$3 MILLION
Doe(s) v. Municipality
Case Sealed
Child Sexual Abuse
This case involved the sexual assaults of children by a volunteer/employee of a municipality. The municipality failed to contact the Department of Child and Family Services (“DCFS”) pursuant to the Children Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act 325 ILCS 5/4 (2003) after allegations were initially made regarding their employee. Moreover, the municipality failed to have any policies and/or procedures in place with respect to the identification of child sexual predators or how to handle instances of alleged sexual abuse. In addition, the municipality did not have any training in place with respect to identifying and dealing with child sexual predators.
The assailant was a volunteer with an after-school program (the “program”). The volunteer was seen sitting children on his crotch, was known to be alone with children and was suspected to have made inappropriate comments to children. A father of one child in the program, even came to the facility where the program was held, met with the director of the program and complained that the volunteer made inappropriate comments to the child.
Despite such obvious warning signs and allegations, the municipality failed to notify DCFS in violation of the Children Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. When a full-time position became available at the facility where the program was held, a volunteer was considered for the position. The volunteer provided the municipality with his resume and other documents required in the application process. Even though the volunteer listed references, the municipality failed to check even a single reference provided. If it had, the municipality would have discovered that even the volunteer’s references had concerns about the volunteer’s interaction with children. Nevertheless, the volunteer was hired in the full-time position. It was primarily during his employment with the municipality that the volunteer-turned-employee molested the Plaintiffs – conduct for which he was later convicted.
$2.35 MILLION
Estate of Sheila Jones v Advocate Health and Hospital Corporation
Case No. 06-L-1924
Medical Malpractice – Wrongful Death
Ms. Jones was a 49-year-old woman employed with the Chicago Board Of Education on Thursday, December 9, 2004. She had been so employed for over twenty-five years. In the afternoon hours of December 9, 2004, Ms. Jones was taken to Advocate Christ Hospital from her place of work via ambulance due to chest pains.
Advocate failed to treat and notify physicians of the deteriorating condition of the plaintiff, which resulted in her death. When Shelia Jones entered the hospital with pains in her chest, she was conscious. Her symptoms were consistent with that of a Stanford Type B descending thoracic aorta dissection and should have been diagnosed and treated. Yet while in the defendant’s care, Ms. Jones expressed being in pain for two days, but the defendant did nothing to lessen the pain. Ms. Jones ultimately passed away and was survived by five children.
$1,779,349.00 – Policy Limits
Lynnette Williams v. Bodine Electric Co.
Case No. 02-L-8231
Wrongful Termination
The plaintiff was employed by the defendant Bodine Electric for 21 years beginning on October 31, 1979. On December 16, 2000, the plaintiff was injured while operating a drill press. She filed a claim for compensation with the Industrial Commission under the Illinois Worker’s Compensation Act 820 ILCS 305/1 et seq. The defendant sent Lynette Williams to Dr. Goldflies, who diagnosed Lynette Williams with a complex regional pain syndrome which rendered Lynette Williams with a permanent injury and or long-term disability under the Workers Compensation Act. In retaliation for filing a Worker’s Compensation Claim, the plaintiff was fired.
$1.65 MILLION
Estate of Bradford v. Durable Medical Equipment Company
Case No. 09-L-15302
Products Liability
Mr. Bradford age 66, and the father of 6 adult children, was admitted to the hospital with past cardiac disease and decreased respiratory function. His cardiac disease made him more susceptible to cardiac arrest. Mr. Bradford underwent heart valve replacement surgery while at the hospital. Mr. Bradford remained at the hospital approximately 9 days after his surgery. During that time, he was on “wall oxygen” which is a form of oxygen that is delivered by “continuous flow” supplied via a nasal cannula from the wall near the patient’s bed.
Mr. Bradford was expected to do well after surgery but was still in need of oxygen upon discharge. After being given an “Easy Pulse 5” portable oxygen tank, he was discharged home. Unlike a continuous flow oxygen tank Mr. Bradford had been using, Mr. Bradford was instead given an oxygen tank that had what is known as a “conserver device” on it. Unlike a “continuous flow” device, oxygen on a conserver device delivers oxygen by “intermittent flow,” or discharges oxygen only when the patient inhales. This type of oxygen can drastically affect oxygen saturation levels in a manner that is different and lesser than, continuous flow oxygen delivery systems.
The defendant’s representative delivered the tank with a conserver device on it to Mr. Bradford. During delivery, Walker met with Mr. Bradford for about 5 to 10 minutes. During that time, the defendant showed Mr. Bradford how to turn the device on and off, how to put it in the appropriate setting, and how to put the cannula around his nose. No other information was conveyed to Mr. Bradford by Walker about the oxygen system he was providing Bradford at any time by anyone before Mr. Bradford’s discharge from Ingalls.
Approximately 1:45 minutes after discharge and while at his home, Mr. Bradford began showing signs of respiratory distress and died. When the EMTs arrived a few minutes later, the Easy Pulse 5 was empty. According to the physician who performed Mr. Bradford’s autopsy, Mr. Bradford died of ventricular arrhythmia brought on by the lack of oxygen.
$1.5 MILLION
Plaintiff vs. Local Hospital
Medical Malpractice
The Dinizulu Law Group recently settled a $1,500,000 medical malpractice case wherein a local hospital failed to follow the nationally accepted cancer guidelines developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network which resulted in the hospital removing the patient’s pancreas, spleen and part of the intestines without having a positive biopsy for cancer first. The local hospital failed to enforce its own policies and procedures to do several mandated steps of a risky surgery.
Despite local hospitals’ annual reports, which required them to repeat the biopsy to run additional tests or send the results to a roundtable discussion of professionals, the surgeon rushed the patient to surgery to remove a pancreatic mass. As a result of that surgery, five additional surgeries were required due to complications.
$1.5 MILLION
Plaintiff v. Defendant Grocery Store
Wrongful Death
The plaintiff arrived at the defendant’s grocery store and exited that store without paying for certain products valued at under $100. The store supervisor noticing that the plaintiff had hidden stolen products in his coat paged another grocery store employee to retrieve the taken products from the plaintiff. The other grocery store employee chased the plaintiff down the alley until he got a hold of him and strangled him to death.
$1.441 MILLION
Doe v. Municipality
Childhood Sexual Assault
Equal Protection
Illinois Domestic Violence Act
Conspiracy
The plaintiffs were sexual assault victims who reported the crime to the Municipal Police Department. From 1997 through 2012, the municipality failed to properly train and implement police procedures with respect to investigations of sexual assaults. This included:
- Systematically failing to send and follow-up on DNA evidence.
- Systemically failing to assign sexual assault cases to investigators. 36% of sexual assault cases reported to the municipal Police Department were never assigned to an investigator. Of the total 859 sexual assault cases reported from 1997 to 2012, a total of 312 were not assigned.
- The municipal police department obstructed and discouraged minor female sexual victims from reporting sexual assault crimes.
- The municipal police department systemically failed to interview female sexual assault victims.
- Female sexual assault victims were met with hostility and indifference by the municipal police department.
- The municipal police department systemically failed to track female sexual assault cases and evidence.
- The municipal police department systemically underreported female sexual assault crimes to the Illinois State Police.
- The municipal police department failed to document female sexual assault investigations.
- The municipal police department failed in its investigation of easy statutory cases.
- The municipal police department knowingly and intentionally hired officers with a bias.
As a result, sexual assault victims’ cases were being ignored. In 2007, the municipal police department was raided, wherein 200 uninvestigated rape kits were found. As a result of these untested rape kits, suspects – pedophiles and rapists – were allowed to go free.
Due to the audit, sexual assault victims, including some of the plaintiffs, were notified of the failures of the municipal police department. The six plaintiffs in this case filed a civil lawsuit against this municipality, and their officers, alleging that the defendants violated their state and constitutional rights, including the plaintiff’s right to equal protection rights according to the fourth amendment and under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, 750 ILCS 60/301.1.
$1.18 MILLION
Hill-Jackson v FAF, Inc, et al.
1:10-CV-1296
Negligence – Wrongful Death
The plaintiff, a 21-year-old student, was killed when the defendants’ tractor-trailer failed to reduce speed in the inclement weather. A multiple-vehicle accident occurred on the interstate in Indiana, causing the plaintiff to stop. The defendant seeing the accident could not reduce speed in time, striking the plaintiff who was on the side of the road and killing him. The plaintiff was survived by his mother and brother. The case was filed in Illinois but removed to the Southern District of Indiana. Indiana law applied.
$1.16 MILLION
Fletcher McQueen v. Pan Oceanic Engineering Co. Inc. et. al.
Case No. 2014-L-1050
Truck accident
The case was about a construction company whose truck driver failed to properly load and secure a Bobcat skid steer to its trailer pursuant to Federal & State Safety Rules. The Verdict on compensatory damages was $163,227.45 for nerve damage. The jury as a deterrence against future reckless acts of this construction company Pan Oceanic Engineering Co. Inc. and other entities, that don’t follow basic safety rules entered a verdict on punitive damages for a million dollars.
$1 MILLION
Doe v. School
Sexual Assault
The Dinizulu Law Group recently settled a $1,000,000 sexual assault case wherein a local high school hired an employee to begin working at the school without a background check being conducted. Once the background check was complete, it was identified that the employee had an arrest history, including kidnapping and domestic violence.
After a failure to conduct a proper background test, this wrongly hired dean and coach subsequently resulted in the employee raping a student. The school after the employee was there for a year and the school learned of the statutory rape, the school notified Chicago Police Department, as well as the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) of the sexual abuse.
$1 MILLION
Estate of DOE v. ABC 24-Hour Treatment Center
Wrongful Death – Medical Malpractice, Allergic Reaction, Anaphylactic Shock, Failure to Intubate
ABC 24-Hour Treatment Center advertised itself as an emergency treatment center. Relying on that representation, the plaintiff presented to the ABC 24-Hour Treatment Center complaining of a sore throat and choking sensation that was caused by an allergic reaction to a medication. The plaintiff could not talk – because her airways started to close. The plaintiff was in respiratory distress. ABC was not prepared to care for her and delayed intubation. As a result, the plaintiff died.
$1 MILLION – Policy Limits
Eugene Taylor v. Total Facility Maintenance, Inc.
Case No. 05-l-4681
Premises Liability – Slip and Fall
On October 13, 2004, Eugene Taylor slipped on an improperly waxed floor at Carter Elementary School, one of the elementary schools where Total Facility provided janitorial services. Mr. Taylow suffered quadriceps tears, requiring surgery.
This is a case involving the lack of enforcement of policies and procedures by Total Facility Maintenance, Inc. Total Facility is a company with longstanding roots in the janitorial industry. The Defendant and their agents showed a failure of oversight and overall negligence in the conduct and acts that led to the injuries suffered by Eugene Taylor.
Total Facility Maintenance, Inc. is a corporation that has over 950 employees who report to a single human resource administrator. Over their twenty-year period as a corporation, they have had numerous slips and falls on properties they maintain.
$1 MILLION – Total Policy
Milburn v. Willis, et al
Tractor-trailer accident
An Illinois Plaintiff, Milburn was a passenger in a passenger driven by Willis, for the company. They were driving in Missouri when Willis fell asleep. As a result, the tractor-trailer veered off course and Milburn was severely injured. According to the agreement with the Company, Willis and Milburn were independent contractors. The case was settled for the total policy of $1,000,000.
$1 MILLION
Estate of Jane Doe v. Defendant(s)
Car Accident
This car crash involved our client and the defendant driver whose car was being driven by his employee. They were both heading in opposite directions on Pulaski and 85th Street. The plaintiff was making a left turn on 85th Street when the defendant driver who was traveling at a high speed struck the Plaintiff’s vehicle. The Defendant and the carrier denied liability. The Dinizulu Law Group obtained a 7-figure settlement through Progressive Insurance.
$940,000
Collin v. Defendant Hospital & Defendant Doctor
Dental Malpractice
Collin was injured in an altercation and was taken to the hospital where the defendant’s doctor was assigned to the plaintiff’s care. The defendant’s doctor did a closed reduction of the mandible and, put simplistically put a bridge on the chin and screws and wires throughout the mouth. The defendant’s doctor plated the chin fracture despite it being contraindicated.
The reason the surgery was contraindicated, was because the fracture was at a severe angle and the tooth- according to a subsequent treater the patient’s fracture was in an “unfavorable position.” That is to say, the wisdom tooth in the fracture line was set in the gum in an anomalous manner. The defendant’s doctor denies this tooth positioning, but this tooth setting was confirmed by the first of many subsequent treating physicians.
The rule is that the safest choice is the proper choice. Reduced to its simplest terms, the defendant’s doctor had far more viable and safe choices regarding the plaintiff’s surgery. The standard, according to the AAOMS Parameters of Care, is that an unstable fracture needs to be treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Instead of the surgery chosen, the defendant’s doctor should have opened the fracture site of the mandible and visualized it instead of aligning the bone with a “closed reduction” and going by “feel.”
After visualizing the fracture site, the defendant’s doctor should have used a heavier plate to attach the chin fracture. Alternatively, he could have used the same plate on the chin as the one he used, but also used arch bars, which are, essentially heavy wires placed above the gum line that laterally go across the teeth to ensure proper fixation.
Finally, the defendant’s doctor should have used heavier plates at both fracture sites and no Erich Arch bars. Instead, he simply went by “feel” to place the jaw bone in the proper position during a procedure known as a “closed reduction”. He then just wired the mouth shut, without the reinforcing appliances necessary to ensure good continuing alignment and fixation. He used a comparatively weak bridge on the chin fracture.
On July 18, 2011, the defendant’s doctor took a post-surgical Panorex of the Plaintiff’s bone structure which shows that the bone is misaligned and effectively cannot heal in that position. Optimal bone healing occurs within 6 weeks after a fracture occurs. The longer you wait to do corrective surgery-this time an open reduction—the less likely it is that the Plaintiff’s jaw would be saved, or the higher the likelihood of success. At the same time, the defendant’s doctor never told Collin that he needed care at the July 11, 2011 meeting nor at the August 28, 2011 follow-up compounding the problem. His notes reveal no such conversation. In turn, Collin relied on the defendant’s doctor’s silence and didn’t seek the needed surgical treatment in a timely way.
As a result, Collin underwent several risky surgeries with poor outcomes and likely long-term sequelae of disfigurement and TMJ.
$725,000
The Estate of Doe v. ABC Agency
Case No. 02-L-3106
Wrongful Death
The decedent and Berline Stokes were clients of the defendant receiving various services including independent living services. The services provided were described as assisting their clients in adjusting to the independence of not living in a foster home. The decedent and Stokes had a history of altercations between each other while clients of the defendant, which included an altercation involving the decedent and Stokes that resulted in the confinement of Stokes in a correctional facility for battery.
Stokes upon her exit from confinement in a correctional facility returned to the defendant’s premises and received the keys to the decedent’s premises from the Defendant. Stokes subsequently took the keys provided to her by the defendant and went to the decedent’s apartment. Stokes gained access to the decedent’s apartment and stabbed the decedent until she succumbed to her injuries and died.
$700,000
The Estate of Williams Wilson v Wilson Care Inc.
Case No. 01-L-1162
Nursing Home Negligence – Suicide
The decedent William Wilson was a resident at an ICF Nursing Home Facility Wilson Care Inc. for the Mentally Ill. The decedent was a resident at this facility since 1991. On August 12, 1997, the decedent was readmitted to the defendant’s nursing home after an involuntary committal to a Psychiatric Hospital at Loretto Hospital because of suicidal ideations. Upon return to Wilson Care, Inc. the defendant was found face down. The defendant Wilson Care, Inc. was monitored for 3 days by the nursing staff and was not monitored for the subsequent eight days. The decedent committed suicide on the eighth day by jumping out the window. The nursing home had 4 previous suicides – all whom did so by jumping out a window.
$675,000
Patricia Wilson, et al. v. Chicago Housing Authority, et al
Case No. 08-L-836
Gas Explosion
The plaintiffs in this case are Patricia Wilson, Lovalle Dorris, Marguerite Jacobs and Ashley Allen. Plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit against defendants, Chicago Housing Authority and East Lake Management & Development Corporation. The plaintiffs alleged that on October 17, 2005, the defendants negligently caused a gas explosion in the crawl space of the tenants Patricia Wilson, Marguerite Jacobs, and Ashley Allen that caused damage in each tenant’s apartment and injured all of the plaintiffs. As a result of the occurrence, plaintiffs Patricia Wilson, Lovalle Dorris, Marguerite Jacobs, and Ashley Allen, suffered injuries as a result of the explosion. Ms. Wilson, the most injured, suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on her leg.
The Chicago Housing Authority and East Lake Management Development at trial admitted negligence but denied that their negligence was a proximate cause of the injuries of the plaintiffs. The case was settled during trial, after Ms. Wilson showed her scarred leg, moving the jury.
$500,000
Reese v. City of Chicago
Case No. 07-L-11998
Excessive Force – Police
On July 16, 2007, plaintiff was shot by a City of Chicago police officer. The plaintiff alleged that the officer was reckless by not following proper police procedures when he unintentionally shot an unarmed minor. The defendants deny the officer was reckless and responsible for the plaintiff’s injuries. The case was settled prior to trial.
Policy Limit
Plaintiff v. Defendant Intoxicated Driver
Car Accident
The plaintiff was injured as a result of an intoxicated driver. His car was hit head-on and the impact was so great that he was rushed to the nearest emergency room. The accident caused several fractures, including a femur and ankle fracture. The plaintiff had to go through many surgeries and required an extensive stay at a nursing/rehab facility, both of which resulted in a burdensome level of medical expenses. The matter settled for the maximum amount available on the policy limit.
$475,000
The Estate of Sanderson Rayford v. Renaissance at 87th
Case No. 04-L-7189
Nursing Home Negligence – Bed Sores
Mr. Rayford was a resident of Renaissance at 87th, a nursing home. Defendant Nursing Home Renaissance at 87th failed to properly turn Mr. Rayford free from bed sores. Moreover, Renaissance at 87th failed to clean his trach and forced Mr. Rayford to lie in his bodily excretions.
Due to the neglect and improper care he received at Renaissance at 87th, Mr. Rayford underwent hospitalization for injuries that resulted from neglect, which included, decubitis ulcers, contractures, malnutrition, leukocytosis, and hypoalbuminemia.
$450,000
Elbert Johnson v. Holy Cross Hospital
Medical Malpractice
Plaintiff Elbert Johnson went to Defendant Holy Cross Hospital after a car accident, where the defendant doctor ordered a CT scan with contrast dye. The defendant nurse placed the initial IV for contrast dye in Elbert Johnson’s left dorsal hand. The IV infiltrated sending contrast dye into the tissue of his hand. Elbert Johnson suffered an extravasation, leading to compartment syndrome. Elbert Johnson’s compartment syndrome required surgery and physical therapy.
Mr. Dinizulu filed a summary judgment motion and the court determined that the defendant nurse and Holy Cross Hospital through the conduct of the defendant nurse breached the standard of care and was liable for those breaches as a matter of law. The case was settled during motion practice with the trial court.
$380,000 – Policy Limits
Nwaeke v. Roscoe’s Tavern, et al.
Case No. 2009-L-1026
Dramshop
On July 31, 2009, Antonio Hernandez arrived at Roscoe’s Tavern at about 10:30 pm, where he consumed two 64 oz pitchers of lemonade and vodka. Visibly intoxicated, he left the bar at about 1:00 a.m. As Mr. Hernandez left the bar, he proceeded to drive under the influence and ended up driving the wrong way (southbound) on Northbound I-55. Unable to control his vehicle, Mr. Hernandez struck the vehicle driven by our Plaintiffs head-on.
After the accident, Mr. Antonio Hernandez blew a .220 on a preliminary breath test administered by the Illinois State Police on the scene. At the scene he appeared, to have difficulty balancing and failed both the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and field sobriety test.
Both Prince and Margaret were severely injured. Margaret died on August 1, 2009, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
$375,000
Jimmie Smith v. Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church
Case No. 10-L-8545
Slip & Fall
Plaintiff Jimmie Smith was injured at Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church when, after being asked, he went into the rafters in order to empty a condensation pan on the air conditioning unit, and the joist collapsed. Because of the defendant’s negligence, the joists collapsed and Jimmie fell through the drop ceiling, ultimately landing in the sanctuary on the wooden steel armchairs. Jimmie Smith sustained injuries, which included a broken arm and a frozen shoulder. Jimmie Smith’s arm was broken in three places and his humerus was crushed.
Mr. Smith wore this brace for approximately six months. After trying three different braces, Jimmie underwent 2 shoulder surgeries. Mr. Smith, whose job was to lift and transport patients, was restricted from ever returning to work.
$369,000
Terry Butler v. Municipal Entity
Case No. 09-L-10216
Discrimination – Wrongful Termination
It was alleged that Terry Butler was discharged from his position because of his race, in violation of the Illinois Civil Rights Act and Section 1983.
Butler and a Caucasian co-worker committed similar acts of self-defense when confronted with a physical altercation. Mr. Butler was terminated as a result of acting in self-defense. His similarly situated white co-worker was never disciplined. The Municipal Entity had a history and reported Affirmative Action Plan wherein the municipal admitted that African American workers were disciplined at a higher rate than their white counterparts.
The case was filed in the Northern District of Illinois, and settled on the eve of trial, after successfully overcoming the defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
$311,000
John Doe v. ABC Corporation
Personal Injury – Car Accident
The defendant ran a red light resulting in the plaintiff suffering from multiple disk herniations and a closed head injury with seizure, loss of consciousness and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Because of the closed head injury, Mr. Robbins suffered from personality changes, a high degree of anxiety, vertigo, dizziness, a feeling of disjointedness, memory loss, loss of spatial reference, and short-term paralysis.
Because of the closed head injury, Doe was out of work from May 21, 2009, to July 9, 2009. When he returned, Doe’s closed head injury caused him to face numerous challenges both in his responsibilities and the stigma he faced at work.
$300,000
Estate of Slyvia Lowe v. ABC Nursing Home
Nursing Home Abuse
Ms. Lowe was a resident of ABC Nursing Home. On admission, Ms. Lowe had a history of falls. Defendants failed to guard Ms. Lowes against those falls. The defendants did not protect against falls, when defendants failed to use sufficient fall risk preventive measures, including but not limited to alarms for fall prevention, to re-evaluate her fall risk assessment, to update her care plan, to implement a care plan, and to properly record. Moreover, the defendants failed to have sufficient staff for her care, failed to train staff for fall risk, and failed to have policies and procedures for fall risk.
In addition, the defendant failed to provide proper nutrition. Ms. Lowe required assistance and set-up help for eating. Yet, Sylvia Lowe did not receive proper nutrition and hydration as a resident of the defendant’s nursing home.
As a result, Sylvia Lowe was admitted to St Joseph’s Hospital, suffering from dehydration secondary to anorexia. According to the ICU evaluation, Mrs. Lowe was in respiratory distress, obtunded, and was diagnosed with LLL Pneumonia, which the doctors noted was community-acquired. With a poor prognosis, Sylvia Lowe died shortly after her admission to the hospital on December 29, 2010.
$300,000
Hayes v. Family Dollar
Case No. 09-L-107
Premises Liability – Slip and fall
Ms. Hayes was shopping at Family Dollar in Decatur, Illinois. As she was shopping, she slipped and fell on a broken bottle of lotion. Ms. Hayes immediately felt excruciating pain in her back and right ankle. As a result of the defendant’s negligence, Ms. Hayes sustained a torn rotator cuff that required surgery, resulting in extensive medical expenses.
$200,000
Adan Martinez v. Municipal Corporation and John Doe Police Officer
Civil Rights – Due Process
After returning home from a trip to visit family in Mexico, Adan Martinez was arrested by police officer John Doe and detained. The arrest of Mr. Martinez for pedophilia and subsequent conduct by the municipality and officer set in motion a course of humiliating, emasculating and horrible events. In the end, Mr. Martinez was detained for nearly one month, transferred between three to four police stations/correctional facilities, and suffered both physical and emotional, before it was determined he was the wrong individual because the real perpetrator was missing a finger.
$193,000
Estate of Paul v. Home Health Provider
Slip & Fall – Hip Fracture
While under the care of Defendant Paul was negligently dropped after defendant lifted him to assist him to the commode. As a result of the negligent drop, Paul suffered a broken femur and incurred significant medical expenses. He was an elderly man at the time of the incident and lived only six short months following the injury. He spent his final days in excruciating pain as a result of the broken femur before he died.
$192,500
Durueke v. Naqui, et al.
Case No. 06-L-10501
Negligence – Car Accident
The plaintiff was stopped at a red traffic light when he was rear-ended by a cab. The impact was hard. The plaintiff sustained right sciatic and central disc herniation of the lumbar spine.
$185,000
Estate of Lucille Graham v. Crestwood Care Center
Case No. 10-L-13959
Nursing Home Negligence
Lucille Graham entered Crestwood on referral from her doctor, for the very purpose of wound care. Unfortunately, as a result of Crestwood’s negligence, Lucille Graham contracted an MRSA infection. As a result, her leg had to be amputated and she died.
$180,000
John Porter v. Ifeanyi Ochuba and Royal CCC
Case No. 09-L-14909
Personal Injury – Car Accident
John Porter was injured in a motor vehicle accident on February 21, 2008, when he was rear-ended by Ifeanyi Ochuba, a taxi driver for Royal 3 CCC, driving a taxi, owned by Lucky 7. Mr. Porter was seriously injured, sustaining cervical and lumbar sprains, as well as a left shoulder rotator cuff tear that required surgery.
$177,100
Coburn v. Glenshire Nursing Home
Case No. 7-L-2987
Nursing Home Negligence
Ms. Coburn was a 55-year-old female who was admitted to Glenshire Nursing Home for rehabilitation from heart surgery when she fell from her bed. Glenshire Nursing Home failed to adequately supervise her activity, failed to respond to her request for assistance, and failed to provide adequate and appropriate care upon recognition that she had fallen and was injured.
As a result of improper nursing care at Glenshire Nursing Home, the plaintiff fell sustaining a nondisplaced intertrochanteric fracture of the left hip.
$169,000
Taylor v CKE Restaurant
Case No. 01-L-5254
Premise Liability – Fractured Ankle
The plaintiff was walking into the defendant’s premises when she fell on a slick improperly shoveled walkway. The plaintiff fractured her leg. Witnesses heard the defendant’s employees arguing over who was responsible for finishing the shoveling of the walkway. The defendant was aware of the dangerous conditions in front of their store (others fell in the same spot that day) but failed to correct the unnatural dangerous condition.
$155,000
McLeod-Smith v. Peterson
Negligence – Car Accident
Plaintiff was driving on I-355 northbound in lane 4 when he was rear-ended by Lisa Peterson’s vehicle. Ms. Peterson stated she was “not paying attention and was looking down when the collision occurred.” Substantial damage was done to Allen’s vehicle. The plaintiff sustained injuries which included an acute closed head injury and an aggravation of his previous ankle injury that previously required surgery.
$140,000
Jones v. Golasweski
Case No. 09-L-132
Negligence – Car Accident
Melvin Jones, a passenger, was injured in a motor vehicle accident when he was rear-ended by Laura Golawszewski. As a result, Melvin Jones was injured, sustaining injuries to his lumbar and cervical spines.
$126,711.35
Richardson v. Salem Baptist Church
Premise Liability – Fall
Richardson was a nine (9) year old student in the Sunday school class. On the day of the incident, Richardson and another young man were asked by their teacher to go up two (2) flights of stairs and bring additional chairs to the classroom. Initially, Richardson followed her request and after retrieving the chairs and returning to the classroom, the teacher indicated she did not need all of the chairs and asked Richardson to go back up the stairs. Upon returning Richardson along with another student testified that he got on the banister of the stairwell and attempted to slide down the stairs and doing so, fell three flights of stairs and broke his left femur bone, ruptured right tympanic membrane (ruptured ear drum), a bruised and lacerated liver, a fracture of the left temporal bone (skull fracture) and various other injuries. The client had a complete recovery
$125,000
Herstard v. Mercer
Case No. 02-LK-458
Negligence – Truck Accident
Mrs. Herstard was seated in her 18-wheeler truck parked in a lot at Rochelle, IL. A semi-truck driven by Mr. William Mercer pulled around the front of Carol’s truck and struck the driver’s side of Carol’s truck. As a direct and proximate result of the accident, Mrs. Herstard suffered the following injuries: back and neck pain, right leg, shoulder, and arm pain, and headaches.
$110,687.93
Thomas v. Cook County
Discrimination – Hostile Work Environment and Wrongful Downsizing
Thomas, a nurse, was wrongfully terminated because of her age and race. Ms. Thomas was a nurse of 32 years and was 75 when she was constructively discharged. During Ms. Thomas’ employment with the Defendant, she received performance reviews in the 90th percentile, had no attendance problems and aided in the implementation of a new computer system for her unit.
Prior to the constructive discharge, the Defendant made rude comments, to Ms. Thomas about the color of her skin, including one comment in front of the defendant’s nursing director, telling Ms. Thomas that she “didn’t know that she could tan, but that she shouldn’t get any darker.”
Plaintiff reported the hostile work environment and the devastating impact that it is having on her physical and emotional health. Yet the plaintiff received no response. Instead, the defendant’s nursing director informed Ms. Thomas that someone would need to oversee the call center and that she would be assigned to this position.
The call center did not need an office manager and had not had an office manager in over 2 years prior. Ms. Thomas protests telling the nursing director that she does not want to work in the call center because it is not a nursing position, it would isolate her from other nurses, she would not be able to use her professional skill set, and she would like to keep her current position.
Ms. Iris D. Thomas suggested that both she and the Consultant take turns overseeing the call center. The consultant objected and informed the defendant’s nursing manager that she would quit if she had to work in the call center, a unit of the hospital that is staffed primarily by blacks and Hispanics.
The Consultant, white and with only 2 years of experience, was allowed to stay in the Ambulatory Unit, and Ms. Iris D. Thomas was transferred to the Call Center.
$100,000
Porter v. Decker Truck Line, Inc.
Case No. 10-CV-5765
Negligence – Truck Accident
Ms. Porter was traveling south on the I-55 at approximately 40 mph. Ms. Porter was driving a 2001 2-door Toyota MRX Spyder. She was in the right lane, driving with the flow of traffic, which was moving somewhat slowly. She saw the driver approaching in her rearview mirror just before he hit her. He was driving an 18-wheeler truck. The driver who looked tired apologized and told her that he did not see her.
As a result of the accident, Porter sustained a rotator cuff tear. Prior to Ms. Porter’s accident, she had issues with her left rotator cuff which required cortisone injections. The doctor, who had been treating Ms. Porter since 2004 evaluated her and acknowledged that she had this prior existing injury indicating that the accident that Ms. Porter was involved in aggravated the injury that she already had to her left rotator cuff which at that point had progressed beyond conservative treatment and required surgery.
$100,000 – Policy Limits
Estate of Webb v Lopez
Case No. 09-L-10857
Negligence – Car Accident
The decedent was driving through an intersection with the right of way, when your Defendant made a left turn into his path, cutting him off and causing him to hit her vehicle head-on. Webb was killed, leaving a young son.
$100,000 – Policy Limits
Johnson v. Pate
Negligence – Pedestrian struck by car
Mr. Pate was turning left on King Drive and 81st Street. As Mr. Pate made his turn, he struck pedestrian Ms. Johnson. Ms. Johnson was seriously injured, and sustained injuries to her back, right shoulder, left arm and left hip pain.
$100,000 – Policy Limits
Johnson v. Uninsured Motorist
Negligence – Car Accident
Mr. Johnson was injured in a motor vehicle accident when he was rear-ended by Mr. Russo, who was uninsured. Mr. Johnson was seriously injured, sustaining cervical, lumbar and thoracic sprains, as well as a protrusion at the level of C5 and C6 with obstruction of the foramina at the level of C6. Mr. Johnson required surgery and missed 40 days of work.
$100,000 – Nursing Home
John Doe vs. Nursing Home Facility
Nursing Home Negligence
Our client was a resident of a local nursing home where he suffered from bed sores on his heels and his sacrum, requiring no debridement, as well as suffering several falls and sustaining injuries as a result of negligence. The Dinizulu Law Group obtained a settlement of $100,000 from a nursing home.
$100,000
John Doe vs. Moonlight Logistics Inc. – Interstate Trucking Company
Truck Accident Case
The Dinizulu Law Group secured a partial policy limit in a brain damage injury case with the more significant tortfeasor defendant pending. Our client was a passenger entering an intersection on a green light, waiting to make a left-hand turn from Route 53 onto University Parkway in Romeoville, Illinois. While the vehicle in which the Plaintiff was a passenger was attempting to make a left-hand turn, the defendant driver of the Interstate Trucking Company Moonlight Logistics, taking goods and services cross country when he ran a red light and hit him. It was alleged the driver of the vehicle who was employed by Moonlight Logistics was under the influence at the time of the car crash. The plaintiff received $100,000 from the policy as a partial settlement.
$98,000
Davis v. Malzon
Case No. 03-L-7651
Negligence – Car Accident
Davis was walking southbound on the east side of Lagrange Rd when Mr. Malzone failed to yield to Davis and struck Davis traveling about 5 mph. As a result, Davis was diagnosed with a torn Patella resulting in Reconstructive surgery.
$98,000
Estate of Butler v. Chevy Chase Corp
Nursing Home Negligence
From about October 21, 2008, through March 7, 2009, Butler resided at a nursing facility known as Bronzeville Park Skilled Nursing and Living Center. Butler was admitted as a resident to receive nursing, rehabilitative, and personal care. At the time of her residency at Bronzeville, Butler required the assistance of oxygen tanks to keep her comfortable and maintain her physical well-being.
On March 4, 2009, at about 9:00 a.m., Butler had an appointment at Lakeshore Eye Physicians. An agent of Bronzeville Nursing Home arranged to have Lorraine Butler transported via Medivan without adequate oxygen supplies. As a result of the depleted oxygen tank, Lorraine Butler’s lungs were extensively damaged.
On March 4, 2009, Lorraine Butler returned to Bronzeville. Bronzeville failed to recognize and care for her labored breathing. She was exhibiting signs of pneumonia, which included cough with sputum production, and increased oxygen use. Bronzeville should have returned her to the hospital. Unfortunately three days later, on March 7, 2009, Lorraine Butler died as a result of a cardiac arrhythmia brought on by respiratory distress and pneumonia.
$95,700
Doe v. Corporation
Sexual Harassment
Retaliation
Doe worked for the Corporation as an Administrative Assistant. During that time, Doe alleged that her boss sexually harassed her. She reported the harassment. Instead of disciplining the supervisor, Doe was systematically stripped of her responsibilities and privileges, and ultimately terminated. The case was settled prior to filing.
$95,000
Boone v. Cage
Case No. 03-L-5631
Negligence – Car Accident
The plaintiff was struck by the defendant’s vehicle. As a result of the accident, Brenda has missed approximately 41 weeks from work and sustained a closed head injury, as well as neck, back and wrist pain.
$95,000
Watson v. Hispanic Housing Development
Premise Liability – Slip and Fall
Ms. Watson, a mail carrier on foot, was delivering mail in Chicago, Illinois. An unnatural accumulation of ice had built up from an overflow of water dripping from a bent gutter on the east side of the building. As she entered the gate from the north side of the building, there was an accumulation of ice built up on top of the snow that was not visible unless one was closely looking to specifically find it. The gutters were packed with snow and had small icicles hanging from them. The gutter appeared to be poorly maintained and was bent to one side. It appeared as if the snow had never been removed from the gutters. The snow that had built up in the gutters had begun to run over and had created the unnatural ice build-up on top of the snow as evidenced by the slight discoloration of the snow indicated in the pictures.
The ice surrounded the snow and had accumulated directly below the gutters and the mailboxes which were directly underneath the gutter. The ice and snow had frozen all around the mailboxes such that there was no way to put the mail in the mailbox without stepping onto the ice (which was not readily visible). After stepping on the ice, which appeared to be plain snow, Elizabeth slipped and fell, breaking her right ankle in three (3) places.
$95,000
John Doe vs. Jane Doe
Auto Accident Case
Our client was a male passenger in the back seat of the vehicle being driven by the defendant. The defendant struck a concrete support beam while traveling northbound on Lower Wabash in Chicago, Illinois. Our client hit his head during the car crash and lost consciousness and needed medical treatment. He suffers from headaches and a slight scar as a result of the car crash.
$90,000
Brown v. McGrath
Case No. 08-L-11389
Premise Liability – Slip and Fall
Carlotta Brown slipped and fell on a wet epoxy cement floor at the defendant’s premises on March 29, 2008. As Ms. Brown went to the service desk, she encountered a floor mat that was ripped, raised approximately 6 inches x 1 foot wide. Because it was too difficult to step over, Ms. Brown attempted to go around it. Unfortunately, as she stepped on the wet floor, she slipped and fell on her back.
As a result of the fall, Carlotta Brown sustained injuries to her cervical and lumbar spine, which resulted in surgery.
$90,000
Estate of Pruitt v. Crestwood Care Center
Case No. 08-L-7162
Nursing Home Negligence
As a result of the nursing home’s negligent care, the decedent was admitted to St. Francis Hospital with a serious infection and dehydration. He was determined to be suffering from sepsis and consequently died.
$85,494
Estate of Davis v. Forest Park, LLC
Nursing Home Negligence
Ms. Davis developed multiple decubitus ulcers while receiving treatment at the Pavillion of Forest Park. The negligent care by Pavillion and its staff led to Ms. Davis’death
$85,000
Thornton, et al v. METRA
Case No. 06-L-8958
Premises Liability – Slip and Fall
Plaintiff, Dona Thornton, was a passenger on a Metra train and slipped while coming down the stairs between the upper level seating area to the main level. As a result of Metra’s actions, Dona Thornton underwent sustained serious and permanent injury to her ankle, which required surgery that consisted of implanting a screw to place the bone. Plaintiff Byron Thornton, claims that as a result of the injuries of his wife, Dona Thornton, he sustained a loss of consortium.
$85,000
Willoughby v. Nelson
Case No. 12-L-5427
Premises Liability
Willoughby slipped and fell in the stairwell, which failed to have a handrail. As a result, Willoughby’s ankle was fractured.
$75,000
Martin v. Mercy Hospital and Medical Center
Case No. 10-L-9130
Premises Liability – Slip and Fall
Martin slipped and fell on the wet floor of her hospital room at Defendant’s premises on March 16, 2010. The floor was wet because there was water leaking from the pipes in her bathroom which created an unreasonably dangerous and slippery floor. Martin sustained injuries, which included a torn ligament in her left shoulder.
$75,000
Nwazota v. Magit
Negligence – Car Accident
Nwazota was traveling Northbound on Kedzie, entering the intersection at 183rd Street having a steady green light. A vehicle driven by Ms. Avent was traveling southbound on Kedzie and proceeded to turn left onto eastbound 183rd failing to yield to ongoing traffic. Ms. Avent’s action caused a collision with Nwazota’s vehicle. Nwazota sustained injuries, including swollen lips pain in her jaw, multiple facial lacerations and contusions, fracture of the 5th metacarpal of the right dominant hand, chest wall contusions, nose contusion, hypersensitivity, bruise of the clavicular area and left 2nd rib on the medial side.
$70,000
Estate of Jenn Doe vs. Nursing Home Facility
Nursing Home Negligence
The plaintiff resident was admitted to a local Nursing Home at 102 years old to receive personal and skilled care. The defendant was aware the plaintiff was categorized as a high fall risk. Ms. McGhee suffered a fall due to the nursing home’s negligence and suffered a nondisplaced femur fracture and hematoma and or concussion.
$67,500
Jackson v. Dialysis Centers of America
Negligence
Ms. Jackson went to the defendant’s facility for dialysis. According to the medical records, Ms. Jackson reported feeling dizzy during the dialysis treatment. As a result, the treatment had to be temporarily stopped. After the dialysis treatment ended, no patient assessment was recorded. Trying to leave, Ms, Jackson fell and fractured her hip. It was argued that the plaintiff, who reported as dizzy during treatment, should have been transferred via wheelchair.
$67,000
Smith v. Great Lakes Bank
Premises Liability – Slip and Fall
Plaintiff Arnold Smith went to Great Lakes Bank to make a withdrawal for Christmas, when he slipped and fell on black ice that had formed in the cracks in the parking lot. As a result of the defendant’s negligence, Smith was diagnosed with a left quadriceps tendon rupture.
$65,000
Ogunti v. Nettles
Negligence – Car Accident
Ms. Ogunti was traveling southbound on Racine Avenue. Along with other cars in her vicinity, Ms. Ogunti obeyed the stoplight and came to a gradual halt. Suddenly, Mr. Nettles, crashed into the rear end of Ms. Ogunti’s car causing her to be violently thrown around the front interior of her car. The impact of the crash forced Ms. Ogunti’s car into the rear end of the vehicle in front of her. Mr. Nettle’s reckless and neglectful driving led Ms. Ogunti to sustain serious physical injuries, which included cervical strain and lumbar sprain/strain injury.
$65,000
John Doe vs. Municipality
Nursing Home Negligence
Our client resided at a local nursing home facility in Chicago, Illinois and was aware that our client suffered from dementia. Our client wandered off from a local nursing home and was lost for five days. It was alleged the defendant claimed our client had an ankle monitor on, yet somehow escaped the nursing home facility without anyone noticing. The staff at the nursing home did not notify his family until the next morning. Our client was found dehydrated, lethargic, malnourished, and requiring medical attention but was otherwise not harmed long-term.
$59,345
Davis v. Upmann
Negligence – Truck Accident
Kenneth Davis was traveling eastbound on Lake Street approaching the intersection at Western Avenue and Lake Street. Mr. Davis, who was plowing snow in his 2000 Chevy Silverado pickup truck at the time, had a green light and maintained his speed of 25 mph as he entered the intersection. Meanwhile, Mr. Upmann was traveling northbound on Western Avenue. Mr. Upmann was driving a 2006 Mac Tractor Trailer Truck.
Mr. Upmann had a red light approaching the intersection at Lake Street and Western Avenue. He failed to stop for that red light and as a direct consequence; Mr. Upmann began to “jack-knife” and slammed into the passenger side of Mr. Davis’ vehicle. The impact of Mr. Upmann’s truck forced Mr. Davis off of the road and sent both vehicles careening into a traffic sign. After which, Mr. Davis’ pickup truck plowed through a 10-foot fence, knocked down a utility pole, and crashed into a CTA building due to the force of the impact. The window in Mr. Davis’ truck shattered in the collision and glass struck him leaving multiple cuts and pieces of glass stuck in his face and on the left side of his upper body.
The live electrical wires involved in the collision due to the fallen utility pole, made recovering Mr. Davis from his mangled vehicle difficult. The rescue team arrived on the scene and an immediate Hazmat plan went into effect to protect the rescue team from being harmed in their efforts to help Mr. Davis. Firefighters were eventually able to pull Mr. Davis from the wreckage and transported him to the emergency room.
Mr. Davis left the scene of the accident with cuts and lacerations to his face, head trauma, amnesia, a broken nose, cervical spraining and strains, and bulging discs in his lumbar spine.
$55,000
Campbell v. Ortho-McNeil
Case No. 1:11-CV-625
Discrimination – Constructive Discharge
Campbell was discriminated against due to his race. His employer made racially charged remarks and refused to treat him as he treated other non-African American Employees. For example, Campbell’s employer refused to ride along in the same vehicle as Mr. Campbell and refused Mr. Campbell a transfer when Mr. Campbell was threatened at a sale because of his race.
$55,000
Walker v. Fastline Trucking
Negligence – Truck Accident
Mr. Walker was traveling southbound on the I-90/94 Expressway around 69th Street. Mr. Walker was driving in the left lane when a vehicle owned by Fastline Trucking Company, started to quickly get over across four lanes in order not to miss the exit. As the vehicle proceeded to cross over the four lanes, the truck slammed into the side of Mr. Walker’s vehicle, causing a T-bone effect. Mr. Walker’s vehicle was thrown into the air by the impact. His vehicle landed on the driver’s side and slid into a median. The vehicle had to be cut open to get Mr. Walker out. The reckless and neglectful driving by Defendant caused Mr. Walker to sustain serious physical injuries, which included blunt head trauma, a left knee strain, and abrasions to his forehead and left leg.
$54,500
Olisa v. Abe
Olisa was injured in a head-on collision caused by a drunk driver. The Dramshop Act was a claim his prior attorney failed to pursue.
$52,720
Brown Lewis v. Uninsured Driver
Negligence – Car Accident
Mrs. Lewis was in her vehicle traveling south on Pinecrest Road. Mrs. Lewis drove into the intersection of Boughton Road and Pinecrest. Beckett, the other driver who had been traveling north on Pinecrest also approached the intersection at Boughton Road and Pinecrest Road and attempted to turn left in front of Mrs. Lewis. Instead of turning left, Ms. Beckett panicked and collided head-on with Mr. Lewis’ vehicle. The negligence of the defendant caused Mrs. Lewis to be violently thrown around the interior of the car. As a result, Mrs. Lewis was diagnosed with an injury to her back, neck strain, a knee contusion, and a contusion/concussion to her head. The Defendant did not have insurance, so the Plaintiff filed an uninsured claim.
$50,000
Plaintiff v. Defendant ComEd
Personal Injury
The plaintiff, a 72-year-old woman, accessed the alley gate on her property to dispose of her trash. ComEd placed an unauthorized electrical wooden pole on the edge of her property right outside her alley gate. This pole obstructed the plaintiff’s pathway when she needed to dump her trash. When the plaintiff asked ComEd for the pole to be removed, the request was never carried out. A few weeks after this request, the plaintiff fell at or near the pole owned and controlled by ComEd. Her injuries included a fracture to the radial on her left elbow and an injury to her left wrist. As a result of these injuries, the plaintiff needed physical therapy and medical treatment for which she faced medical bills.
$50,000
Harris v. CHA
Premise Liability
Ms. Harris, a tenant, was sitting at her kitchen table when a light fixture cracked and fell from the ceiling onto Ms. Harris. Ms. Harris was severely cut by the light fixture when it fell from the ceiling.
$47,500
Okolo v. Heg & Herberg, Inc.
Negligence – Truck Accident
Ms. Okolo was driving eastbound along I-80 near Pulaski Street in the far right lane. At around this same time MR. Hays was also driving eastbound along I-80 in the center lane. Mr. Hays was operating a truck on behalf of Hedge & Herberg, Inc. Mr. Hays attempted to change from the center to the right lane when he struck the rear end of Ms. Okolo’s car. Ms. Okolo’s car then spun out of control and was struck by a third vehicle which was also proceeding eastbound on I-80. Ms. Okolo suffered injuries, including a head injury (with post-traumatic migraine), herniations, as well as sprain/strain of the cervical and lumbar spine, and a chest contusion.
$45,000
Brown v. Correctional Center
Premises Liability – Slip and Fall
Mr. Brown was working in the kitchen at the Correctional Center. He was helping with Christmas dinner when he slipped and fell on a slick, wet, kitchen floor. Mr. Brown was wearing boots that had leather soles instead of ridged soles for slippery surfaces, although he had requested rubber soles on more than one occasion. The rubber mat that was previously put in place in the kitchen to prevent falls like Mr. Brown’s, had been rolled up and placed to the side of the room at the time that Mr. Brown fell. The State of Illinois’ failure to have the mat laid out on the kitchen floor caused the dangerous condition that caused Mr. Brown to slip and fall.
Mr. Brown had complained about the conditions of the floors, indicating that they were slippery, and had further indicated that he needed different footwear to work in the kitchen without getting hurt. Mr. Brown asked for different footwear on more than one occasion but each time was told that there were not any and that the correctional facility could not afford it. Mr. Brown was never given adequate footwear and the mats needed to prevent falls were not put in place. As such, Mr. Brown was seriously hurt as a result of the State of Illinois’ failure to provide safe conditions under which Mr. Brown could work.
As a result of his fall, Mr. Brown suffered trauma to his left elbow, and pain to the ulnar surface of his left arm. His injury has left him with permanent limitations including diminished strength and capability in his left arm as well as the inability to readily use his left hand.
$45,000
Plaintiff v. Defendant Security Company
Hate Crime Act – 720 ILCS 5/12–7.1
The plaintiff was repeatedly harassed and physically assaulted by a security guard who worked at an apartment complex. The plaintiff, a lesbian woman, would visit her domestic partner at this apartment complex. Unprovoked, the security guard attacked her. A resident of the apartment complex witnessed that the security guard had struck her with a flashlight. As a result of the injury, the plaintiff was taken to the hospital for an injury to her facial bones (sphenoid fracture) that healed on its own.
Before, during, and after the attack, the security guard stated that the plaintiff “looked like a boy.” She was attacked due to her sexual orientation.
$40,000 – Policy Limits
Newell and Ray v. Martinez
Negligence – Car Accident
Ms. Newell was driving south on Kostner near the intersection of Kostner and 55th in Chicago, with Ms. Ray as her passenger. In this case, Mr. Martinez ran a red light striking Ms. Newell’s car on the passenger’s side. Newell’s head struck the inside side window of the car. Mr. Martinez was ticketed. Ms. Newell sustained injuries to her neck, shoulders, and right middle finger that resulted in physical therapy. Ms. Ray also was injured, sustaining injuries to her chest and sternum. The case was settled for the total available policy.
$35,000
Ward v. O’Donnell
Negligence – Car Accident
Ms. Ward was stopped at a traffic light facing eastbound on 75th Street at Woodward Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois, when she was rear-ended by Ms. O’Donnell. Ms. O’Donnell told police officers that she had looked away from the road, and when she had looked back, traffic had stopped in front of her, and she struck the rear of Ms. Ward’s vehicle. Ms. Ward sustained injuries to her knee, neck and back.
$35,000
Clark v. Kate’s Detective and Security
Worker’s Compensation
Clark was injured when he was struck by a car while working. He suffered a meniscal tear/knee injury that required surgery.
$32,000
Whitt v. Kwasigroch
Negligence – Car Accident
Ms. Whitt was stopped in rush hour traffic on Stony Island, in Chicago, Illinois, when she was rear-ended by Ms. Kwasigroch. The impact was so great that Ms. Whitt was forced into another vehicle and knocked into the left lane of traffic. The defendant proceeded to hit a second vehicle which was, again, thrown into a third vehicle. Ms. Whiit sustained extensive damage to her vehicle including airbag deployment, wherein estimated repairs were beyond the value of the vehicle and it was totaled with a cash value. Frances sustained injuries to her legs, neck and back resulting in required physical therapy.
$30,000
Carlock-Calhoun v. Uninsured Driver
Negligence – Car Accident
On February 9, 2011, Carlock-Calhoun was in an automobile accident caused by the uninsured driver, Bobbie Talley, Jr. Carlock-Calhoun was headed westbound on Cermak, near Wabash, in Chicago. Bobbie Talley failed to yield to the right of way as he turned northbound onto Wabash. Bobbie Talley was given a ticket. Carlock-Calhoun sustained injuries to her back, and contusion of her knee. She underwent a series of physical therapy seasons.
$25,000 – Policy Limits
Mayes v. Uninsured Motorist
Negligence – Car Accident
Mr. Mayes was struck from behind and pushed into a concrete barrier by an uninsured driver. Mr. Mayes sustained a torn rotator cuff. The case was settled for the total available policy.
$24,145
Funches v. Dunbar
Premise Liability – Slip and Fall
Ms. Funches, a tenant, was watering the grass at the complex under her lease contract when she slipped and fell in a partially open catch basin on the defendants’ property. Ms. Funches was seriously injured. She sustained a SE-IV deltoid fracture of the lateral malleolus left ankle. Surgery was necessary and performed. After the accident, Ms. Funches underwent physical therapy. The defendant was not insured.
$21,000
Larkin v. Huling
Negligence – Car Accident
Mr. Larkin was injured while lawfully driving a motor vehicle westbound on 79th Street in the turning lane. Mr. Larkin was in the left turning lane awaiting an opportunity to make a left turn when he was violently rear-ended by the defendant’s vehicle driven by Mr. Huling. Mr. Larkin was injured. As a result of the accident, he suffered a neck, shoulder, and back injury that resulted in required medical care.
$20,000 – Policy Limits
Crawford v. Williams
Negligence – Car Accident
Mr. Crawford was traveling eastbound on 69th Street. Another vehicle traveling northbound on Martin Luther King Drive, driven by Mr. Williams, collided with the Plaintiff’s vehicle as he proceeded into the intersection. From the impact, Mr. Crawford’s vehicle slid into the front of a store located on 69th Street.
Mr. Crawford sustained injuries which included a frontal bone fracture through inner and outer plate with pneumocephalus, right medial orbital wall comminuted fracture, right anterior maxillary sinus wall non-displaced fracture, left sphenoid sinus simple fracture, right forehead and upper eyelid swelling/contusion, multiple facial abrasions, decreased vision in right eye, right midshaft comminuted fracture (tibia pinned for traction), and left proximal fibula fracture. Moreover, Ira Crawford sustained traumatic optic neuropathy and was rendered 80% permanently blind in his right eye as a result of the accident.
The case was settled for the total available policy.
$20,000
Pedraza v. Restaurant
Premise Liability – Slip and Fall
Pedraza slipped and fell on a “wet floor” sign in the lobby of a Restaurant located at Navy Pier. The sign was lying flat on the floor of the Restaurant’s Store lobby. At the time of the accident, Pedraza was walking through the store Lobby with family. He was carrying food and stepped on the sign. Mr. Pedraza slipped and fell, causing him to fall on his left side, and injure his back.
$20,000
Hawthorne v. Hospital
Medical Malpractice
Defendant failed to properly treat, diagnose and care for Hawthorne. The plaintiff was unable to ambulate with the walker, fell in the bathroom, and was in more pain as a result of her existing bilateral tendon rupture.
$20,000
Plaintiff v. Defendant Dog Owner
Premise Liability–Dog Bites
The plaintiff was walking on a public sidewalk in front of the defendant’s property. The defendant had a dog which was fenced-in on the front yard of the property. While the plaintiff was peacefully on the sidewalk without provoking the dog, the dog broke through the fence and lunged at her. While the dog never touched the plaintiff, to avoid the attack, she retreated awkwardly, spraining her MCL (medial collateral ligament) of the knee.
The law states that animal attacks don’t require physical contact. The fence was insecure and failed to keep the dog properly harbored.
$20,000 – Policy Limits
James, Jr. v. Outten
Negligence – Pedestrian struck by a Car
James Jr. was walking back from breakfast with friends. He was waiting at the corner of Cottage Grove and 75th Street for his turn to cross. As he began to cross on the green light, Outten cut him off sideswiping him. Outten sustained a partial thickness tear involving the supraspinatus portion of the rotator cuff, and a bucket handle tear of the medial meniscus in his left knee. The case was settled for the total available policy.
$20,000 – Policy Limits
Pump v. Murray
Negligence – Car Accident
Pump was driving southbound on I-94 and at about 200 feet north of 87th Street the traffic started to slow down. A semi-truck driven by Mr. Murray failed to slow down thereby hitting a minivan in front of him, and then the minivan slammed into the rear of Ms. Pump’s vehicle. Ms. Pump sustained injuries to her lower back and hip.
$20,000 – Policy Limits
Wesley, Jr. v. Young
Negligence – Car Accident
Mr. Wesley was headed eastbound on 142nd Street at Cottage Grove, when Mr. Young, tried to cut in front of him by making a left onto Cottage Grove. As a result, Mr. Young and Mr. Wesley’s vehicles collided head-on at approximately 40 mph. The airbags deployed. Mr. Wesley hit his head and chest on the airbag and seatbelt. Mr. Young was cited for failure to yield at the intersection. Both vehicles had to be towed. As a result of the accident, Mr. Wesley sustained a nondisplaced fracture of the facet joint in his neck. The case settled for the policy limits.
$20,000 – Policy Limits
Washington v. Chepilevskaya
Negligence – Car Accident
The defendant drove onto the sidewalk and slammed into the plaintiff as he walked to work. As a result of the accident, the plaintiff was taken to the emergency room and placed in intensive care.
$19,500
Washington v. Ingam
Negligence – Car Accident
Ms. Washington was driving westbound on 16th Street. Ms. Washington had a green light at the intersection of 16th and Kostner. As Ms. Washington proceeded through her green light, Ms. Ingram, who was driving south on Kostner, disregarded her red light and struck the passenger side of Ms. Washington’s vehicle. Ms. Washington suffered injuries to her neck and back.
$19,100
Vaughn and Petty v. Wordlaw
Negligence – Car Accident
Vaughn was a belted passenger of a car driven by Petty. The streets were wet and slick. On the 300th block of 33rd Street, your insured lost control of his vehicle and slammed into the driver’s side of Mr. Petty’s vehicle. Both Vaughn and Petty were injured. Vaughn sustained injuries to her lower and mid back. Mr. Petty sustained injuries to his neck and shoulder that led to headaches.
$19,000
Rocquemore v. Police Officers
Excessive Force – Police
Ms. Rocquemore was walking into the lobby of her residential building and then was stopped by an officer. The officer informed Ms. Rocquemore that only residents/leaseholders were allowed into the building. Ms. Rocquemore retrieved her sisters to prove to the officer that she did, in fact, live in the building. The officer insisted on Ms. Rocquemore not being permitted into the building because she was not listed as a resident. Ms. Rocquemore verbally stated her dislike for police officers.
Subsequently, the officer pushed Ms. Rocquemore on her shoulders and violently threw her to the ground. The officer then shouted to other nearby officers “She just assaulted a police officer!” The officer, then violently punched Ms. Rocquemore twice on her face, and then was forced to the ground by two other officers who grabbed her from behind. Ms. Rocquemore stated that she was punched approximately six times in her face and that all three officers punched her using their fists about ten times on her body. Additionally, Ms. Rocquemore was kicked and hit with batons in her head and body.
Ms. Rocquemore was violently handcuffed and transported to the 11th District Station where she was processed. While in custody, Ms. Rocquemore was unable to receive medical attention. However, after being processed, Ms. Rocquemore sought emergency medical attention as a result of the brutal incident.
As a direct and proximate result of the incident, Ms. Rocquemore arrived at the ER with two areas of soft tissue swelling and tenderness on the left side of her upper forehead (two “knots”), slightly blurred vision, lower back pain, right wrist pain (from handcuffs) and a headache. After a series of examinations and tests, Ms. Rocquemore was diagnosed with the following injuries: lumbar spine strain, concussion headaches, and right wrist sprain/strain.
$18,500
Wright v. Grant
Negligence – Car Accident
Ms. Wright was driving a Chevy Aveo west on 75th Street. At the same time, at the intersection of 75th and Kimbark, Mr. Grant was traveling northbound on Kimbark. Mr. Wardell failed to yield to impeding traffic and went to turn west onto 75th. Mr. Wardell slammed into Ms. Wright on the driver’s side door. Ms. Wright suffered injuries to her shoulder and back. She was unable to work as of February 19, 2009, which continued through April 27, 2009.
$18,221
Lane and Claude v. Garner
Negligence – Car Accident
Mr. Claude and Ms. Lane were waiting to leave a parking lot at the Shell Gas Station at 10258 South Kedzie, Evergreen Park, Illinois 60805, when Mr. Garner, who was also leaving the parking lot just ahead of them, suddenly backed up and struck the front of Mr. Claude’s van. Both Ms. Lane And Mr. Claude sustained back injuries as a result of the accident.
$18,000
Davis v. Dutcher
Negligence – Car Accident
Davis was head East on Bode Road in Schaumburg, Illinois, Cook County. When at the intersection of Bode and Braintree, Dutcher struck Davis head-on. Mr. Dutcher was cited as driving under the influence and ticket. The front end of Davis’ car was smashed in. Both vehicles were towed. Davis sustained injuries to her neck and back that resulted in physical therapy.
$17,000
Smith v. Novakovic
Negligence – Car Accident
Ms. Smith was headed west on Addison near Central Park, in the City of Chicago, when she was rear-ended by Ms. Novakovic. As a result of the accident, Smith suffered a neck injury resulting in eleven weeks of physical therapy.
$16,500
Hoskins v. Dominick’s
Premise Liability – Slip and Fall
Ms. Hoskins was injured when she slipped and fell on Ice Cream at Dominick’s. Ms. Hoskins sustained a right shoulder sprain, chest wall muscle strain, and a contusion to the right tibia.
$15,000
Bee v. Davis
Negligence – Car Accident
Ms. Bee was stopped on Prairie in Chicago, Illinois. The vehicle, driven by Davis and owned by the Sun-Times Newspaper, had stopped in front of her. Mr. Davis was delivering Sun Times Newspapers and got out of his car to put the newspapers on the client’s porches. When he returned to his car he backed up and backed into Ms. Bee. Ms. Bee was injured, sustaining injuries to her neck and back that resulted in physical therapy.
$15,000
Plaintiff v. Defendant C. P. S
Workers Compensation
The plaintiff was hurt while lifting heavy boxes on the job for a Chicago Public School event. As a result, the plaintiff’s lower back was injured, resulting in sharp pain and throbbing in the lower back area. The plaintiff had difficulty standing, sitting, and carrying out basic daily activities. He required medical attention and was unable to work for a couple of weeks.
$15,000
Barango v. Spearman
Negligence – Car Accident
Mr. Barango was traveling south on State Street in Chicago in his 1995 Nissan Maxima. Mr. Spearman was driving behind him in a 2004 GMC Yukon sports utility vehicle. As they reached the intersection of State and 87th Street, Spearman’s vehicle struck Mr. Barango’s vehicle from behind. The force of that impact forced Mr. Barango to slam into the back of the vehicle in front of him and “sandwiched” him between the two vehicles. Mr. Barango struck the steering wheel of the car. Both the front and rear of Mr. Barango’s vehicle were damaged and had to be towed. The car was totaled. Mr. Barnago suffered a right knee contusion and strain/sprain, sprain/strain injuries to his cervical and lumbar vertebrae, and bruising at his right hip.
$15,000
King v. Lexington Logistics
Negligence – Truck Accident
Ms. King was driving in rush hour traffic eastbound on Roosevelt Road in Berwyn, Illinois. While sitting in traffic on Roosevelt Road, a semi-truck slammed into the rear end of her vehicle. The impact caused her to swerve into the next lane. He did not stop after the accident and continued to make his way through traffic. Ms. King suffered neck strain and a back strain, requiring medical attention and 12 weeks of physical therapy.
$14,100
Plaintiff v. Defendant Van Driver
Car and Van Accident
The plaintiff was hit on the passenger side of the vehicle she was in by a U-Haul van. The defendant truck driver was coming out of a lot, and he hit the gas instead of the brakes. He was cited for failing to reduce speed. As a result of the accident, the plaintiff was diagnosed with a left ankle sprain, left knee sprain and lumbar sprain.
