Martin D. Gould

Martin D. Gould is a trial attorney representing individuals and classes of victims in wrongful death, toxic exposure, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, auto and trucking accidents, construction and other workplace accidents, sexual abuse, including clergy and Boy Scouts abuse, and product defect (Zantac, Round-Up/Monsanto, Talc, Ethylene Oxide).

Martin has played a key role in securing numerous record-breaking multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients who have been harmed as a result of wrongful conduct. In 2017, Martin played a key role in securing a $44.7 million verdict at trial against the City of Chicago in a case where an off-duty police officer shot a construction worker in the head leaving him paralyzed; this was the largest verdict in Illinois and one of the largest in the country for a police misconduct case.

In 2019, Martin and his team secured a $21.337 million verdict at trial on behalf of the family of a mother of five young children who was killed in a car accident. Later that same year, Martin secured a $12.35 million settlement at the beginning of trial on behalf of the family of a young mother of three children in a medical malpractice case; the settlement was the largest recorded in Illinois for a misdiagnosis of breast cancer case.

In addition to obtaining significant recoveries for his clients, Martin takes on many cases where he believes he can change policies or the law to protect future generations. In that regard, Martin has represented countless victims of childhood sexual abuse, and currently represents dozens of individuals in cases against the Boy Scouts of Americam the Catholic Church and other religious institutions. He has helped shed light on systemic abuse and cover-ups while securing millions of dollars in settlements including a recent $2.1 million settlement on behalf of 7 year old abused by a Church camp counselor. Understanding the lasting impact child abuse can have on someone, Martin has also taken on school bullying cases, securing a $250,000 verdict in a school bullying case in Woodford County, Illinois, the largest bullying verdict ever reported in Illinois.

Martin regularly appears in the media to discuss cases, including appearances on Fox 32 and ABC 7 to discuss the toxic exposure in Chicago’s western suburbs involving Sterigenics, interviews with the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin to discuss priest abuse lawsuits, and appearances on the Legal Broadcasting Network to discuss a federal class action lawsuit against the City of Chicago.

Martin graduated toward the top of his class from Chicago-Kent College of Law, cum laude, and was a published member of the CHICAGO-KENT LAW REVIEW. He was also a Legal Writing Teaching Assistant and six-time recipient of the CALI Award for receiving the highest grade in the class in Legal Writing I, I & III, Illinois Evidence, Pre-Trial Civil Litigation, and Conflicts of Law. Currently, Martin holds leadership positions within numerous legal organizations, including serving as the Co-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Torts Litigation Group and serving as a Co-Chair of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association’s Young Lawyers Division. Martin earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Northwestern University, where he was also a four-year member of the Northwestern Varsity Wrestling Team. The team placed 4^th in the NCAAs Martin’s sophomore year in 2007.