During his 40 years of practice, Tom Burke acquired a national reputation as a product liability defense trial lawyer. He has extensive litigation experience on behalf of motor vehicle, farm equipment, industrial equipment, and drug manufacturers. Tom has enjoyed the enviable record of not having lost a product liability case in 33 successive jury trials over the past 35 years, including 25 consecutive victories for General Motors.
Tom served as one of the national trial lawyers for General Motors Corporation and TRW Inc., handling their most serious cases. This responsibility led him to try cases in jurisdictions from New York to Hawaii, and he has supervised and directed the work of local counsel throughout the country.
Tom also served as president of the Buffalo Prairie Gang Camp, a camp for seriously ill children.
Trial ExperienceAmong the more serious cases that Tom has successfully tried in the past several years are the following:
- Long v. General Motors (Akron, Ohio), brain damage and quadriplegic injuries to an Akron, Ohio police officer during a high-speed chase.
- Guzick v. General Motors (Chicago, Illinois), crush injuries to the legs of a Chicago fireman resulting in amputation from an allegedly defective transmission.
- Cannistra v. General Motors (Nashville, Tennessee), van rollover resulting in serious injuries to three University of Kansas debate team members and the death of a fourth.
- Young v. General Motors (Atlanta, Georgia), death of a 28-year-old landscaper ejected from his pickup truck as a result of an allegedly defective seat belt.
- Becker v. General Motors (Chicago, Illinois), brain injuries to a 16-year-old passenger in a Chevrolet Corvette that struck a light pole as a result of an allegedly defective wheel.
- Peterson v. General Motors (Springfield, Missouri), brain injuries and total paralysis of a 7-year-old pedestrian struck by an automobile that had allegedly experienced sudden unwanted acceleration.
- Schafer v. General Motors (Chicago, Illinois), brain injuries and eventual death of a 19-year-old whose van left the highway as a result of an allegedly defective steering gear.
- Davis v. Navistar (Rockford, Illinois), serious leg injuries requiring ten surgeries to a semi-tractor driver as a result of an allegedly uncrashworthy cab.
- Cantrell v. General Motors (8071/94, N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2001) directed verdict for defendant. Suffolk County Long Island police officer received serious back injuries when the ABS brake system allegedly failed in his police vehicle.
Education
Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 1966, Phi Delta Phi
Elmhurst College, B.A., 1963, Pi Kappa Delta
Bar Admissions
Illinois, 1966
CourtsU.S. Court of Appeals (6th Circuit), 1995
U.S. Court of Appeals (7th Circuit), 1972
U.S. Court of Appeals (11th Circuit), 1994
U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois Trial Bar, 1982
U.S. Supreme Court, 1972
Professional and Community OrganizationsAmerican Bar Association
American College of Trial Lawyers
Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine
Chicago Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
International Council of Motorsport Sciences
Mid-Day Club
Porsche Club of America
Product Liability Advisory Council
Society of Automotive Engineers
Society of Trial Lawyers
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
|
