John J. Westra

John is one of the founding members of the firm. He concentrates his practice in personal injury litigation, criminal defense, family law, estate planning, probate work and litigation. John initially started practicing law in the DuPage County Public Defender’s office. He holds the distinction of being the only attorney in DuPage County to have successfully advocated for a client to be spared the death penalty in a capital criminal case. John has achieved the largest salmonella food poisoning case settlement in DuPage County. He has obtained verdicts and settlements for his product liability clients for claims related to toxic shock syndrome, railroad crossing equipment defects, automobile air bags, mislabeled medications and other products.

In 1978, he began the firm with Tom Johnson, a State’s attorney at the time, with a vision to begin a practice based upon the foundation of their common Christian faith. Because of his solid experience and success as a litigator, in addition to his experience in assisting clients with their estate plan, John has experience in the area of probate litigation, focusing on matters involving guardianship and decedents’ estates, as well as related tort, contract, or equitable actions.

John is an active member of his church in Wheaton, Illinois. He is also an active volunteer with several non-profit organizations, and currently is on the Board of Directors for Fairview Retirement Center and Donka Computer Training for the Handicapped. He has represented over thirty not for profit clients and churches. He is a member of the Dupage County Bar Association, Christian Legal Society, and the Illinois Trial Lawyer’s Association.

John is a graduate of Wheaton College and of the Ohio Northern Law School.