John W. Whitcomb - Chicago, IL
Attorney at Monahan Law Group, LLC
Litigation & Appeals Lawyers in Chicago, IL
55 West Monroe St. Suite 3700 Chicago, IL 60603
Chicago Litigation & Appeals Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Litigation & Appeals
- Child Welfare/Juvenile Law
- Civil Rights Law
- Elder Law
- Guardianship
- Mental Health & Confidentiality Law
- Probate & Estate Administration
- Risk Management
Attorney Information
Overview
Mr. Whitcomb is a partner at Monahan Law Group, LLC. Mr. Whitcomb specializes in involuntary commitment actions in Mental Health Court, guardianship and probate matters, and various litigation involving individual with mental illness and intellectual disabilities. Mr. Whitcomb has an extensive appellate practice including having argued In Re V.S., 2022 IL App (2d) 210667 (represented adopted parents ability to deny visitation to grandparents who were seeking visitation as a matter of right)); People v. Gomez-Ramrirez, 2021 IL App (3d) 200121 (represented medical center who objected to release of confidential medical records based on physician-patient privilege); and Warga v. Warga, 2015 IL App (1st) 151182 (guardian challenged the standing of a wife where the parties were seeking a divorce on behalf of a disabled person).
Mr. Whitcomb has over 35 years of experience representing clients in State and Federal trial and appellate courts. Prior to joining Monahan Law Group, Mr. Whitcomb was a Senior Attorney at Equip for Equality. In his capacity as Senior Attorney, Mr. Whitcomb represented clients in issues relating to guardianship, the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, and community placement of disabled individuals in the community. Mr. Whitcomb argued before the appellate court the seminal guardianship case, In Re Estate of K.E.J., on forced sterilization that eventually became the basis for the Illinois Statute, 755 ILCS 5/11a-17.1. Mr. Whitcomb also represented clients in abuse and neglect proceedings in juvenile court. Mr. Whitcomb was class counsel is several class actions regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) including Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago v. Chicago Transit Authority, Ligas v. Maram, and Williams v. Quinn.
Mr. Whitcomb is the recipient of the 2012 Recipient of Access Living's "Lead On!" Award, and LAF’s 1996 and 1994 Equal Justice Award. Mr. Whitcomb is the past and current Chairperson of the Chicago Bar Association’s Mental Health and Disability Law Committee. Mr. Whitcomb has a Teacher Training Certificate with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and has trained other lawyers in trial advocacy and deposition taking.
Mr. Whitcomb is a graduate of Tulane Law School and has a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Equal Justice Award, Legal Assistance Foundation, 2004 and 2006
- Lead On! award by Access Living, 2012
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Tulane Law School,
New Orleans,
Louisiana
Juris Doctor
-
Tulane Law School,
New Orleans,
Louisiana
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Non Legal Education
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Oberlin College,
Oberlin,
Ohio
Bachelor of Arts
Major: English and History
-
Oberlin College,
Oberlin,
Ohio
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Partner
Past Positions
- Equip for Equality, Senior Attorney
Classes and Seminars
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Presented, Mental Health and Developmental Confidentiality Act, LAF, May 14, 2015
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Presented, Deposition Training, NITA/Chicago Bar Foundation, 2014
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Presented, Who Is Your Client?, Illinois Legal Aid Conference, 2011
-
Presented, Sexuality and the Nature of Consent, Illinois Department of Public Health, 2008
-
Presented, Guardianship, Advance Directives, and Mental Health Code, Department of Human Services, 2006 - 2008
- Presented, Guardianship, Governor’s Conference on Aging, 2006
Pro Bono Activities
- Evanston Baseball & Softball Association, Coach for Girls Softball, Boys Baseball & Boys Traveling Baseball, 2007 - 2015
- Chicago Bar Association of Mental Health and Disability Law Committee, 2002 - 2003
Representative Cases
-
In Re Estate of K.E.J.
- Citation: 887 N.E.2d 704
- Court: 1 Dist. Ill.
- Year: 2008
-
Williams v. Quinn
- Citation: 748 F.Supp. 2d 892
- Court: N.D. Ill.
- Year: 2010
-
Appeal of Weeks
- Citation: 712 A.2d 907
- Court: Vt.
- Year: 1998
-
In Re Bill
- Citation: 724 A.2d 444
- Court: Vt.
- Year: 1998
-
Thomas v. Sullivan
- Citation: 801 F.Supp. 65
- Court: N.D.Ill.
- Year: 1992
Published Works
Articles
-
Author, The Effect of Domestic Violence on Unemployment Compensation, The Women's Advocate, 9:5, 1988
-
Author, Environmental Ethics and Political Ethics Go Hand in Hand, Tulane Law School, 1991
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
- Vermont
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
- Supreme Court of the United States of America
Other Affiliations
- Illinois State Bar Association (Member)
- The Chicago Bar Association, 1990 - Present (Member)
- Chair of the Chicago Bar Association Mental Health and Disability Law Committee
Photo
Contact
55 West Monroe St.
Suite 3700
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-419-0252
Fax: 312-419-7428
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.monahanlawllc.com
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