
Hon. Michael J. Powers, (Ret.)
IllinoisNeutral AvailabilityJudge 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 pre-trial 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 pre-trial, 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: 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 Accident: worker hurt at construction site resulting in low back injury and surgery; settled for $3.35 million
- Construction Accident: worker injured at construction site resulting in spine fracture and surgery; settled for $1.225 million
- Construction Accident: 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
- 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
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.