Power, Rogers & Smith: Thomas M. Power

Thomas M. Power
Associate
E-mail: tompower@prslaw.com
Phone: (312) 236-9381
Position: associate

Thomas M. Power, an associate with Power, Rogers & Smith since 1992, brings extensive experience as an Illinois trial lawyer to the law firm and to the plaintiffs he represents in all aspects of Illinois accident law and personal injury law, including wrongful death, automobile negligence, product liability, and medical malpractice.

Prior to joining the leading personal injury law firm in Illinois, Mr. Power was an Illinois trial lawyer for the Cook County Public Defender Murder Task Force. Handling an impressive 300 trials during his seven-year tenure as a public defender, he successfully represented individuals accused of various crimes ranging from simple misdemeanor cases to very serious felony cases, including numerous capital cases. A talented Illinois trial lawyer, Mr. Power taught trial practice as an adjunct professor at DePaul College of Law.

Some of his notable recoveries include the largest knee injury verdict in Indiana history. He achieved this in 1994, when together with his brother, senior partner Joseph A. Power, he represented a Polish immigrant who sustained a knee injury after his disabled truck was struck. The truck accident case was tried in Federal District Court in Hammond, Ind., where the jury returned a verdict of $1,500,000.00.

In December, 2001, Tom Power negotiated a $2,500,000.00 settlement for a 33 year-old iron worker who, while working on a bridge which crossed-over the Stevenson Expressway, was knocked off the bridge by a crane operated by an employee of the general contractor. The iron worker suffered two fractured wrists.

In July 2003, Mr. Power, along with Tom Siracusa, represented the family of a terminally ill lymphoma patient who developed bedsores during his hospitalization. The jury awarded the family $2,500,000.00 after a two-week trial. In November 2002, Mr. Power and Mr. Siracusa settled a medical malpractice case on behalf of the family of a patient in whom the defendants failed to diagnose and timely treat a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. One and one half weeks into trial, the defendants offered $1.5 million, a substantial increase over their pretrial offer of $200,000.00. Education

In December, 2005, Mr. Power obtained a $5,000,000.00 settlement on behalf of the Estate of a 52 year-old man who was a beloved English teacher and swim coach at an elite school despite being a quadriplegic for over 30 years. The man was discharged from the ER with a diagnosis of gastroenteritis, when in fact he had a perforated ulcer, which would have been detected had the staff employed additional diagnostic tools given his state as a quadriplegic. By the time he returned to the ER approximately 24 hours later, he was septic. He battled the infection for nearly a month before passing. He left a surviving spouse.

In March, 2007, Mr. Power obtained a $4,000,000.00 settlement on behalf of a 41 year-old man who was seriously injured when he fell approximately 25 feet to the ground while installing duct work during a hospital renovation. Plaintiff suffered, among other things, a fractured skull, deep head lacerations resulting in indentation, permanent eye damage (severe double vision), permanent partial hearing loss, seizure disorder, permanent right arm weakness, short and long-term memory problems and frontal lobe atrophy. Plaintiff is married with 3 children, two of whom are minors.

In April, 2007, Mr. Power obtained a $3,000,000.00 settlement on behalf of the family of a 15 year old boy who suffered an asthma attack at home and was brought to a medical care center. While there, the boy's condition worsened and it took several attempts to intubate him. As a result of the delay, he coded and, ultimately, became comatose, dying four days later. At the time of settlement, this was the largest settlement on behalf of a minor in Will County.

In November, 2007, Mr. Power was successful in persuading a Cook County jury to award $2.7 million to an 80 year-old man whose car was rear-ended by a semi-tractor trailer then flipped in the air, causing it to land on a nearby vehicle. The defendant claimed the plaintiff cut him off and slammed on his brakes. A police officer at the scene testified the plaintiff admitted that he stopped to avoid hitting a vehicle in front of him.

In December, 2007, Mr. Power, together with Joe Power and Joe Balesteri, obtained a $13,000,000.00 medical malpractice settlement on behalf of a now 14 year-old boy whose physician failed to test for tuberculosis after the boy, then 21 months old, was brought to him with complaints of fever, runny nose and lethargy. The physician had been informed that the boy's grandfather had recently been diagnosed with tuberculosis. As a result of the physician's negligence, the boy developed meningitis and suffered brain damage. Subsequently he was required to attend Special Education classes.

Education

1980, St. Xavier College, B.A.
1985, The John Marshall Law School, J.D.

Bar Admissions

1985, Admitted to Illinois Bar
1985, Admitted to Northern District of Illinois
1994, Admitted to Northern District of Illinois, Federal Trial Bar
1994, Admitted to U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

Employment

1985 to 1992, Assistant Cook County Public Defender, as an Illinois trial lawyer tried more than 300 misdemeanor and felony cases, including numerous capital cases while a member of the Cook County Public Defender's Murder Task Force Unit
1992 to 1993 Attorney, Power-Rogers-Lavin
1993 to Present Attorney, Power Rogers & Smith, P.C. Represents clients in all aspects of Illinois accident law and personal injury law, including wrongful death, automobile negligence, medical malpractice and product liability

Professional Memberships

Chicago Bar Association
American Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association Elected Member of the Assembly, 1994 - 1996
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Member of the Legislative Committee