renkens@jbltd.com
Sammi L. Renken is a vice president of Johnson & Bell, Ltd. She joined the firm in 2001, and serves on the Board of Directors. She is co-chair of the Healthcare group and co-chair of the firm's Women's Initiative.
Ms. Renken is an experienced trial lawyer with litigation, advocacy and counseling skills that cross practice areas. Based on a broad jury trial background, Ms. Renken provides solutions and results for her client’s most challenging cases. Her practice has included representation and trials involving malpractice and medical actions, commercial and business disputes, nursing home litigation, drug and medical device lawsuits, Medicare and Medicaid audits, fraud claims and attorney malpractice litigation. She has also represented various professionals in licensure matters before the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
In 2021, Ms. Renken was honored to be elected for the Membership Chair position in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the Illinois Chapter of ABOTA. In 2017, she was also welcomed into the fellowship of the Trial Lawyer Honorary Society of the Litigation Counsel of America. In 2018, Ms. Renken was honored to be selected as a member of The Society of Trial Lawyers. All three organizations are by invitation only to litigators with proven results as lead trial counsel. She recently was recognized as a 2020 Women in Law Inaugural Honoree by the Chicago Lawyer and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin publications.
Ms. Renken is licensed to practice in Illinois and North Carolina. She earned her undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin, and her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law.
"Wound Litigation: H.A.P.I.," Advocate Wound Care Conference, Oak Lawn, IL, October 4, 2022
"Legal Update: Wound Litigation in the Covid Era," Advocate Wound Care Conference. October 5, 2021
Moderator, "Hereditary Cancers: Current State of Medicine, Evolving Standard of Care, and Impact on Medical Malpractice Litigation," Genetics' Growing Interaction with the Law, May 19, 2021
Moderator, "The Medical Ethics of Genetics," Genetics' Growing Interaction with the Law, May 12, 2021
Advocate Christ Medical Center – "COVID-19 Skin Manifestations," Webinar, January 18, 2021
Esperanza Health Centers - "Liability Issues in Women’s Health," Webinar, January 7, 2021
"COVID-19 and Immunity from Litigation in Illinois," Co-Lecturer, Illinois Society of Healthcare Risk Management, Webinar, September 3, 2020
"COVID-19: Lessons Learned," Moderator, Illinois Society of Healthcare Risk Management, Webinar, June 11, 2020
Advocate Aurora Health Quarterly Leadership Meeting - "Privacy Concerns in Era of Social Media in Medicine," Downers Grove, IL, July 29, 2019
Advocate Condell Medical Center – "Pitfalls of Social Media in Medicine," Libertyville, IL, May 8, 2019
Advocate Christ Medical Center - "Pitfalls of Social Media in Medicine," Oak Lawn, IL, January 17, 2019
Advocate Christ Medical Center Annual Wound Conference - "Being Deposed in a Wound Case," Oak Lawn IL, October 2, 2018
Illinois Wound Care Litigation – "Legal Update and Defense Strategies" – Northern Illinois Affiliate of the WOCN 25th Annual Community Education Day, Woodridge, IL, May 1, 2018
"Defense Trial Strategy for Wound Care Wrongful Death Cases," 7th Practical Wound Care Conference: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Park Ridge, IL, April 14, 2018
"Medicare Considerations in Medical Malpractice Litigation," Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel Conference, Chicago, IL, March 15, 2018
"Managing Pain Management Patients During the Opioid Epidemic," Advocate Medical Group presented via webinar, Chicago, IL, February 28, 2018
"Wound Care Litigation," North Shore University Health System, Evanston Hospital, Evanston, IL, February 26, 2018
Nursing Home Alliance, Chicago, IL, December 21, 2017
"Tipping the Scales of Justice: Keys to a Successful Defense," University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, December 19, 2017
"Reptile Theory and Medical Malpractice Litigation," Advocate Medical Group, Downers Grove, IL, July 21, 2017
"Liability Issues Involving Pediatric Transfer," Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, June 14, 2017
"Defending Against the Reptile Theory," Illinois Society of Healthcare Risk Management Annual Meeting, Peoria, IL, June 2, 2017
"Lessons Learned from High Cost Lawsuits in Acute Care," 13th International Conference on Medical Emergency Teams and Rapid Response Systems, Chicago, IL, May 12, 2017
"Litigation Update: Is the Pressure Getting to You?," Pressure Injury Fair, Advocate Condell Medical Center, Libertyville, IL, November 17, 2016
"Effective Opening Statements with Panelists Honorable Lynn Egan," Sammi L. Renken and Adria Mossing, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Civil Litigation Dinner, Chicago, IL, November 9, 2016
"Wound Care Litigation: Deposition and Trial," Advocate Christ Medical Center Multi-Site Conference entitled Back to Basics: Principles of Wound Care, ACMC Conference Center, Oak Lawn, IL, October 4, 2016
"Medical Malpractice Claims in the area of WOC Care," Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, July 27, 2016
Discovery Depositions Are Not Available For Media Use During Pending Litigation, Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Health Care Law Alert (Winter 2016)
Arbitration Agreement in Nursing Home Case Held Invalid but Door Left Open for Future Arbitration Agreements to be Upheld, Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Health Care Law Alert (Fall 2011)
Pressure Ulcers: Avoidable or Unavoidable?, Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Health Care Law Alert (Fall 2011)
And The Defense Wins, The Voice of the Defense Bar, DRI, (July 2011)
Survey of Wrongful Death Verdicts for the Very Young and Very Old, The National Law Review (April 2011)
Survey of Wrongful Death Verdicts for the Very Young and Very Old, Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Health Care Law Alert (Winter 2011)
Defending Medical Battery Claims, Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Health Care Law Alert (Winter 2010)
Examination of Hospital Board Member Liability and Corporate Negligence: Illinois Case Study, Volume 11, Issue 2 of Healthcare Liability & Litigation, American Health Lawyer Association (May 2009)
CMS Proposes Additions to List of Hospital Acquired Conditions or “Never Events”, Johnson & Bell, Ltd Health Care Law Alert (Summer 2008)
Attorney’s Fees Awarded Despite Being Disproportionate to Damages in Recent Nursing Home Cases, Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Health Care Law Alert (Summer 2007)
Agency Defense More Difficult After York v. Rush, Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Health Care Law Alert (Fall 2006)
Apparent Agency – Jury Instruction, Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Health Care Law Alert (Summer 2005)
Med Mal Bill Stalls in Senate, Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Health Care Law Alert (Spring 2005)
Reforms Impacting Insurance Market in Texas & Mississippi, Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Health Care Law Alert (Spring 2005)
