$12.75M settlement obtained for 33 year-old pregnant home maker

$12.75M settlement for a 33 year-old pregnant home maker obtained against a south side medical group and hospital due to defendants’ alleged medical negligence in prescribing an insufficient dose of blood thinner for suspected deep vein thrombosis resulting in a pulmonary embolism and ultimately an anoxic brain injury. Parente & Norem received this case shortly before the time period to file it expired after another law firm turned it down. The plaintiff and her family now have the necessary funds for her care for the rest of her life.

$11,000,000

Settlement

$11M settlement obtained for young woman who suffered significant burns

$11M settlement for a young woman received significant burns when her apartment exploded while her landlord was performing maintenance.  The $11,000,000 was the full policy limits available.

Bus accident with child

Jury verdict against bus company for child who sustained a brain injury as a result of a bus accident.

Wrongful Death of a Hostler Driver

$7.0 million record settlement for the wrongful death of a 22 year-old “hostler” driver working at a major railroad intermodal yard.  A hostler drives small trucks around the rail yard with containers on them.  The decedent’s truck got stuck in snow and ice and in the process of attempting to remove it his coworker intentionally slammed his truck into the plaintiff’s, causing it to slide over on the ice, and crush him to death.  We sued the railroad that his employer was subcontracted to under theories of agency, section 414 liability (retained control), and premises liability.  After six years of litigation, and just a few weeks prior to trial, we obtained this county record settlement for the death of an unmarried person with no children. Breaking our own previous record in Will County. If we were not fully prepared to go to trial, this settlement never happens.

According to JVR records, this is the highest wrongful death settlement in a work injury matter in Will County.  

$6.785M Jobsite Head and Neck Injury

 $6,785,000 (plus the complete waiver of a $269K worker’s compensation lien) on behalf of a bricklayer foreman assigned to work on a building that was in need of a masonry repair in the garage area on the ground floor. While he and his crew were working on the repair, a 70lb sheet of plywood fell out of a second story window of the building striking him on the top of his head and fracturing his C6 vertebrae requiring a C5-C7 double level fusion surgery with plates. The case settled the day before jury selection was to begin. 

$6M for motorcycle passenger against her husband

$6M settlement for motorcycle passenger obtained in Winnebago County, IL against her husband for his negligence in operating a motorcycle owned by his employer House of Harley that caused her to suffer a traumatic brain injury. This settlement represents the policy limits of insurance available to the ejected passenger/wife and was obtained after extensive litigation, use of experts, and putting the insurance carrier in a position where they were potentially subject to an excess verdict claim at trial.

$4.84 Million for Injured Carpenter

Settlement for 35 year-old union carpenter who fell 30 feet off the top edge of the back wall of a house while landing on a truss bundle suspended from a crane. We sued the truss company that supplied the crane for not having the correct rigging and the general contractor/developer for not ensuring that the carpenter’s employer had an OSHA compliant fall protection plan or that the they were working off of a proper work support. This case settled during trial for more than five times what was offered prior to trial. We also obtained a complete waiver of the $1.66M workmen’s compensation lien bring the carpenter’s total recovery to $6.5M for a moderate TBI, fractured wrists, and a neck fusion surgery.

$4.5 million settlement for Union Pacific Railroad Mechanic

$4.5M settlement obtained for 52 year-old Union Pacific Rail Road mechanic who was forced to change out 120lb engine part from wrong side of locomotive and without the proper safe lifting equipment causing a low back injury. This claim was brought for the injured employee under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) and settled just prior to trial beginning which is why we take cases to trial.

$4.5 Million Settlement for Woman Struck By Car

$4.5M settlement for a woman in her late 70s who suffered multiple leg fractures when she was struck by a car while crossing the street.  

$4 Million Dollar Settlement for Estate of a Man

$4M settlement for Estate of a Man struck by a tractor trailer on I 57 after he jack knifed his vehicle towing a rental trailer in slippery and snowy conditions causing his vehicle to come to a stop on the highway.

$3.85 Million Dollar Settlement for a 42-year-old Union carpenter

$3,850,000 settlement for a 42-year-old Union carpenter who broke his ankle when he slipped on ice outside a construction site.  As a result of his injuries, he was unable to return to work as a carpenter but did find another job in the trades.

$3.5 Million Settlement & Waiver of $1.5 Million Lien

$3.5M settlement and waiver of a $1M workmens’ compensation lien for a 54 year-old union construction laborer that slipped on snow covered ice while working at One Museum Park East and suffered a back injury. The settlement was paid by the General Contractor on the project (Bovis Lend Lease) and came after a 4 week trial in an amount 4 times what was offered before the trial.

$3.35M Will County record wrongful death settlement for a 26 year-old union oiler

$3.35M Will County record wrongful death settlement for a 26 year-old union oiler (Local 150) who was married with no children caused by his fall into a gravity feed bin at an asphalt plant. We contended that the “cat walk” and the bin itself did not comply with OSHA or the National Safety Council recommendations for such bins. Parente & Norem received this case one month before the time period to file it expired and after several law firms advised the decedent’s widow there was no case to pursue. We also obtained a complete waiver of the $262K workmen’s compensation lien as part of this settlement.

$3 million settlement in auto auction vehicle accident

$3 Million settlement for 61 year-old retiree who was present at an auto auction when an auction valet lost control of a vehicle and ran him over injuring his shoulder and spine. Multiple people were seriously injured in this event and our client obtained the highest settlement amount of all of the injured plaintiffs.

$2.95M settlement for 37 year-old male who sustained a pilon ankle fracture

$2.95M settlement for 37 year-old male who sustained a pilon fracture in his ankle as a result of a van making a left-hand turn in front of him. Defendants alleged plaintiff was speeding and on his cell phone at time of collision. This is believed to be a Cook County record settlement for an ankle fracture.

$2,534,500 settlement in Will County 12th Judicial Circuit Court

$800K for plaintiff F-61 was a passenger in a vehicle, when it was involved in an intersectional collision with a left hand turning vehicle. This plaintiff suffered a partially torn lateral meniscus (arthroscopic surgery), non-displaced fracture to her right fibular head, and compression fracture to her T4 vertebra (kyphoplasty). $1,734,500.00 for M-63, also a passenger in same vehicle, who suffered a comminuted compression fracture at T2 and a fracture at C1. Plaintiff underwent a fusion from C5 to T5 with laminectomy of C7 to T3.

48 Year Old Woman Severly Injured

$2.5 million settlement for a 48-year-old woman who was already totally physically disabled prior to her fall due to chronic hypertension, vascular disease, and end stage renal failure. She sustained a subdural hematoma requiring surgery when she slipped and fell using an interior concrete stairwell at her Section 8 Housing building on the South Side of Chicago due to its lack of lighting, missing handrail, and garbage on the surface of the steps. This case settled after a week of trial in an amount five times what was initially offered to settle the case immediately before trial.

$2.3 Million Jury Verdict for Self-Employed Carpenter

$2.3M Jury Verdict against First Student, Inc. bus company for 42 year old self-employed carpenter that was rear ended by a school bus while stopped at a red light. He was caused to suffer a disk injury in his neck that required surgery. He returned full duty no restrictions to his work as a carpenter within 3 months of the surgery. He did not claim ANY wage loss. This jury verdict was for nearly five times what was offered prior to trial and included a $1M future pain and suffering award for the plaintiff.

$2.1M settlement for 34 year-old unemployed woman obtained against Chicago Department of Aviation Police for aggravation of her pre existing C4-5, C5-6 disk herniations that were made worse following this crash with a department officer and eventually requiring surgery.

$2.1M settlement for 34 year-old unemployed woman obtained against Chicago Department of Aviation Police for aggravation of her pre existing C4-5, C5-6 disk herniations that were made worse following this crash with a department officer and eventually requiring surgery. She was originally diagnosed with the disk injuries in 2007 following an unrelated injury but Illinois law allows a claim for any condition that is made worse by the negligence of another or because of the person’s pre-existing conditions they are more susceptible to injury from an accident. We obtained this settlement shortly before trial in an amount many times what was originally offered.

$2.075M settlement for the death of a 40 year-old man survived by his wife and three children

In August 2019, Rafael Rosas, a 40-year-old employee of Marquee Event Group was tasked with installing a large commercial party tent at the Umiya Mataji Sanstha Temple in West Chicago, IL, ahead of an anticipated religious gathering. 

Marquee Event Group, an event rental company, had rented heavy industrial construction equipment, including the Gehl RS6-35 Telescopic Handler, from Alta Enterprises. Plaintiffs alleged that Alta failed to ensure that Marquee employees using the equipment were adequately trained, certified, or qualified, and that Alta did not comply with safety standards outlined in the Gehl Operator’s Manual.

During the installation process, Rosas, along with other Marquee employees, was working to pull a tent tarp over the frame using the telehandler. The ground where Rosas was operating the telehandler was uneven and sloped, further complicating the task. As Rosas attempted to maneuver the equipment, it lost balance and began to tip over. In a desperate attempt to escape, Rosas exited the cabin but was fatally crushed by the falling telehandler boom.

Rosas is survived by his wife of 19 years and their three children aged 16, 12, and 10.

Aggravation of Existing Degenerative Conditions

$2.0 million settlement for 43-year-old union laborer who had multiple prior back surgeries and knee surgeries who was ordered to move 4×8 sheets of plywood on the 40th floor “top deck” of a down town building then under construction when the wind caught the plywood and caused him to fall onto a pile of joists. Plaintiff claimed aggravation of preexisting degenerative conditions to his back and knee requiring additional surgery. The case settled at trial after opening statements.

$1.95 million settlement for a 29-year-old rear ended by a Will County Sheriff

$1.95M settlement against Will County Sheriff for rear end auto collision. Plaintiff was a 29 year-old diesel truck technician who sustained a herniated disk in his low back but never underwent any surgery. After the accident he became a welder/pipefitter earning substantially more money than before the accident. We claimed his ability to work in his trade was shortened by 10 years due to the back injury and achieved this result just two weeks before trial for an amount ten times what was previously offered. Based on our research this is the highest verdict or settlement ever in Will County, IL for an unoperated disk injury.

Injuries Resulting from 3 Car Collision

$1.8 million settlement for a 33-year-old factory worker who was injured in a three-car collision with a home health care nurse and ultimately required back surgery. The settlement agreement was reached shortly before trial, and we are currently pursuing one of the insurance companies in a separate court action for a portion of the settlement money.

$1,750,000 Verdict By Jury For Union Carpenter Apprentice Injured On A Jobsite

$1.75 million gross verdict for a union carpenter apprentice who broke his leg and injured his knee on a downtown jobsite. The apprentice has since returned to work and became a journeyman. The apprentice has since returned to work and became a journeyman. The verdict was reduced by the apprentice’s contributory negligence.

$1.5M settlement for 42 year-old barber who was struck in his vehicle by tractor trailer causing him to strike median on highway.

$1.5M settlement for 42 year-old barber who was struck in his vehicle by tractor trailer causing him to strike median on highway. He sustained a lumbar fracture and aggravation of his preexisting lumbar degenerative condition (spondylolisthesis) requiring a lumbar fusion surgery.

$1.4 million settlement for 38 year-old salesman struck by a company truck

$1.4 million settlement for 38 year-old salesman struck in driver door by a company truck causing an aggravation of his preexisting asymptomatic degenerative disc disease in his neck. He underwent surgery at C5-6 and C6-7.

$1,225,000 Settlement + $200,000 Lien Reduction for Construction Laborer

$1,225,000 Settlement + $200,000 Lien Reduction for construction laborer who fell approximately 9 feet onto his back while handing up sheets of plywood. We argued that the work practice of sheathing the roof with no fall protection of any kind violated OSHA and safe trade custom. This matter, which was tried in Will County, settled three days into trial for an amount nearly four times the amount that was offered prior to trial.

Rear-Ended by a Drunk Driver

$1.15 million settlement and complete waiver of a $400,000 worker’s compensation lien for a 41-year-old Illinois state trooper who was rear-ended by a drunk driver and required back surgery. The defendant’s insurer paid their $1million policy limit just prior to trial, and the defendant personally contributed $150,000 of his own money to the settlement.

Construction Worker falls

$1.1 million settlement for a 31-year-old construction worker who fell through an overhang when he stepped on a piece of wood blocking he had previously nailed and sustained a serious right heel fracture. We sued the general contractor and owner and shortly before trial obtained not only a settlement amount of $1.1 million but reduced his worker’s compensation lien by $273,000. The defense in this case contended that the plaintiff and/or his employer were solely responsible for his injuries, as they had been the ones that actually nailed the board he fell through.

$1M for a retired couple that was killed as a result of a propane gas explosion

$1M ($500K to each estate) for a retired couple that was killed as a result of a propane gas explosion that occurred at their Wisconsin summer cottage. We determined that a brass flexible connector had not been tagged for replacement and/or removal at the time a new gas service was installed resulting in the leak and explosion. These flexible connectors were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the early 1990’s and MUST be replaced immediately if found in your home. This settlement exceeds Wisconsin’s wrongful death cap by $300K total.

Woman killed in medical transport

$970,000.00 settlement achieved on the second day of trial for death of 64 year-old woman survived by two adult children who was being transported via a medi-car van that was in an automobile accident with another vehicle while she was being transported for minor surgery. She sustained a non-paralysis cervical fracture from the accident and died several days later due to a stress related cardiac event.

$912K settlement (plus complete workmen’s comp. lien waiver of $775K)

$912K settlement (plus complete workmen’s comp. lien waiver of $775K) paid by property owner for a 45 year-old union carpenter, employed by the general contractor on the project, who was setting steel panels when he twisted his knee in the mud on the job site and aggravated his underlying degenerative conditions in his knee requiring several surgeries.

$875,000 Will County medical negligence settlement

$875,000 Will County medical negligence settlement for 52 year -old woman that suffered an eye injury during routine nasal surgery.

Surgical Malpractice

$850,000 settlement, no suit filed, against hospital and neurosuregeon for death of 55 year-old woman who died during the placement of a brain cathater to treat her terminal brain cancer. She was estimated to have 6 months to live at the time of her death.

Leg injury sustained from fall

$803,000.00 jury verdict for a union roofing apprentice against the Chicago Board of Education for a serious leg injury sustained when he fell from an interior iron ladder at a school he was working at.

$766K Neck Fusion

$766K settlement for 52 year old man that required a neck fusion procedure as a resulted of being rear ended by an under-insured driver while working.

$750,000 settlement against trucking company

$750,000.00 settlement against trucking company for death of woman killed in automobile accident.

Settlement against nursing home

$750,000.00 settlement against nursing home for woman who drowned in bathtub while a patient at nursing home.

Products liability settlement for 50 year-old woman

$727,741.00 Products liability settlement for 50 year-old woman who sustained heart damage and mitral valve repair due to results of Fen-Phen ingestion for weight loss.

Bowel perforation during a routine colonoscopy

$705,000.00 Medical negligence settlement for 69 year-old retired man who sustained bowel perforation during a routine colonoscopy resulting in partial removal of his colon.

$700,000 settlement obtained for 19 year-old laborer

$700,000.00 settlement obtained for 19 year-old laborer who sustained a lis franc fracture of his foot and an arm fracture when he struck a dump truck broadside that pulled off of a stop sign. This case settled at trial immediately before opening statements for an amount nearly three times what was offered prior to trial.

$600K settlement for 55 year-old salesman that was rear ended while working

$600,000 settlement for 55 year-old salesman that was rear ended while working. He sustained cervical disk herniations and a left shoulder injury requiring surgery. We recovered $150K from the person that caused the accident, $450K from the underinsured motorist coverage carried by his employer, and from the workmen’s compensation coverage carried by his employer. This is a good example of exhausting all possible avenues of recovery by hiring the right attorney.

18 year-old female car passenger suffers fractured femur

$600,000.00 settlement for an 18 year-old female car passenger who sustained a fractured femur with rod insertion and a moderate traumatic brain injury. This occurred because the driver of the automobile fell asleep and crashed along the highway in downstate Illinois. Defense contended through an expert that any cognitive deficits were not related to the subject automobile accident.

$580,000 jury verdict in a slip and fall case

$580,000.00 jury verdict in a slip and fall case.

$565,000 Jury Verdict for Independent Trim Carpenter

$565K Jury Verdict for Independent trim carpenter against general contractor, Father and Sons Home Improvement, on a home remolding project for their failure to ensure proper hand rails on a stairwell leading to the work area. This is more than double what was offered before trial.

$520K Settlement for a 47 year-old Medical Delivery Driver

$520K Settlement for a 47 year-old medical delivery driver who was rear-ended in traffic, thereby aggravating his pre-existing cervical degenerative disk disease. He underwent a three -level cervical fusion to address his injuries. This money was recovered from his employer’s underinsured motorist coverage in addition to his successful workmen’s compensation claim.

$500,000 settlement for welder whose arm was crushed

$500,000.00 settlement for a 45-year-old Albanian immigrant welder whose arm was crushed when a trailer of a tractor trailer he was working on fell onto his arm, causing numerous fractures. This settlement was paid after a week of trial and was nearly seven times the defendant’s initial settlement offer in the case.

$500k settlement for 51 year-old with aggravated pre-existing low back injury

$500,000.00 settlement for a 51 year-old over-the-road truck driver that who was rear ended by a Rush Intermodal tractor-trailer while stopped in traffic on westbound I-80 near the Route 30 exit. Despite multiple epidural injections, a functional capacity evaluation determined that the our client could perform only light duty work and could not resume his career as an over-the-road truck driver.

29 year-old male who was rear-ended by a semi truck

$475,000.00 settlement for 29 year-old male who was rear-ended by a semi truck. He sustained herniated disks in his neck with no surgery.

$450K for 50-year-old Union Pipefitter

$450,000 for 50-year-old union pipefitter who underwent neck and back surgeries.

$405K settlement for 46 year-old maintenance worker who was injured on the job.

$405,000 settlement for 46 year-old maintenance worker who was injured when a large commercial air compressor rented by his employer lost its wheel on the highway causing his coworker to crash into a ditch. He underwent a L4-5 micro discectomy. He had three prior surgeries on that level of his back.

$400K settlement for male and female students rear-ended on Interstate 94

$400K settlement for male and female students rear-ended on Interstate 94 by a semi-tractor trailer in Michigan causing them to suffer neck and back injuries without surgery. Under Michigan law these plaintiffs also received a life time medical benefit for their injuries.

Union pipe fitter falls at a job site

$400,000.00 settlement for 42 year-old union pipe fitter who fell at a job site and fractured his foot. During rehabilitation for his foot injury he developed a burning sensation in neck and was later determined to have a cervical disk injury requiring a fusion surgery from his crutch use for the foot fracture. Plaintiff returned to work full duty no restrictions within 11 months of injury.

$350K settlement for 62-year-old office worker

$350,000 settlement for 62-year-old office worker who underwent two back surgeries.

$302K lump sum settlement for 47 year-old union laborer

$302K lump sum settlement for 47 year-old union laborer

$300K settlement for union pipefitter with back injury

$300K settlement for union pipefitter with back injury.

$295K settlement for union brick layer with knee injury

$295K settlement for union brick layer with knee injury.

$250K settlement for a 38-year-old youth counselor

$250,000 settlement for a 38-year-old youth counselor who underwent a surgical revision of a previously injured shoulder.

$250K settlement for 37 year-old union iron worker

$250K lump sum settlement for 37 year-old union iron worker.

$230K settlement for 35 year-old union truck driver with back injury

$230K settlement for a 35 year-old union truck driver with back injury.

$200K settlement for union pipefitter with back injury

$200K settlement for union pipefitter with back injury, returned to work.

$185K settlement for union truck mechanic

$185K settlement for union truck mechanic.

$180K settlement for union carpenter with shoulder injury

$180K settlement for a union carpenter with shoulder injury.

$175K settlement for a union electronics installer

$175K settlement for a union electronics installer.

$158K for 52-year-old Electrician

$158,000 for 52-year-old electrician with back and shoulder surgeries.

$150K for 22-year-old Union Electrician

$150,000 for 22-year-old union electrician who had 2 ACL repair surgeries.

$137K settlement for a 44-year-old delivery driver

$137,000 settlement for a 44-year-old delivery driver who underwent two minor back surgeries.

$120K settlement for 32 year-old salesperson with neck injury

$120K settlement for a 32 year-old salesperson with a neck injury.

$113K lump sum settlement for 35 year-old union equipment operator

$113,000 lump sum settlement for 35 year-old union equipment operator

Confidential settlement for homeless man run over by commuter train

Confidential settlement for homeless man run over by commuter train after he fell asleep on tracks near pedestrian platform and suffered a bi-lateral leg amputation when the train entered the station and ran him over. Using extensive expert work including recreating the accident with the use of an actual commuter train we obtained a favorable settlement for this man.