Martin Morrissey
Martin touts a 37+ year career as a trial attorney and legal counselor. Having always appreciated competition, he has tried over 80 civil jury trials to verdict in the Madison/St. Clair County and Southern Illinois regions.
- Rated as AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
- Elevated to Advocate Level in the American Board of Trial Advocates
Martin Morrissey
Attorney in Edwardsville, IL
Martin Morrissey touts a 37+ year trial attorney and legal counselor career. He cites early life lessons combined with a good deal of courtroom experience and skilled mentors in helping him develop careful judgment and talent for providing solutions to clients in insurance defense litigation.
Working on civil cases and appeals in personal injury defense, insurance coverage, and carrier conduct, Martin advises and defends the insureds when they get sued and advises and defends insurance companies and their employees when they draw complaints.
Guided by early lessons learned, he believes the plain truth is: sometimes you must fight; you have to choose the right fight; your opponent must know that you are willing to fight; most people hate to fight; often, the well-chosen fight benefits the many; and often, you have to lead. Another pivotal experience occurred while working as a groundsman for a central Illinois electric utility company. Martin experienced a fast and pitiless learning curve, noting a young man makes few mistakes when learning to assist other men working in the sky on electrical lines. You must get ahead of problems and strive to avoid an error.
Recognizing that no one is very interesting if he is defined entirely by his work, Martin has been happily married for 37+ years, blessed with two great kids and a grandson. An avid reader, he enjoys reading mainly history, religion, philosophy, and the occasional novel. Additionally, Martin averages a 12-mile run per week and considers himself an adequate fisherman.
Practices
Credentials
Education
J.D., Southern Illinois University
B.A., University of Illinois, magna cum laude
Licensure(s) and Admission(s)
State Courts of Illinois
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
Professional Affiliations
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Local Chapter President, Former
National Board of Representatives, Former
Defense Research Institute
Illinois Defense Counsel
Illinois State Bar Association
Madison County Bar Association
Community Involvement
Legatus, Member
St. Boniface Catholic Church
Results
Appeals:
- Maple v. Gustafson, 151 Ill. 2d 445, 603 N.E.2d 508 (1992) re-affirmed for Illinois trial courts the different legal standards of review to apply to jury verdicts in deciding motions for new trials versus motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or directed verdicts. The Maple case remains one of the most cited decisions in civil trial practice in the State of Illinois.
- Wakeford v. Rodehouse Restaurants of Missouri, Inc., 154 Ill. 2d 543, 610 N.E.2d 77 (1992) established the criteria for disclosure of experts and their opinions for civil practitioners in Illinois until Supreme Court Rule 220 was repealed and Rule 213 revised thereafter.
- Jackson v. Seib, 372 Ill. App. 3d 1061, 866 N.E.2d 663 (5th Dist. 2007) was a central decision in the appellate courts concerning the relevancy and admissibility of post-accident vehicular photographs in vehicular negligence cases.
- In Peach v. McGovern, 2019 IL 123156, 129 N.E.3d 1249, Marty was the primary author of the amicus brief presented by the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IDC). In this case, the Illinois Supreme Court reaffirmed the crucial role of the jury in determining injury causation and credibility issues of parties and witnesses at trial while re-establishing the relevance and admissibility of post-accident vehicle photographs in vehicular negligence cases.
Trials:
- Alcohol Impairment; Personal Injury Auto Defense; Contributory Negligence Found; Punitive Damages Rejected
- Wrongful Death; Vehicular Negligence; Contributory Negligence; No Liability
- Auto-Bicycle Crash Defense; Minor; Fractured Knee Cap; No Liability
- Jury Rejects Fraud Claim and Punitive Damages Levelled Against Insurance Carrier
- Judge Rejects Illinois Consumer Fraud Act Claim Directed Against Insurance Carrier
- Premises Liability Defense; Paintball Eye Injury; Vision Loss; No Liability
Presentations/Publications
Presentations
“Masters in Trial,” Oklahoma Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates (2010)
“Masters in Trial,” Moderator, Missouri Southern Illinois Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (2008)
Publications
“The Appellate Court Administers a Healthy Dose of Common Sense to the Vehicle Photograph Admissibility Issue,” Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (2009)
Awards/Recognition
- Leading Lawyer by Law Bulletin Media℠ – Civil Injury Trial Defense, 2014-2023
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Advocate
- Rated AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
- Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers®
