Hon. Stuart Nudelman (Ret.)

Location: Chicago, IL
Expertise: Accounting/Finance, Commercial Disputes, Construction Disputes, Corporate and Contractual Disputes, Discrimination, Employment Disputes, Harassment, Insurance Coverage Disputes, Legal Malpractice, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury Claims, Product Liability, Real Estate, Securities

Hon. Stuart A. Nudelman (Ret.) is a skilled mediator and settlement judge, known for his creative settlements in resolving emotionally charged, complex matters. Judge Nudelman has extensive experience in multi-party, business / commercial, medical malpractice, legal and accounting malpractice, products liability, personal injury, employment and construction matters. In addition to the experience garnered on the bench as a trial judge, Judge Nudelman was often assigned cases from other court calls and judges’ calendars for settlement conferences and mediations.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

• 21-year judicial career focused on commercial civil litigation, personal injury, medical, legal and accounting malpractice and case resolution in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Commercial Calendar, Law Division, 2003-2006; Trial Judge, Law Division, 2001-2006; Trial Judge, Third Municipal District, 2000-2001; Presiding Judge of the Second Municipal District, 1999-2000; Presiding Judge of the Fourth Municipal District, 1997-1999; Trial Judge, Law Division, 1992-1995; Supervising Judge, First Municipal District, Criminal Division; Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, 1985-1987.  

• 13-year legal career that includes: Supervising Attorney, Vertical Representation Unit, Office of the Public Defender; Supervising Attorney, Murder Task Force, Office of the Public Defender; Trial Attorney; 1972-1985. 

• Successful resolution of the following types of cases:

• Business / Commercial / UCC
• Equitable Relief Litigation
• Personal Injury: catastrophic injury, slip and fall, wrongful death, automobile accident, and dog bite cases
• Medical Malpractice
• Professional Malpractice: Legal and Accounting Malpractice.
• Products Liability
• Construction: Contracts; Defects; Insurance Coverage.
• Employment: Wrongful Termination, Discrimination, Civil Rights, Covenants Not to Compete, Unfair Wage Practices.
• Insurance: All types of issues.
• Class Action
• Real Estate
• Healthcare: Hospital Administration.
• Religious Institutions
• Securities: Stock Disputes.

Representative Cases

• Corollo vs. Al Warren Oil Company Inc. et al.: complex personal injury case using Unzicker vs. Kraft Foods in determining liability as to joint tort feasors. Affirmed by the Appellate Court.
• Schulson vs. John Doe Law Firms: holding that the theory of implied indemnity will not support a third party action where the underlying lawsuit against the third-party plaintiff is grounded in breach of contract.
• Krum vs. Chicago National League Ball Club Inc.: complex matter involving employment contracts, retaliatory discharge, and whistle blowing statute.
• Shutkas Electric vs. Ford Motor Company: Magnuson Moss Act case determining commercial versus private vehicle coverage in warranty cases.
• Schaulfelberger vs. American Airlines: personal injury case involving passenger and flight attendant confrontation as it relates to possible security concerns.
• Estate of Baby Doe vs. Highland Park Hospital et al: multi-party medical malpractice case involving complex issues of c-section of mother, death of child, fetal monitoring strips and actions of hospital staff and medical personnel.
• Servedio vs. Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center: complex matter involving the question of a hospitals’ obligation to treat indigent patients and what rates should be charged to those without insurance, including how the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act and Illinois Revenue are involved.

Honors, Memberships and Professional Activities

• President, Illinois Judges Association, 2003-2004; Board Member 1992-2006.

• Faculty, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Trends in Civil Damages, January 2005 and Civil Damages: Developments and Trends, 2005.

• Speaker, Chicago Bar Association, Motion Practice, Commercial Litigation, May 2006and Civil Practice; Pre-trial and Motion Practice, October 2005, 2004, 2003.

• Faculty, Judicial Conference, Judging in the 21st Century, a course on ethics and morals in our changing society, 1998.

• Speaker, Hinshaw & Culbertson, Trial Advocacy Program, 2006.

• Circuit Court of Cook County, Judicial Mentor Training Chair, 2005; Program Chair, 1995-1999; Member, 1995 – 2006.

• Adjunct Professor, Loyola University College of Law, Trial Practice, 1982-2006.

• Member, Executive Committee of the Supreme Court of Illinois, 2001-2006.

• Facilitator, Supreme Court Special Committee on Professionalism, 2003.

• Member, Complex Litigation Committee of the Supreme Court, 2001 – 2006.

• Speaker, West Suburban Bar Association, Mediation Technique, 1997.

• Speaker, Northwest Bar Association, Civil Jury Trials, 1994.

• Lifetime Achievement Award, Decalogue Society of Lawyers, 2006.

• Judge of the Year Award, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2006.

• Lifetime Achievement Award, Illinois Judges Association, 2004.

• The Pillars Community Services 25th Anniversary Award, 2004.

• Rainbow/P.U.S.H. Scales of Justice Award, May 2001 and 2002.

• LifeSpan Domestic Violence Service Award, 2000.

• N.A.A.C.P. Community Court Service Award, 2000.

• National Organization of Women (NOW) Domestic Violence Award, 2000.

• Arab American Bar Association, Man of the Year Award, 1998.

Background and Education

• Northwestern University, Mediation Certification, 2006.
• AEI Brookings Institute, Critical Issues in Construction Defects Litigation, 2006.
• Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law, JD 1972.
• University of Illinois, Chicago, BS, 1969.

To schedule a case or CLE with Judge Nudelman, or to discuss rates, please contact ADR Systems of America, LLC at 312-960-2260 or info@adrsystems.com.