Edward Willer
Corboy & Demetrio
33 N Dearborn St Fl 21
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 346-3191
www.corboydemetrio.com
Edward G. Willer is a Chicago personal injury lawyer and represents individuals and their families in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases in the areas of construction negligence, product liability, premises liability, and vehicular negligence.
As a Partner at the Chicago law firm of Corboy & Demetrio, Mr. Willer has obtained numerous multi-million settlements and verdicts. His many accomplishments include a $7.5 million settlement he obtained in a federal court case for the family of a laborer who fell off of a balcony and eventually died. In another case, Mr. Willer obtained a $7.6 million verdict, after a fourteen day jury trial, awarded to his client for injuries he suffered as a result of a construction site accident. In a case that he successfully argued before the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts, Mr. Willer secured a $6 million settlement for the death of a worker in an oil refinery explosion. Mr. Willer obtained a $4.5 million construction site wrongful death settlement for the family of a union laborer who was killed when crushed by a backhoe truck. In a strict product liability action, a Morris maintenance technician received a $5 million settlement for injuries he suffered on the job when he was caught between an automated guided vehicle and a stationary rack. In a vehicular action, Mr. Willer obtained a $4.75 million settlement on behalf of a young woman who was seriously injured when her car was broadsided by an ambulance as she drove home from work. At the time of the collision, the ambulance driver was inappropriately using the siren and ambulance lights for a non-emergency patient.
Mr. Willer has traveled the world investigating and preparing his cases. In Japan, he investigated and conducted discovery depositions of design engineers for a lawsuit involving the manufacturer of an all-purpose lighter by a Japanese company. In order to fully research another case, he traveled to Germany to investigate the design and manufacturing process of a strapping machine and conveyor system.
Mr. Willer joined the Chicago law firm of Corboy & Demetrio in 1994 after having practiced with the preeminent law firm of Leonard M. Ring & Associates. He graduated in 1973 from DePaul University College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review and the International Moot Court Team.
Recognized as one of the top 5% of all Illinois attorneys by the Leading Lawyers Network, he also has an AV rating - the highest possible rating for any lawyer - from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
A member of many legal and civic organizations, Ed has served eighteen years on the Circuit Court Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and is also a member on the Product Liability Committee of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.
Leading Lawyers Network Member - Top 5% of all Illinois attorneys
American Bar Association (ABA)
Chicago Bar Association (CBA), Circuit Court Committee, 1990-present; Civil Practice Committee, 1991-present
Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Committee on Product General Liability and Consumer Law, Vice Chair; Section on Tort and Insurance Practice, 1989-1990
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA), Product Liability Committee, 1998-present
Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, Commissioner, 2012-present
Society of Trial Lawyers, 2013-present
$7.3 Million for Family of Com Ed Worker Killed in Manhole Explosion & Fire
$6 Million Settlement in Death of Worker in Clark Oil Refinery Fire
$5 Million for Pedestrian Waiting at Bus Stop Injured Due to Ice from City Water Main Break
$4.5 Million Settlement in Construction Worker's Death
$4.4 Million for Injured Worker
$3.6 Million Settlement for Worker Injured on Dock
$3.5 Million Settlement for Family of Girl Killed in Fire Started by Utility Lighter
$3.2 Million Settlement Against Commonwealth Edison in Electrocution of Worker
$2.3 Million Settlement in St. Clair County Demolition Death
$2 Million Settlement for Worker Backed Over by Forklift Truck
$2 Million Settlement in Construction Site Wrongful Death
$1.8 Million Settlement for Family of Passenger Killed in Lafayette Truck Crash
$1.6 Million for Construction Worker Injured by Falling Wrench
$1.5 Million in First Settlement Under Social Host Law
$1.4 Million Settlement in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
$1.3 Million Recovered for Foreman in Explosion and Fire Case
$1.3 Million Record Settlement for Motorcyclist Injured in Crash with Construction Truck
$1.3 Million for Estate of Construction Worker Killed by Faulty Chainsaw
$1.25 Million for Motorcyclist Struck Head-On by Motorist
$1.2 Million Settlement for Best Buy Worker who Fell from Picker Lift
$1.2 Million for Two Chicago Firefighters Injured While Battling Blaze at CHA Building
$1.1 Million in Fall of Construction Worker at Chicago Skyway Bridge Project
$1 Million Settlement for Passenger Injured in Car Crash
Personal Injury & Wrongful Death
Premises Liability
Product Liability
Railroad Negligence & FELA
Truck Accidents
Vehicular Negligence
01.2019
C&D Record of Success Representing Bus, Car and Truck Crash Victims
Corboy & Demetrio - The Leader in Aviation Litigation
04.24.2016
Trial Magazine: Powerful Persuasion
Trial Magazine, 04.2006
"Mandatory v. Court-Ordered Mediation," AAJ Annual Convention Stalwarts Program, 2017
"High Impact, Low Cost - The Effective Use of In-House Technology to Prepare and Present Your Case: The Use of Standard, Off the Shelf Products to Impress Jurors and Win Cases," Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2005
"The Effective Use of Technology," Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, 2005
"Product Liability Update," Illinois State Bar Association, 2002
"Product Liability," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2000
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 12.19.2017
Edward G. Willer was profiled in, Achieving Superior Results in Difficult Injury and Death Cases
Leading Lawyers Magazine, 04.2016
Philip Corboy, Jr. was interviewed for a story about a personal injury settlement he and Edward G. Willer obtained in, City OKs $5M for Lost Leg after Accident on Icy Street
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 05.27.2014
DePaul University, B.A., 1970
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1973
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1992
As a Partner at the Chicago law firm of Corboy & Demetrio, Mr. Willer has obtained numerous multi-million settlements and verdicts. His many accomplishments include a $7.5 million settlement he obtained in a federal court case for the family of a laborer who fell off of a balcony and eventually died. In another case, Mr. Willer obtained a $7.6 million verdict, after a fourteen day jury trial, awarded to his client for injuries he suffered as a result of a construction site accident. In a case that he successfully argued before the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts, Mr. Willer secured a $6 million settlement for the death of a worker in an oil refinery explosion. Mr. Willer obtained a $4.5 million construction site wrongful death settlement for the family of a union laborer who was killed when crushed by a backhoe truck. In a strict product liability action, a Morris maintenance technician received a $5 million settlement for injuries he suffered on the job when he was caught between an automated guided vehicle and a stationary rack. In a vehicular action, Mr. Willer obtained a $4.75 million settlement on behalf of a young woman who was seriously injured when her car was broadsided by an ambulance as she drove home from work. At the time of the collision, the ambulance driver was inappropriately using the siren and ambulance lights for a non-emergency patient.
Mr. Willer has traveled the world investigating and preparing his cases. In Japan, he investigated and conducted discovery depositions of design engineers for a lawsuit involving the manufacturer of an all-purpose lighter by a Japanese company. In order to fully research another case, he traveled to Germany to investigate the design and manufacturing process of a strapping machine and conveyor system.
Mr. Willer joined the Chicago law firm of Corboy & Demetrio in 1994 after having practiced with the preeminent law firm of Leonard M. Ring & Associates. He graduated in 1973 from DePaul University College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review and the International Moot Court Team.
Recognized as one of the top 5% of all Illinois attorneys by the Leading Lawyers Network, he also has an AV rating - the highest possible rating for any lawyer - from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
A member of many legal and civic organizations, Ed has served eighteen years on the Circuit Court Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and is also a member on the Product Liability Committee of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.
Honors
AV rated - Highest level awarded for professional excellence - Martindale-Hubbell Law DirectoryLeading Lawyers Network Member - Top 5% of all Illinois attorneys
Professional Affiliations
American Association for Justice (AAJ), formerly known as Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), Stalwarts Committee, 1999-present; Hall of Fame Committee, 2000-presentAmerican Bar Association (ABA)
Chicago Bar Association (CBA), Circuit Court Committee, 1990-present; Civil Practice Committee, 1991-present
Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Committee on Product General Liability and Consumer Law, Vice Chair; Section on Tort and Insurance Practice, 1989-1990
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA), Product Liability Committee, 1998-present
Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, Commissioner, 2012-present
Society of Trial Lawyers, 2013-present
Community Involvement
Knights of Columbus, Registered Agent, Charities, Inc.Successes
$7.5 Million Settlement for Family of Construction Worker Killed in Balcony Fall$7.3 Million for Family of Com Ed Worker Killed in Manhole Explosion & Fire
$6 Million Settlement in Death of Worker in Clark Oil Refinery Fire
$5 Million for Pedestrian Waiting at Bus Stop Injured Due to Ice from City Water Main Break
$4.5 Million Settlement in Construction Worker's Death
$4.4 Million for Injured Worker
$3.6 Million Settlement for Worker Injured on Dock
$3.5 Million Settlement for Family of Girl Killed in Fire Started by Utility Lighter
$3.2 Million Settlement Against Commonwealth Edison in Electrocution of Worker
$2.3 Million Settlement in St. Clair County Demolition Death
$2 Million Settlement for Worker Backed Over by Forklift Truck
$2 Million Settlement in Construction Site Wrongful Death
$1.8 Million Settlement for Family of Passenger Killed in Lafayette Truck Crash
$1.6 Million for Construction Worker Injured by Falling Wrench
$1.5 Million in First Settlement Under Social Host Law
$1.4 Million Settlement in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
$1.3 Million Recovered for Foreman in Explosion and Fire Case
$1.3 Million Record Settlement for Motorcyclist Injured in Crash with Construction Truck
$1.3 Million for Estate of Construction Worker Killed by Faulty Chainsaw
$1.25 Million for Motorcyclist Struck Head-On by Motorist
$1.2 Million Settlement for Best Buy Worker who Fell from Picker Lift
$1.2 Million for Two Chicago Firefighters Injured While Battling Blaze at CHA Building
$1.1 Million in Fall of Construction Worker at Chicago Skyway Bridge Project
$1 Million Settlement for Passenger Injured in Car Crash
Practice Areas
Construction NegligencePersonal Injury & Wrongful Death
Premises Liability
Product Liability
Railroad Negligence & FELA
Truck Accidents
Vehicular Negligence
News
All Corboy & Demetrio Partners Named to 2019 Super Lawyers01.2019
C&D Record of Success Representing Bus, Car and Truck Crash Victims
Corboy & Demetrio - The Leader in Aviation Litigation
Attorney-Authored Articles
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: Leonard Ring's Legacy After 22 Years04.24.2016
Trial Magazine: Powerful Persuasion
Trial Magazine, 04.2006
Seminars & Speeches
"Precautionary Measures to Take When You Expect a Difficult Deposition," AAJ Annual Convention, Stalwarts Program, 2018"Mandatory v. Court-Ordered Mediation," AAJ Annual Convention Stalwarts Program, 2017
"High Impact, Low Cost - The Effective Use of In-House Technology to Prepare and Present Your Case: The Use of Standard, Off the Shelf Products to Impress Jurors and Win Cases," Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2005
"The Effective Use of Technology," Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, 2005
"Product Liability Update," Illinois State Bar Association, 2002
"Product Liability," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2000
Major Media Coverage
$7.5 Million Deal After Fatal Balcony FallChicago Daily Law Bulletin, 12.19.2017
Edward G. Willer was profiled in, Achieving Superior Results in Difficult Injury and Death Cases
Leading Lawyers Magazine, 04.2016
Philip Corboy, Jr. was interviewed for a story about a personal injury settlement he and Edward G. Willer obtained in, City OKs $5M for Lost Leg after Accident on Icy Street
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 05.27.2014
Education
DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 1973DePaul University, B.A., 1970
Bar & Court Admissions
Illinois, 1973U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1973
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1992