The issue of collecting payment after you’ve obtained a judgment or verdict has two main forks in the road – the first of which is an insurance issue. In auto accidents, for example, the defendant will have an insurance policy that will pay out some, if not all, of your judgment. Often, we have had…
For reasons that may be fairly straightforward, the importance of a client’s medical records and bills in a personal injury case cannot be overstated. In all but the rarest of situations, medical bills will make up the bulk of a plaintiff’s total damages. A plaintiff’s medical records hold the key to the essence of the case, as understanding the medical…
One of the first questions many clients have when discussing their legal rights is what can be done about the time at work they were forced to miss after an injury. This is a particularly pressing concern during difficult economic times such as these — many individuals cannot bear the financial strain of missing a long stretch…
The Importance of Completeness In every case, there is a “discovery process” where parties exchange information and begin to weed out the issues of a case. Many attorneys make the mistake, however, of assuming that just because materials (be they interrogatories (a fancy word for “questions” in writing), requests to produce documents, requests to admit…
A case often develops and “takes on a life of its own” due to the strategies attempted to be employed by defense attorneys. Essentially, a trial strategy can often draw a striking contrast between the way an incident seemed at the time of its occurrence, and how things are actually presented at trial. A good…
When a case goes to trial, it is often the case that some of the most important events happen behind closed doors, away from the jury and even away from the client. Before a trial begins, attorneys from each side get together with the Judge and set down some “ground rules” for the trial, including…
It is one of the hallmarks of our judicial system that everyone is entitled to the same level of fairness in their access to the courts as everyone else. But sometimes, people are afraid to pursue their rights because they are afraid that things they have done in their past–particularly crimes–may be used against them. For the…
In a 6-0 decision, late last week March 2011, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in the case of Thomas Vincent v. Alden-Park Strathmoor, Inc. that punitive damages are not allowed under the Nursing Home Care Act in death cases. This is an unfortunate decision that seems to give nursing homes less incentive to care for…
Reports are coming in of car crashes in the area during one of the worst blizzards in the Chicago and surrounding suburbs’ recorded history. Numerous motorists were also stranded on Lake Shore Drive. Streets are closed and others are near unable to be traveled upon. Still, the duties of a motorist remain. In fact,no matter the…
On January 20, 2011, we brought a suit against the State of Ilinois, Illinois Department of Correctionsand Illinois’ Department of Central Management Services (among others) alleging a four-car accident. It is alleged that one of the two drivers named struck Defendant Washington’s vehicle pushing it into Plaintiff’s vehicle and pushing Plaintiff’s vehicle into Defendant Brown’s vehicle and…