Hon. John A. Ward, (Ret.)
IllinoisNeutral AvailabilityHon. John A. Ward, (Ret.) is a distinguished mediator and arbitrator at ADR Systems with extensive experience in the resolution of personal injury cases arising from vehicular accidents, construction negligence, premises liability, medical negligence, nursing home, workers’ compensation and product liability. He is also experienced in the resolution of commercial matters arising from professional malpractice, insurance coverage and contract matters. Judge Ward’s ability to quickly understand the issues at hand and gain the respect and trust of all parties is well known throughout the legal community.
Types of Cases Resolved
- Accounting Malpractice
- Auto Liability
- Aviation
- Class Action
- Condominium Board Dispute
- Construction
- Contract
- Employment
- Environmental
- Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)
- Insurance Coverage
- Legal Malpractice
- Medical Malpractice
- Nursing Home
- Partnership Dispute
- Personal Injury
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Professional Malpractice
- Property Damage
- Qui Tam
- Retaliatory Discharge
- Securities
- Sexual Abuse
- Storm Damage
- Subrogation
- Whistleblower
- Workers' Compensation
- Wrongful Death
ADR Experience and Qualifications
- Since joining ADR Systems in 2010, Judge Ward has served as a full-time mediator, arbitrator and tri-panel arbitrator
- 22-year judicial career in the Circuit Court of Cook County including the Law Division for 19 years, 1991-2010; First Municipal District, 1988-1991
- Successfully resolved more than 1,500 mediations and arbitrations
- 9-year legal career including Assistant Attorney General for Illinois Attorney General’s Office litigating tort, environmental, securities and civil rights actions, 1983-1988; Assistant State’s Attorney, Criminal Trial Division, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, 1980-1983: Associate at Boodell, Sears, Sugrue, Giambalvo & Crowley, securities and civil practice, 1979-1980
Representative Cases
- Aviation and Wrongful Death: case presenting multiple complex issues including pilot error, product liability and corporate policies
- Auto Liability: brain injury and wrongful death matter with issues of driver negligence, agency and insurance coverage that involved the Illinois Commerce Commission
- Contract: $6 million settlement, mediated and settled dispute between group of developers and village over tax increment financing (TIF) agreements; village terminated the TIF district and ceased payments to the developers; developers alleged termination was illegal and the village violated redevelopment agreement between the parties; village in turn asserted unjust enrichment claims against developers
- Contract: case involving Illinois Excavation Act in building collapse; lengthy negotiations and post-mediation follow-up led to settlement
- Employment Dispute: involving multiple parties and claims in breach of non-compete agreements and trade secrets
- Fiduciary Duty: dispute involving claims of securities fraud and legal malpractice during a joint acquisition
- Medical Malpractice: settled $17 million case involving patient death following botched brain surgery
- Personal Injury and Wrongful Death: claims arising from allegedly tainted medical product; cases were consolidated and successfully mediated
- Partnership Dispute: $6.2 million settlement involving partnership dissolution resulting from alleged breach of contract
- Personal Injury and Wrongful Death: cases involving issues of statutory liability, tort immunity and premises liability; cases were consolidated and successfully mediated
- Sexual Abuse: abuse of minor case led to $2.5 million settlement
- Vehicular injury: multi-party case involving driver negligence near construction zone; three-month post-mediation follow-up brought parties to settlement
- Workers’ Compensation: employee sustained back injury resulting from car accident while on the clock, settled for $9.9 million
- Wrongful Termination: medical setting involving physician serving as department head
- Wrongful Death: $9 million settlement in dispute arising from death involving construction vehicle
Professional Activities and Awards
- Appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Illinois Courts Commission, a seven-member panel responsible for rendering final decisions on matters of judicial discipline
- Mentoring Judge, Circuit Court Mentoring Program
- Recipient, Celtic Man of the Year Award, Celtic Legal Society
Presentations and Publications
- Presenter, Workers’ Compensation Institute, Illinois Institute for Legal Education (IICLE)
- Presenter, “Effective Defense Advocacy: Constructive Criticism from the Bench Regarding Pre-trial Settlement Conferences”, Hall and Prangle
- Presenter, numerous Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs for ADR Systems on various topics
Education
- J.D., Northwestern University Law School
- Dean’s List
- • B.A., Marquette University, magna cum laude
- Dean’s Award for Outstanding Graduate in Economics
Admissions
- Illinois State Bar
- US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Disclosure
I have worked with a great number of attorneys in my 22 years as a circuit court judge, including my 3 years as a judge assigned to the Trial Assignment, Emergency Motion and Set Motion calls of Law Division’s Room 2005. Similarly, in my time at ADR as a mediator and arbitrator, I have worked with many attorneys. This work as a judge, mediator and arbitrator often has involved working with representatives of insurance companies, including working with some of these representatives on multiple cases over the years.
These professional relationships have not and will not affect my neutrality or objectivity.
