Robert L. Kiesler

Education: J.D., University of Illinois (1956); B.S., University of Illinois (1953)

Experience: 1959-present: Civil litigation with emphasis on defense practice, encompassing products liability, professional liability (physicians, hospitals, lawyers, insurance agents, architects and engineers); declaratory actions for resolution of insurance coverage disputes; safety appliance acts and premises liability defense; supervising attorney on nationwide toxic tort and drug claims, involving both coverage and defense; 1956-1959: Judge Advocate General, United States Navy, primarily trying court martial actions; Martindale-Hubbell peer review AV rated.

Admitted to Practice: Supreme Court of the United States, United States District Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (trial bar); Illinois Supreme Court.

Professional Memberships: American Bar Association (Tort and Insurance Practice Section); Illinois State Bar Association (former Chairman, Insurance Law Section; Vice Chairman, Tort Law Section); Chicago Bar Association (former Chairman, Insurance Law Committee; member, special appointed committee on auto accident reparations; Judicial Evaluation Committee); Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (Member of Board of Directors; Amicus Committee); Defense Research Institute; Society of Trial Lawyers; Casualty Adjusters Association of Chicago (Legal Education Committee); Trial Lawyers Club of Chicago; Police Commissioner, Winnetka, Illinois, 1979-1986; ISBA Bench and Bar Section Council.

Publications: Pamphlet - "Insurance Law Update," Illinois State Bar Association, 1979; Pamphlet - "Basic Elements of a Liability Insurance Policy," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, October, 1980; Pamphlet - "Insurance Law Update," Illinois State Bar Association, 1980; Chapter on Pre-Suit Declaratory Considerations and Pleadings, IICLE, Volume March, 1982; Pamphlet - "Punitive Damages," Illinois State Bar Association, 1983; Chapter on Defense of Legal Malpractice, IDC Seminar, Volume 1985; Pamphlet - "The New CGL Occurrence Form, Troublesome Exclusions, Limitations and Definitions," Chicago Claim Managers Council 1987; Pamphlet - "Recent Cases Affecting Claim Handling," Casualty Adjusters Association of Chicago 1988; Pamphlet- "Conflict of Interest," 1989; Pamphlet - "Overview of Structural Work Act and Contribution Act," 1990, Chicago Claims Managers Council 1991; Pamphlet - "Acceptance of Tender of Defense," Younger Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association, 1992; Pamphlet - "Analysis of Additional Insured Endorsement," Rollins, Burdick Hunter of Illinois, 1992; Pamphlet - "Producer's Potential Liability in Delivering a Certificate of Insurance"; Pamphlet - "The New Limitation on the Right of Contribution from an Employer," the Illinois 1792 Club, 1992; Pamphlet - "Adjustors' Conduct - Publication of Slander," Casualty Insurance Co., 1992; Pamphlet - "New Endorsements Conforming to Illinois Law," American Country Insurance Co. and its Agents, 1993, Edited "Synopsis of Civil Justice Reform Amendments of 1995," American Country Insurance Company, 1995; Pamphlet - "Workings of the Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund and Agent's Liability," Royal Insurance Company, 1996; Pamphlet - "Primary & Contributory Coverage and Waiver of Subrogation," CNA Insurance Company, 1996; Pamphlet - "Summary of Illinois Law Regarding Uninsured Motorists and Underinsured Motorists."Pamphlet - "Hartford Auto Dealership Plan," Hartford Insurance Company, 1998.

Lectures: "Basic Elements of a Liability Insurance Policy," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education; "Insurance Law Update," Chicago Bar Association; "Insurance Law Update," midyear meeting, Illinois State Bar Association, "Punitive Damages," Tort Law Program, annual meeting of Illinois Bar Association; "Defense of Legal Malpractice Actions," Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Fall Seminar, "Pre-Suit Considerations and Pleadings for Declaratory Actions," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education; lectured various organizations, including Casualty
Adjusters Association of Chicago, Chicago Claim Managers Council, select committees of both the Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations, insurance companies, both underwriting and claim departments, and private corporations.