The Illinois Appellate Court has affirmed a Cook County trial judge’s order regarding the effect of an attorney’s lien notice sent to a defendant’s attorneys rather than the defendant directly. Randy Brown was the owner and operator of a Harold’s Chicken Shack in suburban Broadview, Ill., until Jan. 15, 2009.…
Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog
$70,000 Cook County Jury Verdict for Rear End Crash at High Speed
On Sept. 8, 2011, the defendant 31-year-old Anna Tudzich, was driving a car that rear-ended John Dodaro’s car on southbound Harlem Avenue near 47th Street in Lyons Township, Ill. The 30 mph impact caused Dodaro to experience immediate neck and back pain and significant damage to his pickup truck and…
Illinois Appellate Court Decides Insurance Policy Application in Serious Car Crash Case
Marilyn Bowers was seriously injured when she was standing at a convenience store and an underinsured motorist drove into the building, seriously injuring her. Bowers and her husband were named insureds under an auto policy that General Casualty Insurance Co. issued for their three vehicles. Each vehicle was listed on…
Illinois Appellate Court Reinstates Product-Liability Claim Against Distributor
The Illinois appellate court has reinstated a product-liability lawsuit against a distributor in which there was a default judgment against the manufacturer of the product. In this case, the manufacturer was not subject to jurisdiction, and the plaintiff wasn’t able to satisfy the judgment. Nevertheless, the court ruled that the…
$11 Million Jury Verdict in Toyota Design Defect Case
A federal jury has entered an $11 million verdict for victims of the design defect of the 1996 Toyota Camry. The jurors indicated that Toyota was 60% at fault for the 2006 crash that left two people dead and two seriously injured. They also found that another defendant, Koua Fong…
$400,000 Jury Verdict for Gas Station Patron Injured on Black Ice and Diesel Fuel
Allen Zunner got out of his car to pump gas at a convenience store gas station when he fell on black ice and diesel fuel, which had settled on the concrete pavement around the gas pump. Zunner, 53, suffered a massive torn right rotator cuff injury and underwent two surgeries.…
U.S. Court of Appeals Rejects Windfall for Injured in Car Crash
Deanne Berrey was working for Curry Ice when she was injured in a car accident caused by Sheri Campbell who only had $100,000 in liability insurance coverage. Berrey sued Campbell and also collected $103,224 in worker’s compensation benefits. In addition, Berrey claimed underinsured-motorist benefits under a $1 million policy that…
Illinois Appellate Court Reverses on Ambiguous Contracts and General Release Language
In October 2006, Stericycle Inc. entered into a contract with RQA Inc. to buy a segment of its business for $8 million. Stericycle acquired the unlimited right to use RQA’s software. In addition, the two companies entered into a non-competition agreement. In 2010, the two companies contracted again, this time…
Will County, Ill., Jury Enters $230,000 Verdict for Injuries Suffered in Rear-End Crash
On Nov. 18, 2009, 33-year-old Jessica Gaurilidhis was driving eastbound on Interstate 55 in stop-and-go traffic when her car was rear-ended by the defendant, 22-year-old Katelin McLernon. Gaurilidhis’s car was pushed into the car in front of her, causing front and rear damage to her SUV. She suffered a loosening…
Condominium Association Claims Faulty Masonry Work Caused Leaks in Construction
Late in 2002, the developer of 1717 S. Prairie Ave. in Chicago, Ill., retained the defendant Hansen & Hempel Co. to complete the masonry work for a 23-story condominium complex. When the building was nearly finished in March 2004, it started to experience water leakage. The condominium association, Board of…