John F. Winters, Jr.

John F. Winters, Jr. is a Chicago-based trial attorney with decades of courtroom experience. His practice centers on serious injury, civil rights, and negligence litigation, where he has secured significant verdicts and settlements for individuals harmed by misconduct, unsafe conditions, and professional failures across complex and highly contested legal disputes.

John built his legal foundation through formal academic training. He earned a B.S. in History in 1977 from Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois. He later pursued studies at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, and Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. He completed his Juris Doctor at The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois.

John has tried and resolved complex matters involving medical negligence, police misconduct, automobile and trucking negligence, premises liability, products liability, and defamation. His work includes multi-million dollar outcomes against corporate defendants and insurers, reflecting careful preparation, strategic advocacy, and consistent courtroom focus on accountability and public safety.

John has handled nationally recognized litigation, including the representation of former NFL players in CTE brain injury cases. He also served as lead counsel in the Estate of Eric Morse wrongful death trial and argued civil responsibility matters before Illinois and United States appellate courts on complex constitutional and liability issues.

John regularly contributes to the legal profession as a lecturer for the Chicago Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education programs, and the Illinois House of Representatives. His work has earned recognition, including the Trial Lawyer Excellence Award 2022, Super Lawyers Magazine Super Lawyer, and Leading Lawyers Magazine honors, along with a Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rating.

John is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America, multiple United States Courts of Appeals, federal district courts, and the State of Illinois. His practice addresses personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights violations, medical malpractice, and complex liability disputes affecting injured individuals statewide.

John F. Winters, Jr., also serves the community through teaching Trial Advocacy as an adjunct professor at The John Marshall Law School. He frequently provides legal commentary on national and local media and supports charitable efforts benefiting youth and underserved communities through sustained volunteer leadership and mentorship initiatives.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founding Member, Winters Salzetta O’Brien & Richardson, LLC
• Member, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
• Member, Illinois State Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Chicago Bar Association
• Member, Association of Trial Lawyers
• Member, Society of Trial Lawyers

Licensed State

• Illinois

Education

• The John Marshall Law School, Chicago
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Illinois State University, Normal
  BS in History

Awards & Badges