James P. Balog, Heather E. Shea and Ariel T. Flood have joined Johnson & Bell, Ltd. as Shareholders. All three previously worked at O’Hagan Meyer.
“We are excited to welcome a group of this caliber to our firm,” stated Robert M. Burke, president of Johnson & Bell. “Their skill set, experience and clients will enhance our already strong Retail practice group.”
Mr. Balog has more than 30 years of experience in numerous areas including professional liability, construction accident litigation, pharmacy and medical malpractice, and litigation based on third party criminal acts. He handles all types of premises liability cases for major retailers including security issues, slip-and-fall, falling merchandise, and false arrest/malicious prosecution. An accomplished trial attorney, Mr. Balog has tried cases before juries throughout Illinois in state and federal courts as well as Northwest Indiana. He is licensed in both Illinois and Indiana.
Ms. Shea is an experienced litigator, handling a variety of matters throughout the Chicago collar counties and federal courts. She concentrates her practice in civil litigation, personal injury defense, premises liability, professional malpractice, and commercial litigation. She has successfully handled a multitude of cases through trial, both jury and bench, in a variety of disputes including personal injury, breach of contract, and fraud. Ms. Shea is also well versed in alternative forms of mediation and arbitration and serves as arbitrator in the 21st Judicial Circuit.
Ms. Flood focuses her practice on representing large retail clients in the areas of premises liability, product liability and general civil litigation. She has extensive experience in all stages of litigation, including case management conferences, arbitrations, settlements, mediations, depositions and dispositive motion practice. Ms. Flood has successfully defended cases in both state and federal court and has an excellent record in obtaining favorable arbitration awards, dismissals and summary judgment rulings. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in Political Science from Philander Smith College in 2011. She graduated, cum laude, from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2014, where she was a member of the Arkansas Law Review.
