(Peru, Illinois – October 30, 2020) – The law firm of Meyers, Flowers, Bruno & Herrmann is pleased to announce it has acquired Anthony C. Raccuglia & Associates, P.C. in Peru, Illinois. The venerable Illinois law firm was led by Anthony C. Raccuglia until his passing in 2019 and has served the North Central Illinois area, including the counties of LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam and Grundy since 1959. The law firm is also pleased to announce it has changed its name to Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran and Herrmann with the addition of James McPhedran as a partner. The office is located at 1200 Maple Drive in Peru, Illinois.
“At Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran & Herrmann, we have always respected Tony Raccuglia and Jim McPhedran’s legal philosophy of enduring community awareness and neighborhood involvement. In so many ways, it matches our own,” said Peter J. Flowers, a Founding Partner at Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran & Herrmann.
“We are committed to honoring Tony’s legacy by continuing his steadfast approach to practicing law and his unwavering commitment to serving his clients. We also are fortunate to have Jim McPhedran join our team. He brings a valuable perspective on the Illinois Valley that allows us to grow and address the needs of our clients.”
Much like Anthony C. Raccuglia & Associates did over its 60-year history, Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran & Herrmann relentlessly pursues justice for clients in a range of personal injury, medical malpractice, workplace injury, trucking accidents and wrongful death cases, as well as business litigation matters across Illinois, the United States, and worldwide. The firm also represents those injured by defective medical devices and pharmaceuticals resulting in numerous multi-million dollar and billion-dollar settlements. The on-going work in these areas has been instrumental in bringing about needed changes to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries while also fundamentally increasing patient safety.
“Everyone in the Illinois Valley legal community knows Jim McPhedran,” said Patrick Herrmann, a partner at Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran & Herrmann. “He has built his career on his integrity and steadfast commitment to his clients. Over the years, I have watched with admiration as he puts that commitment to work in both the courtroom and in the La Salle City Council Chambers. That’s why it is such an honor to have him join our firm.”
Mr. McPhedran has served the Illinois Valley for more than three decades as part of the Anthony C. Raccuglia & Associates team. His work with Mr. Raccuglia resulted in several record-breaking million-dollar verdicts and settlements. As a partner at Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran & Herrmann, he focuses on personal injury, medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, and accident litigation. He also continues to serve as the city attorney of La Salle, Illinois.
“I joined Tony at Raccuglia & Associates because his firm was dedicated to serving my hometown and the people of the Illinois Valley. For decades, we made an unwavering effort to provide exceptional legal services and the best solutions for our clients,” said Jim McPhedran, a partner at Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran & Herrmann.
“It is now a privilege for myself and most of the staff of Anthony C. Raccuglia & Associates, P.C. to join the Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran & Herrmann team. Their commitment echoes the commitment that Raccuglia & Associates made to the Illinois Valley years ago. And, their legal acumen, trial skills and dedication as well as also being very good people to work with allows us to continue to provide quality legal services to our clients today and well into the future.”
Historic Settlements
One of Mr. Raccuglia’s cases involved a client riding his motorcycle when he was struck by a van that ran a stop sign. In early 2019, Mr. Raccuglia, then 85, laid a sound foundation for a potential successful result in the auto accident and personal injury case by winning a major motion. Then, after Mr. Raccuglia’s untimely passing, but before any agreement was reached between the two law firms, Attorney Craig Brown of the Meyers, Flowers, et al firm, began working on the case with Mr. McPhedran.
“I thought from the outset of the negotiations with the Meyers & Flowers group shortly after Tony’s passing, that this firm provided a great potential to carry on Tony Raccuglia’s legacy,” said Mr. McPhedran. “However, when Craig Brown helped our client by locating an additional expert for the case without even knowing whether an agreement would ever be arrived at between our two law firms, I had my answer. It further showed me the firm was comprised not only of great lawyers, but of very good people who could help us carry on Tony’s legacy.”
The significant ruling Mr. Raccuglia obtained and the workup that had been done on the case prior to his passing, combined with the additional expert located by Mr. Brown, greatly assisted Mr. McPhedran in reaching a just $5 million settlement shortly before the then scheduled 2019 trial date. The settlement is one of the largest in the county obtained for a case of that type. The client had significant injuries that he continues to suffer from and will for the rest of his life.
Mr. Brown and Mr. McPhedran negotiated a $1.95 million settlement for another client of Raccuglia & Associates. In that case, a man was tragically killed in a vehicle/truck accident on a very foggy morning when a driver of a truck pulled out from a stop sign. The decedent leaves a surviving spouse of many years as well as four adult children. The defense raised numerous arguments, including that the collision was an “Act of God.” However, Mr. Brown & Mr. McPhedran demonstrated to the defense that the decedent was in the right and negotiated a just settlement to provide compensation to the family for the loss of their loved one.
Mr. Brown and Mr. McPhedran also very recently negotiated a $3.5. million settlement for another client of Raccuglia & Associates. The client suffered a severe brain injury, amongst other injuries, during a horrifying car crash involving a semi-truck. The settlement will allow the client to obtain the ongoing care he will need over the rest of his lifetime and compensate him for his permanent injuries.
Anthony Raccuglia’s Legacy
“Many of us at the Meyers & Flowers office in Chicago worked on cases with Tony over the years. He was a formidable lawyer and a loyal colleague that we were lucky to call a friend,” said Mr. Flowers. “We are dedicated to following in his footsteps and continuing his passion for the law and his community.”
The son of Italian immigrants and coal miners, Mr. Raccuglia, opened his Illinois Valley-based law firm 60 years ago in his hometown of La Salle with a focus on civil litigation. That same year, he was appointed Assistant State’s Attorney and served as a full-time prosecutor in the felony division. He prosecuted several major felony cases, including one of Illinois’ most high-profile cases, the Starved Rock murders, in addition to many other civil cases.
Upon Mr. Raccuglia’s retirement from the State’s Attorney’s office in 1968, he continued to practice law as a plaintiff’s attorney in personal injury, medical malpractice and automobile negligence cases. Anthony C. Raccuglia & Associates obtained numerous million-dollar trial verdicts and settlements in its many years of existence.
About Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran & Herrmann
Led by Illinois Super Lawyer and former President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Peter J. Flowers, our team of experienced trial attorneys and medical malpractice lawyers routinely take on complex legal challenges and succeed. In addition to representing clients locally in Illinois Valley and throughout Illinois, we also work nationally on a full spectrum of cases involving catastrophic personal injuries, medical malpractice, workplace injuries, and wrongful death. Our attorneys are well respected across the US for representing clients who are victims of defective medical products and pharmaceuticals. Connect with Meyers, Flowers, Bruno, McPhedran and Herrmann at mfbhlaw.com on Facebook at facebook.com/MeyersAndFlowers and Twitter at twitter.com/meyers_flowers.