Richard L. Pullano
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Richard L. Pullano’s extensive litigation career began in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office where he served as Prosecutor in the Felony Trial Courts and the Gang Crimes Unit. Since 1987, he has worked exclusively in the personal injury field. Mr. Pullano has handled every type of case including transportation liability, medical negligence, product liability, premises liability, aviation liability, construction negligence and general negligence.
In 2009, Richard L. Pullano partnered with John T. Karnezis to form Pullano & Karnezis, Chicago’s premier personal injury law firm.
Mr. Pullano has obtained multiple record awards as recognized in the Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter. In 2009, he settled a $6.5 million medical malpractice case against Evanston Northwestern Health Care. In 2008, he won a $2.5 million wrongful death verdict for the family of a 90-year-old Elmwood Park man who was struck by a vehicle. According to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, the verdict is “the largest ever in Illinois for someone 90 or older.”
Other examples include $1.75 million in a farm accident case in West Central Illinois; $1.55 million in a case where a woman was sexually assaulted due in part to lapses in security by a management company; $650,000 in a geriatric case (92-year old plaintiff) involving a hip fracture; and $400,000 in a orthopedic injury case (forearm fracture) involving a minor.
The depth and breadth of Mr. Pullano’s expertise is evidenced by a sampling of his many successful results below:
- Litigated the widely publicized “911 High Rise Fire” in downtown Chicago; Obtained a several million dollar wrongful death settlement against the owner and management company, along with a remedial agreement from the City of Chicago to change City ordinances relating to the handling of high rise fires;
- Obtained a $4.5 million dollar jury verdict in a medical malpractice case claiming failure to diagnose lung cancer;
- Litigated a product liability case involving a juvenile furniture manufacturer and obtained a $675,000 award;
- Represented an iron worker on a construction accident case, obtained a $4.5 million settlement;
- Handled a helicopter crash case in New York Federal Court and obtained a multi-million dollar settlement for the wrongful death claim; and
- Obtained a $3.7 million award for a pipe fitter burned when one gallon of sulfuric acid spilled out of a bucket.
Mr. Pullano lectures extensively throughout the state at legal seminars on topics relating to his knowledge of tort litigation. He has appeared as a guest speaker on The Oprah Winfrey Show and on the WTTW’s Chicago Tonight.
He has been an adjunct professor at the DePaul University, College of Law, where he taught trial techniques and advocacy. He is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyer’s Association (ITLA), Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), American Trial Lawyer’s Association (ATLA), and the Justinian Society. He has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Mr. Pullano received his law degree from DePaul University (J.D. 1982), and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame (B.A. 1979). While at the University of Notre Dame he was a four-year starter on the baseball team and two-time most valuable player and captain.
Mr. Pullano is dedicated to his community as demonstrated by his significant involvement in the Glenview youth sports programs. He has been actively involved in the Board of Directors for several youth programs, along with the development of the Board of Directors for the Glenview Jr. Titan football program. Mr. Pullano has served as a head coach for youth football, basketball and baseball teams.
He and his wife Candace have been married for 18-years and have two children, Michael and Olivia.