Kurt Reitz
Partner
Southern Illinois
618 236 3415
direct
- OVERVIEW
- EXPERIENCE
- NEWS & EVENTS
INDUSTRIES
PRACTICES
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Education
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University of Illinois College of Law,
J.D., 1984
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
B.A., with high distinction, 1981
Phi Beta Kappa
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Admissions
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Illinois
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Missouri
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Affiliations
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National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
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American Bar Association
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Illinois State Bar Association
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St. Louis Bar Association
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St. Clair County Bar Association
Board of Directors, 1992-1996; 2000-2002
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Monroe County Bar Association
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Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission - Member, Oversight Committee
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Recognitions
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Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2010-2020 (by BL Rankings)
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Listed in Illinois Super Lawyers, 2013-2020 (by Thomson Reuters)
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Employment
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Thompson Coburn LLP
Partner, 1992-Present
Associate, 1984-1991
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Community
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Gibault Catholic High School
School Board, 1998-Present
President, 2001-Present
Finance Committee – Chairman, 2001-Present
Endowment Committee, 2003-Present
Major Gifts Committee, 2003-Present
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Waterloo Country Club
Board of Directors, Vice President, 1992-1998
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Human Support Services (HSS)
Board of Directors, 1988-1992
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HSS Endowment Foundation
Board of Directors, 1988-1992
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Kurt is experienced in the defense of personal injury and property damage litigation including FELA, trucking, product liability, class action and mass tort litigation.
He has substantial experience in the preparation and trial of these matters and in appellate proceedings in both state and federal courts.
Kurt has handled FELA cases for Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Canadian National Railroad, and Illinois Midland Railroad, including both trial and appellate work in the state and federal courts. Kurt has also handled trucking and product liability cases for Schneider National Carriers, Inc., Blue Bird Body Company, Long-Airdox Company, Joy Manufacturing Company and Detroit Diesel Corporation.
Kurt has briefed and argued numerous cases in the Illinois state appellate courts and in the Illinois Supreme Court. He has also briefed and argued cases in the United State Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits and has briefed three cases before the United States Supreme Court.
Kurt is the author of Chapter Three, Pleadings and Motions of Illinois Products Liability and is responsible for the yearly supplement. His experience in the field of products liability includes both trial and appellate work in state and federal courts.
Lorillard Tobacco Company
Kurt has handled 31 litigation matters to conclusion for Lorillard Tobacco in Madison County, Illinois. Of those 31 handled to conclusion, 22 were dismissed outright and another was dismissed based on a forum non conveniens defense. The remaining 8 were settled. He is currently representing Lorillard Tobacco in 10 active cases in this venue.
Myers v. Illinois Central Railroad
Kurt won an FELA case in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for longtime client Illinois Central Railroad Company. The Seventh Circuit then affirmed summary judgment. This victory was the third in a series of victories by Kurt's Illinois trial team for railroad clients in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. The Seventh Circuit Opinion in Myers followed similar summary judgments in other railroad cases, including McCann v. Illinois Central Railroad Company (Central District of Illinois). (2010)
Norfolk Southern Railway Company
Kurt obtained another victory in Madison County for Norfolk Southern Railway Company. This case was an alleged diesel fume/exhaust exposure case asserted under the FELA against Norfolk Southern. The plaintiff was a locomotive engineer alleged to have been totally disabled from reactive airways disease, chemically induced asthma and other respiratory ailments. The case was tried for before Judge Kardis in Granite City, Illinois and resulted in a defense verdict. (2004)