History 
Dominick W. Savaiano
| PH: | 312.635.1801 |
| FAX: | 312.322.9977 |
| EMAIL: | dsavaiano@nzalaw.com |
Current Employment Position(s):
Senior Partner
Areas of Practice:
Product Liability
Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
Professional Liability & Services
Medical Malpractice & Health Care
Commercial Liability
General Liability & Casualty
Construction
Directors & Officers Liability
Toxic Tort
Transportation
Municipal/Local Government
Asia
Europe
Bar Admissions:
Illinois, 1981
U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois
Education:
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., 1981
Law Journal; National Trial Advocacy Team;
Law Review student articles editor
University of Illinois, B.A., 1978
Memberships:
American Board of Trial Advocates
International Association of Defense Counsel
Japan America Society
United States of America – China
Chamber of Commerce
Society of Trial Lawyers
Illinois State Bar Association Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar American Bar Association
Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
Journal of American Law, Specialty Editorial Board for Products Liability
Awards:
Selected for inclusion to the Super Lawyers List annually 2005–2016
AV® Preeminent™ Rated by Martindale-Hubbell continuously since 1993
American Research Corporation, Leading Chicago, Illinois and American Attorneys
Bio
Dominick Savaiano, an accomplished trial attorney, counselor and litigator, works with a select group of attorneys he has trained in the art of litigation and courtroom techniques, providing consistency in skill and results in handling the most complex and difficult matters anywhere in the country. He is admitted to several federal district courts outside of Illinois and has been admitted pro hac vice in multiple state and federal courts on specific cases around the country.
Dom has tried more than 80 jury cases, winning nearly all. All of his trials have taken place in difficult jurisdictions inclined to return plaintiff verdicts in the millions of dollars. In virtually all of these cases, Dom represented the target defendant, achieving victories that resulted in savings in the hundreds of millions of dollars. His clients have included corporations, business entities, individuals and insurance companies in a variety of complex claims, many of which evolve out of lawsuits for injuries to persons and property or breach of contract. Dom has experience in products liability, including mass accidents and toxic torts, professional liability, health care litigation, construction-related litigation, liability insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. In addition, Dom is experienced in commercial litigation and other business matters.
Dom’s involvement in cases often results in more favorable settlements, due to the trial credibility he and his team bring. In one trucking program underwritten by a consortium of excess insurers and reinsurers, he was able to save more than $40 million (USD) off of the program’s reserves in two years.
Dom is routinely called on by clients to take over difficult matters or cases set for trial that were prepared by other firms. He is often asked to take such cases to trial, evaluate a claim or exposure, or resolve the matter on behalf of clients. Dom is in demand throughout the United States, from large metropolitan areas to rural jurisdictions. His advice is sought in evaluating the propriety of coverage positions or to defend insurance professionals who have previously taken such positions. He redeems cases that were tried by others and lost, but reversed on appeal. Dom also consults with corporations and nonprofits concerning contractual, commercial and employment matters.
Trial Advocacy
Dom's interest and experience in trial advocacy is evident not only from the cases he has tried but also from the recognition he has received from his peers and his memberships in various local, state and national professional associations. Dom has been selected as a member of the Society of Trial Lawyers, an exclusive and prestigious organization formed to foster and encourage high ethical standards in the trial of cases. He has been named a Leading Illinois Attorney and a Leading American Attorney by the American Research Corporation, which conducts extensive surveys involving thousands of members of the Illinois Bar. Dom has been elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates, a select national organization of trial attorneys whose common qualities include professionalism and a high degree of trial and litigation skill, knowledge and experience.
Dom’s contributions as a member of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance include coauthorship of Illinois Claims Handling Resources, an online guide; products liability editor on the Specialty Editorial Board of The Journal of American Law , a peer-reviewed journal and the only national law journal in the country. Since 1981, Dom has lectured and published for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the Chicago Bar Association, the Professional Liability Underwriters Society, the Risk and Insurance Management Society, and gatherings of many other organizations and clients in the United States, Asia, Canada and Europe.
In late 2015, Dom was awarded a Jury Trial Excellence Award from Chicago legal publications for career achievement in liability defense trial results.
Representative Matters
Obtained a not-guilty verdict in an automotive/trucking products liability case in New Orleans that involved catastrophic injuries to eight victims, including a quadriplegic on a ventilator, a person with a brain injury and a death.
Was awarded a not-guilty verdict in less than 30 minutes in a cerebral palsy medical malpractice case in Cook County, Ill., against an accomplished plaintiffs’ attorney.
Received a successful resolution in an architect’s favor as a result of an arbitration with a casino developer and owner (cross-claims for millions each, with a result of payment to the architect).
Successfully defended an admitted-liability, products liability trial on damages in Baltimore involving a medical device. In the face of a $7 million demand, the jury awarded a verdict under $200,000 and only $12,000 more than what the defense recommended.
Won a large commercial arbitration case involving the valuation of the business involved in a sale in Philadelphia.
Successfully defended an Asian tire manufacturer in lawsuits throughout the United States.
Serves as national counsel for an international medical implant manufacturer.
Acted as national counsel for a consortium of Canadian excess insurers and reinsurers for losses in the United States.
