Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Susan L. Novosad is a partner at Levin & Perconti and has practiced law since 1985. Susan concentrates primarily in the areas of nursing home litigation, medical malpractice, automobile and premises liability matters. Susan is a highly experienced trial attorney, having been counsel in numerous complex medical malpractice cases. Her most noted achievement in this arena is a $6.7 million verdict in a birth-related medical malpractice case. Most recently she obtained a $995,000 verdict for a 67-year-old single assisted living resident who choked and died after being given food prohibited by his diet. Susan also achieved a $1,000,000 settlement on behalf of her client in a nursing home case in Lake County, Illinois. The settlement resulted from a case against a Lake County owned home who failed to take proper fall precautions with regard to Susan’s client. This failure resulted in numerous falls and Susan’s client sustained a brain injury and hip and elbow fractures ultimately contributing to the death of the resident. This settlement represents the highest settlement in a Lake County nursing home case

Susan is renowned as a highly skilled negotiator with an exceptional ability to successfully bring opposing parties to resolutions and end disputes. These skills were utilized recently to achieve a $1.5 million resolution for an 87-year-old nursing home resident who suffered burns to her buttocks after being placed in a sitz bath; a $500,000 resolution in a case involving a woman who lived in two different nursing homes and developed multiple pressure sores complicated by numerous hospitalizations, and a $510,000 resolution in a premises liability case against a restaurant where the 88-year-old plaintiff fell down a flight of stairs claiming they were too close to the waiting area resulting in a hip and foot fracture. This ability to resolve cases has earned her the enduring respect of her peers on both sides of the courtroom as well as that of her partners and associates here at Levin & Perconti.

Susan prides herself on the comprehensive manner in which she addresses the needs of her client’s and their cases. She grew up in Evanston, Illinois, earned her J.D. Cum Laude from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1986, and has been practicing for the benefit of her clients ever since. Levin & Perconti is extremely proud of Susan's distinguished accomplishments and commitment to her profession and her clients.

Steven M. Levin is the co-founder and senior partner of Levin & Perconti, and a trial lawyer with more than 25 years of litigation experience and success. Steve began his career as a private criminal defense attorney, during which time he gained extensive trial experience. In 1983 he founded Steven M. Levin and Associates, a firm dedicated to representing plaintiffs in substantial personal injury and wrongful death cases. In 1992, he and John Perconti founded Levin & Perconti, which has since grown into a twelve-lawyer plaintiff personal injury firm with more than 125 years of combined trial experience.

Steve has obtained an extraordinary number of multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients in a tremendous variety of personal injury and wrongful death cases, including birth injury, failure to timely diagnose cancer and workplace negligence. His most recent victories include a $7 million judgment for his client against a doctor who failed to diagnose postpartum bleeding, and a $6.7 million medical malpractice verdict against a hospital involving a birth injury case. Steve has appeared on ABC, NBC and CBS news programs for cases which have attracted both local and national attention.

Over the past eighteen years, Steve has established a reputation as one of the country's top litigators in the highly-specialized area of nursing home abuse and neglect. He has represented hundreds of nursing home residents and their families who have been victimized by improper care and treatment, achieving landmark victories and record-setting verdicts and settlements for his clients in these cases.

More importantly, Steve's vigilance in representing such victims has brought national attention to this rampant and unacceptable problem, sending a message that mistreatment of one of society's most vulnerable groups will not go unnoticed. His comments on nursing home litigation are frequently quoted in national news publications including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Steve Levin has received an "AV" rating from the Martindale-Hubbell American Law Directory, indicating preeminent legal ability and very high ethical standards. Steven has been honored as an Illinois Super Lawyer by Chicago Magazine in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. He has also been named one of Illinois' top litigators by Leading Lawyers Network, a peer-recommended distinction.

Sofia Zneimer is a lawyer who litigates immigration and injury lawsuits. Sofia Zneimer represents businesses and individuals in need of an immigration benefit, including visa, work permit, permanent residency, or citizenship. Sofia Zneimer also handles immigration, malpractice, and personal injury trials and appeals.

Gary Newland is an experienced trial attorney evidenced by the hundreds of cases he has successfully won at trial. Many of Gary’s cases have been covered by USA Today, Forbes, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, NBC, The Daily Herald, Oprah Winfrey and the list goes on. Many of the clients Gary represents are referrals from other attorneys who are aware of his skills and reputation in the community. He has been an invited guest lecturer to the Bar Association and other legal organizations as well as an author of published articles on legal issues. He has been a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, Illinois Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Chicago Bar Association and the Northwest Suburban Bar Association and was the youngest person ever elected to the High School Dist 214 School Board.


"A truly gifted and caring professional that will always go the extra mile!"

Gary has successfully tried and settled cases against some of the world’s largest corporations and insurance companies.

Recently Gary won a decision at trial which was appealed by United Airlines for two reasons. The first reason being the verdict was believed by United Airlines to be excessive for a herniated disk. The second reason was payment for holistic treatment (acupuncture) was awarded. Gary prevailed on appeal on all issues.

Recently Gary won a decision that the client of CNA Insurance was not only fully liable for the torn rotator cuff of one of Gary’s clients, but CNA Insurance was guilty of “deceptive claims practices”. The decision was so important because it held CNA accountable based on the claim adjuster’s despicable conduct. The decision sent CNA Insurance and claims adjusters throughout Illinois a strong message that Newland & Newland, LLP is going to take the battle directly to the claim adjusters that use deceptive and improper claim practices.

Gary has obtained millions of dollars for his clients and he has represented people for auto accidents, plane accidents, work related accidents, food poisoning, slip and fall, molestation, dog bites, construction accidents, truck accidents, bus accidents, class actions, mass torts and the list goes on.


"In a time when people are so cynical about lawyers and the legal system, it’s understandable - they haven't met Gary Newland."

Gary began his career working for one of the top 5 largest law firms in the country where he assisted in the defense of Fortune 500 companies in mass tort litigation. Thereafter he used his skills to help individuals to protect their rights, stop abuses of large corporations and insurance companies. During his career he also made time to work at Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic helping those who could not afford attorneys. He also was a prosecutor in Chicago. Gary has been brought into cases by other law firms on many occasions for his trial experience for the sole purpose of being the trial lawyer.

As an undergraduate from Loyola University in Chicago, Gary was admitted to the Blue Key National Honors Society, the Jesuit Honor Society, the Political Science and History Honor Society and was also present in the Pre-Law Society. After graduating with honors from Loyola University he was admitted into Loyola Law School and Graduate School to study both political science and law. He was presented with his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola in 1993.

Gary is a personal injury lawyer or some people like to say PI attorney or personal injury attorney. He also represents clients that have had a work injury otherwise commonly known as a work comp claim. In fact he has experience representing those with personal injury, federal tort claims, medical malpractice and work comp. As a lawyer he has represented people suffering from mild brain injury, traumatic brain injury(TBI), spinal cord injury, herniated disc, occipital nerve injury, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), reflex sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), torn meniscus, torn bicep, eye injuries, hearing loss injury, tinnitus injury, traumatic amputation, 2nd degree burns, 3rd degree burns, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), neuropathy, lead poisoning, back injuries, frozen shoulder, scars, broken bones and other types of injuries.

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"I highly endorse this lawyer's work. Gary is an exceptional lawyer who has outstanding strategy and trial skills. Gary is organized, creative, and works very hard to attain his client's goals. I have had the chance to work on a case with Gary as the opposing counsel, and he was brillaint is his argument and presentation at trial. I would recommend Gary as an attorney becasue of his tenacity for hard work. "