Kathryn L. Conway
Partner
- Bio
- Education
- Memberships
- Honors & Awards
Kathryn (“Kate”) Conway formally joined our firm in 2011. She is a trial lawyer and handles a variety of personal injury and wrongful death cases, including Medical malpractice , Automotive accidents , Trucking negligence, Premises liability and Product liability.
Kate has tried cases in both State and Federal Court, including a recent medical malpractice case alongside partner Larry Rogers, Jr. that resulted in a $4.6 million verdict. Kate also recently handled a complex medical malpractice case involving a cardiac procedure, which resulted in a recovery of $6.45 Million for her client.
Professional Awards & Memberships
In every year since 2014, Kate has been selected as an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star, a distinction that is limited to fewer than 2.5% of the attorneys in Illinois. Similarly, in each year since 2015, Kate was named an Illinois Emerging Lawyer, an honor bestowed on less than 2% of all lawyers licensed in Illinois. In 2020, Kate was named one of the top 10 Emerging Women Lawyers in the State of Illinois. In 2019, Kate was named one of the 40 Lawyers Under 40 in the State of Illinois. She was selected from a group of more than 1,500 nominations. In 2018, Kate was appointed a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a global honorary society of lawyers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the profession and service to society. Appointments are limited to one percent of the lawyers admitted to practice in the United States.
Kate is active in several bar associations including the Women's Bar Association of Illinois, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and she also serves on Loyola’s Alumni Board of Governors. In 2020, Kate will be installed as President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and will be the youngest woman in the Association’s 105-year history to lead the organization. Kate is regularly asked to speak and teach other lawyers through seminars put on by these associations.
Kate graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law with Certificate in Advocacy. During law school, she earned numerous awards related to trial practice and appellate advocacy, including the Friedman Award for Outstanding Performance in Trial Practice, Loyola’s Intra-School Moot Court Competition Best Oralist Award, National Runner-up in the Child Welfare & Adoption Law Moot Court Competition, and the Second Best Oralist Award in the Welfare & Adoption Law Moot Court Competition.
Outside The Courtroom - Community Involvement
In addition to practicing law, Kate is committed to serving those less fortunate. Currently, she serves on the associate board of Chicago Jesuit Academy, a non-profit middle school located on the west side of Chicago and Sarah's Inn, a non-profit dedicated to providing resources to and improving the lives of those affected by domestic violence.
In her free time, Kate enjoys cooking and spending time with her newborn son, Elliot, her husband, Conor, and their two rescue dogs, Tucker and Seamus.
Results
A.A. v. Carla Burdock, et al., No. 14 L 2727 (2018 - Cook County)
Medical Malpractice: On December 18, 2011, the Plaintiff Mother presented
to the hospital for labor and delivery. Pitocin was administered at 7:30
p.m. to augment labor contractions. Fetal heart rate monitoring began
at 7:30 p.m. and was normal and reassuring through 10 p.m. Plaintiffs’
alleged that the fetal monitoring tracings became non-reassuring and abnormal
after 10:00 p.m. through delivery at 12:28 a.m. the following morning.
Plaintiffs contend that had Mom delivered between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00
p.m. on December 18th, A. would have been neurologically normal. Because
of the delay in delivering A., she suffered brain damage and resultant
spastic quadriplegia,
cerebral palsy and seizures. This settlement is a state record for a child injured at
birth. Co-counsel, Joseph A. Power, Jr. and Joseph W. Balesteri.
Settlement: $35,000,000.00
E.G. v. Lauren Thorpe, M.D., et al., No. 2014 L 012688 (2018 - Cook County)
Medical Malpractice: Mom’s active phase of labor was less than two
hours when Dr. Thorpe placed a
vacuum on the baby’s head in an effort to extricate him without maternal
or fetal threat. The initial cup used was a Kiwi Pro Cup, which is designed
for occiput anterior positioning, however the fetal head position was
occiput posterior. The cup popped-off and Dr. Thorpe next applied a Kiwi
Omni cup which also popped-off after traction. The cups were placed at
0 to +1 station (mid-pelvis) and were not properly positioned at the flexion
point. Because of vacuum use, the baby suffered a focal arterial stroke
due to occlusion of blood flow in the right middle cerebral artery. The
minor plaintiff is disabled and has permanent and severe injuries. Co-counsel
Joseph W. Balesteri.
Settlement: $16,000,000.00
M.A. v. Woodharbor Millworks, et al., 13 cv 6849 (2016 – Cook County)
Trucking Negligence: The Plaintiff was struck and partially run over by
a right-turning truck as she began to cross the street while on her bicycle.
The Plaintiff suffered injuries to her pelvis and abdomen, requiring the
use of a diverting colostomy which may or may not be permanent. Additionally,
the Plaintiff suffered from symptoms of PTSD. The Plaintiff was unmarried
and not working at the time of the collision. Co-counsel Larry R. Rogers, Jr.
Settlement: $7,750,000.00
V.A. v. Area Hospital (2020 – Cook County)
Medical Malpractice: The Plaintiff, a 66 year-old woman, suffered paraparesis
after physicians at an area hospital failed to timely diagnose and treat
her rare spinal cord lesion. The defense contended that the delayed diagnosis
was inconsequential, because the lesion was in a location that rendered
it inoperable. Co-counsel Thomas G. Siracusa.
Settlement: $7,000,000.00
E.C. v. Local Academic Medical Center, No. 2016 L 008588 (2020 - Cook County)
Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff’s Decedent, a 40-year-old, passed
away from non-small cell lung cancer. Two and a half years prior, a cavitary
lesion in the left lung had been identified on CT as an incidental finding.
A year later, another CT was performed which identified “interval
resolution” of the cavitary lesion. Plaintiff contended that this
second interpretation was professionally negligent and that in reality,
the lesion was larger and more solid in composition as compared to the
year prior. Defendant contended that the interpretation was not negligent
and further contended that individuals with metastatic disease, due to
their genetic makeup, are metastatic years before diagnosis such that
earlier diagnosis and treatment would not have changed the outcome. The
Decedent is survived by his wife and two children. Co-counsel Joseph W.
Balesteri.
Settlement: $6,500,000.00
L.T. v. Cook County Stroger Hospital, No. 2015 L 5487(2018 - Cook County)
Medical Malpractice/Wrongful Death: On May 10, 2013, Plaintiff’s
Decedent (F-55) presented to Cook County Stroger Hospital for the purposes
of undergoing a pacemaker insertion surgery due to her chronic cardiac
condition. Post-surgical bleeding was encountered and the Plaintiff’s
Decedent remained an inpatient through June 2, 2013, at which point she
was discharged home. She re-presented four days later complaining of shortness
of breath. She suffered an arrest the following morning and died as a
result of pneumonia and hypovolemic shock. Plaintiff contended that a
surgical evacuation and/or blood transfusions should have been undertaken
upon Decedent’s re-presentation to Stroger hospital, prior to her
arrest. The Decedent is survived by her husband and four adult children.
Settlement: $6,450,000.00
Estate of J.T. v. M.C., 11 L 11030 (2014 – Cook County)
Trucking Negligence: The Decedent was attempting to cross the street in
a crosswalk in her motorized wheelchair when a truck driver failed to
stop at a stop sign and struck her. The Decedent suffered eviscerating
injuries to her lower extremity, which lead to her death shortly thereafter.
The Decedent was unmarried and unemployed at the time of her death, and
is survived by four adult children, two of whom lived out of state. Co-counsel
Larry R. Rogers, Jr.
Settlement: $5,500,000.00
J.D. v. Undisclosed Hospital, 2011 L 7385 (2014 - Cook County)
Medical Malpractice: The Plaintiff underwent sinus surgery as a remedy
for recurring upper respiratory infections. Plaintiff alleged that the
operating physician negligently penetrated the orbit and severed the optic
nerve, several muscles and tissue supporting and controlling the Plaintiff’s
right eye, resulting in partial blindness, inability to control eye movement,
as well as chronic pain.
Co-counsel Joseph A. Power, Jr.
Settlement: $5,000,000.00
N.W. v. Advocate (2015 - Cook County)
Medical Malpractice: The Plaintiff’s Decedent presented to the Defendant
hospital in the early morning complaining of a sickle cell crisis. Plaintiff
alleged that due to a failure to properly and timely monitor and treat
Plaintiff’s Decedent over the next 36 hours, the Decedent developed
acute chest syndrome, which caused her death. Defendants claimed that
the Decedent’s acute chest syndrome developed rapidly due to a fat
embolism, and that intervention would not have prevented her death. Co-counsel
Larry R. Rogers, Sr.
Settlement: $4,750,000.00
J.M. v. Advocate Illinois Masonic, 14 L 10562 (2018 – Cook County)
Medical Malpractice: A 70-year old female went into Advocate Illinois
Masonic for a planned thyroidectomy due to the development of a massive
goiter. During surgery, she suffered a stroke. Plaintiff alleged that
the stroke was caused by deep anesthesia and resultant hypoperfusion to
her brain. Defendants maintained that the stroke was embolic and caused
by dislodged plaque due to manipulation of the right carotid artery in
order to remove the massive tumor. The Plaintiff suffered weakness on
her left side as a result of the stroke and required the use of a cane
and/or walker to get around. She was already retired at the time of the
stroke. There was a $100,000 offer prior to trial. The $4.6 Million verdict
included an award of $2 Million for emotional distress. Co-counsel Larry
R. Rogers, Jr.
Verdict: $4,600,000.00
M.E. v. The University of Iowa Medical Center (Johnson County, Iowa)
(2020) Medical Malpractice: Thirty-four-year-old female presented to hospital
for an elective laparoscopic hysterectomy. During the procedure, the iliac
vein was injured during entry of the initial trocar, which resulted in
major bleeding. Resuscitation was delayed. Due to lack of mass transfusion
protocol, lack of blood products, surgical access, power infusion devices,
and surgical repair, death occurred intraoperatively. She is survived
by her husband and daughter. Co-counsel with Joseph W. Balesteri.
Settlement: $4,500,000.00
Estate of M.G. v. CTA,
10 L 11637 (2015 - Cook County)
Bus Negligence: The Decedent was attempting to cross the street when she
was struck by a left-turning CTA bus and ultimately run over by its rear
tires. Defendants contended that Decedent was distracted and on her phone
at the time of the collision. Initially, the CPD and CTA believed another
vehicle was involved in the collision and that Decedent was struck by
that vehicle and somehow forced under the bus as she was crossing the
street on the east side of the bus’ turn. Through the use of video
from a CPD camera, video from the rear of the CTA bus, and reconstruction
efforts, Plaintiffs’ counsel determined that no other car was involved
in the collision and that Decedent had actually been on the west side
of the bus as it was making its turn, and was struck due to the phenomenon
of off-tracking. Decedent was a mother of two, and was separated from
her husband, the father of her first child, and living with her boyfriend,
the father of her younger child. Co-counsel Thomas M. Power.
Settlement: $4,300,000.00
Estate of K.R. v. Children’s Memorial Hospital (2017 – Cook County)
Wrongful Death/Medical Malpractice: The minor Decedent was born with a
congenital heart defect. Plaintiffs allege that the Defendant did not
obtain their consent before converting a diagnostic procedure to an interventional
procedure and negligently elected to place a plug in an attempt to occlude
the minor’s collateral vessel. After failing to obtain total occlusion,
the Defendant placed a second, larger Plug and caused perforation of the
vessel and for the minor Decedent to exsanguinate and die. Co-counsel
Larry R. Rogers, Jr.
Settlement: $3,000,000.00
Estate of C.D. v. University of Chicago Hospitals (2016 – Cook County)
Wrongful Death/Medical Malpractice: In June 2014, Decedent was treated
in the University of Chicago Hospital's
emergency room, but was discharged without being told that she had a mass in her right
lung. In March 2015, Decedent was diagnosed with cancer in her right lung.
She succumbed to the disease on July 28, 2015 at age 80 (survived by her
husband and three adult children). Lawsuit alleged delay in diagnosis/treatment
of her lung cancer. Co-counsel Larry R. Rogers, Jr.
Settlement: $2,500,000.00
D.L. v. Area Hospital (2017 – Cook County)
Medical Malpractice/Birth Injury: Plaintiffs’ alleged that the decedent
physician failed to recognize the presence of a
shoulder dystocia, despite numerous risk factors including the application of a vacuum at
a high station, and applied excessive downward traction in order to effectuate
the delivery, thereby causing the baby to supper a permanent
brachial plexus injury. Defendants disputed the presence of shoulder dystocia and maintained
that Plaintiff’s injuries were the result of the internal forces
of labor. Co-counsel Pamela Pantages of Nurenberg Paris
Verdict: $2,000,000.00
Estate of L.B. v. Westlake Hospital (2016 – Cook County)
Wrongful Death/Medical Malpractice: The Decedent died from a pulmonary
embolism eight days after undergoing surgery at Westlake Hospital allegedly
because she did not receive appropriate anticoagulation medication post-operatively.
Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant care providers failed to appreciate
the patient's risk factors for developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
and pulmonary embolism. Defense argued that pharmacologic intervention
was not necessary because the patient was ambulating adequately post-operatively.
Co-counsel Larry R. Rogers, Sr.
Settlement: $2,000,000.00
Estate of B.C. v. Rush University Medical Center (2016 – Cook County)
Wrongful Death/Medical Malpractice: Plaintiffs allege that Decedent was
admitted for a routine hip replacement surgery. During his post-operative,
inpatient treatment, his care providers failed to recognize the presence
of an ileus and, after Decedent began to experience difficulty breathing,
the anesthesia service attempted an intubation but failed to protect Decedent's
airway, which caused Decedent to go into cardiac arrest and pass away.
Co-counsel Larry R. Rogers, Jr.
Settlement: $1,500,000.00
City of Marseilles v. Ingram Barge (2016 – LaSalle County)
Maritime/Property Damage: The City of Marseilles, Illinois suffered severe
flood damage after barges owned and operated by Ingram Barge Company allided
with the Marseilles dam on the Illinois River, adjacent to the City center,
which impeded the flow of water through the dam and caused significant
flood damage to sewer, roads, and other City property.
Settlement: $1,200,000.00
S.G. v. MetroSouth Medical Center, 14 L 11391 (2018 - Cook County)
Medical Malpractice: The Plaintiff presented to MetroSouth for the performance
of an MRI. Plaintiff maintained that the IV catheter was improperly placed
in a small vein in the dorsum of the Plaintiff’s thumb, which caused
an extravasation injury to occur. The Plaintiff developed a compartment
syndrome in her non-dominant hand, which required two surgeries and physical
therapy. Co-counsel Joseph A. Power, Jr.
Settlement: $750,000.00
M.B. v. Undisclosed Carrier (2018 – Cook County)
Premises/Trip and Fall: The Plaintiff was exiting the aircraft at O’Hare
International Airport, when she stepped into the gap between the aircraft
and the jet bridge and fell forward onto the jet bridge injuring her ankles,
knee, and low back.
Settlement: $512,000.00
E.L. v. AUG FIVE, et al., No. 2016 L 7996 (2019 – Cook County)
Premises Liability: Plaintiff slipped and fell on a patch of ice that she
contended was the result of a property defect causing an unnatural accumulation.
Defendants argued they did not have notice of the defect and that the
accumulation was open and obvious. Plaintiff suffered a tri-malleolar
fracture requiring surgery and physical therapy.
Settlement: $430,000.00
G.C. v. Menard, Inc., 09 L 15647 (2012 – Cook County)
Premises: The Plaintiff fell and suffered a severe fracture to her humerus
requiring a partial shoulder replacement after tripping over an unseen
hazard in the cart corral of a Menards home improvement store. Co-counsel
Thomas M. Power.
Verdict: $425,048.25
R.J. v. Vito Migliore, 11 L 3572 (2012 – Cook County)
Auto: The Plaintiff, a 50 year-old male, was riding his bicycle in a designated
bike lane on Southport Avenue when he was struck by Defendant's vehicle,
which was making a left turn into a CVS parking lot. The Plaintiff sustained
injuries including a dislocated shoulder and rotator cuff repair. Co-counsel
Joseph W. Balesteri.
Settlement: $240,000.00
F.B. v. First Luna Taxi Cab Co. (2017 – Cook County)
Automobile collision: The Plaintiff was a passenger in a taxicab that
ran a red light and was involved in a collision. Defendants admitted liability
shortly before trial. Plaintiff suffered a post-concussive syndrome. The
offer prior to trial was $60,000.
Verdict: $160,000.00
M.B. v. 1420 Sheridan Condo. Corp., 13 L 0883 (2013 – Cook County)
Negligence: The Plaintiff, a 93 year-old female, was pushed and caused
to fall to the ground when she was struck by a luggage cart that was being
pushed instead of pulled by a doorman at a condominium building. The Plaintiff
suffered a non-displaced proximal humerus fracture in her dominant arm.
Co-counsel Todd A. Smith.
Settlement: $100,000.00
- J.D. with a Certificate in Advocacy, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 2011
- B.S., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2006
- American Association for Justice
- American Bar Association, Fellow
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Women's Bar Association
- Loyola’s Alumni Board of Governors
- 2020 - Emerging Lawyer: One of the top 10 Emerging Women Lawyers in the State of Illinois.
- 2017 – Women’s Bar Association of Illinois’ Service Award for outstanding service to the organization in fulfillment of its mission to promote and protect the rights of women and women lawyers.
- 2014-2020 Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star: a distinction that is limited to fewer than 2.5% of the attorneys in Illinois and awarded according to a polling of lawyers practicing in Illinois.
- 2015-2020 Emerging Lawyer: those identified by their peers as the top lawyers, a title bestowed on less than 2% of all lawyers licensed in Illinois.
- 2014 ITLA President's Award: Individuals are recognized by the outgoing ITLA President for outstanding performance in service of ITLA over the past year.
- 2012 William J. Harte Amicus Volunteer Award: Individuals are recognized for their dedicated volunteer service and professional efforts on behalf of the ITLA Amicus Curiae Committee in preparing legal briefs before the Illinois Supreme and Appellate Courts.