February 26, 2026

CHICAGO – Chicago Partner John Lynch and Birmingham Managing Partner Jud Stanford successfully secured a dismissal in a negligence action involving a multi-state trucking accident. By aggressively challenging the personal jurisdiction of the Illinois court, the QPWB team forced a voluntary dismissal of the case, neutralizing significant claims for spinal injuries and lost wages.

Overview of the Case

QPWB was retained to represent a trucking company and its driver following a motor vehicle collision in Nebraska. The Plaintiff, an Illinois resident, filed suit in Illinois, alleging that the out-of-state defendants were liable for severe physical injuries and ongoing economic losses. Despite the trucking company’s minor corporate presence in the state, the defense moved to dismiss the matter, arguing that Illinois lacked the legal authority to adjudicate a dispute involving out-of-state defendants for an accident occurring in Nebraska.

Key Difference-Makers

• John Lynch – Partner, Chicago
• Jud Stanford – Managing Partner, Birmingham

Claims Made Against Our Client

The Plaintiff alleged that the collision was a direct result of the defendants’ negligence, resulting in catastrophic injuries that required multiple spinal fusion surgeries. In addition to medical expenses, the Plaintiff sought substantial damages for continuing lost wages. Highlighting the perceived strength of the case, Plaintiff’s counsel refused to extend a settlement demand, indicating that the valuation of the injuries was too high for traditional negotiations and intended to pursue a significant award at trial.

Defense Strategy

QPWB’s strategy focused on a challenge to the jurisdiction in an effort to move the case out of Illinois. Rather than engaging in the "factual noise" of the accident itself, Lynch and Stanford centered their defense on the legal principles of personal jurisdiction.

The team utilized a robust collection of documents and affidavits to demonstrate that, based on the specific facts of the case, the defendants were not subject to the authority of an Illinois court for an occurrence that took place in Nebraska. By leveraging controlling precedents from both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Illinois Supreme Court, the defense argued that the Plaintiff’s residence and the defendant's office presence were legally insufficient to establish jurisdiction. 

Impact on Final Outcome

The defense strategy proved successful as the mounting legal pressure eventually led the Plaintiff to abandon his efforts to keep the matter in Illinois. QPWB’s approach left the Plaintiff with no viable legal path to maintain the suit in his preferred forum; consequently, after several months of litigation and without engaging in any discovery to establish jurisdiction, the Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the case.

This resulted in a $0 award and successfully protected the trucking company and the driver from the high-exposure claims brought against them.

Unique Aspects of the Case

The most unique aspect of this matter was the Plaintiff's decision to voluntarily dismiss the case without attempting any discovery to establish jurisdiction. This reflects the strength of the defense’s strategy and evidence, which left the Plaintiff with no room to argue that Illinois was a proper venue for the dispute.

Predicting the Future

This victory demonstrates the firm’s ability to spot key issues at the outset of a case and move a matter out of a disadvantageous jurisdiction. Should the case be re-filed, it must now proceed in a venue much more favorable to the defense. This result highlights QPWB’s commitment to achieving successful outcomes through the early identification of dispositive legal issues and meticulous legal analysis.

Key Actions in This Case

• Jurisdictional Challenge: Identified and executed a strategic challenge to personal jurisdiction, preventing the case from proceeding in an unfavorable venue.
• Precedent-Based Advocacy: Applied decisions from both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Illinois Supreme Court to establish that the defendants were not subject to the jurisdiction of the court.
• Strategic Pressure: Strategized a legal roadmap that led the Plaintiff to voluntarily dismiss the suit prior to discovery.

About QPWB

Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. is one of the fastest growing law firms in the United States providing a different focus on what it means to provide responsive service to clients and team members. With a national presence of 55 offices and a comprehensive scope of over 130 practice areas, QPWB delivers legal representation in litigation, regulatory, and corporate matters to a diverse range of industries. This scope and rapid expansion has attracted unique legal talent from all different backgrounds and experiences which has made them the largest minority-owned law firm in the country.