Charles A. Hornewer brings more than 40 years of litigation experience to Wise Law Offices, concentrating on complex cases involving medical malpractice, product liability, nursing home negligence, and catastrophic injuries. A skilled trial lawyer known for both his legal acumen and compelling courtroom presence, Chuck has tried cases from both the plaintiff and defense perspectives, including representing injured individuals, institutions, sporting event producers, and medical professionals.
Before joining Wise Law Offices, Chuck served as a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson and later as a partner at Phillips Law Offices. He then founded the Hornewer Law Firm to focus more directly on client advocacy. A graduate of DePaul University College of Law, he was a member of the DePaul Law Review and the Moot Court Society. He is admitted to practice in Illinois state and federal courts, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Chuck is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Society of Trial Lawyers, and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He has lectured nationwide on trial strategy, medical malpractice, and legal advocacy and is widely published in legal journals. His work has earned him an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and designation as an Illinois Super Lawyer. He was also named among Illinois’ Top 1% Trial Counsel for Medical Malpractice Lawyers, a previously active, multi-stage rating program that evaluated attorneys on actual courtroom performance.
Areas Of Practice
- Medical Malpractice
- Product Liability
- Professional Liability
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Transportation Negligence
- General Personal Injury
Bar Admissions
- State of Illinois, 1981
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1982
- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1982
- United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 2001
Percentage of Litigation
100% of practice devoted to plaintiffs’ litigation.
Education
- DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois
- J.D. – 1981
- DePaul Law Review
- Moot Court Society
- DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois
- B.A. – 1978
Professional Associations
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Society of Trial Lawyers
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
- American Association for Justice
Honors and Awards
Published Works
- Comment, Loss of Consortium: Still All in the Family, Comment, Hinshaw Reports: Torts, Vol.3 No.1 (1986), Hinshaw & Culbertson, 1986
- Guest Editorial, Prepare Your Own Defense, Illinois Medicine, Vol. 2, No. 10 (May, 1990), 1990
- Note, Elimination of Municipal Good Faith as a Defense Under Section 1983: A New Hope of Recovery for Strip Search Victims Owen v. City of Independence, Missouri, 30 DePaul Law Review, DePaul University, 1981
Speaking Engagements
- Instructor, Direct Examination – YLS Federal Trial Bar Training Course, Chicago Bar Association
- Presenter, Trial Evidence Seminar, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
- Speaker, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Seminars on Trial Techniques and Tort Law
- Medical Malpractice Overview, University of Illinois Pediatric Program
- Legal Trends in Emergency Medicine, Vail Emergency Medicine Conference
Numerous CLE seminars on tort law, trial advocacy, and jurisdiction issues
Presentations
- Expanding Theories of Hospital Liability, Mary Thompson Hospital Board of Trustees Retreat, Lincolnshire, Illinois, September 1987
- Loss of Consortium in Illinois, Hinshaw & Culbertson In House CLE Program, November 1987
- Life After Residency – Medical Malpractice Overview, University of Illinois Pediatric Program in conjunction with Ross Laboratories, November 1988
- Actions Under the Wrongful Death, Survival and Family Expense Acts, CNA Insurance Company, Downers Grove, Illinois, July 1989
- Day In The Life Videos The Defense Perspective, 25th Annual Trial Evidence Seminar, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, October 1990
- How to Work for Your Own Defense, 14th Annual Vail Emergency Medicine Conference, February 1992
- Legal Trends in the Emergency Department: C.O.B.R.A., 14th Annual Vail Emergency Medicine Conference, February 1992
- Risk Management of Head and Spine Cases, 14th Annual Vail Emergency Medicine Conference, February 1992
- Direct Examination, Instructor, YLS Federal Trial Bar Training Course, Chicago Bar Association, October 1994
- Closed Head Injuries, Defense Perspective, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Point/Counterpoint Damages Seminar, May 1998
- Managed Care Update: Developments and Trends, Defense Research Institute Medical Liability Seminar, September 1998
- Cross-Examination of Plaintiff’s Medical Witnesses, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Trial Techniques Seminar, October 1999
- Legal Trends in Emergency Medicine “Emergency Medicine in Jackson Hole” — Jackson Hole, Wyoming, August 2000.
- Direct and Cross Examination of Witnesses, Hinshaw & Culbertson Trial Practice Program, 2002
- Prior Injuries/Subsequent Injuries/Aggravation of Pre-existing Injuries, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association “Tort Law Trends” Seminar, February 2005
- Developments in Jurisdiction, Forum non Conveniens and Choice of Law, Illinois State Bar Association “Tort Law Update” Seminar June 2007
- Jury Instructions, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association “Update and Review” Seminar, October 2009.
- Tort Litigation – Defense Perspective, Loyola Law School Chicago Course Civil Procedure Prior to Trial, October 2009.
- Common Defenses in Auto and Premises Cases and How to Defeat Them, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Nuts and Bolts Seminar: “Trial of a Negligence Case”, March 2010