JOSEPH T. MORRISON
OF COUNSEL
Joseph T. Morrison is a trial lawyer, and his focus lies in resolving complex business, commercial, injury, and real estate cases. In fact, Joe Morrison has been called the “trial lawyer’s trial lawyer,” having represented a number of lawyers who were parties to various types of litigation. As a trial lawyer for over 38 years, Joe has tried over 100 jury cases, including complex business and real estate cases, as well as medical malpractice, wrongful death, and other serious personal injury cases. Other jury trials have involved damage to real estate, fraud, partnership and other business disputes, cases of deceptive and faulty construction practices, breach of contract, and eminent domain. Joe regularly appears in Chancery Court involving partnership disputes, commercial litigation, real estate disputes, employment matters, and injunction actions. Joe has also tried numerous bench trials, in cases involving employment disputes, real estate issues, injunctions, and zoning cases. He personally appears in court every week. Joe’s trial experience has resulted in a total value obtained of well over $100 million dollars in verdicts and settlements. Joe Morrison has personally tried cases involving millions of dollars, as well as only thousands of dollars. Each case, no matter how much is involved, is important to him.
He has also handled dozens of Appellate and Supreme Court cases. Joe has personally written briefs and argued before the Illinois Supreme Court, the 7th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, and the 1st and 2nd District Appellate Courts of Illinois. Joe has also tried dozens of eminent domain cases before a jury. Mr. Morrison believes that he has tried more eminent domain cases in Lake County, Illinois, than any other attorney. A number of those cases involved verdicts in excess of $1,000,000.00. He has represented a variety of public bodies, including the Lake County Forest Preserve District, Village of Deerfield, Buffalo Grove Park District, Village of Lincolnshire, Village of Antioch, and other municipalities. Joe currently represents numerous owners in eminent domain cases and have tried a number of those jury cases to verdict, resulting in awards far in excess of the compensation offered by the public body. Joe is married to Senator Julie Morrison who has been in the Illinois State Senate for over 7 years.
SERVICES
BAR ADMISSIONS
Illinois Bar | 1982
EDUCATION
J.D. | 1982
B.A. | 1979
Major: Biology
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association | Member
AWARDS
Martindale-Hubbell's "AV" Rating for Legal Ability and Ethics: Highest Level | 2005-Present
PUBLICATIONS
Damages in Products Liability Cases, a Chapter in Products Liability Practice
lllinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2009-2019)
Quick-Take Supplement, a supplement to the Quick-Take chapter in Illinois Eminent Domain Practice, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education. (1998)
General Real Estate Practice, a Chapter in General Practice Handbook,
lllinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education. (1986)
Motions in Limine: Can the Practice Be Made Perfect?
Article in The Docket, Vol. 1, No. 2
SPEECHES
“How to Challenge the Right to Take”, presented at CLE International Seminar, Chicago, Illinois 2008
“Requirements of New Eminent Domain Statute”, presented at CLE International Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, August, 2007
“Settlement Issues in Eminent Domain”, presented at CLE International Seminar Chicago, Illinois, September, 2003
“Procedural Pitfalls in Eminent Domain”, presented at CLE International Seminar Chicago, Illinois, September, 2002
"The Expert Witness - Pitfalls for the Unwary", presented to the Illinois Right of Way Association Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 1998
Moderator, "Techniques of Jury Persuasion”, presented to the Lake County Bar Association, Gurnee, Illinois,1994
"Taking an Effective Discovery Deposition", presented to the Lake County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Committee, Waukegan, Illinois,1993
"Preparation of Expert Appraisal Witness", presented to the Appraisal Institute, Chicago, Illinois,1993
"Investigation and Evaluation of Product Liability Cases", Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Products Liability, 1989
PRO BONO ASSOCIATIONS
Member, Holy Cross School Board,1991 to 1997 (Chairperson, 1993-1995)
Member of Holy Cross Church Pastoral Council, 2000-2008 (Chairperson 2006-2008)