Donald Patrick Eckler | Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered

Overview

Pat Eckler builds superior client relationships to address their litigation needs and applies his wide range of skills to aid in resolving disputes. Pat handles a variety of civil disputes in state and federal courts across Illinois and Indiana. His practice has evolved from primarily representing insurers in coverage disputes to managing complex litigation in which he represents professionals, businesses and tort defendants. His record of success includes numerous summary judgments, several successful trial results, and multiple favorable appellate results.

In addition to representing lawyers, Pat represents design professionals, accountants, and insurance brokers. His commercial litigation experience involves complex contract disputes and defense of class-action lawsuits. Pat’s coverage practice for insurers and the insured involves commercial general liability and personal lines policies, issues involving the duties to defend and indemnify, bad faith and the application of exclusions. His tort defense work involves representing spans the representations of product manufacturers and distributors, trucking concerns and premises owners. Drawing on his experience as a college basketball coach, Pat has also represented a coach before the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

Pat is active in the organized defense bar both at the state and national level. He is a committee chair, columnist and board member with both the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the Professional Liability Defense Federation. He focuses his recent work for the IDC on legislative activities, and he has spearheaded efforts to defeat or modify legislation that would harm civil defendants, insurers, and corporations and is working to defeat a proposed change to the Illinois Supreme Court Rules that would eliminate evidence depositions. He also advocates for legislation that would level the playing field in civil actions between plaintiffs and defendants.

Pat has published extensively in professional journals on a wide range of topics, including legal ethics, attorney-client privilege and Illinois and Federal civil procedure. He has also published on substantive areas of law ranging from products liability and toxic torts to premises liability and claims against accountants. Special attention in his writings has focused on issues related to completing settlements, including contending with Medicare Secondary Payer requirements and Illinois’ prompt payment statute, 735 ILCS 5/2-2301.

Pat studied ancient Egyptian language at the University of Chicago, where he earned his degree in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. After completing his undergraduate studies, he taught history and coached high school and college basketball for three years before attending law school at the University of Florida. In his final semester of law school, Pat served as a certified legal intern with the Public Defenders’ Office of the 8th Judicial Circuit, where he represented defendants in misdemeanor criminal cases.

Education

University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law, J.D. 2003
University of Chicago, A.B. 1998

Bar Admissions

Illinois
Indiana
Florida
United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois – Trial Bar
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Related Practices

Professional Experience

Professional Affiliations

Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- Board Member
- Chair, Legislative Committee
- Columnist Civil Procedure & Practice, IDC Quarterly
Professional Liability Defense Federation
- President (2020-present)
- President-Elect (2019-2020)
- Treasurer (2017-2019)
- Editor, Professional Liability Defense Quarterly (2016-2020)
- Professional Liability Defense Quarterly, Legal Columnist (2017-present)

Recognition and Awards

Illinois Defense Counsel Distinguished Member Award, 2020.
Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Meritorious Service Award, 2018
Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Volunteer of the Year Award, 2016
David C. Hilliard Award for Outstanding Committee Service, Chicago Bar Association, YLS Tort Litigation Committee, 2011—2012
Chicago Bar Association YLS Rising Star Award, 2011

Publications and Speeches

“Updates on venue, third-party litigation, and reptile tactics,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, November 18, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Illinois civil procedure oddities potpourri,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, Donald Patrick Eckler, November 11, 2020
“Expanded protection for defendants on rise in location of litigation,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, November 4, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Illinois Insurance Law: Year in Review,” Chicago Bar Association, Insurance Law Committee, November 4, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Logical fallacies have no place in legal argument,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, October 28, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“A blockbuster term ahead for Illinois Supreme Court,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, October 21, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Failure to mitigate can be useful tool in attacking damages,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, October 14, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“The Use of Technology at Trial,” North Central Region Trial Academy, October 8, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Staggered expert witness disclosures is necessary safeguard for defendants,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, October 7, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Judicial erosion of workers’ compensation’s exclusive remedy,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, September 30, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Third-party litigation funding arrangements should be disclosed,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, September 23, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Mandatory pre-trials won’t prove effective in expediting cases,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, September 16, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Personal Jurisdiction and the Internet: Four Recent Cases,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 30, No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Development of At Issue Exception to Attorney-Client Privilege,” PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 3, Alice Sherren and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“The law and rules should govern case management,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, September 9, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Required production of audit trails is judicial overreach,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, September 2, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Dispositive motions should only proceed after expert discovery,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, August 26, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Collateral source rule has to go,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, August 19, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Remote jury trials will create more problems than they solve,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, August 12, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“A modest proposal for civil cases in Cook County,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, August 5, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“ABA Model Rule 8.4(g) threatens lawyers’ free speech,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, July 29, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Citizens Participation Act should be reinvigorated,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, July 22, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Busting some myths in pursuit of a more just civil court system,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, July 15, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“An insured does not control its insurer,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, July 8, 2020, Patrick Cloud and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Need for reform highlighted in multidistrict litigation cases,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, July 1, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“An Uncomfortable Truth: Attacking Inflated Medical Specials,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 30, No. 2, Matthew Reddy and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“There Are Limits: The Extent of the Common Interest Exception to the Attorney-Client Privilege,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 30, No. 2, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Standing: The issue du jour,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, June 24, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Two recent CTA cases provide aid to premises owners,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, June 17, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler
“Should I Talk With You?: Potential Issues in Communicating with Brokers and Claims Advocates,” Watch Presentation. 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant, & Hospitality Conference, June 16, 2020, Kathleen Wyeth, bruce Bollman, Whitney Ross, and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Shrock v. Ungaretti & Harris, 2019 Il App (1st) 181698, Shaw v. Haas, 2019 IL App (5th) 180588, and Dixon v. GAA Classic Cars, LLC, 2019 IL App (1st) 182416,” IDC 2019 Survey of Law, Civil Practice Committee, pp. 11-12, Donald Patrick Eckler
“Proposal to amended Supreme Court Rule 212 needs revision,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, June 10, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Decision to bar reptile theory questions points to defense strategy,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, June 3, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Use of Federal Law in Defense of State Legal Malpractice Claims,” PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 2, Alice Sherren and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Time for a uniform HIPAA qualified protective order,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, May 27, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Supreme Court remote deposition rule should not be misinterpreted,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, May 22, 2020, Daniel B. Mills and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Who Says Social Media is Useless? A Year of Daily LinkedIn Post,” CBA Trial Practice Committee, May 20, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Workers’ comp system could be under threat with public act,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense, May 18, 2020, Edward J. Matushek III and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Is defense counsel conflicted when an insurer takes certain coverage positions?,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense Column, May 13, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Recent Decisions Underscore Significant Protections for Mental Health Records,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 30, No. 1, Kayla A. Condeni and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“A Final Nail in the Coffin?: The End of Dismissals Under Hudson v. City of Chicago,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 4, Alexander J. Beehler and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Justice requires a change to fault apportionment in Illinois,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense Column, April 29, 2020, David H. Levitt and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“State’s fault scheme evolution shows collision of law, politics,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense Column, May 6, 2020, David H. Levitt and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Gap in jury instructions highlighted by elimination of special interrogatories,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense Column, April 22, 2020, Adam Carter and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“We Are Settled, Right? Settling Claims of Minors, Disabled Persons, and the Deceased,” IDC Webinar, April 17, 2020, John P. Heil, Jr. and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Proposed state Supreme Court rule changes miss the mark,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense Column, April 15, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Is it time to nix Supreme Court Rule 23?”, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense Column, April 8, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Does the Petrillo doctrine override the right to counsel?”, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense Column, March 24, 2020, William McVisk and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Effort to end intrastate forum non conveniens is bad news,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, For the Defense Column, March 12, 2020, Donald Patrick Eckler.
Illinois and Indiana Legal and Accounting Case Summaries, PLDF Survey of Law – 2019, James J. Sipchen and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“I Don’t Have to Produce These, Do I?” PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 12., No. 1, Alice Sherren and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World: Adverse Domination and Legal Malpractice Claims,” PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 4, Alice Sherren and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“A Narrow Victory for Lawyers in Non-Judicial Foreclosures,” PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 2, Alice Sherren and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Didn’t See that Coming: Effective Assistance of Counsel in Plea Agreements,” PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 3, Alice Sherren and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Claims Issues Potpourri,” October 24, 2019, Donald Patrick Eckler, Paula Villela and Jonathan Federman.
“Turner on Illinois Mechanics Liens: Second Edition,” Illinois State Bar Association, co-author, Chapter V, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Two Birds, One Stone: Decision Addresses Standards for Good Faith Findings and Common Interest Exception,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler and Alexander J. Beehler.
“We Volunteered to What? Liability for Snow and Ice After Mickens v. CPS Chicago Parking, LLC,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 3, Matthew F. Tibble, Jonathan L. Federman, and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Another Chink in the Armor: The Illinois Supreme Court’s Sienna Court Decision Narrows the Applicability of Breach of Implied Warranty of Habitability Claims,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 2, James J. Sipchen, Donald Patrick Eckler, and Alexander J. Beehler.
“I’m Still Standing? Developments of Standing Doctrine in Illinois Consumer Protection Class Actions,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 2, Donald Patrick Eckler and Calvin Townsend.
“Spoliation: A Unique Claim,” IDC Defense Practice Series, April 18, 2019, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“What the Ethics Pros Say About Pro Se Litigants,” PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 1, Alice Sherren and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“More Good News for Accountants,”IDC Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 1, Donald Patrick Eckler
“Who Knew? Sole Means More than One,”IDC Quarterly, Vol. 28. No. 4, Paula Villela and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Getting Better Every Day: The Recent Amendment to FRE 902,”  IDC Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 3, Ashley Koda and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Unusual Names, Powerful Doctrines: Use of Rooker-Feldman and Res Judicata in Defendant Federal lawsuits Brought Against Attorneys Arising from Litigation in State Court,”  PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 10, No. 4, Alice Sherren, James J. Sipchen, and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Venue and Forum Non-Conveniens: Often Misunderstood and Misapplied,”  IDC Defense Practice Series, November 16, 2018, Donald Patrick Eckler. Youtube Video
“Supreme Court Rule 219(e) and Disclosure of Expert Witnesses as Trial,”  IDC Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 3, C. William Busse, Jr. and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Getting Better Every Day: The Recent Amendments to FRE 902” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 3, Ashley S. Koda and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Emerging and Expanding Lawyers Professional Risks … Are we Prepared?”  PLDF Annual Meeting, October 4, 2018, Jody Harris, Dan West, and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Tripartite Relationship Minefield: Lack of Cooperation Disclosure,”  PLDF Quarterly, Volume 10, Issue 2, Alice Sherren and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“The Supreme Law of the Lane: Recent E-Filing Drama Implicates the First Amendment in Civil Litigation” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 2, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“At Last: The Illinois Appellate Court Formally Recognizes the Common Interest Exception to the Waiver of Privilege Rule” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 2, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Proactive Cyber Liability Protections,”  PLDF Quarterly, Volume 10, Issue 2, Alice Sherren, Jody Harris, and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Defending Implied Warranty of Habitability Cases in the Wake of Recent Decisions,“ CLM Chicago Chapter, May 31, 2018, Norman Golinkin and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Are Lawyers People Too? ABA’s New Advertising Rule Proposal,” PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 10, Issue 1, Alice M. Sherren and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“No Petrillo Violation for Meeting by Hospital Defense Counsel with Retired Nurse,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 1, Donald Patrick Eckler and Howard J. Pikel.
“The Saga Continues The Further Development of Claims and Insurance Coverage in Construction Defect Cases,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 28, No. 1, Donald Patrick Eckler and Jonathan Federman.
‘Did I Do That?’Recent Blunders Teach the Rules,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 4, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Law Firm Mergers: Ethics/Insurance Coverage Consideration”, PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 9, Issue 5, Alice Sherren, Jody Harris, and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Construction Defect Insurance Coverage and Implied Warranties Following Westfield Ins. Co. v. National Decorating Service and Other Recent Opinions,” CBA Real Property Law – Construction Law & Mechanics Lien Subcommittee, November 6, 2017, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Trends in Bad Faith Claims in Professional Malpractice,”, PLDF Annual Meeting, September 29, 2017, Michael Handler, Tim Fletcher, Brian Anderson, and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“The Seen and the Unseen: Growing Distinctions in Application Statute of Limitations to Broker E&O Claims,”, IDC Civil Practice Newsletter, Vol. 18, No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Revised ABA Model Rule 8.4(g): Anti-Discrimination Rule or Unconstitutional Speech Code”, PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 9, Issue 3, Alice Sherren, Jody Harris, and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: The Northern District of Illinois’’Mandatory Initial Discovery Pilot Program,”, IDC Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler and Michael P. Sever.
“When “Reasonable” is Unreasonable: ALI’s Proposed Final Draft of the Restatement of Law Liability Insurance,”, IDC Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 3, R. Mark Mifflin and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Seventh Circuit Expands Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to Include Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation in Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana,”, IDC Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler and Mary H. Cronin.
“Social Media Admissions in Insurance Litigation”, Strafford Publishing Webinar, June 7, 2017, Donald Patrick Eckler and D. Carolina Lopez.
“Late to the Party: The Rapid Development of Electronic Discovery Law in Illinois”, IDC Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 2, Donald Patrick Eckler and Howard Pikel.
“Privilege Update: Attorneys”Bills/Internet Transmission”, PLDF Quarterly, No. 9, Issue 2, Donald Patrick Eckler and Alice Sherren.
“Defending Professionals When Sued by Bankrupt Entities”, PLDF Quarterly, No. 9, Issue 2, Donald Patrick Eckler and Jennifer Berard.
“Wrongful Death Claims and Survival Actions: Pursuing or Defending Claims”, Strafford Publishing Webinar, April 26, 2017, Donald Patrick Eckler and Daniel Gilleon.
“An Outside Bet: Reduction in the Amount of Recovery in Medical Malpractice Cases”, IDC Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 1, Donald Patrick Eckler and Matt Reddy.
“The Times They are a-Changin’: Snow and Ice Cases following Murphy-Hylton and the Snow Removal Service Liability Limitation Act”, IDC Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 1, Donald Patrick Eckler and Edward K. Grasse.
“Tribe’s Trump Tweet: A-C Privilege and Confidentiality,”, PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 8, Issue 4, Donald Patrick Eckler and Alice Sherren.
“Legal Malpractice Claim Dismissed Under Six-Year Statute of Repose Where Plaintiffs Alleged Negligent Legal Advice in Underlying Breach of Contract Lawsuit”, IDC Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 4, Donald Patrick Eckler and Howard J. Pikel.
“Against the Wind: Practical and Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law”, IDC Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 4, Donald Patrick Eckler and Ashley S. Koda.
“You’ve Been Served: Attorneys Ethical Obligation in Responding to Subpoena”, PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler and Alice Sherren.
“Attorney Immunity Defense: The Second Punch in Legal Malpractice Defense”, PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler and Jennifer Berard.
“Handling Claims Against Accounting Firms Where There Has Been a Combination”, Professional Liability Defense Federation Annual Conference, Martin Terpstra, Ken Wigboldy, Glen Olson, and Donald Patrick Eckler, September 29, 2016.
“New World Order” The Practical and Ethical Challenges of Social Media Discovery”, IDC Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler and Sommer Luzynczyk.
“Attorney Immunity Doctrine: The Second Punch in Legal Malpractice Defense”Jennifer Berard and Donald Patrick Eckler, PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 8, Issue 2.
“You’ve Been Served: Attorney’s Ethical Obligation Responding to Subpoena” Donald Patrick Eckler and Alice Sherren, Vol. 8, Issue 3.
“Judgment Immunity: The First Punch in Legal Malpractice Defense,” Jennifer Berard and Donald Patrick Eckler, PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 8, Issue 2.
“Engagement Letters: A Lawyer’s Best Friend,” Alice Sherren and Donald Patrick Eckler, PLDF Quarterly, Vol. 8, Issue 2.
“Bowman v. Olney,” and “Storino, Ramello, & Durkin v. Rackow,” Donald Patrick Eckler, 2015 IDC Survey of Law.
“A Tale of Two Cases: The Continued Development of Claims of Spoliation,”  Scott L. Howie and Donald Patrick Eckler, Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered, May 23, 2016.
“Dragged Into the Future: Modernizing the Legal Profession through E-Filing,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 2, Donald Patrick Eckler and Matt Reddy.
“Just When You Thought You Knew Who You Represented: A New Decision May Upset the Law Regarding Attorney Liability to Third Parties,” DC Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 2, Donald Patrick Eckler, Matt Tibble, and Adam Carter.
“It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over: Under Illinois Law Finality is Not So Final,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 1, Donald Patrick Eckler and Quinn Donnelly.
“An Equal and Opposite Reaction: The Expanding Application of the Absolute Attorney Litigation Privilege,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 4, Donald Patrick Eckler and Matt Reddy.
“Accounting Claims Update: Recent Cases,”  Professional Liability Defense Federation Annual Conference, October 1, 2015.
“To Whom A Duty Is Owed,” Professional Liability Defense Quarterly, Vol. 7 No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler and Bridget Choi.
“Restricting and Redefining Professional Privilege and Duties in Illinois,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 25 No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler and Kelly Kono.
“Carrying the Burden of Proving a Claim of Discrimination Under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act following the Supreme Court’s Decision in Young v. UPS,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 25 No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler and Mary Cronin.
“You Better Pay Up: Illinois’ Prompt Pay Statute,”  CCMSI, August 6, 2015.
“Best Laid Plans: The Continued Uncertainty in the Admissibility of Medical Bills“, IDC Quarterly, Donald Patrick Eckler and Matt Reddy, Volume 25, No. 2.
“Secrets Can Cost You: LPL Coverage and Innocent Insureds,” Professional Liability Defense Federation Quarterly, Vol. 7, No. 2, Kelly Geary, Brad Barkin, and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“The Overlooked Privilege: Accountant-Client,” Professional Liability Defense Federation Quarterly, Vol. 7, No. 2, Martin Terpstra and Donald Patrick Eckler.
Case Law Update, ABA Spring 2015 National Legal Malpractice Conference, Mandie Landry, Robert Rolfe, Natalie Vance, and Donald Patrick Eckler, April 9, 2015.
“Attorney-Client Privilege’s Continued Expansion,” IDC Quarterly, Volume 25, No. 1, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“SO MANY DUTIES, SO LITTLE TIME: The Fiduciary Duty Exception to the Attorney-client Privilege, Supervision of Non-Attorneys, and Supervision of Junior Attorneys,” Robert Marc Chemers, Matt Egan, and Donald Patrick Eckler, Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered, March 10, 2015.
“A New Potential Minefield for Defense Counsel in Settling Wrongful Death Cases,” IDC Quarterly, Civil Practice, and Procedure Column, Volume 24, Number 4, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Attorney-Client Privilege: Communicating with the Law Firm’s In-House Counsel,” Professional Liability Defense Quarterly, Volume 6, Issue 4.
“Attorney-Client Privilege in Malpractice Claims,” IDC Quarterly, Volume 24, Issue 3, Donald Patrick Eckler and Matt Tibble.
A Whole New World of Settling Cases: Part 2, Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered, December 23, 2013, Donald Patrick Eckler.
You Got to Have (Good) Faith: Handling Claims in Illinois Without Committing Bad Faith, American Alliance Casualty Company, October 3, 2013, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Powell v. Dean Foods. 2012 IL 111714,” “Garvy v. Seyfarth & Shaw, 2012 IL App (1st) 110115,” “MDA Apartments v. DLA Piper, LLP, 2012 IL App (1st) 111047,” “Lambert v. Coonrod, 2012 IL App (4th) 110518,” “Johnson v. Bailey, 967 N.E.2d 961 (2012), “VC&M, Ltd. v. Andrews, 2012 IL App (2d) 110523.” “Dus v. Provena St. Mary’s Hospital, 2012 IL App (3d) 091064,” “Van der Hooning v. Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, 2012 IL App (1st) 111531,” “Allen v. Peoria Park District, 2012 IL App (3d) 110197,” “Cardenas Marketing Network, Inc. v. Pabon, 2012 IL App (1st) 111645,” “Mabry v. Boler, 2012 IL App (1st) 111464,” “Bonhomme v. St. James, 945 N.E.2d 1181 (2011),” “Colburn v. Marion Tricoci Hair Salons & Day Spas, Inc., 2012 IL App (2d) 110624,” “The Law Offices of Nye & Associates v. Boado, 2012 IL App (2d) 110804,” “Cincinnati Insurance Company v. Chapman, 2012 IL App (1st) 111792,” Fleming v. Moswin, 2012 IL App (1st) 103475,” and “Mann v. Thomas Place, LP, 2012 IL App (1st) 110625,” Civil Practice, 2012 Survey of Law, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, p. 15-22, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“A Re-Sharpened Tool in the Shed: The Value of Judicial Estoppel,”  IDC Quarterly, Vo. 23, No. 2, Starr Rayford and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Illinois Court Finds Duty to Beneficiary of Estate of Deceased in Wrongful Death Action” The Estate of Perry C. Powell v. John C. Wunsch, P.C., et. al., 2013 Ill. App. (1st) 121854, ABA Lawyers’ Professional Liability eAdvisory, April 2013, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“As Clear as Mud: The Limitations Periods Applicable to Attorneys under 735 ILCS 5/13-214.3 in Estate Planning Situations.” IDC Quarterly, Volume 23, Number 1, Donald Patrick Eckler and Matthew F. Tibble.
“Opacity as an Artform: The Limitations Periods in Estate Planning Situations,” Chicago Bar Association Civil Practice Committee, March 12, 2013, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Burning Down the House: Defending Under an Eroding Limits Policy’, Professional Liability Defense Quarterly, Vol 5, Issue 1, February 2013 James J. Sipchen and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“The Forest and the Trees: Steps for Claims Handlers to Identify Coverage Position”, American Alliance Casualty Company, January 31, 2013, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Illinois Court Finds Fraud Not Covered, Only Negligent Conduct,” Illinois State Bar Association Mutual Insurance Company v. Cavenagh, 2012 Ill. App. (1st) 111810, ABA Lawyers’ Professional Liability eAdvisory, January 2013, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Illinois Court Finds Voluntary Payments Provision Violative of Public Policy,” Illinois State Bar Association Mutual Insurance Company v. Frank M. Greenfield and Associates, P.C., 2012 Ill. App. (1st) 110337, ABA Lawyers’ Professional Liability eAdvisory, December 2012, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Revised Rule 243,” IDC Defense Update, Civil Practice & Procedure, October 2012, Vol. 13, No. 4, Donald Patrick Eckler and John O’Malley.
“Coming to a Legal Malpractice Case Near You? The Fiduciary Duty Exception to the Attorney-Client Privilege,” Professional Liability Defense Federation Annual Conference, September 27, 2012.
“A Bad Moon on the Rise? The Development of Liability for Secondary Exposure to Asbestos,” , IDC Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 3, Donald Patrick Eckler and Paul Ruscheinski.
“The Art of the Investigation: The Impact of a Facility’s Investigation on Future Litigation,” Illinois Nursing Home Administrators’ Association, June 5, 2012, Matt Tibble and Donald Patrick Eckler. 
“The Continuing Viability of Illinois’ Legitimate Business Interest Test: A Deeper Look into Reliable Fire Equipment Company v. Arredondo,” IDC Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 2, James J. Sipchen, Jimmy Gillingham, and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Developments of Liability for Secondary Asbestos Exposure,” CBA YLS Tort Litigation Committee, May 24, 2012, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Walking Down the Street: The Federal Courts Jurisdiction and Venue Clarification Act,” Chicago Bar Association, Civil Practice Committee, April 10, 2012, Donald Patrick Eckler
“Unterreiner v. Pernikoff,” “Stone v. Paddock Publications, Inc.,” “Mitsias v. I-Flow Corporation,” “Country Preferred Insurance v. Whitehead,” “McMackin v. Weberpal Roofing, Inc.” and “Scales v. Benne,” Civil Practice, 2011 Survey of Law, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, p. 12, 15-16, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“What You Do Not Know Can Still Hurt You: The Statute of Limitations and the Discovery Rule are Extended to Encompass Unknown Causes of Injury,” IDC Defense Update, Civil Practice & Procedure, March 2012, Vol. 13, No. 1, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Limiting Liabilities: The Jablonski Decision and the Continued Development of Products Liability Law,” CBA Record, January 2012, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: The Cooperation Clause, The Tripartite Relationship, and Medicare Secondary Payer Requirements,” American Alliance Casualty Company, Jan. 18, 2012, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Something Wicked This Way Comes The Tripartite Relationship and Conflicts in the Defense of Insured Defendants,” Resolute Management, Inc., Midwest Division, Dec. 7, 2011, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“A Long Hot Summer: Recent Developments in Illinois Product Liability Law,” Chicago Bar Association, CBA YLS Tort Litigation Committee, Nov. 18, 2011, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Recent Developments in Medicare Secondary Payer Requirements,” Chicago Bar Association, CBA YLS Tort Litigation Committee, Oct. 5, 2011, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Arbitration May Not Be All That it is Cracked Up to Be: Issues to Consider in Choosing Whether to Arbitrate,” Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Business@Work Newsletter, Sept. 2011.
“Second Verse Same as the First, A Little Bit Louder and Little Bit Worse: Recent Developments in the Medicare Secondary Payer Requirements,” Resolute Management Inc., Midwest Division, July 29, 2011, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“SLAPP Back: The Citizens Participation Act as a Robust Defense to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation,” Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Business@Work Newsletter, June 2011, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“SLAPP Back: The Citizens Participation Act as a Robust Defense to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation,” Chicago Bar Association, Civil Practice Committee, June 14, 2011, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Thinking of Filing a Defamation Lawsuit? The Citizens Participation Act May Make You Think Twice,”CBA Record, May 2011, James J. Sipchen, Donald Patrick Eckler, and Thomas V.P. Draths.
“Recent Developments in the Citizens Participation Act,” Chicago Bar Association, CBA YLS Tort Litigation Committee, April 28, 2011, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Issues and Techniques in Early Case Preparation: Defense Perspective,” Chicago Bar Association, CBA YLS Tort Litigation Committee, Oct. 6, 2010, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Illinois Attorney-Client Privilege: Joint Defense Agreements and Control Group,” Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered, June 25, 2010, James J. Sicphen, Paul J. Stroka, and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Current Trends in Mortgage Broker Liability,” Illinois Mortgage Broker Association, May 12, 2010, Matthew F. Tibble and Donald Patrick Eckler.
“A Whole New World of Settling Cases: Medical Liens and Medicare Secondary Payer Requirements,” Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered, Feb. 23, 2010, Donald Patrick Eckler.
“Rules for Review for Litigation Practice,” Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered, June 8, 2009, Donald Patrick Eckler.

News

Eckler named president of Professional Liability Defense Federation

Pretzel & Stouffer partner Donald Eckler was installed as president of the Professional Liability Defense Federation, a national organization of lawyers and claims professional who handle the defense of professional liability matters.

October 2020 | Firm News

Luzynczyk, Henry, and Eckler speak at Trial Academy

Sommer Luzynczyk, Brian Henry, and Donald Eckler served as faculty members and speakers at the 2020 North Central Region Trial Academy and Virtual Trial Tactics sponsored by the Illinois Defense Counsel, Wisconsin Defense Counsel, and Defense Trial Counsel Of Indiana. The biennial program is designed to give attorneys with limited trial experience an opportunity to obtain intensive practice experience in ...

October 2020 | Firm News

Eckler Publishes First Article for his Column in The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin

Partner, Donald Eckler publishes, “Effort to End Intrastate Forum Non Conveniens is Bad News,” for the March 12, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, edition. Donald will be publishing regularly for his column, For the Defense.

March 2020 | Firm News

Everybody Wants to Rule the World: Adverse Domination and Legal Malpractice Claims

Pretzel & Stouffer partner, Donald Eckler, together with Alice Sherren published an article in the Professional Liability Defense Quarterly entitled “Everybody Wants to Rule the World: Adverse Domination and Legal Malpractice Claims.” The article discusses the adverse domination theory as an exception to the statute of limitations in relation to legal malpractice claims and, ...

January 2020 | Firm News

Domination Theory As An Exception to Statute of Limitations Explained

Pretzel & Stouffer partner, Donald Eckler, together with Alice Sherren published an article in the Professional Liability Defense Quarterly entitled “Everybody Wants to Rule the World: Adverse Domination and Legal Malpractice Claims.” See the article below. The article discusses the adverse domination theory as an exception to the statute of limitations in relation to ...

January 2020 | Firm News

Results

Pretzel & Stouffer Attorneys Obtain Two Summary Judgments in One Day for Insurers

Two motions for summary judgment granted for two clients in two counties on one day. Donald Eckler, Matthew Ligda, and Jonathan Federman obtained summary judgment for two insurers on a claim of bad faith in one case and an alleged violation of the Consumer Fraud Act in another. The bad faith case arose out of ...

July 2019

Education

University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law, J.D. 2003
University of Chicago, A.B. 1998

Bar Admissions

Illinois
Indiana
Florida
United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois – Trial Bar
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana