Zoran Dragutinovich


Since joining the firm in 1989, Zoran has concentrated on business and commercial litigation, computer law, class actions and appellate practice in both the state and federal courts. Like the other partners at Torshen, he practiced law at a large Chicago firm but prefers the direct interaction with clients inherent in the operations of a small firm.

Education

  • J.D. with high honors, 1983, Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois. Executive Notes and Comments Editor, Law Review
  • M.A. in English, 1968, New York University, New York, New York. Attended as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow.
  • B.A. in English with honors, 1967, Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois

Clerkships

  • Hon. Allen Hartman, Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, 1983-1985

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois, 1983
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1983
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, 1995

Representative Cases

  • York Woods Community Association v. O'Brien, 353 III.App.3d. 293, 818 N.E.2d. 350 (2d Dist. 2004). Represented community association in malpractice action against former attorney; obtained reversal, on appeal, of summary judgment granted in favor of attorney.

  • George N. Gaynor v. Eric Sacks, et al., Nos. 1-00-2906 & 1-00-3221 Cons., Unpublished Order (Ill.App.Ct. 1st Dist. June 13, 2002). Represented plaintiff investor in suit against individual who had defrauded him, and, after trial, obtained judgment for $980,405.31 in compensatory and $500,000 in punitive damages which was affirmed on appeal.

  • 201 N. Wells, LLC v. Fidelity & Guaranty Ins. Co., No. 00 C 3855 (D. C. N.D.Ill., filed June 26, 2000). Brought lawsuit on behalf of owner of high-rise building against insurance company which had refused to pay claim for mold damage to building and obtained appraisal award in excess of $5 million in favor of owner.

  • Lease Resolution Corp. v. Larney, 308 Ill.App.3d. 80, 719 N.E.2d. 165 (1st Dist. 1999). Represented court-appointed successor of leasing company in suit against a former director of leasing company; succeeded in getting Illinois Appellate Court to recognize "adverse domination" doctrine to avoid statute of limitations defense asserted by director.

  • City of Chicago v. Michigan Beach Housing Cooperative, 297 Ill.App.3d. 317, 696 N.E.2d. 804 (1st Dist. 1998). Represented developer of cooperative housing project in defeating claim brought by City alleging misrepresentation in connection with procurement of City loan for project.

  • Levin v. King, 271 Ill.App.3d. 728, 648 N.E.2d. 1108 (1st Dist. 1995). Represented defendant and successfully obtained dismissal of plaintiff's malicious prosecution claim which alleged that defendant had sought to silence plaintiff by bringing a prior "SLAPP suit" against him.

  • LaBolle v. Metropolitan Sanitary District, 253 Ill.App.3d. 269, 629 N.E.2d. 56 (1st Dist. 1992). Represented Sanitary District, its commissioners and Credit Union in defeating claims brought by employees of Credit Union seeking to participate in District pension fund.

Published Works

  • Recovery of Court-Appointed Defense Costs: Framework for a Model Recoupment Statute (Author), 57 Chicago-Kent Law Review 457, 1981
  • "Liability Problems," Ch. 13, Illinois Condominium Law Practice Handbook, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), 2006

Other

  • Fluent in Serbo-Croatian language
  • Member, Illinois State Bar Association
  • Member, Chicago Council of Lawyers
  • Former college English instructor, advertising copywriter, social worker and child abuse investigator
  • Amateur pianist and guitarist, and owner-operator of a custom guitar construction and repair business in the 1970's.
  • Born 1946, Gevelsberg, Germany

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