PRESS RELEASE
CHICAGO - Frank J. Del Barto and David J. Stein from Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. received awards for excellence in pro bono service at the Eighteenth Annual U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter Federal Bar Association Awards Ceremony held on May 24, 2017. The Honorable Michael J. Newman, President of the Federal Bar Association, provided remarks as the keynote speaker.
Judge Elaine E. Bucklo nominated Frank Del Barto and David Stein for the award to recognize their work on behalf of Loretta Morse in Morse v. Illinois Department of Corrections, Case No. 12 C 10263. In presenting the award to Frank Del Barto and David Stein, Judge Bucklo remarked that Frank Del Barto and David Stein provided outstanding representation to their client who filed an age discrimination case against her former employer, the Illinois Department of Corrections. After years of discovery, successfully opposing summary judgment, and conducting a three day trial, the case was finally settled on very favorable terms for Ms. Morse.
In his remarks, Frank Del Barto said that "having invested over three and one-half years helping Ms. Morse pursue her claims, the favorable settlement terms which will enable Ms. Morse to move on with her life reinforce my belief that all lawyers should consider representing those individuals who may not have a voice in our legal system."
David Stein added, "it was a pleasure to represent Ms. Morse and advocate on her behalf to see that she obtained just compensation for the discriminatory treatment she suffered at the hands of her former employer."
Chief District Judge Rubén Castillo acknowledged the representation of all of the award-winning attorneys and commended them for their efforts to render outstanding services to their clients, the court, and the public.