.
Favorite Charities
LaRabida Children's Hospital, Misericordia, Erin's Handicapped Children's Fund, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Public Justice, Public Citizen, Evans Scholars, Western Golf Association, Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation.
