Law Firm Overview

Lawrence R. Kream earned a B.A. from the Ohio State University in 1976 and his Juris Doctor degree, With Distinction, from the John Marshall Law School in 1980. Mr. Kream is admitted to practice in Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

Before entering private practice, Mr. Kream was a law clerk to the Honorable William R. Nash, Justice of the Appellate Court of Illinois, Second Judicial District. During his tenure with Justice Nash, Mr. Kream participated in the preparation of approximately sixty appellate opinions. Since entering private practice, Mr. Kream has handled approximately thirty appeals in the State and Federal Appellate and Supreme Courts.

Mr. Kream has extensive experience in the prosecution and defense of complex medical, hospital and nursing home negligence cases, as well as other types of professional negligence cases. Mr. Kream has also successfully litigated other catastrophic injury cases involving construction injuries, electrocution injuries, industrial accidents caused by dangerous or defective machinery, injuries caused by dangerous or defective products, and motor vehicle accidents. These cases have included birth injuries, brain damage, amputations, spinal cord injuries, failure to diagnose or properly treat cancer, paralysis, and wrongful death. Recent successes include:

$2 million settlement for the family of a 66 year old woman who died because she was not properly monitored after receiving morphine following a face lift surgery

$2.67 million verdict for a 51 year old woman who was not properly treated for breast cancer

$5.9 million verdict for a 71 year old woman who was rendered a paraplegic by a spinal injection

$3.4 million settlement for the family of a 34 year old asthmatic who suffered brain damage and later died because a breathing tube was negligently placed in his esophagus

$2.15 million settlement for the family of a window washer who was electrocuted when his ladder contacted power lines that were placed too close to the building

$500,000 settlement for a man who suffered the amputation of several toes as a result of the negligent treatment of a blood clot behind his knee

$1.15 million settlement for the family of a 56 year old man who suffered a fatal heart attack as a result of medical negligence.

Published Works

Electrical Injuries, Illinois Causes of Action -Elements, Forms and Winning Tips, Tort Actions, Illlinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2008

Areas of Practice

• Medical, Hospital and Nursing Home Negligence 75%
• Construction and Industrial Accidents, Product Liability 20%
• Auto and Trucking Accidents, Other Serious Injury Cases
• Appeals 5%

Classes and Seminars

• Expert Testimony At Trial, Northwest Suburban Bar Association, March 15, 2007
• Proof of Causation, How Much is Enough, Illinois Trial Lawyer's Association, April 8, 1995
• State and Federal Statutes in Medical Malpractice Cases, Illinois Trial Lawyer's Association, December 4, 1993

Representative Cases

• Krivanec v. Abromowitz, 366 Ill. App.3d 350, 851 N.E.2d 649 (1st Dist. 2006)
• Nanda v. Moss, 412 F.3d 836 (7th Cir 2005)
• Nanda v. Board of Trustees of University of Illinois, 312 F.3d 852 (7th Cir. 2002)
• Doe v. Noe, 303 Ill. Appl. 3d 139, 707 N.E.2d 588 (1st Dist. 1998)
• Elane v. St. Bernard Hospital, 264 Ill. App.3d 865, 672 N.E.2d 820 (1st Dist. 1996)
• Old Republic v. Chuak & Tecson, P.C., 84 F3d 998 (7th Cir. 1996)
• Johnson v. University of Chicago Hospitals, 982 F.2d 230 (7th Cir. 1992)
• McAlister v. Schick , (147 Ill. 2d 84, 588 N.E.2d 1151 1992)
• West v. Deere & Co. , (145 Ill.2d 177, 582 N.E.2d 685 1991)
• Young v. Makar, 207 Ill. App.3d 337, 565 N.E.2d 1030 (2nd Dist. 1991)
• Novey v. Kishwaukee Community Health Services Center, 176 Ill. App.3d 674, 531 N.E.2d 427 (2nd Dist. 1988)
• Wills v. DeKalb Area Retirement Center, 175 Ill. App.3d 833, 530 N.E.2d 1066 (2nd Dist. 1988)
• Torres v. Divis, 144 Ill. App.3d 958, 494 N.E.2d 1297 (2nd Dist. 1986)
• Conner v. First Bank and Trust Co. of Rockford, 108 Ill. App.3d 534, 439 N.E.2d 122 (2nd Dist. 1982)

West Practice Categories

Bad Faith Insurance, Litigation & Appeals, Complex Litigation, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Trial Practice, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, US Supreme Court, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Defamation & Privacy -- Plaintiff, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Premises Liability -- Plaintiff, Railroad Accidents -- Plaintiff, Wrongful Death -- Plaintiff, Products Liability Law, Machinery & Tools, Medical Products & Devices, Motor Vehicle Defects, Professional Malpractice Law, Legal Malpractice, Medical Malpractice, Other Professionals Malpractice