Biography
Mr. Leynaud has been advocating the rights of the injured and representing families in the Illinois Valley and surrounding counties for more than 37 years. He practices in personal injury; wrongful death; mediation; uninsured and underinsured motorists; workers' compensation; criminal felony; DUI; traffic; real estate; business litigation; insurance; and medical malpractice.
Mr. Leynaud has served twice as the chair of the ISBA Insurance Law Section Council and the chair of the Tort Section Council. He is a frequent speaker and published author of numerous CLE programs and publications pertaining to personal injury trial practice and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Education
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan
- J.D. - 1983
- Marquette University; Bradley University
- B.S., Administration of Criminal Justice - 1980
Classes & Seminars
- "Housing Law", Illinois Association of Housing Authorities
- Coordinator, Moderator, Lecturer: "Back to Basics: Tort Law," "Distribution/Settlement" , ISBA Law Ed Series, January 2010
- "Law of Experts" Expert Witnesses - A Primer, ISBA Law Ed Series, October 2008
- "Uninsured and Underinsured" Tort Law Nuts and Bolts, ISBA Law Ed Series, February, 2008
- Coordinator, Moderator, and Lecturer: "The Necessary Basics, Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage," "Arbitration of Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims", ISBA Law Ed Series, June 2007
- Coordinator, Moderator, and Lecturer: "Tort Law, Back to the Basics" , ISBA Law Ed Series, February 2007
- Coordinator and Moderator: "Insurance Law: Everything You Want to Know and Should Ask", ISBA Law Ed Series, October and November 2006
- "Hot Topics in Tort" and "Insurance Coverage Issues", ISBA Law Ed Series, May 2006
- "Anatomy of an Automobile Case" and "Defense of Complicity" , ISBA Law Ed Series, May 2004
- "Void Provisions of Insurance Policies" , ISBA Law Ed Series, June 2003
References
- Midland Bank, Peru
- Peru Federal Savings and Loan
- First State Bank, Peru
Published Works
- Criminal Justice Newsletter of the ISBA, Vol. 52, No. 5, Case Summaries , May, 2009
- Understanding Uninsured Motorist Coverage, ISBA Journal, Vol. 97, No. 3, March, 2009
- So You Want To Be A Personal Injury Lawyer?, ISBA Journal, Vol. 96, No. 10, October, 2008
- Duty to Defend- No Separate Bodily Injury, The Policy, Illinois State Bar Association, Vol. 50, No. 4 , May, 2006
- Is an Excluded Driver Really Excluded?, Tort Trends, Illinois State Bar Association, Vol. 38, No. 2, December , 2002
Fraternities Or Sororities
- Theta Xi
Professional Associations
- Illinois State Bar Association , Capital Counsel Team, Grass Roots Lobbying, Mentor Program
- Illinois State Bar Association - Insurance Law Section, Secretary (2004-2005), Chair, Section Council (2005-2006), (2015-2016), Ex-Officio (2006-2007), (2016-2017)
- Illinois State Bar Association - Tort Law Section, Secretary (2007-2008), Vice-Chair (2008-2009), Chair (2009-2010), Current Member
- 13th Judicial Circuit, Assembly (2001-2007), Election Committee (2004)
- American Bar Association
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
- Illinois Bar Foundation, Silver Fellow
- LaSalle County, Secretary-Treasurer (1984-1986), President-Elect (1986-1987), President (1987-1988), Secretary (1995)
- District 120, LaSalle-Peru Township High School, Vice President, Board of Education (1995-1997)
Certified Legal Specialties
Current Employment Position
- Managing Partner
Practice Areas
- Wrongful Death
- Personal Injury
- Premises Liability
- Worker's Compensation
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists
- Medical Malpractice
- Insurance
- Criminal Felony
- DUI
- Traffic
- Business Litigation
- Real Estate
- Zoning Law
- Land Use
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1983
- U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 1983
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1983
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1987
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar, 1983
Honors
- Super Lawyers
- Who's Who in American Law, 1991
- America's Leading Lawyers, 1993
- Chicago Lawyer, October 2009, "Top Lawyers in Illinois- Personal Injury Plaintiff Lawyers"
- Chicago Lawyer, October 2009, "Top Lawyers in Illinois- Workers' Compensation Lawyers"
- Martindale-Hubbell "Distinguished" Peer Review Rating
- Leading Lawyers Network Member selected by peers in Criminal Defense Law: DUI, Criminal Defense Law: Felonies & Misdemeanors, Personal Injury Law: General, and Workers' Compensation Law, 2011 - Present
Representative Cases
- People v. Finley, 568 N.E.2d 412, 1991, Ill.App. 3 Dist., 1991044202
- In re Marriage of Hall, 663 N.E.2d 430, 1996, Ill.App. 3 Dist., 1996075700
- Largest recovery obtained ($1.15 million) for loss of society damages for single person with no dependents under Wrongful Death Act, Circuit Court of Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Bureau County