Settlements & Verdicts

Our Case Results

Workplace Injuries/Deaths

  • $7.42 million settlement for 38 year old Mexican immigrant laborer who was working at scrapyard in southern Mississippi and was crushed by a forklift, resulting in paraplegia. Defense claimed our client wandered into a restricted area, and should have heard backup alarm. Case settled on eve of trial, and included a total waiver of $1.6 million in workers compensation payments, for an effective total settlement of $9 million. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $2.34 million settlement for 40 year old floor installer, who sustained severe nerve damage when an electrical explosion occurred at a construction site when he struck a conduit pipe with his hammer. Defense claimed that client was exaggerating his injuries since there was no actual entrance or exit wounds. We proved that even in absence of such wounds, one can sustain severe electrical injuries. We also proved that the general contractor and electrical subcontractor failed follow OSHA electrical power lockout rules. This settlement included a total waiver of a $465,000 workers compensation lien, for an effective settlement of $2.8 million. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $4.8 million settlement for the family of a 38 year old Polish immigrant bricklayer, who was killed during a wall collapse at the construction of the James Jordan Boys & Girls Club in the West Side. We proved that general contractor should have noticed that a partially constructed masonry wall was not properly braced, and that the structural engineer’s plans for the wall construction did not meet industry standards. Defense claimed that because the deceased had only worked in U.S. for one week before accident that damages should be reduced, but we effectively defeated that claim. Bryan J. O’Connor was lead counsel in the case.
  • $590,000.00 settlement, plus complete waiver of $500,000 workers compensation lien, for P a building engineer who accidentally contacted a 480 volt conductor while checking the amperages for a large vertical air conditioning unit, eventually resulting in neck and back surgeries. We established that the management company could have been negligent in permitting an excessively cramped workspace near the AC unit, and that the unit’s manufacturer should have had an exterior means to monitor the amperages, rather than require live testing of the unit. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $780,000 settlement to 55 year old millwright who sustained back injuries at McCormack Place when an exhibit collapsed upon him. Bryan J. O’Connor and Eileen M. O’Connor were trial counsel.
  • $1.525 million settlement for family of 45 year old immigrant tuckpointer, who accidentally touched high voltage Commonwealth Edison power line in a Chicago alley and was electrocuted. We were able to prove that the line placement violated ComEd’s internal standards for clearance distances from residential structures, even though the placement technically complied with Illinois law. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $1 million settlement for 46-year old construction laborer, who sustained severe leg fractures in a construction accident in Addison. We proved that the general contractor violated industry standards for the placement of a scaffold. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $875,000 jury verdict for apprentice construction worker injured while ordered to carry donuts and coffee up a fixed ladder at an old Chicago public school. Bryan J. O’Connor was lead trial counsel.
  • $1 million settlement for family of 28 year old apprentice roofer, who tripped and then fell through a skylight to his death. We successfully defeated motions by the building owner and tenant to dismiss case by establishing that they should have inspected the skylight knowing that roofers were going to be working near it. Both the building owner and tenant were self-insured. The settlement included cash payments of $745,000 from the owner and tenant, and an assignment of a $255,000 contribution claim against Decedent’s employer, who violated OSHA regulations by not covering the skylight when working. Bryan J O’Connor Jr was lead counsel for Plaintiff.
  • $600,000 settlement plus waiver of workers compensation lien for 40 year old laborer handling laundry for workers at Com Ed’s Dresden power plant. Plaintiff was descending an elevator at the plant, when it suddenly dropped approximately 8 feet, wrenching Plaintiff’s low back, resulting in fusion surgery. The case was successfully brought against Exelon/Commonwealth Edison for failing to provide a safe work place, and against Urban Elevator Service, the manufacturer of the elevator for negligently repairing the elevator. Bryan J O’Connor was lead counsel for Plaintiff.
  • $245,500 settlement for 29 year old Illinois State trooper who was struck by a hit and run motorist while Plaintiff was issuing a traffic ticket to an intoxicated motorist, who Plaintiff had ordered to pull off the road. The hit and run motorist was not found for two days and only had $100,000 in liability insurance, but we were able to establish through some witnesses that he had been drinking at a bar before the crash. The tavern paid the statutory limit under the Dram Shop Act, and the intoxicated motorist who was pulled over, paid her liability insurance limits for not complying promptly with orders to leave the vehicle. Bryan J O’Connor was lead counsel for Plaintiff.
  • $465,000 settlement, plus waiver of a $335,000 workers compensation lien, for 55 year old bricklayer who sustained a neck injury requiring surgery when he had to lift concrete blocks over his head at a worksite because his employer failed to have scaffolding of a sufficient height. We successfully sued the general contractor by proving it should have realized that our client’s employer, the masonry subcontractor, did not have sufficient scaffolding on site to perform the job safely. Bryan J O’Connor was lead counsel for Plaintiff.
  • $300,000 settlement for a 51 year old sheet metal worker who was doing some kitchen remodeling for his wife’s friend, when the friend’s dog ran into garage where Plaintiff was sawing some boards, startling Plaintiff and causing his left hand to be thrust into the saw blade. Plaintiff underwent several surgeries. The case settled for the neighbor’s insurance policy limit after we successfully defeated a motion to dismiss the case. Bryan J O’Connor and Eileen O’Connor handled the case.

Product Liability Cases

  • $2.85 million settlement for 30 year old factory worker injured by an inadequately guarded steel slitting machine in an Elk Grove Village factory. This case was particularly complex since the manufacturer of the slitter had ceased doing business 15 years before the injury. We successfully argued that a successor company that represented on its website that it was the same company as the original manufacturer was responsible for defective products made by the original company. This settlement included a total waiver of a $480,000 workers compensation lien, for an effective total settlement of $3.3 million. Bryan J. O’Connor was lead counsel in this case.
  • Undisclosed confidential settlement for family of 19 year old college honor student, who died in a Bronco II rollover collision, caused by the dangerously unstable design of the sports utility vehicle. Bryan J. O’Connor was lead counsel in the case. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $1.5 million jury verdict for an elderly woman who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of a defective hot water boiler, which was less than two years old. We proved that the boiler was defectively manufactured with inadequate anti-corrosion protection. Bryan J. O’Connor was lead counsel in the case.
  • $700,000 settlement to 22 year old woman who sustained severe burn injuries as a 10 year old child while wearing a coat purchased at K Mart. The client presented the case to us years after the injury with just a receipt and a tiny piece of the fabric. We were able to establish after testing that the fabric was excessively flammable, and the manufacturer, which denied it even made the coat, should have placed a warning on the garment. Bryan J. O’Connor Jr was lead counsel.
  • Undisclosed confidential settlement for 29 year old Chicago factory worker who contracted laryngeal cancer from nickel exposure as a result of a defective plate finisher.Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $2.1 million settlement for a 22 year old female who suffered burns when the engine of her Chrysler New Yorker caught fire. Our client was injured when she opened the hood after seeing smoke, and was suddenly burned on the face and hands. We proved that the design of the vehicle’s fuel injectors was defective, and was prone to spraying drops of gasoline on a hot engine, leading to the fire. Bryan J. O’Connor was lead counsel in the case.
  • $10 million settlement for the wrongful deaths of family members residing in a home on the South Side who died from carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of a leak from a defective high-efficiency furnace. Lawyers for the family proved that the furnace manufacturer was aware that this newly designed furnace was prone to corrosion, eventually causing a carbon monoxide leak. Bryan J. O’Connor was co-counsel for plaintiffs in the case.
  • $1 million settlement for the family of 68 year old retired electrician who died from heart attack allegedly caused by consuming Vioxx for arthritis. Bryan J. O’Connor Jr. was lead counsel for plaintiff.
  • $700,000 settlement to 62 year old steelworker who sustained burn injuries from a defective shear machine at a south suburban steel plant. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • Verdict for 48 year old Mexican immigrant factory worker, who was injured when checking on a plastic sheet wrap packaging machine. Plaintiff slipped and his left hand went accidentally into the area where the sealing blade descended upon his hand, causing a burn injury. This was the first successful verdict against the manufacturer of this machine. Bryan J O’Connor and Bryan J O’Connor Jr tried the case.

Medical Negligence Cases

  • $5.9 million settlement for 9 year old girl who suffered brain damage from a hypoglycemic coma as a result of a dietician and physician error in prescribing a diet. Defense blamed the girl’s mother for not properly following the doctor’s orders, but we discovered that the medical records had been altered to try to hide the mistake. Once the alteration was uncovered, the case settled. Bryan J. O’Connor was co-lead counsel in the case.
  • $4 million settlement for the family of a 45 year old man, who died from inadequate postoperative surgical care, following a hip fracture. In this case, the client underwent surgical repair of his right hip and was discharged home six days after surgery. The client had a history of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Three days after arriving home, the client developed shortness of breath; he was taken to the emergency room where he was found to have suffered a massive pulmonary embolism and was in profound shock. He suffered acute anoxic encephalopathy and remained in a vegetative state for ten months until his death. The client alleged that the physician and the hospital caused his death by failing to institute adequate DVT prophylaxis following surgery and by discontinuing heparin, which the client had been prescribed to treat PVD.The case quickly settled before the Defendants were even deposed. Eileen O’Connor handled the case.
  • $3.5 million settlement for family of 29 year old downstate Illinois woman, who died from complications arising from preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome after giving birth to her first child. The defense claimed that the doctor or hospital staff could not have anticipated the complication, but we proved that there were signs that were ignored and that the deceased should have been given medication hours before she died. This was a near record settlement for this particular county in downstate Illinois. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counse.
  • $2 million settlement for family of a 2-year old boy, who died in a hospital burn unit, where the severity of the child’s burns were misdiagnosed. The hospital claimed the boy died from a heart attack. When we were hired, we suspected the autopsy was incorrect, and had the child’s body exhumed, with the consent of the family and the Catholic Church. On exhumation, the heart was missing. After extensive investigation, the child’s heart was located at a southwest suburban pathology lab. On examination of the heart by our experts, it was proved that the boy did not have a heart attack and the case quickly settled. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $1 million settlement for a 60 year old electrician, who was deprived of needed medications while in jail. In this case, the client had a history of high blood pressure, and needed certain medications. His driver’s license had previously been suspended, and when he was arrested for driving on a suspended license, he was sentenced to 7 days at Cook County Jail. The Jail staff failed or refused to give the client his medicine, and he suffered a stroke the same day he was released from jail. We proved that the failure to give the client his medicine was the cause of the stroke. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $2.75 jury verdict to the family of a severely handicapped 2-year old girl with multiple congenital abnormalities, who died when physicians performed an unnecessary surgery because of a misdiagnosis of a tumor, which resulted from misreading a CT scan. The surgeon claimed the girl required the surgery, but at trial, the radiologist admitted that the CT scan did not show a tumor, but that the girl simply had pneumonia. Bryan J. O’Connor was the trial attorney.
  • $934,779.21 verdict for a 35-year-old man who required a permanent colostomy after his internist failed to appreciate the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer and failed to timely refer the man to a gastroenterologist. By the time he was treated by a specialist (more than 4 years after his symptoms began), he was diagnosed with stage IV rectal cancer. The colorectal surgeon had to remove his sphincter in order to remove the rectal tumor which resulted in the permanent colostomy. A portion of the verdict was awarded to his wife for loss of her husband’s companionship. Bryan J. O’Connor and Eileen M. O’Connor were trial counsel.
  • $255,000 settlement for 65 year old Vietnam veteran who underwent colonoscopy and abdominal CT scan at VA hospital. The radiologist failed to diagnose a tumor which turned out to be cancerous. Miraculously, the plaintiff’s cancer later went into remission and he recovered. Bryan J O’Connor was lead counsel for Plaintiff.

Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Cases

  • $2.25 million jury verdict for a 78 year-old female nursing home resident who was sexually assaulted by an aide who fled the country following the assault. There was no apparent physical evidence of assault. We were able to locate the assailant in Mexico, and were able to take his deposition in remote area. Although the assailant denied he sexually abused our client, we were able to find an ex-employee who confirmed our client’s testimony. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $1 million settlement to family of 93 year old woman sexually assaulted in nursing home in Melrose Park. Our client had severe Alheimer’s Disease and could not speak, but because she was acting strangely the family insisted that she be taken to the hospital, where evidence of rape was found. Although it could not be established if an employee or someone else committed the assault, the case settled on the eve of trial. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $610,000 verdict for family of 91 year old nursing home resident who fell or was dropped on her head during transfer from bed to wheelchair. She died some 9 months later. This case was hotly contested, and we were able to prove that the nursing home staff violated the Nursing Home Care Act, and that resident’s death was caused by head injuries sustained in the incident. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $500,000 settlement to family of deceased 81 year old resident of west suburban nursing home who contracted pressure ulcers as a result of the staff’s failure to follow guidelines for preventing pressure ulcers. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $800,000 settlement to family of a 78 year old nursing home resident who was sexually molested in nursing home by unidentified assailant. Again, because of the client’s mental condition, it could not be established whether the client was molested by a nursing home employee or someone else, but the case settled shortly before trial. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $350,000 settlement to family of 70 year old nursing home resident who either jumped or fell from a nursing home in Burbank. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $115,000 settlement to a family of an 83 year old Alzheimer’s nursing home resident who fell after she was left unattended. The nursing home failed to implement the proper nursing interventions to prevent the resident from falling, even though she was assessed at high-risk for falling upon her admission. Eileen M. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $125,000 settlement to an 82 year old man who was admitted to the defendant nursing home after he sustained a stroke. He sustained significant left sided weakness as a result of the stroke. As such, he was considered to be at high risk for skin breakdown upon his admission to the nursing home. He sustained a significant sacral ulcer (bed sore) due to the nursing home staff’s failure to implement the proper interventions and failed to employ proper preventative measures and physician orders to prevent skin breakdown. The resident was ultimately transferred to another facility with a stage IV sacral ulcer. With the proper care and treatment, the ulcer healed and the resident was able to return home. Eileen M. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $100,000 settlement to a family of a 90 year old nursing home resident who sustained a severe femur fracture after falling from her bed. The fall was unwitnessed; however, the resident alleged that the facility failed to implement required interventions and preventative fall measures after she was admitted as a high fall risk resident. Eileen M. O’Connor was trial counsel.

Motor Vehicle, Truck and Pedestrian Cases

  • $4.5 million settlement for 7 year old girl who sustained multiple fractures and severe vaginal laceration when she was struck by a garbage truck while playing in the alley behind her home. The defendant company claimed that the girl must have propelled her bike into the rear of the garbage truck. The girl could not remember what occurred. However, we proved, in reconstructing the accident, that the driver had a clear view of the impact point, and should have seen the girl in time to avoid striking her. Bryan J. O’Connor handled this case.
  • $1.5 million settlement for family of 6 year old girl killed when struck by a school bus while crossing the street in front of her home in Justice, Illinois. Bryan J. O’Connor was lead counsel in the case.
  • $2.5 million jury verdict for 28 year old truck driver who suffered a back injury requiring three surgeries as a result of the negligence of another trucker. Defense claimed that because the surgeries did not occur until several years after the accident, that the surgeries were necessitated by other reasons. The jury accepted our proof, and our client received a well-deserved verdict. Bryan J. O’Connor was the trial lawyer in the case.
  • $625,000 award to Illinois state trooper who sustained back injuries when struck by a car while issuing another driver a traffic ticket. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $1.1 million settlement for 27 year old woman struck on Lake Shore Drive when her automobile became disabled in moving lanes.  Bryan J O’Connor was lead counsel in the case.
  • $975,000 settlement for 70 year old school clerk who sustained severe leg injuries as a passenger on a tour bus which crashed in Arkansas. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $550,000.00 settlement for a 65 year old man who was hit head-on in his automobile while traveling on Wonerlake Road in Greenwood, Illinois, McHenry County, Illinois. Eileen O’Connor was lead counsel in the case.
  • $350,000.00 settlement for a 76 year old woman who was hit head on by an intoxicated underinsured driver while she was traveling northbound on Illinois Rout 45/52 on her way to Florida. Eileen O’Connor was lead counsel in the case.
  • $277,000.00 settlement for an 82 year old woman who was side swiped by a limousine driver in Palos Hills, Cook County. Eileen O’Connor was lead counsel in the case.
  • $775,000 settlement for a 20-year-old man who was trespassing on a scrap metal owner’s property. After discovering the man on the property, the landowner’s security guard chased the man off the property on foot. The security guard had notified the landowner by phone that the trespasser was on the property. The landowner arrived at the scene in his pickup truck and chased the man on foot with his truck and eventually collided with the trespasser. He sustained serious injuries, including paraplegia of his lower extremities. The case was settled for the insurance policy limits that were available. Eileen M. O’Connor was lead counsel in the case.
  • Settlement of $945,000 for a 70 year old school clerk, who was riding on a bus during a junket from the south suburbs to Harrah’s Grand Casino in Mississippi, which was organized by a company in Illinois and Harrah’s. The bus driver lost control of the bus and rolled down an embankment, and the roof of the bus sheared off, allowing all passengers to be ejected. There were multiple deaths and injuries to the passengers, including our client, who sustained multiple fractures and lost two years of work. The case remains pending against the manufacturer of the bus, and against the companies who had repaired the roof of the bus from an earlier fire, because the roof sheared off during impact, resulting in additional injury to Plaintiff. Bryan J O’Connor and Bryan J O’Connor Jr represented the Plaintiff.
  • $345,000 settlement to an 88 year old passenger riding in her daughter’s car, which collided with another vehicle in the southwest suburbs. Plaintiff sustained orthopedic injuries requiring extensive rehabilitation. The case was brought against insurers for both vehicles involved in the crash. Bryan J O’Connor represented the Plaintiff.
  • $400,000.00 settlement to a 54 year old female driver who was t-boned by another vehicle who disobeyed a red light traffic signal and collided with Plaintiff’s driver’s side. Plaintiff had to be extricated from her vehicle. Plaintiff sustained numerous orthopedic injuries including a comminuted left acetabular fracture (left hip fracture), cervical spine injuries, and fractures to her left hand. Eileen O’Connor represented the Plaintiff.

Recreational Catastrophes

  • $5.2 million verdict for two plaintiffs, including one passenger in a hot air balloon who suffered multiple orthopedic injuries when he had to jump from a height of 20 feet to save his own life after the balloon struck a power line. At the time, this was the highest jury verdict for a non-medical malpractice case in Kane County. The case was unusual because we had to prove that the local chamber of commerce was responsible for the actions of the operator of the hot air balloon, who was an independent contractor. Bryan J. O’Connor was co-lead counsel in the case.
  • $3.1 million settlement for 13 year old girl who sustained catastrophic neurological injuries when she dove into a swimming pool during swim team practice, where the water depth was mis-marked by a half foot. Bryan J. O’Connor was co-lead counsel in the case.
  • $1.1 million jury verdict for family of 5-year old boy who fell at a roller rink, and later died from head injuries. The defense blamed the boy’s mother, who was present at the rink, for not properly supervising her own son. We proved that the rink was negligent for having a staircase open and accessible to minor children who were present at the rink. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial attorney.
  • $250,000 policy limit settlement for son of woman who was killed by her husband while playing with a handgun. The insurance company denied coverage, but after we successfully prosecuted the coverage action, the insurer paid its policy limit. Bryan J. O’Connor Jr was trial counsel.

Premises and Grounds Liability Cases

  • $2.5 million settlement for the family of a 19 year old student at Northwestern University who died in a fall from the rear staircase of his apartment as a result of a rotted wooden railing. Although the landlord claimed he had no notice of the condition of the staircase, we were able to prove that any inspection would have revealed the dangerous condition, and that the landlord was negligent. Bryan J. O’Connor was lead counsel on the case.
  • $2 million settlement for 50 year old woman who was struck on head by edge of window washer cable at sidewalk level of downtown office building. The defense claimed that its cable could not have possibly struck our client, but we were able to establish both that the accident actually occurred and that the accident was the cause of the need for the client to have spinal surgery. Bryan J. O’Connor was lead counsel.
  • $575,000 settlement for 89 year old woman who suffered hip fracture when an umbrella set up at a table at a Farmers Market fell atop her knocking her down. The Farmers Market had no liability insurance, but we were able to establish that a vendor sponsoring the booth where the accident occurred, had some responsibility for inspecting the condition of the booth where its products were being sold. Bryan J. O’Connor was trial counsel.
  • $250,000 settlement for an 55 year old woman who suffered a severe neck and shoulder injury after she slipped and fell on a spilled drink in a Portillos restaurant near the customer self help drink station. We were able to prove that Portillos had several minutes’ notice of the spill and failed to stand by and guard the spill in order to prevent customers from falling. Bryan J. O’Connor Jr. and Eileen M. O’Connor were trial counsel.
  • $500,000 settlement to family of 50 year old man who was inspecting the roof of his own father’s vehicle storage facility, when a portion gave way, and he fell to his death. The insurance company for the father’s storage facility denied any duty was owed to the decedent as he was a volunteer and knew the roof was deteriorated. We were able to successfully defeat a motion to dismiss the case, which then settled at the beginning of trial. Bryan J O’Connor was lead counsel for Plaintiff.
  • $195,000.00 settlement to a 63 year old female attending a jewelry show at the Renaissance Hotel convention center in Schaumburg on December 1, 2006. While trying to reach her vehicle parked in the Hotel parking lot, she tripped on a defect in the lot where the asphalt met a concrete curb, and then slipped on some ice. Plaintiff sustained a SLAP tear of her left shoulder, requiring surgery at University of Chicago Hospital, where she worked as a nurse. Eileen O’Connor was lead counsel for Plaintiff.

Professional Malpractice

  • $260,000.00 settlement to the estate of a deceased nursing home female resident who filed suit against the attorneys she retained to prosecute a nursing home negligence case based upon the nursing home’s failure to prevent the decedent from falling. The resident sustained a left hip fracture and was unable to ever walk again. The resident sued her attorneys after her attorney failed to properly file her case against all responsible parties. As a result of the attorney’s malpractice, the resident lost her case against the nursing home. Eileen O’Connor was lead counsel for Plaintiff.
  • Confidential settlement amount for the creditors of a bankrupt corporation who sued the corporation’s accounting firm for violating generally accepted accounting principles in preparing the corporation’s annual audits by inaccurately including worthless debts, automobiles, and life insurance policies as assets, inflating the stated worth of the corporation and portraying a false picture of the corporations’ financial health. Such negligent accounting allowed the corporation’s creditors to continue to issue loans to the corporation based upon the false audited financial statements. Bryan J. O’Connor and Eileen M. O’Connor represented the creditor plaintiffs.
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