James E. DeFranco, Attorney

Born Chicago, Illinois, October 31, 1956. Education, Illinois State University (B.S., 1977); Education: Southern Illinois University (J.D., Magna Cum Laude, 1981). Admitted to Illinois Bar, 1981. Admitted to Missouri Bar, 1983. Order of Barristers. Recipient American Jurisprudence Awards. Law Clerk to Chief Justice Joseph H. Goldenhersh, Illinois Supreme Court (1981-1983).

Trial and appellate lawyer in Illinois and Missouri concentrating in personal injury defense, property damage claims, premises liability, construction liability, engineering malpractice and wrongful discharge cases.

Jim DeFranco has tried over 80 jury trials in the state and federal courts of Illinois and Missouri and is an Advocate with the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Books:

Chapter: Opening Statements, Trial Tactics Defense Litigation Manual, (DRI 2006);

Examinations Under Oath ,   (Norcom Publications 2003)

Published Articles:

The Insurance Angle, The Investigator, I.A.A.I. Illinois Chapter News, Fall 2006, pg 9.

Selecting the Story to Tell the Jury, Trials and Tribulations, DRI Trial Tactics Committee, Spring 2006, pg 1.

Using Polygraph Results to Decide Good Faith Denial of Coverage Cases, 91 Illinois Bar Journal 26 (Jan. 2003)

The Burden of Proof in Arson Cases, 11 IDC Quarterly 6 (2001)

The Trial Court's Discretion to Exclude Evidence of Convictions for Crimes Involving False Statement in Civil Cases, 5 IDC Quarterly 36 (1995)

Co-Author: Intentional Interference with Contractual Relations: The Viability of the Tort in the Employment Context in the Wake of Dake v. Tuell, 32 St. Louis Bar Journal, pg. 16 (1986)

Modifications of the Employment at Will Doctrine: Balancing Judicial Development of the Common Law with the Legislative Prerogative to Determine Public Policy, 30 St. Louis U.L.J. 65 (1985)

Co-Author: Retaliatory Discharge: Its Applicability to Employees Protected by a Just Cause Provision, 72 Illinois Bar Journal (1984)

Co-Author: A Comparison of the Non-Substantive Provisions of the UNCITRAL Convention on the International Sale of Goods and the Uniform Commercial Code, 23 Harvard International Law Journal 49 (1982)

Towards an Implied Warranty of Habitability in Sales of New and Used Homes in Illinois That is Consistent with the Underlying Reasons which Gave Rise to that Warranty, 4 Illinois Fund Concept 32 (1980)

Presentations:

2004:  Examinations Under Oath, August F. Mazzone Fire Investigation Conference, International Association of Arson Investigators

2003: Opening and Closing Statements, Rookie Seminar, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel

2002: Admissibility of Reconstruction Evidence, Fall Seminar, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel

1994: Evidence Update, Fall Seminar, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel

Associations:

American Board of Trial Advocates

Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

Defense Research Institute

Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel

Illinois State Bar Association

International Association of Arson Investigators

The Missouri Bar Association

Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers

St. Clair County Bar Association

Madison County Bar Association