Chicago - The Cook Group is pleased to announce a major litigation victory achieved by…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2026
CHICAGO, IL – The Cook Group secured a defense victory in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, obtaining summary judgment on behalf of a contractor client in an asbestos personal injury lawsuit involving allegations arising from historical industrial work. The Court dismissed all claims against the client before trial after finding no genuine issue of material fact warranting submission to a jury.
The ruling was entered by the Honorable Maura Slattery Boyle following oral argument on September 8, 2026. The case involved allegations of take-home asbestos exposure and asked the Court to evaluate the sufficiency of witness testimony, late-disclosed evidence, and the plaintiff's ability to establish identification, causation, duty, and breach of duty. The Court granted summary judgment in favor of the defense and dismissed the claims against the firm's client.
The effort was spearheaded by Anna Liisa Schourek, who directed the summary judgment strategy, developed the dispositive motion arguments, and presented oral argument before the Court. The motion challenged both the evidentiary and procedural sufficiency of the plaintiff's claims and focused on the absence of admissible evidence tying the client to the alleged exposures at issue. TCG Associate Jillian Henschen played an integral role in developing the written motion, organizing the evidentiary record, and preparing the briefing that supported the successful result. The result reflects the firm's commitment to specific and strategic litigation management in complex asbestos and toxic tort matters.
The Court's ruling represents a significant win in Cook County, one of the country's most active and closely watched asbestos jurisdictions. Obtaining summary judgment in these cases requires overcoming extensive factual allegations while demonstrating that the plaintiff cannot meet the legal burden necessary to proceed to trial.
The matter was handled as part of a broader defense team led by Partner Meredith S. Hudgens, whose team oversees the representation and defense strategy for the client's asbestos litigation portfolio.
"The outcome reflects an exceptional team effort and highlights the strength of the firm's litigation practice." - Meredith Hudgens, Partner
About The Cook Group
The Cook Group is a national litigation defense firm with nine offices across the United States, representing clients in asbestos, toxic tort, product liability, transportation, construction, and other complex civil litigation matters. The firm combines a national reach with experienced, strategic litigation teams focused on delivering practical, efficient, and results-driven counsel to clients across jurisdictions.