Todd A. Bresney

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Attorney and Senior Partner

Todd is the Senior Partner and Equity Shareholder of the law firm of Kanoski Bresney. He took over operations in January 2018 after his partner and firm founder, Ron Kanoski, retired. He is also the Senior Trial Attorney who manages the complex litigation division. Todd is married and has three children, which he proudly devotes 100% of his time to when he is not working.

"TRUE PATRIOTISM HATES INJUSTICE IN ITS OWN LAND MORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE."
- CLARENCE DARROW

Todd was born and raised in a small farming community located 10 miles outside of Normal, Illinois. After graduating from Illinois State University in 1992, he put himself through Chicago-Kent Law School and graduated with notable honors. Namely, he received the highest grade in Trial Advocacy I and II, was named to the Dean's List, and served as co-captain of the nationally recognized law school Mock Trial Team.

He has worked at the Federal Trade Commission and the States Attorney for Cook County. However, he spent the majority of his Chicago career working downtown for some of the largest insurers and corporations in the country, who he quickly realized were using the litigation system as a business tool to save themselves money at the expense of incomprehensible suffering.

After this realization, Todd switched sides to work directly for the victims of this abuse, and he moved his small family back home to central Illinois in 2002. He has since dedicated his professional life to sticking up for people who were harmed by others and who he believes are bullied and victimized by powerful insurance companies. He has an incredibly unique perspective from being a top trial attorney for many of these companies. He has litigated and tried cases all over the nation and throughout Illinois.

Areas of Practice

• Wrongful Death
• Nursing Home Litigation
• Medical Malpractice
• Product Liability
• Trucking Negligence
• Construction Negligence

Litigation Percentage

• 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Education

• Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois
• J.D. – 1996
• Honors: Dean's List/Chicago-Kent Trial Advocacy Team
• Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois
• B.S. – 1992
• Honors: Dean's List
• Major: Marketing

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1996
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1996
• U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 2001
• U.S. Federal Courts, 2000

Classes/Seminars

• 2015 Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Litigation Seminar: "Tort Immunity: Supervision and Duty to Rescue Exceptions"
• 2014 Illinois Trial Lawyers Transportation Seminar: "Agents, Partnerships & Joint Ventures"
• "Closing Arguments from the Defense Perspective," ILTA, March 1, 2009
• "Prosecuting Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist Claims: Plaintiff's Perspective," Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2008
• "Going to Trial: Closing Arguments," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2008
• "Useful Tips on Requesting, Reviewing and Using Medical Records," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2008
• "Litigating Neck and Back Injuries: Sct. R. 215 Examinations," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2007
• "Handling Uninsured and Underinsured Cases: Handling a Vehicle Crash," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2007
• "Taking Effective Depositions," Loramar Education for Continuing Studies in Law, 2006
• "Jury Success Strategies: Extreme Makeover for Opening Statements," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2006
• Mock Trial Presentation, SIU Medical School, 2003

Honors and Awards

• Lawyers of Distinction: Top Rated Lawyers in Illinois, 2021
• The American Registry: America's Most Honored Lawyers, 2021
• Named to Chicago Lawyer's 2008 "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch" list, September 1, 2008
• Illinois Leading Lawyer: Illinois Law Bulletin Publishing, peer-reviewed and recognizes only top 5% of attorneys in the state.
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers: The National Trial Lawyers, 2014-present.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Managers, 2009 – Present
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
• American Association for Justice
• Sangamon County Bar Association
• McLean County Bar Association
• Attorney Advisory Committee member – Illinois State University

Pro Bono Activities

• Member, Public Justice, 2008 – Present

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Alpha Delta