Larry R. Rogers Jr.

Larry R. Rogers, Jr. is a trial lawyer with over 25 years of experience advocating for victims and helping people. As an equity partner at Power Rogers, L.L.P., Mr. Rogers, has successfully obtained numerous multimillion dollar settlements and verdicts in a variety of serious personal injury and wrongful death matters. Mr. Rogers has pursued cases against municipalities, healthcare providers, and corporate defendants whose wrongful conduct in aviation, medical treatment, transportation and trucking matters, as well as product liability and civil rights matters, has caused catastrophic injuries or even death.

High Profile Cases

He has been involved in numerous high-profile matters resulting from police brutality and civil rights violations in cities around the country, including St. Paul/Minneapolis, Chicago, and Cedar Rapids, to name a few. He was on the team of attorneys representing the plaintiffs in the investigation and pursuit of those responsible for the death of Sandra Bland, a Chicagoland resident who was found dead in a Texas jail cell after an unlawful traffic stop.

He represented the family of Bettie Jones who died December 26, 2015, the day after Christmas, when she and her neighbor, Quintonio LeGrier, were shot and killed on the west side of Chicago by a Chicago Police officer. He represented Diamond Reynolds and her young daughter who live-streamed the police-involved shooting death of Philando Castile on Facebook following a traffic stop just outside St. Paul, Minnesota.

Recognized for Impressive Case Results

Since 2018 alone, he has served as lead trial counsel in medical negligence, trucking, and excessive force cases which resulted in awards of over $100 Million, including $38.25 Million, $16 Million, $13.5 Million, $10 Million $6.0 Million, $5.5 Million, $5 Million, $4.6 Million, $4 Million, and $1.2 Million for injured parties and/or their families.

Mr. Rogers and the attorneys at Power Rogers have represented victims against some of the most powerful interests in the country and have been ranked at the top of their field, with 10 consecutive 1st place rankings from 2010 to 2020 in the Chicago Lawyer Annual Settlement Survey which ranks firms based on the results secured for their clients.

Associations & Community Involvement

In addition to his successful litigation experience, Mr. Rogers gives back as an active member of his profession and community. He has served as President of the Cook County Bar Association, the oldest association of African American attorneys in the country, and he remains active, as a regular sponsor of their monthly association meetings and events.

In June, 2020, he was installed as President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, an association of attorneys dedicated to representing injured parties and their families. He is only the second African American to hold that office.

He is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates an invitation-only group of 100 trial lawyers from across the country admitted based upon their track record of securing multi-million dollar verdicts for their clients and their commitment to representing victims and fighting for victims' rights.

Mr. Rogers has been featured in a number of media forums including Good Morning America, NBC Chicago, the Chicago SunTimes and Tribune, and Crain's Chicago Business where he was recognized as one of the top trial lawyers of his generation.

Results

Examples of settlements or verdicts in excess of $1,000,000.00 obtained in cases handled by Mr. Rogers include:

W. v. Transamerica, et al.

Settlement: $100,000,000.00

(1999) Products Liability/Trucking Negligence: Settlement as co-counsel for a Reverend and his family who lost six minor children in a van fire which occurred when a improperly trained and illegally licensed truck driver failed to properly inspect and identify a defective weld on a 90 lb. taillight housing which later fell from the trailer onto the roadway in front of the family's van, piercing its fuel tank, and causing a horrific fire that killed the minor children, ages 6 months to 13 years. Co-counsel, Joseph A. Power, Jr.

C.E.G. v. 7-Eleven, Inc.

(2023) Premises Liability: In February of 2023, Joseph A. Power Jr., James Power, and Larry Rogers, Jr. obtained a $91,000,000.00 recovery on behalf of an individual who lost both of his legs while standing outside of a 7-Eleven Store waiting for a ride to work when a vehicle pulling into one of the convenient store's forward facing parking spots accidentally crashed into the building, pinning PR's client up against the side of the building. The team at PR was able to prove that these types of incidents involving a vehicle accidentally accelerating and crashing into the building while attempting to pull into one of 7-Eleven's forward facing parking spots happens more than once per day. Based on this evidence, the team at PR was able to demonstrate that the frequency of these types of incidents placed a duty on the convenient store chain to install barriers for the protection of customers and pedestrians on 7-Eleven's property. Ultimately, the overwhelming evidence discovered and developed by the team at Power Rogers, LLP led to the nation's largest convenience store operator to pay what is the largest pre-trial settlement for a single plaintiff in the history of the State of Illinois.

Settlement: $91,000,000.00

M.T. v. Trucking Company

Settlement: $38,250,000.00

(2019) Trucking Negligence: This action arose out of a collision that occurred on September 24, 2017, on Interstate 80, near Mile Marker 29.0, in Chesterton, Indiana. The Defendant Driver, Individually and as an Agent and/or Employee of a local trucking company was driving a tractor trailer westbound on I-80 several vehicles behind Plaintiff's vehicle on the roadway. Suddenly, the Defendant Driver struck the rear of another tractor trailer, causing it to jackknife into the rear of the Plaintiff's vehicle, causing Plaintiffs vehicle to spin off of the roadway and onto the shoulder. Plaintiff, a 24-year old male, became trapped in the driver's seat of his vehicle from the collision and suffered a traumatic fracture of his spinal cord resulting in lower extremity paralysis.

Y.D. v. A Local Academic Medical Center, No. 2020L###### (Cook County)

Result: $23,000,000.00

(2024) Medical Malpractice: Mom presented to a Local Academic Medical Center for a scheduled induction at 38 weeks due to gestational diabetes. She has a history of a prior c-section and a subsequent vaginal delivery. The effort was again made to have mom deliver by vaginal birth after c-section for this pregnancy. Following Pitocin administration and clear amniotic fluid at rupture, Plaintiffs alleged fetal heart tracing changes occurred, which were not properly responded to by in-utero resuscitation of the fetus which should have included Pitocin cessation. The fetal heart tracings worsened and never improved. Fetal tachycardia and variable decelerations persisted without adjustment of Pitocin. Category II tracings progressed to Category III and ultimately a baby boy was born with Apgar’s of 0,0,3,3, and 3 and cord gases that were compatible with acute total asphyxia. The failure to timely deliver caused respiratory failure encephalopathy and severe neurologic injuries. Plaintiffs alleged this was avoidable with earlier delivery and proper care and treatment. Co-counsel with Joseph W. Balesteri.

Plaintiff was represented by partner, Larry Rogers Jr

B.J. v. City of Chicago

Settlement: $16,000,000.00

(2018) Police Shooting: On December 26, 2015, Plaintiff's Decedent, a 55-year-old Chicago resident, lived on the first floor at 4710 W. Erie in Chicago. Antonio LeGrier resided upstairs at 4710 W. Erie. Quintonio LeGrier, Antonio's son, was home for Christmas break. Quintonio was a 19 year old Northern Illinois University student. 911 tapes reveal that early in the morning on December 26, Quintonio LeGrier called 911 three times in the minutes prior to his shooting, begging to have the police come to his father's house on west Erie for assistance for a domestic dispute. Antonio LeGrier, his father, also contacted 911 and officers were dispatched in response to his call.

Officer Robert Rialmo responded to 4710 W. Erie, along with Officer Anthony LaPalermo in response to a disturbance/check on the well-being call, with the offender armed with a bat. Upon arriving at the residence and ringing the doorbell, they were greeted by Plaintiff's Dececent. Decedent pointed to the stairwell and said that the disturbance was upstairs. At that time, according to Officer Rialmo, Quintonio LeGrier appeared holding an aluminum baseball bat. Officer Rialmo was backing down the stairs onto the front walkway away from the front door and drew his service weapon. Officer Rialmo then fired his service weapon in the direction of Quintonio LeGrier. Officer Rialmo never saw her relocate out of the vestibule into her apartment, and he fired his weapon directly at the doorway where he had last seen the Decedent. Officer Rialmo discharged his weapon at least seven times, and one of the rounds that Officer Rialmo fired, struck, and killed Plaintiff's Decedent. Officer Rialmo never gave her any alert or warning that he would be firing his weapon in her direction.

Plaintiff alleged that the forensic evidence showed that Officer Rialmo had created sufficient space between he and Quintonio and he was not in imminent danger of being struck by Quintonio's bat. Officer Rialmo discharged his firearm at least seven times at Quintonio LeGrier, striking him six times and she sustained a fatal gunshot wound to her chest. The force used by Officer Rialmo against Quintonio LeGrier resulted in Quintonio and Decedent's death. Plaintiff maintained that the force used against Quintonio LeGrier was not objectively reasonable and was contrary to generally accepted police practices and procedures.

Additionally, Plaintiff argued that Officer Rialmo gave Decedent no opportunity to position herself in a location where she would not be at risk of harm from him firing his weapon. Plaintiff alleged that Officer Rialmo took no steps whatsoever to ensure that Decedent, an innocent person, was not at risk of injury or harm from the firing of his weapon. Plaintiff maintained that the actions of Officer Rialmo contradicted generally accepted police practices and procedures and constituted willful and wanton conduct.

Plaintiff was represented by partner, Larry Rogers Jr., and associate, Jonathan M. Thomas

H. v. Dr. Lopes and Rush University Medical Center

Settlement: $15,707,050.19

(2008) Medical Negligence/Brain Injury: The Plaintiff was horribly brain damaged during a neuro-endovascular procedure where a cardiac stent was used in a non-FDA approved procedure to treat a brain aneurysm. Mr. Rogers established that the neurosurgeon and institution placed their desire to increase the number and type of procedures performed over the efficacy, appropriateness, and necessity of the procedure and that the patient's signs and symptoms of intra-cerebral bleeding were not timely recognized. Lead Counsel, Larry R. Rogers Jr.

R. v. Seadog Ventures, Inc., et al.,

Verdict: $13,500,000.00

Reduced 20% to: $10,800,000.00

Offer prior to Trial: $3,000,000

Offer after Jury Selection: $5,000,000

Final Offer Prior to Verdict: $6,500,000

(2001) Negligence: The Plaintiff was run over by a commercial boat named the Sea Dog near Oak Street Beach in Chicago, Illinois. It was almost six weeks after the swimming season was over and the beaches were closed. Prior to this case the highest verdict for a below the knee amputation was $5,350,000.00. This verdict more than doubled the previous high in the State of Illinois for a below the knee amputation. Co-counsel, Joseph A. Power, Jr.

C. v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., et al.

Verdict: $10,430,617.92

Offer before trial: $ 1,600,000.00

(1998). Automobile Negligence: A 71 year old African-American man was injured on July 25, 1995 when a semi-tractor trailer owned by Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad Co. pulled from a stop sign at a T-intersection in Northlake in front of a truck traveling eastbound in which Plaintiff was a passenger. He suffered a spinal cord injury which left him with incomplete paralysis in his arms and legs. Co- Counsel, Larry R. Rogers, Sr.

Tarance T. Etheredge, III v. City of Chicago, Mark Heinzel, Robert McGee, and Joseph Perez

Settlement: $10,000,000.00

(2020) Plaintiff had been walking to work when he was stopped by two men in an unknown, unmarked vehicle. After realizing both men, as well as two additional others who joined pursuit, were officers with the Chicago Police Department, Plaintiff stopped running in a yard located at 1518 E. 77th St. One of the officers, alleging the Plaintiff had pointed a gun in the direction of another officer, fired four shots - one of which struck Plaintiff in the back, leaving him permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Investigations revealed that while Plaintiff had a firearm at the time of the incident, he never held the firearm or pointed it at any individual. Co-counsel Jonathan Thomas. Read More.

C. v. University of Chicago Hospitals

Settlement: $10,000,000.00

(2010) Medical Negligence: The mother of the deceased minor child delivered twins at 34 weeks at MacNeal Hospital by C-section. One of the twins was diagnosed with a respiratory problem known as esophageal artesia with lower tracheoesophageal fistula. They diagnosed the condition on 11/15/06, ran tests on 11/16/06 and told family that on 11/17/06 they were going to attempt to reattach the esophagus to the stomach and address a fistula between the esophagus and lung. The family was told it would be 2-3 hours surgery, but after waiting 6 hours, they still had not heard anything. Finally they were told the problem was more difficult than anticipated and that they were waiting a specialist. Plaintiff's investigation revealed that in fact a medical error occurred during the procedure. Instead of incising the fistula as intended, the surgeon transected the child's bronchial tube to the lung and caused the lung to collapse. After the surgery, the child was on a ventilator and hospitalized until he ultimately died from his injuries. Lead Counsel, Larry R. Rogers, Jr.

T.C. v. Advocate Health & Hospitals Corp

Verdict: $8,050,000.00

(2022) Wrongful Death/Medical Malpractice: The 59 YO patient presented to an outpatient Advocate Clinic with signs and symptoms of an upper respiratory infection and an abnormal pulmonary exam noting "mild congestion bilaterally." The patient was noted to have spent time with her father in a nursing home who had recently tested positive for MRSA. The patient was given a prescription for Azithromycin, an antibiotic that does not cover MRSA. Two days later, she presented to South Suburban Hospital with signs of an advanced pneumonia, which was later confirmed to be a MRSA pneumonia. Plaintiff argued that the abnormal pulmonary exam was indicative of a lower respiratory infection and necessitated the ordering of an x-ray to rule out PNA and that an antibiotic effective against MRSA had to be given. Advocate argued that MRSA-PNA is exceedingly rare and that Azithromycin is an antibiotic that covers the most common bacterial pneumonia agents. The patient was survived by her husband, who passed away 5 years later, and three adult sons.

A. v. Woodharbor Millworks, et al.

Settlement: $7,750,000.00

(2016) Trucking Negligence: The Plaintiff was struck and partially run over by a right-turning truck as she began to cross the street while on her bicycle. The Plaintiff suffered injuries to her pelvis and abdomen, requiring the use of a diverting colostomy which may or may not be permanent. Additionally, the Plaintiff suffered from symptoms of PTSD. The Plaintiff was unmarried and not working at the time of the collision. Lead counsel Larry R. Rogers, Jr. and second chair Kathryn L. Conway.

J. v. Dr. Carlton West, Michael Reese Hospital

Verdict: $7,000,000.00

Offer before trial: $1,600,000.00

(2007) Medical Negligence: July 10, 2000 orthopedic surgeon, Dr. West, performed left quadriceps tendon repair surgery on Glenn Jonson at Michael Reese. Mr. Johnson developed a pulmonary embolism after surgery and died two days later. He was survived by his wife, and four children. Lead Counsel, Larry R. Rogers, Jr.

T.R. v. Chicago Area Hospital

Settlement: $6,000,000.00

(2019) Medical Malpractice: On February 2, 2016, 52 year old T.R. arrived at a Chicago area hospital around 5:00 pm with pain in her knee and no feeling in her foot. T.R. was brought to the emergency room by EMS paramedics after she slipped and fell on a patch of ice, complaining of an injury to her right leg causing 10/10 pain in the knee and limited range of motion in that leg. At 6:01 p.m., x-rays were ordered due to "concern for fracture/dislocation" with "pain in the knee and ankle." Ultimately, these x-rays revealed left distal medial femoral fracture and T.R. was medicated with Morphine. Throughout the night T.R.'s chief complaint was right hip and right leg and loss of feeling her foot and calf.

At no point did the emergency room orders address popliteal artery injury nor acute compartment syndrome. The x-rays questioned the possibility of an acute fracture of the medial epicondyle of the distal right femur. A fracture in this location is in close anatomic proximity to the popliteal artery (and vein) and would be a potential source for disruption of this vessel. Despite the potential fracture, no evidence for fracture immobilization was found prior to 1:32 a.m. the following morning.

At 11:19 p.m. the Hospital began to prepare T.R. for discharge. T.R. continued to complain of lack of feeling in her foot and calf and inability to walk. Another doctor examined T.R. and noted "patient with a left distal medial femoral fracture adjacent to the prosthesis and will discuss with Orthopedic." Again, the notes and orders did not address popliteal artery injury nor acute compartment syndrome. T.R. continued to complain of right leg swelling and that she was not able to move her right toes. At 2:03 a.m. T.R. had decreased foot sensation and faint distal pulse, at that point there began to be concern for compartment syndrome. At 2:06 a.m., T.R. was examined and found the right lower extremity swollen and firm, the dorsum of the foot was cool with faint DP pulse, and complaining of inability to move toes and with numb sensation. The medical records identify a "Concern for compartment syndrome. Consult to Ortho for eval". At 2:26 a.m., orthopedics was consulted to rule out compartment syndrome and immediately requested a vascular surgery consult due to T.R.'s posterior knee subluxation and vascular injury, now with compartment syndrome. At 2:45 a.m., vascular surgery assessed T.R. and recommended emergent revascularization, she was taken into surgery and was diagnosed with an acute right lower extremity ischemia with resultant right popliteal artery injury.

T.R. underwent an emergent right superficial femoral artery-to-posterior tibial-artery bypass and four-compartment fasciotomy of the right lower leg. For the next year T.R. underwent multiple debridements and surgical procedures in efforts to save her leg. However, T.R. continued to have persistent leg pain. Ultimately, on April 5, 2017, T.R. underwent right above the knee amputation.

Plaintiff alleged that the emergency room physicians were required to monitor for and rule out popliteal artery injury with occlusion and compartment syndrome based upon the mechanism of injury and signs and symptoms that T.R. presented with.

Plaintiff was represented by partner, Larry Rogers Jr., and associates, Jonathan M. Thomas

E.W. v. Central Illinois Area Hospital

Settlement: $5,500,000.00; this is the highest reported settlement in Kankakee County.

(2018) Medical Negligence: On December 23, 2012, 30-year old Plaintiff delivered her son, she and her son remained hospitalized until December 25th, at which time they were discharged. Almost two weeks later, On January 6, 2013 at approximately 10:42 a.m., Plaintiff presented to an area Hospital with complaints of chest and back pain, and her documented pain intensity was a 15 on a 1-10 scale. She was examined in the Emergency Department and her preliminary assessment and evaluation was for cardiac work-up. Multiple tests were performed which showed no abnormalities, a CT scan was ordered exclusively to evaluate the lungs for pulmonary embolism as opposed to the aorta for injury. She was diagnosed with "intractable chest pain - non-cardiac related." She continued to have complaints of severe chest pain over the next several hours; the pain was not relieved with analgesic therapy.

Upon admission at 3:16 p.m. she was reporting 15/10 pain and crying from the pain. Her admitting diagnoses at 3:27 p.m. were chest pain-intractable-non-cardiac related, hiatal hernia and s/p normal spontaneous vaginal delivery. She had continued complaints of severe substernal/epigastric pain with the intensity level a 10/10.

She continued to experience severe chest pain for several hours that went undiagnosed, untested, and untreated by the Defendants. Later that evening, she was found slumped over in bed and unresponsive. Resuscitative measures were ultimately unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at 8:12 p.m. A postmortem examination revealed that she died of a hemothorax due to a laceration of the aorta.

Given the Plaintiff's complaints of sudden, sharp, severe, chest pain that was non-to-minimally responsive to analgesic therapy, there should have been a high index of suspicion for an aortic abnormality and the Defendant physicians should have included such a condition in their differential diagnosis.

The Plaintiff was married and the mother to two daughters and a son.

Plaintiff was represented by partner, Larry Rogers Jr., and associate, Jonathan M. Thomas

T. v. Unnamed Cement Truck Company

Settlement: $5,500,000.00

(2014) Trucking Negligence: A 60 year old African-American woman was injured in killed while crossing Pershing Road southbound at Wells Street in her motorized wheelchair when she was struck by a cement truck whose driver was distracted by a young female pedestrian crossing from the opposite side of the street. Plaintiff was able to secure video footage and cellular telephone records to establish that the driver did not make a complete stop at the Stop sign and received text messages at the time of the collision. Lead Counsel, Larry R. Rogers, Jr.

S. v. City of Chicago

Verdict: $5,000,000.00

Offer before trial: $ 0

(2009) Transportation Negligence: The plaintiff's decedent died when he was struck by a METRA train at a railroad crossing at 111th Street. Plaintiff alleged that the traffic control system did not function properly and authorized and directed the decedent to make a right turn onto the tracks when unbeknownst to him, a 60+ mph METRA train was approaching. Lead Counsel, Larry R. Rogers, Jr.

J.M. v. Advocate Illinois Masonic, 14 L 10562

Verdict: $4,600,000.00

(2018) Medical Malpractice: A 70-year old female went into Advocate Illinois Masonic for a planned thyroidectomy due to the development of a massive goiter. During surgery, she suffered a stroke. Plaintiff alleged that the stroke was caused by deep anesthesia and resultant hypoperfusion to her brain. Defendants maintained that the stroke was embolic and caused by dislodged plaque due to manipulation of the right carotid artery in order to remove the massive tumor. The Plaintiff suffered weakness on her left side as a result of the stroke and required the use of a cane and/or walker to get around. She was already retired at the time of the stroke. There was a $100,000 offer prior to trial. The $4.6 Million verdict, included an award of $2 Million for emotional distress. Lead counsel, Larry R. Rogers, Jr.

P. v. MacNeal, et al.

Settlement: $4,350,000.00

(2011) Medical Negligence: A woman underwent bariatric surgery for weight loss. Following the procedure, her clinician failed to identify signs and symptoms of infection associated with a failed anastomosis. The Plaintiff almost died as a result of developing sepsis but recovered with minimal mental deficits following exploratory surgery and repair of the gastric leak. Lead Counsel, Larry R. Rogers, Jr.

D. v. CTA

Settlement: $4,000,000.00

(2011) Motor vehicle Collision: Plaintiff's decedent was killed when a CTA bus failed to yield and made a left turn into a bus turnabout in front of the decedent as he operated his motorcycle northbound, allegedly at a high rate of speed. Lead Counsel, Larry R. Rogers, Jr.