James Branit concentrates his practice in civil and commercial trial litigation, class actions, and appeals. He has more than 37 years of experience as a successful trial and appellate attorney, prevailing in the vast majority of more than 250 appeals in various state and federal courts.
- Prevailed on appeal for oil company after an underground gasoline storage tank was leaking and the fuel fumes caused an explosion at a condo complex where Plaintiff resided, resulting in Plaintiff sustaining second-degree burns and other injuries; the Supreme Court upheld the Trial Court and Appellate Court ruling that Plaintiff had a sufficient remedy in law for their injuries, and the Illinois EPA and LUST Program provide governmental enforcement for violations, and ruled in favor of our client.
- H. v. Pla-Fit Franchise, LLC, 2017 IL App (3d) 16037 – Franchisor not liable for emotional injuries allegedly sustained by members who were secretly videotaped in tanning rooms
- South Shore Baseball, LLC v. DeJesus, 11 N.E.3d 903 (Ind. 2014) – Baseball stadium operator not liable for injuries sustained when spectator was struck by a foul ball
- Conrad v. AM Community Credit Union, 750 F.3d 634 (7th 2014) – Credit unions and trade association not liable; entertainer’s performance of singing telegram in banana costume, as “Banana Lady”, was not copyrightable
- Mockbee v. Humphrey Manlift Co., Inc., 2012 IL App (1st) 093189, (1st Dist. 2012) – Contractors retained by employer to perform safety inspection entitled to immunity from employee’s negligence claim
- Lazenby v. Mark’s Construction, Inc., 236 Ill.2d 83 (2010) – General contractor not liable to firefighter who fell through unprotected floor opening
- Grey Direct, Inc. v. Erie Ins. Exchange, 460 F.3d 895 (7th Cir. 2006) – Insured’s printing error as a “known loss” that was not covered by printer’s errors and omissions insurance policy
- AAA Disposal Systems, Inc. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 355 Ill.App.3d 275 (2005) – Insured required to exhaust all primary coverage before excess insurance was triggered; clean-up costs had to be allocated pro rata over entire coverage period
- Barnard v. Saturn Corp., 790 N.E.2d 1023 (Ind.Ct.App. 2003) – Car owner’s fault precluded recovery against car and jack manufacturers
Admissions
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Central Districts of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. Courts of Appeals, Seventh, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuits
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- J.D., high honors, Chicago-Kent College of Law, 1985
- B.A., high honors, Illinois Institute of Technology, 1983
Honors
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated™ attorney
- Illinois Leading Lawyer distinction in Civil Appellate Law; Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance Law; and, Professional Malpractice Defense Law, including Legal/Technical/Financial, 2014-2025
- “Top Appellate Lawyers in Illinois”, Chicago Lawyer