Partner

David is a partner in SmithAmundsen’s Chicago office. For over twenty-five years, he has focused his practice on construction law issues, representing commercial and residential owners, developers, architects, construction managers, general contractors, and specialty subcontractors. David has extensive experience in defending property damage, personal injury, and construction defect claims in mediation, arbitration and litigation. He has prosecuted and defended mechanics lien claims, and is proficient in OSHA emergency response, compliance, and appeals.

David focuses a segment of his practice on crane and rigging accidents involving personal injury, property damage, and product liability. He has extensive training in crane and rigging safety and inspection and is a CIC Certified Rigging/Signalperson. He has presented webinars and seminars and authored articles on OSHA’s crane regulations and the ASME B.30.5-2007 mobile crane standards with respect to compliance and responsibilities.

Outside the area of construction law, David concentrates on intellectual property litigation involving copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets, having obtained a Masters in Law in the field in 2001.

David is admitted to practice in the State of Illinois, and the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Eastern District of New York. He is a member of the Federal Trial Bar.

Presenter, “Crane Risk Management: Assignment of OSHA and ASME Responsibilities for Crane Operations on Construction Sites,” Zurich and ENR Webinar, December 7, 2011.

Author, excerpt from presentation on “Responsibilities For Crane Operations In Construction Under OSHA 1926.1400 And ASME B30.5-2007 And Their Impact On Litigation,” in Masterlink, Association of Crane & Rigging Professionals, Issue 104, Pages 5, 14-16, November 2011.

Presenter, "Responsibilities for Crane Operations in Construction: Regulations, Standards, and Liability," National Association of Surety Bond Producers Webinar, June 28, 2011.

Featured Guest, "A Closer Look at Crane Accidents," USLAW Radio, June 2011.

Presenter, “Responsibilities for Crane Operations in Construction Under OSHA and ASME and Their Impact on Crane Litigation,” Association of Crane and Rigging Professionals’ General Assembly and Workshop, Brookfield, Wisconsin, May 11, 2011.

Presenter, “Responsibilities for Crane Operations under OSHA 1926.1400 and ASME B30.5-2007 and Their Impact on Crane Litigation,” Chartis Insurance Company Webinar, April 26, 2011.

Presenter, "Understanding OSHA's New Crane Regulations and ASME's Responsibilities for Crane Operations," Dawes Crane Rental & Rigging, Inc.'s Annual Safety Meeting, Milwaukee, WI, February 26, 2011.

Presenter, "Crane Litigation Under the New OSHA Rules (1926.1400) and ASME Standards (B30.5-2007)," OSHA's New Crane Regulations Seminar/Webinar, Chicago, IL, November 8, 2010.

Author, "White Paper on Mobile Cranes as Commercial Motor Vehicles Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations: Implications from an Operations/Compliance and Insurance Coverage Standpoint," 2009.

Presenter, “Types of Construction Damages Claims: Change Orders in Illinois,” Lorman Education Services Seminar, June 1, 2006.

Presenter, “Recoverable Damages and Defenses,” Construction Safety Institute, February 8 – 9, 2006.

Presenter, “Discovery/Civil Procedure Update,” Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Galena, Illinois, Fall Seminar, September 23 – 24, 2005.

Presenter, “Analyzing and Proving Construction Project Damages in Illinois: Types of Construction Damages Claims,” Lorman Education Services Seminar, July 12, 2005.