Stewart Weltman, Principal

Email: sweltman@futtermanhoward.com

PRACTICE FOCUS
Antitrust
Civil rights
Complex litigation
Securities fraud

BAR ADMISSIONS
Illinois
The District of Columbia
The Third, Fifth, Seventh and Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal
United States Supreme Court

PRACTICE HIGLIGHTS
Extensive jury and bench trial experience
For over thirty years Stewart has been a lead trial counsel in numerous complex litigation matters for both plaintiffs and defendants, in cases involving antitrust, accounting malpractice, legal malpractice, securities fraud, patent issues, contract actions, and consumer fraud. He has argued before the Illinois Appellate Court, the Seventh, Fifth and Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals. He has appeared before the United States Supreme Court as both counsel of record and as amicus counsel.

His clients during the past thirty years have included Fortune 500 companies, CEOs, small and large business and major plaintiff classes — litigating and trying cases against and with many nationally known litigators.

During the years he had his own firm, Stewart offered assistance to those whom he has successfully litigated against for so many years — in-house counsel and the companies they represent — providing them with a "plaintiffs' perspective" on how to better manage high stakes litigation matters.

He has first and second chaired numerous multimillion dollar jury and bench trials.

  • One of the lead trial counsel in In re Carbon Black Antitrust Litigation ( D.C. Mass.), which settled for $20 million.
  • Lead counsel and one of the members of the trial preparation team In Re EPDM Antitrust Litigation (D.C. Conn.), in which three defendants have settled claims for a total of $81 million.
  • Lead counsel In re PCP Antitrust Litigation (D.C. Conn.), which settled for $80 million.
  • Lead counsel in In Re Pressure Sensitive Labelstock Antitrust Litigation (M.D. Pa.).
  • Member of the trial team in In re Vitamins Antitrust Litigation (D.D.C.), along with David Boies and Susman Godfrey. The trial resulted in a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs and the class of $148.5 million after trebling.

Complex litigation
While much of his practice has centered on pursuing claims on behalf of individuals and classes who have been injured as the result of fraud or antitrust violations, Stewart has also successfully defended clients in complex business matters. For example, he obtained summary judgment on behalf of his clients in an antitrust class action before Judge Wayne Anderson of the N.D. Ill. where seven other defendants, similarly situated, were denied summary judgment. Alexander v. Phoenix Bond & Indem. Co., 149 F. Supp. 2d 989 (N.D. Ill. 2001).

Securities fraud matters
In addition to his antitrust experience, Stewart also acted as lead attorney or lead counsel in several securities fraud matters.

  • Lead attorney for his client Pacific Life Insurance Company in its individual action brought against various underwriter defendants arising out of the Worldcom frauds.
  • Derivative Plaintiffs' Lead Counsel in a securities fraud and derivative/breach of fiduciary duty case in which a $33 million settlement was reached with the former directors and officers of the Public Service Company of New Mexico.
  • Co-lead counsel with Susman Godfrey in a securities fraud class action that resulted in a combined settlement of $31 million against a law firm and a national accounting firm.
  • Co-lead counsel in Benfield v. Steindler and General Electric Co. (S.D. Ohio), a derivative action in which a settlement of $21 million was reached.
  • Lead counsel for a class of 1500 homeowners in South Florida and obtained a $15 million settlement arising out of defective construction claims.

LEGAL CAREER
Partner, Much Shelist
Partner, Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Toll PLLC

ARTICLES & SPEECHES
Member, Board of Editors the Corporate Counselor Newsletter published by ALM, Author, Five part series in Corporate Counselor (2008) regarding how in-house counsel can better manage litigation costs.
Frequent author and lecturer on the subject of lean litigation practices and lowering litigation costs
Adjunct Instructor in complex litigation at The John Marshall Law School
Lecturer and panel member for numerous FDIC and RTC investigator training seminars and AICPA Litigation Support Section seminars.
Lecturer for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the Chicago Bar Association, Co-author, an article for the American Bar Association Antitrust magazine, analyzing the Chicago School's influence on the Seventh Circuit's antitrust jurisprudence as of 1989.
He is the author of the Lean and Mean Litigation Blog

EDUCATION
J. D., (with High Distinction - 4TH in class of 207) The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Member, Law Review (1978)
B. A., Roosevelt University (1975)