James H. Whalen

Lipe Lyons is proud to announce that six of our attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™

Shareholders Jeffrey Lipe and Thomas Pontikis were selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for their work in personal injury litigation. Shareholder James Whalen, Partner Amanda Zink, and Of Counsel Raymond Lyons Jr. were selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for their work in insurance litigation. And Senior Associate Alejandra Barcenas was selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ for her work in Insurance Law and Construction Litigation.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation.

Ones to Watch in America™ highlights the legal talent of lawyers who have been in practice less than 10 years. These awards are recognitions given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in America.

We invite you to visit Lipe Lyons’ Best Lawyers® profile: https://lnkd.in/gQ2aXFak

Lipe Lyons Shareholder and Managing Partner James Whalen to be featured speaker at Primerus Convocation 

Lipe Lyons Shareholder and Managing Partner James Whalen will be a featured speaker at the International Society of Primerus Law Firms™ 2023 Defense Institute Convocation this week. 

 Partner James Whalen and Associate JohnFranco Joyce Secure Dismissal for Their Clients

Partner James H. Whalen and Associate JohnFranco Joyce obtained a dismissal of a legal malpractice claim on behalf of their defendant clients, an attorney and law firm in Lake County, Indiana.  Plaintiff, an attorney, retained defendants in relation to a federal indictment for tax evasion and failure to file federal income taxes. The lawsuit filed against defendants alleged that their negligent legal representation of Plaintiff resulted in tax liability owed to the U.S. government that substantially exceeded what Plaintiff actually owed and a more severe federal prison sentence than he otherwise would have received.  Defendants filed a motion to dismiss asserting several factual and legal arguments. The Court agreed with Lipe Lyons’ arguments and granted Defendants’ motion to dismiss. 

Lipe Lyons Attorneys Selected to 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

The firm is pleased to announce that five of our Shareholders Jeffrey Lipe, Raymond Lyons, Thomas Pontikis, James Whalen, and Jordan Tank, and two of our Senior Associates Alejandra Barcenas and Elise Ruff, were recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for the 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers List published in the most recent issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, a publication from Thomson Reuters and the publishers of Chicago magazine. We invite you to learn more about our attorneys by visiting their Attorney Bios.

Lipe Lyons Announces 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

The firm is pleased to announce that five of our Shareholders Jeffrey Lipe, Raymond Lyons, Edward Murphy, James Whalen, and Jordan Tank, and four of our associates Alejandra Barcenas, Ryan Eckert, Riley Gallagher, and Elise Ruff, were recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for the 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers List published in the most recent issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, a publication from Thomson Reuters and the publishers of Chicago magazine. We invite you to learn more about our attorneys by visiting their Attorney Bios.

Whalen and Ruff Achieve Not Guilty Verdict in Premises Liability Arbitration

Lipe Lyons Shareholder James Whalen and Associate Elise Ruff achieved a not guilty verdict in arbitration of premises liability claims asserted against a business owner. The plaintiff alleged that an unnatural accumulation of ice caused his injuries. At the arbitration, the Plaintiff black-boarded six figures in medical bills and lost wages, and alleged permanent injuries. In addition to his premises liability theory, the Plaintiff also raised issues about missing evidence and spoliation. The arbitrator denied all claims.

Lipe Lyons Shareholder James Whalen and Associate Elise Ruff achieved a not guilty verdict in Arbitration

Lipe Lyons Shareholder James Whalen and Associate Elise Ruff achieved a not guilty verdict in Arbitration for the property owner in a premises liability case. Plaintiff alleged that an unnatural accumulation occurred which resulted in Plaintiff sustaining permanent injuries. The underlying case involved a slip and fall that occurred at a gas station. Plaintiff claimed over six figures in damages. During arbitration Plaintiff attempted to raise issues on missing evidence and spoliation. However, Lipe Lyons limited the matters to be arbitrated to those contained within Plaintiff’s complaint. The Arbitrator determined that although Plaintiff sustained injuries from the fall, there was no evidence to suggest that an unnatural accumulation existed. Thus Plaintiff failed to meet his burden of proof to show that Defendant breached his duty of care to Plaintiff.

Lipe Lyons Prevails at In-Person Trial During Pandemic

Shareholder James Whalen obtained a directed finding for a Lipe Lyons' client at a bench trial conducted in October 2020.  The trial was held at the DuPage County (Illinois) Courthose, and included live, in-person testimony from our four witnesses.  The plaintiff asserted fraud and statutory claims in connection with alleged defects in and damage to real property, and sought monetary damages, equitable relief and attorneys' fees.

2021 Illinois Supers Lawyers List

The firm is pleased to announce that name partners Jeffrey H. Lipe, Raymond Lyons, Jr. and Edward J. Murphy and partner James H. Whalen have been named to the 2021 Illinois Super Lawyers List published in the most recent issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, a publication from Thomson Reuters and the publishers of Chicago magazine.  These lawyers have been recognized per below:

   
Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a rigorous, multi-stage process in which peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research.  All candidates are evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.  Each year, lawyers are invited to nominate the top attorneys they have personally observed in action.  Researchers then evaluate candidates based on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.  Candidates are then grouped according to their primary practice areas and final selections are made by special review panels composed of leading lawyers in each state. 
  
In addition, partner Jordan Tank, and associates Alejandra Barcenas, Sarah Bourdet, John Dark, Ryan Eckert and Elaina Valtierra have been named to the 2021 Rising Stars List by Super Lawyers, which is also published in the most recent issue of Super Lawyers Magazine.  The selection process for the Rising Stars list is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process, with one exception: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in Illinois are named to the Rising Stars list. These attorneys were recognized as Rising Stars in the following fields:
 

Five Partners Named Leading Lawyers in the State of Illinois; Two Partners and Two Associates Named Emerging Lawyers

Primerus Dram Shop Law Compendium, Illinois.

Lipe Lyons Listed in Best’s Recommended Insurance Attorneys & Adjusters

Nahrstadt and Whalen to Speak at 7^th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp

Partner James Whalen Passes Indiana Bar

Can the King's Contractor Do No Wrong?  An Introduction to Government Contractor Immunity Under the Federal Tort Claims Act

Lipe and Whalen Obtain Dismissal with Prejudice of All of Plaintiff’s Claims Asserting Bankruptcy-Based Defenses

James Whalen Serves as Chair of Primerus Young Lawyers' Section Executive Committee

Representation of Multiple Clients in Civil Litigation

James H. Whalen and Ryan A. Kelly had their article entitled “Representation of Multiple Clients in Civil Litigation” published in Primerus Stare Decisis, March, 2015.   

Whalen and Kelly Have Article Published in Primerus' Stare Decisis.

Five Partners Named Leading Lawyers in the State of Illinois; One Partner and Two Associates Named Emerging Lawyers
 

Nahrstadt and Whalen Settle Wrongful Death Suit Involving an 18 Year Old for Nominal Sum

Whalen Admitted to Practice Law in Ohio; Lipe Lyons Attorneys Licensed to Practice in 5 States

James Whalen Named Co-Chair of Primerus Young Lawyers' Section Boot Camp

Whalen Named Partner