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    Kenneth C. Chessick

    Of Counsel
    Kenneth C. Chessick
    About Kenneth

    Dr. Kenneth C. Chessick, Of Counsel to Clifford Law Offices, is a well-respected and well-known lawyer and doctor. Principal partner of the Law Office of Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D. for nearly 30 years. In particular, he has made his mark in the area of fighting for patients’ rights in medical malpractice cases, having obtained numerous record verdicts and settlements.

    For example, he obtained a $5.95 million record verdict in Cook County in a wrongful death case for the failure to diagnose breast cancer in a cancer survivor. He obtained a $2 million record verdict in Cook County at the time for the failure to diagnose breast cancer in a lady who did not survive. He obtained a $10 million record verdict in a birth injury case in Ogle County. He obtained a $1.2 million record verdict in DuPage County involving the vascular injury treatment in a medical negligence case. He obtained a $1 million record verdict in Winnebago County in a dental negligence case. His achievements in the courtroom also include a $7.6 million verdict in Cook County involving the negligent administration of a tube feeding.

    Kenneth Chessick obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Psychology and Zoology from the University of Illinois in 1965. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree with scholarships from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1968. He served a straight internal medicine internship at Michael Reese Hospital in 1969, and four years of general surgery residency at Hines VA Hospital in 1970 and the prestigious Boston City Hospital in 1973. He then served a fellowship in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the University of Florida Shands Teaching Hospital in 1979. Dr. Chessick is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

    Dr. Kenneth Chessick obtained his Juris Doctor cum laude from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1984. Kenneth Chessick, M.D., J.D., is an experienced trial and appellate attorney, admitted to the State Bars of Illinois and Nevada. Dr. Chessick has achieved record verdicts in several jurisdictions, including a $10,000,000.00 verdict in Ogle County in 2001. Consistent with his specialized medical training and broad experience, his main focus is medical and hospital negligence that caused catastrophic injuries to innocent patients. Dr. Chessick has published numerous articles on these topics in both the medical and legal literature. Clients of the Law Office of Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D. have received well-deserved compensation for catastrophic injuries exceeding $100,000,000 in the counties of Cook, Winnebago, Ogle, Boone, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, Lake, Lee, Stephenson, and Whiteside.

    Dr. Chessick maintains a close affiliation with Northern Illinois University. Dr. Chessick has been given the prestigious NIU Alumnus of the Year award in 2001. Dr. Chessick is a member of the Board of Directors of the NIU Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors of the NIU Alumni Association, and Chair of the Board of Visitors to the NIU College of Law. Dr. Chessick has taught or been the moderator of a number of law seminars on Medical Negligence Law, Personal Injury Law and Trial Technique attended by the practicing legal community. A generous donation from Dr. Chessick helped create the Kenneth Chessick, M.D., J.D. Technology Center at the NIU College of Law, designed to help train lawyers in the use of technology in the practice of law and in the courtroom.

    Dr. Chessick gives back to the community in many ways. His legacy is the Kenneth and Ellen Chessick Practice Facility at his alma mater, Northern Illinois University. With a generous multi-million-dollar gift to the school, Dr. Chessick and his wife’s donation allowed for the building of a state-of-the-art practice facility for athletes at the university. The school opened the last weekend in October 2013, just as the Huskies’ football team was 7-0 in their conference and were ranked 18th in the country as they appeared headed to another bowl game. The Chessicks’ strong belief in the value of a successful athletic program is only surpassed by their firm commitment to a strong academic program, something that goes hand in hand in enhancing the entire college experience for all students, faculty, administrators, and alumni. “We are dedicated to helping to provide the best possible college education experience for our NIU students, and our student-athletes are instrumental to that positive experience,” Dr. Chessick said.

    As a 1984 graduate of the NIU College of Law, Dr. Chessick established the Kenneth C. Chessick Legal Training Skills Center in 2004, providing students with experience and expertise in using computerized software to present ideas. Three years later, he created a series of academic scholarships named in honor of his clients, and there are now five endowed scholarships in the Kenneth C. Chessick Civil Justice Endowed Scholarship Program, which is presented annually at the school. In 2001, he was named NIU Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, and in 2012, he was named the NIU College of Law Alumnus of the Year. He serves on the Board of Directors of the NIU Foundation, and in 2013 he was selected to give the figurative “Last Lecture”, a speech delivered to the public annually. Dr. Chessick’s topic is “How an Ordinary Guy Can Do Extraordinary Things”.

    Dr. Chessick is a physician and surgeon since 1968, and a surgeon, certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1974. In 1999, Dr. Chessick was one of the creators of an internet marketing organization for restaurants and restaurant consumers, Restaurant.com. Dr. Chessick is now CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Restaurant.com, which has tens of thousands of restaurant partners in all fifty states in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, 350 full-time employees, and more than 1,000 independent consultant partners.

    Kenneth Chessick is also chairman of the Board of Directors of Restaurant.com, a highly-successful, national restaurant internet corporation.

    Areas of Practice
    • Medical Malpractice and Hospital Negligence
    • Personal Injury
    • Wrongful Death
    Bar Admissions
    • Nevada, 2000
    • U.S. Federal Courts, 1985
    • Illinois, 1984
    • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1984
    • U.S. Supreme Court, 1984
    Education
    • Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois
      • Doctor of Jurisprudence cum laude – 1984
      • Honors: University Council: 1982-1983
      • Honors: Certificate of Appreciation, 1982-1983
    • University of Illinois, Chicago
      • M.D., Doctor of Medicine – 1968
      • Honors: Project HOPE, Colombia, S.A., Tropical Medicine and Medical Education project, 1967
      • Honors: Full Academic Jewish Vocational Scholarship: Sophomore, Junior, Senior Years
    • University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
      • B.S., Bachelor of Sciences magna cum laude – 1965
      • Major: Zoology
      • Major: Psychology
    Classes/Seminars
    • Guest Lecturer, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, Mortar Board Honor Society, October 24, 2013, “How an Ordinary Guy Does Extraordinary Things.”
    • Symposium Lecturer, Northern Illinois University College of Law 2002 Law Review Symposium, NIU Naperville Education Center, Naperville, Illinois, March 21, 2002, “Technology in Case Management and Trial.”
    • Guest Lecturer, Northern Illinois University College of Law, Advanced Civil Procedure classes, last April 7, 2000
    • Moderator, Northern Illinois University College of Law, Legal Education Seminar, NIU Hoffman Estates Education Center, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, May 21, 1994; “Pragmatic Issues in the Medical Negligence Trial.”
    • Lecture, Kiwanis Club of Elgin, Golden, K, Elgin, Illinois, September 15, 1993; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: “Coming Health Care Reform in America.”
    • Lecture, Oakton Community College, Emeritus Encore Lecture Series, Skokie, Illinois, April 21, 1993; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.: “Decision Making and Medical Dilemmas.”
    • Lecture, Royal Cruise Line, Crown Odyssey, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Africa, March 22, 1992; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: “Medical Malpractice – The Problems, The Causes and The Solutions.”
    • Lecture, Royal Cruise Line, Crown Odyssey, in Dakar, Senegal, Africa, South America, March 21, 1992; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: “Surgery without Incisions – The Explosion in Surgical Technology.”
    • ecture, Royal Cruise Line, Crown Odyssey, in Salvador, Brazil, South America, March 20, 1992; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: “Living Wills, Powers of Attorney for Medical Decisions, and the Health Surrogate Act.”
    • Lecture, Royal Cruise Line, Crown Odyssey, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, South America, March 18, 1992; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: “Hospitals – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – Picking a Hospital You Can Live With.”
    • Lecture, Royal Cruise Line, Crown Odyssey, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America, March 17, 1992; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: “How to Find a Doctor You Can Trust.”
    • “The Expert Witness – Deposition Skills and Pitfalls”, given to American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians. OVERVIEW COURSE, October 12, 1991, J.W. Marriott Hotel, Century City, Los Angeles, California; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.
    • Lecture, Royal Cruise Line, Crown Odyssey, in Los Angeles, California, November 22, 1990; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: Medical Malpractice: Greedy Lawyers or Bad Doctors?
    • Lecture, Royal Cruise Line, Crown Odyssey, in Acapulco, Mexico, Central America, November 21, 1990; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: Common Complaints Where the Sun Don’t Shine.
    • Lecture, Royal Cruise Line, Crown Odyssey, in Costa Rica, Central America, November 19, 1990; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: How to Pick a Doctor You Can Trust.
    • Lecture, Royal Cruise Line, Crown Odyssey, in Panama City, Central America, November 17, 1990; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: Surgery without Incisions.
    • ecture, Royal Cruise Line, Crown Odyssey, in Barbados, South America, November 13, 1990; Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: Miniaturization and Computerization in Medicine and Surgery.
    • “Special Legal Risks in the Emergency Room”, given to the Trauma , Conference, Humana Hospital, Hoffman Estates, April 19, 1990
    • Lecture to Annual Meeting of American College of Foot Surgeons and American College of Foot Orthopedists, April 5, 1990, Chicago Hilton and Towers, Chicago, Illinois. Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: “Malpractice…The “M” Word.”
    • Lecture to Annual Meeting of American College of Foot Surgeons and American College of Foot Orthopedists, April 5, 1990, Chicago Hilton and Towers, Chicago, Illinois. Lecturer, Kenneth C. Chessick, M.D.; Topic: The National Practitioners Data Bank.
    • Risk Management: Medical Malpractice Prevention: 18 Ways to Avoid a Malpractice Lawsuit International Association of Medical Specialists, Inc., March 9, 1990, Breckenridge, Colorado
    • Risk Management: Special Laws that Affect Doctors: Medical Practice Act, Anti-Kickback Laws, COBRA, Trauma Center Act, and Others International Association of Medical Specialists, Inc., March 8, 1990, Breckenridge, Colorado
    • Risk Management: How to Testify in a Deposition and At Trial — As a Defendant, A Subsequent Treater, As an Expert (Tips and Tricks) Association of Medical Specialists, Inc., March 8, 1990, Breckenridge, Colorado
    • Risk Management: Medical Malpractice Myths, Part I International Association of Medical Specialists, Inc., March 7, 1990, Breckenridge, Colorado
    • Risk Management: Medical Malpractice Myths, Part II International Association of Medical Specialists, Inc., March 7, 1990, Breckenridge, Colorado
    • Risk Management: Protecting Yourself from Your Lawyer’s Conflict of Interest International Association of Medical Specialists, Inc., March 6, 1990, Breckenridge, Colorado
    • Risk Management: The Legal Concept of Proximate Cause in Medical Malpractice Litigation International Association of Medical Specialists, Inc., March 6, 1990, Breckenridge, Colorado
    • isk Management: Duty, The Doctor-Patient Relationship International Association of Medical Specialists, Inc., March 5, 1990, Breckenridge, Colorado
    • Risk Management: The Standard of Care in Medical Malpractice Litigation Association of Medical Specialists, Inc., March 5, 1990, Breckenridge, Colorado
    • Risk Management: Legal Elements of Medical Malpractice: Duty, Standard of Care, Injury and Proximate Cause, International Association of Medical Specialists, Inc., March 4, 1990, Breckenridge, Colorado
    • Rectal Bleeding in the Elderly Patient Humana Hospital, Senior Citizen Day, November 21, 1989, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
    • Medical\Legal Aspects of CPR and ECG, Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider Course, Sherman Hospital and Illinois Heart Association, November 8, 1986, Elgin, Illinois
    • Vascular Problems in Male Erectile Dysfunction: The Causes of Male Impotence, Male Impotence Program, Sherman Hospital, September 17, 1986
    • Medical\Legal Aspects of CPR and ECG, Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider Course, Sherman Hospital and Illinois Heart Association, April 26, 1986, Elgin, Illinois
    • Medical\Legal Aspects of CPR and ECG, Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider Course, Sherman Hospital and Illinois Heart Association, December 7, 1985, Elgin, Illinois
    • Instructor in Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida , 1979-1980
    • American Cancer Society, Lecturer, Citrus County Florida Chapter, 1974 – 1976
    • American Cancer Society, Lecturer, Citrus County Illinois Chapter, 1973 – 1974
    • Instructor in Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass., 1972- 1973
    Honors and Awards
    • Selected to Illinois Super Lawyers® list, 2008 – Present
    • Northern Illinois University College of Law Patron Award, 1996, 1997
    Professional Associations and Memberships
    • Northern Illinois University Foundation, Leadership Committee, 2014 – Present
    • Northern Illinois University Foundation, Audit Committee, 2008 – 2013
    • Northern Illinois University College of Law, Board of Visitors, Chair, 2002 – 2004
    • Northern Illinois University Foundation, Development Committee, 2000 – 2008
    • Northern Illinois University College of Law, Board of Visitors, Vice-Chair, 2000 – 2002
    • Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 2000 – Present
    • Northern Illinois University Foundation, Board of Directors, 1999 – Present
    • Northern Illinois University College of Law, Board of Visitors, Secretary
    • Northern Illinois University College of Law, Board of Visitors, Member, 1997 – Present
    • Northern Illinois University College of Law Board of Visitors, Member, 1996 – 2001
    • Northern Illinois University College of Law Patron, 1996 – 1998
    • American Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 1988 – Present
    • Chicago Academy of Law and Medicine, Member, 1988 – Present
    • Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 1988 – Present
    • President, Citrus County Florida Chapter, Director and member, 1987 – 1989
    • American Bar Association, Member, 1985 – Present
    • Illinois Bar Association, Member, 1985 – Present
    • American Cancer Society, President, Citrus County Florida Chapter, 1976 – 1978
    • American College of Surgeons
    • American College of Emergency Medicine
    • American College of Angiology
    • American Society of Abdominal Surgeons
    • American Cancer Society
    • Florida Association of General Surgeons
    • International College of Surgeons
    • Northern Illinois University College of Law Board of Visitors, Vice President
    • Northern Illinois University College of Law Alumni Association, Alumni Council
    • Northern Illinois University Foundation Landmark Associates Gargoyle Society
    • Northern Illinois University Foundation Founders Forum Isaac L. Ellwood Society
    • The Southeastern Surgical Congress
    Past Employment Positions
    • Saint Alexius Medical Center, 1987 – 2003
    • Sherman Hospital; Elgin, Illinois, 1981 – 1989
    • University of Florida Shands Teaching Hospital, 1979 – 1980
    • Citrus Memorial Hospital; Inverness, Florida, 1974 – 1979
    • Highland Park Hospital, Highland Park, Illinois, 1973 – 1974
    • Skokie Valley Community Hospital, Skokie, Illinois, 1973 – 1974
    • Boston City Hospital, 1970 – 1973
    • Hines Veterans Administration Hospital, 1969 – 1970
    • Michael Reese Hospital & Medical Center, 1968 – 1969
    Pro Bono Activities
    • Kenneth and Ellen Chessick Practice Center, 2013
    • Kenneth C. Chessick Bridge to the Bar Stipend Program, 2011 – 2012
    • Restaurant.com Professorship of Interactive Marketing, 2008
    • Kenneth C. Chessick Civil Justice Endowed Scholarship Program, 2007
    • Jeffrey and Kimberly Yordon Center, Kenneth Chessick Video Room, 2006
    • Kenneth C. Chessick Legal Training Skills Center at the NIU College of Law, 2004
    • 9-11 Survivor Fund, Restaurant.com/Ebay, 2001
    • Northern Illinois University Foundation, 1999 – Present
    • President, American Cancer Society, Citrus County Chapter, 1977 – 1979
    • Project Hope, Colombia, South America, 1967
    Ancillary Businesses
    • General Surgery and Gastrointestinal Surgery
    Kenneth C. Chessick
    About Kenneth
    Awards and Recognition