Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer and Quad Cities Attorney Law Firm from Illinois

DePaul University - College of Law
Chicago, Illinois
Juris Doctorate, Spring, 1989.

Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois
Bachelor of Arts, Fall, 1985

Black Hawk College
Moline, Illinois
Fall, 1980 - Spring, 1982

HONORS AND ACTIVITIES

Current - "Leading Lawyers" in Personal Injury Law, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Life Member of the National Registry of Who's Who, Who's Who in American Law, Best Attorneys Network, "Lead Counsel", International Who's Who, Advocate - National College of Advocacy , Pound Civil Justice Institute - Board of Trustees, Academy of Trial Professionals, Certified Arbitrator, Illinois State Delegate to Association of Trial Lawyers of America
DePaul - Who's Who Among American Law Students, DePaul Legal Clinic,Chairperson - Student Bar Association Barrister's Ball.
N.I.U. - Golden Key National Honor Society, The National Dean's List, Student Association Senator, Students Organized for Safety, Student Tenant Union, Tower's Magazine, Who's Who Among American College Students.
B.H.C. - Dean's List, Student Representative Assembly, Sociology Teaching Assistant, Sports Editor of the college newspaper.

EXPERIENCE

VANDERGINST LAW, P.C. (04 -present)
Managing Partner. Practice focused on medical malpractice, product liability litigation, nursing home, mass tort litigation and all areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation.
VANDERGINST, ROCHE & WESTENSEE, LTD. (7/01-/04)
Managing Partner. Practice focused on medical malpractice, product liability litigation, nursing home, mass tort litigation and all areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation.
BRAUD, WESTENSEE & VANDERGINST, LTD. (7/99 -7/01)
Managing Partner. Practice focused on medical malpractice, product liability litigation, nursing home, mass tort litigation and all areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation.
BRAUD/WESTENSEE, LTD. (1/95 - 6/99)
Partner. Practice focused on medical malpractice, products liability litigation, nursing home, and all areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation.
BRAUD/WARNER, LTD. (1/92 - 12/94)
Senior Associate Attorney. Practice focused on medical malpractice, products liability litigation, nursing home and all areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation.
BLACK HAWK COLLEGE (1/93 - 5/96)
Adjunct Professor of Torts and Insurance Law.
WYLIE, MULHERIN, REHFELDT & VARCHETTO, P.C. (2/91 - 1/92)
Associate Attorney. Trial and appellate practice focused on the fields of insurance defense and subrogation, plaintiff's personal injury, worker's compensation law, some exposure to general practice law.
LAW OFFICES OF DENNIS VANDERGINST (1/90 - 2/91)
Solo practice focused on general civil and criminal litigation and appellate work.
LAW OFFICES OF ELLIOT SAMUELS (11/89 - 1/90)
Associate Attorney. Focused on general civil and criminal litigation and appellate work.
LAW OFFICES OF ELLIOT SAMUELS (Spring, 1987 - Fall, 1989)
Law Clerk. Responsibilities included extensive legal research and memoranda writing in diverse areas of civil and criminal law.
DEPAUL LEGAL CLINIC (1988 - 1989 school year)
Student Attorney. Responsibilities included client interviews, research, motion and trial practice in the areas of divorce, adoption and bankruptcy.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

April 11, 1992 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Insurance Liens, Set-off & Subrogation
St. Louis, Missouri
May 7, 1992 - Continental Casualty Company
Professional Lawyers Liability Program
Peoria, Illinois
September 12, 1992 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Update & Review Seminar
Chicago, Illinois
February 15, 1993 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Shotgun Seminar
Chicago, Illinois
April 24, 1993 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Current Topics in Injury Victim Advocacy Seminar
St. Louis, Missouri
August 20, 1993 - Iowa Trial Lawyers Association
Pleadings & Practice
Dubuque, Iowa
October 11, 1993 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Point/Counterpoint
Chicago, Illinois
February 18, 1994 - Illinois State Bar Association
Overview of New Developments in Civil Practice
& Procedure from Jurisdiction to Appeals,
Rock Island, Illinois
March 1, 1994 - Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Winning Depositions: Discovery, Techniques & Practice,
Chicago, Illinois
April 12, 1994 - Quad City Claims Association
Spring Seminar, Civil Practice Update
Davenport, Iowa
May 7, 1994 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Evidence
Chicago, Illinois
September 17, 1994 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Update & Review Seminar
Chicago, Illinois
December 3, 1994 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Medical Malpractice
Chicago, Illinois
January 14, 1995 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Product Liability Litigation
Chicago, Illinois
February 18, 1995 - Illinois State Bar Association
Civil Practice Update
Rock Island, Illinois
April 11, 1995 - Quad City Claims Association
Spring Seminar, Civil Practice Update
Davenport, Iowa
May 6, 1995 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Life Before & After House Bill 20
Chicago, Illinois
June 30, 1995 - Rock Island County Bar Association
Tort Reform
Rock Island, Illinois
October 12-14, 1995 - American Law Institute-American Bar Association
Litigating Medical Malpractice Claims,
Charleston, South Carolina
January 13, 1996 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Product Liability Litigation
Chicago, Illinois
April 12, 1996 - Quad City Claims Association
Spring Seminar, Civil Practice Update
Davenport, Iowa
April 13-14, 1996 - Gonstead Methodology Institute
Personal Injury
Parkview, Iowa
April 20, 1996 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Trial Practice, Law Tactics and Techniques
St. Louis, Missouri
June 7, 1996 - Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Successful Techniques in Winning Vehicle Accident Cases
Chicago, Illinois
September 7, 1996 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
It's a Whole New World, Civil Practice Update & Review
Chicago, Illinois
September 6, 1997 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Issues, Answers and Legal Trends
Chicago, Illinois
September 22-24, 1997 - Medical Intelligence Corporation
Emergency Medicine and the Law
Las Vegas, Nevada
December 5, 1997 - Scott County Bar Association
1997 Winter CLE Seminar, Seeing the Forest for the Trees
Davenport, Iowa
January 3-7, 1998 - Boston University School of Medicine and
The Center for Human Genetics
14th Annual Conference on Obstetrics, Gynecology,
Perinatal Medicine, Neonatology and the Law
Maui, Hawaii
March 16-17, 1998 - The National Law Journal and the New York Law Journal
Fen-Phen, Medical Aspects & Potential Liability
New York, New York
September 12, 1998 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
New Law - New Developments
Chicago, Illinois
December 2, 1998 - Wisconsin State Bar Association
Resolving Ethical Issues in Everyday Practice `98
Madison, Wisconsin
March 26, 1999 - Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Modern Medical Malpractice Litigation
Peoria, Illinois
September 18, 1999 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
What's New in Tort & Trial, Civil Practice Update & Review
Chicago, Illinois
December 1, 1999 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America - National College of Advocacy
Taking the Driver's Seat Against Allstate, State Farm, and Others When You've Been "Dolfed" Via Telephone
December 9, 1999 - The Law Firm Development Group, Inc.
Just Think About Your Future as a Lawyer
Chicago, Illinois
December 11, 1999 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Medical Negligence Seminar
Chicago, Illinois
February 5, 2000 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
General Tort Litigation - Including Medical Issues
Peoria, Illinois
February 21, 2000 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Product Liability - Premises Liability
Chicago, Illinois
February 25-26, 2000 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America - National College of Advocacy
Litigating Catastrophically Injured Infant Cases
Atlanta, Georgia
July 29-August 2, 2000 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America
2000 Summer Convention
Traumatic Brain Injuries Litigation Group
Ethical Considerations in Handling a Closed Head Injury Case from Interview Through Trial
Construction Site Accident Litigation Group
Chicago, Illinois
November 16-18, 2000 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America
2000 Fall Board of Governors Meeting
Nursing Home Litigation Group
Washington, D.C.
December 1, 2000 - Scott County Bar Association
Last Chance Seminar - Bar Relations and Ethics
Davenport, Iowa
December 9-10, 2000 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America - National College of Advocacy
Weekend with the Stars - Trial Strategies, Techniques to Master, and Taking Cases That Count
New York City, New York
December 22, 2000 - TRT Inc., The Right Thing
Advertising and Solicitation Updates
Live Telephone Teleconference Seminar
February 9-15, 2001 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America - National College of Advocacy
Litigating Catastrophically Injured Infant Cases
Atlanta, Georgia
March 23-24, 2001 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America Winter Convention
Nursing Home
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Railroad Law
New Orleans, Louisiana
April 20-21, 2001 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America - National College
of Advocacy
Litigating Nursing Home Cases
Houston, Texas
April 26-28, 2001 - M & L Legal Management
Legal Forum 2001
Miami, Florida
July 13-18, 2001 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Summer Convention
Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway, and Premises
Liability
Insurance Law
Products Liability
Montreal, Canada
August 2-5, 2001 - American Bar Association
Annual Convention
Chicago, Illinois
September 15, 2001 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
What’s New in Tort and Trial
Chicago, Illinois
September 21-23, 2001 - American Bar Association/Legal Tech
Legal Technology Seminar
New York City, New York
January 15-19, 2002 - M&L Legal Management
Law Firm Management Seminar
Key West, Florida
January 25-27, 2002 - Network Affiliates
Mass Torts
Nassau, Bahamas
February 9-13, 2002 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America Winter Convention
Baycol
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Nursing Home
Miami, Florida
February 12 - 15, 2002 - Trial Lawyers Marketing
Round Table
Asset Protection
Accutane Litigation
Miami, Florida
March 13-14, 2002 - Mass Torts Made Perfect
New Orleans, Louisiana
June 26-30, 2002 - M&L Legal Management
Client Services
Aspen, Colorado
July 19-25, 2002 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Summer Convention
Products Liability
Traumatic Brain Injury
Nursing Home
Baycol Litigation
Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability
Railroad Law
Atlanta, Georgia
July 24-26, 2002 - Trial Lawyers Marketing Roundtable
"Legal Services via the Internet"
Atlanta, Georgia
August 7-11, 2002 - Network Affiliates
Servicing Mass Tort Clients
Nassau, Bahamas
August 22, 2002 - Needles Case Management Systems
Case Management
Las Vegas, Nevada
September 11-15, 2002 - Mass Torts Made Perfect
Nassau, Bahamas
December 4-8, 2002 - Needles Case Management Systems
Mass Torts
Nassau, Bahamas
March 26-30, 2003 - Law Office Comparison Group
Management and Legal Ethics
New Orleans, LA
April 23-24, 2003 - Mass Torts
Made Perfect
Atlanta, Georgia
April 30-May 4, 2003 - Masters Marketing Group
Cyberspace, the Final Frontier
Dallas, Texas
June 19-20, 2003 - Mass Torts
Made Perfect
Securities, Drug, & Environmental Litigation
Chicago, IL
June 25-29, 2003 - M&L Marketing and Management Seminar
Ethical Case File Management Systems
Santa Fe, New Mexico
July 19-23, 2003 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Summer Convention
Confronting Juror Bias
Computers and Law Office Technology
Nursing Home Litigation
Psychology of Persuasion
Toxic Mold Litigation
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Medical Negligence
Bad Faith Insurance Litigation
Pharmaceutical Torts
San Francisco, CA
July 22-25, 2003 - Trial Lawyers Marketing Roundtable
Securities Fraud
San Francisco, CA
August 7-10, 2003 - Network Affiliates
Serving Hispanic Clients
Vail, Colorado
November 6-9, 2003 - Masters Marketing Group
Legal Services Via the Internet
Phoenix, Arizona
February 12-18, 2004 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Winter Convention
Nursing Home Fraud
Damages for Elderly Clients
Sick Building Syndrome
July Selection
Non-Catastrophic Injury Cases
Orlando, Florida
February 17-19, 2004
Trial Lawyers Roundtable
Latest in Mass Torts
Orlando, Florida
April 25-27, 2004 - Masters Marketing Group
Public Relations
Internet Legal Services
Washington, D.C.
July 3-7, 2004 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America - Summer Convention
Nursing Home Litigation
Hormone Replacement Therapy Litigation
Ephedra Litigation
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Boston, Massachusetts
July 6-8, 2004 - Trial Lawyers Marketing Roundtable
Product Liability Litigation
Pharmaceutical Litigation
Boston, Massachusetts
January 9, 2005 - Attorney Website Boot Camp
San Diego, CA
January 29 - February 2, 2005 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America - Winter Convention
Working with Experts, Low Impact/Biomechanical Engineer, Economic Damages, Chronic Pain, Elder Plaintiffs, Non Economic Damages, Female Plaintiff, Insurers Use of Computer Software, Cross Examination, Catastrophically Injured Infants, Focus Groups, Voir Dire, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Causation
Palm Springs, CA
July 23-27, 2005 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America - Summer Convention
Bad Faith Insurance, Admiralty Law, Nursing Home Litigation, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Qui Tam Litigation, School Litigation, Demonstrative Evidence, Product Liability, Daubert/Experts
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
November 11-15, 2005 - Masters Marketing Group
Mass Torts for the Masses
Las Vegas, Nevada
April 1, 2006 - Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
President's Seminiar
Chicago, Illinois
May 3-5, 2006 - Masters Marketing Group
Legal Ethics
New York, New York
July 14-19, 2006 – Association of Trial Lawyers of America-Summer Convention
Persuasion and Jury Selection, Opening and Direct and Cross-Examination, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability, Use of Technology at Mediation, Closing Arguments
Seattle, WA

SEMINARS AND CLASSES CONDUCTED

Ongoing - Fox Television
Weekly Legal FAQs Program
1996-2000 - WQAD Television (Quad Cities ABC affiliate)
Mid-day Call-In Program
January, 1993 - Black Hawk College, Moline, Illinois
to May, 1996 Adjunct Professor
Torts and Insurance Law
March 8, 1994 - University of Iowa, Pre-Law Society
Topic: Discussion Panel for Iowa State
Bar Association, Law Panels Committee
February 28, 1995 - University of Iowa, Pre-Law Society
Topic: Discussion Panel for Iowa State
Bar Association, Law Panels Committee
April 19, 1995 - St. Ambrose University, Physical Therapy Program
Topic: Dealing with the Legal System
and Patient Confidences
May 10, 1995 - Moline Orthopedic Associates
Topic: AIDS Confidentiality Issues and
Recent Tort Reform Legislation
November 14, 1995 - St. Ambrose University, Occupational Therapy Program
Topic: How to Effectively Treat/Serve Patients and Still
Insulate the Practitioner from Liability Exposure
April 4, 1996 - Association of Operating Room Nurses, Davenport
Topic: Medical Malpractice in the OR and Insurance for OR
and Recovery Room Nurses
April 17, 1996 - St. Ambrose University, Physical Therapy Program
Topic: How to Effectively Treat/Serve Patients and Still
Insulate the Practitioner from Liability Exposure
November 5, 1996 - United Township High School
Topic: Overview of Tort Law
November 15, 1996 - St. Ambrose University, Occupational Therapy Program
Topic: Litigation, Insurance Claims and How to Avoid
Malpractice
April 7, 1997 - St. Ambrose University, Physical Therapy Program
Topic: Practicing in Conjunction with the Legal System
April 11, 1997 - United Township High School
Topic: Tort Law and the Legal System
April 8, 1998 - St. Ambrose University, Physical Therapy Program
Topic: Risk Management and the Legal System
May 5, 1998 - United Township High School
Topic: Tort Law and Contract Law
November 12, 1998 - United Township High School
Topic: Tort Law and Contract Law
March 3, 1999 - St. Ambrose University, Physical Therapy Program
Topic: Risk Management and the Legal System
December 1, 2000 - Scott County Bar Association, Last Chance Seminar
Topic: Trial Preparation: The Expensive & Inexpensive Way
July 16, 2001 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Summer Convention, Montreal, Canada
Topic: Internet Usage for Law Firms
July 22, 2002 - Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Summer Convention, Atlanta, Georgia
Topic: Bates: Then and Now
July 24-26, 2002 - Trial Lawyers Marketing Roundtable
Atlanta, Georgia
Topic: Legal Services via the Internet
June 20, 2003 - Mass Torts Made Perfect
Chicago, Illinois
Topic: People Over Profits
July 22-25, 2003 - Trial Lawyers Marketing Roundtable
San Francisco, California
Topic: Public Relations and Community Events
April 11, 2004 - Quad Cities Chiropractic Consortium
Davenport, Iowa
Topic: How to Avoid Malpractice
July 8, 2006- Quad Cities Chiropractic Consortium
Milan, IL
Topic: Disc Decompression
July 15, 2006-Pound Civil Justice Institute
Seattle, WA
Topic: "The Whole Truth? Experts, Evidence, and the Blindfolding of the Jury."

PUBLICATIONS

"Negligent Use of Self Defense - A Viable Cause of Action, But Is There Coverage?"
by James M. Roche & Dennis A. VanDerGinst
Trial Journal of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Volume 3, Number 1 - Winter, 2001
"Tort "Reform" Versus Tort Fairness - A Call for Real Justice"
by Dennis A. VanDerGinst
"The Legal Profession Caught in the Net"
by Dennis A. VanDerGinst and James M. Roche
Trial Journal of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Volume 5, Number 2 - Summer 2003
"Mass Tort Litigation: Is it For The Masses?"
by Dennis VanDerGinst
Trial Journal of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Volume 8, Number 2, Summer 2006