PRACTICE AREAS

·         Litigation in commercial

·         Security

·         Premises liability

·         Construction

·         Products liability

·         Transportation

·         Corporate liability

·         State / Federal excessive force actions

·         §1983 claims and due process actions

·         Sexual discrimination

·         Class action and tort litigation

EDUCATION

1982 – Juris Doctor

De Paul University College of Law

1976 – Bachelor of Arts

Western Illinois University

ADMISSIONS

1982 - Supreme Court of the State of Illinois

1986 - United States District Court for the North District of Illinois

1986 - Trial Bar of United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

EXPERIENCE

In her twenty-five years of litigation practice, Ms. Zaeske has successfully represented plaintiffs, defendants and insurance carriers in complex, multimillion-dollar claims in both Federal and State Court.  She has tried to verdict numerous cases including wrongful death and §1983 actions, with favorable results.

Ms. Zaeske has been appointed as Special Assistant State’s Attorney for Will County.  She is a member of the Federal Trial Bar.  She is frequently appointed as an independent arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.

Prior to joining Fioretti & Lower, Ltd., Ms. Zaeske was a partner at Querrey & Harrow, Ltd., where, in addition to her trial work, she designed and implemented the Associate Training Program and frequently lectured at seminars for the Young Lawyers Section on trial strategies and techniques. 

CURRENT & PRIOR PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

·         American Bar Association

·         Illinois Bar Association

·         Chicago Bar Association

·         Women’s Bar Association

·         Judicial Evaluation Committee of the Chicago Bar Association

·         Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel

·         Trial Lawyers Club of Chicago

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

·         American Arbitration Association Arbitrator

·         Frequent lecturer for Chicago Bar Association—Young Lawyer Section

·         Judge, The John Marshall Law School Trial Advocacy Program

·         Judge, IIT Kent College of Law Trial Advocacy Program

EMPLOYMENT

Fioretti & Lower, Ltd. (2008-present) - Trial Attorney

Management of litigation department; insurance defense litigation in State and Federal actions for excessive force, §1983 and due process actions with coverage issues.

The Law Offices of Ronald A. Orner and Associates, Ltd. (2005-2008) - Trial Attorney, Managing Attorney

Insurance defense litigation in professional liability actions with coverage issues; employment discrimination lawsuits representing plaintiffs and defendants; tried to verdict double death action with finding in favor of defendant; tried to verdict and/or arbitrated more than ten policy limit cases while training new associates.

Querry & Harrow (2003-2005) – Trial Attorney

Defense litigation in security, premises liability, construction, products liability, transportation and corporate liability actions and the ensuing coverage issues; defense of a banking institution in sexual harassment/discrimination action tried to verdict in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois; defense of a university and its security firm in action for sexual assault; defense team for massive tort litigation action arising out of catastrophic injuries and deaths in high profile scaffolding collapse.

The Law Offices of Maureen K. Zaeske (1996-2002) – Sole Practitioner

General practice of law; personal injury, domestic relations, estate planning, wills and trusts; litigation support in a class action lawsuit against BP Amoco regarding its Carbon Textile industry; litigation support in a class action lawsuit against Motorola, Inc. regarding the Iridium satellite project; responded to Federal Trade Commission’s compliance request to BP Amoco regarding its merger with Arco; litigation support in an Insurance Broker’s professional liability action.

Querry & Harrow, Ltd. (1987-1996) – Partner/Shareholder

First chaired more than twenty jury trials to verdict; represented a wide range of individual, industrial and commercial clients; concentrated experience in construction, premises liability, products liability and transportation cases and coverage issues including duties to defend; participated in alternative dispute resolution through the American Arbitration Association and commercial forums; designed and implemented the Querrey & Harrow Associate Training Program for first through fourth year associates; designed and implemented the Querrey & Harrow Summer Associate Program for law school interns; marketed potential clients and maintained established clients through seminar presentations; served on the Querrey & Harrow trial committee; served on the Querrey & Harrow hiring committee.

O’Connor & Schiff (1985-1986) – Associate Attorney

Prepared responsive pleadings and discovery for Structural Work Act, premises liability, products liability, medical and dental malpractice and transportation cases; participated in all aspects of trial preparation for aforementioned litigation files.

Orner, Wasserman & Moore (1983-1985) – Associate Attorney

Prepared premises liability and automobile liability litigation files for trial, including discovery, motion practice and settlements negotiations; took aforementioned cases to trial.

Chambers of Barrister Louis Bloom-Cooper, Q.C.(London, UK, Summer 1981) – Internship

Experience in Criminal Defense, with duties including drafting Grounds for Appeal and Advice on Appeal as well as basic research and court appearances.