Chicago Area

Richard K. Decker, age 101, of Burr Ridge, peacefully passed away on May 6, 2015.

Dick was born on September 15, 1913, in Lincoln, Nebraska. His parents were Georgia and Fred Decker. He received his B. A. in 1935 and his JD degree in 1938 from the University of Nebraska. After graduation, Dick's life immediately began to skyrocket, both personally and professionally.

On June 12, 1938, Fern and Dick were married in Oakland, Nebraska. Dick then started in his lifetime legal specialty, joining the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice where he remained until World War II.

Dick served with U.S. Naval Reserve until 1945, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander. Upon discharge, Dick returned to the Antitrust Division. In 1952, Dick came to Chicago as a lawyer with Lord, Bissell & Brook, of which he was a partner from 1953 to 1984, when he retired. During his partnership, Dick served as Chairman of the Executive Committee for several terms. He became one of the country's leading antitrust lawyers, serving as Chairman of the Antitrust Section of the American Bar Association from 1971 to 1972, after first serving as Chairman of the Antitrust Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association from 1956 to 1959 and Chairman of the Antitrust Section of Illinois State Bar Association from 1964 to 1966.

Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced Wednesday that the Twelfth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Elizabeth D. Hoskins Dow and Kenneth L. Zelazo as associate judges of the 12th Judicial Circuit.

Ms. Hoskins Dow received her undergraduate degree in 1989 from the Yale University in New Haven, CT and her Juris Doctor in 1993 from Boston College Law School in Newton, MA. Ms. Hoskins Dow is currently affiliated with Bailey & Glasser LLP in Joliet.

Mr. Zelazo received his undergraduate degree in 1979 from the Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, and his Juris Doctor in 1983 from Loyola University in Chicago, IL. Mr. Zelazo is currently affiliated with The Law Office of Bob O'Dekirk, LLC in Joliet.

Corboy & Demetrio has promoted Kenneth T. Lumb and Edward G. Willer to partner.

Ken, who joined Corboy & Demetrio as an associate in 1995 after a tour of duty in the United States Army, has devoted his career to representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice and serious personal injury cases.  Ken’s skills as a trial lawyer and advocate for our clients exemplify the firm’s mission to provide the highest quality legal services to those most in need.

Ken honed his skills serving as captain in the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps) where he served as the Medical Claims Judge Advocate at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.  His duties included medical malpractice defense and hospital law.  He was subsequently promoted to major in the Army reserve.

In 2003, he was mobilized in support of Operation “Iraqi Freedom” and spent six months on active duty at Walter Reed.  For his service on behalf of wounded soldiers and their families, Ken received a Meritorious Service medal.   

At Corboy & Demetrio, Ken has obtained numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts, including a $7 million settlement for a woman who was injured when she was struck by a malfunctioning automatic door as she entered a Target store and a $4.25 million verdict on behalf of the children of a woman who died after a cervical biopsy at a Veterans Administration hospital.

The Cook County criminal defense law firm The Law Offices of Hal M. Garfinkel announces the relocation of its office to 225 West Washington Street, Suite 2200, Chicago, IL 60606.

From its new location, the Chicago law firm continues to successfully defend clients with a wide-range of Illinois criminal charges including: federal crimes, retail theft, robbery, DUI’s, drug charges, sexual offenses, domestic violence, weapons charges and murder.

Chicago criminal defense lawyer Hal M. Garfinkel is the Managing Partner at the Law Offices of Hal M. Garfinkel. He earned his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago and earned his B.S. from the University of Kansas. As a former prosecutor, Garfinkel draws on his extensive courtroom experience to obtain the best possible outcome for his clients. For over 20 years, Garfinkel has successfully represented individuals in Cook County, including many high-profile Illinois criminal defense cases.