Hon. Lisa R. Curcio, (Ret.)

Judge Curcio is a senior mediator and arbitrator with almost 30 years of legal and judicial experience. Her ability to settle cases involving all aspects of construction projects and disputes arising from construction contracts — including claims based on mechanics lien — is augmented by her knowledge of real estate and banking, which she cultivated prior to becoming a practicing attorney. Her expertise in these matters enables her to carefully manage complicated multi-party cases and understand the nuances involved in litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Counsel know Judge Curcio as an energetic, pragmatic neutral whose measured approach helps parties construct suitable solutions to their disputes.

Types of Cases Resolved

Condominium Board Dispute
Construction
Construction Defect
Contract

Foreclosure
Landlord-Tenant
Mechanics Lien
Property Damage

Real Estate
Subrogation

ADR Experience and Qualifications

Since joining ADR Systems in 2018, Judge Curcio has served as a full-time mediator and arbitrator
15-year judicial career in the Cook County Circuit Court, including Chancery Division Mechanics Lien Section 2010-2018; Mortgage Foreclosure Section 2007-2010; First Municipal District, 2002-2007
13-year legal career including Associate, Joseph R. Curcio, Ltd., 1993-2002; Associate, Garretson and Santora, Ltd., 1989-1993

6-year career in trust administration
6-year career in real estate
40-hour mediation training course, Center for Conflict Resolution

Representative Cases

Construction: settled a dispute involving faulty construction work on multiple residential buildings by contractors and sub-contractors, resulting in water damage, roof damage and loss of income
Construction: subcontractor breach of multi-million-dollar glass installation contract and general contractor bond claims
Construction: multi-million-dollar owner claims of defective work on luxury high-rise apartment building involving general contractor and design professionals with damages including repair costs, diminution of value and lost income
Construction: subcontractor breach of finish material installation contract in multi-story luxury high-rise resulting in general contractor and owner claims for defective work and project delays
Construction, Contract and Mechanics Lien: subcontractor claim for contract balance and extra work on public school project
Construction Defect: settled dispute involving claims of liability for the purportedly faulty installation of a heating system with insufficient materials at a public building
Construction Defect: dispute involved purported delays in the construction of a building and design errors and omissions, resulting in claims of substantial compensatory damages; matter settled
Construction Defect: settled a dispute involving claims that the design and construction of a condominium building resulted in water infiltration and fireproofing deficiencies, among other issues
Construction Defect: owner of large city commercial building asserted multi-million dollar claim for negligence against prime contractor and subcontractor; prime contractor and subcontractor denied liability and claimed defects arose from design
Construction Defect: public entity owner breach of contract claim against general contractor and design professionals for defective design and defective work in installation of geothermal field to provide heating and cooling to building

Construction Defect and Mechanics Lien: restaurant build-out included multiple mechanics lien claims and owners’ construction defect counterclaim
Construction Delay: general contractor and subcontractor claims for mechanics lien and breach of contract on commercial building rehab; owner counterclaims for defective work and project delays
Construction Defect and Mechanics Lien: settled a dispute involving over eighteen parties, including fourteen subcontractors, general contractor, architect, developer and thirteen insurers; developer and homeowners association asserted claims of defective work and defective design; mediation took place over numerous days and involved separate meetings with different parties and insurers
Contract: action to enforce complex settlement agreement between seller and purchaser of multiple floors of downtown vertical condominium conversion
Contract: settled dispute involving a public lien and contract claims on bridge construction
Contract: breach of commercial lease; matter settled
Contract and Foreclosure: commercial mortgage foreclosure and breach of contract arising from sale of manufacturing business and real estate
Contract and Mechanics Lien: claims for water and sewer main installation at large residential development
Contract and Mechanics Lien: multiple claims on city college construction project
Contract and Mechanics Lien: subcontractor and public funds lien claim for work at suburban bus company office building; subcontractor maintained that contract was wrongfully terminated; counterclaim for fraud

Professional Activities and Awards

Member, Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys (SOICA)
Member, Construction Law Section, Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)
Member, Forum on Construction Law, American Bar Association (ABA)

Co-chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Subcommittee. SOICA
Former Member, Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness
Leonardo da Vinci Award of Excellence, Order of the Sons of Italy in America

Presentations and Publications

Author, “Illinois Mechanics Lien Act, Section 16 as Amended: Substantive Change or Clarification?” Bench & Bar Section, ISBA
Author, “An Alternative to Litigation,” Substance, Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association
Panelist, “Views from the Bench,” Forum on Construction Law, ABA
Panelist, “Pros and Cons of Arbitration,” Business Litigation Super Conference, DRI The Voice of the Defense Bar
Panelist, “Building Virtual Bridges: Remote Mediation of a Construction Dispute,” Construction Law Section, ISBA
Co-Presenter, “Prevailing Party Attorneys’ Fees in Construction Contracts—Good or Bad?,” Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys
Presenter, “Dispute Resolution, Remedies for Nonpayment and Statutes Impacting Construction,” ABA Forum on Construction Law 2021 Regional Conference
Presenter, “A Judge’s View on Construction Trials,” SOICA

Presenter, “Remote, Hybrid, or In-person Mediation and Arbitration? Views from Two Neutrals and a Judge,” Construction Law and Mechanics Lien Subcommittee, Chicago Bar Association (CBA)
Presenter, “Deconstructing the Arbitration Process,” Construction Law Section Council, ISBA
Presenter, “Anatomy of a Mechanics Lien Claim,” Construction Law Section, ISBA
Presenter, “Effective Resolution of Mechanics Lien Claims,” Real Property Law Committee and Construction Law and Mechanics Lien Subcommittee, Chicago Bar Association (CBA)
Presenter, “Contract Drafting & Arbitration,” The Arbitration Institute, CBA
Presenter, “The Process of Arbitration,” The Arbitration Institute, CBA
Presenter, numerous Continuous Learning Education (CLE) and Women’s Initative Committee programs for ADR Systems on various topics
Presenter, “Construction Law Primer for Young Attorneys and General Practitioners,” Construction Law Section, ISBA

Education

JD, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
BA, Mundelein College

Admissions

Illinois State Bar

Disclosure

I was a sitting judge for over 13 years, have practiced law and have been a mediator and arbitrator since 2018. Many attorneys have tried cases in my courtrooms or mediated or arbitrated a case with me.

I am a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, the Illinois State Bar Association Construction Law Section Council, and the ABA Forum on Construction Law. As a result of my participation in these organizations, I regularly interact with many attorneys who represent clients in construction claims and disputes.

Additionally, I have three family members working at Curcio & Casciato.

The disclosures listed above will not affect my neutrality in this dispute.

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