Adrian Harless

Practices

• Class Action & Mass Tort
• Long-term Care & Nursing Homes
• Professional Regulation & Licensure

Credentials

Licensure(s) and Admission(s)

State Courts of Illinois

United States District Court, Central District of Illinois

Education

Juris Doctor, St. Louis University School of Law, 1982

Bachelor of Science-Journalism, University of Illinois, 1979

Professional Affiliations

Illinois State Bar Association

Sangamon County Bar Association

Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel

Lincoln-Douglas American Inn of Court

Results

• Braucher v. Swagat, 702 F.Supp.2d 1032 (2010) – Legionnaire’s disease case against hotel operator.
• Land v. M – Trial of podiatry malpractice class action.
• Balding v. T,  2013 IL App (4th) 121030-U
• Downey v. D, 384 Ill. App. 3d 350 (4th Dist. 2008)
• Cothren v. T,  356 Ill. App. 3d 279 (4th Dist. 2005)
• Warren v. B, 325 Ill. App. 3d 599 (4th Dist. 2001)
• Hitt v. S, 285 Ill. App. 3d 713 (4th Dist. 1996)
• Miller v. ADM, 261 Ill. App. 3d 872 (4th Dist. 1994)
• Roach v. Springfield Clinic, 157 Ill. 2d 29 (1993) – In a Medical Studies Act case, the Supreme Court held that the peer-review evidentiary privilege did not apply to information that chief of anesthesiology obtained from nursing supervisor. The Court also held that the mere fact that juror’s wife was patient of defendant doctor did not establish juror bias. The Doctor’s discussions with the nurse had nothing to do with any physician peer-review committee. Although the statute may be applicable to certain other types of committees, where the committee is one comprised of the hospital’s medical staff, the committee must be involved in the peer-review process before the privilege will attach. The nurse’s statements were not “information of” any committee, peer-review or otherwise.
• Weber v. C, 253 Ill. App. 3d 509 (1993)

Presentations/Publications

Presentations

“Adverse Outcomes and How to Handle Them,” Springfield Clinic (2012)

“Patient Consent: Legal Requirements of Obtaining Consent,” Clinical Radiologists, S.C. (2009)

“Adverse Outcomes and How to Handle Them,” Clinical Radiologists, S.C. (2008)

“Jury Instructions,” Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (2007)

“Risk Management for the Radiologist,"  Clinical Radiologists, S.C (2007)

“Increased Risk of Future Harm: Dillon v. Evanston Hospital,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2005)

“Increased Risk of Future Harm,” Lincoln-Douglas American Inn of Court

Publications

“Discovery Practice” chapter in Professional Liability, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (1991) 

“Discovery Practice” chapter in Suing and Defending Professionals in Illinois, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2001)

Awards/Recognition

• Rated AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
• Best Lawyer in America^TM by The Best Lawyers in America^TM (2022): Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
• Leading Lawyer℠ by Law Bulletin Media

Public Profile

Since launching his career in 1982 at our Springfield office, Adrian has become a relentless advocate for physicians and their practices across Central Illinois. His vast experience spans numerous medical specialties, including obstetrics, orthopedics, internal medicine, neurology, cardiology, pediatrics, podiatry, radiology, urology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, surgery, pathology, and family medicine. As a vital member of the firm's professional liability practice group, Adrian also represents attorneys entangled in professional liability and defamation disputes, bringing a depth of understanding to each case.

In addition to handling professional liability cases, Adrian is adept at defending against lawsuits involving intricate medical issues. His experience includes representing hotel operators in claims from guests asserting they contracted Legionnaire's Disease at their premises, showcasing his versatility and commitment to defending diverse clients.

Adrian's influence extends to his pivotal role on the Illinois Supreme Court's Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases, where he served two terms and led as Chairman during his final term. Acknowledged for his exceptional legal prowess, he holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is celebrated as a "Leading Lawyer" in Illinois by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company.