Practice Areas

Education

  • IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 1979
  • University of Notre Dame, B.B.A., 1976

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Illinois
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar
  • U.S. District Court of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court of Nebraska
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
Michael K. Demetrio
Partner
33 N. Dearborn Street
21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
MKD@CorboyDemetrio.com    vCard

Michael K. Demetrio, a partner at the Chicago personal injury law firm of Corboy & Demetrio, represents individuals in personal injury and wrongful death cases, including product liability, construction liability and motor vehicle liability. His principle focus is the preparation and trial of aviation and all forms of transportation cases. Prior to becoming a successful and accomplished Chicago personal injury lawyer, he was a criminal prosecutor at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. During his career, he has tried over 100 cases to verdict.

Mr. Demetrio has prosecuted numerous aviation and train disaster cases across the United States. Among them is the crash of a US Airway’s jet where he settled the final case in that crash for $25.2 million, a commercial aviation record. Michael was the court-appointed Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Multi-District Federal litigation stemming from the crash of American Eagle Flight #3379 near Morrisville, North Carolina. He was also appointed plaintiffs' Lead Counsel by the Chief Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court for the over 60 cases arising from the crash of an Amtrak train in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Mr. Demetrio also handles all aspects of appellate cases before the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts.

Michael is an elected Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an invitation only appointment given to the top 500 trial attorneys in the United States and a Fellow in The Society of Trial Lawyers. Listed as one of the "Best Lawyers in America," he has been chosen by his peers as one of the top 5% of Illinois attorneys. He is a lifetime member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an "Illinois Super Lawyer," and has received an AV rating - the highest possible for any attorney - from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.

He is a member of the Board of Managers for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and from 2003 - 2004, Mr. Demetrio served as President of the 22,000 members of the Chicago Bar Association.

Michael is an appointed Adjunct Professor of Law at IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he teaches a course on Evidence. He is also a certified faculty member of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and a Certified Arbitrator for the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Program and the American Arbitration Association.

The author of numerous legal articles, Mr. Demetrio has also lectured extensively nationwide.

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News

Publications

Honors

  • Chicago Bar Association, President 2003 - 2004
  • American Trial Lawyers Association, Fellow
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow and Illinois Chair
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation
  • The Society of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Magistrate Retention Review Committee, Chair, 2003
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, United States Magistrate Nominating Committee, Chair, 2004
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, United States Magistrate Nominating Committee, Member, 2007
  • AV rating - Highest level awarded for professional excellence - Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
  • Illinois Super Lawyers - Top 5% of all Illinois attorneys
  • Leading Lawyers Network Member - Top 5% of all Illinois attorneys
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Lifetime Member

Professional Affiliations

  • American Arbitration Association, Certified Arbitrator;
  • Panel of Neutral Arbitrator Member
  • American Bar Association, Litigation Section Member
  • American Trial Lawyers Association
  • Chicago Bar Association (CBA), President, 2003; Justice John Paul Stevens Award Selection Committee; 1st Vice-President, 2002; 2nd Vice-President, 2001; Treasurer, 1999; Board of Managers, 1996-1998; Finance Committee, 1998-2001, Chairman, 1999; The Albert, Moses, Henry and Bertha Wolf Fund, Chairman; Long-Range Planning Committee, Chair 1995; Appellate Judicial Evaluation Committee, Co-Chair, 1993; Judicial Evaluation Committee, 1984-1990
  • Chicago Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, 1998-2002; Lend-A-Hand Annual Fundraising Event, Co-Chair, 1998-2001; Thomas A. Demetrio, Lend-A-Hand Foundation, Co-Founder and Member of Board of Directors
  • Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Program, Certified Arbitrator
  • IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, Adjunct Professor
  • Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Managers, 1990-present; Membership Committee, Co-Chair, 1996-present; Secretary, 1995-1996; Treasurer, 1994-1995; Parliamentarian, 1993-1994
  • National Institute of Trial Advocacy, National Faculty Member
  • The Society of Trial Lawyers, Fellow

Community Involvement

  • "Lawyers United to Help Haiti Rebuild: A Call to Action," Dinner Host Committee
  • Loyola Scholarship Committee, Chairman
  • University of Notre Dame President's Circle
  • Chicago Bar Foundation, Lend-A-Hand Program

Seminars & Speeches

  • "Closing Arguments in Aviation Litigation Cases," American Bar Association, 2008
  • "Trial Preparation," Litigation Skills Conference II, Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 2008
  • "Presentation of Scientific Evidence and Expert Testimony," The Federalist Society, 2007
  • "Hurdles Along the Way: Plaintiff and Defense Counsel Deal with Various Ethical Issues Arising in a Hypothetical Aviation Case," American Bar Association, 2007
  • "Using the Government to Prepare Your Case," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2007
  • "Presenting and Defending Damages on Personal Injury Cases," North Suburban Bar Association, 2006
  • Judge, Law Student Division, American Bar Association, 2004
  • “Great Trials Panel: Lessons Learned by the Experts," American Bar Association,  2003
  • "Construction Accidents - What’s New in Tort & Trial,” Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2003
  • “Identification of the Anchor and Reference Points,” Identifying and Overcoming Jury Bias Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2003
  • "Trial Strategy," Past President's Seminar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2002
  • “Handling the Commercial Airline Crash Case,” Association of Trial Lawyers of America Annual Convention, 2001
  • "Trial Techniques," Chicago Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, 2001
  • "Deposition Strategy," Chicago Bar Association, 2000
  • "Successful Automobile Trials," Chicago Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, 2000
  • "Evaluating and Handling Spinal Cord Injuries, Brain Injuries and Wrongful Death Cases," Chicago Bar Association, 1998
  • "Trial Practice in the '90s: Jury Selection, Focus Groups and Computer Graphics & Animation - New Wave Demonstrative Evidence: Computer Graphics & Animation," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1998
  • "Spoliation of Evidence," Inner Circle of Advocates, 1997
  • "Venue - Form Non-Conveniens," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1996
  • "Joint and Several Liability and Contribution: Pre and Post P.A. 89-7," Chicago Bar Association, 1996
  • "The Trial of Automobile Collision Cases," Chicago Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, 1991-96
  • "Spoliation," Product Liability Litigation Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1995
  • "Handling Complex/Multiparty Personal Injury Cases," Presidential Face-Off Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1993
  • "The Problems and Procedures of Jury Selection," Chicago Bar Association, 1991
  • "Art of Cross Examination," Chicago Bar Association, 1991
  • "Trial Evidence and Hearsay," Illinois Trial Lawyers, 1991
  •  "Vehicular Design Liability Litigation," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1986
  • "Proof of Defect in a Product Liability Case," National Law Journal Seminar, 1986
  • Superstar Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1986
  • "Motion Practice in the Law Division Circuit Court of Cook County," Chicago Bar Association, 1986