Susan A. Capra

Top rated Medical Malpractice attorney in Chicago, Illinois

Clifford Law Offices
Susan A. Capra
Clifford Law Offices

Practice areas: Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury; view more

Licensed in Illinois since: 1990

Education: DePaul University College of Law

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2025

Clifford Law Offices

120 North LaSalle Street
36th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602 Visit website

Details

Susan Capra is a partner at Clifford Law Offices, one of Chicago’s premier law firms, serving clients nationally and internationally for decades. Susan concentrates her practice in the area of medical and hospital negligence litigation where she has achieved numerous record settlements and verdicts in her 30-plus years as a highly respected attorney in Chicago, particularly in the health care arena.

Susan joined Clifford Law Offices as an associate in 1989, becoming partner after 10 years. She graduated from DePaul University with a nursing degree in 1982. Susan first was a nurse at Children’s Memorial Hospital (now called Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago). She worked largely with infants and children with serious neurological conditions and disabilities. During her last two years as a full-time nurse, she worked in the operating room. Her nursing background has been a tremendous asset in her work as a medical negligence attorney. Susan sums it up appropriately, “As a nurse, I was the patient’s advocate. As a medical malpractice attorney, I am still the patient’s advocate but in a different arena and profession.”

​Susan graduated from DePaul University College of Law in 1990 with Honors. Since joining Clifford Law Offices, Susan handles all types of medical negligence cases but concentrates on cases involving obstetrical, gynecologic and pediatric negligence. Some of her career highlights include an $11 million settlement involving a hospital pharmacy that mixed an intravenous solution with excessive amounts of glucose, which was given to a premature newborn who then sustained severe and permanent brain damage as a result and a $10 million settlement on behalf of a mother whose infant suffered severe and permanent brain damage due to negligent obstetrical treatment rendered at a Chicago hospital. In the last decade alone, Susan has worked on more than two dozen complex obstetrical and gynecological cases, 15 of which have resulted in settlements and verdicts of more than one million dollars and 10 have resulted in settlements and verdicts of more than five million dollars.

​Susan is involved in the legal community. She is a member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. She has lectured on various topics involving medical negligence. She has authored articles ranging from the future of hospital peer review to the use of expert witnesses in medical negligence cases.

​Susan is a lifelong Chicago resident. She is actively involved in her community and volunteers every weekend with various organizations serving senior citizens, the military and their families, and underprivileged children.

Practice areas

Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff

Focus areas

Wrongful Death

  • 70% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff
  • 30% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff

First Admitted: 1990, Illinois

Professional Webpage: https://www.cliffordlaw.com/attorneys/susan-a-capra/

Bar/Professional Activity:
  • Medical Negligence Committee of ITLA, Member (1998-Present), 2024
  • American Bar Association (ABA) (1990-Present), 2024
  • Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) (1990-Present), 2024
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois (1990- Present), 2024
  • Illinois (1990-Present), 2024
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin (1990-Present), 2024
  • Class Agent for Class of 1990, DePaul University College of Law, 2000, 2000
  • College of Law Alumni Board of Directors, DePaul University, Member, 1999, 1999
  • American Association for Justice (AAJ), Expert Witness Information Exchange Group
  • American Association for Justice (AAJ), Medical Negligence Information Exchange Group
  • American Association for Justice (AAJ), Birth Trauma Litigation Group
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
  • Susan Capra along with partners Kevin Durkin, Tracy Brammeier, and Thomas Tomasik obtained a $19.5 million settlement on behalf of an infant who sustained permanent neurological injuries due to medical negligence in failing to perform a timely caesarean section., 2024
  • Susan Capra, along with partners Keith Hebeisen, Sarah King, and James Pullos, obtained a $15 million settlement on behalf of a baby who sustained permanent brain injury from lack of oxygen due to failure to perform a timely cesarean section., 2024
  • Susan Capra, along with partners Keith Hebeisen, James Pullos, and managing partner Patrick Bradley, obtained a $12.5 million settlement on behalf of a baby who sustained brain injuries resulting in cerebral palsy and cognitive deficits due to the failure to perform a timely C-section delivery., 2023
  • Susan A. Capra, along with Keith A. Hebeisen, obtained a $4.25 million settlement on behalf of a 54-year-old woman who sustained permanent brain damage due to the rapid over-correction of hyponatremia., 2023
  • Clifford Law Offices received a $14.5 million settlement for the family of a newborn who suffered permanent injuries, including a skull fracture and brain bleeding as a result of a vaginal forceps delivery. , 2023
  • Clifford Law Offices received a $27 million settlement for the family of a newborn who suffered permanent injuries, including a skull fracture and brain bleeding, during an emergency C- section delivery. , 2022
  • Susan Capra, along with partner Keith Hebeisen, obtained a $20 million settlement on behalf of an infant boy who suffered severe and permanent brain damage due to negligent obstetrical care during labor. Resulting in neurological injury including motor deficits, inability to speak, seizures, and cognitive delays. , 2021
  • Susan Capra, along with partner Keith Hebeisen, obtained a $4.5 million settlement on behalf of a 54-year-old woman who suffered permanent nerve damage from failure to diagnose and treat a spinal epidural abscess. , 2020
  • Susan Capra, along with partners Keith Hebeisen and Brad Cosgrove, obtained a $7.15 million settlement for negligent failure to perform a timely emergency delivery, resulting in serious and permanent brain injury to the newborn. , 2019
  • Susan Capra, along with partner Kevin Durkin, obtained a $5.275 million settlement on behalf of a 63-year-old man who suffered sepsis and other complications due to medical negligence during prostate surgery. , 2019
  • Susan Capra, along with partners Keith Hebeisen and Brad Cosgrove, obtained a $7.75 million settlement on behalf of a 56-year-old man who died from cardiac issues due to the negligence of a neurosurgeon who failed to recognize the man's previous heart issues and cleared him for surgery. , 2016
  • Susan Capra, along with partners Keith Hebeisen and Sarah King, obtained a $3.95 million settlement on behalf of a 49-year-old man who died in a hospital from an undiagnosed pulmonary embolism. , 2016
  • Susan Capra, along with partners Keith Hebeisen and Sarah King, obtained a $6 million settlement from the failure to timely deliver a baby by C-section in the face of non-reassuring fetal monitoring tracings. , 2015
  • Susan Capra, along with partner Keith Hebeisen, obtained an $8 million settlement from a failure to timely diagnose fetal distress and perform C-section causes cerebral palsy in newborn., 2012
  • Susan Capra, along with partner Keith Hebeisen, obtained a $2 million settlement from an ICU nursing staff at a Chicago-area hospital failed to properly monitor and provide for the safety of a patient following coronary artery bypass and mitral value surgery, resulting in a preventable fall and cardiopulmonary arrest that caused irreversible brain damage and death of a 64-year-old man. , 2012
  • Susan Capra, along with Keith Hebeisen, obtained a $4 million settlement on behalf of a 40-year-old mom of two who died from negligent care during gastric bypass surgery and post-operative care. , 2007
Honors/Awards:
  • Best Lawyers in America (2021-Present), Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers, 2025
  • Susan Capra has been named to the Best Lawyers® 2024 Women in the Law list and are featured in the ninth annual Best Lawyers Women in the Law Business Edition. , Women in Law list, Best Lawyers, 2024
  • Illinois Super Lawyer (2005 - Present), Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2024
  • Susan A. Capra and Yvette C. Loizon have been named 2024 Crain’s Notable Women in the Law., Notable Women in Law, Crain's Chicago Business, 2024
  • Lawdragon, 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, (2023-Present), 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2024
  • Illinois Leading Lawyer, Law Bulletin Media (2005 - Present), Illinois Leading Lawyer, Law Bulletin Media, 2024
  • Susan A. Capra, partner at Clifford Law Offices, has been named one of the 50 Salute! Women in Law in 2021 by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company. , Women in Law Honoree, Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 2021
  • Susan A. Capra and Shannon M. McNulty, partners at Clifford Law Offices, have been named Notable Women in Law in 2020 by Crain’s Chicago Business., Notable Women in Law, Crain's Chicago Business, 2020
  • Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence, AV Rating Martindale-Hubbell, 2019, AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2019
  • Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago, Crain's Custom Media, 2017, Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago, Crain's Custom Media, 2017
Educational Background:
  • DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, IL
  • DePaul University, B.S.N., Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Chicago, IL
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
  • Susan A. Capra, Shannon M. McNulty, and Sarah F. King, sat down with Better to share their thoughts on what it takes to be an effective leader at work and in the community., Co-Author, Great Leadership Starts With Basic Skills — Award-Winning Personal Injury Lawyers Share How to Lead in Business, Life, Better, 2021
  • Susan A. Capra, partner at Clifford Law Offices, spoke to the American College of Nurse Midwives in Chicago at its annual conference on Monday, May 22, 2017. Capra, a lawyer as well as a registered nurse, spoke on a panel on the “Anatomy of a Lawsuit” to hundreds of nurse midwives., Panelist, "Anatomy of a Lawsuit", American College of Nurse Midwives in Chicago, 2017
  • "From a Nurse-Lawyer Perspective: Legal Nurse Case Studies", Emergency Nurses Association, April 12, 2012, "From a Nurse-Lawyer Perspective: Legal Nurse Case Studies", Emergency Nurses Association, 2012
  • "Motions to Compel & Protective Orders," Illinois State Bar Association, December 2, 2011
  • "Evaluating a Medical Negligence Case," Loyola University Law School, Chicago, February 27, 2001, 2001
  • Adjunct Faculty, DePaul University College of Law, Medical Malpractice Course, 1999-2001, Adjunct Faculty, Medical Malpractice Course, DePaul University College of Law, 2001
  • "Deposition Strategies," Chicago Bar Association, December 12, 2000, "Deposition Strategies", Chicago Bar Association, 2000
  • "Nursing Negligence," American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Meeting, Chicago, October 27, 2000, "Nursing Negligence", American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Meeting, 2000
  • "Venue-Forum Non-Conveniens," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, September 9, 2000, "Venue-Forum Non Conveniens", Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2000
  • "Deposition Strategies in Medical Negligence Cases," Chicago Bar Association, December 7, 1999, "Deposition Strategies in Medical Negligence Cases", Chicago Bar Association, 1999
  • "The Evaluation of a Medical Negligence Case," Woman Attorney, July/August , 1999, "The Evaluation of a Medical Negligence Case", 1999
  • "Analyzing Medical Records for the Illinois Paralegal," Institute for Paralegal Education, Willowbrook, Illinois, October 19, 1999, "Analyzing Medical Records for the Illinois Paralegal", Institute for Paralegal Education, 1999
  • "Expert Witness," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook, 1990, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, "Expert Witness", Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1999
  • "Deposing the Defendant Physician in a Medical Malpractice Case," Chicago Bar Association, December 1997, "Deposing the Defendant Physician in a Medical Malpractice Case", Chicago Bar Association, 1997
  • "Analyzing Medical Records for the Illinois Paralegal", Institute for Paralegal Education, Willowbrook, Illinois, November 11, 1997, "Analyzing Medical Records for the Illinois Paralegal", Institute for Paralegal Education, 1997
  • "Cocaine Babies: Meeting the Challenge," Illinois Bar Journal, Volume 80, 1992, "Cocaine Babies: Meeting the Challenge", Illinois Bar Journal, 1992
  • "Settlement/Empty Chair Defenses," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook, 1990, "Settlement/Empty Chair Defenses", Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1990
  • "Patrick v. Burget: The Future of Hospital Peer Review in the Antitrust Arena," DePaul Law Review, Volume 39, 1989, "Patrick v. Burget: The Future of Hospital Peer Review in the Antitrust Arena", DePaul Law Review, 1989

Office location for Susan A. Capra

120 North LaSalle Street
36th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602

Phone: 312-815-7022

Selections

21 Years Super Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2025

Top Lists

Top 50: Women Illinois Super Lawyers: 2025

Attorney resources for Susan A. Capra

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