Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2023 
Kristofer Riddle is a partner at Clifford Law Offices whose practice focuses on complex transportation litigation, consumer class actions, personal injury, wrongful death, and qui tam and false claims matters. He has represented individuals and groups of plaintiffs in significant litigation involving catastrophic transportation incidents, corporate conduct, and consumer claims.
Mr. Riddle has substantial experience representing passengers and families affected by major rail disasters. He was part of the trial team that secured a $16.75 million verdict on behalf of three passengers severely injured in the 2017 Amtrak derailment in DuPont, Washington, and subsequently helped resolve additional cases arising from the derailment for more than $56 million. In 2026, he secured more than $13 million in combined settlements arising from the 2021 Amtrak Empire Builder derailment near Joplin, Montana, which killed three passengers and injured dozens of others.
His complex litigation experience also includes Hale, et al. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., et al., a consumer class action that resulted in a $250 million settlement on the first day of trial. The litigation alleged that State Farm secretly supported the election of an Illinois Supreme Court justice who later voted to overturn a $1 billion judgment against the company. For their work on the case, Mr. Riddle and his colleagues received Public Justice’s 2019 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award. The result was also recognized by Law Bulletin Publishing Company as the highest settlement or verdict in Illinois that year, earning the team a Trial Lawyer Excellence Award. Mr. Riddle was also part of the team recognized with the National Trial Lawyers’ 2018 Trial Team of the Year: Class Action Award.
Mr. Riddle continues to handle complex matters involving qui tam and false claims litigation, the opioid industry, transportation liability, serious personal injury, and wrongful death. His approach combines detailed factual and legal analysis with a focus on developing litigation strategies tailored to the circumstances and objectives of each client.
His experience in complex, multijurisdictional litigation began early in his career. After clerking at Clifford Law Offices for three years while attending law school, Mr. Riddle joined the firm as an attorney and worked on litigation arising from the 2012 Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster off the coast of Italy. Working with Italian co-counsel, he helped address the international legal issues involved in pursuing claims on behalf of passengers from multiple countries.
Mr. Riddle’s work has been recognized by Lawdragon, Illinois Super Lawyers, Law Bulletin Media, and other legal organizations. He was named among Chicago Law Bulletin’s Forty Under 40 in 2017 and has been recognized by Lawdragon among its 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers.
Mr. Riddle also contributes to the legal community through his service on the Board of Directors of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.
Mr. Riddle earned his Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The City College of New York, where he was a Marvin Rosenberg Fellow and McNair Scholar
