Thomas M. Barger III (Partner, Bloomington)

Richard Stites has been notified by Martindale-Hubbell® that he has received an award for having maintained the status of “AV™ Preeminent”™ for 25 consecutive years. For over 140 years, Martindale-Hubbell® has continuously provided to attorneys, courts and the public at large an anonymous, peer-review rating system designed to provide insight into an individual attorney’s qualifications and ethical standards. According to Martindale-Hubbell,® its Peer Review Ratings™ are the “gold standard” in attorney rating systems. Martindale-Hubbell® describes the “AV Preeminent®” rating as representing “the highest peer rating . . . [t]his rating signifies that the lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.” The rating received by a lawyer is the product of numerous inquiries made of lawyers and judges whose names remain confidential so as to assure that the peer review process remains impartial. In a single, given year, less than 5% of all lawyers in the United States receive the very highest rating of AV™ Preeminent.™ After a lawyer establishes a rating, Martindale-Hubbell® will conduct periodic random reviews of all Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ to ensure the rating continues to accurately reflect attorney performance and qualifications for a particular rank.

Richard E. Stites, long a Fellow with Litigation Counsel of America, was recently advised that he had achieved Senior Fellow status with the Society. This is a permanent designation.

The LCA is a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellowship in the LCA is highly selective and by invitation only. Fellows are selected based upon excellence and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation. Senior Fellow status in the society is reserved for advanced commitment to and support of the LCA, Diversity Law Institute and Trial Law Institute. The LCA is aggressively diverse in its composition. Established as a trial and appellate lawyer honorary society reflecting the American bar in the twenty-first century, the LCA represents the best in law among its membership. The number of Fellowships has been kept at an exclusive limit by design, allowing qualifications, diversity and inclusion to align effectively, with recognition of excellence in litigation across all segments of the bar. Fellows are generally at the partner or shareholder level, or are independent practitioners with recognized experience and accomplishment. In addition, the LCA is dedicated to promoting superior advocacy, professionalism and ethical standards among its Fellows.

Thomas M. Barger, III, was awarded Distinguished Counsellor status by the illinois Sate Bar Association in a Recognition Ceremony at the Standard Club in Chicago, Illinois on November 12, 2015. LivingstonBarger is proud to recognize the work and dedication of one of its senior counselors and his services to the Central Illinois community.

Peter Brandt and Kirk Holman were recently voted to be recipients of a 2015 Jury Verdict Reporter award and an award for Trial Lawyer Excellence. For more details, please see "OUTSTANDING DEFENSE VERDICT IN A MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASE" https://www.lawbulletin.com/assets/documents/14x21_2015%20JVR%20Ad-color.pdf

The firm is pleased to announce that Joseph R. Wetzel has joined the firm. Most recently, Joe worked at a law firm specializing in the representation of banks and financial institutions in litigation throughout Illinois. Joe also has experience in general civil litigation matters representing diverse clients in multiple aspects of civil litigation. Joe earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2004 and was a member of the Southern Illinois University Law Journal. He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Millikin University in 2001