Cassiday Schade LLP

Congratulations to Cassiday Partners Brian Hickey and Joe Lombardo for receiving a Trial Lawyer Excellence Award in the category of Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case at the Jury Verdict Reporter’s Annual Reception and Awards Ceremony. The Jury Verdict Reporter Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards ceremony honors the cases and career achievements of Illinois Trial Lawyers. Brian and Joe received an award for a case in which they obtained a “not guilty” verdict in a multi-week medical malpractice trial in Cook County. Congrats to Brian and Joe!

Cassiday is proud to have 9 attorneys featured as 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. Stephen Gorski, Erin Calandriello, Jackie Hill, Thomas C. Kallies, Justin Kaszuba, James Maruna, Lynsey Stewart, Joy Syrcle, John VanDenburgh. Congratulations to our attorneys!

Springfield partners Joseph Rupcich and Joy Syrcle tried a medical malpractice claim between August 12 and August 20, 2024. The plaintiff, the estate of a man who died from kidney cancer, alleged that the defendant physicians failed to timely diagnose the cancer and begin treatment, allowing it to metastasize and take the patient’s life. The case was previously tried, and a jury awarded $11,000,000 damages. The appellate court vacated the judgment due to trial errors, entered judgment for defendants on some claims, and remanded the case for a new trial on damages on medical malpractice.  At the seven-day retrial, the Plaintiff requested $10,000,000 in damages for pain, suffering, loss of normal life, diminished life expectancy, and medical expenses. The jury deliberated 1.5 hours before returning a verdict for $155,000.   

Springfield partners Joy Syrcle and Joseph Rupcich obtained a defense verdict following a six-day jury trial in the Central District of Illinois. The plaintiff had sued a medical provider and his employer, claiming the provision of medical care to her in an emergency was without consent and constituted battery and medical battery, among other things. Plaintiff presented expert testimony that no emergency existed, which was countered by expert testimony from the Defendants on the exigency of the situation. The jury deliberated approximately one hour before returning a verdict for the defendants on all claims.

Springfield partner Joseph Rupcich obtained a verdict in a jury trial in which he represented a correctional lieutenant sued by a resident of a county jail after the resident suffered a blowout fracture of his orbital. The plaintiff claimed he required surgery and suffered permanent vision changes. The judge granted a directed verdict against the plaintiff at the close of the evidence.  

Partners Joseph Rupcich and Joy Syrcle tried a civil rights case in the Central District of Illinois April 29 through May 2, 2024. The plaintiff claimed two medical providers did not adequately treat a chronic femur nonunion with a broken intermedullary rod. The plaintiff’s expert said the non-union and rod fracture required immediate CAT scan and surgical intervention. The defendants’ expert said the initial two years of observation with eventual surgical intervention was medically reasonable. The plaintiff’s pretrial settlement demand was $250,000 and he asked the jury to award $1,050,000. The jury found in favor of one defendant and against the other, awarding $20,000.

Brian Hickey and Joe Lombardo obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a local diagnostic radiologist and his radiology practice group. Plaintiff asserted medical negligence claims pursuant to the Illinois Wrongful Death Act and the Survival Act in connection with allegations that defendants failed to properly diagnose her late husband’s aortic dissection resulting in his death in 2015. The jury found in favor of Plaintiff and against the co-defendant, a hospital system that employed a doctor of nursing practice in the amount of $2.9 million.

Cassiday is proud to have the following attorneys featured as 2024 Super Lawyers. Joseph Giannelli, Michael J. Hennig, Julie Teuscher, Matthew Weller, Marc Benjoya

Cassiday is proud to have the following attorneys featured as 2024 Super Lawyers: Rising Stars. Erin Calandriello, Kathleen Rose-Erickson, Marley Hancock, Justin Kaszuba, John O'Donnell Jr., Daniel Sheroff, John VanDenburgh, Kevin H. Young

Cassiday congratulates Thomas C. Kallies, Adam McCabe, & Daniel Sheroff on being elected to the Partnership.