Jenner & Block Team Recognized with Northern District of Illinois Pro Bono Award
Recognition
May 4, 2026
The US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (NDIL) and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association honored a Jenner & Block team with its 2026 Pro Bono and Public Interest Award for Excellence at a ceremony on May 1. The award honors lawyers who have served the Northern District Court and the community by providing pro bono representation and advocacy.
The Jenner team was appointed to represent Dwayne Cummings, a pretrial detainee at Cook County Jail who had not been convicted of a crime. Mr. Cummings alleged that after he vocally raised concerns about the jail's COVID-19 policies, Cermak Health Services, the medical provider for Cook County Jail, retaliated by denying him adequate medical care for worsening vision problems. The case presented significant legal and factual challenges, including meeting the demanding standards of prisoner civil rights litigation and establishing the link between Mr. Cummings's protected conduct and the alleged denial of care. After years of litigation, the case concluded in 2025 with a favorable result for Mr. Cummings.
The team included Partners Dean Panos and Chris Tompkins, and Associates Jeff Salvadore and Steven Tinetti.
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© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.
Recognition
May 4, 2026
The US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (NDIL) and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association honored a Jenner & Block team with its 2026 Pro Bono and Public Interest Award for Excellence at a ceremony on May 1. The award honors lawyers who have served the Northern District Court and the community by providing pro bono representation and advocacy.
The Jenner team was appointed to represent Dwayne Cummings, a pretrial detainee at Cook County Jail who had not been convicted of a crime. Mr. Cummings alleged that after he vocally raised concerns about the jail's COVID-19 policies, Cermak Health Services, the medical provider for Cook County Jail, retaliated by denying him adequate medical care for worsening vision problems. The case presented significant legal and factual challenges, including meeting the demanding standards of prisoner civil rights litigation and establishing the link between Mr. Cummings's protected conduct and the alleged denial of care. After years of litigation, the case concluded in 2025 with a favorable result for Mr. Cummings.
The team included Partners Dean Panos and Chris Tompkins, and Associates Jeff Salvadore and Steven Tinetti.
Related Attorneys
Related Locations
© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.
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