En Español

Free Case Evaluation

877-975-7991

CHAT LIVE NOW
Home separator Our Attorneys separator Matthew L. Williams

Matthew L. Williams

Matthew L. Williams concentrates his practice of law in the areas of automobile accidents, medical malpractice, construction negligence, premises liability and product liability. Mr. Williams is a member of many local and national bar associations including Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, the Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association. He volunteers his time as an Investigator for the Judicial Evaluation Committee for the Chicago Bar Association and currently serves on the Board of Manager of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Williams has extensive experience and success litigating cases throughout Illinois and recently argued a case before the Illinois Supreme Court. Mr. Williams was also named to Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s 2013 “40 Under Forty” attorney list recognizing Illinois’s top up and coming lawyers.

"The firm quickly became a saving grace to our family during the weeks following our 7yr. old daughter's death. He really held our hands to give us the strength and the knowledge to get the most positive final results in the most timely fashion."

- Christine M.

Mr. Williams received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois and his Juris Doctorate from De Paul University in Chicago, Illinois. While in law school, he served as Staff Writer for the DePaul Law Review and received the Cali Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement in Business Organizations.

In addition, Mr. Williams has been a speaker at the MBA business law class at Kellogg’s School of Management and for the class “Personal Injury Litigation” at Notre Dame Law School.

Academics

  • J.D., DePaul University Law School (1998)
  • B.A., University of Illinois (1995)

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois Bar (1998)

PERSONAL SUCCESSES

  • $15.35 Million Settlement - May 20 2008 Birth Injury Malpractice as a Result...

    $15.35 Million Settlement

    May 20 2008

    Birth Injury Malpractice as a Result of Institutional Negligence

    DEKALB, IL – Attorneys Michael P. Schostok and Matthew L. Williams of the law firm Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., obtained a $15.35 million medical malpractice settlement on behalf of a child who suffered a brain injury during birth. The settlement was approved by Judge Kurt Klein and is the largest settlement ever in DeKalb County and is believed to be one of the largest of its kind in the state of Illinois.

    On October 19, 2001, the 19-year-old Plaintiff of Aurora, was admitted to Valley West Community Hospital in Sandwich, Illinois, for the delivery of her son, The Plaintiff’s labor proceeded uneventfully until one of the defendants, Dr. Martin Brauweiler, chose to use a vacuum extractor device to assist in the delivery of the minor plaintiff. Over the next 50 minutes, Dr. Martin Brauweiler used the vacuum extraction device 18 times without case-results. Another doctor was finally called in to perform an emergency c-section after the infant’s fetal heart tones demonstrated distress. The young child, now six years old, suffered brain injuries as a result of Dr. Brauweiler’s alleged negligence in using the Kiwi vacuum extractor device.

    According to Attorney Michael P. Schostok, the plaintiffs alleged that Dr. Brauweiler, a family practitioner, was not competent in the use of the vacuum extractor device. The plaintiffs also claimed that Dr. Brauweiler negligently failed to discontinue using the vacuum extractor device after the first couple of attempts were uncase-resultsful. The plaintiffs further alleged that the nursing staff who assisted Dr. Brauweiler, negligently failed to advocate for Vanessa by insisting that Dr. Brauweiler stop using the vacuum when it was obvious he could not deliver the child using this device. More importantly, the plaintiffs alleged that Valley West Community Hospital failed to exercise reasonable care in evaluating Dr. Brauweiler’s competency and fitness to perform vacuum deliveries at their hospital. There was no evidence that Dr. Brauweiler provided adequate documentation establishing his competency to safely perform vacuum assisted deliveries. The plaintiffs claimed that Valley West Community Hospital was put on notice of Dr. Brauweiler’s lack of competence when in 1999 the doctor settled another malpractice case involving the delivery of a child at Valley West Community Hospital where the doctor used a vacuum device and forceps. The child in that delivery died shortly after birth.

    “Hospitals have an independent responsibility for the safety of their patients,” said Attorney Michael Schostok. “This duty requires that hospitals use reasonable care to determine the qualifications of doctors on their medical staff. In this case, Valley West Community Hospital knew or should have known that Dr. Martin Brauweiler, who was a family practitioner, was not competent in the use of vacuum extractors to deliver babies. He should never have been given privileges to use one. Had a vacuum extractor not been used during the delivery, the newborn would not have been brain-injured.”

  • $4 Million Settlement - December 10 2007 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – Matthew L. Williams of the...

    $4 Million Settlement

    December 10 2007

    CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – Matthew L. Williams of the law firm Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., announced a $4 million medical malpractice settlement on behalf of the estate of a man who died as a result of a pulmonary embolism while a patient at Lutheran General Hospital in Des Plaines, Illinois. The Honorable Judge M. Daniel LoCallo in Cook County (Illinois) approved the settlement in Kimberly Heath, Independent Executor of the Estate of Anton Urban v. Advocate Health and Hospital Corporation d/b under the assumed name of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, an Illinois Corporation, et al  No. 04 L 920.

    According to Attorney Matthew L. Williams, on November 9, 2002, Mr. Anton Urban suffered a pelvic and wrist fracture following an automobile accident. He was admitted to Lutheran General Hospital and identified by his doctors as a patient at high risk for the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to pulmonary embolism (PE).

    Although medication was ordered by his doctors to reduce the risk of the DVT, the medication was held over a four-day period during his hospitalization. During this time, Plaintiff alleged that Mr. Urban developed blood clots in the vessels of his lower extremities. Unfortunately, no diagnostic study was performed after the medication was held to evaluate if clots formed during this gap in treatment. The clots eventually broke free, traveled into his lungs, and caused Mr. Urban’s death.

    “Pulmonary embolism is one of the most common causes of death in hospitalized patients. There are treatment measures and diagnostic tools available to the clinicians to reduce the risk or even prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. All patients at risk for deep vein thrombosis should strive to be part of the dialogue with their physicians about how to reduce the risk of a fatal pulmonary embolism,” said Matthew Williams.

    Mr. Urban, 55, left surviving a wife of 29-years and four adult children. He was an avid outdoorsmen, loving father and husband, and partner in Anton E. Urban, D.D.S., Ltd, dental practice, with offices located in Antioch, Illinois and Kenosha, Wisconsin.

  • $3.75 Million Settlement - Driver Killed in Trucking Accident Chicago, IL (June 18,...

    $3.75 Million Settlement

    Driver Killed in Trucking Accident

    Chicago, IL (June 18, 2013) -  Patrick A. Salvi and Matthew L. Williams of the personal injury firm of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., obtained a $3.75 million settlement today on behalf of a 22-year-old Chicago man killed in a truck accident on Interstate 57 near Rantoul in Champaign County. The settlement was approved by the Honorable Judge Susan M. Coleman ­­­in Circuit Court of Cook County.

    On November 16, 2012, the Plaintiff was headed from Chicago to Champaign to visit his girlfriend, who was a student at the University of Illinois. While traveling on southbound on I-57, the Plaintiff lost his life when his Dodger Charger was crushed by a semi-tractor trailer. The semi-tractor trailer slammed into his car and pushed it under the trailer of another truck

    “This was a tragic accident that cut a young man’s life short way too soon,” said managing partner Patrick Salvi. “I hope the settlement can bring some closure to the family who had to deal with this terrible accident.”

    The 22-year-old deceased Plaintiff leaves behind his parents and several siblings. He graduated from high school from Richards Career Academy in Chicago and pursued some additional graduate course work at Moraine Valley Community College. At the time of his death, he was working at Champs Sporting Goods trying to earn money to eventually enroll in EMT school. His career ambition was to become a fireman or paramedic.

    Driver William Michael Weaver of Lebanon, Missouri was operating the truck at the time of the accident. The truck was owned by ATS Specialized of Gary, Indiana. Weaver failed to slow down and rear-ended Terry’s car.

  • $2 million in combined settlements - Matthew L. Williams recently obtained two separate $1 million...

    $2 million in combined settlements

    Matthew L. Williams recently obtained two separate $1 million settlements. The first settlement was on behalf of a 52-year-old man, who suffered injuries due to the negligent removal of the wrong adrenal gland during a surgical procedure at a Northshore University Hospital on September 24, 2010. The gland had a benign adrenal tumor, which caused the secretion of excessive amounts of aldosterone. The second $1 million settlement involved the wrongful death of a 16-year-old boy.

  • $2 million Settlement - McLean, IL – Matthew L. Williams of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.,...

    $2 million Settlement

    McLean, IL – Matthew L. Williams of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., announced a $2 million settlement in McLean County today, September 6, 2012, on behalf of the estate of a man who died due to medical malpractice. Judge Drazewski of the McLean County Circuit Court approved the settlement [No. 09 L 13].

    On February 2, 2007, Henry Etter, 66, was admitted to BroMenn Medical Center for treatment of nephrotic syndrome.  Defendant, Dr. Horinek was one of the attending physicians taking care of the nephrotic syndrome and overseeing Mr. Etter’s medical care during the hospitalization. Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder in which the kidneys are damaged, resulting in the leakage of large amounts of protein from the blood into the urine.

    While in the hospital, Mr. Etter developed upper and lower extremity weakness, a potential sign of deteriorating neurological functioning. On February 13, 2007, Dr. Horinek ordered a neurological consult at approximately 8:00 a.m. However, the neurologist did not see Mr. Etter until 7:00 p.m. the following day, at which point he was immediately taken into surgery to treat a cervical abscess near his spine.

    Plaintiff alleged that the delay in treating the spinal abscess caused Mr. Etter to suffer permanent paralysis, leaving him with severe physical deficits. On March 13th, 2009 Mr. Etter passed away, survived by his wife, Bernadine, and five adult daughters.

    According to research of the Law Bulletin’s Verdict Reporter, this settlement is the largest reported settlement in McLean County for an adult male death due to medical malpractice.

PDF ARTICLES

MEET THE TEAM