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Judge Patrick J. Hitpas (Ret.) is in
full time private mediation practice.
Judge Hitpas was trained in mediation at The
National Judicial College and also by
mediators Fred Lane and Richard Calkins in a
Masters Series mediation course. Since
his retirement as a circuit judge in January
2010, Judge Hitpas has been actively
mediating civil cases including personal
injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice,
property damage and probate. A high
percentage of the mediations have resulted
in settlements.
As a circuit judge for more than 17 years
in the Illinois Fourth Judicial Circuit,
Judge Hitpas presided in more than 250 jury
trials. Trials included personal
injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice,
employment, probate and numerous other areas
of law. Judge Hitpas also tried
hundreds of civil bench trials in a variety
of areas.
For most of his judicial career, Judge
Hitpas presided over a civil docket and
participated in numerous settlement
conferences which resulted in final
settlement. Lawyers familiar with
Judge Hitpas have consistently given him
excellent ratings in the areas of integrity,
impartiality, temperament and legal ability.
Prior to his judicial career, Judge
Hitpas spent 20 years as a practicing
lawyer. For most of that time, Judge Hitpas was in the general practice of law
and represented plaintiffs and defendants in
general civil litigation. During his
practice, Judge Hitpas tried approximately
100 jury cases to verdict. His
practice also included work in the areas of
real estate, probate and business law.
In addition to his legal training and
experience, Judge Hitpas has a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Accounting.
Judge Hitpas has been a frequent
speaker at Judicial and Illinois State Bar
Association seminars in the area of Civil
Practice. From 2008 to 2012 Judge
Hitpas was a Topic Editor for the Illinois
Judicial Benchbook on Civil Law and
Procedure.
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