Donald J. Morrison concentrates a majority of his practice on personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and product liability litigation. He has significant experience on both the plaintiff and defense sides of complex medical malpractice and product liability lawsuits. Don has obtained several multimillion-dollar jury verdicts and settlements for plaintiffs in personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and product liability cases, including a Kane County record $7.5 million medical malpractice settlement, a $3.7 million wrongful death/medical malpractice settlement, a $2.5 million medical malpractice/wrongful death verdict, a $2.48 million premises liability settlement, a $2 million automobile accident settlement, and a $1 million product liability settlement during a federal jury trial.

In addition, Don has successfully handled complex estate and trust litigation matters, including contested guardianship estates, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and litigation involving claims of lack of capacity, undue influence, and financial exploitation. Don is also proficient in commercial and construction litigation, having obtained a $4.7 million plaintiff’s jury verdict in a complex construction/commercial case. He has tried over 100 jury trials and 150 bench trials to verdict in his career.

Prior to engaging in private practice, Don was a prosecutor in the criminal division of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. He handled various types of criminal cases, including first-degree murder, sexual assault, white-collar crimes, drug cases, and gang-related offenses. In five years as an Assistant State’s Attorney, Don was assigned five first-degree murder cases, tried all five cases to verdict, and obtained first-degree murder convictions in all five cases. He brought his experience as a prosecutor to private practice, and now successfully defends all types of criminal cases, including violent crimes, white-collar cases, drug charges, sexual assaults, misdemeanors, and DUIs.

Don served as President of the Lake County Bar Association in 2017. He lives in Libertyville with his wife and three children.

Education

  • John Marshall Law School
    J.D. | 1994

  • Indiana University
    B.S.B.A | 1991
    Majors: Finance, Real Estate
    Alpha Lambda Honor Society
    Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society

Awards

  • Lake County Bar Association Voluntary Lawyers Program Pro Bono Award | 2019

  • Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center: Prosecutor of the Year | 1999

Professional Associations + Memberships

  • Illinois Trial Lawyers Association | Member

  • Illinois Bar Association | Member

  • Lake County Bar Association | President, 2017

  • LCBA Board of Directors | 2011- 2018

  • LCBA Judicial Selection and Retention Committee
    Member, 2009-Present
    Chairperson, 2013-2016