Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
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State
John Gsanger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. John, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John M. Degnan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. John M., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Peter J. Saghir is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Peter J., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Carla Colaianni is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Carla, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Carla is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Background Mr. Prachthauser was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on January 7, 1951. Prior to joining the firm, he was House Counsel for Employers Insurance of Wausau. He is married to Joan Marie, and they reside in Hartland, Wisconsin. He has two daughters, Emily and Tracy. Lectures Mr. Prachthauser is a frequent presenter and speaker for the State Bar of Wisconsin, American Board of Trial Advocates, and Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers. He has been a Civil Trial Practice Instructor at the Un...
Peter O. DeClark is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Peter O., who practices law in Toledo, Ohio, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter O. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Steven C. Marks is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Aviation Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Steven C., who practices law in Coral Gables, Florida, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
The first time I ever stood up in front of a jury, I knew that it was where I belonged. I’ve been told that, in front of a jury, I seem to have the opposite of stage fright, and I suppose that’s true. It’s where I feel most comfortable: advocating for my clients, arguing their cases. As a trial lawyer, the courtroom is my second home. I try cases because I enjoy helping people, whether they’re ordinary people who’ve been wronged by a product, company, or a busine...
Margaret P. Battersby Black is an award-winning attorney who has played a key role in a number of nursing home and medical malpractice cases at Levin & Perconti. Her commitment to her practice has achieved noteworthy results for clients in all types of personal injury, nursing home, and malpractice matters. She is also committed to the advancement of women in the legal profession and serves as a mentor to law students and younger lawyers. In 2015, she was honored by IIT-Chicago-Kent Law S...
Don Beskind’s trial practice focuses on car and truck crash cases, medical and legal malpractice, and business torts. He is also a Professor of the Practice at Duke Law School. Don served on the American Association for Justice's Board of Governors and professional education committee - the National College of Advocacy, has been a Program Director for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, has authored case files for AAJ and NITA and is a co-author of North Carolina Evidentiary Found...
Raj Mahadass is a Managing Partner and Shareholder at PMR Law and represents plaintiffs in complex civil/commercial litigation, class actions, and personal injury litigation. While working with the team at PMR Law, Mr. Mahadass has represented radiation exposure victims, employment discrimination victims, those injured in automobile accidents, cyberbullying victims, students injured by their school, and many others, against insurance companies and other types of corporations. Prior to forming...
Matt is a trial lawyer at Olson Personal Injury Lawyers with significant experience in medical malpractice and nursing home litigation. A Colorado native, Matt earned his law degree from the University of Denver and remains active in the legal community through mentorship and bar association involvement. Matt has been recognized as a Super Lawyers since 2021. Outside of work, Matt enjoys exploring Colorado’s outdoors and spending time with his wife and three children.
Trial lawyer Ira Sherman has built his reputation on aggressive and creative litigation strategies to successfully represent injured victims and victims of discrimination. Known for his dedication to the cause, Mr. Sherman has established himself as one of the area's leading advocates.Mr. Sherman joined Mr. Chaikin in April 1980. Upon Mr. Chaikin's retirement in December 1999, he became the senior and managing partner of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Mr. Sherman and the law f...
Rachel A. Placitella is a member of the law firm and handles complex litigation matters, concentrating on asbestos litigation. She is an experienced litigator handling each case from early investigative stage through settlement or trial, and has a reputation for excellence, marked by her participation in a number of significant mesothelioma-asbestos litigation cases. Ms. Placitella received her B.S. cum laude from the State University of New York at Albany and her J.D. with honors from Syracu...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.