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Gladys Proa Santana

Attorney at Law

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Attorney Gladys Proa Santana is a dedicated and experienced advocate for clients whose lives have been tragically altered by defective medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs, workplace injuries and automobile accidents. The driving force behind Gladys’ zealous advocacy for her clients is in the deep-rooted understanding that most cases represent a person or family who has been hurt or has suffered the unimaginable loss of a loved one at the hands of, more often than not, a corporation who chose to value profit over human life. Advocating with purpose and seeking justice on behalf of her clients has been her mission ever since joining the legal profession and continues to propel her forward.

Gladys has dedicated her career to helping injured people with a focus in the area of complex mass tort litigation and has represented thousands of clients in her relentless fight to hold corporations accountable for reprehensible conduct that too often results in irreparable harm to people across the country. Her notable cases and results include but were not limited to the following:

NOTABLE LITIGATIONS AND RESULTS:

  • In Re: Cook Medical, Inc. IVC Filters Marketing, Sales Practices and Product Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2570

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  • In Re: Bard IVC Filter Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2641

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  • In Re: Pradaxa Products Liability Litigation, CT State Court

 

  • In Re: Actos Litigation, 2011 L 010011, IL State Court

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  • In Re: DePuy ASR Litigation, 2010 L 10506, IL State Court

  • $2.4 billion on behalf of individuals injured by a defective Diabetes drug

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  • $7.4 million products liability settlement

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  • $1.4 million settlement on behalf injured IVC filter users

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  • $12.2 million on behalf of women injured by a defective contraceptive device

AWARDS; HONORS; DISTINCTIONS:

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  • Super Lawyer “Rising Star” (2018 - Present)

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  • The National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Attorney" 

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  • American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys “10 Best” in Client Satisfaction 

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  • Graduate of the highly regarded inaugural class of the Illinois State Bar Association Leadership Academy

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  • Graduate of the prestigious and highly competitive Leadership Academy of the American Association for Justice

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  • Fluent in Spanish

BAR ADMISSIONS:

State of Illinois

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Federal Court

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  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

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  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

EDUCATION:

Law School

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  • Northern Illinois University , J.D.

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Undergraduate School

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  • Northern Illinois University, B.A.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION INVOLVEMENT:

American Association for Justice (AAJ)

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  • Women Trial Lawyers Committee

    • Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee​

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  • Minority Caucus

    • Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee​

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Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA)

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Kane County Bar Association (KCBA)

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Former Court Appointed Child Advocate (CASA/GAL) Volunteer for CASA Kane County helping abused and negleclted children

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Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)

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  • Women and the Law Committee

    • Service Committee Member​

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  • Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council 

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  • Diversity Leadership Council

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Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF)

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  • Bronze Champion

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