Case Highlights

In January 2024, Phil Buntin obtained a not guilty Jury verdict in Cook County in favor of the General Contractor in a construction negligence case where the plaintiff suffered serious injuries and requested $3.91 million from the Jury. The case involved a painter who fell from a scaffold while painting overhead. The scaffold did not have guardrails and the platform was set just below 6 feet. The plaintiff was a union painter with 33 years of experience. Plaintiff alleged the General Contractor failed to assess the job properly to determine the equipment needed to safely perform the work, failed to require the plaintiff to use guardrails and failed to require the plaintiff to use a ladder or a manlift. Plaintiff suffered bilateral wrist fractures, multiple finger fractures, a skull fracture with a scar on top of his head, a fracture at C2 and at T12, and an L3-L4 herniation with a radiculopathy and a dropped foot that required a laminectomy.

Phil Buntin obtained a favorable Jury verdict in Cook County in November of 2023 in a pedestrian vs automobile collision that occurred in a marked crosswalk in the parking lof of a Whole Foods in Chicago. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant failed to keep a proper lookout and struck her when she was within the marked crosswalk. The defendant admitted the impact occurred within the crosswalk but argued that the plaintiff was not keeping a proper lookout and walked into the defendant’s vehicle. Plaintiff claimed soft tissue injuries of $18,000 and requested $55,950 form the Jury. The Jury found the plaintiff to be 40% contributory negligent and did not award damages for pain and suffering nor loss of a normal life, resulting in a verdict of only $10,770.

Matt Patterson also obtained a favorable Cook County Jury Verdict in January 2024. The plaintiff-driver was rear-ended on the highway by the defendant’s semi-truck. Plaintiff, who suffered herniated discs in the accident, asked the Jury for $107,000. The Jury awarded only the value of the plaintiff’s medical bills, which was reduced by the plaintiff’s contributory negligence, for a net verdict of only $6,342.

A further sampling of recent jury verdicts, arbitration awards, and dispositive motions:

Judgment of $1.5 million for 23 year old passenger killed by intoxicated driver in single car accident. Demand of $6 million.
Favorable defense settlement of $5 million involving a severe brain injury to construction worker in motorcycle accident with over $2.8 million in economic damages.
Summary judgment granted in favor of client, Lessor, alleging improperly maintained handrail in slip and fall accident. Appeal made by plaintiff which was successfully dismissed.
Motion to dismiss entered in favor of construction company under interpretation of applicable statute of limitations.
Summary Judgment obtained in slip and fall case in favor of client that maintained an ice machine that allegedly leaked water inside department store.
Ben Mayers obtained a not guilty verdict from a Lake County Jury in a case involving significant property damage. The defendant drove his oversized work van thru a car wash causing over $100,000 in damages to the facility. We argued that the car wash did not provide sufficient warnings to the defendant before entering the car wash.
Claimant in a UIM arbitration had lumbar spine injuries that resulted in a 2-level lumbar fusion and medical bills totaling $348,000. The arbitrators found that surgery not related and awarded the claimant $33,000 reduced after setoffs for a net award of $3,245.00.
Plaintiff’s general negligence Count dismissed in Dram Shop case pursuant to our Motion to Dismiss which prevented plaintiff from recovering more than the statutory cap for Dram Shop actions. Plaintiff became a paraplegic as a result of the injuries suffered in the accident.
Successfully argued before First District Appellate Court on behalf of snow and ice removal contractor. The Court affirmed summary judgment in the slip and fall case where plaintiff sustained a fractured hip falling on ice on a condominium sidewalk, reasoning that the snow and ice removal contractor owed no duty to plaintiff.
Arbitrators entered an award of not guilty in favor of our client in a UM arbitration finding that the plaintiff was more than 50% at fault for walking behind a backing vehicle. Claimant requested $90,000 from the arbitration panel.
Summary Judgment obtained for defendant general contractor against roofing employee who feel from roof suffering multiple fractures with lumbar surgery.
Plaintiff alleged rear-end accident while stopping on the highway. Verdict of not guilty in favor of client.
The claimant alleged in a UIM arbitration various injuries including concussion with vision changes, an ankle injury that required surgical intervention, and a severe wrist sprain with medical bills totaling $105,992.00. The net award after setoffs was $55,000.
Plaintiff slipped and fell on snow/ice, with dismissal obtained for client the snow removal contractor as to no duty owed.
Slip and fall in parking lot. Obtained summary judgment for client who was paving contractor as Court found no duty owed.
Trip and fall over curb with multiple fractures including ankle in which we obtained summary judgment on behalf of the City of Chicago.
Summary Judgment granted for client electrical contractor obtained against Plaintiff who was injured after stepping on debris left at jobsite by client.
Not guilty verdict for rear end automobile accident based on sudden stop.

Case Highlights

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