Chicago Appeals Lawyer

Representing Clients Nationwide In Appellate Matters

The outcome of corporate litigation is not always what you hoped. The court could rule that you owe a lot more money than necessary or make its decision based on an inappropriate application of the law. Under some circumstances, you have a limited time to appeal the decision. A Chicago appeals lawyer from our team can handle this process and fight for a fair outcome on your behalf.

The King & Jones legal team takes on many types of appeals. Discuss your case with our team today, and we will assess your options and talk about your next steps. We can help you navigate the process and get justice if we believe you have a strong appeal. During your initial consultation, we will also answer your questions and explain how our fees work. Call today.

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Client Success

First Merit Realty Services, Inc., v. Amberly Square Apartments, L.P.

869 N.E. 2D 394 (ILL. APP. 2007)

We successfully appealed an arbitration award against our clients. We convinced the appellate court that the arbitrators exceeded their authority by reforming a contract and ignoring the plain language in the parties’ contract.

Pattullo Banks v. City of Park Ridge

2014 IL APP (1ST) 132856

We obtained a reversal of the trial’s court’s summary judgment ruling against our client, who was severely injured in a pedestrian accident. The appeal involved issues of municipal tort immunity.

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King & Jones Understands Why You Want To Fight An Unfair Decision

At King & Jones, our clients’ goals become our goals. We fight for the best possible result for our clients, including appeals. If you do not believe the outcome of your litigation was fair, let us assess your options. We could challenge the verdict and change it.

Many attorneys do not handle appeals in Chicago. While they are competent lawyers, filing appeals and navigating this process takes additional knowledge and experience beyond basic litigation. King & Jones has the necessary resources to advocate for clients, offering advice and guidance while we handle appeals.

This includes:

  • Local and nationwide appellate matters
  • Corporate litigation
  • Trusts and estates litigation
  • Insurance appeals
  • Real estate law
  • Other civil case appeals

We represent both plaintiffs and defendants in disputes, litigation, and appeals. We are not afraid to get involved in any case, regardless of its complexity or the type of business. We represent large commercial operations, individual policyholders, and all types of clients in between. We have more than 40 years of experience with claims and trials, including handling appellate matters.

Our client reviews and a high number of returning clients show that our attorneys get the job done. We take pride in knowing our former clients call us again when they have a legal need. We believe this is one of the greatest compliments and a significant indicator of our success as a firm.

When Do You Need To Appeal In A Chicago Business Litigation Case? What Is An Appeal In Chicago Civil Litigation? Examples Of Appeals We Handle What Can I Appeal In My Business Litigation Case? Where Do I File My Appeal? Let King & Jones Represent Your Chicago Appeal What Should I Do While Considering An Appeal? Discuss Your Appeal With Our Team Today

Business litigation occurs because of many types of disputes and disagreements. Many cases settle before ever going to trial, but some end before a judge or jury. When the court decides the outcome of business litigation, the verdict or judgment generally favors one of the sparring parties. This means an unfavorable outcome for the other. If this happens to you, you might consider whether an appeal is the next step.

Unlike mediation or a negotiated agreement, a trial generally ends in a decision for one party or the other. There are no compromises here. Either the plaintiff or the defendant will win in court when taking business litigation to trial. 

However, the only option for changing the outcome after a verdict or judgment is challenging the decision with an appeal. If you believe the court decided the case incorrectly, an appeal could be an option.

Businesses generally appeal court decisions because they believe the court:

  • Made the wrong decision.
  • Granted an inappropriate award based on the case’s facts.

At King & Jones, our Chicago appeals lawyers know when the state and federal courts allow appeals, the possible basis for these challenges, and how to proceed. We help clients challenge the outcome of their cases, including possibly reducing the payout ordered by eliminating some or all compensatory or punitive damages awarded.

Appeals frequently occur in civil litigation. While they do not happen in every case, and not every decision supports a favorable appeal, they are common enough that we handle them regularly. Appealing is the next step for those who do not believe the court correctly ruled on their case at trial. It is the only option for overturning a verdict, reducing an award, or otherwise challenging the judge or jury’s decision.

An appeal is a request to look at certain aspects of the case again. Most appeals go before an appellate court, usually composed of a panel of three appellate judges. When the appellate panel reviews the case, they look at only the aspects included in the appeal.

For example, if the appeal centers on the amount of compensation awarded, the panel would review:

  • The award included with the judgment
  • The evidence used to calculate the award

They are unlikely to consider whether the initial court ruled fairly in its verdict or if there were errors made when deciding the outcome. They only look at the award amount unless the appealing party challenges the overall decision in the case.

The nature and scope of an appeal will vary greatly based on the case’s specific facts. The client’s goal in the initial case will likely remain much the same in the appeal. They believe the evidence points in one direction, even though the court ruled in another.

The appeals process is complex, and there are many rules to know, understand, and follow. This is why many firms do not handle corporate litigation appeals despite working in business law. There are generally two ways the appeals process works. Involved parties unhappy with the outcome can appeal as a matter of right or request a discretionary appeal. We handle both and will help you understand which one applies to your case.

What Is A Matter Of Right Appeal?

In some courts, either party has a limited time following the verdict to appeal as a matter of right. This means if the plaintiff or defendant wants to contest the decision, they have a right to ask the appellate court to review it. The higher court will put it on its docket and review the challenged aspects of the lower court’s decision.

There is no process through which the appellate court decides what it wants to hear. The appealing party does not need permission to proceed with the appeal after learning about their case’s initial outcome. They have a right to have the higher court evaluate the decision.

What Is A Discretionary Appeal?

Some appeals are discretionary. This means the appellate court does not have to hear every appeal filed. The party hoping to contest the decision must ask permission to proceed with the appeal. The appellate court has absolute discretion about which appeals it hears. Many people are familiar with this process because of the federal or state supreme court. They generally hear discretionary appeals only.

You must provide a specific concern about the way the court handled the case, such as:

  • How it ruled based on the facts and evidence provided
  • The procedures used or how the case proceeded

In general, appeals challenge how the lower court handled the case. Our team understands why and how to navigate the appeals process and take a decision before the appellate court. We will assess your case, discuss it with you, and explain your options based on what we learn. We often uncover mistakes made by lower courts that support challenging verdicts and awards.

The outcome of an appeal could include the appellate court affirming the lower court’s decision, sending the case back to the lower court for additional review, or deciding on its own to alter the verdict or award.

Where you will file your appeal depends greatly on who heard the initial trial. Corporate litigation generally goes before either state or federal courts. Appeals follow within the same system. A case heard in state court will go before a state appellate court, and a federal case will go to a federal circuit court.

For example, in Chicago, this could include:

  • The appropriate state appellate court based on the case facts; or
  • The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for federal appeals.

Our attorneys have extensive experience handling appeals on the state and federal levels. We know what to do, the steps required, and how to represent our clients’ best interests throughout their appeals. We have appeared in appeals in the state and federal system in Illinois and many other states including Florida, North Dakota,  New York , etc., 

At King & Jones, our lawyers are here to help when you need us. We file appeals for those who received an unfavorable outcome in their case, and we represent clients facing appeals following a verdict issued in their favor. We handle cases based on a wide range of business litigation matters, including both internal and external corporate litigation.

As noted, we have decades of experience filing, navigating, and fighting appeals.

We want you to know if you:

Received an unfavorable outcome in your civil case and wonder about your options for contesting it. Let us know. We can help.

Learned the other party is appealing based on the favorable outcome of your case. Call us. We will protect your rights.

No matter if you operate a multinational corporation or are a sole proprietor, our team can provide you with options for contesting the decision in your recent litigation. We can also share your options if the other party in your case plans to appeal the judge’s decision. We offer every client information, guidance, advice, and advocacy throughout their case, including appeals when necessary.

Your next steps will depend on your circumstances, the case’s facts, and even the court that decided it. Our team will explain these factors in a way you understand and ensure you understand your next steps. While not guaranteed, the following considerations could streamline the appeals process:

Promptly Filing Your Appeal

Generally, you will only have a few weeks—often 30 days—to appeal the court’s initial decision. You must act quickly to ensure you meet this deadline. Missing it would likely close the door on contesting the outcome. You also need to respond quickly when the other side files an appeal or requests that the appellate court hears the case. Our team is here to represent you during the process.

Partner With Lawyers Who Focus On Appeals

If you previously worked with a lawyer on your business litigation dispute, you may hesitate about partnering with another attorney. Anything regarding your business is a high-stakes matter—and you shouldn’t maintain a working relationship with your previous attorney if things didn’t work out.

On another note, never go through the appeals process without legal help. You might feel that you know courtroom proceedings and can convince the court to rule in your favor. In the long run, this could significantly complicate matters—and ultimately result in a poor outcome.

Our team stands ready to handle your appeal from beginning to end. Rather than face a long and arduous process alone, entrust us with your legal matters.

King & Jones offers initial consultations so you can learn more about your options after an unsatisfactory outcome in your case. We handle a wide range of corporate litigation and other civil cases. We will assess your case, determine the applicable laws, and explain the process if an appeal is possible. We handle appellate matters regularly.

Contact us today to learn more. Call (312) 372-4142. We are here to help you get a fair outcome in your case.