Joann Wallseck, 77, was a passenger in a car being driven by John Wallseck on Feb. 10, 2014. John Wallseck made a left turn on River Road and Camp McDonald Road in Mount Prospect, Ill., when their vehicle collided with the oncoming car driven by the defendant, James D. Murges, who was heading straight through the intersection.
Joann Wallseck suffered a traumatic brain injury, fractured right pelvis, fractured right clavicle, fractured right scapula and five broken ribs during the collision. The defendant, Murges, claimed that he had a solid green light and denied liability. The defense for Murges also disputed Joann Wallseck’s claimed traumatic brain injury.
A third-party claim was made against John Wallseck by James Murges. The third-party defendant John Wallseck testified that he had a green turn arrow.
The jury’s verdict of $689,000 versus James Murges was made up of the following damages:
- $139,000 for past medical expenses;
- $150,000 for future medical expenses;
- $200,000 for past pain and suffering;
- $125,000 for past loss of normal life;
- $25,000 for future loss of normal life;
- $50,000 for emotional distress.
The jury found in favor of the third-party defendant, John Wallseck, on the contribution claim made by Murges.
The attorneys representing Joann Wallseck were Joseph P. Shannon and Patrick D. Cummings. Before trial the demand to settle the case was made at $1,300,000. The only offer made by the defendant, Murges, was $150,000.
At trial the attorneys for Joann Wallseck presented medical evidence by way of an internist and a paramedic, who treated her. In addition, an expert in rehabilitation and physical medicine were presented at trial.
The defendant, Murges, engaged experts in rehabilitation, physical medicine and psychiatry.
Joann R. Wallseck v. James D. Murges, et al., No. 14 L 8633.
Kreisman Law Offices has been handling intersection crash cases, catastrophic injury cases, traumatic brain injury cases, nursing home negligence cases and truck accident 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 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Wheaton, Hinsdale, Crystal Lake, Grayslake, Gurnee, Zion, Highland Park, Highwood, Homewood, Hillside, Elmhurst, Melrose Park, Bellwood, Worth, Blue Island, South Holland, Chicago Heights, Barrington, Frankfurt and Aurora, Ill.
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