David F. Fanning focuses his practice on general litigation, including cases involving products liability, premises liability, toxic torts, professional liability, class actions, First Amendment and media issues, and business and commercial liability.
In the field of general litigation, Mr. Fanning has litigated actions involving professional liabilities and fiduciaries, business torts and regulatory compliance, medical malpractice, premises and product liability claims, as well as class action matters. He has also handled disputes representing both trustees and beneficiaries. These disputes have included complaints for breach of fiduciary duty, self-dealing, and conflicts of interest.
In the field of business and commercial litigation, Mr. Fanning has litigated cases involving a broad array of issues, especially those involving new technologies, such as privacy, surveillance, and wire-tapping and other electronic access issues. Mr. Fanning has also litigated a broad array of claims involving, e.g., transportation and trucking, the mass media, manufacturing, and OSHA compliance and citation matters.
In the field of “mass tort” litigation, Mr. Fanning has assisted clients in cases involving a number of claimed exposures, including ethylene oxide, hexavalent chromium, asbestos, talcum powder, benzene, metal working fluids and coal dust, and involving issues of premises liability, products liability, employer, and maritime liability, and environmental regulation.
An avid researcher and writer, Mr. Fanning’s work has appeared in various publications such as those associated with the Defense Research Institute and other organizations. He serves on several DRI committees, including Toxic Torts and Environmental Law, Technology, and Appellate Advocacy. He is also a continuing legal education instructor.
Mr. Fanning is admitted to practice in Illinois and Missouri.
September 16, 2010: Instructor, Continuing Legal Education: "Toxic Torts: 2010 - A Practice Update"
Illinois Appellate Court Allows Direct Action Against Employer for Asbestos-Related Injury, DRI Today - July 2, 2014
So You Thought a Premises Claim was Limited to the Premises? National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators pgs. 16-17, Winter 2012.
“Proceedings Stayed in Record-Busting Asbestos Verdict Case to Resolve Trial Judge Recusal Issue,” DRI Today - July 18, 2011.
"The Illinois Supreme Court’s Nolan Ruling: Illinois Now Allows Evidence of Other Exposures,” Johnson & Bell’s Toxic Tort Law Alert.
Illinois Appellate Court Reverses Trial Court: Madison County Asbestos Case Does Not Belong in Illinois DRI In the Voice: Legal News - September 22, 2010. For a copy of the original opinion on this case, please click here.
DRI to hold Gulf oil spill seminar,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Aug. 3, 2010
"Quasi In Rem On the Cyberseas," Note, 76 Chi-Kent L Rev 1887, 1919 (2001)