Thomas Hill

Thomas R. Hill is a trial lawyer with more than 50 jury verdicts. He has been recognized by numerous organizations for his trial experience, including being named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, listed for many years in Best Lawyers in America, with the 2017 & 2015 distinction of being named "Lawyer of the Year" in Chicago for Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants, recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer, named an Illinois Leading Lawyer by the Law Bulleting Publishing Company, and is a recipient of an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

 

Before founding the law firm of Smith Blake Hill LLC, he practiced for more than 25 years at the 425 lawyer national law firm of Dykema Gossett, PLLC. In addition to his trial practice, he held numerous management positions including three terms on the firm's Board of Directors, as Office Managing Partner for the Chicago office, as a Litigation Practice Group Lead and as a member of the Professional Personal Committee.

 

Mr. Hill is the lead trial lawyer representing healthcare institutions and their related entities and employees, as well as physicians in almost all areas of medicine, including emergency medicine, anesthesiology, surgery (plastic and reconstructive, general, cardio-thoracic, neurosurgery), family practice, internal medicine, radiology, cardiology, nephrology, hematology and oncology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, physical medicine and rehabilitation and psychiatry. He has also been the primary lawyer for appeals in both the State and Federal courts.

 

Mr. Hill also has acted as lead trial counsel for a variety of companies and individuals involving business disputes including issues related to post merger or acquisition disputes, claims for breach of contract, claims for fraud, alleged violations of ERISA, and shareholder and partnership disputes. He has also represented companies and individuals in real estate disputes. Mr. Hill has also defended other claims for professional malpractice involving attorneys.  

 

Experience

   

• Lead attorney defending physicians with expertise in emergency room medicine, cardio-thoracic, orthopedic, general and plastic and reconstructive surgery, family medicine, radiology, internal medicine, physiatry, cardiology, nephrology, psychiatry, hematology and oncology, gastroenterology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

• Retained as neutral arbitrator in substantial breach of contract action between two Fortune 500 companies.

• Lead attorney for Fortune 100 company in successful resolution of multimillion dollar claim brought by seller of automotive division involving post merger contract dispute.

• Lead attorney defending finance consulting company for claims arising out of ERISA.

• Lead attorney defending law firm for claims of professional malpractice and fraud.

• Lead attorney defending real estate investor in breach of contract action.

 

Highlights

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• Defense verdict for an orthopedic hand surgeon after jury trial in Cook County involving a claim for failure to diagnose compartment syndrome leading to complex regional pain syndrome. Plaintiff requested almost $1 million in damages.

• Defense verdict for gastroenterologist after jury trial in Cook County involving a claim for failing to remove a pancreatic stent fragment and failure to inform the patient of the presence of the foreign object causing years of ongoing pancreatitis. Patient transferred his case to an academic center where the patient underwent surgery with removal of the stent and part of his pancreas, a splenectomy and Roux-en-Y procedure with ongoing episodes of pancreatitis. Plaintiff requested almost $3 million.

• Deadlock jury (9-3 in favor of defendants) with post-trial settlement by another party resulting in complete dismissal of defendant surgeon. This case involved an alleged delay in the diagnosis of a perforated bowel after a diagnostic laparoscopy and lysis of adhesions surgery. Plaintiff requested more than $12.5 million.

• High/low agreement of $800,000 resulting in settlement despite jury trial of verdict for $2 million. Plaintiff claimed defendant spine surgeon failed to diagnose and treat failed cervical spine fusion resulting in permanent forward flexion of head and neck.

• Defense verdict for emergency room physician involving death of 57-year-old man from cardiac event hours after discharge from emergency room where he had hypertension, kidney stones and severe pain. Plaintiff asked for more than $4 million.

• Defense verdict for orthopedic surgeon involving claim of negligent knee surgery, failure obtain informed consent, and failure to diagnose ongoing infection resulting in total knee replacement and permanent injury.

• Defense verdict for an orthopedic surgeon after a trial in Cook County involving a claim that a knee surgery was unnecessary and led to an infection that was not properly treated and resulted in a total knee replacement. The defense argued the surgery was indicated, infection was a known complication, and it was properly diagnosed and treated.​

• Defense verdict for an emergency room physician after a trial in Lake County involving a claim that the patient should have been admitted to the hospital for telemetry monitoring and treatment of high blood pressure which would have identified a cardiac event preventing his death. After discharge from the emergency department, the patient died a few hours later. The defense argued all treatment in the emergency room was proper and he was appropriately discharged.

• Won a complete defense verdict for a psychiatrist after a two-week trial in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit involving claims for medical negligence and wrongful death of a 42-year-old mother of two.

• Illinois Appellate Court affirmed dismissal of plaintiff's claims for breach of contract as a third-party beneficiary against our hospital client.

• Trial court affirmed summary judgment defeating claims of actual and apparent agency and later dismissed institutional negligence claims against our surgical center client. Plaintiff later obtained a $7.9 million verdict against the remaining defendants.

• Successfully defended financial services company for claims arising under ERISA and breach of contract resulting in a dismissal of all claims.

• Successfully defended law firm for claims of malpractice and fraud with dismissal of all claims and substantial payment to the law firm of fees.

• Lead trial counsel in obtaining not guilty verdict after two-week jury trial involving a claim for more than $12,000,000 arising out allegations of professional negligence and catastrophic personal injuries.

• Lead trial counsel for successful jury verdict in favor of defendants sued for extraordinary burns suffered after alleged failure to treat patient with proper psychiatric medications and therapy led the plaintiff to pour gasoline on his body and light himself on fire. Pharmaceutical manufacturer settled before trial.

• Successful dismissal of a multi-million-dollar claim brought by a Chinese company in supplier dispute against a global manufacturer of visualization technology.

• Successful resolution of an adult brain injury case for a nominal settlement on behalf of a nationally recognized healthcare facility.

• Successful dismissal of all claims brought in federal court against a defendant arising out of alleged improper medical care to a child resulting in serious and permanent brain injury.​

• Defense verdict for an emergency room physician after a trial in Lake County involving a claim that the patient should have been admitted to the hospital foe telemetry monitoring and treatment of high blood pressure which would have identified and cardiac event preventing his death. After discharge from the emergency department, the patient died a few hours later. The defense argued all treatment in the emergency room was proper and he was appropriately discharged.

• Defense verdict for an orthopedic surgeon after a trial in Cook County involving a claim that a knee surgery was unnecessary and led to an infection which was not properly treated and resulted in a total knee replacement. The defense argued the surgery was indicated, infection was a known complication, and it was properly diagnosed and treated.

 

Support for our community:

   

• Continued the pro bono representation as co-counsel of a woman alleging she was subject to years of human trafficking.

• Pro bono appointment as Guardian Ad Litem to investigate and make recommendations for the guardianship of twin infant girls.