Michael S. Cetina (Deceased)

Wheaton, Illinois
Phone: 630-462-1980
Fax: 630-462-1984

Mike Cetina is a partner with Walsh, Knippen & Cetina, Chartered. He began his career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in DuPage County, Illinois, where he handled misdemeanor and felony trials. He entered private practice as an insurance defense attorney for a 300+ attorney firm in Chicago. He gained valuable insight into the thought processes and tactics of insurance companies. He recognized that his desire was to assist those severely injured rather than improve the bottom line of insurance companies. Mike has been an advocate for those who were needlessly injured or killed through the negligence, neglect, or wrongful conduct of others since 1990. He concentrates his practice in the areas of medical malpractice, wrongful death, nursing home neglect, motor vehicle and trucking collisions, institutional sexual assault, and slip-and-fall cases.

Mike has secured multiple millions in settlements and jury verdicts for his clients. Here is a sampling of some of his past cases:

Recovered a multimillion-dollar settlement for DuPage County courthouse occupants, including clerks, judges, probation officers, and prosecutors, who sustained injuries and adverse health conditions caused by the “toxic torthouse”. He was featured in the 1992 American Bar Association Journal article regarding the “sick” building.
Successfully recovered $1.8 million for three young boys who were sexually abused in an educational and residential facility.
Obtained $1.5 million for a man who sustained a shattered ankle in a car crash.
Received $1 million for the estate of a 65-year-old woman who died as a result of her physician’s negligence in failing to recognize and promptly treat a strep infection in the immunocompromised patient.
Obtained a confidential settlement for a young woman who was sexually assaulted by an officer.
Secured health insurance coverage for a young father who was wrongfully denied health insurance benefits following his cancer diagnosis.

Mike has also been an active member in bar associations. He is the past Chair of the Civil Law & Practice Section for the DuPage County Bar Association (“DCBA”). He has taught at College of DuPage as an adjunct professor and was invited to lecture at Benedictine University. He has been a speaker at several bar association seminars and has authored several articles. He was a founding member of the Robert E. Jones Inn of Court and served as the Vice President. He has presided over mock trial competitions and has taught at the multi-week trial advocacy program sponsored by the DCBA. He was Trial Attorney of the Year in the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office and was more recently awarded an AV Preeminent Rating, the highest rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.

Mike’s interests outside of work include spending time with his wife and four children. He has coached various sports through the Wheaton Park District and coached football for 12 years in Wheaton, along with serving on the Wheaton Rams Youth Football Board.

Areas of Practice:

Bar Admissions:

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 1991
Illinois, 1985

Education:

Washington University in St. Louis, J.D., 1985
Grinnell College, B.A., 1982

Honors and Awards:

Leading Lawyers, Nations Top Lawyers, 2015 – 2017

Professional Associations: