Robert Hanlon

Rob has expertise in A) Complex Civil Litigation, B) Labor Relations including negotiating union contracts, arbitration of grievances, grievance procedures, unfair labor practices, union violence, ambulatory picketing, and matters before the EEOC and Illinois Dept of Human Rights; C) Criminal matters (murder, criminal sexual assault, child pornography, misdemeanors, DUI and more) D) Governmental powers and legal compliance with various statutory authority matters, E) Mechanic liens, F) Contracts, G) OSHA compliance; H) Labor Racketeering and Hobbs Act extortion, I) ERISA matters, and J) FOIA litigation.

Education:

• Loyola University BBA Finance
• Loyola University MBA Accounting
• John Marshall Law School Juris Doctor

Admissions:

• Illinois State Courts
• U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• U. S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
• U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
• U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
• U. S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
• U. S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
• U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Representative List of Cases

D5 Iron Works Inc. v Local 395 et al – United States District Court Northern Indiana
Represented six clients related to a violent physical attack by union officers and members of Ironworkers Local 395 against individuals employed by D5 Iron Works, Inc. The attack resulted in permanent physical disfigurement to one plaintiff and substantial business losses and injuries to a company and its employees. The attack took place on January 6, 2016. The litigation ended in the spring of 2022 (longer than the duration of all of World War II). Worked with OIG Special Agents to secure indictments against the Union President and Business Agent. Both were charged and convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Extortion. Local 395 is prohibited from appearing at D5 Iron Works, Inc. job sites for 100 years.

Algonquin Township Road District – Circuit Court McHenry County, Illinois
Represented Highway Commissioner and Road District in multiple civil actions and matters relating to Road District operations and investigating official misconduct.

Barker v. Local 150 Intl. Union of Operating Engineers – U.S. District Court Northern Illinois
Engineered and advanced the very first class action lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois under the Drivers Privacy Protection Act. 18 USC 2721 et seq. The matter was lost at the trial level with an opinion that plaintiffs showed defendant’s possession, but did not show defendant “obtained” the confidential driver’s information. The matter was settled pending appeal.

Sheffield Finance LLC v. Wrigley Rooftops, LLC et al – U.S. District Court Northern Illinois
Successfully defended an action related to a commercial dispute resulting in no liability for an owner of property situated next to Wrigley Field in Chicago which was developed with rooftop stadium seating.

EBI v. Zurich American Insurance Company – U.S. District Court Central Illinois
Represented Zurich American Insurance Company in defense of performance bond claim of $700,000; successfully defeated the erroneous claims against Zurich American Insurance’s bond.

Zambrano v Red Dot Management LLC, et al – U.S. Dist. Court Chicago
Represented plaintiff landscaping and snow removal company on breach of contract claims. Prevailed before a jury trial, obtaining judgment for Plaintiff. Defendants were well represented by Brian Oates Partner with Jackson Walker of Dallas Texas.

Village of Gilberts v. Merryman Excavation, Inc. – US Bankruptcy Court Northern Illinois
Successfully defended an adversarial proceeding in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court at trial of the matter before Judge Eugene Wedoff; Village of Gilberts, was represented by Bell, Boyd & Lloyd.

Suspenders and a Belt v. Salswedal et al– Cook County Circuit Court – Trial Attorney
Represented an attorney at two-day trial in matter involving contract and tort claims.

Vitro v. Sanfilippo – McHenry County Circuit Court
Represented retired Catholic priest in contract dispute against a member of the powerful Sanfilippo family. The Sanfilippo family owns a controlling interest in a number of companies; most notable amongst them is the Fisher Nut Company. The Circuit Court of McHenry County entered summary judgment for plaintiff and Defendants paid all of Attorney Hanlon’s fees and costs.

Sances v. Miller, et al. – Kane County Circuit Court, Illinois
Represented majority shareholders named in suit seeking $1.171MM under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act as well as claims of a LLC member seeking to dissolve four companies. Obtained dismissals of all claims in the cause of action favorable to represented client.

First Midwest Bank v. Miller, et al. – Lake, Kane, & McHenry Counties, Illinois
Represented borrower and guarantors declared to be in default of $26,000,000 in purported debt instruments. After more than a year of litigation involving five cases in three counties, plaintiff settled for deed in lieu for a portion of the purported collateral. Clients avoided $21,000,000 in a deficiency judgment.

Vitro v. Jerome Evon, et al. – Cook County – Trial Attorney
Served as trial counsel in complex contract bench trial before the Honorable Judge Bartkowski. The result of the representation resulted in obtaining a judgment on behalf of plaintiff in excess of $250,000.

Prairie Community Bank v. Pasalic, et al. – McHenry County, Illinois
Represented plaintiff bank related to claims over a Farris-wheel kiting fraud recovering judgment of $300,000 against two defendants. While pursuing civil claims, worked with federal agents in pursuing federal charges under the False Statements to Banks Act and other federal statutes.

USA v Chapparo – United States District Court Rockford, Illinois – Trial Attorney
Represented defendant on multiple charges in a one week jury trial before Judge Frederick Kapalla. Jury convicted the defendant. However, because of the work at trial, the 7th U.S. Court of Appeals reversed most of the convictions and the defendant was re-sentenced for substantially less time than offered by the Government prior to trial and concession offered during trial.

People v. Tellez – McHenry County – Trial Attorney
Represented criminal defendant at jury trial on multiple counts of murder and one count of reckless endangerment of a child, obtained not guilty verdicts on two of three counts of murder and “not guilty” on one count of reckless endangerment of a child. Mr. Tellez remains a guest of the State.

People v. Jennings – McHenry County – Trial Attorney
Successfully represented African American man wrongfully charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault involving a Caucasian female. Obtained not guilty verdict at trial.

People v Fitzgerald – Shelby County – Trial Attorney
Successfully prosecuted individual on multiple counts of driving while revoked and possession of Methamphetamine.