Our Win Records

Joseph A. Power, Jr., as lead counsel, with the assistance of Larry Rogers, Jr., represented a Chicago family that lost six children in a fiery Wisconsin car crash in 1994 caused by an unqualified truck driver. Investigations prompted by the tragedy and lawsuit revealed widespread corruption, whereby the Secretary of State’s staff exchanged licenses for bribes that went to the campaign of George Ryan. These federal investigations triggered Operation Safe Road, which required retesting for over 2,000 drivers using tainted licenses and netted 76 convictions, including that of former Governor of Illinois George Ryan. Joseph Power and Larry Rogers, Jr. obtained a record $100 million settlement for personal injury and wrongful death for a single-family.

L. v. Active Transportation Company, LLC

Trucking/Wrongful Death: L., 43, was driving with his wife and children as passengers when he slowed down due to construction on the highway in Lafayette, Indiana. A truck struck him from behind, causing his car to burst into flames. L. sustained fatal injuries. He is survived by his wife and two minor children. His wife sustained facial fractures, a concussion, bone bruising, lacerations, and sprains. His daughter suffered second and third degree burns, requiring amputation of her left leg and the toes of her right foot. She also fractured multiple broken bones in her pelvis and fingers. L.’s son suffered second and third degree burns to his legs.

Fatal shootings at a Chicago Loop office tower. Mr. Power secured a $5.05 million verdict for a legal secretary who was shot and witnessed the deaths of co-workers; overall verdict against negligent security contractor was $33.45 million.

R. v. Trinity Hospital

Birth Injury/Medical Malpractice: Decedent was admitted to Trinity Hospital on February 8, 1998 at approximately 5:30 a.m. at term. She was given an epidural anesthetic at approximately 6:49 a.m. when her blood pressure dropped into the 70s and then into the 50s. Fetal bradycardia was shortly thereafter detected on the fetal monitor and Decedent was place in Trendelenberg position. Dr. Jiha, the attending anesthesiologist, was paged at approximately 7:30 a.m. for low blood pressure. The nurse anesthetist continued to administer fluids including Ephedrine in order to correct the hypotension. A house doctor and obstetrician,Dr. Moreland, was called because of the fetal bradycardia on the monitor but she determined that a cesarean section was not necessary. Thereafter Decedent complained of being dizzy, vomited several times, became confused and cyanotic. At 7:45 a.m. Decedent’s blood pressure again dropped into the 70s and more fluids, including the Ephedrine, were given.

According to Plaintiff’s experts Decedent’s blood pressures were abnormal for almost two hours. According to Plaintiff’s experts intubation was required much earlier and her oxygen status should have been monitored more closely. Additionally, earlier intubation was required and her oxygen status should have been monitored more closely along with a cesarean section operation at least an hour earlier. Decedent died after being in a coma for twelve weeks and her son was left permanently brain damaged and unable to care for himself.

The case for the disabled minor son settled for $11,250,000.00 and the wrongful death action for his mother settled for $10,025,000.00.

Trucking: On September 13, 2011, on Interstate 80 westbound, 5 miles east of Grinnell Iowa, the plaintiff, a wrecker and tow truck driver for the for the Hanifen Company, Inc. of Des Moines, Iowa, was working to attach a disabled tractor trailer, a sequence of events with collisions of vehicles on the road’s edge/shoulder resulted in his death from being crushed between the disabled tractor and the rear of his tow-wrecker.

S. v. HMD Trucking, Inc., et al.

The cause involved the wrongful death of R.S., who was a 47 year old auto worker, who was returning home from work on the evening of October 16, 2004, when he was killed while operating his motor vehicle southbound along Indiana’s I-465 within the city limits of Indianapolis, Indiana. A tractor-trailer operated by Tadeusz Strojny was also traveling in the middle lane of the southbound traffic along I- 465. Mr. Strojny’s tractor-trailer struck Mr. Studer’s vehicle from behind, propelling and pinning it along the I- 465’s median wall. Ronald Studer was unable to escape his vehicle and died as a result of his injuries.

Tadeusz Strojny was employed as a truck driver by Defendant, Right Express, Inc. d/b/a E.R.A. Transportation, Inc. The tractor was owned by Defendant, HMD Trucking, Inc., for whom Mr. Strojny was driving. He was pulling a trailer owned by Defendant, FAF, Inc. with an insignia of Forward Air, Inc. stenciled on the side of the vehicle.

Mr. Strojny was a Polish born individual who is not fluent in the English language. On the date of this occurrence Mr. Strojny had picked up the tractor-trailer at the Forward Air depot in Chicago, Illinois and was taking it to Columbus, Ohio.

Power Rogers recovers $15 million for radiation overdose.

R. v. United/Goedecke Services, Inc.

On December 22, 1999, United/Goedecke Services, Inc. was lifting a 25 foot I-bar utilizing a hoist called a tugger when the 25 foot I-bar fell 110 feet, striking and killing R. R. was the signalman, directing a 25 foot I-bar up the tugger bay. The plaintiff alleged the defendant was negligent in failing to more securely attach the I-bar as it was lifted up the tugger bay. The defendant claimed that R. never should have been in the tugger bay, under a load, while it was being lifted and should have used a radio next to the tugger operator and outside the bay as a safer, more effective means of communicating. They also claimed R. adjusted the sling, altering the cinch point which was responsible for it falling upon him.

Jury Verdict: $14,230,000.00

Reduced 35% to: $9,250,000.00

Offer prior to Trial: $1,500,000.00

Offer after Closing Argument: $2,500,000.00

S. v. Ravenswood Hospital Medical Center, et al.

As a result of a shooting, S., a minor, sustained a puncture to his aorta, mesenteric vein as well as the colon. He walked as far as he could on to Ravenswood Hospital Medical Center property. S. was within fifty (50) feet of the Ravenswood Hospital door, when security of Ravenswood Hospital was notified of his need of assistance. A nurse employed by Ravenswood Hospital opted to leave Christopher untreated, as their policy was not to go outside the hospital building to assist the injured. He was left to bleed from these injuries for approximately 25 minutes and after he had been transported to the Emergency Room by the police officers he had a barely palpable pulse. Within two minutes of arriving in the Emergency Room he arrested.

This is the record settlement in Illinois for the wrongful death of a minor involving hospital negligence.

Medical negligence/wrongful death: 71-year old female presented to Chicago area hospital with chest pain, back pain, and fever. She had recently undergone chemotherapy for treatment of leukemia. While an inpatient at the hospital, she suffered an unwitnessed fall, resulting in a subdural hematoma. This brain bleed and its sequalae caused her death 2 weeks later. Plaintiff alleged that decedent was a moderate fall risk by objective and subjective measurement and additionally was at high risk for bleeding due to her thrombocytopenia (low platelets) from cancer and chemotherapy. Plaintiff alleged that the bed alarm was not properly set and that had fall precautions been implemented, Decedent’s fall and resultant injury and death would have been avoided.