Blog

Coinstats Incident Affects over 1,500 Users

In July 2024, Coinstats experienced a security incident affecting 1590 Coinstats wallets, taking around $2.2 million according to Coinstats. Coinstats’ CEO posted that there was “strong evidence suggesting it was done through one of our employees who was socially engineered into downloading malicious software onto his work computer,” according to

Wire Transfers and Fraud: Understanding the Risks, Legal Framework, and Steps to Protect Yourself

Wire transfers have revolutionized modern banking, providing businesses and individuals with a convenient way to exchange funds. However, this convenience has also given rise to an increasingly sophisticated crime: wire fraud. Fraudsters exploit weaknesses in communication and security to divert funds into fraudulent accounts. Victims often turn to banks for

Understanding and Combating Wire Fraud: Why Legal Assistance is Essential

Wire fraud has become alarmingly prevalent in today’s digital landscape. As cybercriminals grow more sophisticated, both businesses and individuals face a heightened risk of falling victim to scams that can result in significant financial losses. If wire fraud occurs, contacting an experienced attorney immediately can be critical. Legal guidance can help navigate

Failure to Agree on Key Term Kills Oral Contract Claim

Oral contracts can be as binding as written ones, but that doesn’t mean that you should rely on an oral contract. It is much better to get it in writing. Consider Yash Venture Holdings, LLC v. Moca Financial, Inc., No. 23-3200, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 21853 (7th Cir. Aug. 28,

Mergers and Acquisitions Misconduct

The Friday, October 18, 2024, issue of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin has a story about a $604.9 million verdict, awarded by a California jury. The jury apparently found that Phillips 66 stole biofuel maker Propel Fuels’ secrets “under the guise of gathering information for a potential acquisition and then

Understanding Arbitration in Attorney-Client Agreements: Key Court Ruling

In a recent ruling, the Illinois First District Appellate Court upheld a trial court’s decision to deny a law firm’s attempt to enforce an arbitration clause in an attorney-client agreement. This case stemmed from a plaintiff who, along with his wife, had hired the law firm to represent them in

Whistleblower Has Jury Award for Emotional Distress Damages Reduced

Whistleblower cases often result in large verdicts but a recent case may signal that reviewing courts are now more strictly reviewing emotional distress claims. In Svec v. City of Chicago, Beth Svec alleged that the City retaliated against her in violation of the Whistleblower Act for reporting evidence to her

Insurance company allowed to deny coverage because of the insured’s misrepresentation

S.B.C. Flood Waste Solutions, Inc. (SBC) applied for insurance in February 2018, but failed to disclose a family dispute by which the shareholders’ patriarch had pushed his son and two grandsons out of the Flood Brothers Waste Disposal Company (Flood), causing them to incorporate SBC, and objected to their use

Illinois Supreme Court Declines to Hear Baker McKenzie Appeal in Legal Malpractice Case

The Illinois Supreme Court recently made a significant decision by refusing to hear an appeal from the international law firm Baker McKenzie. This means the firm must face a lawsuit in the U.S. over allegations of legal malpractice tied to its former office in Russia. The case was initiated by

FBI Reports $5.6 Billion Lost to Cryptocurrency Scams in 2023: A 45% Increase from Last Year

In 2023, Americans lost over $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams, a dramatic 45% increase from the year before, according to a new FBI report. The FBI received almost 70,000 complaints from people who had been tricked into financial fraud involving cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether. Investment fraud was the biggest

SEC Sues Crypto Firm NovaTech and Founders for $650 Million Fraud Scheme

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against the cryptocurrency company NovaTech and its founders, Cynthia and Eddy Petion, accusing them of a massive fraud involving over $650 million from more than 200,000 investors globally. The Petions allegedly misled investors by promising their funds would be

Sullivan & Cromwell Sued For Allegedly Playing a Role in FTX Investor’s Multibillion-Dollar Fraud, In Wake of The Cryptocurrency Exchanges’ Bankruptcy Filed in November of 2022

Sullivan & Cromwell, a multinational law firm headquartered in New York City, is currently facing a class action lawsuit filed by a group of Investors at FTX, who claim that the law firm had unique insight into the crypto exchanges’ “convoluted organization structure, abject lack of internal control, and dubious business practices”

Coinstats Incident Affects over 1,500 Users

December 5, 2024

Wire Transfers and Fraud: Understanding the Risks, Legal Framework, and Steps to Protect Yourself

December 3, 2024

Understanding and Combating Wire Fraud: Why Legal Assistance is Essential

December 3, 2024

Failure to Agree on Key Term Kills Oral Contract Claim

October 24, 2024

Mergers and Acquisitions Misconduct

October 24, 2024

Understanding Arbitration in Attorney-Client Agreements: Key Court Ruling

October 24, 2024

Interesting Cases

Bank Breach of Contract: Patterson Wins Where Prior Law Firm Fails

June 11, 2020 No Comments

Three months before the trial, a New York law firm represented a guarantor being sued for $8 million. The case was linked to the largest mixed-use real estate development project in the world. The lawyer who hired us said that “the case was an unmitigated disaster and that they needed

Patterson Wins $32.3 Million Verdict

June 18, 2020 No Comments

On behalf of RevoLaze, LLC, Patterson Law Firm won a $32,262,488.50 legal malpractice jury verdict against attorney Mark Hogge and Dentons. This is a win for RevoLaze against a firm that claims to be largest law firm in the world. The trial took place in Cleveland, Ohio and lasted three

Insurance Coverage: Patterson Wins Where Prior Law Firm Fails

June 11, 2024 No Comments

A Path to Victory: One Educational Training Center’s Road to Justice. The Patterson Law Firm, LLC won an insurance coverage jury verdict for $534,000 in Cook County on June 16, 2011. The case involved the burglary of a company offering comprehensive software education training in July of 2003. The burglary

A Different and Better Argument

March 11, 2019 No Comments

In 2003, we were asked to defend a startup foundation that had invested its client’s $5 million in a trading venture that failed. Because the investment was lost by our clients, they were found liable for the amount of the investment. Their opponent asked for damages for loss of reputation,

A Tale of Two Brothers

March 11, 2019 No Comments

Two brothers who jointly developed a patented component of landscaping equipment had a falling out after they obtained a lucrative exclusive distributorship contract. One of the brothers threw the other up against a wall and fired him, telling him he wouldn’t “see a dime” from the business unless he sold

Amazing Refusal to Settle Requires Trial of Foreclosure Case

March 13, 2019 No Comments

In 1997, we represented a real estate seller who had taken back a mortgage. The mortgage required monthly payments and a balloon payment of more than $300,000 in 2002. The buyer refused to pay certain sums due and owing on the mortgage and claimed that the seller owed him funds

Revolaze, LLC v. Dentons US LLP, 2022-Ohio-1392 (Ohio App. 8^th Dist.)

The Patterson Law Firm defeated an appeal by Dentons US of a $32.2 million legal malpractice jury verdict the firm obtained for a small technology company, Revolaze, LLC, in Cleveland, Ohio. The jury verdict was the largest legal malpractice verdict an Ohio court has ever awarded.

Dentons US is part of the self-proclaimed largest law firm in the world, Dentons. was unanimously affirmed by the Ohio Court of Appeals for the 8^th District on April 28, 2022. The case, RevoLaze v. Dentons US, involved claims from the Ohio-based technology company Revolaze LLC that Dentons committed malpractice in a patent infringement case in which it was disqualified from continuing to represent Revolaze due to a conflict of interest.

The three-judge Ohio appellate panel found that Dentons US committed malpractice resulting in it being disqualified from continuing to represent Revolaze in a patent infringement case due to a conflict of interest with Dentons Canada’s representation in other matters of one of the defendants. Revolaze, LLC v. Dentons US LLP, 2022-Ohio-1392.

The appellate court held that Patterson Law Firm adequately proved Revolaze’s “case-within-a-case” by proving Revolaze would have obtained the relief sought before Dentons US was disqualified.

Jaos v. Vold, 2016 IL App (1st) 152539-U

Patterson Law Firm was able to reverse the improper dismissal of a legal malpractice case, allowing the case to proceed where a circuit court judge dismissed the matter notwithstanding issues of fact.

Arient v. Shaik, 2015 IL App (1st) 133969

Tom Patterson and Michael Haeberle defeated an opponent’s appeal after Patterson Law Firm handled the trial of the matter. Patterson Law Firm was able to achieve an appellate win by arguing the opponent’s forfeiture of its right to appeal by its failure to file a post-trial motion following a jury trial. The case discusses the technical distinctions that trial and appellate lawyers should know that result from statute, Illinois Supreme Court rules and caselaw in order to preserve a client’s right to appeal, and the case is frequently cited for these principles.

Rosenberger v. United Community Bancshares, Inc. 2017 IL App (1st) 161102

Patterson Law Firm was retained to handle the appeal of summary judgment entered against their new client in a matter involving severance payments to a bank executive. The case involved contract, federal banking statute, and employment law principles. Patterson Law Firm was able to secure reversal of the summary judgment order to permit their client’s case to continue.

Harmon v. Gordon, 712 F.3d 1044 (7th Cir. 2013)

The 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of Mr. Harmon’s claims of breach of contract, tortious interference, abuse of process, and malicious prosecution against NBA player Mr. Gordon.

Yessenow v. Executive Risk Indem., Inc., 953 N.E.2d 433 (1st Dist. 2011):

D & O insurance policy’s exclusion that bars coverage for claims brought by a bankruptcy trustee is unenforceable under the plain language of 11 U.S.C. 541(c) and policy’s “insured v. insured” exclusion does not bar coverage because the trustee is agent of the court.

Hinc v. Lime-O-Sol Co., 382 F.3d 716 (7th Cir. 2004):

Obligation of ‘good faith’ is not too vague to enforce.

In re: Marriage of Bennett, 131 Ill.App.3d 1050, 476 N.E.2d 1297 (2d Dist. 1985):

Modification of fee agreements to attorney’s advantage is presumptively fraudulent. The case was featured in the Chicago Tribune’s ‘On the Law’ column May 7, 1985.

Franklin v. FMC Corp., 150 Ill.App.3d 343, 501 N.E.2d 887 (1st Dist. 1986):

One of the leading cases on the intra state forum non conveniens doctrine (permits cases to be transferred between counties).

Heinrich v. Peabody, 117 Ill.2d 162, 510 N.E.2d 889 (1987):

Patterson argued twice in the Illinois Supreme Court—is the definitive case on the pleading requirements for deciding who is responsible for the actions of an employee loaned by one company to another (loaned servant doctrine).

Interfaith Medical Center v. Sabiston, 527 N.Y.S.2d 48, 136 A.D.2d 238 (NY AD 1988):

One of the leading cases in the nation on a private association’s right to enforce its own rules.

McKenzie v. Romeiser, 205 Ill.App.3d 830, 563 N.E.2d 837 (1990):

In a case briefed and argued by Patterson, Justice Jiganti stated: “Both counsel on appeal were especially good lawyers.”

Stofer v. First National Bank of Effingham, 212 Ill.App.3d 530, 571 N.E.2d 157 (5th Dist. 1991):

Doctrines of interference with contractual relations and duress.

Chemical Bank v. Paul, 244 Ill.App.3d 772, 614 N.E.2d 436 (1st Dist. 1993):

One of the leading cases on the obligation of good faith in commercial dealings.

Welsh v. Boy Scouts of America, 993 F.2d 126 (7th Cir. 1993):

The Boy Scouts could exclude atheists. The Chicago Tribune (June 19, 1991), Wall Street Journal (March 16, 1992) and Chicago Sun-Times (March 14, 1992) all covered this case. Patterson was quoted in the firm’s newsletter: “We represented God and won.”

Media

Small Firm vs. Big Players: Talent War Struggles!

May 17, 2024 No Comments

Propelling Business Excellence Small Firm vs. Big players: Talent War Struggles! Thomas Patterson Founder – Patterson Law Firm

David L. Sanders Elevated to Member

January 27, 2022 No Comments

CHICAGO – January 27, 2022 – Patterson Law Firm is pleased to announce that David L. Sanders, formerly a senior associate at the firm, has

Patterson Law Firm Names Michael Haeberle Managing Member One of the Youngest Leaders to Head a Chicago Law Firm

October 19, 2021 No Comments

CHICAGO – October 19, 2021 – Patterson Law Firm, a Chicago-based business litigation firm, is pleased to name Michael Haeberle to the position of Managing

Patterson Law Firm Wins $32 million Legal Malpractice Case Against the “Largest Law Firm in the World”

February 21, 2020 No Comments

CHICAGO, Feb. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — On behalf of RevoLaze, LLC, Kristi Browne and Sarah Dunkley of Patterson Law Firm won a $32,262,488.50 legal malpractice jury verdict against attorney Mark Hogge and Dentons. This is

Patterson Law Firm Attorney Michael D. Haeberle Named Partner

January 13, 2017 No Comments

CHICAGO – January 3, 2017– Patterson Law Firm, a commercial litigation law firm, has elevated Michael D. Haeberle to Partner. Mr. Haeberle focuses his practice on commercial litigation, including breach of contract, legal malpractice and professional liability and appellate matters. He received his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 2012 and his B.A. degree from Carleton College, Northfield, MN.

Eric J. Chisholm Named Illinois Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2017

January 13, 2017 No Comments

CHICAGO – January 2017– Patterson Law Firm, a commercial litigation law firm, is pleased to announce that attorney Eric J. Chisholmhas been selected as an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Stars for 2017.

Articles

Quick Guide to Arbitration Considerations (2019)

Collateral Damage: Does the Collateral Source Rule Apply to Legal Malpractice Claims? (2019)

Who’s Your Client? Issues in Advising Small Businesses and Their Members/Directors (Page 3, 2018)

Attorney’s Retaining Liens: Know Your Rights but Assert Them Cautiously (2018)

Stand By Me: When May Shareholders and Creditors Bring Claims on a Corporation’s Behalf? (2017)

Closing the GAAP: Newfound Strength for the Accountant’s Privilege in Illinois (2016)

Does Size Matter? Shareholder Litigation in Closely-Held Corporations (Page 15, 2015)

Attorneys, the Internet, and Hate Speech: An Argument for an Amended Model Rule 8.4 (2014)

A Practice Due Diligence Checklist on Preventing the Most Common Attorney Errors in Civil Litigation (Page 7, 2012)

Judicial Control of Ex Parte Contacts in Informal Rulemaking Proceedings- Home Box Office v. Federal Communications Commission (1978)