Hon. Edward R. Burr (Ret.) is a skilled mediator and settlement judge, known for his creative settlements in resolving complex matters.  In addition to being an active mediator, Judge Burr teaches courses for the National Judicial College.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

• In a 22 year judicial career, focused on motion practice, commercial civil litigation, products liability, construction, personal injury, medical and legal malpractice and case resolution in the Circuit Court of Cook County; 1988-2006.
• Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County; 1984 -1988; Circuit Judge 1988 – 2006.
• 26 year legal career including President, Law Firm of Edward R. Burr, Ltd.; Associate, Law Firm of Burr & Golden; Associate, Law Firm of Lane, Gross, Carmen & Dee; Member, First Panel of the Federal Defender Program; Former Hearing Officer, Board of Appeals; Former Special Counsel, Chicago City Counsel Committee on Police, Fire, Civil Service, Schools & Municipal Institutions; Former Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Chicago.
• Successful resolution of the following types of cases:
• Business / Commercial / UCC
• Personal Injury: catastrophic injury, slip and fall, wrongful death, automobile accident, and dog bite cases
• Medical Malpractice
• Professional Malpractice: Legal and Accounting Malpractice.
• Products Liability
• Construction: Contracts; Defects; Insurance Coverage.
• Employment: Wrongful Termination, Discrimination
• Insurance: All types of issues.
• Real Estate
• Religious Institutions

Representative Cases

• Ailey vs. Northwestern Memorial Hospital, et al.: complex medical malpractice case involving claimed breach of standard of care during delivery giving rise to child’s disabilities that defendants asserted were genetically based.  Defendants’ verdict affirmed on appeal.
• Bryant vs. Alley: matter involving purchase of house poorly constructed and containing defective building materials known by sellers to exist.
• Zupan vs. Turner Construction Co., et al.: case involving general contractor’s liability based upon contract provisions requiring the providing of a safe work place.
• Peterson v. Randhava:  matter involving violation of Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and breach of fiduciary duty by real estate sales agent.
• Black, et al. vs. Laggren: admitted rear end automobile accident case resulting in jury verdict for defendant and subsequent denial of plaintiffs’ post trial motions for directed verdict or a judgment n.o.v.  Affirmed by appellate court. 
• Ewanic vs. Pepper Construction Co., et al.: a contribution claim by settling defendant where court held settlement already included a reduction from plaintiff’s total damages based upon settler’s affirmative defense of contributory negligence.  Affirmed by appellate court.
• Arthur vs. Lutheran General Hospital, et al.: matter involving false imprisonment cause arising out of having been committed in violation of time limit provision in the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.
• Hernandez vs. Chicago Transit Authority: case brought by decedent’s wife in which court held that defendant owed the highest degree of care to decedent who had exited a bus but had unsuccessfully attempted to re-board.  Affirmed by appellate court.
• O’Brien vs. City of Chicago: wrongful death action where court concluded that plaintiffs failed to state a cognizable claim against the City, defendant having no duty to erect barriers separating north and south bound traffic on the outer drive either based upon voluntary undertaking or by contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation.  Affirmed by the appellate court.

Honors, Memberships and Professional Activities

• Fellow and Board Member, International Academy of Dispute Resolution (IADR), 2007-present.
• Teacher, Civil Mediation Certificate Program, National Judicial College.
• Admitted to Practice: Illinois Supreme Court; United States Supreme Court; United States Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit; United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois; Federal Trial Bar; United States Court of Military Appeals.
• Adjunct Professor of Law, John Marshall Law School; Judge Trial Advocacy Class.
• Adjunct Professor of Law, IIT Chicago – Kent College of Law; Judge, Moot Court Competition; Judge, Trial Advocacy Class.
• Lecturer, University of Chicago Law School; Judge, Trial Advocacy Class.
• Faculty, American Academy of Judicial Education: Complex Litigation; Products Liability; Advanced Evidence; Experts and Opinion Testimony; The Trial, Procedure and Management; Alternative Dispute Resolution.
• Illinois Judicial Conference, Associate Judges Seminar Vice Chair: Committee on Contracts, 1986; Committee on Contempt, 1987.
• Circuit Court of Cook County Faculty, Professional Development Program for New Associate Judges, 1985-1990.
• Chicago Bar Association: Member, Lecturer, Panelist and Judge.
• Illinois State Bar Association: Member, Lecturer, Panelist and Judge.
• Women’s Bar Association of Illinois: Member, Judge Mary Heftel Hooten Memorial Building Fund Committee.
• Decalogue Society of Lawyers: Member, Board of Managers; Member, Continuing Legal Education Committee.
• Illinois Academy of Criminology: Member.
• American Judicature Society: Member, National Board of Directors, 1998-2002; Member, Elmo B. Hunter Center for Judicial Selection Advisory Committee; Member, State Chapter Oversight Committee; Chair, Committee on Illinois Initiatives; Liaison, National Board for the Illinois Chapter of the American Judicature Society.
• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA): Member, National Board of Directors, 2000-2002.
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Judicial Fellow.
• The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy.
• Jewish Judges Association of Illinois: Vice President, 2003-2006.
• Recipient, scholarship award from M.R. Bauer Foundation, Illinois Judicial Scholarship Fund.
• Recipient, Golden Apple Award, National Practice Institute for Teaching, April 1997.
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Decalogue Society of Lawyers, 2005.
• Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Judge Mary Hefftle Hooten Award, 2006.

Background and Education

• Northwestern University School of Law, JD, 1958.
• University of Illinois, BA, Political Science, 1953.
• Completed Civil Mediation Certificate, National Judicial College.
• Extensive Continuing Legal Education.