Sean M. Sullivan

Sean concentrates his practice in sophisticated business and commercial litigation. For more than twenty years he has represented companies in the manufacturing, leasing, technology, finance and banking industries in significant contract, fraud, RICO, insurance coverage and accounting malpractice cases. He also maintains an active product liability and tort defense practice, representing utilities, industrial plant operators and producers and marketers of petroleum products in defense of wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury cases.

Sean regularly appears in federal and state courts throughout the country, on behalf of clients who retain him as national or regional counsel. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the Propane Gas Defense Association, and has been a frequent speaker on litigation topics to both legal and industry groups.

EDUCATION

University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., with honors, 1985
Eastern Illinois University, B.A. with honors, 1982

BAR ADMISSIONS

Illinois, 1985

COURT MEMBERSHIPS

U.S. Supreme Court
Illinois Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Seventh Ninth and Eleventh Circuits
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Member, Trial Bar)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
Propane Gas Defense Association (Board of Directors)

REPORTED DECISIONS

Baldi v. Samuel Son & Company, Ltd., 548 F.3d 579 (7th Cir. 2008)
Marseilles Hydro Power, LLC v. Marsailles Land and Water Company, 518 F.3d 459 (7th Cir. 2008)
Cacia v. Norfolk & Western Railway Company, 290 F.3d 914 (7th Cir. 2002)
Hitachi Credit America Corporation v. Signet Bank, 166 F.3d 614 (4th Cir. 1999)
Beck v. Deloitte & Touche, 144 F3d. 732 (11th Cir. 1998)
Resolution Trust Corporation v. Gallagher, 10 F.3d 416 (7th Cir. 1993)
Mid-Continent Wood Products v. Harris, 936 F.2d 297 (7th Cir. 1991)
Wedgewood Investment Fund, Ltd. v. Wedgewood Realty Group, Ltd., 878 F.2d 693 (3d Cir. 1989)
Logan & Kanawha Coal Company, Inc. v. Banque Francaise Du Commercie Exterieur, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14197 (S.D.N.Y. 1996)
Baxt v. Liloia, 656 A.2d 835 (N.J. App. 1995) and 714 A.2d 271 (N.J. 1998)

PRESENTATIONS/PUBLICATIONS

Who’s In Control? Why the Defense Bar Should Challenge the IPI Instructions on Construction Negligence., IDC Quarterly
Recent Trends in the Implied Duty of Good Faith, Commercial Lending Review
Can You Prove It? Why and how to document your good deeds., Propane Gas Defense Association
Preparing Accounting Expert Testimony, Illinois CPA Society & Foundation
Understanding the Illinois Credit Agreements Act, Illinois Bankers Association
Lender Liability Litigation - American Style. Can it happen in Canada?, Ontario Chapter/Canadian Bar Association
The Enforceability of Guarantees - Are they worth the paper they’re written on?, Turnaround Management Group

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Chicago Challenge (Board of Directors, 1997-2000)
Youth Soccer Coach