Here are a few examples of successful results for clients in appeals and other post-judgment matters:
Family Law
In re Marriage of Gutman, 232 Ill. 2d 145 (2008). I represented the former husband in the former wife’s appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court of the Appellate Court’s dismissal of her appeal for lack of jurisdiction. The Supreme Court ruled in the husband’s favor, affirming the dismissal of the appeal and finding that the appeal, filed before the resolution of her contempt petition and without a Rule 304(a) finding, was premature.
In re Marriage of Dow, 2026 IL App (1st) 242393-U. Representing the former wife, I defeated the husband’s appeal of the trial court’s order allowing the wife to remove the minor child from Illinois and the child support award.
In re Former Marriage of Phillips, Cook County Circuit Court, Case No. 2010 D 1784. I briefed and argued opposition to a motion to reconsider rulings on child support issues, leading to the denial of the motion on jurisdictional grounds.
In re Marriage of Burdick, Illinois Appellate Court – Third District, Appeal No. 3-24-0265. The former husband appealed certain post-dissolution orders. On behalf of the former wife, I obtained dismissal of the appeal for lack of jurisdiction, constituting a victory for my client.
In re Marriage of More, Illinois Appellate Court – First District, Appeal No. 1-23-0865. I briefed and argued opposition to a motion to reconsider multiple issues in the dissolution judgment, leading to denial of the motion. The opposing party appealed the decision but quickly withdrew the appeal.
In re Former Marriage of Bartlett & Quinn, 2022 IL App (1st) 201358-U. Representing the former husband, I obtained a reversal of the trial court’s order finding that the former husband’s decrease in income due to his voluntary retirement as an attorney at a prominent international law firm did not constitute a substantial change in circumstances to warrant modification of maintenance.
In re Former Marriage of Chervak, 2017 IL App (1st) 170071-U. I represented the former husband, as appellee, in obtaining affirmance of the trial court’s judgment terminating the former husband’s maintenance obligation based on a substantial change in circumstances due to his retirement.
In re Marriage of Wallace, 2014 IL App (2d) 140233-U. In this child custody matter, I represented the wife and obtained affirmance in the Appellate Court of the trial court’s order denying the father’s petition to modify custody.
In re Marriage of Wenzel, 398 Ill. App. 3d 1110 (2d Dist. 2010), appeal denied, 237 Ill. 2d 592 (2010). I represented the former husband in the former wife’s appeal of the dissolution judgment on multiple bases, including the former wife’s interest in a family trust, the classification of the husband’s business as non-marital property, the maintenance award, the value of certain business properties, the trial court’s refusal to award the former wife’s attorneys’ fees, the allocation of marital debts, and the distribution of marital assets. The Appellate Court affirmed the trial court’s rulings, finding in favor of my client on all matters at issue.
In re Marriage of Ciancio, 365 Ill. App. 3d 1089 (1st Dist. 2006). On behalf of the wife in this appeal of a change in child custody, the Appellate Court agreed with my argument that the circuit court erred in ordering a custody modification without first entering the findings required by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. The case was remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings.
In re Marriage of Kohl, 334 Ill. App. 3d 867 (1st Dist. 2002). The trial court denied the former wife’s petition for support under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act and for a rule to show cause, alleging that the former husband willfully refused to comply with an Israeli court order to pay child support. On appeal, I obtained affirmance of the trial court’s ruling on behalf of the former husband.
Trust and Estate Contests
In re Estate of Zurawski, Illinois Appellate Court – First District, Appeal No. 1-13-1685. In this case involving a petition for issuance of a citation to recover assets in the administration of an estate, the circuit court dismissed the petition and the estate executor appealed. On behalf of the citation respondent, I obtained dismissal of the appeal, constituting a victory for my client.
In re Estate of Perry, Illinois Appellate Court – Second District, Appeal No. 2-13-919. This contested estate matter was settled favorably to our client after the appeal was filed.
In re Estate of Dugan, 2011 IL App (2d) 101038-U. Several heirs contested the decedent’s will on the basis of undue influence. The trial court entered a directed finding adverse to the heirs and in favor of the legatee. I represented the legatee on appeal, obtaining affirmance of the trial court’s finding in favor of my client.
Dodels v. Ruklick, 401 Ill. App. 3d 1138 (1st Dist. 2010). I represented one of two siblings in the appeal of this trust accounting action and obtained affirmance of the circuit court’s summary judgment in favor of my client.
In re Estate of Lerner (Goldman v. Segal), 388 Ill.App.3d 1134 (1st Dist. 2009). An heir challenged the decedent’s will on the grounds of lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence. The circuit court entered summary judgment against the heir and dismissed her claims. Representing the heir on appeal, I obtained reversal of the trial court’s rulings.
Polly v. Estate of Polly, 385 Ill. App. 3d 300 (1st Dist. 2008). The decedent’s widow sued her late husband’s estate for breach of contract and for an accounting. The circuit court granted the estate’s motion to dismiss. Representing the estate on appeal, I obtained affirmance of the dismissal of the claims against the estate.
In re Estate of Venuso (Calabro v. Calabro), 361 Ill. App. 3d 1078 (1st Dist. 2005). After trial, the circuit court found that the decedent’s money market account was a payable on death account for the benefit of his sisters. Representing the sisters on appeal, we obtained affirmance of the trial court’s ruling in favor of our clients.
In re Estate of Curtis (Mahler v. Berrafato), 319 Ill. App. 3d 1107 (1st Dist. 2001). The circuit court entered summary judgment in favor of the executor and against a claimant who sought compensation from the estate. Representing the claimant on appeal, I obtained reversal and remand to the circuit court.
Real Estate/ Real Estate Taxes
In re Application of County Treasurer of DuPage County (ZHY Investments, LLC v. Hsing), 2024 IL App (3d) 220465. The circuit court ordered a tax deed to be issued to the purchaser of delinquent property taxes. The former property owner petitioned to vacate the circuit court’s order and the court granted the former owner’s motion for summary judgment, vacating the prior order issuing the tax deed. Representing the tax purchaser on appeal, we obtained an order reversing the summary judgment and remanding the case for entry of summary judgment in our client’s favor.
In re Application of County Treasurer of Will County (Lily Investments, LLC v. Will County Collector), 2024 IL App (3d) 220134. The purchasers of properties at tax sales petitioned to compel the county treasurer to comply with sale-in-error orders that the purchasers had obtained after the properties’ owners filed for bankruptcy. The circuit court entered orders requiring the treasurer to tender refunds to the purchasers and the treasurer appealed. Representing the tax purchasers on appeal, we obtained an affirmance, constituting a complete victory for our clients.
In re Application of County Treasurer of Lake County (KZ&R Investments, LLC v. Horning), 2024 IL App (2d) 240023-U. The circuit court ordered a tax deed to be issued to the purchaser of delinquent property taxes. The former property owner petitioned to vacate the circuit court’s order, the court denied the owner’s petition, and the owner appealed. We represented the tax purchaser on appeal and obtained affirmance of the order in our client’s favor.
First Personal Bank v. Manganiello, 2013 IL App (1st) 120360-U. In this mortgage foreclosure action, the bank voluntarily dismissed its claims against the defendants, but the circuit court entered a voluntary dismissal order without notice to the defendants, without requiring the plaintiff to pay their costs, and including a provision that was prejudicial to the defendants’ rights. The defendants moved to vacate the dismissal order, and the trial court denied their motion. We represented the defendants on appeal, obtaining a decision reversing the circuit court and vacating the improper dismissal order.
Salomon v. Astor Village Condominium Ass’n, 321 Ill. App. 3d 1055 (1st Dist. 2001). My client sued a condominium association for breach of fiduciary duties. She appealed after the circuit court dismissed her claims. The Appellate Court reversed the dismissal of two fiduciary duty claims and remanded the case to the trial court.
Other Case Types
International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150 v. Sam J. Chellino Crane Rental, Inc., United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, No. 10-3443. In this case involving a dispute over amounts payable to a union fund, my client obtained a favorable settlement after i filed an appeal.
Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Wood, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, No. 06-1839. Although the insurance company refused to negotiate a resolution in this declaratory judgment action before the appeal, our client – who was catastrophically injured when he was struck by an automobile – obtained a favorable settlement after briefing and before the court issued its decision.
Scavenger Sale Investors, L.P. v. Bryant, 288 F.3d 309 (7th Cir. 2002). My client sought to enforce a settlement that it entered into in a suit on a note. The district court entered judgment for a lesser amount, finding that the full amount sought constituted an improper penalty under Illinois law and our client appealed. The Court of Appeals found in my client’s favor, upholding the full settlement amount of $1.6 million plus 15% annual interest.
Phar-Mor, Inc. v. Coopers & Lybrand, 22 F.3d 1228 (3d Cir. 1994). A Chapter 11 debtor brought suit against its accounting firm, alleging that the firm had failed to detect a scheme to defraud the debtor. The creditors’ committee moved to intervene and the district court denied the motion. We represented the intervenors on appeal, obtaining a ruling that the creditors’ committee was entitled to intervene in the adversary proceeding before the district court.
Robbins v. Allstate Ins. Co., 219 Ill. 2d 597 (2006). This case involved a pro se party who filed responses to requests to admit covering a dispositive issue. His responses were both timely and correct, except that they were not sworn. The circuit court did not find “good cause” to extend the time to file properly sworn responses. Based upon the deemed admission arising from the absence of proper responses, the circuit court granted summary judgment for the insurer and the Appellate Court affirmed. The formerly pro se party retained me to take the matter to the Illinois Supreme Court. The Supreme Court denied our petition for leave to appeal, but we filed a motion for reconsideration, arguing that the unique circumstances of the case and the palpable inequity of the result justified a supervisory order. On reconsideration, the Supreme Court entered a supervisory order directing the Appellate Court to remand the matter to the circuit court with directions to allow my client to submit properly sworn responses which would revive his case.
Bakopoulos v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., 2018 IL App (1st) 172544-U. A Union Pacific Railroad employee was awarded $5.5 million by a jury for personal injuries received on the job. After Union Pacific appealed, we represented the plaintiff in the Appellate Court and obtained a decision affirming the judgment in all respects. Union Pacific then settled for $6.1 million.
Alea London Ltd. v. Rhino Const. and Excavating Co., Inc., 2015 IL App (2d) 140662-U. The Appellate Court affirmed the circuit court’s judgment after a bench trial that the insurer under a commercial general liability policy was obligated to defend our client, a contractor, with respect to a lawsuit brought by an employee for injuries sustained on a construction site.
Ghosh v. Illinois Dept. of Children & Family Serv., 2014 IL App (1st) 131099-U. I appealed the decision of the Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to deny my client’s request to expunge an indicated finding of child neglect due to inadequate supervision. The Appellate Court reversed the decision, adopting my argument that it was clearly erroneous because the Appellate Court was left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.
Boiko v. Monti & Associates, Inc., 2011 WL 10069088 (Ill. App. 1st Dist. 2011). The Appellate Court affirmed the trial court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of my client in this action claiming fraud.
Lonski v. Board of Fire & Police Comm’rs of Village of Libertyville, Illinois Appellate Court – Second District, Appeal No. 2-08-0151. In this administrative review action, a former Libertyville police officer challenged the final decision of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the Village of Libertyville, Illinois, terminating his employment. The circuit court entered judgment affirming the decision of the Board. The matter was settled favorably to my client, the former officer, after I filed an appeal.
Writings cited as
authority in judicial opinions
Here are some of the judicial decisions that cite my published writings favorably:
Illinois Supreme Court
People v. Morgan, 2025 IL 130626, ¶ 19
People v. Radojcic, 2013 IL 114197, ¶ 33
Illinois Appellate Court
People v. Jordan, 2025 IL App (5th) 240649-U, ¶ 30.
Law Offices of Brendan R. Appel, LLC v. Georgia’s Restaurant & Pancake House, Inc., 2025 IL App (1st) 231573, ¶ 10.
People v. Murphy, 2024 IL App (1st) 240521-U, ¶ 39 (Mitchell, P.J., dissenting)
Tsatsanis v. MacDonald, 2024 IL App (1st) 231282-U, ¶ 79 (Mitchell, P.J., specially concurring)
Ontiveroz v. Khokhar, 2023 IL App (3d) 220446, ¶ 24
People v. Prather, 2022 IL App (4th) 210472-U, ¶ 50
Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, NA v. Envirobusiness, Inc., 2014 IL App (1st) 133575, ¶¶ 29-30
Texas Supreme Court
Ritchie v. Rupe, 443 S.W.3d 856, 890 (Tex. 2014)
Tennessee Supreme Court
City of Memphis v. Hargett, 414 S.W.3d 88, 112 (Tenn. 2013) (Koch, J., concurring)
West Virginia Supreme Court
Elizabeth P. v. Gid M., 2019 WL 5289927, at *4 (W. Va. 2019)
Iowa Court of Appeals
In re A.D.W., 2012 WL 3200891, at *2 (Iowa Ct. App. 2012)