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In a recent appearance on the Be That Lawyer podcast with Steve Fretzin, Smith LaCien LLP co-founder Brian LaCien shared insights on the trial profession and the philosophy behind his firm’s approach to catastrophic injury cases. The Jury as the “Great Equalizer” Brian emphasized that the civil jury system remains one of the few places…

A Cook County jury awarded a $51 million verdict to the estate of John Reinke, finding OSF Healthcare System and Dr. Fredrick Burke liable for failing to properly diagnose and treat a metabolic condition that led to a catastrophic cardiac arrest and anoxic brain injury after his 2022 emergency room discharge. Attorneys at Smith LaCien…

Brian LaCien of Smith LaCien LLP Trial Lawyers was recently featured on Fox 32 Chicago’s ChicagoLIVE to discuss Ford’s massive recall of over 4.3 million vehicles due to a software defect affecting trailer brake functions, tail lights, and turn signals, a serious safety hazard for drivers and everyone else on the road. The recall affects…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CHICAGO-IL – (January 26, 2026) Chicago trial lawyer Todd A. Smith, a founding partner with Brian LaCien of Smith LaCien LLP, has been selected to the 2026 Illinois Super Lawyers lists and for the first time selected as a Top 5 Personal Injury Plaintiff in Illinois. The top 5% of the lawyers…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CHICAGO-IL – (February 13, 2026) – Smith LaCien LLP is proud to announce that founding partner Brian LaCien has been named to the Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers list for the 5th year in a row. He has also earned placement on an Illinois Super Lawyers list for the past 16 years…

Smith LaCien LLP, a leading Chicago-based personal injury and mass tort law firm, is proud to announce that Matthew S. Leonard has joined the firm as its newest litigation attorney. Leonard, a former three-year law clerk with the firm, focuses his practice on representing individuals and families affected by catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful death….

CHICAGO – Smith LaCien LLP, a personal injury law firm, has once again been ranked by Best Lawyers in America® as a Best Law Firm® in 2026. Smith LaCien was recognized regionally as a Tier 1 firm in Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Aviation – Plaintiffs, Mass Tort Litigation/ Class…

Smith LaCien – Trial Lawyers LLP has been recognized in Jury Verdict Reporter’s annual Settlements Report as one of the Top 5 plaintiff’s injury law firms in 2025 with settlements of $96.5 million. Its largest settlement was for $30.5 million, awarded to the family of a construction worker who died from injuries sustained on the job….