Two nursing assistants were fired from an Oklahoma Nursing Home for abusing a 96-year old dementia patient. In the disturbing article found here, apparently relatives of the injured patient -- again who suffers from dementia -- placed a hidden video camera in their loved one's room after becoming suspicious that someone was stealing the resident's belongings. The camera caught footage that allegedly shows the two Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: Transportation Law – New Report Sheds Light on Train Derailment
Many are familiar with the tragic freight train derailment in June 2009, where water runoff on train tracks in Cherry Valley, Illinois (just outside Rockford) caused a train to derail. Leaking ethanol then caused thirteen of the train's cars to catch fire, injuring many and killing two. The National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") recently released its report on the matter according to a Chicago Tribune article Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: Texting and Driving
The continuing trend by national institutes tasked with examining the data surrounding auto accidents recently culminated with the National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") making an across the board recommendation that all cellphone use be banned while driving. The Chicago Tribune's examination of the conversation surrounding this proposal in Illinois seemed to indicate that it was unlikely that such a proposal Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: Thanksgiving Weekend Auto Crashes
Millions more cars will be on the road from Wednesday through Sunday / Monday this Thanksgiving - as expected as these are some of the busiest days of the year. That means everyone should be much more vigilant and cautious when driving. Drunk driving is especially worrisome during the holiday times. Fatalities often rise over the holidays. Don't drink and drive! Thanksgiving Travel Safety Tips: 1) Be mindful of the Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: CTA Crash Injures Numerous People
On Friday, November 11, 2011, numerous people were injured when a CTA bus struck a light pole at approximately 4:00 p.m. at 95th and Cottage Grove in Chicago, Illinois. Bus drivers and bus companies owe their passengers a duty of care to avoid causing injuries to their passengers and situations can turn into severe hazards and extraordinary damages when an accident occurs involving such a large vehicle. As stated Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: The Power of Subpoenas
The fact finding process in civil cases is known as "discovery" -- that is, where you can ask the other side to turn over any document or other piece of evidence/information in their possession that might have some bearing on your case (provided that you ask for it in fairly descriptive terms). Many litigants make the mistake of stopping their focus after obtaining discovery -- once they've gathered everything they Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: Attorney-Client Privilege
Conversations and communications between you and your attorney are covered by what is known as the attorney-client privilege. Privilege attaches to such conversations and communications so that you and your lawyer can freely discuss your matters without being judged and without hesitation, amongst other reasons. To be entitled to the protection of the attorney-client privilege, a claimant must show that: (1) a Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: Discovery Truths and Process
Parties to a lawsuit (usually with the assistance of their attorneys) are under a duty to answer everythingtruthfully, but that doesn't mean that it's always easy to get a "straight" answer out of someone. This is one of those areas that distinguishes attorneys -- recognizing the difference between a party giving an affirmative yes or no answer, and half-measures such as "I think" or "I believe that is correct." A Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: Privacy and Your Medical Records
One of the most sensitive parts of filing a lawsuit after you've been the victim of an injury is the extent to which your private medical issues must come to light. It is unfortunate that you have to give complete strangers access to your most private records, and it is an unfortunate side effect of pursuing your rights. Steep barriers prevent most people from having access to your medical information -- even your Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: Technology & Changing Trends in Discovery Process
One of the most important components of the litigation process leading up to trial is the discovery deposition. Deposition is a fancy legal word for a process by which a person sits down in front of a court reporter and gives testimony under oath that is transcribed by that court reporter. A deposition may end up being the only time that a person is allowed to tell their "story" in their own words while being asked Read More
