As most are aware, Carnival Cruise ship the Triumph recently endured an incident at sea. Passengers allegedly endured horrendous and deplorable conditions on what was allegedly to be a vacation of a lifetime for some. When purchasing an automobile, purchasers routinely check out the safety features to make a decision before purchasing. How many people actually check the safety records of a cruise ship? Not many! Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury & Business Litigation: Personal Injury, Toxic Tort Law — NBC Investigation into North Carolina Ground Water Contamination a Harrowing Must-Read
In an investigative study that feels eerily similar to a Hollywood screenplay, NBC recently released the details into their investigation claimed ground water contamination in North Carolina that the state allegedly did not notify residents of for over six years. As the article details, the Environmental Protection Agency began calling residents in the area this past summer notifying them that their water was Read More
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury & Business Litigation: Trial Time Issues — Questioning You About Your Tax Returns
One of the most unfortunate parts about a serious personal injury -- apart from the physical injuries and lingering effects -- is the financial hit that many victims take. When an injury forces you to miss considerable time from work, then a considerable loss in income, and the problems that can bring, is another burden to consider in filing a lawsuit. When it comes time to testify about these damages at trial, 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: 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
Chicago Trial Attorney: Personal Injury and Business Litigation: The Importance of Completeness
The Importance of Completeness In every case, there is a "discovery process" where parties exchange information and begin to weed out the issues of a case. Many attorneys make the mistake, however, of assuming that just because materials (be they interrogatories (a fancy word for "questions" in writing), requests to produce documents, requests to admit facts, amongst others) have been sent to the opposing counsel, Read More
