Jeffrey A. Hall
Professional Practice
Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP, 1993-Present, Partner (since 1994)
Kirkland & Ellis, Litigation Group, 1989-1993, Associate
Price Waterhouse, 1982-1985, C.P.A.
CASES TRIED
Rago, et al. v. Federal Signal Corporation (Illinois)
Represented Federal Signal in two Cook County jury trials of product liability claims by Chicago firefighters alleging sirens caused permanent hearing loss.
2008 Trial (27 plaintiffs): Jury verdict for Federal Signal on all claims.
2009 Trial (9 plaintiffs): Jury verdict for plaintiffs, but for reduced damages (totaling $445,000); appeal pending.
Super Helechos, et al. v. DuPont (Florida)
Represented DuPont in 10-week Miami jury trial of product liability claims involving Benlate fungicide. Plaintiffs, 27 Costa Rican farms, claimed $396 million damages.
Trial court entered directed verdicts for DuPont on all claims of the largest plaintiffs (constituting 60% of plaintiffs' total claimed damages). Jury awarded other plaintiffs a small fraction of amounts sought.
Florida court of appeals (1) affirmed directed verdicts for DuPont on claims of the largest plaintiffs, and (2) reversed all jury verdicts for other plaintiffs due to numerous trial court errors.
United States v. United Technologies Corp. (S.D. Ohio)
Represented UTC in ten-week bench trial of False Claims Act suit brought by Department of Justice. Government claimed $624 million damages, alleging price inflation on jet engine sales by UTC division Pratt & Whitney.
Trial court judgment rejected the government’s $624 million damages claim, held that actual damages were zero, and imposed statutory penalties of $7 million. On appeal, the Sixth Circuit has affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded the case to the District Court for further proceedings.
Residential Funding Corp. (GMAC) v. DeGeorge Financial Corp. (D. Conn.)
Represented Residential Funding in jury trial of lender-liability case. DeGeorge sought $390 million damages plus punitive damages. Residential Funding counterclaimed for $96 million.
Jury verdict for Residential Funding on all issues, including $96 million damages award.
The National Law Journal listed verdict as a Top Plaintiffs' Verdict for 2001.
Naftali, et al. v. DuPont (New Jersey)
Represented DuPont in New Jersey's largest environmental tort trial, a ten-week jury trial of personal injury, medical monitoring, and punitive damages claims of residents near a DuPont munitions plant. Trial was part of a mass tort lawsuit brought by 1,600 plaintiffs alleging toxic contamination caused by 90 years of plant operations.
Court dismissed punitive damages claims at close of evidence. Jury awarded no damages to seven of ten trial plaintiffs. Jury awarded three plaintiffs damages totaling less than $500,000.
Entire mass lawsuit and related federal lawsuit settled favorably after verdict.
Perrine v. DuPont (West Virginia)
Retained shortly before trial to represent DuPont in class-action jury trial of toxic-tort claims. Class of 8,500 alleged community contamination by zinc smelter emissions over a century. Jury verdict for plaintiffs.
Represented company on appeal to West Virginia Supreme Court, which ordered re-trial on statute of limitations defense and substantially reduced potential damages. Case settled favorably.
Wagner v. NL Industries (Pennsylvania)
Represented NL Industries in ten-week class-action jury trial of claims of 7,500 residents seeking several hundred million dollars in personal injury and property damages due to lead emissions from factory over 35 years.
Jury verdict for NL on all issues. The National Law Journal listed case as a Top 15 Defense Verdict.
Argued summary judgment and jurisdictional issues on appeal to Pennsylvania Superior Court. Affirmed on appeal.
In re Harold C. Simmons Family Trusts (Texas)
Represented Mr. Simmons in eight-week jury trial of breach of trust action brought by daughters seeking control of billion-dollar trusts.
Case settled favorably after hung jury; Mr. Simmons retained control.
Hoover v. BISSELL (N.D. Ohio)
Represented BISSELL in Markman hearing and in jury trial of patent infringement action by Hoover. Hoover claimed $120 million damages.
Case settled favorably at close of evidence.
Supracor v. Reebok (N.D. Cal.)
Represented Reebok in damages trial of licensing dispute. Supracor, represented by Wilson Sonsini, sought $100 million.
Case settled favorably after trial.
Patton v. Ohr Properties Management (N.D. Ill.)
Represented plaintiffs in housing race-discrimination action. Jury verdict for clients, including punitive damages.
Lake County Forest Preserve District v. Carrolls (Illinois)
Represented family in two state court trials in eminent domain dispute over $30 million estate.
Verdicts for clients on all issues.
In re Asbestos IV (West Virginia)
Represented NL Industries in mass jury trial; case settled favorably during trial.
In re Petrova (I.N.S.)
Represented family of asylum applicants in bench trial. Judgment for clients.
Porter v. Saddlebrook Resort (Florida)
Represented Saddlebrook Resort in administrative trial of property nuisance action. Judgment for Saddlebrook on all issues.
Other representative cases
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. v. Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (N.D. Cal.)
Representing MGIC in a $100 million mortgage insurance dispute with Countrywide.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation v. United States (Federal Court of Claims)
Representing Sikorsky in $80 million accounting dispute with the federal government.
Swift Transportation Co. v. Ernst & Young
Represented Ernst & Young in accounting malpractice action arising from merger between Swift Transportation Company and a competitor.
West Virginia, ex. rel. McGraw v. 3M (West Virginia)
Representing 3M in lawsuit by West Virginia Attorney General seeking reimbursement of workers’ compensation payments to thousands of coal miners. Case pending.
Lead Paint Litigation
Represented NL Industries in state and federal actions alleging personal injury and property damage arising from lead pigment and lead paint. Various cases won on summary judgment or motions to dismiss.
AIMCO v. National Union (D. Colo.)
Represented AIMCO in insurance dispute. Case settled favorably.
Agnes, et al. v. DuPont (D. New Jersey)
Represented DuPont in toxic tort action brought by 500 plaintiffs. Case settled favorably.
CRLI v. Ferguson
Represented plaintiff CRLI in breach of contract action. Case settled favorably.
EchoStar v. News Corp.
Represented EchoStar in satellite television contract case seeking several billion dollars in damages from the News Corporation (Rupert Murdoch). Case settled favorably.
Biotech v. Bayer Corp.
Represented Bayer in antitrust action involving blood derivative product. Case settled favorably.
General Motors Pickup Truck Litigation
Represented General Motors in 35 state and federal consumer class actions alleging defects in more than 5 million vehicles. Presented oral argument before federal judicial panel on multi-district litigation. Cases settled.
Carlson v. General Motors
Represented General Motors in nationwide consumer class action alleging defects in more than 500,000 diesel vehicles. (District of South Carolina) Case settled.
General Motors/Allison Engine
Represented GM and former division Allison Engine in wrongful death actions alleging defect in gas turbine helicopter engine. (Various) Cases dismissed with no payment by GM.
Young v. Connecticut Mutual
Represented Corporate Compensation Plans, Inc. in trial court (Northern District of Illinois) and on appeal (Seventh Circuit) in business interference and contract case. Case won and affirmed on appeal.
Roots Partnership v. Lands’ End
Represented Lands’ End in trial court (Western District of Wisconsin) and on appeal (Seventh Circuit) in securities class actions. Cases won and affirmed on appeal.
News
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The National Law Journal
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The National Law Journal
Big Wins
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Super Helechos, et al. v. DuPont (2009)
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United States v. United Technologies Corp. (2008)
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Rago v. Federal Signal (2008)
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Residential Funding v. DeGeorge (2001)
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Wagner v. Anzon (NL Industries) (1994)