Edward J. McCambridge

Shareholder

312.645.7803
312.645.7711 (fax)
emccambridge@smsm.com
233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 5500
Chicago, IL 60606
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Mr. McCambridge received his Juris Doctor degree from the John Marshall Law School in 1975 after receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in 1971. Mr. McCambridge is a member of the State Bars of Illinois, Michigan and the Federal Bars of the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of Illinois, the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, the Eastern District of Missouri and the Northern District of Indiana. He has substantial trial experience in products liability, automobile, premises and sports liability litigation. He concentrates his practice on complex tort litigation, with special expertise in toxic tort and products liability actions.

Mr. McCambridge was the Chairman and President of the Chicago Asbestos Defense Group and was appointed by the Circuit Court of Cook County as liaison officer and lead counsel for the defense of all asbestos litigation pending in Cook County. He has lectured to the Conference of Insurance Legislators, the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the Chicago Bar Association on asbestos litigation. He was a featured speaker at a National Business Institute Seminar on "Trial Advocacy." Mr. McCambridge is the 1991 and 1999 author and lecturer of, "Trial Advocacy in Illinois." Mr. McCambridge is the author of a chapter on handling toxic tort cases in the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel Manual.

Mr. McCambridge is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, Michigan Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, the Chicago Trial Lawyers Club and Berrien County Bar Association. He is also an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. Mr. McCambridge has been listed in "Who´s Who in American Law," "Who´s Who in American Business," and "Leading Attorneys in Illinois." Mr. McCambridge has served as a Trustee of the village and has been a member of the Zoning and Recreation Boards of the Village of Brookfield. He also has served as President of the Brookfield Jaycees.

Mr. McCambridge is a member of the Union League Club.

A trial lawyer's true value rests on what jurors think of him and how he/she relates to them. Complete post-trial juror interviews were performed by a well-known jury consultant service in two of Ed McCambridge's recent trials. The jurors rated him excellent, grading him A or A+. To see the direct responses of the jurors to the questions of the jury consulting service (done blind so there would be no prejudice in their answers), please click here.

SIGNIFICANT RECENT ENGAGEMENTS

  • Nolan v. Weil-McLain - Represented Weil-McLain at trial and through appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court in perhaps the most significant decision in Illinois asbestos litigation history, wherein the court specifically overruled those cases that expanded the "Lipke rule" to prevent a defendant at trial from introducing evidence of other exposures to advance a causation defense.
  • White v. Garlock - Obtained defense verdict in an asbestos trial in McLean County, Illinois in which plaintiff claimed exposure to asbestos-containing gaskets and packing manufactured by defendant.
  • Board of Chicago Asbestos Defense Group, Founder, President and Chairman
  • Chicago Asbestos Proprietary Damage Group, Founder
  • Hill v. Green Tweed, Philadelphia, PA
  • Lemon v. Garlock, Brazoria County Texas
  • Michigan School Districts v. Garlock, Wayne County MI
  • Nolan v. Weil, Vermilion County Ill
  • Wakeland v. Garlock, St Clair County Ill
  • Ward v. Garlock, Montgomery County Texas

EDUCATION

University of St. Thomas, B.A., 1971
John Marshall Law School, J.D., 1975

BAR ADMISSIONS

Illinois, 1975
Michigan, 1991
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC AFFILIATIONS

Defense Research Institute
Illinois Defense Counsel
Illinois State Bar Association
Mealey's Defense Toxic Tort Advisory Council, 2006
Michigan State Bar Association

SPEECHES AND PUBLICATIONS

Author

  • "Training For Asbestos Litigation," Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney's Toxic Tort Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue 2 (Spring 2007).
  • "Extra!!" Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney's Toxic Tort Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue 1 (Winter 2007).
  • "Status of Challenges to the Lipke Rule in Illinois," Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney's Toxic Tort Newsletter, Volume 5, Issue 2 (Fall 2006).
  • "Update On The Science Of Mold," Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney's Toxic Tort Newsletter, Volume 3, Issue 1 (Winter 2004).
  • "The Chrysotile Defense 2002," Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney's Toxic Tort Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 1 (Fall 2002).

Author/Speaker

  • Sterling Education Services Seminar, "Water Intrusion and Toxic Mold Claims in Illinois- Defending Mold Claim" (June 2004).

Speaker

  • LexisNexis conference on International Asbestos Litigation, "The Present and the Future of Asbestos Litigation in the U.S.A," London, U.K. (September 29-30, 2009).
  • HarrisMartin’s Delaware Asbestos Litigation Conference, Wilmington, DE, “The Future of Asbestos Litigation” (February 20, 2009).
  • LexisNexis Trial Strategies Seminar & Expo, Philadelphia, PA, "Effective Use of Technology in the Courtroom" (December 10-11, 2007).
  • Mealey's National Asbestos Litigation SuperConference, Scottsdale, AZ, "Crunching the Numbers: The Financial Implications of Asbestos Litigation" (September 26-28, 2007).
  • Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel's Construction Insurance Symposium & Trial Tactics Seminar, St. Louis, MO, "Nolan, Lipke & The Empty Chair" (September 20-21, 2007).
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel's (FDCC) 2007 Winter Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ, "The History And Future of Asbestos Litigation" (February 25 - March 4, 2007).
  • Co-Chairman, Mealey's National Asbestos Litigation Conference: How to Meet the Legislative and Litigation Challenges Shaking the Industry, Philadelphia, PA (September 19-20, 2005).
  • American Industrial Hygiene Association Convention, "Examining a Silica Exposure Claim in the Court Room: Tough Questions for the Industrial Hygienist," Presenter as Defense Attorney (May 2005).

PUBLISHED APPELLATE OPINIONS

Dallis v. Don Cunningham and Associates, 11 F.3d 713 (7th Cir. (Ill.), Dec 08, 1993
Balzekas v. Looking Elk, 254 Ill. App.3d 529, 627 N.E.2d 84, 193 Ill. Dec. 925 (Ill.App 1 Dist., Sep 17, 1993) (NO. I-92-0677)
Kurrack v. American Dist. Telegraph Co., 252 Ill.App.3d 885, 625 N.E.2d 675, 192 Ill.Dec. 520
Belkow v. Celotex Corp., 722 F. Supp. 1547, Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 12,437 (N.D.Ill., Sep22, 1989) (NO. 89 C 3049)
Wakeland v. Garlock, Ill App Ct 5 District #5-02-0142
Froud v. Celotex Corp., 98 Ill.2d 324, 456 N.E.2d 131, 74 Ill.Dec.629 (Ill., Oct 25, 1983)
Phillips v. Chicago Housing Authority, 89 Ill.2d 122, 431 N.E.2d 1038, 59 Ill.Dec.281 (Ill., Feb 02, 1982)
Phillips v. Chicago Housing Authority, 91 Ill.App.3d 544, 414 N.E.2d 1133, 47 Ill.Dec. 17 (Ill.App. 1 Dist., Dec 04, 1980) (NO. 79-1898)
Clark v. Standard Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 68 Ill.App.3d 977, 386 N.E.2d 890, 25 Ill.Dec. 416 (Ill.App. 1 Dist., Feb 14, 1979) (NO. 76-1526, 77-347, 77-664)
Board of Educ. of City of Chicago v. A, C and S, Inc., 171 Ill.App.3d 737, 525 N.E.2d 950, 121 Ill.Dec.643, 47 Ed. Law Rep. 1108, Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 11,874 (Ill.App. 1 Dist., Jun 01, 1988) (No. 86-0817)

OTHER HONORS

"Who's Who in American Business"
Recognized as an Illinois SUPER LAWYER (representing the top 5% of all attorneys in the State of Illinois), nominated and selected by peers in the legal community (2005-2010)
Recognized as an Illinois Leading Lawyer
Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rated

Practice Areas

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