Richard J. Murphy

Rick grew up on the Southwest side of Chicago and is proud of his blue-collar union roots. Both of Rick’s great grandfather’s were members of Laborer’s Local 4 and both of Rick’s grandfathers were members and union leaders in Laborers’ Local 4. His father was a longtime member and union leader of IBEW Local 134. Rick is a former member of IBEW Local 134 Union as well as Laborers’ Local 4.

Rick is a graduate of Brother Rice High School. After finishing High School Rick attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received a B.A. in English and Political Science. Rick received his law degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.

After graduating from law school, he joined the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office where he served in the Felony Trial Division prosecuting violent felonies. Rick was promoted to the Felony Trial Division shortly after 2.5 years with the State’s Attorney’s Office, a feat at that time usually took 6 to 7 years to achieve. As a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Rick tried numerous juries and bench trials, including cases involving murder, rape, armed robberies and home invasions.

Since joining the firm in 2005, Rick primarily handles cases involving catastrophic injuries or wrongful deaths. In June of 2008 Rick became a name partner with the firm.

In 2013 Rick was named as a 40 under Forty to watch in Illinois law. This recognition is given to the best young lawyers in Illinois.

Some of Rick’s notable cases are:

• $11.55 million dollar settlement for a trucking accident.
• $8 million dollar settlement for a truck driver severely burned when his cab caught on fire.
• $7.125 million dollar settlement for a Union Laborer who suffered a concussion/brain injury when his vehicle was struck by a truck.
• $6.75 million dollar settlement for a medical malpractice case involving an anesthesia error resulting in brain damage to a 43 year old woman.
• $5 million dollar settlement after six days into trial where a 7 year old was struck and killed while she and her mother were crossing against the light.
• $4.74 million dollar verdict for a homeowner injured when he struck a high voltage power line that was improperly marked.
• $4.1 million dollar settlement for a medical negligence case involving the wrongful death of a 2 year old.
• $3.6 million dollar settlement for a client that suffered a stretched nerve in an auto accident.
• $2.25 million dollar settlement for a Union Laborer who suffered a minor back injury and PTSD stemming from a jobsite injury.
• $2 million dollar settlement for a medical malpractice case involving the wrongful death of an already terminally ill adult with a shortened life expectancy.
• $2 million dollar settlement for a Union Carpenter injured when a portion of a pan deck roof collapsed on him. He returned back to work as Carpenter at the time of the settlement.
• $1.8 million dollar trial award for a client injured in an auto accident requiring two back surgeries.
• $1.8 million dollar settlement for a Union Laborer who had several broken bones in his lower extremities after a pavement roller partially backed into him.
• $1.5 million dollars for an adult passenger injured in an auto accident.

Despite his involvement in cases which resulted in the recovery of large amounts of money for our clients and their families, Rick takes great pride in his pro bono(for free) work. Rick recently handled two significant cases.

The first one involved a child with cerebral palsy who’s father was a member of a Union. The child needed physical therapy and Union’s Health and Welfare Fund refused to pay for it, despite the recommendations of his two treating doctors. Rick sued the Fund in Federal Court and won. The child now receives the benefit of physical therapy and the Fund has to pay for it.

The second recent pro bono matter involved the career-ending, debilitating stroke that a police officer sustained while at work. The Pension Board initially denied that it was related to his employment as a police officer which would preclude the officer from getting his full pension benefits. The Board had two opinions adverse to our client’s case. Rick handled the medical aspect of the case and was able to prove that the officer developed sleep apnea as a result of shift work. That apnea was a cause of the officer’s stroke. The officer and his family now have lifelong financial security.