$2,000,000.00 - Worker cleaning railroad tracks gets hit by train.
An 18-year old man, on his first day working as a laborer for a construction company was struck by a train while cleaning debris from an overhead construction project on an interstate which stands over the railroad tracks. The railway complained to the construction company of the debris falling on the tracks and ordered the construction company to clean the debris on a daily basis. Despite the fact that the railroad knew there were workers in the vicinity, it issued no warnings to its conductors to slow down or to take precaution when approaching the vicinity. The case settled for $2,000,000.
$1,200,000.00 - Youth killed by a train.
A family of a youth killed by a train filed suit against the railroad for failing to take precautions when the railroad knew the children frequently played on the tracks in the area. In fact, the railroad tracks were adjacent to a park where a big hole had been cut into a fence which the children would use to cut across the railroad tracks. On the day of the occurrence, other trains had warned the dispatcher of the presence of youngsters in the vicinity of the railroad tracks. The dispatcher failed to alert the trains and two children were killed. Jamie M. Trapp represented the estate of one of the children and received $1,200,000.
$1,000,000.00 – FELA Railroad Employee injures back on the job
A Metra Carman was pulling a heavy tarp at work and the tarp snagged on a bent and dangerous piece of railroad track which caused the worker to suffer a herniated disc and annular tear in his L5-S1 disc in his lower back. The worker required a disc replacement surgery but was returned back to work. Metra and its supervisors denied any wrongdoing and denied that the worker’s injuries were related to the incident and made no offers to settle the case. Jeremy Geller from Jamie M. Trapp & Associates prepared the case for trial and 4 days before trial was set to begin, Metra offered $1,000,000 to settle the case.
Confidential Settlement - Store security tackles alleged shoplifter.
Jamie M. Trapp & Associates successfully represented a man who was tackled as he attempted to leave a big box hardware store in Chicago, Illinois. An employee of the hardware store, a security trainee, suspected that the man had stolen a fuse. Upon leaving the hardware store, the man was tackled by the security guard. During the attempted apprehension, the man suffered a torn rotator cuff. Police were later summoned to the hardware store and found a used fuse in the man's pocket, which the man was using to compare with fuses in the store. The security guard trainee assumed that the man was stealing a fuse, when in fact he was putting the used fuse back into his pocket. This case settled for a confidential amount.
$500,000.00 – Woman slips on black ice in DuPage County driveway
A 44 year old woman was on her way to go shopping with her sister in December when she slipped on black ice on her sister’s driveway. The woman suffered a fracture to her tibia and fibula and required surgery for her injuries. Although it had snowed and rained for days before the fall, Jeremy Geller from Jamie M. Trapp & Associates was able to demonstrate that the ice was an “unnatural accumulation” which developed as a result of a faulty downspout on the house property. The insurance company tendered their policy limits to settle the case for $500,000.
46-year old woman given death penalty drug.
A 46-year old woman presented to a Chicago area hospital complaining of stomach pain. The doctor ordered that Pepcid be administered to the woman. The nurse mistakenly administered Pavulon, which is one of the three drugs given to administer the death penalty in many states, including Illinois.
Moments after receiving Pavulon, the patient went into respiratory arrest and then her heart stopped. Although she survived, she had permanent injuries resulting from the pulmonary and cardiac arrest. Jamie M. Trapp was able to obtain a settlement in the amount of $8,000,000 after two weeks of trial.
Trump Tower beam falls on worker's head.
In 2012, Jamie M. Trapp & Associates settled a case against the general contractor and others in the amount of $3,500,000 for negligence in allowing a support beam to fall and strike a laborer's head. The laborer suffered herniated discs to neck.
$2,300,000 for a three mile per hour collision.
A 26-year old woman, while waiting in the drive through line at a fast food restaurant, was struck from behind injuring her shoulder. The injury developed into a rare nerve disorder called reflex sympathetic dystrophy or complex regional pain syndrome. She was unable to continue working as a result of her injuries. Jamie M. Trapp recovered $2,400,000 at trial.
Fireman injured in porch collapse.
A Chicago fireman responding to a fire in the Chicago area was seriously injured as he was climbing the rear porch of a multi-unit building when it collapsed fracturing his ankle. The fireman was a Captain for the Chicago Fire Department. The fireman recovered $500,000 for his injuries.
Mom hit in the head by basketball recovers $750,000.
A young mother was shopping for her child at a Chicago area toy store when youngsters, in the adjacent aisle, were shooting baskets when an errant shot attempt struck her in the head causing a herniated disc. This case settled for $750,000.
Bicyclist gets "clotheslined" by rope at shopping mall.
A civil engineer riding his bicycle to work was "clotheslined" by a rope in a shopping mall which was not flagged or otherwise marked. The bicyclist did not see the rope, which had been placed by mall employees so that they would have choice parking spots at the mall. The engineer suffered a herniated disc to his neck. He recovered $525,000.
90-year old bus driver receives $1,000,000.
A school bus driver, with an impeccable safety record, was injured when a boom of a crane on the back of a truck swung striking the front of the bus and causing head and brain injuries to the bus driver. This case settled at trial for $1,000,000.
Chicago police officer driving in the wrong direction collides head on with motorist.
A janitor working for the City of Chicago was injured when a Chicago police officer operating her patrol car in the wrong direction on a busy Chicago street collided head on with the janitor's vehicle resulting in a herniated disc. The City of Chicago refused to make an offer on the case. A jury found in favor of the janitor in the amount of $980,000.
Woman steps into hole hidden by garbage in front of medical center.
A 54-year old woman stepped into a concealed hole in front of Defendant's medical center and injuring her knee, which required surgery. The offer at trial was $8,000. A jury awarded $350,000.
Adults playing with fireworks injure a child.
A neighborhood Fourth of July party ended badly when various adults at the party lit dangerous fireworks. One of the fireworks exploded and injuring an 8-year old girl 100 feet away. The child received $500,000 for her injuries.
Chain falls from crane striking construction worker.
A carpenter was injured during construction of a local hospital when a chain attached to a crane fell striking a carpenter as he was cleaning his worksite. The man received a herniated disc to his neck and $2,000,000 in settlement of his case.
Woman trips over a parking barrier.
A woman on her way to church tripped over a parking barrier, which had been pushed onto the sidewalk by vehicles using a nearby parking lot. The parking lot had been cited on previous occasions for obstructing traffic on the sidewalk. Despite the fact that the property owner had received numerous complaints, warning, and citations regarding these parking barriers, nothing was done to prevent the parking barriers from being moved. The woman suffered injuries to both shoulders and her neck. Just before trial, the woman received $800,000.
Vending machine employee attacked by a janitorial supervisor.
A part-time employee of a vending machine company was filling the candy machine at a rest area. An employee working at the rest area allegedly became insane for no reason and beat the 62-year old, 5'4", 150 pound man into unconsciousness. Although the toll-way employee was found criminally insane at the time of the hearing, there were sufficient warnings to his employer that the toll-way employee was delusional and violent. The case settled for $230,000.
Store display falls onto customer.
While shopping at a local big box retailer, a 26-year old man suffered serious injuries to his back when part of a display fell on to him, which required back surgery. Investigation of the case showed that the display was set up contrary to the manufacturer's recommendations. The client received $475,000.
