Stephen M. Blecha

Stephen Blecha is a seasoned trial attorney and partner at Coplan + Crane. His legal journey began when he clerked for the firm from the summer of 2011 to the summer of 2012, gaining valuable experience and insights into the legal profession. He joined the firm full-time as an associate attorney in August 2012, later becoming a partner in 2020. Stephen earned his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2012, where he excelled as the Topics Editor for the University of Illinois Law Review, published two articles, and received the CALI award for the highest grade in Elder Law.

Although willing to learn the ropes in any legal area, Stephen specializes in medical malpractice and catastrophic injury cases. His passion for his work stems from a desire to understand the intricacies of medicine and its overlap with the law. Stephen frequently dedicates late nights and early mornings to studying various medical issues, aiming to provide the best service to his clients and better understand their experiences. This thirst for knowledge has proven invaluable in his legal career, helping him secure millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients. 

Stephen has helped secure multi-million dollar verdicts for his clients including:

• $25,000,000 verdict for a railroad worker who required a leg amputation from injuries sustained while getting on a moving train, a work practice that was encouraged when it should have been prohibited. This is the highest reported verdict in Carroll County. 
• $15,000,000 verdict for the family of a woman who died in a trucking collision.
• $13,000,000 settlement for a child who developed cerebral palsy after suffering hypoxic-ischemic brain injuries during labor and delivery. 

These cases highlight just a few of the over $100 million he has earned on behalf of his clients.

Outside of his legal practice, Stephen is deeply committed to humanitarian efforts. In 2009, he traveled to Duchity, Haiti, where he worked as a surgical assistant, providing much-needed care to indigent populations and gaining valuable insights into healthcare accessibility issues in impoverished regions.

He is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers’ Association’s Amicus Committee and submitted briefs on behalf of the association in 2016, 2017, and 2020. He is also a member of the American Association for Justice. 

Stephen is an alumnus of Benet Academy in his hometown of Naperville, Illinois, and currently lives in Chicago. He is an avid golf and guitar player and a self-described music buff with an extensive vinyl collection.