Robert L. JackstadtFirm attorney Robert L. Jackstadt successfully completed a four day jury trial in Madison County, Illinois and obtained a Defendant’s verdict on a personal injury lawsuit. The suit filed against a Madison County public school district was based on a claim that the School District failed to provide proper supervision on the campus during a passing period at the high school.
In the lawsuit, the Plaintiff had suffered a broken jaw when another student punched him during the passing period in November 2004. Apparently, the other student was upset that the plaintiff was talking to his former girlfriend. The Plaintiff alleged that the School District was guilty of willful and wanton conduct in failing to assign a teacher or administrator to the area where the incident happened, and in failing to have security cameras in the area where the incident took place. The plaintiff further claimed that the School District’s willful and wanton conduct was a proximate cause of his injuries. The Plaintiff asked the jury to award him $148,776.37. The School District had previously filed motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment based on the Illinois Tort Immunity Act, but the trial court denied those motions and allowed the case to proceed to trial. After deliberating two hours, the jury found in favor of the School District on Thursday, August 14, 2008.
Robert L. Jackstadt is a founding Shareholder of the Firm of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. Prior to founding the Firm, Rob was a partner at Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin in its St. Louis office. Rob serves on the Firm’s Management Committee. Rob is a former member of the Edwardsville School Board, a former trustee and planning commission member for the Village of Glen Carbon and is currently the Mayor of the Village of Glen Carbon- a part time position.
Rob practices in the areas of commercial, construction and education litigation. Rob has tried to a conclusion many jury and non-jury cases in federal and state courts located in Illinois and Missouri. Rob’s trial experience includes litigation involving tax increment financing (“TIF”) districts, equipment leases, condemnation, construction, performance and payment bonds, non-competition agreements, securities and mechanic’s liens. Rob has negotiated many construction contracts, including architect agreements, construction manager agreements, and general contractor agreements.
Tueth Keeney is proud to be one of the state’s largest Illinois education law practices. The firm has one of the most experienced groups of attorneys in Central and Southern Illinois dedicated to serving public schools. We regularly represent nearly 150 public school districts, including many districts in Central and Southern Illinois. Our Firm is also regularly appointed by insurers of educational institutions to represent districts in complex or difficult cases involving school or civil rights laws.