General Civil Litigation

Craig & Craig represents clients of all types with regard to general civil litigation. General civil litigation involves seeking compensatory damages for some actual or perceived wrong. However, remedies in civil matters can also include specific performance of a contractual agreement, injunctive or other equitable relief. Craig & Craig handles general civil litigation matters for both plaintiffs and defendants. Cases range from the very complex and detailed cases to smaller subrogation, small claims and collection matters.

Stephen L. Corn joined the law firm of Craig & Craig in August 1969. Since joining the firm, Mr. Corn has been involved in general civil litigation, primarily from the standpoint of representing defendants either directly or by being retained by insurance companies. Mr. Corn has tried many cases to verdict. In 1994, he was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, an organization that admits only one percent of the top trial lawyers in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Mr. Corn has spoken on legal issues on numerous occasions and also has written on a number of occasions. He is active in the Illinois State Bar Association, including presently being on the Committee on Professional Conduct. He is on the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. Mr. Corn has been active in the American Bar Association, and recently presented on a seminar on medical experts at the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago. He is the Vice Chairman for programs on the ABA/TIPS Medicine and Law Committee. Mr. Corn has been involved in numerous appeals in various appeal courts in Illinois, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Paul R. Lynch has defended civil litigation in multiple categories of cases, including medical and legal malpractice, products liability, employment discrimination, professional liability claims against realtors and insurance agents, nursing home liability, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability and liquor liability. Mr. Lynch has tried over eighty jury cases in the State Courts of Illinois and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. He has handled numerous appeals in the Appellate Court of Illinois, and has also argued appeals in the Illinois Supreme Court and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Mr. Lynch was inducted as Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers at its annual meeting in October, 2009.

Since joining the firm in 1996, Julie A. Webb has been involved in general civil litigation. She has represented defendants directly and as counsel retained by insurance companies. Ms. Webb has authored Chapter 3 on "Settlement" for the 2009 volume of the Illinois Institute Continuing Legal Education on Illinois Civil Practice: Opening the Case.

John F. Watson began his practice in criminal prosecution and general practice. He joined the firm of Craig & Craig in July of 1999 and has been heavily involved in general civil litigation. He has been involved in complex liability defense matters as well as representing local families, corporations and insurance companies in prosecuting personal injury and subrogation claims. As a member of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel Mr. Watson prepared the study materials and made a presentation on Illinois tort law for the IDC Fall Conference of 2001. In addition, Mr. Watson has authored Chapter 10 on Third-Party Practice for the 2009 volume of the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Educations volume on Illinois Civil Practice: Opening the Case. Mr. Watson has been involved in numerous appeals in various Appellate Courts in Illinois, including the United States of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

R. Sean Hocking began his practice with Craig & Craig in January 2000 where he has focused on various forms of general civil litigation, including products liability, medical malpractice, defense of automobile accident and slip and fall cases, defense and prosecution of contract disputes and disputes regarding commercial issues. Mr. Hocking has represented a variety of individuals, corporations and insurance companies and has a wide range of experience in handling cases from beginning to end, including appeals. Mr. Hocking has been actively involved in the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel in presenting its Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs and seminars.