David A. Benckendorf Peoria, Illinois
| Partner | |
| phone | (309) 265-0812 (Peoria) (309) 938-4296 (Morton) |
| fax | (309) 673-8759 |
| Email Me | |
A native of the Peoria area, David received his Bachelor's Degree cum laude from Bradley University in 1977, and his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1981. He was admitted to the Illinois and U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois bars in 1981, and also co- founded Benckendorf & Benckendorf, P.C. in that year.
David is a member of the Illinois State and Peoria County Bar Associations and is an Emeritus member of the Abraham Lincoln Civil Inns of Court, a group of attorneys modeled on the English Inns of Court system that promotes continuing legal education and high ethical standards among its members. He has also written articles published in the Illinois State Bar Association Trial Briefs newsletter and Illinois State Medical Journal, and is a popular speaker at continuing legal education seminars for attorneys.
David has litigated cases involving Federal Banking regulations, the Credit Agreements Act, the Truth in Lending Act, fraud, probate matters in the Circuit and Appellate Courts, as well as business and commercial litigation, construction litigation, leases, personal injury and other matters in the trial courts of Central Illinois. In addition, David litigated marital cases involving issues of removal of children from Illinois, grandparent rights, child custody and property awards in the Circuit and Appellate Courts, as well as virtually all aspects of divorce and legal separation in the trial court.
In addition to practicing in court, David works in the formation and representation of corporations and LLCs, drafting employment, non-compete, buy-sell, separation and other documents as well as representing parties in the transfer of a business, either through a stock or membership transfer or through the transfer of assets.
David is married to Sandra, and they have three children. Their daughter, Rynell, is an attorney; his older son, Alex, is in graduate school in aerospace engineering; and his younger son, Spencer, is in college studying national security and intelligence, and is in the Army ROTC. David's hobbies include karate and kobudo (traditional Okinawan weapons), bicycling and reading.
- Year Joined Organization:
- 1981
- Areas of Practice:
- Contract Law
- Corporations Law
- Family Law
- Personal Injury
- Torts Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Education:
- University of Illinois College of Law, Urbana, Illinois,
1981
J.D. - Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois,
1977
B.S.
Honors: Cum Laude
Major: Political Science
- Published Works:
- Child Restraints, Illinois Medical Journal Vol. 162 #5, November, 1982
- An Update on the Common Fund Doctrine and ERISA, Illinois State Bar Association Trial Briefs Vol. 43 #2, January, 1998
- Representative Cases:
- Machinery Transports of Illinois: Dennis LaHood, Anthony T. LaHood, Jr., Martha Lahood v. Morton Community Bank and Gordon D. Honegger, individually, 293 Ill.App.3d 207, 227Ill.Dec. 283, 687 NE2d 533 (3d Dist. 1997)
- In the Matter of the Estate of Jess H. Wagler, Deceased, 217 Ill.App.3d 526, 160 Ill.Dec.553, 577 NE2d 878 (3d Dist. 1991)
- The League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria, an unincorporated association, Frances Kepler and Shirley Belke v. Mary Harkrader, County Clerk of the County of Peoria, IL and James E. Bartell, Intervenor, 127 Ill.App.3d 438, 82 Ill.Dec.721, 469 NE2d 255 (3d Dist. 1984)
- In the Matter of the Estate of Donald N. Graff, Deceased, Morton Community Bank v. Margaret K. Graff, Executor, 117 Ill.App.3d 900, 73 Ill.Dec.161, 453 NE2d 1150 (3d Dist. 1983)
- Sterner v. Arnold, (Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District. No. 3-94-0393 1995)
- Representative Clients:
- Morton Community Bank
- Village of Mapleton, IL
- Century 21 - Lincoln National Realty
- Burger Barge, Inc.
- Wm. Aupperle & Sons, Inc.
- Pepper Maintenance Systems, Inc.
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Abraham Lincoln Civil Inns of Court - 1993
- Appellate and Supreme Court Opinions of Interest in 2007, Peoria County Bar Association - January 2008
- Spring 2009 Peoria County Bar Association General Civil Practice seminar on client relations
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Peoria County Bar Association
- Abraham Lincoln Inns of Court
- Master Emeritus Member
- Tazewell County Board, District 2
- Member, 1986 - 1992
- Peoria Civic Opera (now Opera Illinois)
- Former Member of the Board of Directors
- Peoria League of Women Voters
- Former Member of the Board of Directors
- Pastoral Counseling Services
- Former Member of the Board of Directors
- Tri-County Planning Commission
- Former Member
- Tri-County Planning Commission, Land Use Advisory Committee
- Former Member
