On May 6, 2008, the one of the plaintiffs was operating her motor vehicle with the other two plaintiffs as passengers when they were read-ended by a truck owned by Acme Trucking Company and being operated by one of its employees. The three plaintiffs filed this action against Acme Trucking Company (doing business as Acme Refining Scrap Iron and Metal Company) and their employee alleging that the negligent operation of the truck caused the collision and their injuries.
The plaintiffs suffered various injuries, including one of the plaintiffs necessitating two fusion surgeries on his thoracic spine due to his injuries. His claims also included a claim for the inability to obtain and maintain competitive employment as a result of his injuries in the accident. Prior to the accident, this plaintiff was a student in the process of receiving a bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Physics which was to complement his previously obtained bachelor’s degree in English and he also delivered pizza part time.
As a result of the injuries this plaintiff suffered in the collision, there was a significant delay in his ability to return to school and finish his degrees. In addition to the claims for their injuries and lost wages, the plaintiffs also maintained claims against the defendants for pain and suffering, loss of a normal life, medical expenses, and emotional distress. The other two plaintiffs suffered minor injuries.
The defendants disputed the nature and extent of the plaintiffs’ injuries as well as the claims by the student for the inability to obtain and maintain competitive employment.
This case was set for trial in front of the Honorable Judge Daniel Lynch in the Circuit Court of Cook County. On the eve of trial, the defendants admitted liability and that their negligence was a proximate cause of the plaintiffs’ injuries. Shortly after picking a jury, but prior to beginning opening statements in the trial, the parties settled this matter. The defendants settled this case with the plaintiffs for $2,950,000.00 on March 15, 2012. The plaintiff who underwent two fusion surgeries settled for $2,900,000.00. The other two plaintiffs who suffered soft tissue injuries settled for $30,000.00 and $20,000.00 respectively.
The plaintiffs were represented by Joseph A. Power, Jr., and Brian LaCien of Power Rogers & Smith, L.L.P.