Jason Callicoat

Jason Callicoat concentrates his practice in worker's compensation, municipal liability and construction law. Jason regularly defends municipalities in civil rights litigation and construction companies in injury cases, breach of contract litigation and mechanics liens. He also represents various employers in workers' compensation matters and contract suits.

Mr. Callicoat is a regular contributor to the newsletter "Construction Law Quarterly," and a frequent speaker at seminars on mechanics liens and construction law. He is active in the Chicago Building Congress and serves on its Future Leaders Committee. Mr. Callicoat assists in maintaining Querrey & Harrow’s status as an accredited Continuing Legal Education Provider. He has previous litigation experience in the areas of premises liability and insurance coverage.

While in law school, Mr. Callicoat served as a volunteer mediator for the Center for Conflict Resolution and completed the Chicago-Kent Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate Program. He also has professional experience as a city government reporter for the Kansas City Star, and as a courts and police reporter for the South Bend (IN) Tribune.

Education

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, JD, with honors, 2005

University of Missouri-Columbia, BJ, summa cum laude, 1996

Professional Activities

Chicago Building Congress

Practice Areas

Construction

Litigation for Municipalities

Workers' Compensation

Illinois, 2005

US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2006

Memberships

Illinois State Bar Association

Representative Matters

Representative Matters

• Obtained summary judgment in favor of an insurance carrier and against a plaintiff seeking to enforce a $100,000 judgment obtained in an underlying auto collision lawsuit.  The Court agreed with Jason's argument that the excluded driver provision of the policy, which was violated by the insured, allowed the insurer to properly deny to provide both defense and indemnity to the insured on the underlying lawsuit. 
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of a local housing authority in a case for breach of loan guaranty, filed against the housing authority by a bank seeking approximately $1.8 million.
• Won a dismissal with prejudice of a lawsuit filed by a former municipal employee alleging her job was eliminated in retaliation for her political association, in violation of the First Amendment. The dismissal was upheld by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of suburban police officers accused of falsely detaining a Chicago police officer for an alleged weapons violation. The decision was upheld by the Illinois Court of Appeals.
• Won a dismissal with prejudice of a lawsuit against suburban police officers alleging they improperly investigated sexual abuse claims made by two children against another minor.
• Won a dismissal of a lawsuit alleging various municipal officials had committed acts of racially motivated discrimination against the Hispanic owner of a residential construction company that regularly performed work within the municipality.
• Won a dismissal of a lawsuit alleging that alleged a municipality deprived a tow truck company of due process and equal protection by not including the company in the rotation of those called when the police department needed towing services.
• Prevails in a 3rd District Appellate Court Wrongful Death Claim

Professional Activities

Chicago Building Congress

Publications

Contractors Owed No Duty To Defend Developer For Alleged Fraud

Mechanics Lien Invalidated Based On False Affidavit - Even Though Owner Was Aware The Affidavit Was False

Contractor Barred from Re-Recording Mechanics Lien

Court Invalidates Mechanics Lien Claim for Failure to Provide Sworn Statement

Police Officer Allegedly Fired For Reporting Corruption Can Sue For Violation of His First Amendment Rights

NEWS: $1.7 Million Settlement for Junk Faxes May be Covered by Insurance

NEWS: New Law Improves Mechanics Lien Claimants’ Odds of Being Paid

NEWS: Intrusion Upon Seclusion ... What?

NEWS: Feds Lose - Contractors Win

Alleged Violation of No Child Left Behind Act Cannot Support Retaliatory Discharge Claim

City's Restaurant Grease Re-Used to Power Municipal Vehicles

Municipal Law Update: Forest Preserve District May Be Held Liable To Motorist Who Was Not Intended Or Permitted User of Its Property, In Spit of Tort Immunity Act

Design Company Unable to Enforce Arbitration Provision

Owner's Testing Company Owes No Duty To Give Accurate Information To Subcontractor

Illinois Appellate Court Requires Unwilling Subcontractor To Arbitrate

Appellate Court Makes Project Owner Pay Twice

Municipal Law Update: Sheriff's Handling of Discipline After Employee's Fight Over Parking Spot Does Not Implicate First Amendment

New Green Building Standards Take Effect For State Projects

Case Dismissed Because Complaint Not Given To Public Agency

News

Q&H's Callicoat Prevails in Condominium Flood Litigation

Burke and Callicoat Apply Judicial Estoppel and Defeat Federal Court Warehouse/Trucking Claim

Guolee and Callicoat Obtain Summary Judgment For Furniture Installer

Querrey & Harrow Elects Three New Shareholders

Seventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Political Retaliation Lawsuit

City’s Restaurant Grease Re-Used To Power Municipal Vehicles

Police Officers’ Internal Affairs Complaint Cannot Support Defamation Suit

Police Officers Handle Investigation by the Book