JOHN W. DAMISCH

John W. Damisch is a principal of the Chicago law firm of Damisch & Damisch, Ltd. He received his bachelor's and law degree from Northwestern University. Mr. Damisch was a former magistrate of the Circuit Court of County. He was chairman of the village of Northfield Zoning Board of Appeals and a member of the Northfield Township Board of Trustees. Mr. Damisch assisted in the founding of three banks, two of which are now part of Chase Bank. He is member of the American, Illinois State, Chicago and DuPage County Bar Associations. He has been a special assistant attorney general for the state of Illinois handling condemnation matters for the Illinois Departments of Transportation, Economic Development, Natural Resources and Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Mr. Damisch has represented local governments and land owners. He has tried numerous jury trails in Cook County and the collar counties with one Lake County verdict of $5.5 million. He settled a litigated TIF case in early 2005 with the Village of Wheeling, Illinois for $6.25 million, where the original offer was $2 million. Mr. Damisch has written the chapter on eminent domain for the local government for Illinois Continuing Legal Education.

Background
John was raised on a dairy farm in Northern Kane County, Illinois; attended Elgin High School, a one-room country grade school. His ancestors settled the family farm in 1837. The farm is still in the family.

Education
Northwestern University, B.S.
Northwestern University Law School, J.D.

Admitted
United States Supreme Court; 1957
United States Court of Military Appeals; 1951
United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals; 1952
United States District Court for the Northern District, Trail Bar; 1951
Illinois Supreme Court; 1950

Practice
John's practice focuses on civil trial litigation in various state and federal courts in Chicago and the greater Chicago metropolitan area. John concentrates his area of practice on personal injury, condemnation, and federal litigation. John represents public bodies as wells as owners in condemnation matters. He has represented Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Du Page County and other municipal bodies in condemnation matters. Has handled over 40 appeals to the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Court and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Author
John has written and published articles in the field of real estate, foreclosure, condemnation and agriculture; have written book chapters for Illinois Continuing Legal Education.

Professional Affiliations
American Bar Association, Member, 1950 - Present
Chicago Bar Association, Member, 1950 - Present
Illinois State Bar Association, Member, 1950 - Present
Illinois Bar Association: Member of Assembly (two terms); Member of Illinois Bar Foundation.
Circuit Court of Cook County, Magistrate, 1957 - 1965
Chicago Farmers Club, Past President, 1976 - Present
United Way of Northfield, Illinois, Past President, 1985 - 1990
Northfield Village Caucus, Past President, 1987 - 1991

Public Service Illinois State Treasure's Office. Attorney and personal advisor to State Treasurer for two terms. Justice of the Peace and Magistrate of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois sitting in the Second District for eight years. Northfield Township trustee for four years. Member and present Chairman of the Northfield Zoning Board of Appeals. Arbitrator, American Arbitrations Association. Served as Chairman of arbitration panel on construction disputed on $10,000,000 new building for Hammond, Indiana grade school.

Banking
Assisted in founding and chartering the following banks:
1. Bank and Trust of Arlington Height (now Bank One)
2. Northwest Trust & Savings Bank, Arlington Heights (now Bank One).
3. Bank of Mundelein. This bank was merged with First Midwest Bank.
4. Charter shareholder of Northview Bank & Trust.

Civic Positions
Northfield: (Past offices held):
1. United Way. Director, Secretary, Vice President and President.
2. Caucuses: Sunset Ridge Grade School and New Trier High School; Member and Chairman of the Northfield Village Caucus.
3. Member Northfield Traffic Study Commission.
4. President of the New Trier West High School Parents Association.
5. Northfield Township Trustee (two terms).
6. Several ad hoc village committees relating to the selection of a Chief of Police; sewer and water special tax assessment and other local matters.
7. Boy Scouts. Member and Chairman of Northfield's Troop 17; Chairman of the New Trier District; Neighborhood commissioner; on camp staff for five years; Member of Executive Board and on Finance Committee of Northeast Illinois Council; Eagle Scout sponsor; Recipient of Trail Blazer and Scouter's award; Member of the Order of Arrow--Ordeal and Brotherhood.
8. Member of the Northfield Lions club (1970-1995).
9. Other past positions. (a) Trustee Washington Memorial Presbyterian Church (an 1841 pioneer church in Kane County).
10. Presently: Chairman Northfield Zoning Board of Appeals.
Northwestern University
Active in numerous philanthropic activities at Northwestern University and its law school. Member of: John Evans Club (fund raising group); Wigmore Club (fund raising group for Law School); and Northwestern Club of Chicago; annual participant in the law school's telethon.
Other
Founder and Trustee of Chicago, Cook County 4-H Club Foundation; Member and past director of Sheridan Shores Yacht Club, Wilmette; Mayflower Society; Charter Member of Illinois Living History Farms (a group to establish an antique farm); Circumnavigators (Persons who have traveled around the world).

Farming
Interest in farms located in Kane, Mc Henry, Lake, DeKalb and Cook counties. All farms raise corn and soy beans. Member American, Kane County, and Illinois Farm Bureaus; member and past president for the Chicago Farmers (a group of Chicago professional and business persons who have an interest in farming); Corn Growers and Soy Bean Growers Association. 1991 recipient of the Plowman's Award for distinguished service to agriculture.