Edward J. Manzke

A gifted personal injury lawyer, Ed excels in understanding the facts and law concerning how a client was injured, and in developing a legal strategy to win just compensation. He is passionate about representing injured people who are at a low point in their lives and need legal help. A lawyer since 1992, Ed has won verdicts and favorable settlements for his clients in the following cases:

• Personal Injury

• Car Accident

• Bus Accident

• Environmental Contamination

• Toxic Chemical Exposure

• Wrongful Death

• Medical Malpractice

• Defective Products Liability

• Premises Liability

• Construction Accidents

Ed has been selected as an Illinois "Super Lawyer" for 2006, 2007, 2009- 2018. Considered among the best in their profession, Super Lawyers represent the top 5% of the practicing attorneys in Illinois. Ed's personal injury cases have been the subject of extensive media coverage and have appeared on multiple news outlets, including CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX and MSNBC. Most recently, Ed appeared on MSNBC's "Caught On Camera" television show to discuss one of his recent personal injury cases. The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin has also recently featured Ed's work in a multi-million dollar DuPage County personal injury case.

In the past fifteen years, Ed has recovered over $100 million dollars for his clients. Here are a few examples of his successes:

In 2018, Ed recovered $4 million dollars for his clients in personal injury cases. In 2016 and 2017, Ed recovered over $5 million in verdicts and settlements in personal injury and environmental contamination cases.

During 2014 and 2015, Ed secured over $6 million for his clients in cases ranging from wrongful death, and product liability to automobile accidents and premises liability. Ed is believed to be the first plaintiff's attorney in Illinois and one of the first in the country, to successfully prosecute a wrongful death case involving the negligent manufacture of synthetic drugs.

In 2013, Ed recovered over $8 Million on behalf of his personal injury clients and victims of environmental contamination.

In 2012, Ed finalized a settlement of over $2 million on behalf of a high school student injured by a fall during her gym class. In 2011, he resolved an environmental class action lawsuit for over $8 million. In 2010, he recovered $1.35 million dollars on behalf of a client injured in an automobile accident. During 2009, Ed recovered over $17 million dollars on behalf of his personal injury clients and victims of environmental contamination. In 2008, Ed won a jury verdict of $4.74 million on behalf of a firm client who was injured as a result of medical negligence. In 2007, Ed recovered $8.5 million on behalf of a client who was injured in an automobile collision. In 2006, Ed obtained a jury verdict of $1,050,000 for the wrongful death of a college student on behalf of a family whose daughter was killed while a student. This verdict is the largest ever recorded in Knox County, Illinois. Ed's jury verdict of $2.35 million of behalf of one of the Firm's small business clients was featured in Crain's Chicago Business as one of Illinois' largest verdicts during 2004.

Over the past several years, Ed has dedicated himself to several environmental class action and toxic tort cases, fighting for the innocent victims of groundwater, air and soil contamination. The results of these legal battles have been outstanding and include recovery of over $72 million in damages for victims of environmental pollution and the development of new legal precedent making it easier for innocent families to seek relief as a class of citizens. Ed is most proud of the fact that through the Firm's efforts, over 16,000 people have been provided with a safe source of drinking water. Ed's extensive work in environmental litigation has led him to be named as an expert witness in environmental litigation matters.

Ed has represented his clients in the Illinois Supreme Court, the Illinois Appellate Court, Illinois state courts and federal courts throughout the country. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received his B.A. in Economics. As an undergrad, Ed was named a George Huff award winner, recognizing his proficiency in scholarship and athletics. While an undergrad, Ed was a member of the Dean's List and earned a varsity letter in basketball. Ed continued his studies at the University of Illinois where he received his law degree and was a member of the Dean's List.

Ed is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the Illinois, Chicago, and DuPage County Bar Associations. He has been a volunteer advocate for the Illinois Pro Bono Center, helping disabled children maintain their governmental benefits. Ed has taught "Effective Business Communication" at the University of Illinois, and multiple courses at the American Institute for Paralegal Studies. Ed has also lectured on environmental law issues at the Chicago Bar Association.

In addition to his legal career, Ed believes strongly in community involvement. For several years, Ed served on the Board of Directors for Naperville Youth Basketball Association. He is currently on the Board of Directors for the "H Foundation," a local non-profit organization raising money for cancer research. Ed has also served as a director of a Naperville based non-profit organization raising money for victims of depression and anxiety disorders and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Community Career Center, a Naperville based non-profit organization dedicated to helping people struggling to get back into the workplace.

Honors and Awards

Illinois Super Lawyer, 2006-2007, 2009-2018

Pro Bono Activities

Illinois Pro Bono Center

Professional & Bar Association Memberships

Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Member Since: 1992

American Association of Justice, Member Since: 1992

Chicago Bar Association, Member Since: 1992

DuPage County Bar Association, Member Since: 1998