Eli Litoff

Representative Engagements - Commercial Litigation and Class Actions

• Successfully defended a leading airline in putative consumer class actions across the country asserting a variety of claims, including breach of contract, fraud, unjust enrichment, violation of the RICO Act, and violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
• Served as national counsel for a global insurance brokerage in litigation across the country against former employees and a competitor, alleging breaches of restrictive covenants, tortious interference, and related claims.
• Represented individual employees of a large nuclear power plant servicing company in a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction action brought by their former employer for alleged misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference with business relations, and breach of fiduciary duty. Successfully resolved case following expedited discovery.
• Successfully defended CEO of a publicly traded company in a federal securities lawsuit involving claims of fraudulent misrepresentation.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of a business owner in a Cook County action brought by his former employee, alleging that the business owner converted funds from the employee’s retirement account.
• Represented health care services provider in Cook County breach of contract action against a hospital, resulting in a favorable settlement for client.
• Obtained favorable settlement for a state university following the filing of a persuasive motion to dismiss in an action alleging excessive force by a university police officer.
• Represented health care company in civil RICO action arising out of fraud committed by former company executives. Resolved the case via favorable settlements with multiple defendants.

Representative Engagements - White Collar Defense, Investigations, and Compliance

• Obtained judgment of acquittal for prominent attorney after a jury trial regarding mail fraud, wire fraud and bankruptcy fraud charges.
• Represented a health care company in a U.S. Attorney’s Office investigation involving fraud committed by the company’s top executives. The investigation concluded with no charges against the company.
• Obtained a sentence of time served for the president of business accused of bribery and corruption involving the New York City Police Department, in a Department of Justice investigation conducted by the Southern District of New York.
• Represented individual employees of a chemical company in investigation following fatal explosion in the company’s plant.
• Counseled leading airline in developing third-party anti-bribery due diligence compliance program and conducted due diligence on third parties globally.

Representative Engagements - Wrongful Convictions and Pro Bono Service

• Obtained a $25.2 million jury verdict for client who was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for 22 years for a crime he did not commit.
• Part of the team of lawyers involved in the quadruple exoneration of the “Marquette Park 4”: four men who as teenagers were convicted of a double murder and armed robbery that they did not commit, and were exonerated over 20 years later.
• Successful appeal on behalf of a client who was denied bond while awaiting retrial after his wrongful conviction was overturned, convincing the Illinois Court of Appeals to not only reverse the denial of bond, but also to set a low bond that his client’s family could afford, resulting in his client’s release from custody after two decades of wrongful incarceration.
• Successfully argued for and obtained a Certificate of Innocence for a man who spent over 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
• Lead author of a brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, which successfully argued that the district court misapplied the Prison Litigation Reform Act’s “three strikes” rule, obtaining reversal of the district court’s opinion and removal of a “strike” from his client’s record.
• Obtained favorable settlement for prisoner in an action alleging that he received inadequate medical care while incarcerated.

Education

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D. 2014, summa cum laude
Lead Articles Editor, Loyola University Chicago Law Journal
Chief Justice, Loyola University Chicago Moot Court Program
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S., Business Administration, 2009, with honors

Bar Admissions

Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Professional Memberships

ACLU of Illinois Next Generation Society, Board Member

Honors & Awards

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Commercial Litigation, 2022-2024, Criminal Defense: White Collar and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions-Defendants, 2021-2024), Best Lawyers®
Chicago's Notable Rising Stars in Law, Crain's Chicago Business (2021)
Illinois Emerging Lawyer in Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Law and Commercial Litigation, Law Bulletin Media Leading Lawyers (2020-2024)
Illinois Rising Stars in Class Action, Thomson Reuters' Illinois Super Lawyers (2024)
RSHC Pro Bono Award (2023)
Chicago Notable Rising Stars in Law, Crain’s Chicago Business (2021)
Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service, United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois (2016)