Richard L. Turner

Partner

Experienced Geneva Attorney

Rick Turner has made it his professional mission to advocate on behalf of those who do not have the training, skill, or ability to advocate for themselves.

Intrigued by difficult legal problems, he enjoys representing individuals and families up against insurance companies, corporations, or other large organizations who might not be fair when establishing compensation for damages.

When it comes to his clients, he provides a voice and a means of obtaining some form of justice. Every client receives frequent updates on their cases and determination to move the case along quickly. Rick Turner strives to provide a compassionate approach to each case; he is most satisfied when he does a great job for a client and they thank him for his effort and personal concern.

Since 1981, Rick Turner has been actively engaged in the practice of plaintiffs' personal injury and workers’ compensation. He has vast experience trying cases and appearing before judges, justices, and juries in a wide variety of injury and death cases.

Through this experience, he has been able to hone his skills and use them to assist his clients in pursuing the best results possible.

Some of Rick Turner’s accolades include being selected as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois by his peers in personal injury and workers’ compensation law as well as being a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

In his youth, he spent time in Chicago, Phoenix, Detroit, and Ottawa, Illinois. Through attending different schools and living in varied communities, he was exposed to different cultures and diverse backgrounds. This is why he is able to relate to others so well.

He is also a competitive athlete—he played rugby for 26 years and coached high school rugby for 15 years. He is also active in triathlon and competitive distance running, completing both the Hawaii Ironman and Boston Marathon.

Rick Turner is also extremely dedicated to his community. He has served on numerous local boards and committees, such as Goodfellows, which is a local volunteer organization that collects funds to purchase clothing items for local children at Christmas.

If you’re looking for an attorney who will be committed to your case, look no further than Rick Turner at Turner & Sackett Law Offices.

Education

1977 Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL, BS Education
1981 DePaul University College of Law
Chicago, IL, J.D., with honors
2004 - Present Named as one of the Top Personal Injury
Lawyers in Illinois by Leading Lawyers Network
2008 Selected for membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum,
the Top Trial Lawyers in America.
2013 Selected for membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum,
the Top Trial Lawyers in America
2013 - Present Selected to Illinois Super Lawyers in Plaintiff’s Personal
Injury Law
2013 AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
(Highest Rating for Ethics and Ability)
2016 Community Service Award, Kane County Bar Association

Employment

2016-Present Turner & Sackett LLC: Private practice of law, concentrating in Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and Workers Compensation
1981-2016 Turner Law Offices: Private practice of law, concentrating in Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and Workers Compensation
1987-1992 City of DeKalb Corporation Counsel, DeKalb, IL
1998-2006 Character and Fitness Committee for the Second District, Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar (Chair, 2001-2003)
1997-Present Certified Mediator - 16^th Judicial Circuit; experience in mediating civil cases within and without the 16^th Circuit in both court-annexed and private mediation context.

Bar Association

Illinois State Bar Association
Standing Committee on Supreme Court Rules (Chair, 2003-2004)
Standing Committee on Legal Technology (Chair, 2002-2003)
Civil Practice and Procedure Council (Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice-Chair, 2006-2007, Chair, 2007-2008).
Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (2004)
Assembly Finance Committee (2004)
Bar Leadership Conference Planning Committee (2004-2005)
Delegate for the 16^t,h Judicial Circuit to the Illinois State
Bar Association Assembly (1990-1992; 1994-2000; 2004-2010)
Delegate for the 23^rd Judicial Circuit to the Illinois State Bar
Association Assembly (2013 – 2016; 2019-)
Standing Committee on Bar Elections Supervision (2015-Present)
American Association for Justice
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Illinois Workers Compensation Lawyers Association
Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America
Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys
Kane County Bar Association
Chair, Practice Management Committee, 2010-2012
Kane County Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee, 2010-2013
Chair / Co-Chair, Workers’ Compensation Committee, 2012 – 2015
Co-Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2018-2019
Geneva Bar Association (Vice President, 2004-2005, President, 2005-2006)
Co-Chair, Prairie State Legal Services Fundraising Campaign for
Legal Services, 2010-2012

Memberships

Sycamore Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Club (Chair, 2002)
Geneva Board of Health
Ben Gordon Mental Health Center Board
Barb City Manor Advisory Board
Sycamore United Fund Board (Past President)
Kishwaukee Country Club, Board of Directors, 2010-2013.
Assistant Coach, Sycamore High School Rugby Football Club, 2004 – 2015.
Chair, Finance Council, St. Mary Parish, Sycamore, 2005 – Present.
Kishwaukee Family YMCA Annual Campaign, Major Gifts Co-Chair, 2016, Chair, Annual Campaign, 2019.

Publications and Presentations

Roach v. Springfield Clinic - The Supreme Court Attempts to Avoid Hair-Splitting in Revisiting the Medical Studies Act, Trial Briefs, Vol. 38, No. 7, June 1993, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Substitution of Judges as a Matter of Right under 735 ILCS 5/2-1001 (a)(2): When is the Right Absolute, Trial Briefs, Vol. 46, No. 2, Sept., 2000, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Using Technology in Discovery and Trial, A Lawyers Guide to Using Computers, Ill. State Bar Assoc., 2000
Presenter, Parties: Misnomer; Respondents in Discovery; Assignments & Subrogation; Third-Party Proceedings, Civil Practice Update, ISBA Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council, Mar. 21, 2001
Navqi v. Rossiello: an IRS Malpractice Trap for the Unwary Practitioner Trial Briefs, Vol. 47, No. 4, Feb., 2002, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Presenter, Essential Litigation Skills for Illinois Paralegals, Inst. for Paralegal Education, March 14, 2002, Rockford, IL.
The Virtual Courtroom: An Update (with Sandy Morganstein) Standing Committee on Legal Technology Newsletter, Vol. 10, No. 2, Dec. 2002, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Illinois General Assembly Regulates Health Care Liens, Trial Briefs, Vol. 49, No. 2, Nov. 2003, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Moderator, Successfully Navigating Civil Litigation: Update & Overview of Civil Practice & Procedure, ISBA Law Ed Series, Dec. 5, 2003, Rockford, IL.
Recent changes in Civil Jury Instructions in the IPI-Civil, 2005 Edition, Trial Briefs, Vol. 50, No. 5, Apr. 2005, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Sealing the Deal: Closing Arguments, Illinois Institute for Continuing Education, August 16, 2006, Chicago, IL.
Melena v. Anheuser-Busch, Inc.: Further enlightenment from the Supreme Court on the dichotomy between mandatory arbitration agreements and public policy, Trial Briefs, Vol. 52, No. 3, November, 2006, Ill. State Bar. Assoc.
The Pierre Condominium Association v. Lincoln Park West Associates, LLC:
Public PolicyFavoring Settlements in the Contribution Act Trumps All, Ill. State Bar Assoc. (2008).
Indemnification Redux: The Supreme Court Rings in on Contractual
Indemnification Clauses in Buenz v. Frontline Transporation Company Ill. State Bar Assoc. (2008).
Maxit, Inc. v. Van Cleve: Supreme Court clarifies the need for express
Approval by Workers’ Compensation Commission of any attempt to settle or waive employee rights and benefits. Ill. State Bar Assoc. (2009).
Co-Moderator, Kane County Bar Association Practice Management Committee
“Managing Your Practice in Tough Economic Times”, January 2011.
Moderator, Kane County Bar Association Practice Management Committee
“Streamlining Your Ship, Steps to Optimize Your Resources in the Solo & Small Firm”, November 2011.
Ten Things Lawyers Starting Their Own Personal Injury Practice Should Know, Kane County Bar Briefs, January 2012.
Lawlor v. North American Corporation of Illinois: The Illinois Supreme
The court recognizes the Tort of Intrusion upon Seclusion and speaks again on punitive damages, Trial Briefs, Vol. 58, No. 6, Dec. 2012, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Holland v. Schwan’s Home Service, Inc.: Proof of “Termination” and Further Consideration of the Applicable Standards for Punitive in Retaliatory Discharge Damages, Trial Briefs, Vol. 59 No. 1, July 2013, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
New Releases from the Appellate Court on Local Governmental Tort
Immunity: “Abruzzo Returns” and “The Sidewalks of the College of DuPage”, Trial Briefs, Vol. 59, No. 8, Feb. 2014, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Sharbono v. Hilborn: The use of PowerPoint at trial – More than just demonstrative evidence?, Trial Briefs, Vol. 60, No. 1, July 2014, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Adjudication of liens in claims involving inadequate insurance coverage: Wolf v. Toolie as the latest contribution in this ongoing saga, Trial Briefs, Vol. 60, No. 4, October 2014, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Moderator, Civil Procedure Update and Review, sponsored by ISBA Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council, April 17, 2015, Moline, Illinois
Presenter, First Steps and Case Law and Legislative Updates for Illinois Workers’ Compensation Claims, KCBA 2015 11^th Hour Seminar, June 17, 2015
Zagorski v. Allstate Insurance Company: Stock discovery objections fail to pass muster with 5^th District, Trial Briefs, Vol. 61, No. 9, June 2016, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Carney v. Union Pacific Railroad Co.: The Illinois Supreme Court Clarifies Extent of Liability to a Subcontractor Employee by an Owner or General Contractor, Kane County Bar Briefs, December 2016/January 2017.
Stan v. Ortberg: The need for clarity in the submission of a special interrogatory to the jury, Trial Briefs, Vol. 62, No. 5, December 2017, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Presenter, The Role of Insurance in Settlement Negotiations; Drafting Indemnification Agreements, KCBA Commercial Law Seminar, February 21, 2018
Antonicelli v. Rodriguez: Revisiting the impact of “good faith” settlements under the Joint Tortfeasor Contribution Act, Trial Briefs, Vol. 62, No. 8, March 2018, Ill. State Bar Assoc.
Presenter, “Trial Presentation Software”, and Moderator, ISBA Civil Practice/Procedure Section Council Seminar on Technology at Trial, February 22, 2019.

If you’re in need of a personal injury attorney in DeKalb and Kane County, call (800) 653-0198 or send us a message through our secure online form.

Awards