Mr. Leynaud has been advocating the rights of the injured and representing families in the Illinois Valley and surrounding counties for more than 34 years. He practices in personal injury; wrongful death; mediation; uninsured and underinsured motorists; workers' compensation; criminal felony; DUI; traffic; real estate; business litigation; insurance; and medical malpractice.
Mr. Leynaud has served twice as the chair of the ISBA Insurance Law Section Council and the chair of the Tort Section Council. He is a frequent speaker and published author of numerous CLE programs and publications pertaining to personal injury trial practice and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Areas of Practice
Wrongful Death
Personal Injury
Premises Liability
Worker's Compensation
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists
Medical Malpractice
Insurance
Criminal Felony
DUI
Traffic
Business Litigation
Real Estate
Zoning Law
Land Use
Divorce
Litigation Percentage
95% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certified Legal Specialties
Mediation Training Program, Pepperdine University School of Law, Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution, 2005
Bar Admissions
Illinois, 1983
U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 1983
U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1983
U.S. Federal Courts, 1987
U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar, 1983
Education
Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan
J.D. - 1983
Marquette University; Bradley University
B.S., Administration of Criminal Justice - 1980
Published Works
Criminal Justice Newsletter of the ISBA, Vol. 52, No. 5, Case Summaries , May, 2009
Understanding Uninsured Motorist Coverage, ISBA Journal, Vol. 97, No. 3, March, 2009
So You Want To Be A Personal Injury Lawyer?, ISBA Journal, Vol. 96, No. 10, October, 2008
Duty to Defend- No Separate Bodily Injury, The Policy, Illinois State Bar Association, Vol. 50, No. 4 , May, 2006
Is an Excluded Driver Really Excluded?, Tort Trends, Illinois State Bar Association, Vol. 38, No. 2, December , 2002
Representative Cases
People v. Finley, 568 N.E.2d 412 (Ill.App. 3 Dist. 1991)
In re Marriage of Hall, 663 N.E.2d 430 (Ill.App. 3 Dist. 1996)
Largest recovery obtained ($1.15 million) for loss of society damages for single person with no dependents under Wrongful Death Act (Circuit Court of Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Bureau County)
References
Midland Bank, Peru
Peru Federal Savings and Loan
First State Bank, Peru
Classes/Seminars
"Housing Law", Illinois Association of Housing Authorities
Coordinator, Moderator, Lecturer: "Back to Basics: Tort Law," "Distribution/Settlement" , ISBA Law Ed Series, January 2010
"Law of Experts" Expert Witnesses - A Primer, ISBA Law Ed Series, October 2008
"Uninsured and Underinsured" Tort Law Nuts and Bolts, ISBA Law Ed Series, February, 2008
Coordinator, Moderator, and Lecturer: "The Necessary Basics, Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage," "Arbitration of Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims", ISBA Law Ed Series, June 2007
Coordinator, Moderator, and Lecturer: "Tort Law, Back to the Basics" , ISBA Law Ed Series, February 2007
Coordinator and Moderator: "Insurance Law: Everything You Want to Know and Should Ask", ISBA Law Ed Series, October and November 2006
"Hot Topics in Tort" and "Insurance Coverage Issues", ISBA Law Ed Series, May 2006
"Anatomy of an Automobile Case" and "Defense of Complicity" , ISBA Law Ed Series, May 2004
"Void Provisions of Insurance Policies" , ISBA Law Ed Series, June 2003
Honors and Awards
Who's Who in American Law, 1991
America's Leading Lawyers, 1993, 1993
Chicago Lawyer, October 2009, "Top Lawyers in Illinois- Personal Injury Plaintiff Lawyers"
Chicago Lawyer, October 2009, "Top Lawyers in Illinois- Workers' Compensation Lawyers"
Martindale-Hubbell "Distinguished" Peer Review Rating
Leading Lawyers Network Member selected by peers in Criminal Defense Law: DUI, Criminal Defense Law: Felonies & Misdemeanors, Personal Injury Law: General, and Workers' Compensation Law, 2011 - Present
Professional Associations and Memberships
Illinois State Bar Association , Capital Counsel Team, Grass Roots Lobbying, Mentor Program
Illinois State Bar Association - Insurance Law Section, Secretary (2004-2005), Chair, Section Council (2005-2006), (2015-2016), Ex-Officio (2006-2007), (2016-2017)
Illinois State Bar Association - Tort Law Section, Secretary (2007-2008), Vice-Chair (2008-2009), Chair (2009-2010), Current Member
13th Judicial Circuit, Assembly (2001-2007), Election Committee (2004)
American Bar Association
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Illinois Bar Foundation, Silver Fellow
LaSalle County, Secretary-Treasurer (1984-1986), President-Elect (1986-1987), President (1987-1988), Secretary (1995)
District 120, LaSalle-Peru Township High School, Vice President, Board of Education (1995-1997)
Fraternities/Sororities
Theta Xi
