Shorewood, IL

Michael J. Goldberg

Founding Partner of Whiteside & Goldberg, Michael J. Goldberg has personally obtained over $50,000,000 in jury verdicts, arbitration awards, mediations, and settlements in cases involving motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice actions, wrongful death actions, premises liability, sexual assault, and construction accidents. Michael has been named as one of Illinois’ “Rising Stars” in the respected publications Super Lawyers and Chicago Magazine for 6 consecutive years now (2009 - 2018). He was also recognized as one of Illinois’ “40 Under 40 Lawyers to Watch”, an honor achieved by less than 1% of all Illinois lawyers. Michael obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Illinois in 1998 with Departmental Distinction and was named to the Dean’s List for Academic Achievement. Michael then obtained his Law Degree from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2002. In law school, Michael was the recipient of the prestigious CALI Excellence for the Future Award for outstanding scholastic performance and for ranking number one in his Trial Advocacy class. Michael is licensed to practice law in Illinois and in Wisconsin.

Patrick J. Blum

Sadly, he passed away June 5, 2023 at 46 years old. He has a wife, son age 10 and daughter age 7. He will be missed. As a trial attorney, Patrick considers it a privilege to represent his clients whose lives have been devastated by the carelessness and negligence of others. Patrick understands the time following an injury or the death of a family member, can be a very painful and difficult time for many people, not only because of the physical, psychological and emotional injuries they suffered, but also due to the economic uncertainty causes as well as the unfamiliarity with the civil litigation process.

Jason M. Whiteside

Jason M. Whiteside is a founding partner of Whiteside & Goldberg, Ltd., which was formed in August of 2010. Prior to forming Whiteside & Goldberg, Ltd., Jason Whiteside worked as a solo practitioner, operating two offices in the Chicago land area to represent plaintiffs in personal injury cases, as well as petitioners injured on the job in workers’ compensation cases. Throughout the course of his career, Jason M. Whiteside has obtained over $25,000,000 in settlements or verdicts for those injured through the negligence of others. These accomplishments have lead Jason to be named as one of Illinois’ “Rising Stars” in the respected publications Super Lawyers and Chicago Magazine for 14 consecutive years now (2010 through 2023). Mr. Whiteside attended The John Marshall Law School, where he received his Juris Doctorate in 2004. While attending The John Marshall Law School, Mr. Whiteside clerked for the Honorable George M. Marovich at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and simultaneously worked as a law clerk for Baker & McKenzie in the Employment Law Practice Group. After graduation from law school in 2004, Mr. Whiteside worked for the Law Offices of Peter F. Ferracuti, in Ottawa, Illinois, where he concentrated in the representation of injured workers before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission as well as the representation of injured plaintiffs. Mr. Whiteside has obtained more than $25 million for his clients in the fourteen years he has been practicing law, across the United States in jurisdictions including Nevada, Wisconsin, California and Illinois. He continues to represent victims and their families in all areas of personal injury law, including medical malpractice, products liability, auto, wrongful death, premises liability, construction negligence, and workers’ compensation accidents. Mr. Whiteside has also frequently spoken on topics in personal injury and workers’ compensation to peers, to the insurance industry and medical field.

Dorian Gjeci

An Albanian national, Mr. Gjeci is a graduate of the Chicago-Kent College of Law, earning his Juris Doctorate in 2022. In 2019, he earned his LL.M. in International Intellectual Property from Chicago - Kent College of Law. Before coming into the U.S., Mr. Gjeci was a practicing attorney in Albania for five years, where he focused on property-land disputes, business and mining law. While attending law school, Mr. Gjeci was an extern on the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. In the spring of 2021, Mr. Gjeci began his U.S. legal experience as a law clerk at Whiteside & Goldberg, Ltd. Upon passing the Illinois Bar Exam as a first time taker while English being his non-native language, and upon admission to the practice of law in the State of Illinois, in January 2023, Mr. Gjeci continued his journey at Whiteside & Goldberg, Ltd. as an associate attorney. Mr. Gjeci has since represented victims of negligence in personal injury and workers compensation cases. Currently, Mr. Gjeci practices in state court and before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.

Joseph W. Lauer

Joseph was born and raised on the southwest-side of Chicago. The son of a Union Plumber, Joseph graduated from St. Rita High School in 1998 and then went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree from The University of Illinois at Chicago (“UIC”). While at UIC, Joseph was a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society. After graduating from UIC, Joe received his law degree from The John Marshall Law School where he was a member of The John Marshall Law Review. Joe has been practicing in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation since 2006. Super Lawyer Magazine named him an Illinois Rising Star in the legal field on multiple occasions. In March of 2017, Joe was named a Partner at The Law Firm of Whiteside and Goldberg.

Daniel J. McGarry

A native of Evanston, Illinois and longtime Chicagoan, Mr. McGarry is a graduate of the DePaul University College of Law, earning his Juris Doctorate in 2011. While attending law school, Mr. McGarry worked as principal law clerk in a robust Chicago based litigation practice with emphasis on representation of individuals and small businesses. He was also selected as a research assistant on scientific evidence for (the late) Professor Terrence F. Kiely of the College of Law. Prior to attending law school, Mr. McGarry worked as a litigation project assistant in the Intellectual Properly Litigation Department at Jenner & Block, a major Chicago law firm. Mr. McGarry earned his bachelor’s degree in economics at the University of Colorado, at Boulder. Mr. McGarry focuses his practice in personal injury, workers’ compensation and consumer protection remedies, with particular emphasis on advocating on behalf of consumers against creditors and debt collectors for violations of federal consumer law, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) and Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), as well as other related state law statutes. Prior to joining Whiteside & Goldberg, Mr. McGarry worked as an associate in an active bankruptcy and consumer rights firm in Oak Brook, Illinois. Mr. McGarry has successfully represented hundreds of consumers in actions brought against creditors, debt collectors and credit reporting agencies who violate the law. Currently, Mr. McGarry practices in both state and federal court, in addition to representing petitioners before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.

David H. Latarski

David H. Latarski is a life-long Chicago-land area resident who grew up in the Southwest Suburbs. In 2008, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Lewis University, majoring in Philosophy of Law, graduating at the top of his class of philosophy majors. From there, he went on to receive his Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School and was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Illinois in 2013. Since 2013, Mr. Latarski has exclusively represented victims of negligence in personal injury and workers compensation cases. Over the years, Mr. Latarski has recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars through trials, settlements, arbitrations, and mediations on behalf of his clients. In the Spring of 2018, Mr. Latarski brought his passion for fighting for injured victims as well as his depth of knowledge and experience to Whiteside & Goldberg, Ltd., where he continues to handle a wide range of cases including those involving including those involving workplace injuries, negligence, intentional torts, premises liability, product liability, wrongful death claims, and motor vehicle crashes. Mr. Latarski currently resides in Oak Lawn, Illinois with his loving wife and daughter. When he is not devoting his time to his family, Mr. Latarski mentors law students through the Justinian Mentoring Society and directly for the John Marshall Law School. He also serves as an ambassador and committee-man to The John Marshall Law School offering insight regarding new courses and programs to better serve its students.