Thomas J. Ramsdell

Focus of Practice

Real Estate Litigation
Constitutional Land Use
Civil Litigation
Real Estate Defense
Commercial Litigation
Business Litigation

Professional

Thomas J. Ramsdell is the founding partner of Ramsdell & Hind, a law firm dedicated to the representation of private property owners, community organizations, and the real estate development community in land-use litigation. He has represented clients in the trial and appellate courts, both federal and state, in downzoning, spot zoning, vested rights, mandamus, landmarking, TIFs, privatization of public land, and other proceedings invoking constitutional law. He also appears regularly before municipal zoning and planning bodies.

Prior to opening Ramsdell & Hind in May 2005, Mr. Ramsdell was a partner in the law firm Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, LLP, where his practice focused on land-use and intellectual property litigation. Mr. Ramsdell's focus on land-use litigation began under the tutelage of Jerome Torshen. He has practiced in Chicago since 1992.

Mr. Ramsdell is licensed to practice in the State of Illinois, and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Courts of Appeal for the Seventh and Federal Circuits, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar), and the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.

Representative Cases

Hanna, et al. v. City of Chicago et al., __ N.E.2d __, 2009 WL 605361 (1st Dist. 2009) (obtained reversal of trial court dismissal of complaint challenging vagueness, ambiguity and abuse of the Chicago Landmark Ordinance; appellate court found Chicago Landmark Ordinance unconstitutionally vague and ambiguous).

Cribbin, et al. v. City of Chicago, 384 Ill.App.3d 878, 893 N.E.2d 1016, 323 Ill.Dec. 542 (1st Dist. 2008) (affirmed trial court victory invalidating illegal "aldermanic hold" on clients' permits for multi-unit residential development; trial court ordered City to issue permits).

Hanna v. City of Chicago, Appeal No. 01-3093 (1st Dist. 2004) (affirmed trial court victory invalidating downzoning of 9-block neighborhood in Lincoln Park).

XCO Int'l, Inc. v. Pacific Scientific Co., 369 F. 3d 998 (7th Cir. 2004) (obtained reversal of trial court's grant of summary judgment and prevailed on claim that liquidated damages provision of subject contract was not an unenforceable penalty clause).

Civic Involvement

Economic Club of Chicago
City Club of Chicago
Republican Nominee, Illinois State Comptroller, 2002

Bar Association Memberships

State Bar of Illinois

Education

American University, Washington College of Law. Juris Doctorate (cum laude), 1992
Columbia University in the City of New York, B.A., 1989
New Trier High School