Catherine M. Masters

Partner

Catherine M. Masters concentrates in briefing complex issues at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts.

She practices in a variety of areas, including:

• Product liability
• Employment
• Civil rights
• Constitutional law
• Insurance
• Commercial and securities matters

Her extensive appellate experience has included proceedings in state and federal courts nationwide, including the U.S. Supreme Court. She also has deep experience in complex trial proceedings, including class action defense, multidistrict litigation, post-trial proceedings and dispositive motion practice.

Experience

Ms. Masters has extensive experience representing clients in complex litigation, including the following reported cases (an asterisk indicates cases Ms. Masters argued):

• Nelson v. Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co., 630 S.E.2d 221 (N.C. App. 2006)
• Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Williams, 936 So. 2d 888 (Miss. 2006)
• Home Ins. Co. v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 164 Fed. Appx. 950 (11th Cir. Feb. 01, 2006)
• *State Industries, Inc. v. Twin City Fire Ins. Co., 158 Fed. Appx. 694 (6th Cir. Dec. 15, 2005)
• Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. v. FERC, 404 F.3d 459 (D.C. Cir. 2005)
• Martin Properties, Inc. v. FIIC, 2004 WL 433217 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 4, 2004)
• Martin Properties, Inc. v. FIIC, 2003 WL 23162442 (N.D. Ill. June 19, 2003)
• Anchor Hocking, Inc. v. Waddill, 538 U.S. 974 (2003), on remand,190 Or. App. 172, 78 P.3d 570 (2003)
• McDonald v. Village of Winnetka, 371 F.3d 992 (7th Cir. 2004)
• Twin City Fire Ins. v. Colonial Life & Acc. Ins., 375 F.3d 1097 (11th Cir. 2004)
• Kramer v. Banc of America Securities LLC, 355 F.3d 961 (7th Cir. 2004)
• *Lenahan v. University of Chicago (Arch Development), 348 Ill. App. 3d 155, 808 N.E.2d 1078 (1st Dist. 2004)
• Columbia Propane v. TIG, No. 1-02-1733 (Ill. App. 1st Dist. 2003), app. withdrawn, 813 N.E.2d 221 (table) (Ill. 2004)
• *Allen v. CTA, 317 F.3d 696 (7th Cir. 2003)
• Twin City Fire Ins. v. State Industries, No. 3:01-0489 (M.D. Tenn.) (summary judgment)
• Wakeland v. Owens-Illinois, Inc., No. 5-02-0142 (Ill. App. 5th Dist. 2003)
• Justice v. Martin Automatic, Inc., 34 Fed. Appx. 351, 2002 WL 826335 (9th Cir. April 10, 2002)
• *Martin Properties v. Fla. Indus. Inv. Corp., 833 So. 2d 825 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002)
• Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. O'Rourke Bros., Inc., 333 Ill. App. 3d 871, 776 N.E.2d 588 (3d Dist. 2002)
• In re Collins, 233 F.3d 809 (3d Cir. 2000), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 1066 (2001)
• In re Patenaude, 210 F.3d 135 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1011 (2001)
• In Re: Asbestos Products Liability Litigation (No. VI) (Most Health Services, Inc.), 225 F.3d 648 (3d Cir. 2000)
• Pustejovsky v. Rapid-American Corp., 35 S.W.3d 643 (Texas 2000) (amicus)
• McClure v. Owens Corning Fiberglas Corp., 188 Ill. 2d 102, 720 N.E.2d 242 (1999)
• *Koveleskie v. SBC Capital Markets, Inc., 167 F.3d 361 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 811 (1999)
• In re Roberts, 178 F.3d 181 (3d Cir. 1999)
• Lake County Public Building Commission v. Legat Architects, Inc., 302 Ill. App. 3d 1097, 746 N.E.2d 913 (2d Dist. 1999)
• Morin v. Foret, 736 So. 2d 279 (La. App. 3d Cir.), review denied, 748 So. 2d 1165 (La. 1999)
• Temple-Inland Forest Products Corp. v. Carter, 993 S.W.2d 88 (Texas 1999) (amicus)
• *Healy v. Chicago Transit Authority, 293 Ill. App. 3d 1121, 718 N.E.2d 1083 (1st Dist. 1998)
• Childs v. Haussecker, 974 S.W.2d 31 (Texas 1998) (amicus)
• Northern Indiana Public Service Co. v. Commissioner, 115 F.3d 506 (7th Cir. 1997)
• Metro-North Commuter R.R. v. Buckley, 521 U.S. 424 (1997) (amicus)
• Amchem Products, Inc. v. Windsor, 521 U.S. 591 (1997) (amicus)
• Superior Industries Int'l, Inc. v. Faulk, 695 So. 2d 376 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997)
• Gutierrez v. Peters, 110 F.3d 1364 (7th Cir. 1997)
• Hutchison v. Newell Co., 114 F.3d 1187, 1997 U.S. App. LEXIS 11294 (6th Cir. 1997)
• *Nelson v. Keene Corp., 283 Ill. App. 3d 7, 669 N.E.2d 665 (1st Dist. 1996)
• Bay Summit Community Ass'n v. Shell Oil Co., 51 Cal. App. 4th 762, 59 Cal. Rptr. 2d 322 (4th Dist. 1996)
• Gillis v. Chicago Transit Authority, 96 F.3d 1450 (table),1996 WL 508615 (7th Cir. Aug. 30, 1996)
• Billis v. Chicago Transit Authority, 1996 WL 316449 (N.D. Ill. June 10, 1996)
• *Radic v. Chicago Transit Authority, 73 F.3d 159 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1247 (1996)
• Simmons v. Pacor, 543 Pa. 664, 674 A.2d 232 (1996)
• Owens-Illinois, Inc. v. Burt, 897 S.W.2d 765 (Tex. 1995)
• Billis v. Chicago Transit Authority, 1994 WL 23126 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 27, 1994)
• *O'Connor v. Chicago Transit Authority, 985 F.2d 1362 (7th Cir. 1993)
• In re New York City Asbestos Litigation (Silver), 188 A.D.2d 214, 593 N.Y.S.2d 43 (1993)
• *Shine v. Owens-Illinois, Inc., 979 F.2d 93 (7th Cir. 1992)
• In re Asbestos Cases (Mulligan v. Keene Corp.), 224 Ill. App. 3d 292, 586 N.E.2d 521 (1st Dist 1991)
• Leng v. Celotex Corp., 196 Ill. App. 3d 647, 554 N.E.2d 468 (1st Dist. 1990)
• Powers v. Chicago Transit Authority, 890 F.2d 1355 (7th Cir. 1989)
• Board of Education v. A, C and S, Inc., 131 Ill. 2d 428, 546 N.E.2d 580 (1989)
• Sisters of St. Mary v. Aaer Sprayed Insulation, 151 Wis. 2d 708, 445 N.W.2d 723 (Wis. App. 1989)
• United States ex rel. Zembowski v. De Robertis, 771 F.2d 1057 (7th Cir. 1985)

Pro Bono Activities

Ms. Masters has a committed pro bono practice, including death penalty proceedings.

Awards and Honors

Leading Lawyer — Products Liability Defense Law; Toxic Torts Law, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Education

Clerkships

Honorable Luther M. Swygert, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit (1982-1984)