Kreisman Law Offices Professional Corporation
On Aug. 13, 2011, Roland P. Wilson was crossing the street after leaving the tavern, Hot City Lounge, 7342 S. Racine Ave., Chicago, Ill., when he was hit by a vehicle that fled the scene. Wilson, 66, suffered a fractured right leg and required surgery. Wilson believed the hit and run vehicle belonged to Sammie Cooper, who had been another patron at Hot City Lounge. Wilson was not clear as to whether Cooper was the driver, however.
Wilson told the police in December 2011 that he had obtained a license plate number. The license plate was traced to Cooper who had subsequently become incapacitated due to an unrelated medical condition. The police did not conduct any investigation.
Wilson filed a negligence lawsuit against Cooper and a Dram Shop Act claim against Hot City Lounge and its individual owner.
Cooper never filed an appearance in the case and did not appear at trial. The parties agreed that Cooper had consumed three beers and one shot at Hot City. The defendants argued that there is no evidence that Cooper was intoxicated. The presiding judge granted Hot City’s motion for directed verdict at the close of the plaintiff’s case. The jury deliberated for two hours when it returned the verdict in the amount of $258,168 against Sammie L. Cooper only, who was uninsured. The jury’s verdict was made up of the following damages:
- $83,162 for medical expenses;
- $75,000 for past pain and suffering;
- $50,000 for future pain and suffering;
- $50,000 for loss of normal life.
The demand to settle the case before trial was $25,000. There was no offer to settle from the defendants. Plaintiff’s counsel, Arvin Boddie, asked the jury to return a verdict of $258,162 for which they complied.
Roland Wilson v. Sammie Cooper and Henry L. Hoskins, 12 L 4995 (Cook County, Illinois).
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling automobile accident cases, pedestrian injury cases and truck and bus accidents cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 38 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Glencoe, Glenview, Deerfield, Bannockburn, Highwood, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Prospect Heights, Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Chicago (Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, Margate Park, Old Town), Homewood and Alsip, Ill.
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