MICHAEL BAIRD
Attorney Bio
Mike Baird specializes in civil litigation. He has tried over one hundred cases to jury verdict and has handled thousands of cases in court. Mike is primarily engaged in the prosecution and defense of personal injury claims. He has also prosecuted and defended claims alleging legal and medical malpractice, corporate misconduct, and civil rights violations. His clients have included an Illinois Supreme Court Judge, a Federal District Court Judge, a nationally syndicated columnist, an NFL all-pro linebacker, an NCAA division 1 defensive coordinator, and a champion professional wrestler. He has represented doctors, lawyers, truck drivers, electricians, corporate presidents, homemakers, police officers, firemen, teachers and others. He has also been counsel to major national corporations and businesses.
EDUCATION
The University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
BA Philosophy 1974
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Graduated 1977 with High Honors
AWARDS / RECOGNITION
He is rated A.V. Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell (“given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.”). He has been named to “Super Lawyers” each year from 2014 to the present. His rating on AVVO is 10/10.
MEMBERSHIPS & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
– Admitted to Illinois Bar in 1977
– Licensed to practice law in the Illinois State and Federal Courts
– A member of the Federal Trial Bar for the Northern District of Illinois
– Admitted pro hac vice in Wisconsin, California, New York, and Virginia.
– A member of the Illinois State Bar Association
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Personal Injury
Professional Negligence
Medical Malpractice
Product’s Liability
Police Misconduct
Business Practices
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
- $17.5 Million-Huang v. City of Chicago, Cook County – Wrongful death – police chase
- $6.3 Million-Jones v. Dr. Dedelow, et al., Cook County – labor & delivery, brain injury of an infant, subsequent death.
- $2.9 Million-Grinyov v. 303 Taxi, Cook County – cab company held liable for crash
- $2.8 Million-Fernandez v. Temple Steel, Cook County – closed head injury for worker
- $1.9 Million-Quentere v. City of Chicago, Cook County – police misconduct
- $1.3 Million-Pasen v. Rex’s Service Station, Cook County – fall at gas station
- $1.017 Million-Sanabria v. Hochstedter, et. al., Cook County – failed TMJ surgery
Settlements for plaintiffs
- $4.75 Million-Conroy v. Sherwin Williams, Cook County – electrical injury
- $4.5 Million-McGuigan v. AMC, Federal District Court – product defect
- $3.0 Million-Hansen v. Good Sheppard Hospital, Lake County – birth injury
- $2.5 Million-Salin v. Hubbard, Cook County – Brain injury
- $2.25 Million-Zentefis v. Duncan, Cook County – Pedestrian death
Other Civil Matters
- Obtained defense verdicts on behalf of business owners and vehicle drivers in injury claims.
- Successfully defended an emergency room doctor, a psychiatrist, an obstetrician, and an orthopedic surgeon in malpractice claims.
- Successfully defended business owners in disputes with competitors and former employees.
- Successfully defended a college football defensive coordinator accused by NCAA of making false statements to impede an investigation.
- Attained the lifting of an NFL player’s suspension and had player reinstated in time to play in Super Bowl.
- Brought about a change in NFL procedures to improve player safety
Reported Cases
- Grinyov v. 303 Taxi, 2017 IL App (1st) 160193
- Rosmarin v. Arnstein & Lehr, 2015 IL App (1st) 132013-U
- Hatoff v. Arnstein & Lehr, 2013 IL Ap (1st) 131346-U
- Swanson v. Crete Carrier Corp, 2012 WL 645912 (Fed. Ct. N.D. Indiana)
- Weedon v. Pfizer, 332 Ill. App. 3d 17 (2002)
- Jones v. Chicago Osteopathic Hospital, 316 III. App.3d 1121 (2000)
- Star Charters v. Figueroa, 192 Ill. 2d 47 (2000)
- People v. Kevin Healy, 293 Ill.App.3d 684 (1997)
- Tierney v. Community Memorial Hospital, 268 Ill.App.3d 1050 (1995)
- Van Steemburg v. T.K. Aviation, 243 Ill.App.3d 299 (1993)
- Apostol v. Landau, 957 F.2d 339 (1992)
Representative Clients
- Sports Planning Unlimited
- Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP
- Independent Recycling Services Inc.
- Draw Enterprises Inc.
- Ambar Inc.
- Cermak Produce Inc.
