William R. Tapella

Bill R. Tapella practices in the area of civil litigation, including medical malpractice, significant personal injuries, trucking accidents, railroad crossing accidents, wrongful death matters, product liability, and other tort litigation cases. Bill grew up in Herrin, Illinois and attended Eastern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale. He received his B.A. in Political Science from Southern Illinois University in 1981 and then went on to receive his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law. While there, he received numerous academic honors, including admission to the Order of Coif, designation as a Harno Scholar, and ultimately graduated Magna Cum Laude. Bill has received a number of accolades throughout his career including being recognized by his peers as an AV Preeminent® rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. He has also been named a Leading Lawyer in Illinois, is a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, a group that includes less than 4% of attorneys nationally. Bill is a member and past president of the Coles-Cumberland County Bar Association and a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, Illinois Trial Lawyers, and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Bill is married and has two children. He lives on a small farm just outside of Ashmore, Illinois with his wife and their dogs. Bill is an avid upland bird hunter and a lifetime member of Pheasants Forever.