Daniel B. Malone appointed to Cook County bench

Daniel B. Malone, a partner at the Healy Law Firm Ltd., has been appointed to the Cook County Circuit Court effective February 24, 2009. Malone will fill the "A" vacancy in the Third Subcircuit. His appointment will expire on December 6, 2010.

Malone obtained his undergraduate degree in 1979 from the University of Illinois and his law degree from DePaul University in 1986. He's been a partner at the Healy Law Firm since 2001 concentrating in personal injury and worker's compensation matters. According to his biography on the Healy firm website, Malone "currently serves as the Vice President and was the former Treasurer and on the Board of Directors for the Workers' Compensation Association. He is on the Board of Managers of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association."

Malone made the Law Bulletin last March when the Illinois Appellate Court reinstated a claim he brought against Commonwealth Edison on behalf of a City of Chicago electrician who was injured while working in the Heating and Refrigeration (H & R) building at O'Hare International Airport, performing maintenance work on a circuit breaker. The Appellate Court held that the construction statute of repose did not apply to Commonwealth Edison's duty to maintain its equipment, even if the equipment had been installed more than 20 years before. The case is Ryan v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 381 Ill.App.3d 877, 885 N.E.2d 544 (1st Dist. 2008).

According to the Healy Firm website, Malone has served as Chairman of the Finance Committee of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Chicago, also participating as a cantor and in the church choir. Malone has also been "a long term Commissioner and was the former Chairman of the Southwest Home Equity Assurance Program" and "currently serves as a Commissioner on the Midway Noise Compatibility Commission."