Victor P. Henderson is the Executive Partner in charge of the Chicago Office and a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department. He concentrates his trial practice in three related areas - complex commercial litigation, product liability law and pro bono criminal defense. He devotes a large portion of his practice to representing clients in the higher education field and the health care industry. Representing both plaintiffs and defendants, he has tried numerous jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations to verdict, and participated in mediations. Mr. Henderson is also a past president of the 22,000 member Chicago Bar Association. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Henderson practiced as a certified public accountant.
Mr. Henderson was the former television host of Inside Justice. He also was the Past President of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation and the Former Chairman of the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms.
Commercial Litigation. From multi-million dollar breach of contract actions on behalf of major corporations, to representing closely held businesses requesting injunctive relief in trade secret cases, Mr. Henderson handles a variety of commercial litigation. He has taken on disputes in state and federal courts on behalf for Fortune 100 companies and for minority shareholders in family owned businesses. His recent cases taken to verdict include a federal jury trial between a finance company and an aircraft repair station involving regional jets and a two week bench trial on behalf of a bank and commercial lender in connection with subprime mortgage loans and refinancings.
Product Liability. Mr. Henderson has successfully represented one of the big three automobile assemblers in multi-defendant negligence cases involving death and catastrophic injury, including the presentation of large and complex claims before mock juries. He has represented a major tire manufacturer in multi-million dollar subrogation claims and significant bodily injury cases. He has also obtained favorable results defending companies like the manufacturer of a gas fired water heater in a toddler scald case, a ladder designer in a paralysis case, and the engineering and design of a blast furnace that exploded in a steel plant. These cases have often been defended in jurisdictions heavily favored by plaintiffs.
Publicly Reported Litigation. Some of Mr. Henderson's recent and publicly reported representations include:
The successful representation of the Public Defender Of Cook County in a civil case against the President of the Cook County Board Of Commissioners in a case of first impression. See, Panel Reins In Stroger Over Public Defender, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, March 30, 2009.
The representation of a defendant in a matter allegedly involving white collar crime. See, Federal Officials Charge 19 In Alleged Identification Fraud Scheme, Chicago Tribune, February 26, 2009.
The successful defense of a Fortune 250 manufacturer in a case involving novel and complex legal theories. See, Court Upholds Choice-Of-Law Ruling In Asbestos Case, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, July 07, 2008.
The successful representation of an insurance company in connection with a dispute over the medical coverage for thousands of patients. See, Condell Returning To Blue Cross Fold, Crain's Chicago Business, June 18, 2008. See also, Hospital, Insurer Cut Ties Condell, BlueCross Split OK'd By Judge, Chicago Tribune, October 03, 2007, §Metro (North).
The termination of three tenured college professors, including a successful arbitration involving allegations of teacher misconduct and abuse of students. See, Colleges' Nursing Programs Ailing, Chicago Tribune, June 13, 2005.
Reported Cases
• Burnette v. Stroger, 905 N.E.2d 939 (1st Dist. 2009)
• Gregory v. Beazer E., 384 Ill.App.3d 178, 892 N.E.2d 563 (1st Dist. 2008)
• Voss v. Waste Mgmt. of Ill., Inc., No. 05 C 1510, 2006 WL 1235786 (N.D. Ill. May 4, 2006)
• Amoco Oil Co. v. Mobil Oil Corp., 90 F. Supp. 2d 958 (N.D. Ill. 2000)
• People v. Hughes, 276 Ill.App.3d 1122, 697 N.E.2d 16 (1st Dist. 1995)
• Contract Dev. Corp. v. Beck, 255 Ill.App.3d 660, 627 N.E.2d 760 (2d Dist. 1994)
• Contract Dev. Corp. v. Beck, 210 Ill.App.3d 677, 569 N.E.2d 941 (2d Dist. 1991)