Richard Egan

Richard Egan is only a 38, he already has achieved a string of settlements and verdicts any veteran attorney would covet.

Egan who practices with the Costello McMahon Burke and Murphy graduated from the Chicago-Kent College of Law ready to make a difference. The results he has achieved in short amount of time are stunning

For instance, Egan recently obtained a $8.25 million dollar settlement in a medical malpractice case after a week of trial. He also obtained a $1 million settlement for a client who lost an eye when a municipal light pole fell on his vehicle.

In another victory for his clients, Egan was able to obtain a $1.5 million win for a 48-year-old truck driver struck head-on. He received an $815,000 victory for a 41-year-old truck driver struck broadside by a delivery truck and $740,000 for a truck driver struck while entering the expressway. He has several other notable wins for injured clients as well.

Egan’s opponents know they are up for challenge when they see his name associated with a case.

Lawrence Shulruff, of Sudekum, Cassidy & Shulruff, Chtd., met Egan about ten years ago. The men were adversaries on a case.

Egan, as a young attorney, impressed Shulruff.

“Rich is an extraordinarily talented trial lawyer. He is insightful, smart and resourceful,” Shulruff said. “He has a natural comfort level in a trial room, which you do not see in lawyers at his age.”

Shulruff said although the case they shared was one of Egan’s first jury trials, he commanded the attention of the jurors, judge and Shulruff.

“He conducted himself as if he had been in front of a jury dozens and dozens of times,” Shulruff said. “He was poised, knowledgeable and effective and he convinced me that I never want to have to try a case against him again.”

Chuck Rantis, of Johnson & Bell, said the fact that Egan has successfully tried multiple seven figure cases to verdict is impressive. He added Egan has also successfully settled multiple seven figure cases.

Rantis, who has been in practice since 1985, said that while Egan is a formidable opponent, he possesses “old school” values. Rantis first met Egan when they were on opposite sides of a construction negligence case.

“He demonstrated outstanding litigation skills well beyond his years,” Rantis said. “Notwithstanding that he was my opponent, I greatly enjoyed the pleasure of his company.”

Members of the bench also have taken notice of Egan’s work.  One Judge said, “Rich is quick to think on his feet is always one step ahead of the other side.”

An attorney who handled two cases with Egan over the last four years, one of which involved very unusual facts and questions of law, was also impressed with Egan.

“Rich did a great job on the cases and exhibited skill and composure usually associated with a much older attorney,” the Chicago-based attorney said. “Rich did a great job for his clients.”

Another Chicago-based attorney met Egan while litigating a premises liability matter.

The attorney praised Egan’s deposition taking skills, and argument against summary judgment.

“While we often hear how attorneys, especially those who handle personal injury matters, give the practice of law a black eye, Rich does the exact opposite,” the attorney said. “He is professional, friendly and well-versed on the law and how to be an exceptional attorney.”

Egan grew up in the Fox Lake area of northern Illinois. He is a member of the Young Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago, he volunteers for the Junior League of Chicago and served on the Judicial Evaluation Committee for the Chicago Bar Association.