Dennis Minichello

Biography

Dennis, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, graduated from Ohio University and then went on to earn his law degree from Northwestern University after a year long stay in Italy as a Fulbright Scholar. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1978 and practices before all Illinois courts and Federal Courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and District courts in Illinois, Indiana and other states.During his career, Dennis has participated in numerous professional organizations including the American Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association (Chair, Transportation Law Committee, 1993-94); Illinois State Bar Association (Chair, Admiralty and Maritime Law Section Council, 1993-94); Propeller Club, Port of Chicago (President 1983-84, 1994-95, Regional Vice President, 1985-1986); Maritime Law Association of the United States (Proctor since 1991; Board of Directors, 2010-2013; Chair, Arrangements Committee 2007; Chair, Marine Ecology and Maritime Criminal Law Committee, 2008-2010); President, Midwest High Speed Rail Coalition; Transportation Lawyers Association; Association for Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy; Conference of Freight Counsel; Board Member, Ohio University Alumni Association (2005-2010) and Chair, 2008-2010. He is also the author of several articles and books and a presenter at various seminars.Practice Areas: general civil litigation in the areas of transportation, admiralty and maritime law, personal injury defense, commercial disputes, products liability, professional errors and omissions, toxic torts, general liability, insurance coverage, sexual misconduct and church law.Notable cases:Sisson v. Ruby, 497 U.S. 358 (1990). Successfully represented vessel owner on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on the issue of maritime jurisdiction over a fire originating from a docked pleasure vessel. The Supreme Court reversed the Seventh Circuit, and ruled there was maritime jurisdiction, and set new standards for determining maritime jurisdiction.Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. v. Calhoun, 519 U.S. 199 (1996). Prepared and filed amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court for the Maritime Law Association on issue of maritime tort remedies for pleasure craft. Jerome B. Grubart, Inc. v. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., 513 U.S. 527 (1995), prepared and filed amicus brief in U.S. Supreme Court regarding maritime jurisdiction over the Chicago tunnel flood litigation. American Nat. Fire Ins. Co. ex rel. Tabacalera Contreras Cigar Co. v. Yellow Freight Systems, Inc., 325 F.3d 924 (7th Cir. 2003) Carmack Amendment – motor carrier cargo damage case.In re Complaint of Holly Marine Towing, Inc., 270 F.3d 1086, 2001 A.M.C. 2934 (7th Cir. 2001). Applicability of Maritime Limitation of Liability Act.Poulos v. Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Inc., 728 N.E.2d 547 (Ill.App. 2000). Case involved defamation.In re Cleveland Tankers sub nom, American Steamship Company of America v. Cleveland Tankers, 67 F.3rd 1200 (6th Cir. 1996). Catastrophic explosion and death case involving a vessel on the Great Lakes.Yasuda Fire and Marine v. Japan Intermodal, et al., 1995 A.M.C. 2737 (N.D.Ill. 1995). Represented plaintiff in action against carriers. Successfully defeated application of Himalaya clause to benefit of Intermodal Rail Carrier’s subcontractor.Woods v. Foster, 884 F.Supp. 1169 (N.D.Ill.1995).Procopio v. Johnson, 994 F.2d 325 (7th Cir. 1993).Rodi Yachts, Inc. v. National Marine, Inc., 984 F.2d 880, 1993 A.M.C. 913 (7th Cir. 1993).Articles and Publications:“The Coming Sea Change in the Handling of Ocean Cargo Claims for Loss, Damage or Delay,” Transportation Law Journal, Vol. 36, No. 2, Summer 2009, pp. 229-260“Who And What Are You Insuring? Cargo Transportation Liability Exposures Are Changing,” University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal, Volume 21, Number 2, 2008-09, pp. 167-185“A Gem of a Case (for Carriers),” The Transportation Lawyer, Vol. 9, No. 1, July 2007“The Liability of Dual Capacity Defendants to Maritime Workers for Personal Injury,” (with Matthew C. Koch), Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin, Vol. 4, No. 1, First Quarter 2006“The Responsibilities of a Master in an Emergency Situation,” ISMALetter (Grand Lodge International Ship Masters’ Association) Volume 20, Number 1, March-April 2006“Mysterious Disappearance,” (co-author) Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin, Second Quarter 2004, Vol. 2, No. 2“Spoliation: Implications for the Maritime Lawyer,” Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin, Third Quarter 2003“Spoliation: Implications for the Transportation Lawyer,” The Transportation Lawyer, December 2003, Vol. 5, No. 3“Delivery,” The Transportation Lawyer, April 2003, Vol. 4, No. 5The Appraisal and Insurance of Fine Art and Antiques (with Frederick P. Dosé, Jr.) Quarterman Publications, Inc. (1997)“Use and Abuse of Surveillance Videos,” Illinois Bar Journal (January 1997), Vol. 85, No. 1“Logistics and the Law,” Traffic World (December 16, 1996)Benedict on Admiralty, Volume 4, 7th Edition 1994Chapter 2, “Admiralty Practice and Procedure in Suits Involving Pleasure Craft” Recreational Boating Law, Matthew Bender 1993Soundings, (The Admiralty and Maritime Law Section Newsletter of the Illinois State Bar Association), Co-Editor 1991-1992“COGSA and the $500 Package Limitation: A Recent Container Case”, Soundings, (The Admiralty and Maritime Law Section Newsletter of the Illinois State Bar Association) December, 1985 Vol. 22, No. 2“Marina Liability for Damages to Yachts in Storage”, Recreational Craft-Jurisdiction, Claims and Coverage (1990), Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee of the Tort and Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association“Preparing and Exclusive Distributorship Agreement: Ten Factors to Consider”, The Bulletin (July-August 1985)“Beat the Clock: The New Products Liability Statute of Limitations in Illinois”, Illinois Bar Journal (March 1979)“New Policy Doesn’t Automatically Cancel Old One”, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (July 5, 1978)

Education

No information available.

Admissions/Licenses

• Bar Admissions: IL