Get The Collector Value of Your Vehicle
40+ Years of Civil Litigation Experience Fighting for Your True Value
Stone Law LLC.
Experience
William Stone (“Bill”) was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and is a graduate of the Chicago Public School System. As a trial lawyer, he has managed over 40 civil trials and injunction hearings, including more than 10 jury trials as first chair. His practice includes: personal injury, professional liability, insurance coverage, and h
William Stone (“Bill”) was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and is a graduate of the Chicago Public School System. As a trial lawyer, he has managed over 40 civil trials and injunction hearings, including more than 10 jury trials as first chair. His practice includes: personal injury, professional liability, insurance coverage, and he has tried cases in both state and federal courts in Illinois and Indiana. Recently, Bill has focused on prosecuting and defending catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases ranging from $16 to $18 million demands. He has also handled numerous personal injury and insurance coverage cases valued between $10 and $300 million through mediation, litigation, arbitration, and resolution before trial. He is the founding partner of Stone and Johnson Chtd. and the former named partner of Bullaro, Carton & Stone Chtd.
Accolades
Recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer by Chicago Magazine and Law & Politics, and ranked among the Top 5% of Lawyers in Illinois (2001-2026) by Crain's Chicago Business. Member of Leading Lawyers Network (1999-2026) and holds an "AV" Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell (1992-2026). Member of the Illinois Bar and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Representative Jury Trials
Estate of Komacko v. Central Rent-A-Crane, et al, Cause No. 45C01-1106-CT-0091. (June 2012). The Estate of Komacko was the first case tried in Indiana where the Indiana Supreme Court permitted a video camera in the courtroom and the delayed web broadcasting of the trial to the general public. Komacko was a 14-day jury trial concerning an
Estate of Komacko v. Central Rent-A-Crane, et al, Cause No. 45C01-1106-CT-0091. (June 2012). The Estate of Komacko was the first case tried in Indiana where the Indiana Supreme Court permitted a video camera in the courtroom and the delayed web broadcasting of the trial to the general public. Komacko was a 14-day jury trial concerning an ironworker's wrongful death arising from a construction accident. The plaintiff requested a jury award of $16 million in damages and a finding that Bill's client was 60% at fault. Bill successfully persuaded the jury to apportion only 16% of fault against his client, resulting in a verdict of $1.3 million.
Yongping Zhou v. John Huang, et al, Case No. 03 L 5438. (April 2010). This involved the trial of an attorney malpractice case in which Bill represented the plaintiff, who claimed that, as a result of his immigration attorney's prior malpractice, he was wrongfully incarcerated for 25 months. Following a 10-day trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Bill's client for $4 million to compensate him.
Representative Appellate Decisions
Walsh Const. Co. of Illinois v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 153 F.3d 830, 1998 WL 557580, C.A.7 (Ill.), September 02, 1998 (No. 97-3059)
American Intern. Adjustment Co. v. Galvin, 86 F.3d 1455, 1996 WL 339824, C.A.7 (Ind.), June 20, 1996 (No. 95-1966, 95-2089)
Matei v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 35 F.3d 1142, 1994 W
Walsh Const. Co. of Illinois v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 153 F.3d 830, 1998 WL 557580, C.A.7 (Ill.), September 02, 1998 (No. 97-3059)
American Intern. Adjustment Co. v. Galvin, 86 F.3d 1455, 1996 WL 339824, C.A.7 (Ind.), June 20, 1996 (No. 95-1966, 95-2089)
Matei v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 35 F.3d 1142, 1994 WL 502503,30 Fed.R.Serv.3d 355, C.A.7 (Ill.), September 15,1994 (No. 93-3172, 93-3373)
Jaurequi v. John Deere Co., 986 F.2d 170,1993 WL 27409, Prod.Liab.Rep. (CCH) P 13,403, C.A.7 (Ind.), February 08,1993 (No. 91-3852)
Emerson Elec. Co. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 319 Ill.App.3d 218, 743 N.E.2d 629, 252 Ill.Dec. 761, 2001 WL 38676, Ill.App. 1 Dist., January 16, 2001 (No. 1-98-4762, 1-98-4780, 1-99-244)
Los Amigos Supermarket, Inc. v. Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., 306 Ill.App.3d 115, 713 N.E.2d 686, 239111.Dec. 155, 1999 WL 398733, Ill.App. 1 Dist., June 17, 1999 (No. 1-96-3118)
St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Lefton Iron & Metal Co., Inc., 296 Ill.App.3d 475, 694 N.E.2d 1049,230 Ill.Dec. 771, 1998 WL 221093, Ill.App. 5 Dist., May OS, 1998 (No. 5-96-0130)
Horn v. Urban Inv. and Development Co., 166 Ill.App.3d 62,519 N.E.2d 489, 116 Ill.Dec. 597, 1988 WL 8486, Ill.App. 2 Dist., February 09, 1988 (No. 2-86-0910)
National Union Fire Ins. Co. v. Dowd & Dowd, P.C., 191 F.R.D. 566, 1999 WL 1249311, N.D. Ill., December 14, 1999 (No. 97 C 6200)
National Union Ins. Co. v. Dowd & Dowd, P.C., 2 F.Supp.2d 1013, 1998 WL 188247, N.D.Ill., April 20, 1998 (No. 97 C 6200)
Whitmer v. John Hancock Mut. Life Ins. Co., Not Reported in F.Supp., 1989 WL 197400, N.D.Ill., October 2, 1989 (No. 87 C 20306)
T-K City Disposal, Inc. v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 761 F.Supp. 552, 1991 WL 61797, 33 ERC 1390, 21 Envtl. L. Rep. 21,318, N.D.Ill., April 3, 1991 (No. 90 C 2204)
Chicago Miracle Temple Church, Inc., et al v. Lansing Bible Church, et al., 901 F.Supp. 901 F.Supp. 1333, September 26, 1995 (No. 94 C 413)
Specialty Claims
Specialty Claims
Classics, Collectors & High‑Performance Cars
When a unique vehicle is damaged, the “blue book” approach often misses the point—and the value. Antique, collector, exotic, and high‑performance vehicles are priced by rarity, condition, provenance, build quality, and market demand, not generic depreciation tables. My practice focuses on accide
Classics, Collectors & High‑Performance Cars
When a unique vehicle is damaged, the “blue book” approach often misses the point—and the value. Antique, collector, exotic, and high‑performance vehicles are priced by rarity, condition, provenance, build quality, and market demand, not generic depreciation tables. My practice focuses on accident claims involving special vehicles where the goal is to prove the real market value and pursue the full measure of recoverable damages.
I help owners document and present claims for losses that are commonly overlooked, including:
- True market valuation (auction results, specialty comps, appraisals, build sheets, receipts, provenance)
- Diminished value after repair (when the vehicle is worth less because it now has an accident history)
- Specialized repair costs (OEM certification, performance parts, custom paint/body, carbon fiber, wraps/PPF, tuning implications)
- Loss of use and related out‑of‑pocket expenses (towing, storage, rental/alternate transportation where allowed)
- Total loss disputes (actual cash value, declared/agreed value issues, salvage options where appropriate)
If your vehicle’s value isn’t “on a chart,” your claim shouldn’t be either. I build claims the way specialty cars are built: detail-first, evidence-backed, and market-realistic.
Call / email for a consult to discuss the vehicle, the damage, and the documentation needed to support the strongest claim.
Disclaimer: This content is general information and not legal advice. Results depend on the facts and applicable law. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Stone Law Contacts
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