George M. Velcich | Partner

 
 
 

After a 36-year career in litigation, George joined Sudekum, Cassidy & Shulruff in 2018. George began his legal career with the Cook County State’s Attorney, where he tried more than 60 felony jury trials, including prosecution of numerous capital and other highly publicized cases. He finished a 10-year career as a Felony Trial Supervisor with direct supervision of 21 felony trial prosecutors and authority over 100.

For the next 26 years in private practice, George represented persons and organizations in personal injury and property damage litigation, construction, maritime, products and premises liability cases in federal and state courts throughout the United States.

George has also held administrative and quasi-judicial appointments, including membership on the Chicago Police Board, a nine-member civilian panel which adjudicated disciplinary proceedings against Chicago police officers.

gmv@scslegal.com | 312-803-6250 | LinkedIn

 

Practice Areas

  • Civil litigation, primarily defense of civil defendants, including motorists, building owners, general contractors, construction managers, product manufacturers, commercial and private vessel owners.

  • Insurance carrier representation

Past Successes

  • Jones Act suits arising from the deaths of two crew members following a collision of a mailboat with an international freighter in the Detroit River

  • Jones Act suits against barge and tugboat operators on the Great Lakes and throughout the U.S. river system

  • Numerous Jones Act actions against riverboat casinos

  • Defense of dozens of building owners and contractors against construction-related injury and death claims

  • Defense of dozens of private and commercial vehicle operators against motor-vehicle related injury and death claims

  • In a personal injury case arising from an accident involving a rental truck, we succeeded in having the rental company dismissed with prejudice. We argued that the federal motor carrier law expressly exempted leasing companies from liability. The judge ordered the plaintiff to provide a good faith argument in support of his claim and when he could not, she dismissed the claim outright.

Bar Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Illinois

  • Sixth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals

  • Seventh Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals

  • United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois

  • United States District Court, Central District of Illinois

  • United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois

  • United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana

  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

  • United States District Court, Western District of Michigan

Education

  • University of Notre Dame

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law