Todd Schenk Tressler LLP

Schenk, Todd S. Partner

Schenk, Todd S. Partner

Practice Focus

Todd Schenk is highly experienced in providing insurance coverage counseling and litigation representation to insurance companies. He is particularly skilled in handling third party claims involving advertising injury and product liability, and first party claims under residential and commercial property policies. Many of his cases require the defense of common law and statutory bad faith claims, which Todd litigates in venues around the country. He has also handled appeals in both state and federal courts around the country.

Professional Background

Todd joined Tressler as an associate in 1995 and was promoted to partner in January 2001. Currently active in firm management, Todd serves on Tressler’s three-person Executive Committee, which is the governing body of the firm. Todd has achieved an AV® Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. He has been selected for inclusion in Illinois Super Lawyers® for the past 16 years and most recently was selected by his peers in the 29th Edition (2023) and 30th Edition (2024) of The Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Law and Insurance Litigation.

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Memberships & Affiliations

  • DRI, Member, Insurance Coverage Section
  • Federal Trial Bar, Member

Publications

Recent Articles and Blogs

News

Presentations & Events

Representative Experience

  • P.I.&I. Motor Express, Inc. v. RLI Ins. Co., 40 F.4th 398 (6th Cir. 2022)

    • Pollock v. Federal Ins. Co., 2022 WL 2756669 (N.D. Cal. July 14, 2022), 2022 WL 912893 (Mar. 29, 2022)

      • Dental Experts, LLC v. Massachusetts Bay Ins. Co., 2022 WL 2528104 (N.D. Ill. July 7, 2022), 2021 WL 1722781 (May 1, 2021)

        • RLI Ins. Co. v. Acuity Ins., 2022 WL 36100 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 4, 2022)

          • J&L Pack, Inc. v. Nova Cas. Co., 2021 WL 3550299 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 11, 2021)

            • Great Northern Ins. Co. v. 100 Park Avenue Homeowners Assoc., Inc., 2021 WL 2660778 (D. Colo. June 29, 2021); 2019 WL 9355717 (D. Colo. Sept. 11, 2019)

            • Image Dental, LLC v. Citizens Ins. Co. of America, 543 F.Supp.3d 582 (N.D. Ill. June 11, 2021)

              • Mesa Laboratories, Inc. v. Federal Ins. Co., 994 F.3d 865, 2021 WL 1538230 (7th Cir. Apr. 20, 2021)

                • Sojo’s Studios, Inc. v. Citizens Ins. Co. of America, 2021 WL 837623 (N.D. Ill. Mar. 4, 2021)

                  • Café Patachou at Clay Terrace LLC v. Citizens Ins. Co. of America, 2020 WL 4592718 (S.D. Ind. Aug. 11, 2020)

                    • Lexington Ins. Co. v. RLI Ins. Co., 949 F.3d 1015 (7th Cir. 2020)

                    • Illinois Mine Subsidence Ins. Fund v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., 2019 WL 233219 (C.D. Ill. Jan. 16, 2019), 2018 WL 1762207 (C.D. Ill. April 11, 2018)

                    • Federal Ins. Co. v. Indeck Power Equipment Co., 2017 WL 943954 (W.D. Ok. March 9, 2017); 2016 WL 5173402 (Sept. 21, 2016); 2016 WL 3676803 (July 7, 2016)
                    • Landmark American Ins. Co. v. Deerfield Construction, Inc., 2018 WL 157858 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 12, 2017)
                    • National Sur. Corp. v. Westlake Inv., LLC, 2016 WL 3201729 (Iowa June 10, 2016), affirming National Sur. Corp. v. Westlake Inv., LLC, 872 N.W.2d 409 (Iowa App. Ct. 2015)
                    • National Surety Corp. v. Dustex Corp., 2015 WL 1057506 (N.D. Iowa Mar. 10, 2015), 2015 WL 2400804 (N.D. Iowa May 19, 2015), appeal pending
                    • Gronik v. Chubb Indem. Ins. Co., 2015 WL 7430026 (Nov. 20, 2015), 2015 WL 4647938 (E.D. Wis. Aug. 6, 2015), 2015 WL 905151 (Mar. 3, 2015), 2014 WL 2739333 (E.D. Wis. June 17, 2014), 2013 WL 5376025 (Sept. 24, 2013)
                    • Gartner Studios, Inc. v. Northern Capital Ins. Group, 2014 WL 28794 (D. Minn. Jan. 2, 2014)
                    • Strauss v. Chubb Indem. Ins. Co., 771 F.3d 1026 (7th Cir. 2014), rehearing denied (2015), affirming 2013 WL 27344 (E.D. Wis. Jan. 2, 2013)
                    • Sterling Fire Restoration, Ltd. v. Wachovia Bank N.A., et al., 2012 WL 5471122 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 9, 2012)
                    • Burmaster v. Plaquemines Parish Government, 81 So.3d 805 (La. Ct. App. 2011).
                    • Johnson Outdoors, Inc. v. General Star Ins. Co., et al., 2011 WL 196825 (E.D. Wis. Jan. 19, 2011); 2009 WL 4043104 (E.D. Wis., Sept. 16, 2009); 2008 WL 7140827 (E.D. Wis. Apr. 10, 2008).
                    • Mylan Laboratories, Inc. v. American Motorists Ins. Co., et al., 700 S.E.2d 518 (W.V. 2010)
                    • BASF AG v. Great American Assurance Co., et al., 522 F.3d 813 (7th Cir. Apr. 14, 2008), rehearing en banc denied (July 15, 2008), reversing BASF AG v. Great American Assurance Co., et al., 2006 WL 1235943 (N.D. Ill. May 8, 2006)
                    • Rockwell Automation, Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA, et al., 494 F. Supp. 2d 1009 (E.D. Wis. 2007), affirmed 544 F.3d 752 (7th Cir. 2008)
                    • Erie Insurance Exchange v. Watts, 2006 WL 1547109 (S.D. Ind. May 30, 2006)
                    • Comdisco Ventures, Inc. v. Federal Ins. Co., et al., 2005 WL 1377856 (N.D. Ill. June 8, 2005); 2004 WL 1375353 (N.D. Ill. June 18, 2004)
                    • Burger King Corp. v. Lumbermens Mutual Cas. Co., 410 F. Supp.2d 1249 (S.D. Fla. 2005)
                    • McDonald’s Corp. v. American Motorists Ins. Co., 748 N.E.2d 771 (Ill. App. Ct. 2001)
                    •  American Motorists Ins. Co. v. DSO Sanitary Supply Co., Inc., et al.,2000 WL 35627444 (E.D. Wis. Mar. 31, 2000)

                    Presentations

                    “Tressler Talks: The B-Team - Don’t Pity the Fool About Coverage B,” Tressler Webinar, March 30, 2023

                    "Legal Writing 101," Tressler LLP in-house seminar, October 28, 2021

                    "The Most Important Coverage Decisions of 2020 (So Far)," Tressler Talks Webinar, September 2, 2020

                    "It’s A Surprise Party! (Contractual Indemnity, Additional Insureds, Targeted Tender and Horizontal Exhaustion in the Northeast)," Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Philadelphia, PA, December 1, 2017

                    "Using Expert Witnesses in Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage Litigation:  Evidentiary Rules, Expert Opinions, and Objections to Testimony, Strafford Publications, Inc." Webinar, August 30, 2017

                    "It’s A Surprise Party! (Contractual Indemnity, Additional Insureds, Targeted Tender and Horizontal Exhaustion Under Illinois Law)," Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Chicago, IL, March 22, 2017

                    "Insurance Bad Faith Trial Strategies:  Case Evaluation, Jury Themes and Bifurcation, 4th Annual Bad Faith Litigation Strategies," ExecuSummit, Uncasville, CT, November 1, 2016

                    "Insurance Bad Faith Trial Strategies:  Case Evaluation, Jury Themes and Bifurcation, Strafford Publications, Inc." Webinar, July 19, 2016

                    "Closing Argument Demonstration, Tressler LLP’s Strategies for Winning Bad Faith," Trials Seminar, New York, NY, May 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, October 15, 2015 

                    "Using Expert Witnesses in Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage Litigation," Strafford Publications, Inc. Webinar, August 5, 2015

                    "Casualty Coverage Hot Issues and Case Law Update," Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Los Angeles, CA, May 19, 2015

                    "Simultaneous Handling of Claim Adjustment and Bad Faith Lawsuit," Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Warren, NJ, September 18, 2014 

                    "Trigger and Suit Limitations, Tressler LLP’s Sophisticated Issues and Trends in Complex Property Claims Seminar," Chicago, IL, May 21, 2014 

                    "Waiver of Defenses Not Raised in Coverage Position Letters," Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Warren, NJ, May 16, 2014 

                    "Discovery Issues in Coverage Litigation, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies," Los Angeles, CA, May 6, 2014 

                    "Handling Claims Involving Financially Impaired Insureds," Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Los Angeles, CA, August 31, 2010

                    "Handling Claims Involving Financially Impaired Insureds," Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Pittsburgh, PA, June 25, 2010

                    "Liability and Coverage Issues Arising Out of Privacy Claims Asserted Under Specialty Policies," Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Simsbury, CT, May 11, 2010

                    Community Involvement

                    Todd is active in his community’s church, St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Downers Grove, as an Elder, member of its Stewardship Committee, and member of the Chancel Choir.  

                    Personal Life

                    Todd Schenk's family includes his wife, Becky, and kids Lauren (20) and Tyler (19). He enjoys golfing, boating, exercise and travel. Todd also plays guitar and performs in a cover band with friends at local Illinois bars. 

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