The issue in this case was whether there was a material breach under Illinois contract law as to American Guardian Holdings or AGH. AGH claimed it was excused from having to pay the final installments totaling $11 million for Steven Freedman’s shares in AGH because it was alleged that Freedman…
Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog
Illinois Appellate Court Affirms Grant of Summary Judgment in Premises Liability Case Brought Against a Bar
The Third District Appellate Court, in its written order issued on Oct. 16, 2019, affirmed a Tazewell County judge’s decision to grant summary judgment in favor of Pottsie’s Place. The appeals court ruled that the plaintiff, Jeffrey Smith, did not present any evidence showing the bar had a duty to…
Illinois Appellate Court Affirms $54 Million Jury Verdict Where Defendant-Appellant Failed to Raise Issue in Post-Trial Motion
David Lee Johnson, an employee of Universal AM-CAN Ltd. and Louis Broadwell LLC, was driving a truck owned by his employers above the speed limit while on a suspended license. Johnson crashed his vehicle into a Jeep in front of him driven by the plaintiff, James Denton. The crash pushed…
Jury Verdict for $2.81 Million for Crush Injuries Caused by Negligent Operation of Hydraulic Lift
William Clay, 67, went to a car dealer to help his son purchase a car. As he stood by a raised vehicle in the dealer’s garage, an employee operating a hydraulic vehicle lift lowered the car onto Clay’s right foot. He suffered crush fractures to three toes, which required amputation…
$8.4 Million Jury Verdict for Mechanic Exposed to Asbestos
Alfred Bennett and his wife filed a lawsuit against Ford Motor Co. on behalf of Alfred who had been a mechanic there. He claimed he was exposed to asbestos in handling auto parts. This case was tried in the City of St. Louis, 22nd Judicial Circuit. The jury’s verdict of…
Illinois Appellate Court Affirms in Part and Reverses in Part a $19 Million Wrongful Death Lawsuit
On Sept. 13, 2011, James Langholf, employed by Howe Freightways Inc., was driving a semi-tractor and trailer truck through Iowa when he heard a pop and felt the engine shake. He then noticed black smoke coming from the engine. He had the engine powered on but pulled off to the…
$15 Million Jury Verdict for Failure to Enforce Safety Precautions at Light Rail Station
Andrea Laing, 23, was walking northbound along a sidewalk platform at a Portland, Ore., “Max” light rail station. She crossed the eastbound tracks to board a stopped westbound train and was struck by an out-of-service eastbound train that was entering the station. Laing suffered facial and rib fractures; internal injuries,…
$15 Million Jury Verdict in Rear-End Crash Caused by Tractor-Trailer Driver
Jorge Amparo was traveling on an interstate highway in rainy conditions during heavy traffic. Evans Delivery Co. driver Jose Ayala was operating an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer in the roadway’s middle or left lane while he was talking on his cellphone. As Amparo stopped for traffic in the left lane, Ayala’s tractor-trailer…
$6.7 Million Judgment for Wrongful Death of Truck Driver Killed When Tire Exploded
Elwood Breaux Jr. was working for Plaquemines Parish when the “zipper failure” occurred, the name for a long sidewall rip with protruding metal reinforcement. With air escaping from the tire, Breaux was thrown backward and severely injured. He died 28 days after this occurrence on Feb. 5, 2014 of massive…
Illinois Appellate Court Reverses Summary Judgment in Police Pursuit That Resulted in Two Deaths
On April 10, 2014, two Chicago police officers noticed a car without a front license plate, and they attempted to pull it over. The vehicle, which was being driven by Glenn Jones, was owned by Dalia Smith who was a passenger in the car. As the Chicago police officers attempted…