Atty. Thomas A. Demetrio
Thomas A. Demetrio is a trial lawyer with an emphasis on medical negligence, product liability, airplane crash and commercial litigation on behalf of plaintiffs.
Profile Summary
About Thomas A. Demetrio at a glance
Thomas A. Demetrio is a medical malpractice, personal injury, and aviation attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Corboy & Demetrio. Admitted to practice in Illinois, United States and Florida, United States. Educated at Chicago-Kent College of Law at IIT (J.D., 1973) and University of Notre Dame (B.A., 1969). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Aviation Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (2026). Serands clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Thomas A. Demetrio is a trial lawyer with an emphasis on medical negligence, product liability, airplane crash and commercial litigation on behalf of plaintiffs
- He is Past President of the Chicago Bar Association and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
- He is a fellow of: The American College of Trial Lawyers The International Academy of Trial Lawyers The Inner Circle of Advocates Tom has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since its inception in 1987 and was named by Best Lawyers as the Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year for 2011
- The National Law Journal has named him as one of the Nation's Top Ten Trial Lawyers and subsequently listed him as one of the top ten trial lawyers in Illinois
- In 2022, Tom was ranked first by Illinois Super Lawyers out of attorneys in every practice area for the sixth consecutive year, after attaining the designation in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021
- Lawdragon has named Tom one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America since its inaugural publication, describing him as the "powerhouse" of aviation and medical negligence law
- Lawdragon has said of Tom, "In the windy city, he's the name for everything from medical malpractice claims to aviation disasters
- When tragedy strikes, the families of plane crash victims have no greater ally
- Tom is Chicago's top trial lawyer and stands alone atop the Chicago trial bar
- In 2021, Tom was inducted into Lawdragon's Hall of Fame, an elite honor given to only 37 attorneys nationwide
- He has done extensive teaching and lecturing worldwide in the field of trial techniques and has authored numerous continuing legal education articles in the field of civil litigation
- In 2010, Tom was presented with two awards from the Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter / Law Bulletin Publishing Company for Trial Lawyer Excellence: one for the largest wrongful death settlement ever in Illinois ($25.25 million) and one for acquiring five or more verdicts in excess of $5 million since 1990
- Tom has negotiated over $1 billion in settlements and has acquired over $130 million in jury verdicts which includes the largest personal injury verdict ever upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court
- He has never lost an appeal
Practice Areas Explained
Thomas A. Demetrio's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Thomas A. Demetrio handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Medical malpractice lawyers represent patients harmed by negligent doctors, hospitals, and other providers. Free case review, no fee unless you win.
Thomas A. Demetrio is one of 49,086 medical malpractice attorneys indexed nationally. Browse medical malpractice attorneys in Illinois →
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Thomas A. Demetrio is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Illinois →
Aviation attorneys for aircraft accidents, FAA regulation, pilot defense, and aviation industry matters.
Thomas A. Demetrio is one of 9,225 aviation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse aviation attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Illinois
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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