CHICAGO – An attorney who claims he is owed $2 million from his former firm, Schiff Hardin LLP, is seeking to vacate an arbitration award in favor of the law firm, which he said denied him the opportunity to prove the amount he says the firm owes him.
Robert I. Berger filed a complaint on Dec. 4 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Schiff Hardin LLP seeking to vacate an arbitration award.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff joined the defendant's staff in 2003 as an equity partner. He was later diagnosed with cancer, found to be partially disabled under the defendant's long-term disability policy, and he resigned as an equity partner and elected an income partner.
The suit states he was terminated in December 2017 and the plaintiff alleges the defendant has refused to pay him $2 million he claims he is owed. The plaintiff filed a demand for arbitration in March, and the suit states the arbitrator found that the plaintiff "had not identified an agreement definite enough to determine the intention of the parties or to ascertain the amount claimed to be due under the agreement."
The plaintiff alleges the award should be vacated because he was not given the right to testify, call witnesses or cross-examine witnesses or present evidence.
The plaintiff asks that the court vacate the award, order the parties to select a new arbitrator and any further relief the court seems just. He is representing himself.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 18-CH-15077