Biography
When others negligently cause harms and losses, we provide security and peace of mind.
Attorney Yao Dinizulu, the founder and senior partner of the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. is an ardent advocate of safety in our communities. Committed to making the world safer, I have dedicated my professional life to helping injured people and have successfully litigated wrongful death, serious personal injury, negligence and medical malpractice cases on the state and federal level. Winning significant verdicts and settlements on behalf of deserving families who have been hurt by the violation of safety rules is a must.
I have gotten my clients full and just verdicts for their injuries so that they are able to live with dignity, independence, and have the best possible quality of life. Having the injured have all their needs met is essential. With numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, I ensure my clients receive just compensation and those who needlessly endanger others are held accountable for their actions.
Giving the injured a voice, whether I am up against powerful insurance companies or corporate chain nursing homes, my focus has always been on educating the jury, the conscience of our community. Through expert witnesses, industry-recognized literature and practices, and cross examination of defense witnesses, I get negligent parties to be held accountable for their wrongful actions.
Clients will see my commitment to them also in their interactions with me. When I meet each client, I take the time to listen to their story and learn how their injuries impact them and their families. Focused on the community, I often take on seemingly underdog cases and understand the potential of such hard circumstances on people. My motto is “I don’t just handle cases, I represent people.”
What Justice Means at the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd.
Community safety is a top priority for me. While it would be nice to assume that our community businesses would do the right thing whenever the occasion demands, this is far from reality. When the fear of being held accountable for needless endangerment to members of our community is present, it forces negligent parties to reform their actions and act safely and responsibly.
Preventing negligence from being repeated and eliminating harm against more community members is important. Safety should never be an option, but a must. Count on the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. to be there at your moment of need.
Recognition & Awards
Attorney Yao Dinizulu has been recognized both locally and nationally for his work in relation to advancing civil rights causes and championing social issues. His ardor and tenaciousness has resulted in him being spotlighted by his peers and the media. In 2016 Mr. Dinizulu was recognized as one of the top 100 Injury Law Firms for getting full and just verdicts and settlements by the Chicago Lawyer – ranking number 44 out of 100. He was named a 2012 Rising Star in Super Lawyers’ national magazine, as well as one of the “12 People to Watch in 2012” by Chicago Now’s Glenn Murray. He was in the March 2009 issue of Black Enterprise magazine, highlighting his firm’s use of cutting-edge technology to ensure optimal results for each of his clients. He was also featured in the Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s “40 under 40” in 2007. He appears in the media to educate the community on their civil and legal rights and host’s seminars on recognizing nursing home abuse and negligence. He also visits Chicago law schools to speak to students about succeeding in the field. He is active in the local community, readily making time to speak to children about the importance of education and making the right choices.
Mr. Dinizulu’s personal motto is, “never let an opponent out work me” and as a result, is committed to gaining the trust of each client, representing them with the utmost integrity all while working diligently to deliver the best possible judgment.
Education
J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, 1997
B.S., Florida A&M University, Magna cum Laude, 1994
Bar Admissions
Supreme Court of Illinois
United States District Court for Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for Southern District of Indiana
United States District Court for Northern District of Illinois Federal Trial Bar
Professional Associations
- Cook County Bar Association
Former Member, Board of Director
Former Vice-Chair, Judicial Evaluations Committee
Co-Chair, Tort Litigation Committee
Former Member, YLS Committee Chicago Bar Association
Member, Section on Tort Litigation
Member, Minorities in the Profession
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Member, Civil Practice & Rules Committee
Member, Civil Rights & Criminal Law Committe
- American Bar Association
Member, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
Member, Law Practice Management Section
- Florida A&M University’s NAA Past Chicago Chapter President
- Florida A&M University’s NAA Past Midwest regional Vice-President
- Board of Directors Iconmod
- United Fire Protection, Board of Directors
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Life Member
- The Original 40 Club of Chicago
- Board of Directors, Bethel New Life, Former Member
- Former Community Representative, Dr. Edward Alexander Bouchet Math & Science Academy, Local School Council Member
- Former Member Representative, HBCU College Consortium
- Honored Member, Strathmore’s Who’s Who, 2003-2004 edition
- Panelist, Exhale Talk Show
- Volunteer, Obama for Illinois
- Citizens for a New Horizon, Board Member Former Member
Speaking Engagements
Panelist – “ Perspective” Talk Show , Recognizing Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence
Repeat Guest on WVON’s The Cliff Kelley Show
The Role of the ARDC Hearing Officer, John Marshall Law School
Protecting Your Loved Ones in Nursing Homes, ABJ Services, August 2006
Introduction to Nursing Home Abuse, Cook County Bar Association, April 2007
The Multi-Level Nursing Home Corporate Structure: Transparency, Accountability and Common Sense 2009ense. Yao O. Dinizulu, Esq., and Jennifer Matta, Esq. 2009
How to Start Your Own Practice, Loyola School of Law, 2011
How to Start Your Own Practice, John Marshall Law School, 2011
How to Start Your Own Practice, DePaul School of Law, 2011, 2012
How to Start Your Own Practice, IIT Chicago-Kent School of Law, 2011
How to Start Your Own Practice, John Marshall Law School, October 2012, 2013
Verdicts & Settlements
Doe(s) v. Municipality Case Sealed
Settlement $3,000,000.00 Child Sexual Abuse
Estate of Sheila Jones v. Advocate Health & Hospitals Corp. Case No. 06 l 1924
Settlement $2,350,000.00 Medical Malpractice – Wrongful Death
Lynnette Williams v. Bodine Electric Co. Case No. 02 L 008231
Verdict $1,779,349.00 – Wrongful Termination
Estate of Bradford v. Durable Medical Equipment Company Case No. 09 L 15302
Verdict $ 1,650,000 Products Liability – Wrongful Death
Plaintiff v. Defendant Grocery Store Case Sealed
Verdict $ 1,500,000 Wrongful Death Assault by Manager of Store
Doe v. Muncipality Case Sealed
Settlement $ 1,441,000 Childhood Sexual Assault, Equal Protection, Illinois Domestic Violence Act, Conspiracy
Estate of Jackson Hill v. FAF Inc., et al. Case No. 13 L 013230
Settlement $ 1,180,000 Truck Accident – Wrongful Death
Fletcher McQueen v. Pan Oceanic Engineering Co. Inc. et. al. Case No. 2014 L 1050
Verdict $ 1,163,227 Truck Accident
Eugene Taylor et al v. Total Facility Maintenance Inc. Case No.05 L 4681
Settlement $1,000,000.00 – Premises Liability – Slip and Fall
The Estate of Doe v. ABC 24 Hour Treatment Center Case No. 02 L 003106
Verdict $1,000,000 Medical Malpractice – Wrongful Death – Allergic Reaction, Anaphylactic Shock, Failure to Intubate
The Estate of Williams Wilson v. Wilson Care Inc. Case No. 01 L 001162
Settlement $700,000.00 – Nursing Home Negligence
Patricia Wilson et al. vs. Chicago Housing Authority et al. Case No. 2008 L 000836
Settlement $675,000.00 – Gas Explosion Second Degree Burns
