Clifford’s Notes

Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices, authored a column in the June/July issue of Chicago Lawyer Magazine, titled “Time for a Redesign?” examining a wrongful death claim involving Tesla’s electronically activated door systems and the broader vehicle safety concerns raised by the litigation. The lawsuit, filed in 2026 by a Massachusetts family, alleges that their teenage son died from fire and smoke inhalation after a crash in his 2021 Tesla…

Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices and columnist for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, wrote an article titled “Seeking An Answer” for the April/May issue on the latest word from the Illinois Supreme Court on tort issues impacting custodial rights cases. In particular, he examined the recent case of a father who the court said had wrongfully taken his two children out of the country, and the children’s mother brought an…

As more and more lawyers use artificial intelligence (AI) in the profession, it is imperative that they not rely on this new tool without human legal knowledge to review any work product. Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices and columnist for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, wrote about the issues lawyers are confronting as AI becomes a tool in their toolbox to improve efficiency when representing clients. That efficiency, however, should…

Following a $289 million verdict for a groundskeeper who developed cancer after long-term exposure to a cancer-causing pesticide, Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and a columnist for the Chicago Lawyer, authored a piece titled “Hiding Behind Their Sheilds” in the December-January issue, writing that corporate immunity is an argument corporations use to try to avoid responsibility for those injured by exposure to the dangerous chemical. Farmers often suffer the…

Coaching witnesses during remote video depositions has become a more frequent problem for lawyers due to their lack of proper preparation. In an article titled “Laying the Groundwork,” published in the August/September 2025 issue of Chicago Lawyer magazine, Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, shares his thoughts on this issue and the latest word from the American Bar Association on how best to avoid this improper and unethical practice. “Coaching…

“Never events” in medicine — or mistakes with consequences so grave that they never should occur — still occur with regularity throughout the United States. Although doctors do not intentionally try to harm patients, they certainly need to be careful, especially with procedures that can lead to death. Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, writes about the impact of “never events” in his column for the Chicago Lawyer’s June/July issue,…

COVID-19 caused unprecedented disruption to many facets of modern society. Five years later, the impact of the pandemic is still felt throughout courts as judges and lawyers navigate complexities surrounding the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act and the courts’ responsibility to uphold justice. Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, authored a column for Chicago Lawyer Magazine titled “Covid Chaos Still Lingering in the Courts,” which analyzes the impact of the…

Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, authored an article for the February/March issue of Chicago Lawyer Magazine titled “Guidance on AI.” The article explores the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision that the state’s Rules of Professional Conduct and Code of Judicial Conduct apply to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession and shares guidance for the responsible use of AI tools within the profession. As new technology emerges…

Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, authored an article for the Chicago Lawyer titled “Smart Development.” The article discusses that while recent innovations in medical AI are transforming the design, testing, and optimization of medical devices, challenges that can impact medical malpractice lawsuits remain. AI in healthcare has the potential to aid medical technology such as imaging, diagnostics, and patient safety through its speed and efficiency in generating and evaluating…