Biography
Joshua L. Weisberg is a full time trial lawyer and a Shareholder at Rapoport Weisberg & Sims P.C. Throughout Mr. Weisberg’s career, his practice has been dedicated exclusively to representing victims and their families in personal injury and wrongful death cases including lawsuits arising out of medical malpractice, semi truck and motor vehicle accidents, work injury and construction accidents, aviation accidents, and product liability. Mr. Weisberg has chosen to dedicate his career solely to representing those harmed by the negligence of others in order to help obtain justice for those who have been wronged, and to help make the community safer by enforcing public safety standards.
Mr. Weisberg has recovered over $100 million for his clients through verdicts and settlements. Some of Mr. Weisberg’s recoveries include:
- $13,250,000 verdict involving a 60 year old woman who suffered a stroke during a medical procedure in Eau Claire, Wisconsin;
- $4,800,000 verdict as lead trial attorney in a medical malpractice case involving the death of a patient after surgery due to a blood clot in Cook County, Illinois;
- $4,300,000 verdict in a medical malpractice wrongful death case involving a woman who bled to death in the recovery room after surgery setting a record in DeKalb County, Illinois;
- $4,300,000 settlement in case involving a factory accident resulting in disabling hand injury;
- $4,160,000 verdict as lead trial attorney for a 26 year old man who sustained a fractured femur in a fall, setting a record in the State of Illinois for a fractured femur as well as a record for personal injury of a single plaintiff in DuPage County, Illinois;
- $4,035,000 settlement as lead attorney in medical malpractice case involving a post-operative blood clot resulting in wrongful death;
- $4,000,000 verdict as lead trial attorney in medical malpractice wrongful death involving failure to diagnose and treat a spinal fluid leak after a medical procedure in Winnebago County, Illinois;
- $4,000,000 settlement as lead attorney in personal injury case involving a woman who sustained complex regional pain syndrome due to an industrial accident;
- $3,750,000 settlement as lead attorney in medical malpractice wrongful death case involving failure to diagnose and treat diabetic ketoacidosis;
- $3,650,000 as lead attorney in medical malpractice case involving failure to properly diagnose and treat melanoma resulting in death;
- $3,200,000 settlement involving a mechanic who sustained serious injuries after slipping and falling on ice;
- $3,000,000 settlement as lead attorney in medical malpractice wrongful death case involving failure to properly diagnose and treat a stroke in Champaign County, Illinois;
- $2,500,000 settlement as lead attorney in product liability case involving injuries due to lack of adequate warnings for an above ground pool;
- $2,500,000 settlement as lead attorney involving wrongful death due to failure to properly diagnose and treat a post-operative wound hematoma in St. Clair County, Illinois;
- $2,250,000 verdict in wrongful death of 76 year old who died after being rear-ended by a US Mail Carrier’s vehicle;
- $2,000,000 verdict as co-lead trial attorney for factory worker who suffered disabling hand injury in factory accident;
- $2,000,000 settlement for worker injured in slip and fall accident in Winnebago County, Illinois;
- $2,000,000 verdict in wrongful death product liability case due to defective steering control of a Sea-Doo personal watercraft;
- $1,950,000 settlement as lead attorney in medical malpractice case involving an injury during an endoscopy resulting in severe injuries;
- $1,942,00 verdict in case involving serious injuries from a motor vehicle accident involving a semi-truck in Adams County, Wisconsin;
- $1,875,000 settlement as lead attorney in medical malpractice case involving serious injuries resulting from a cholecystectomy;
- $1,850,000 settlement as lead attorney in medical malpractice case involving serious injuries resulting from a hysterectomy;
- $1,800,000 settlement as lead attorney in medical malpractice case involving failure to properly diagnose and treat a blood clot resulting in death;
- $1,745,000 settlement as lead attorney in motor vehicle accident case involving serious injuries;
- $1,725,000 settlement in medical malpractice wrongful death case involving failure to properly treat strep throat infection which led to sepsis in Cook County, Illinois.
Mr. Weisberg is one of only 9 attorneys in the State of Illinois that has achieved Board Certification in Civil Trial Advocacy from the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA).* Board Certification is the highest, most stringent, and most reliable honor an attorney can achieve. The elaborate screening of credentials that NBTA board certified attorneys must successfully complete includes: demonstration of substantial trial experience, submission of judicial and peer references to attest to their competency, attendance of continuing legal education courses, submission of legal writing documents, proof of good standing and passing of an examination.
Mr. Weisberg’s accomplishments have also been recognized by Thomson Reuters which has selected him as a “Super Lawyer” in every edition of Illinois Super Lawyers since 2014. Mr. Weisberg has received a perfect 10.0 Superb Rating from Avvo. The National Trial Lawyers has named Mr. Weisberg a Top 100 Lawyer, and prior to turning 40 years old he was also named one of Illinois’ Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers. Mr. Weisberg has also been selected to America’s Top 100 Attorneys. The Law Bulletin has also recognized Mr. Weisberg as an Emerging Lawyer based on peer recommendations and comprehensive research, a distinction earned by fewer than two percent of all lawyers in Illinois.
Mr. Weisberg has also had tremendous success in the state and federal appellate courts. In addition to successfully representing the rights of his individual clients, in Bausch v Stryker Corp., Mr. Weisberg briefed, argued, and won a major landmark decision on behalf of victims of defective medical devices in the United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. The case was featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
Mr. Weisberg has also authored numerous publications and given presentations at seminars on topics relating to personal injury and wrongful death litigation.
Mr. Weisberg graduated from the University Of Illinois College Of Law, Magna Cum Laude. Prior to graduating, the College of Law awarded Mr. Weisberg the prestigious Rickert Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy. He was also named “Best Overall” in the College of Law’s Frederick Green Moot Court Competition, and he was a regional champion and national finalist in the National Moot Court Competition.
Mr. Weisberg currently serves as a Member of the Advisory Board for the University of Illinois College of Law Chicago Program.
* Board certification is not required to practice law in Illinois, and the Illinois Supreme Court does not recognize specialties in the practice of law.
Education
- University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois
- J.D. – 2005
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- B.A. – 2002
Classes/Seminars
- Plaintiff’s Personal Injury from Start to Finish, National Business Institute, March 20, 2014
- Managing Liens and Subrogation in Auto Accident Litigation, National Business Institute, May 22, 2013
Professional Associations
- Illinois Trial Lawyer Association
- American Association for Justice
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Jewish United Fund, Former Chair of Young Lawyers Group
- The Decalogue Society of Lawyers
- The Chancellor’s List
- National Society of Collegiate Scholars
- Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
Current Employment Positions
- Shareholder/Partner
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 2005
- U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 2006
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 2006
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois, 2006
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar, 2009
Honors
- Illinois Super Lawyer rating by Thomson-Reuters’ Illinois Super Lawyers, 2014 – Present
- Illinois Rising Star rating by Thomson-Reuters’ Illinois Super Lawyers, 2011 – 2013
- “10-Superb” rating by Avvo
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyer
- National Trial Lawyers Illinois’ Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers
- America’s Top 100 Attorneys
Published Works
- “Small Talk in the Cockpit is a Big Problem Requiring More Than Just Lip Service”, CCH INCORPORATED, 2007
- “Wrongful Death and Survival Actions in Illinois: Trial and Evidentiary Considerations in Wrongful Death Actions. (chapter 6)”, IICLE – Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2007
- Bausch v. Stryker Corp.: A Major Victory for Plaintiffs in Medical Device Cases, Trial Journal of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Summer, 2011
- Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Compensatory Damages in Illinois, Benchmark Plaintiff, The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Plaintiff Firms & Attorneys, 2011
