Aphrodite (“Dede”) Kokolis is an experienced litigator with a special practice emphasis on complex and appellate litigation, particularly the defense and settlement of class actions.

She has litigated dozens of class action suits in federal and state courts involving a variety of issues, including insurance coverage and claims practices, consumer fraud, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) issues, distributor and franchise issues, and products liability.

Experience

• Successfully defended several auto insurers in class actions involving a variety of claims practices and coverages, including
  • Medical Payments (PIP/MedPay) (utilization review, provider fee reviews, PPOs, subrogation)
  • Total Loss
  • Diminution in Value
  • Loss of Use
  • Non-OEM Parts
  • Anti-Theft Device Discounts
  • Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists (UM/UIM)
• Successfully defended homeowner insurers in class actions involving hurricane claims and general contractor overhead and profit.
• Successfully defended a number of manufacturers in class actions involving products liability, toxic torts, and consumer fraud.
• Was a member of the trial and appellate teams in Michael E. Avery, et al. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., in which the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in our client’s favor, overturning a $1.186 billion class action judgment.
• Represented various municipalities in south suburban Chicago in the successful defense of a major constitutional challenge brought by the National Association of Realtors to various fair housing programs.

Education

• Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, J.D., 1987
  Order of the Coif
  Northwestern University Law Review, Managing Editor
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A., B.A., 1984, summa cum laude