Death and serious injury to two demolition workers when a section of concrete parapet capstones fell on them during a restaurant buildout at a Vernon Hills mall.

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.O. & A.R. v. W.M. (2019)

Joseph Power, Sean Houlihan and James Power secured $8,400,000.00 on behalf of two clients in this action. Plaintiffs were working as laborers for a demolition contractor and removing the brick face on an exterior wall without a demolition plan when the wall suddenly collapsed, crushing P.O. and resulting in injuries to A.R.

Product Liability: Defective/improperly maintained elevator hoist ropes caused orthopedic injuries.

Wrongful Death/Medical Malpractice: (2022 – Cook County) 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.

Z. v. Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Medical Malpractice: This involved a 69 year old former attorney who went into Northwestern Memorial Hospital on June 1, 1995 for triple bypass surgery. On June 4, 1995, his chest tube was removed which resulted in a pneumothorax. This pneumothorax resulted in him becoming short of breath and eventually led to a cardiac arrest and brain damage. The defense claimed his injuries were from a heart attack from his underlying cardiac disease.

A 32-year-old female passenger suffered numerous cervical and lumbar vertebrae fractures requiring a posterior surgical fusion of C1-C2 in a commercial airplane crash.

Medical Malpractice: 11 year-old girl being treated for cardiac rhythm disturbances suffered an arrhythmia while showering at home and passed away on April 29, 1994. Defendants University of Chicago Hospitals and Dr. J. Deane Waldman failed to address Amy’s condition with appropriate medication and failed to provide Amy, through her family, with information and recommendation of an implantable cardiac defibrillator during the 18 months she was under their care.

Medical Malpractice: 37 year old female had surgery for an ectopic pregnancy at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. During the procedure her bladder was perforated resulting in infection. The infection was not diagnosed and she was discharged. She re-presented to Illinois Masonic for further care in a comatose state. The infection became necrotizing resulting in loss of lower abdominal skin, muscle and tissue and numerous surgical interventions.

R. vs. Christ Hospital, et al.

Medical Malpractice: 53 year old female was transferred by helicopter to Advocate Christ Medical Center from another institution after being involved in an automobile accident. About two and a half hours after arrival she suffered a respiratory arrest followed by a cardiac arrest. Her chest cavity injuries should have been treated by elective chest tube insertion and intubation to avoid possible respiratory deterioration. She suffered permanent severe brain damage and the need for 24 hour care over her lifetime due to these failures.