Biography
Simon Baker is a partner with Sinars Slowikowski Tomaska whose practice includes general negligence, product liability, toxic torts, occupational injury, and other environmental claims.
Simon defends both domestic and international product and equipment manufacturers, premise owners, employers, contractors, and suppliers in general liability, mass toxic tort and product liability cases. They are responsible for all aspects of case management and have experience in defending multi-party personal injury claims involving asbestos exposure, mold, and Legionella. Simon also has experience defending and trying cases alleging general negligence and violations of the Dram Shop Act. Simon has successfully defended claims of tortious interference with prospective economic advantage, violation of non-disclosure and non-competition agreements, and breach of contract in cases alleging multimillion-dollar damages.
Of note, Simon has drafted motions to dismiss as part of a nationwide defense for a distributor of raw asbestos that barred all new claims and dismissed hundreds of pending cases in Illinois. They also obtained summary judgment in Iowa for a purchase of asbestos-containing products on claims of negligence, breach of warranty, and strict liability by raising arguments related to Chapter 686B of the Asbestos and Silica Claims Priorities Act and a lack of duty. Simon also assisted in the successful defense of a national corporation in a products liability case alleging death via electrocution against theories of negligence and respondeat superior.
Simon previously was Senior Law Clerk to the Honorable Diane J. Larsen, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division where they authored draft opinions on a wide range of cases. Prior to starting practice, Simon attended DePaul College of Law, where they obtained four CALI awards, was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Service, and graduated summa cum laude. While in law school, they served as teaching assistant to their legal writing professor and as Editor of Articles, Notes and Comments for DePaul Law Review, Volume 61, 2011-2012. Simon obtained an LLB degree in law from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England in 2007.
Simon defends both domestic and international product and equipment manufacturers, premise owners, employers, contractors, and suppliers in general liability, mass toxic tort and product liability cases. They are responsible for all aspects of case management and have experience in defending multi-party personal injury claims involving asbestos exposure, mold, and Legionella. Simon also has experience defending and trying cases alleging general negligence and violations of the Dram Shop Act. Simon has successfully defended claims of tortious interference with prospective economic advantage, violation of non-disclosure and non-competition agreements, and breach of contract in cases alleging multimillion-dollar damages.
Of note, Simon has drafted motions to dismiss as part of a nationwide defense for a distributor of raw asbestos that barred all new claims and dismissed hundreds of pending cases in Illinois. They also obtained summary judgment in Iowa for a purchase of asbestos-containing products on claims of negligence, breach of warranty, and strict liability by raising arguments related to Chapter 686B of the Asbestos and Silica Claims Priorities Act and a lack of duty. Simon also assisted in the successful defense of a national corporation in a products liability case alleging death via electrocution against theories of negligence and respondeat superior.
Simon previously was Senior Law Clerk to the Honorable Diane J. Larsen, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division where they authored draft opinions on a wide range of cases. Prior to starting practice, Simon attended DePaul College of Law, where they obtained four CALI awards, was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Service, and graduated summa cum laude. While in law school, they served as teaching assistant to their legal writing professor and as Editor of Articles, Notes and Comments for DePaul Law Review, Volume 61, 2011-2012. Simon obtained an LLB degree in law from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England in 2007.
Publications and Presentations
- “Unfriending the Stored Communications Act: How Technological Advancement and Legislative Inaction Have Rendered its Protections Obsolete” 22 DePaul Journal of Art, Technology & Intellectual Property Law 75 (2011)
- Volunteer Contributor, IICLE Civil Practice: Opening the Case, Chapter 12, New Parties (2019, 2023 Edition)
- Contributor, McGrady on Domain Names: A Global Guide to Disputes, Registration, and Maintenance (LexisNexis)