SIGNIFICANT CASES

In a medical malpractice wrongful death case, we settled against the City of Chicago. Our client was 3 years old when her mother died due to improper dosage of Isoniazid, a drug to prevent Tuberculosis. The decedent got the drug at a City of Chicago Health Clinic. The City filed two motions for Summary Judgment and Petitions for Leave to Appeal to the Appellate and Supreme Courts, all of which we won. The case settled for $5,250,000.00.

In a brain injury case, we settled against a delivery truck company. Our client who was a pedestrian who was struck by a delivery van while running across the street in the middle of the block. The truck accident aggravated psychological problems. The accident left her in a coma with a skull fracture and brain injuries which our client recovered from. Three days before the trial began, we settled for $3.75 million dollars. See Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Article here.

In a medical malpractice case, a widower's wrongful death suit against a doctor alleged his late wife's primary care doctor discovered that a neurosurgeon had operated on the wrong part of her spine, but failed to tell her. She subsequently was given an epidural steroid injection to treat her continuing back pain, and the injection lead to a deadly staff infection. The jury returned a verdict against the two doctors in the amount of 1.2 million dollars. During jury deliberations one doctor settled for $750,000.00 The appeals court affirmed a $448,735.00 judgment against the remaining doctor. The appellate court ruled that there was enough evidence for the jury to make a casual connection between the doctors and the plaintiff's subsequent injuries. The court accepted the plaintiff's argument that his wife agreed to the steroid injection because she wrongly believed the first surgery had been done correctly and did not relieve her pain. See Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Article here.

In a wrongful death case, we settled against a commercial truck company. Our client was a 71 year old lady with significant health problems who was stopped in traffic s/b I55 when she was struck from behind by a commercial truck and was killed in the crash. After the accident the driver was arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance (cocaine). The case settled for $1,500,000.00.

In a slip and fall case, we tried a construction injury case before a jury in Lake County, Indiana. My client, an ironworker, sustained serious injuries when he fell from the roof of a building under construction as he was walking backwards on a steel I-beam. We contended that the defendant contractor was negligent because it did not put up safety nets. The defendants offered $50,000 to settle the case. We proceeded to trial and the jury awarded $1,500,000.00 for severe fracture of the right ankle and both wrists and the inability to work as an ironworker. Our client presently works as a laboratory manager.

In wrongful death case, we settled against a nursing home. Our client, who was a patient with end stage renal disease at the nursing home, was not properly cared for and she developed a stage four-bed sore on her lower back. The bedsore became infected and the infection led to her death. The nursing home initially offered $150,000.00 to settle ths case. The case settled for $1,000,000.00 just before trial.

In a nursing home rape case, we settled against a nursing home for $1,000,000.00. Our client was 27 years old at the time, but had the mental capacity of a three year old. An aide at the nursing home had been sexually assaulting the young woman for several months. He was tried in criminal court and sentenced to nine years in prison. The defendant, Nursing Home, contended that it was not responsible for the criminal acts of the employee. We moved for summary judgment based on the Nursing Home Act, which provides that a nursing home is liable for the negligent and intentional acts of its employees that injure a resident. The Court agreed with my argument and granted summary judgment on liability. We then moved for leave to amend pleadings to add a claim for punitive damages. The nursing home initially offered $150,000.00 to settle this case. The case settled shortly before the arguments on that motion for punitive damages for $1,000,000.00.

In personal injury case, we tried this case before a jury in Lake County, Indiana. My client, a 30 year old woman, was shopping at a Toys "R" Us in Merrillville Indiana when a stock boy who was stocking merchandise onto the overhead shelves dropped a Playtex Diaper Genie box on her head resulting in the need for a cervical neck fusion. Toys "R" Us offered a $200,000.00 to settle the case which the plaintiff rejected. After a three day trial the jury returned a verdict in favor of my client in the amount of $700,000.00.

In a slip and fall case in Lake County, Indiana, our client was shopping at a grocery store in Merrillville, Indiana when she slipped and fell on broken jars of baby food, which were on the floor. The grocery store initially offered $25,000.00 to settle this case but just before trial this case was settled for $600,000.00.

In a personal injury case, we settled against a trucking company for torn shoulder rotator cuff . Our client a 34-year-old man while working for Roadway Express Trucking Company in Chicago Heights, Illinois was unloading a semi trailer when the trailer was struck by another truck causing our client to fall and injure his shoulder. After surgery our client returned to his regular job at Roadway Express. The defendant initially offered $75,000.00 to settle this case. This case settled for $275,000.00 shortly before trial.