Hon. Michael J. Powers, (Ret.)

Judge Powers is uniquely positioned to excel as a mediator and arbitrator. For 14 of his 18 years on the bench in Will County, Judge Powers served as a pretrial settlement judge in the Law Division. Further, he exclusively dedicated his last six years as a jurist to settling over 1,000 personal injury and commercial cases at pretrial, cultivating robust skills as a mediator. Those who have appeared before Judge Powers remark at how quickly he can home in on the issues in a dispute. He is thorough in preparation for each case, good-humored in demeanor and committed to resolution.

Types of Cases Resolved

American Disability Act (ADA)
Auto Liability
Aviation
Business Dissolution
Construction Accidents
Contract
Defamation
Discrimination
Eminent Domain
Employment
Fee Dispute
Fraud

Government
Legal Malpractice
Mechanics Lien
Medical Malpractice
Nursing Home
Partnership Dispute
Personal Injury
Premises Liability
Probate
Product Liability
Professional Malpractice
Property Damage

Qui Tam
Retaliatory Discharge
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Harassment
Subrogation
Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)
Trusts
Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Claims (UI & UIM)
Wrongful Death
Wrongful Termination

ADR Experience and Qualifications

Since joining ADR Systems in 2022, Judge Powers has served as a full-time mediator and arbitrator
18-year judicial career in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court including Settlement Judge for Chancery, Law Division and Probate, 2016-2022; Motion and Settlement Judge for Law Division, 2009-2015; Presiding Judge, Misdemeanor Division, 2007-2008; Associate Judge, 2004-2009
20-year legal career including Partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP, specializing in employment, education law, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, nursing home, premises liability and auto liability, 1991-2004; Assistant State’s Attorney Will County, rising to Chief of the Misdemeanor Division, 1988-1991

Mediation Certificate, Circuit Court of Cook County
Arbitration Certificate, Circuit Court of Will County Mandatory Arbitration Program

Representative Cases

Auto Liability: father and daughter on motorcycle struck by a car; both plaintiffs suffered fractures and underwent surgeries; case settled for $6.25 million to daughter and $750,000 to father
Auto Liability: following an automobile collision with defendant; plaintiffs required emergency surgeries and experienced multiple fractures, resulting in months of immobilization and home healthcare post-hospital discharge; settled for $1.6 million
Auto Liability: car struck by semi-trailer resulting in multiple fractures to the plaintiff; settled for $3.9 million
Auto Liability: injured driver suffered herniations resulting in fusion; settled for $1.5 million
Auto Liability: pedestrian struck by car, resulting in fractures; settled for $1.4 million
Construction Accidents: worker hurt at construction site resulting in low back injury and surgery; settled for $3.35 million
Construction Accidents: worker injured at construction site resulting in spine fracture and surgery; settled for $1.225 million
Construction Accidents: settled case involving significant damages and multiple defendants; discussed with parties prior to mediation their tenders of defense, along with declaratory judgment issues regarding insurance coverage and the status of the workers compensation lien, removing roadblocks to eventual resolution; settled for $2.125 million
Construction Accidents: worker injured at construction site, resulting in low back injury and surgery; settled for $1.2 million
Medical Malpractice: plaintiff suffered a uterine perforation and a thermal bowel injury; settled for $4 million

Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death: failure to diagnose resulting in patient death; settled for $1.6 million
Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death: settled for $3 million
Nursing Home: resident suffered injuries due to alleged neglect; settled for $660,000
Personal Injury: gas explosion resulted in burns and disfigurement and post-traumatic stress disorder to the plaintiff; settled for $3.1 million
Premises Liability: slip and fall resulting in complex regional pain syndrome; settled for $1.6 million
Sexual Abuse: plaintiff suffered psychological injury from sexual abuse; settled for $1.2 million
Trucking Accident: settled a dispute involving serious injuries to the plaintiff from an automobile collision while trying to remove their vehicle, which was stuck in mud; plaintiff required surgery and experienced multiple fractures, injury to the optic nerve and a cerebrospinal fluid leak; settled for $4 million
Wrongful Death: plaintiff alleged that law enforcement failed to seek medical care for decedent in a timely manner, violating the Tort Immunity Act and contributing to his death; settled for $3.6 million
Wrongful Death: worker at plant suffocated to death; settled for $3.35 million
Wrongful Death: case involved Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) negligence; settled for $2.2 million
Settled numerous commercial cases, including contract, eminent domain, employment, mechanics lien and subrogation

Professional Activities and Awards

Former Member, Illinois Council of School Attorneys
Former Member, Illinois Judges Association
Former Member, Illinois State Bar Association
Former Member, American Bar Association
Former Board Member, President and Arbitration Committee Chair, Will County Bar Association
Former Will County Judiciary liaison to the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism

Volunteer, Pro Bono Project
Excellence in the Judiciary Award, Illinois State Crime Commission
Certificate of Appreciation, Illinois Judges Association for presenting “Seven Reasons to Leave the Party” program to high schools
Certificate of Appreciation, St. Mary Immaculate Parish for dedicated service

Presentations and Publications

Keynote Address, “The Life of a Police Officer,” Exchange Club of Joliet Police Officer of the Year
Presenter, “Cross Examination in Civil Cases,” Will County Bar Association Mega Seminar
Presenter, “Arbitration,” Will County Bar Association Mega Seminar

Presenter, “Tort Reform and Premises Liability,” Hartford Insurance
Presenter, “Dos and Don’ts When Practicing in Civil Court,” Swanson Martin & Bell and Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol
Presenter, “Part-Time Alternatives for Retiring Lawyers,” ISBA

Education

JD, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
BS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Admissions

Illinois State Bar
US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Disclosure

I was a sitting judge for over 17 years, have practiced law and have been a mediator and arbitrator since 2022. Many attorneys have tried cases in my courtrooms or mediated or arbitrated a case with me.

I have a son-in-law who is an associate attorney at Block, Klukas, Manzella and Shell, where I am Of Counsel, and a son who works as a commercial underwriter for CNA Insurance.

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

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