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Matthew L. Johnson is a shareholder and one of the vice-presidents of the firm. During his career, he has been ranked and recognized in Leading Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America for his professional achievements.
Matt has a litigation and trial practice involving representation of insureds including healthcare delivery systems, long-term care facilities, schools and universities, and hospitality chains. He has been with Johnson & Bell since 1995, and has had an active trial practice in Chicago’s Cook County, and the suburban Chicago and downstate Illinois collar counties since 2006. He has experience in representing health care providers in investigations and actions brought by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Mr. Johnson is an active member of several legal and health care-oriented organizations. These include the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC), Defense Research Institute (DRI), the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IADTC), and the Chicago Bar Association (CBA). He is a frequent speaker on medical liability and risk management issues for hospitals and long-term care facilities.
In 2022, Mr. Johnson was elected a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the Illinois Chapter of ABOTA.
Cleaning exercise machines at the local racquetball club. (Mid-1980’s).
Boca Grande, Florida
REO Speedwagon, Hi Infidelity
“You’re hired.”
“Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.” John F. Kennedy
The most interesting part of the job is picking a jury and then being on trial for days-to-weeks, and doing your best job to advocate for your client’s position, and then, when all is said and done post-verdict, all the years in, seeing how it played out and what the jury thought and why they decided they way they did.
The Lords of Discipline, Pat Conroy
Smartless and Armchair Expert
“Cool it,” from my father. Any number of times.
A grumpy Lhasa Apso named Tibby.
I read Wall St. Journal, New York Times, The Athletic, and binge on Netflix shows on my iPhone. It’s hundreds of train rides, but I got through all of Mad Men, The Crown, and House of Cards, among others.
I would have liked to work in television media, reporting and talking about sports, pop culture, and music.
I enjoy spending my time with my family and friends, watching my kids’ sporting events and performances, going to college and pro sporting events, traveling, and playing sports (poorly) including platform tennis, golf, pickleball.
"Physician-Nurse Communication: Seven Ways to Avoid the Pitfalls", Webinar presentation to a local healthcare delivery system, May 2021.
"Anatomy of High Risk - High Stakes Lawsuit: From Incident to 'Not Guilty' Verdict", Johnson & Bell Medical Liability Seminar, May 3, 2012.
"Preventing a Lawsuit When the Inevitable Bad Outcome Occurs," Advocate South Suburban Hospital Physician Practice Improvement, June 16, 2010.
Panelist, "Risk Management Considerations in Radiology," Chicago Hospital Risk Management Society (CHRMS) webinar, Sept. 25, 2009.
"Never Events", presented at the Physician Practice Improvement Seminar, Advocate South Suburban Hospital, Hazel Crest, IL, April 15, 2009.
"Keeping Lawyers at Bay: Transparency and Completeness in Medical Record Keeping and Documentation," presented at the Physician Practice Improvement Conference at Advocate South Suburban Hospital, Hazel Crest, Illinois, Jan. 28, 2009.
"Specific Torts," presented with Michael T. Gill of Pfaff & Gill, P.C., before Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), June 29, 2007.
"Wrongful Death Act Allows Plaintiffs to Pursue MedMal Claim Against Other Physicians." Client Advisory, January 12, 2022.
"Illinois Governor Signs into Law Prejudgment Interest Bill", Client Advisory, May 2021
Co-author, "In Defense of Nursing Homes: What Executive Order 2020-19 Might Provide," Client Advisory, April 2020
"Gov. Quinn Signs Bill for Higher Fees in Med Mal Cases", Johnson & Bell Health Care Newsletter, Winter 2013
"The Successful Defense of an Informed Consent Case", For the Defense, September 2012
"Expert Witness Selection Requires Preparation", Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, October 6, 2011
Co-Author, “10 Years Later, Section 2-622, 90 Day Extension Rule Invalidated & Defendants Stripped of a Valuable Defense,” Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Health Care Newsletter Summer 2008
Defense Verdict for Hospital Reinstated; "Missing Witness" Issue , Illinois Caselaw Update, March 28, 2008
Forum Non Conveniens, Illinois Caselaw Update, June 19, 2008
