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.

Car Accident: G.C. was an extra in the movie production of Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon. On September 1, 2010, G.C. was driving her own car along with 70-100 other vehicles on Cline Avenue in Hammond, Indiana during filming of the aforesaid movie. During filming, a stunt was performed in which an explosion followed by a stunt car being violently flipped over. The cable pulling the car broke free from the stunt car along with a large iron bracket, which was propelled across lanes of traffic into G.C.’s car windshield and then her head.

Motor Vehicle/Death: On September 25, 2020, plaintiff’s decedent, age 43, was a front seat passenger in a Ford pick-up truck hauling a camper traveling westbound on I-80 near mile marker 86 in LaSalle County, Illinois. Defendant driver was operating a freight truck travelling immediately behind plaintiff’s vehicle. The driver was making a delivery to a client which was within the course and scope of his employment of the employee’s company. The traffic on I-80 began to slow down and/or come to a complete stop for construction. The defendant driver failed to slow down and/or stop along with the flow of traffic. As a result, he drove his truck at a high rate of speed into the plaintiff’s vehicle. The impact caused the plaintiff’s vehicle to be pushed into another vehicle and a total of six vehicles were involved in the collision. The impact caused an explosion and the plaintiff’s vehicle became engulfed in flames. Plaintiff’s decedent became trapped in the vehicle and was burned to death. Plaintiff’s decedent left surviving a wife, one adult son and one minor daughter. (2021)

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

On October 12, 1997, R. 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.

The plaintiffs argued the vessel came too close to shore, failed to keep a proper look-out and that the defendant failed to properly train its captains in the rules of the U.S. Coast Guard as well as its own rules.

The defense argued that with the swimming season over and the Chicago beaches had been closed for almost six weeks it was unforeseeable that there would be a swimmer in the water over fifty yards from shore, with a 60 degree water temperature, three to five foot waves and a small craft advisory. A Chicago Park District rule prohibits swimming over 50 yards off shore.

Prior to the trial commencing the defendants offered $3,000,000.00. During jury selection the defendants offered $5,000,0000.00. It was suggested the offer would never exceed that amount which was equal to the largest amount ever awarded for a below the knee amputation. After opening statements and after three witnesses testified for the plaintiffs the defendants increased their offer to $6,500,000.00. This was the figure the trial judge recommended to settle the case. These offers were rejected by the plaintiffs.

Jury Verdict: $13,500,000.00

Reduced 20%: $10,800,000.00

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

Trucking: 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.

Jury Verdict: $10,430,617.92

Offer before trial: $1,600,000.00

C., et al v. Transport Carriers, Inc., et al.

Trucking/Wrongful Death: The accident involved an International tractor which lost control on the ramp exiting the Chicago Skyway leading to the Day Ryan on July 1, 1999. The International tractor was being driven by Jesse Blackmon of Transport Carriers, Inc. After Mr. Blackmon lost control on the ramp, the Nissan Van being operated by plaintiff, attempted to avoid striking the Blackmon tractor and was rear-ended by a truck operated by Robert Lachowski of American Shipping and Packing. C. was traveling with his wife and children, 9 years old, 3 years old, and 9 months old. C. died as a result of his injuries.

Jury Verdict: $10,400,000.00

Offer before trial: $500,000.00

Offer during trial: $1,700,000.00

Car Accident: A Barrington Hills police officer stopped suddenly on Route 63, purportedly to chase a speeder going in the opposite direction. The sudden stop caused another vehicle to swerve and strike Plaintiff’s car head-on. Plaintiff was 8 months pregnant and despite an emergency c-section, the fetus suffered brain damage.

P. v. WGN

WGN camera man ran red light and injured previously disabled Vietnam veteran.

Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle traveling eastbound on 127th Street at or near the intersection of 127th Street and Kedzie in the Village of Blue Island, Illinois when the defendant officer entered the intersection, ignored the traffic device which was illuminated red for northbound traffic, failed to yield the right-of-way for the plaintiff’s vehicle and violently collided into the passenger side of the plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff alleged that the defendant was willful and wanton in deciding to initiate and continue the pursuit. Plaintiff was hospitalized for over 30 days and underwent multiple surgeries due to her injuries. (2010)