Overview
A founding shareholder in the firm, Douglas Palandech concentrates his litigation practice on construction, design professional and legal liability, products liability and first-party property cases. He has tried numerous cases for design professionals, architects, engineers and surveyors. He has also successfully tried to verdict personal injury, property damage and death cases. The contours of Illinois construction law have in large measure been shaped by the appellate decisions from the cases Doug has handled at the trial level.
He along with fellow FGPPR founding partner, Matthew Ponzi, jointly tried first-party claims in the Federal District Court of Oklahoma arising out of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Doug also has the national representation the world’s largest collector car auction in a variety of matters, including dispute resolution, contract enforcement, litigation and trademark registration.
Douglas is a frequent speaker on professional liability and construction-related issues.
Professional Leadership
Douglas is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Illinois Defense Counsel Association and the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys.
Community Leadership
Doug has served as President of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church and he, along with his wife, Diane, are stewards and benefactors of St. Sava Academy.
Honors & Recognition
Douglas has a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® peer rating, indicating the highest ranking in legal ability and ethical standards as determined by his peers in the legal community. He was listed on the Illinois Super Lawyer list from 2005 through 2009, and has been recognized since 2014, based on nomination, evaluation of professional achievements, and selection by a panel of attorneys in the applicable practice area. Only 5% of the total attorneys in each state receive the Super Lawyers designation.
Since 2009, Doug has been named a Leading Lawyer by Law Bulletin Media, a peer-recommended distinction awarded to fewer than 5% of attorneys in Illinois.
Doug has been named in the Best Lawyers in America list in Construction Law and Construction Litigation since 2022.
More information on awards and rankings can be found here.
Education
Douglas earned his B.A. degree from the University of Texas, magna cum laude (Phi Beta Kappa), in 1973 and his J.D. degree from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law, cum laude, in 1977.
Admissions
Douglas is authorized to practice law in Illinois and in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Texas and Southern District of Florida. He has also represented clients in matters pending in state and federal courts in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
Cited Cases
- Sandlin v. Harrah’s, 2016 Ill. App. 3d 150019
- Pritzker v. Drake Tower Apartments, 283 Ill. App. 3d 587
- Jackson Jordan, Inc. v. Leydig, Voit & Mayer, 158 Ill 2d 240
- Sienna Court Condo. V. Champion Aluminum, 75 N.E. 3d 260
- Mecum Auction v. McKnight, No. COA18-1208
- Wright v. Mecum Auction Inc., Case No.: 2:17-cv-02217-APG-NJK
- Pardo v. Mecum Auction Inc., 77 Supp 3d 703
- Town of Cicero v. MWRDGC, 2012 Ill App (1st0 112164
- Tolan & Son v. KLLM, 308 Ill. App. 3d 18
- Fleetwood Dev. Corp v. Northbrook Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 172 Ill. App. 3d 83
- Continental Ins. Co. v. Walsh Const. Co., 524 N.E. 2d 1131
- 15th Place Condo v. South Campus, 2014 Ill. Appl (1st) 122292
- LaSalle Nat. Bank v. Ed. M. Cohon & Assoc., 177 Ill. App. 3d 464
- J.S. Riemer v. Village of Orland Hills, 2013 Ill. App. (1st) 120106
- Paschen Contractors v. City of Kankakee, 819 N.E. 2d 353