Brian H. Sanchez

Brian concentrates his practice on civil defense litigation and insurance coverage. He has extensive experience in the defense and trial of complex civil cases involving catastrophic personal injuries, construction law, product liability, and premises liability. He also has extensive experience representing clients in the analysis, litigation, and settlement of disputed coverage claims involving general liability coverage, commercial property insurance, auto insurance, directors and officers liability coverage, and bad faith.

Brian regularly appears in both state and federal courts to advocate on behalf of his clients, and he also has substantial experience in obtaining favorable results through mediation.

Highlights of Mr. Sanchez’s legal experience include the following:

• • Rodriguez v. The Mildred Antonacci 2016 Living Trust et al., 2024 IL App (3d) 230426-U. Won affirmance of the trial court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of a utility company in a slip and fall case, finding there was no evidence that made it probable that the utility company contributed to plaintiff’s injuries.
  • Swanigan et al. v. Cade et al., 2022 IL App (5th) 220192-U. Won affirmance of the trial court’s order dismissing plaintiffs’ putative class action complaint for legal malpractice against plaintiffs’ former lawyers, finding plaintiffs had failed to plead damages proximately caused by defendants’ alleged breach.
  • Central Illinois Compounding, Inc. v. Pharmacists Mutual Ins. Co., 2018 IL App (3d) 170809. Won affirmance of the trial court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of commercial property insurer, finding an exclusion for loss caused by water below the surface of the ground applied and the insurer did not act in bad faith in relying on the exclusion.
  • Barnai v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. et al., 2017 IL App (1st) 171940. Won reversal of the trial court’s order finding a settlement between the direct defendants and the plaintiff was in good faith. Also won reversal of the contribution judgment following jury trial against the employer.
  • Nat’l American Ins. Co. v. Harleysville Lake States Ins. Co., 622 Fed. Appx. 570 (7th Cir. 2015). Won affirmance of the District Court’s decision finding the auto exclusion of the client’s CGL policy excluded coverage for an $800,000 settlement entered into by the insured’s trucking insurer, and the mechanical device exclusion of the trucking insurer’s policy was inapplicable.
  • Powell v. American Service Ins. Co., 2014 IL App (1st) 123643. Won affirmance of the trial court’s decision dismissing plaintiff’s bad faith complaint on the basis that plaintiff failed to allege sufficient facts to show that liability against the insured was reasonably probable at the time the settlement demand was made.

In addition to his legal practice, Brian served the City of Chicago as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) since 2020 and now serves as Chairman of the ZBA following his appointment by Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot in January 2023. Brian also enjoys volunteering his time to local charitable organizations focusing on education and wellness.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• Chairman, Zoning Board of Appeals, City of Chicago
• Chicago Scholars, Board Member
• Economic Club of Chicago
• Executives’ Club of Chicago
• Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
• Defense Research Institute