Noah A.
Menold

Obtained a judgment in the Eastern District of Wisconsin confirming a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration award in excess of $1,000,000 on behalf of a financial services firm. 

Obtained a defense verdict in Peoria County on behalf of a private university in a will contest that alleged the testator lacked sufficient mental capacity to make a will as a result of her severe, chronic mental illnesses. The 12-person jury returned a unanimous verdict in less than an hour in favor of the university, thereby allowing the university to inherit the entirety of the testator’s 7-figure estate. 

Successfully defended a community bank in Kewanee, Illinois against a company’s claims for conversion and civil conspiracy concerning the liquidation of an asphalt plant and related collateral. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the bank against the plaintiff’s claim of lost profits in excess of $6,000,000. 

Successfully defended a hotel in Bloomington, Illinois before the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal, defeating a petition of the Illinois Department of Revenue seeking $250,000 in bulk sales tax liability. The hotel was not required to pay any additional tax as a result. 

Successfully represented a private university in a will contest in Peoria County. The testator’s ex-husband filed a petition to enforce the testator’s will, which gave the entirety of her estate to her ex-husband as her primary legatee and her alma mater as her contingent legatee. The trial court granted the university’s motion to dismiss the ex-husband’s petition by operation of statute. The appellate court affirmed the trial court’s judgment on appeal, holding that section 4-7(b) of the Probate Act extinguished the ex-husband’s interest in the estate, thereby allowing the university to inherit the entirety of the testator’s $1,500,000 estate. 

Successfully defended a park district in Central Illinois in a third-party action for contribution in a negligence action concerning the drowning death of a three-year old boy in river floodwaters. The trial court granted the park district’s motion to dismiss and dismissed all claims against the park district pursuant to section 3-110 of the Tort Immunity Act. The trial court’s ruling was affirmed on appeal.    

Successfully defended a Central Illinois hospital and healthcare center in a medical malpractice action from negligence and res ipsa loquitur claims as a result of an alleged permanent shoulder injury sustained during colorectal surgery. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the hospital on all counts, which was affirmed on appeal. 

Successfully defended a Central Illinois outpatient medical center in a medical malpractice action concerning a procedure that resulted in a child with permanent facial paralysis. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the outpatient medical center. 

Successfully defended a Central Illinois hospital and healthcare center in a wrongful death action from medical malpractice claims as a result of the alleged failure to treat and diagnose a small bowel obstruction. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the hospital on all counts due to the absence of actual or apparent agency, which was affirmed on appeal. 

Successfully filed a will contest in McLean County and invalidated a decedent’s will and testament using the doctrine of dependent relative revocation, thereby allowing the decedent’s sister, as his sole heir at law, to inherit an estate worth in excess of $2,000,000.