Hillary Weigle

Hillary Weigle is a litigator who concentrates her practice on defending industry leaders in matters involving construction, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, premises liability, design and construction professionals, and product liability. She has served as lead counsel in more than 20 jury trials relating to construction, insurance, and general liability matters, including construction defect claims and insurance coverage disputes. She represents businesses and executives, design and construction professionals, developers and real estate professionals, and contractors, among others.

She also counsels and negotiates settlements on behalf of clients, always coordinating closely with claims representatives and the insureds to ensure favorable outcomes. Hillary also has considerable experience in all aspects of arbitration and mediation.

• Chicago Bar Association
• Illinois Defense Counsel
  • Board of Directors, 2023 – 2024
  • Construction Law Committee, Chair, 2018 – Present
• Defense Research Institute
  
  • Construction Law Committee, Social Engagement Vice Chair, 2021 – Present

• Chicago Bar Association
• Women's Bar Association
• Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
  • Construction Law Committee, Vice Chair, 2018 – Present
• Defense Research Institute
  • Construction Law Committee, Social Engagement Vice Chair, 2021 – Present

Hillary has served as lead counsel in a wide range of matters. A selection of her cases follows:

Construction Matters

• Secured a settlement for a subcontractor well under total policy limits in one of Illinois's most significant construction negligence actions with a demand of $268M.
• Successfully represented a regional road construction subcontractor in an alleged negligent condition claim.
• Awarded summary judgment on behalf of a general contractor client in a construction negligence action.
• Successfully represented a third-party employer in a construction trial involving a quadriplegic plaintiff. The plaintiff repaid their employer and the employer's carrier a significant portion of their workers' compensation lien.
• Successfully defended a masonry contractor in a construction injury case.
• Represented a major road construction general contractor in multiple cases involving catastrophic fatal injuries. In one such case, the plaintiff demanded $2.8M, which settled significantly lower.

Personal Injury Matters

• Successfully represented a trucking company at trial in a multiple fatality case. The jury verdict was appealed the First District awarded a new trial due to errors of the motion and trial judges.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a church for an alleged sex abuse case.
• Obtained summary judgment for a restaurant facing a food poisoning claim.
• Defended a renowned road construction general contractor in a personal injury case.

• Panelist, "What's Going on with the Law?," 2023 DRI Construction Law Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 24, 2023
• Co-Presenter, "Artificial Intelligence in Construction Law," DRI and Illinois Defense Counsel, Webcast, February 16, 2021

• Co-Author, "The IDC Monograph: The Technology Revolution in the Construction Industry: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence," IDC Quarterly, Fourth Quarter 2019 and 2021
• Co-Author, "The IDC Monograph: COVID-19' 's Effect on Construction Law Practice," IDC Quarterly, Volume 31, Number 2, 2021

Hillary's interests range from performing in the Chicago Bar Association's Bar Show, spending time with her two pugs, enjoying home improvement and design, traveling, and the guilty pleasure of watching The Real Housewives.