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James S. Harkness
Downers Grove, Illinois

Partner
phone	(630) 434-0400
fax	(630) 434-0444

James S. Harkness

, born Des Moines, Iowa , January 7, 1971. Admitted to Illinois Bar 1996; U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit 1999; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois 1997; and U.S. District Court, District of Colorado 1999. Education: Valparaiso University School of Law, J.D., 1996; Valparaiso University, B.A. in political science and philosophy, 1993, as well as studying in Cambridge, England . Jim's practice areas include commercial and business litigation, class actions, construction litigation, and employment law, at both the state and federal levels.

Jim has participated in jury trials and conducted numerous bench trials and mediations in state and federal court to obtain favorable judgments and directed verdicts. His achievements include dismissal of claims against large corporate entities in the Illinois Supreme Court, dismissals and summary judgment rulings of all claims against large commercial clients in state and federal courts, enforcing copyright entitlements in federal court, obtaining $900,000.00 judgment at trial, on counterclaim, with dismissal of all claims against venture capital client in federal court, and dismissal of all claims in class action against a billion dollar business. His reported cases include: Nielsen v. Dickerson, 1999 WL 754566 (N.D.Ill. 1999) and Nielsen v. Dickerson, 1999 WL 350649 (N.D.Ill. 1999); In re Jackson, 1999 WL 703093 (Bankr. N.D.Ill., 1999); Pikes v. Riddle, 38 F.Supp.2d 639 (N.D.Ill. 1998); Miller v. Wexler & Wexler, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1382 (N.D.Ill. Feb. 5, 98); Cemail v. Viking Dodge, Inc.; 982 F.Supp. 1296 (N.D.Ill. Oct 28. 97); Cemail v. Viking Dodge, Inc., 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17071 (N.D.Ill. Oct. 28, 97); Hobson v. Lincoln Insurance Agency, Inc., 2000 WL 1279334 (N.D.Ill. 2000).

He is also a certified arbitrator in DuPage County, Illinois, as well as serving as the 2006 Vice Chairman of the DuPage County Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, 2007 Chairman of the DuPage County Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, and the acting Vice Chairman for the 2007 Civil Practice Committee, and an active member of the DuPage County Bar Association and American Inns of Courts-DuPage Chapter.

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Areas of Practice:: Employment Law; Commercial Litigation; Construction Litigation; Insurance Coverage

Bar Admissions:: Illinois, 1996; U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1997; U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 1999; U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1999

Education:: Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana, 1996
J.D.; Valparaiso University, 1993
B.A.
Major: Political Science and Philosophy

Representative Cases:: Nielsen v. Dickerson, 1999 WL 754566 (Northern District of Illinois 1999); Nielsen v. Dickerson, 1999 WL 350649 (Northern District of Illinois 1999); In Re. Jackson, 1999 WL 703093 (United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District Illinois 1999); Pikes v. Riddle, 38 F.Supp.2d 639 (Northern District of Illinois 1998); Miller v. Wexler & Wexler, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1382 (Northern District of Illinois 1998); Cemail v. Viking Dodge, Inc., 982 F.Supp. 1296 (Northern District of Illinois 1997); Cemail v. Viking Dodge, Inc., 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17071 (Northern District of Illinois 1997); Hobson v. Lincoln Insurance Agency, Inc., 2000 WL 1279334 (Northern District of Illinois 2000)