SBH LLC

03/20/2026

SBH partners Jenny Blake and Sam D'Anna secured a trial victory on behalf of their clients, a plastic surgeon and his practice. The plaintiff, a 45-year old woman, claimed the surgeon directly injured one or both of her sural nerves during bilateral calf and ankle liposuction, resulting in Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and permanent disability. The plaintiff also claimed she was not informed of the risk of direct nerve injury during the procedure. The defense argued there was no evidence or symptoms to suggest a direct nerve injury and denied the surgeon was required to inform the plaintiff of the risk that the sural nerve could be directly and permanently injured during the procedure, which is not a risk of calf and ankle liposuction. The defense was able to demonstrate the plaintiff suffered from pre-existing and post-operative swelling which led to a bilateral sural nerve injury and her current condition/disability. The plaintiff asked the jury to award $11,638,056, which included a life care plan of over $4.2 million dollars and $6.5 million in non-economic damages. The jury returned a decisive verdict in favor of the plastic surgeon and his group, after less than 1 hour and 15 minutes of deliberations. The case was tried in Winnebago County Circuit Court before the Honorable Judge Lisa R. Fabiano.

03/16/2026

Meet Austin Montbriand, an associate attorney at SBH whose background reflects a strong foundation in legal writing, advocacy, and client service. Austin earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before pursuing his legal education at Marquette University Law School. He is licensed to practice in Illinois and Wisconsin.

During law school, Austin gained valuable experience through internships and clerkships that strengthened his legal research, writing, and advocacy skills. He also performed substantial writing for a personal injury firm, where he developed a sharp attention to detail and a thoughtful approach to analyzing complex legal issues. These experiences helped shape his practice and prepared him for a career centered on careful analysis, effective advocacy, and strong client service.

At SBH, Austin is developing his practice in litigation, including medical malpractice defense. He is particularly motivated by the responsibility that comes with handling cases involving complex facts, important professional judgments, and significant consequences for everyone involved. He appreciates the level of precision, preparation, and critical thinking the work demands and is committed to guiding clients through those matters with diligence and care.

Outside of his practice, Austin is a passionate Chicago sports fan, avid concertgoer, and golfer. Whether he is following his favorite teams, getting out for a round of golf, or attending a live show, he loves staying active and connected with friends and family.

02/13/2026

Meet Michael Fowler, a second-year attorney at SBH whose professional path reflects both a strong business foundation and a commitment to litigation advocacy. Michael earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois Gies College of Business and worked in commercial real estate and finance before pursuing his legal education at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he graduated cm laude.

While at Loyola, Michael obtained certifications in Transactional Law. However, through his participation in trial advocacy courses and his experience working at a plaintiff’s personal injury firm, he developed a strong interest in litigation. During his third year of law school, he had the distinguished opportunity to complete a judicial externship with Justice Joy V. Cunningham. Following graduation, Michael joined SBH.

Michael is particularly drawn to the demanding and fact-intensive nature of medical malpractice litigation and is committed to providing thoughtful, thorough, and dedicated representation to his clients.

Outside of his practice, Michael enjoys golfing and bowling and is an avid supporter of the Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Chicago Blackhawks. He also participates in a softball league and a volleyball league with friends from high school and college.

02/12/2026

SBH partners Jenny Blake and Katie Vaughan, assisted by associate Suzana Broderick, secured a trial victory on behalf of their clients, a neurosurgeon and a local hospital. The plaintiff, a 55-year-old woman, claimed the physician improperly performed a posterior cervical decompression and fusion. Nine hours after surgery, the patient developed weakness in her right arm that progressed over time. The surgeon promptly took her back to surgery for further decompression of her nerve roots. The patient awoke with full function of her right arm, but eight hours after the second surgery, she again developed right arm weakness followed by bilateral weakness and gait abnormalities. The plaintiff claimed the first surgery was improperly performed when the surgeon allegedly improperly placed allograft bone spacers in the cervical spine and allegedly failed to adequately decompress the foramina, requiring a second surgery where the plaintiff claimed the surgeon caused a permanent injury to her spinal cord. The defense argued the physician performed the surgery appropriately, as evidenced by neuromonitoring during surgery as well as the post-operative exams. The defense argued the patient developed a C5 palsy after both surgeries. This is a known and unpredictable complication of surgery and did not occur due to any negligence. The defense further argued there was no objective evidence of a nerve root injury or a spinal cord injury, despite the patient’s deterioration. The plaintiff asked the jury to award more than $27 million. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the neurosurgeon and the hospital. The case was tried in Cook County Circuit Court before Judge Slattery Boyle.

01/21/2026

SBH Recognizes Our 2026 Super Lawyers: Jenny Blake, Thomas Hill, Kevin Bugos, and Gretchen Powell, as well as our 2026 Rising Stars: Samantha D'Anna, Kevin Fleming, and Caroline Kernan.

These attorneys were selected by Thompson Reuters via a peer influenced and research driven selection process to represent the top 5% of attorneys to be named to the Super Lawyers list each year. SBH remains committed to providing the best representation to our clients.

01/06/2026

Meet Lauren Reyes, a second-year associate at SBH. Lauren earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, where she double majored in Philosophy and Spanish. After graduating, she moved to Chicago to attend Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor.

Prior to joining SBH, Lauren worked as a law clerk at a plaintiff's personal injury firm in Chicago and a criminal defense firm in Michigan. While in law school, Lauren competed in several mock trial competitions as a Philip H. Corboy Fellow. In addition, she served as the Finance Director of the Mock Trial Executive Board. Now, Lauren serves as an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at Loyola, helping students prepare for national mock trial competitions.

In her spare time, Lauren enjoys playing tennis, collecting records, and spending time with friends and co-workers. When she's not in Chicago, you can find Lauren back in Michigan visiting family and cheering on her alma mater.

01/05/2026

SBH Partner Jenny Blake Gets Justice for Local Network

SBH partner Jenny Blake teamed up with Lee Williams and Elizabeth Polit from Brennan Burker LLIC to secure a decisive defense verdict in Cook County on behalf of their client, a clinically integrated network. Suzana Broderick from SBH assisted behind the scenes. After a 3-week complex medical malpractice case, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defense. Plaintiffs claimed the network controlled and/or had the right to control the independent medical decisions of a family medicine physician who allegedly failed to diagnose melanoma in a middle-aged woman. Plaintiffs further claimed the standard of care required that physician to refer the patient to a dermatologist because she was at increased risk for developing melanoma. As a result, the patient claimed she was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer, required an extensive excision and required 13 months of immunotherapy; whereas, she would have otherwise only required a local excision and would have been cured without an arm deformity. The defense argued the network did not control or have the right to control the independent medical decisions of the family medicine physician or any physician. The patient’s physician exercised her own independent medical judgment, and she appropriately treated the patient. The standard of care did not require that the patient be referred to a dermatologist and the excisions/biopsies done were adequate for a pathologic diagnosis. Plaintiffs asked the jury to award between $7,950,000 and $10,300,000. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the network. The case was tried in Cook County Circuit Court before The Honorable John H. Ehrlich.

12/19/2025

11/14/2025

SBH is excited to celebrate the firm’s 10th anniversary on November 15, 2025! It is a milestone that fills us with pride and gratitude as we reflect on our journey and the individuals and organizations we have had the privilege to serve. Our first ten years was marked by a changing legal landscape, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are proud of our ability to adapt and meet our clients’ changing needs in a demanding time.

As we commemorate this significant anniversary, we extend our thanks to our clients for entrusting us with their legal matters. We also extend our gratitude to our team of attorneys and support staff, whose hard work, expertise, and dedication have been instrumental in guiding our firm to this milestone. Each member of our team plays a vital role in our collective success, and we are honored to work alongside such talented individuals.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the future and the continued opportunity to serve our clients and make a positive impact through the practice of law. Thank you for being an integral part of our firm’s success, and here’s to many more years of partnership and collaboration!

11/12/2025

SBH partners Mark Smith and Kevin Fleming secured a defense verdict on behalf of their client, a hospital medicine physician. The case involved a sixty-seven-year-old woman who underwent liver and kidney biopsies at a local hospital, developed bleeding issues, and passed away. The plaintiff claimed the patient’s PT/INR, hemoglobin, and platelet levels before the procedure created an unacceptably high risk for bleeding, and the defendant, hospitalist, should not have allowed her biopsies to proceed without first correcting her coagulopathy. The defendants argued the lab values were at appropriate levels for the biopsies to take place and the patient’s bleeding and death were unforeseeable events. The Plaintiff asked the jury to award more than $20 million. The case was tried in Cook County Circuit Court before The Honorable Judge Scott D. McKenna.

11/11/2025

Smith Blake Hill has again received Regional Tier 1 Ranking in the categories of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants.

Best Law Firms® rankings celebrate firms that have consistently demonstrated excellence in legal expertise and industry knowledge. Each firm included has been rigorously evaluated based on client feedback, peer recommendations, leadership interviews, and the depth of their practice. The result is a comprehensive guide for businesses and individuals seeking top-tier legal counsel in the United States.