Raised:

South Side of Chicago

Personal History:

Married 34 years to childhood sweetheart, Marcia
Father and Grandfather
30 year resident of Oak Park / River Forest

Education:

Bogan High School, Chicago, Illinois, 1962
DePaul University, B.S.B.A., 1966
DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 1969

Military Service:

United States Army, Honorable Discharge, 1974
Commissioned Officer, 1966
Military Intelligence
DePaul University ROTC

Legal Career:

State of Illinois, Assistant Attorney General, 1969-1974
Antitrust Division - represented the State in major antitrust cases. Argued in front of the Illinois Supreme Court for the broad investigative powers of the special grand jury, the precursor of the state-wide grand jury.

Freeman, Atkins & Coleman, Partner, 1974-1984
Concentrated in complex business litigation, insurance litigation, regulatory litigation, antitrust, securities fraud and commercial fraud.

• Represented 23 Illinois business trade associations and the Illinois Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO) in a comprehensive challenge of several workers compensation insurance premium increases in Illinois. The defendants included over 300 casualty insurance companies, the Insurance Services Office (ISO) and the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). The litigation resulted in over $60 million in premium refunds and more than $500 million in prospective premium reductions.
  
  
• Represented a class of Will County taxpayers alleging discriminatory increases in the assessed valuations of real property in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. This litigation resulted in a multimillion-dollar settlement on behalf of the taxpayers.

Robert F. Coleman & Associates, Founder, 1984-Present
Concentrating in complex business litigation, breach of fiduciary duties, consumer fraud, legal and accounting malpractice, fraudulent conveyance, lenders liability and commercial torts.

• Represented a class of former Ozark Airline Pilots against TWA in connection with the termination of the Ozark retirement plan, resulting in a multimillion-dollar settlement for the class.
  
  
• Represented a class of insurance policyholders against their automobile insurance company and its eight affiliates arising out of the insurance companies' failure to pay the full benefits due their policyholders.
  
  
• Represented the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) in extensive litigation against public officials, banks, investment bankers, lawyers and other professionals arising out of a series of failed investments made on behalf of the pension system. The litigation resulted in recoveries in excess of $70 million for KPERS and the people of Kansas.
  
  
• Tried three related cases involving claims of professional malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty and legal malpractice, resulting in recoveries in excess of $20 million.
  
  
• Acted as lead counsel in the Reliance Acceptance Group Bankruptcy Litigation. This matter arose out of Cole Taylor Financial Group's 1997 split-off of Chicago-based Cole Taylor Bank and the subsequent failure of Reliance's sub-prime auto financing operations. Mr. Coleman effectively litigated and managed this complex litigation, and was integral in negotiating settlements of more than $150 million for creditors and stockholders.

Courts Admitted:

United States Supreme Court
Illinois Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court, Central District of Illinois

States Litigated In:

Illinois, Arizona, California, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Washington, Wisconsin

Recognition:

1994 Certificate of Merit from the Cook County Regional Office of Education for "outstanding service to children and education in Cook County."

Best Lawyers in America

Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

Leading American Attorneys

Civic/Charitable Interests:

Trinity High School - Board of Trustees, 10 years; Board President, 2 years; Awarded Trinity H.S. Board of Trustee Emeritus; Instrumental in bringing the International Baccalaureate Program to Trinity.

Fenwick High School, Board of Lifetime Trustees

Dominican University, President's Council

Mercy Home for Boys and Girls

River Forest Police and Fire Commission, Commissioner

Business Interests:

The Private Bank and Trust Company - Director; Chairman of the Audit Committee; Member of the Trust Committee

Association of Trial Lawyers Assurance, A Mutual Risk Retention Group - Director

Legal Affiliations:

American Bar Association

Chicago Bar Association

Association of Trial Lawyers of America

American Inns of Court