Michael J. Salvi

President

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Mike Salvi obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1984 and also holds an advanced law degree (LL.M.) from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in the specialties of Trial and Appellate Advocacy. He is the author of two instructional books published by the Illinois Bar Association, one on jury selection and the other on the direct examination of treating physicians in personal injury cases.

Mike joined The Law Office of Albert S. Salvi, the predecessor firm to Salvi, Salvi & Wifler, P.C., in 1984. His general practice included personal injury litigation, traffic, real estate transactions, insurance law, landlord-tenant litigation, election law, construction litigation and criminal defense, including the defense of clients charged with felonies such as white collar crimes and murder. Mike has an unusually wide breadth of experience litigating criminal and civil cases at the trial court and appellate levels in many venues throughout the United States.

Currently, Mike continues litigation practice, with an emphasis on personal injury and commercial litigation. He has tried hundreds of cases, including trials and hearings in the Circuit Court of Los Angeles, California, the Federal District Courts in Boston, Massachusetts and Chicago, Illinois, and the Illinois State Circuit Courts in Lake, Cook, McHenry, DuPage and Kane Counties.

A few recent professional accomplishments include:

• $1,000,000 award in the case of Rappe vs. Porter in Lake County
• $1,012,000 settlement for injuries sustained in an automobile accident in the Cook County case Gardner vs. Watson
• $1,200,000 fraud award won for his client in the case of Blatt vs. Demas
• $585,000 jury verdict in the Federal District Court in the case of Johns vs. Town & Country Jewelry Corp.
• $835,000 wrongful death settlement in the case of Lovitz vs. DeGuide
• $425,000 personal injury settlement for a child who suffered burns on the back of her thigh at a day care facility
• the successful defense of a Federal Election Commission suit.

In this last, high profile case, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) sought $1,000,000 in fines. Mike's "res adjudicata" defense resulted in the dismissal of the government's case. The case was discussed recently by Megan Kelly on Fox News. On appeal, in a decision cited in the Illinois Bar Journal, the FEC's claim was again rejected in favor of Mike's novel and aggressive defense. Federal Election Commission vs. Munsel, Federal District Court, Northern District of Illinois.

Mike has presented lectures to attorneys, students and law enforcement officers on subjects such as civil rules of discovery and evidence, rules of procedure in arbitration cases, criminal procedure and constitutional law.

Practice Areas:

• Personal Injury
• Medical Malpractice
• General Civil Litigation

Bar Admissions:

• Illinois, 1984
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1992
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1983

Education:

• John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois, J.D., 1984
• Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, LL.M., Trial/Appellate Advocacy
• St Mary's College, Winona, Minnesota, B.A., 1980

Honors and Awards:

• Elite Lawyer, 2023 - Present

Memberships:

• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• American Bar Association, Lawyers for Public Justice
• Lake County Bar Association, Arbitration Committee
• Village of Hawthorn Woods Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals (2009-2014)

Published Works & Certifications:

• Civil Trial Lawyers Handbook on Jury Selection (ISBA 2015)
• The Direct Examination of Treating Physicians

Relevant Employment Positions:

• Practicing Attorney at Salvi Law, Inc. Since 1984