Cases
Significant Cases: Graneros Unidos S.A. de C.V. v. GSI Group, LLC et al. Defended GSI Group at trial in the U.S. District Court in Urbana, IL in case related to the sale of eight grain bins
other equipment by GSI Group to a Mexican grain company, Graneros Unidos S.A. de C.V. The grain bins were destroyed during Hurricane Lane in September of 2006. The plaintiff claimed the bins were destroyed by winds below the wind rating promised in the contract, that the bins were negligently designed,
that fraudulent misrepresentations
concealments were made during the transaction. The claimed damages included 2.4 million in damaged property, 2.5 million in lost grain,
5 million of lost profits. There were also claims for punitive damages
attorneys' fees under the Consumer Fraud Act claim. The trial was bifurcated
the jury returned verdict in favor of firm client GSI on the breach of contract
negligence claims. The judge subsequently ruled in favor of defendant GSI on the Consumer Fraud Act
punitive damages claims.
Corn Belt Energy v. Schick Represented Corn Belt Energy in a jury trial in DeWitt County in a subrogation claim to recover workers compensation benefits paid to a Corn Belt employee. The case was related to an injury sustained by a Corn Belt lineman who had been working on a utility pole project on a country road. The defendant, a local farmer, was driving a truck towing a large farm implement known as a Crumbler, which struck the lineman. The parties stipulated to the amount of the damages
the jury returned a verdict finding the defendant farmer 80% at fault for the accident.
Dunn v. B&O Railroad Successfully upheld the duty of care for motorists in connection with a railroad crossing/wrongful death case,
upheld the strict definition of that duty of care following the adoption of comparative negligence by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Walker v. Casey's Retail Co. Defended a premises liability jury trial in Iroquois County for Casey's General Store. The plaintiff was injured walking into a Casey's General Store when she pulled the door onto her foot
crushed her left fourth toe. She subsequently received treatment from a podiatrist for a Morton's neuroma
other conditions of the left foot. Prior to trial, the court granted summary judgment for Casey's on the claim of specific negligence but denied summary judgment as to the plaintiff's separate res ipsa loquitor count. At the jury trial, the testimony of the podiatrist was barred because the plaintiff failed to establish causation for the medical conditions diagnosed. After a short deliberation, the jury returned a defense verdict in favor of Casey's.
Ealy v. Industrial Commission 189 Ill. App. 3d 76 (1989) Compensability of slip
fall outside of employer's premises.
Goodknight v. Village of Royal 197 Ill. App. 3d 319 (1990) Common law liability of a municipality for injuries sustained due to consumption of alcohol.
Buell v. Oakl
Fire Protection District 237 Ill. App. 3d 940 (1992) Applicability of Tort Immunity Act in contribution claim against an ambulance service.
Pryor v. Industrial Commission 266 Ill. App. 3d 497 (1994) Accident occurring on personal farm owned by president of corporation is not compensable.
Fillpot v. Midway Airlines 261 Ill. App. 3d 237 (1994) Airline cannot be liable for slip
fall on ice on tarmac.
