Jennifer D. Norris is an experienced attorney adept at handling a wide variety of civil litigation matters. She focuses her practice on representing clients in cases involving transportation and auto litigation. Before joining Kopka Pinkus Dolin, Jennifer worked for an insurance defense firm handling cases in auto litigation, UM/UIM, coverage, construction defect, construction negligence, commercial trucking, dram shop, premises liability, and personal injury in both Indiana and Illinois.
In addition, Jennifer has experience representing the underprivileged and under-represented population, including but not limited to: non-profit entities, the elderly and at-risk, and MR/DD population. She previously held the executive director position of a nonprofit agency specializing in the guardianship needs of seniors and incapacitated adults.
Graduating from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Jennifer also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Indiana University Bloomington.
- Calumet Inns of Court
- Chicago Bar Association
- Lake County Bar Association
- Recently, Jennifer worked with Partner Tom Ehrhardt to obtain a defense verdict after a four-day jury trial. The complex trucking case involved a rear-end semi collision that occurred in morning rush hour traffic. As a result of the collision, the plaintiff alleged injuries, as well as cognitive difficulties and filed suit against the driver. At the time of the collision—our insured—the full-service travel center was performing certain preventative maintenance and required Department of Transportation inspections for tractor trailers. The last inspection and preventative maintenance on the tractor trailer driven by the defendant was performed eight days prior to the collision. After the plaintiff filed suit against the driver and transportation company, the transportation company filed a third-party complaint against our insured for indemnification and contribution under the contractual agreement. Prior to trial, the defendants collectively offered $200,000 to resolve the plaintiff’s claims, but the offer was rejected. At trial, the plaintiff alleged $2,200,000 million dollars in economic damages (medical expenses and past and future lost wages) and asked the jury to award $11,000,000 million in past and future pain and suffering. After deliberating for one hour, the jury returned a defense verdict.
- On a case involving an auto accident, the plaintiff was rear-ended by the defendant. As a result of the accident, the plaintiff claimed a number of serious injuries to her neck and back, but Jennifer was able to find a video that the plaintiff posted to her Facebook page, showing the plaintiff skydiving approximately one month after her accident with the defendant. At trial, the jury found the defendant to be 100% liable for the rear-end collision but declined to award the plaintiff any damages.