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Illinois Injured Worker Awarded Over $30 Million

A former employee of a popcorn plant was recently awarded the largest verdict of this type by a Chicago jury. The plaintiff, Gerardo Solis, had been a worker in a Chicago popcorn plant owned by Flavorchem Corp for 8 years from 1998-2006. In 2006 he was diagnosed with Popcorn Lung (also known as Bronchiolitis obliterans). […]

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Illinois Strip Club’s Liability for Automobile Accident at Issue

In a recent post we discussed an Illinois court’s decision that addressed a homeowner’s potential liability for an automobile accident that occurred after an underage teenager drank alcohol at his friend’s home and was involved in a fatal car accident later that evening. The Illinois Supreme Court recently addressed a similar issue in Simmons v. […]

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Illionois Court Considers Parental Liability for Accident Stemming from Underage Drinking

Bell v. Hutsell is a recent decision out of the Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District, that involved allegations that homeowners were responsible for the death of an 18-year old who died in an automobile accident after drinking alcohol at the home of the defendants. In Bell, it was alleged that the defendants’ son, who […]

Paperwork

Illinois Court on Workers’ Compensation Commission’s Authority to Subpoena Copies of Medical Records

The Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, recently addressed the issue of the proper scope of a subpeona duces tecum issued by the Workers’ Compensation Commission. In Holtkamp Trucking Company v. Fletcher, M.D., one of the issues before the court was was whether the Illinois Workers’ Compensation had the authority to issue a subpoena duces […]

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Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation Round Up

Here’s what other personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyers have been talking about over the past few weeks: “New Jersey Task Force Recommends Privatization of Workers Compensation“-Workers’ Compensation Blog “Facebook Discovery in Litigation”— Maryland Injury Lawyer Blog “California high court OKs public contingency fees”–Overlawyered “New Test for Brain Injury on Horizon”–Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer “Tainted […]

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Illinois Supreme Court Considers CTA’s Obligation to Remove Accumulated Snow and Ice

In Krywin v. Chicago Transit Authority, No. 108888, the Supreme Court of Illinois considered the issue of whether the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) was liable for a passenger’s injuries that occurred when she exited the train and slipped on snow and water that had accumulated on the train platform. The injured plaintiff alleged, in part, […]

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Massachusetts Supreme Court Holds Homeowners Responsible for Snow Accumulation

In July, as explained in this Business Week article, Massachusetts highest court overturned a long standing rule that absolved property owner’s from liability for failing to remove snow accumulation on their property. As explained in Papadopoulos v. Target, SJC-10529, the overruled holding was referred to as the “Massachusetts rule”, and stood for the proposition that […]

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Ex-Chicago Bears Players Receive Large Workers’ Comp Awards

Two former Chicago Bears players have received sizable workers’ compensation awards from the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Board. First, former All-Pro safety Mike Brown sought compensation after suffering from foot and leg injuries sustained while playing the Chicago Bears. As detailed in this BusinessInsurance.com article, Brown, who is now with the Kansas City Chiefs, was awarded […]