Michael F. Bonamarte, IV joined Levin & Perconti as a litigation associate in August, 2005.  Mr. Bonamarte has assisted in the litigation and settlement of numerous complex personal injury and wrongful death cases resulting from medical negligence and nursing home abuse and neglect.

In April and May of 2007, Michael F. Bonamarte helped bring four cases to settlement with a settlement value of over $5,000,000.00.  The largest of the four settlements was a $2,325,000.00 settlement against an assisted living facility which failed to prevent multiple pressure ulcers in an 88-year-old resident.  The pressure ulcers led to an infection in the resident’s bones and ultimately caused the resident’s death.

Michael is currently working on a case against an East Peoria nursing home that has received national media attention.  Michael and Steve Levin represent the family of a nursing home resident who died from injuries she sustained during a fall at the facility.  The allegations made against the East Peoria Gardens Nursing Home include the issue that the home mixed an elderly population with a younger mentally ill population, several of whom had criminal backgrounds and outstanding warrants, creating a situation where the elderly residents lived in fear of their safety.

Mike also assisted in the trial preparation and $1,000,000.00 settlement of a case involving a nursing home resident who hemorrhaged to death as a result of the nursing home’s failure to report the signs and symptoms of a gastric ulcer to the appropriate medical personnel. Mr. Bonamarte also assisted in a $950,000.00 settlement for a nursing home resident who suffered a subdural hematoma and death as a result of a fall down a flight of stairs.

In his first jury trial, Michael sat second chair to Steven Levin and assisted in achieving a $2.9 million verdict for the family of a deceased 57-year-old nursing home resident who suffocated due to the home’s negligent care of her tracheostomy tube.

Mike recently spoke to the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association at a recent seminar where his topic was deposition strategies.  He also recently spoke in Chicago and Springfield on prosecuting nursing home negligence cases at two Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education seminars.  Mike also writes for the Justinian Society newsletter. 

Mike’s reputation of leadership began at Highland Park High School where he earned honors status while serving as the captain and starting quarterback for the varsity football team and continues today as he mentors law students, offering advice on school and how to handle the pressures of law school.

Mike earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison graduating with academic distinction. Following a time-honored family tradition, Mike attended law school.  Mike earned his Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago where he graduated at the top of his class and earned a place on the Dean's List during his second and third years.  He received highest scholastic honors in trial advocacy and advanced trial advocacy.  After passing the July 2005 Illinois Bar Examination, he was sworn in on November 10, 2005.

Mike worked as law clerk for Levin & Perconti during both his second and third years of law school.  As an attorney, Mike continues to work passionately and diligently to advocate for individuals and their families who have been the victims of wrongful conduct.

Mike is an active member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, and Justinian Society of Lawyers.  Mike is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division Council.  As a council member, Mike will promote the Young Lawyers Division's mission to serve as a resource for young lawyers to develop, enhance and foster a balanced professional life.

Mike is also the president of the Michael F. Bonamarte III Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funding research on the treatment and prevention of strokes. Mike founded the organization in memory of his late father, Michael F. Bonamarte III (“The III”), who passed away in 2006. This year, the Foundation will host its first annual charity golf outing to raise funds for stroke research and to celebrate the memory of The III. For more information, please see www.mfbiii.com or contact Mike directly.  Mike is also a member of the Associate Board of the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation, a charitable organization committed to raising funds for research on the treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal cancer.