Crain’s Chicago Business

Illinois’ largest verdicts and settlements in 2004 Ranked by amount. From the Feb. 28, 2005 issue of Crain’s Chicago Business. Amounts in millions.

Amount and type: $60.0 Settlement – Products liability
Court and date: Madison Co. Circuit Court, 7/2/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Stephen M. Tillery, Korein Tillery LLC
Lead defense attorney(s): Jeff Kindler, Pfizer Inc.’s general counsel, New York
Judge: Nicholas T. Byron

Description: Class of Plaintiffs v. Pfizer Inc. Pfizer Inc. represented Type 2 diabetic drug Rezulin as safe after FDA research found it was not.

Amount and type: $52.0 Verdict – Criminal practice
Court and date: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 12/8/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Stephen J. Landes, Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon LLP
Lead defense attorney(s): John M. Beal, John M. Beal, Attorney at Law Judge Arlander Keys

Description: Boim v. Quranic Literacy Institute et al. Hamas’ domestic supporters must pay $156 million to slain teen’s family. Chicago jury awarded $52 million to the family of David Boim, a U.S. citizen who was murdered by Islamic militants while living in Israel in 1996. Pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism Act, Judge Arlander Keys tripled the damages to produce a total award of $156 million. First private party suit against domestic supporters of terrorism.

Amount and type: $40.0 Settlement – Fraud
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 3/26/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Robert Kelter, Citizens Utility Board; DiTommaso P.C.
Lead defense attorney(s): Leslie M. Smith, Kirkland & Ellis LLP Judge Peter Flynn

Description: Erikson et al. v. Ameritech Corp. Voicemail subscribers claimed Chicago-based Ameritech Corp. hid charges in this multi-state case. Illinois attorney fees would total $1.2 million.

Amount and type: $38.3 Verdict – Motor vehicle
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 3/26/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Kevin P. Durkin, Clifford Law Offices
Lead defense attorney(s): C. Barry Montgomery, Williams Montgomery & John Ltd. Judge Daniel M. Locallo

Description: Yoder v. Ferguson Multi-vehicle accident resulted in death of 4-year-old daughter and injuries to father, mother and 2-year-old son. Mother sued numerous parties, including her husband, who was the driver.

Amount and type: $35.0 Settlement – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 2/20/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Kevin G. Burke, Burke Mahoney & Wise
Lead defense attorney(s): Eric Quandt, Pugh Jones Johnson & Quandt P.C.; Robert L. Nora, McBreen Kopko McKay & Nora Judge Dennis J. Burke

Description: Arkebauer v. Lojeski et al. Anesthesiologist failed to respond to multiple calls and pages resulting in delayed childbirth. Child has cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia.

Amount and type: $32.0 Verdict – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 10/21/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Kevin G. Burke, Burke Mahoney & Wise
Lead defense attorney(s): Brian T. Henry, Pretzel & Stouffer Chartered Judge James McCarthy

Description: Campbell v. Rush-Prudential HMO Inc. et al. Doctor’s failure to do C-section resulted in child’s severe brain damage. Dr. Mary Ann Dean-Onayemi, HMO and St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island paid plaintiff a total of $34 million.

Amount and type: $30.0 Verdict – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 2/24/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Timothy W. Heath, Hegarty & Health
Lead defense attorney(s): Jeremy Eisenstein, Law Office of Mark T. Neil Judge James M. Varga

Description: Shahid v. Home Care Home Health Agency Family blamed baby’s death on failure to timely test blood samples. According to plaintiff’s attorney, this is the largest total verdict for a baby’s death in Illinois.

Amount and type: $27.0 Settlement – Motor vehicle
Court and date: McHenry Co. Circuit Court, 2/2/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Robert Zaideman, Zaideman & Esrig P.C.
Lead defense attorney(s): George Brant, Union Pacific Railroad Co.; Glen Amundsen, O’Hagan Smith & Amundsen Judge Michael Sullivan

Description: Schneider v. Union Pacific Railroad Corp. et al. Seven children were killed and 21 were injured when the school bus they were in was hit by a Metra commuter train in 1995. Union Pacific owned and operated train.

Amount and type: $23.3 Verdict – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Lake Co. Circuit Court, 3/25/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Jay Paul Deratany, Deratany & Carden
Lead defense attorney(s): David C. Hall, Hall Prangle & Schoonveld LLC Judge Stephen Walter

Description: Jones v. Provena St. Therese Medical Center Provena St. Therese Medical Center staff’s failure to inform physician of irregular fetal heart rate and delays in delivery resulted in boy’s brain damage and cerebral palsy.

Amount and type: $21.1 Verdict – Pharmacy negligence
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 8/10/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Gilbert J. Ross and David B. Selig, Sussman Selig & Ross
Lead defense attorney(s): William V. Johnson, Johnson & Bell Ltd. Judge Dennis J. Burke

Description: Gerhke v. Walgreen Co. Misfilled prescription left 7-month-old girl a spastic quadriplegic.

Amount and type: $19.2 Verdict – Motor vehicle
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 2/18/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Peter D. Hoste, Tom Leahy; Leahy & Hoste
Lead defense attorney(s): Jeannine Gilleran, Patrick C. Dowd; Dowd & Dowd Judge Carol P. McCarthy

Description: Tengler v. Preferred Unlimited Inc. Truck pushed car into oncoming traffic, where it was hit by a semi. 28-year-old passenger died.

Amount and type: $17.0 Verdict – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 9/9/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): James T. Ball, Law Offices of James T. Ball
Lead defense attorney(s): Joan Powell and Virginia Cooper, Cook County State Attorney’s Office Judge James M. Varga

Description: Stanley v. Cook County Hospital Doctor discontinued clot-preventing drug Heparin, resulting in fatal embolism.

Amount and type: $15.8 Verdict – Motor vehicle
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 8/3/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Shawn S. Kasserman, Corboy & Demetrio P.C.
Lead defense attorney(s): C. Barry Montgomery, Williams Montgomery & John Ltd. Judge Daniel J. Kelley

Description: Fears v. Mosley et al. Female passenger was hit by a semi-truck at age 19, resulting in brain damage and paralysis. Only the driver of vehicle she was in was found at fault.

Amount and type: $15.0 Settlement – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 4/26/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Kevin G. Burke, Burke Mahoney & Wise
Lead defense attorney(s): Brian C. Fetzer, Johnson & Bell Ltd. Judge Kathy M. Flanagan

Description: Duvall v. Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Corp. Fetus had signs of low oxygen, but nurse took no action, resulting in brain damage to child.

Amount and type: $12.6 Verdict – Consumer protection
Court and date: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 4/14/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): David O’Toole, Federal Trade Commission
Lead defense attorney(s): Thomas C. Little Judge John W. Darrah

Description: FTC v. Bay Area Business Council Inc. Consumers victimized by dummy credit card scam.

Amount and type: $12.5 Verdict – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 6/22/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Barry D. Goldberg, Goldberg & Goldberg
Lead defense attorney(s): David C. Hall, Hall Prangle & Schoonveld LLC Judge Thomas L. Hogan

Description: Garcia v. Edward Hospital and Dr. John Rigali Hospital staff did not respond to non-reassuring fetal heart rate, resulting in brain damage and cerebral palsy.

Amount and type: $12.4 Verdict – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 7/8/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Melanie K. Fairman and Robert J. Pavich, Monico Pavich & Spevack
Lead defense attorney(s): Jennifer A. Lowis, Lowis & Gellen Judge Carol P. McCarthy

Description: Madalinski v. St. Alexius Medical Center Woman died due to an undiagnosed ruptured pancreatic cyst, just hours after giving birth.

Amount and type: $11.4 Settlement – Medical malpractice/Products liability
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 5/3/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Michael P. Cogan, Cogan McNabola & Dolan LLC
Lead defense attorney(s): Eric Quandt, Pugh Jones Johnson & Quandt P.C. Judge Richard B. Berland

Description: Graves v. Northwestern Memorial Hospital Medical device broke during surgery, which rendered patient quadriplegic. Patient died from complications related to the injury to spinal cord. Patient’s widow sued Northwestern and surgeons who performed surgery. They in turn sued the manufacturers and distributors of the device.

Amount and type: $10.5 Settlement – Motor vehicle
Court and date: Sangamon Co. Circuit Court, 4/14/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Thomas F. Londrigan, Londrigan Potter & Randle P.C.
Lead defense attorney(s): Andrew Kopon, Cremer Kopon Shaughnessy & Spina LLC Judge Patrick Kelley

Description: Heitman v. Hurst and Landmark Ford Inc. Three college students on their way to do volunteer work were killed by drunk driver in company car. Two other students injured.

Amount and type: $10.3 Settlement – Product liability
Court and date: St. Clair Co. Circuit Court, 11/23/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): David A. Nester, Nester & Constance P.C.
Lead defense attorney(s): Elizabeth B. Herrington and John Doyle, McDermott Will & Emery LLP Judge Michael J. O’Malley

Description: Mink v. Maytag Corp. Maytag’s Neptune front-load washing machines defective and produced foul odors. Plaintiffs’ counsel estimates class comprises approximately 1.9 million people. Total repair and reimbursement costs are $2 million.

Amount and type: $10.0 Settlement – Workplace safety
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 12/10/2004
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Robert J. Bingle, Corboy & Demetrio P.C.; Brian Murphy, Hofeld & Schaffner; James L. Farina, Hoey & Farina PC
Lead defense attorney(s): John P. Lynch Jr., Cremer Kopon Shaughnessy & Spina LLC Judge Lynn M. Egan

Description: Henry et al. v. Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad Co. et al. Three men were killed by electrocution in 1999 while stacking railcar containers on the job.

Amount and type: $9.3 Verdict – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 10/20/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Bruce R. Pfaff, Pfaff & Gill
Lead defense attorney(s): Richard H. Donohue, Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth Judge Thomas R. Chiola

Description: Okaro v. Edgewater Medical Center Patient died from injury sustained in unneeded surgery.

Amount and type: $8.4 Verdict – Medical malpractice. Award reduced to $4.2 million as a result of the comparative negligence.
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 10/7/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Marvin A. Brustin and Milo W. Lundblad, Marvin A. Brustin Ltd.
Lead defense attorney(s): Andrew L. Dryjanski, Illinois Attorney General’s Office Judge James M. Varga

Description: Dunn v. Lee and Medlin Suicide blamed on doctors’ failure to commit mentally ill man.

Amount and type: $7.0 Settlement – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 11/15/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Barry R. Chafetz, Corboy & Demetrio
Lead defense attorney(s): Chad M. Castro, Anderson Bennett & Partners Judge Donald O’Connell

Description: Hurtado v. Pradeep Nagaraju M.D. Overcorrection of patient’s sodium led to coma and eventual death.

Amount and type: $6.2 Verdict – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 10/8/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): James T. Ball, Ball & Jennings
Lead defense attorney(s): Aiju C. Thevatheril and Lawrence Helms, Swanson Martin & Bell Judge Dennis J. Burke

Description: Villagomez v. Northwestern Memorial Hospital Infant’s defects blamed on Northwestern Memorial Hospital doctors’ inattention to fetal distress.

Amount and type: $6.0 Verdict – Sexual abuse
Court and date: St. Clair Co. Circuit Court, 9/30/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Bruce N. Cook, Cook Ysursa Bartholomew Brauer & Shevlin
Lead defense attorney(s): John L. Gilbert, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP Judge Michael O’Malley

Description: Lindsey Smith v. Steven Smith Father sexually abused daughter 16 years ago.

Amount and type: $3.9 Verdict, increased to $5.9 – Intellectual property
Court and date: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2/25/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): William H. Frankel, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Lead defense attorney(s): David N. Makous, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP Judge John W. Darrah

Description: Aero Products International Inc. and Chaffee v. Intex Recreation Corp. Aerobed mattress’ One Touch technology patent, trademark was infringed.

Amount and type: $5.7 Settlement – Banking
Court and date: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 7/13/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Burtis M. Dougherty, U.S. Department of Justice
Lead defense attorney(s): Jonathan S. Feld, Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan

Description: U.S. v. First American Bank Regulators claimed bank in Carpentersville engaged in redlining.

Amount and type: $5.0 Settlement – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 1/20/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Peter D. Hoste and Tom Leahy, Leahy & Hoste
Lead defense attorney(s): Jody Pabst and Lawrence Helms, Swanson Martin & Bell Judge Richard B. Berland

Description: Bugner v. Unnamed Hospital Patient showed change in vital signs at 10 a.m., first intervention at 5 p.m. Died the next morning.

Amount and type: $4.8 Verdict – Wrongful death
Court and date: Mercer County Circuit Court, 2/2/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Matthew S. Miller and Richard J. Prendergast, Richard J. Prendergast Ltd.
Lead defense attorney(s): Martha Shaff and Roger Lathrop, Neuman & MacMahon Judge Mark A. Vandewiele

Description: Kemerer v. Illinois Power Co. Man cleaning church killed when ladder touched electrical lines.

Amount and type: $4.5 Settlement – Motor vehicle
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 11/15/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Daniel M. Kotin, Corboy & Demetrio P.C.
Lead defense attorney(s): Edward C. Snow, Chicago Transit Authority’s legal department Judge Diane Larsen

Description: Wawdiwala v. Chicago Transit Authority Mother watched as bus ran over her child’s head.

Amount and type: $4.0 Settlement – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 11/2/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Kevin G. Burke, Burke Mahoney & Wise
Lead defense attorney(s): Brian T. Levin, Lowis & Gellen Judge Donald Devlin

Description: Hashmi v. Swedish Covenant Hospital et al. Delayed C-section caused child’s death.

Amount and type: $4.0 Settlement – Products liability
Court and date: Madison Co. Circuit Court, 12/10/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Michael R. Bilbrey, Bilbrey & Hylla P.C.
Lead defense attorney(s): George Keiser, Burroughs Hepler Broom MacDonald Hebrank & True LLP Judge Dan Stack

Description: Lindau v. A.W. Chesterton Inc. et al. Painter exposed to asbestos at job site, now suffers from a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

Amount and type: $3.5 Settlement – Government
Court and date: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 4/10/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): John J. Perconti, Levin & Perconti
Lead defense attorney(s): Nikki Calvano, Assistant U.S. attorney Judge Blanche Manning

Description: Benton v. U.S. Delay for an MRI at Hines VA Hospital in Maywood led to permanent paralysis of 46-year-old man’s lower extremities. Patient sued U.S. under Federal Tort Claims Act.

Amount and type: $3.0 Verdict – Wrongful death
Court and date: Effingham Co. Circuit Court, 9/17/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Brent D. Holmes and Fred Johnson, Heller Holmes & Associates P.C.
Lead defense attorney(s): Thomas C. Hofbauer, McCoy & Hofbauer S.C. Judge Michael Kiley

Description: Miller v. Effingham Equity Inc. and Todd Voelker High school senior killed by farm vehicle with steering problem.

Amount and type: $3.0 Verdict – Negligence
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 11/23/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Jeffrey J. Kroll, Clifford Law Offices
Lead defense attorney(s): D. Patterson Gloor, Cassiday Schade & Gloor LLP; Matthew J. Gehringer, Perkins Coie LLP Judge Cheryl A. Starks

Description: Hannon v. Evans Scholars Foundation Northern Illinois University student died when another student threw cinder block off balcony.

Amount and type: $3.0 Verdict – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 6/3/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Howard Schaffner, Hofeld & Schaffner
Lead defense attorney(s): Aiju C. Thevatheril and Lawrence Helms, Swanson Martin & Bell Judge Randye A. Kogan

Description: Janecek v. University of Chicago Hospital Patient underwent surgery based on misdiagnosis of cancer. Injuries include choleretic diarrhea and severe gas.

Amount and type: $2.9 Verdict – Discrimination
Court and date: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 8/4/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Fay Clayton, Robinson Curley & Clayton P.C.
Lead defense attorney(s): Sally J. Scott, Franczek Sullivan P.C. Judge James F. Holderman

Description: Deirdre Pawell v. Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Navy Pier electrician claimed gender bias, harassment.

Amount and type: $2.7 Verdict – Negligence
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 2/24/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Clifford W. Horwitz and Jay R. Luchsinger, Horwitz Horwitz & Associates Ltd.
Lead defense attorney(s): Steven C. Wolf, Wolf & Wolfe Ltd. Judge Richard J. Elrod

Description: Larry West v. Select Erecting Inc. Ironworker claimed injury on the job led to rotator cuff tear years later.

Amount and type: $2.7 Settlement – Wrongful death
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 3/1/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Paul P. Wolf, Mitchell Hoffman & Wolf LLC
Lead defense attorney(s): Richard Jones, Ryan Smolens & Jones Judge Lynn Egan

Description: Bledsoe v. City of Evanston Police Department Panhandler claimed officer’s neckhold left him quadriplegic. Loss of bodily functions and related functions below his neck led to his death two years later.

Amount and type: $2.7 Verdict – Wrongful death
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 10/20/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Charles A. Porretta, Latherow & Porretta
Lead defense attorney(s): John C. Eggert, Gordon & Karr LLP Judge Edward R. Burr

Description: Vinicky v. Savickas Gold Coast Tavern customer fatally shot by patron who was ejected.

Amount and type: $2.6 Verdict – Workplace safety
Court and date: Lake Co. Circuit Court, 7/19/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Mitchell B. Friedman and James J. Morici Jr., Morici Figlioli & Associates
Lead defense attorney(s): John P. Prusik, Prusik Selby Daley & Kezelis P.C. Judge Raymond J. McKoski

Description: Kulasik v. Boller Construction Corp. Bricklayer fell through gap between two scaffolds.

Amount and type: $2.5 Settlement – Discrimination
Court and date: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 9/2/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Ethan Cohen, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Lead defense attorney(s): Michael A. Warner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan

Description: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Carl Buddig & Co. Homewood-based meatpacking company hired few blacks, kept women at lower-paying jobs.

Amount and type: $2.4 Verdict – Products liability
Court and date: Vermilion Co. Circuit Court, 1/28/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Michael Kaczmarek, Vaughn Cascino Law Offices Ltd.
Lead defense attorney(s): Cameron D. Turner, Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney Ltd. Judge Craig H. DeArmond

Description: Nolan v. Weil-McLain Inc. et al. Plumber’s estate blamed boilers for mesothelioma death.

Amount and type: $2.4 Verdict – Business law
Court and date: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 7/8/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Edward J. Manzke, Collins Law Firm
Lead defense attorney(s): Brian I. Glicker, Glicker & Flaig Judge Elaine Bucklo

Description: Surface Shields Inc. v. Polytak Protection System Inc. Company bribed retailers to keep their business.

Amount and type: $2.3 Settlement – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 12/10/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Peter J. Flowers, Foote Meyers Mielke & Flowers LLC
Lead defense attorney(s): Suzanne Favia Gillen, Mangan Langhenry Gillen & Lundquist Judge Richard J. Elrod

Description: McGowan v. Merlo, Hosain and Sherman Hospital Earlier colonoscopy would’ve revealed cancer. Patient’s death could have been prevented, estate alleged.

Amount and type: $2.2 Settlement – Motor vehicle
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 3/16/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Howard Schaffner, Hofeld & Schaffner
Lead defense attorney(s): Denis K. Sheehan and Thomas H. Ryerson, Clausen Miller P.C. Judge Irving Solganick

Description: John Hobart v. Eric Rahn Doctor claimed back injury from collision ended his career.

Amount and type: $2.2 Verdict – Defamation
Court and date: Will Co. Circuit Court, 3/30/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Shelly B. Kulwin, Kulwin & Associates LLC
Lead defense attorney(s): Daniel J. Kramer, Law Offices of Daniel J. Kramer Judge James Garrison

Description: Sheryl Kuzma v. Yorkville National Bank et al. Bank president repeated false allegations of bribery.

Amount and type: $2.2 Settlement – Premises liability
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 9/2/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Kenneth L. Cunniff, Kenneth L. Cunniff Ltd; Michael G. Mahoney, Burke Mahoney & Wise
Lead defense attorney(s): John H. Ehrlich and Matthew A. Hurd, Corporation Counsel, City of Chicago Law Dept. Judge Kathy M. Flanagan

Description: Rosa Herrera v. City of Chicago City’s failure to fix pothole blamed for fatal car crash.

Amount and type: $2.1 Settlement – Products liability
Court and date: Winnebago Co. Circuit Court, 3/15/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Lawrence J. Morrissey, Morrissey Law Offices
Lead defense attorney(s): Jay S. Judge, Judge James & Kujawa Judge Janet Holmgren

Description: Unique Russey v. Rockford Housing Authority Stove toppled onto infant who had crawled inside.

Amount and type: $2.1 Verdict – Slander / employment
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 6/16/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Tom Leahy, Leahy & Hoste
Lead defense attorney(s): Jeffrey Patrick Guzak Judge Robert E. Gordon

Description: Slovinski v. Elliott Executive claimed he was slandered by CEO.

Amount and type: $2.1 Settlement – Motor vehicle
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 7/30/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): George F. LaForte Jr. and Raymond E. Rossi, Bishop Rossi & Scarlati Ltd.
Lead defense attorney(s): Gregory F. Kelly and Randall G. Talan, Menges & Molzahn LLC; Scott R. Landa, Ryan Ryan & Landa Judge Kathy M. Flanagan

Description: Fogle v. Witvoet Trucking and Excavating Inc. and Robert Koch Plaintiff claimed truck ran stop sign at T-intersection.

Amount and type: $2.0 Verdict – Fraud
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 3/2/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Hall Adams III, Law Offices of Hall Adams
Lead defense attorney(s): Peter V. Bustamante, Law Offices of Peter V. Bustamante Judge Leonard L. Levin

Description: Jane Doe v. Elizabeth Dilling Parents of AIDS sufferer lied about son’s condition to woman he slept with.

Amount and type: $2.0 Settlement – False arrest
Court and date: Cook Co. Circuit Court, 10/19/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): John L. Stainthorp, Janis M. Susler and G. Flint Taylor Jr., People’s Law Office
Lead defense attorney(s): Brian L. Crowe and Michael P. Sheehan, Shefsky & Froelich Ltd.; Eileen E. Rosen, City of Chicago Dept. of Law Judge Mary A. Mulhern

Description: Parents v. Detectives James Cassidy and Alan Nathaniel, City of Chicago Boy’s murder confession fabricated, parents alleged. At the time they were the youngest juveniles ever charged with murder.

Amount and type: $1.3 Verdict – Medical malpractice
Court and date: Macon Co. Circuit Court, 1/28/04
Lead plaintiff’s attorney(s): Thomas M. Harris, Jermone Mirza & Associates Ltd.
Lead defense attorney(s): Mark E. Jackson, Samuels Miller Schroeder Jackson & Sly LLP Judge Katherine M. McCarthy

Description: Hines v. Decatur Memorial Hospital Estate claimed neurosurgeon and nurse at fault for death of 62-year-old man who underwent surgery.

Sources: VerdictSearch, Crain’s research