RECENT VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS
PLAINTIFF'S CASES:
Doe v. Lamerrica Lacking - $240,000
Defendant was a prior friend of our client; however, the two had a falling out and the Defendant then engaged in a pattern of harassing, abusive and threatening behavior that included creating a fake Facebook profile claiming to be our client, claiming our client had A.I.D.S. and using the profile to generally defame our client's reputation.
The court ultimately entered a judgment awarding our client $60,000 for defamation, $60,000 for emotional distress and $120,000 for punitive damages for a total award of $240,000.
In addition to obtaining a monetary judgment against the defendant we also assisted her in obtaining an order of protection that forbids the Defendant from harassing her further - which if broken will subject the Defendant to criminal charges being filed against her.
Doe v. Lawrence Paterson - $35,000 (in bonds ordered returned to client)
Defendant was the prior attorney for our client and during his representation of her he obtained possession of $35,000 worth of bonds which belonged to the client for safe keeping. After the client fired her prior attorney he refused to return the bonds claiming he was holding them as a "retaining lien" for his unpaid legal bill.
Client had originally filed a replevin case against her former attorney on her own but ran into numerous problems in handling the case.
We ultimately obtained a court order requiring the bonds be turned over to our client within three months of when we were hired.
Doe Inc. v. LS Construction and Development Co.and Donald Kindwald d/b/a LS Construction - $473,329.28
Client was a general commercial construction contractor out of Houston, Texas that hired the defendants to perform a portion of the work on two auto parts stores. The sub-contractor/defendant was ultimately fired from the job site due to a poor quality of work and not completing the job on schedule.
The sub-contractor/defendant originally filed a lien against the property claiming our client breached the contract and sued to foreclose on the lien. Our client hired our office to defend the lien foreclosure case on behalf of the owners and to bring a counter-claim against the sub-contractor/defendant.
On our motion, and at our client's request, all matters were ordered to proceed to binding arbitration in Houston, Texas in accordance with our client's contract. We partnered with another law firm in Texas to handle the arbitration for cost saving reasons.
After the arbitrator ruled in our client's favor we entered the judgment against the sub-contractor in two Illinois courts.
We then moved to dismiss all remaining cases filed by the sub-contractor against our client and the property owner and both judges granted our motions.
A second case case was subsequently filed by our office against the company's owner individually and we were successful in entering the judgment against him personally.
Doe v. Couch - $250,000 (policy limit)
Client's vehicle was struck by the defendant's vehicle after the defendant ran a red light. The impact caused our client to fracture his leg in six places requiring surgery.
The severity of the impact and the surgical repair have caused him to exacerbate his prior knee arthritis requiring the recommendation for him to have a total knee replacement.
We made a full policy demand of $250,000 to compensate our client for his injuries to which the insurance carrier, Farmers, agreed to pay.
Case was settled within four months of our office being retained.
No lawsuit was necessary.
Doe v. Draper and Tafts - $125,000 (policy limit(s))
Client was a passenger in a vehicle that lost control and struck a second vehicle. A third vehicle then struck the client's vehicle.
Client sustained a torn meniscus requiring surgical repair. This collision also led to an aggravation of her knee arthritis which may cause the need for a total knee replacement.
Two insurance policies applied to this case, one with Progressive Insurance for $25,000 and another with State Farm Insurance for $100,000. Separate demands for the full policy limits available were made to each insurance carrier. After negotiations with the carriers each agreed to pay their full policy limits to our client.
Entire case was settled within one year of when the collision occurred.
No lawsuit was necessary.
Doe v. Doe Inc. - $100,000
Client was a minor stock holder in a corporation.
The corporate officers decided to cut our client out of the business, its profits and all related business dealings without paying him for his ownership in the corporation.
While we prepared a complaint to be filed ultimately no lawsuit was necessary as were were able to negotiate settlement terms which were favorable to our client including total payments to him for his stock in the amount of $100,000.
Doe v. 1435 W. Taylor, Inc., Dominic O'Mahony and Rainer Zach - $49,000
Client invested funds with the defendants as a down payment and in anticipation of being given 1/3 of an interest in a tavern within the City of Chicago.
Defendant's took client's money but refused to complete the transaction and refused to return the client's money.
Giamanco & Ooink were retained to assist in recovering the outstanding principal, interest, attorney's fees and costs.
Case was settled within a few months of filing suit against the defendants and all legal expenses our client incurred were paid by the defendants.
Doe v. State Farm Insurance Company - $50,000.00 (policy limit)
Uninsured motorist action
Client's husband lost control of the vehicle our client was riding in causing it to flip and her to sustain facial scarring.
The full policy tendered within one month of the start of representation of our client
I.D.O.T. v. Doe. - $330,000.00 (jury verdict in favor of client)
Eminent domain case involving the taking of a clients land for public purpose.
Case hinged on how much the land was valued at.
IDOT claimed the land was only worth $138,000
Doe v. Jones - $100,000 (policy limit)
Two vehicle collision resulting in torn knee ligaments and soft tissue injuries
Policy was offered through settlement prior to starting the jury trial.
Doe v. Timmerman Starlight Trucking, et. al. - $2,250,000.00 (received through settlement following mediation)
Automobile and truck collision
Collision resulted in the death of the plaintiff's spouse
Case was referred to a California based law firm
DEFENSE CASES:
Rathbun Carpentry Contractors v. Doe, LLC - Directed verdict on all major counts
We represented a town home developer and general contractor who were accused of failing to pay a subcontractor in excess of $100,000 for work he claimed he performed in relation to the development.
Prior counsel for our clients withdrew after representing the clients for several years and we took over the file within a few months of the trial date.
Based on lien waivers signed by the plaintiff and his documentary evidence and testimony we were able to persuade the judge that the plaintiff could not prove its case and we were able to get a directed verdict entered on all major counts of the complaint against our clients.
Burchett v. Doe - Directed verdict in favor of our client entered
Our client was an architect who was hired to review and seal plans for a multi-million dollar house which was to be built in the Chicago area.
During the construction water infiltrated the home causing the growth of mold in addition to other defects which required correction.
The home owners sued the contractor, the designer and our client and were seeking over $1,500,000 in damages.
A well known law firm handled our client's case for 3 years and then withdrew a few months before the scheduled trial date.
We were retained less than 4 months prior to trial.
After a week and a half of trial, upon the conclusion of the plaintiff's case, the judge granted our motion for a directed finding in our client's favor and dismissed him from the case.
Joseph Arbour, v. Doe - Case dismissed on our motion
Plaintiff was a contractor who our client hired to build two handicap ramps for his disabled wife. The contractor built the ramps incorrectly and refused to correct the work for the agreed to contract price.
The Plaintiff then sued our client for breach of contract.
We filed a counter-claim against the contractor for breach of contract and for the amount needed to correct his defective work.
On our motion the court dismissed the contractors case against our client in accordance with the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act.
Our case against the contractor is still pending.
Jones v. Doe - settled for less than medical bills claimed.
This case involved a rear end collision caused by our client
Negligence on the part of our client was admitted and he was not available for trial
Plaintiff was extremely sympathetic and made a great witness
By using pre-trial motions we were able to convince the Plaintiff's attorneys that it was in their best interest to settle the case for less than one-third of its initial value and less than the total medical expenses, lost wages and property damage sustained.
Encompass v. Doe - case dismissed
Declaratory judgment case
Parents of two minor children were counter-sued for contribution for injuries sustained to their two children when the golf cart they were ridding in was struck by a pickup truck.
The parents insurance company, Encompass, refused to defend the parents and sued asking the court to hold them harmless for denying coverage.
Filed a counter-claim against Encompass for failing to defend and sought attorneys fees expended by client in their defense.
Case was ultimately dismissed and Encompass paid our client's attorney's fees
Henry v. Doe - Not guilty
Doe rear ended the plaintiff and her minor son who were traveling in a vehicle in front of hers.
Doe admitted to having caused the accident; however, the jury against awarding any damages for the claimed injuries.
In Re: Kirkpatrick - Reduction of $887,500.00
Negotiated on behalf of the defendant for the full and complete settlement of a jury verdict against him that was in excess $900,000.00 for only $12,500.00.
People of the State of Illinois v. Doe - Not Guilty on DUI charge and DL suspension was removed
Client was charged with DUI (for the second time in the past 5 years), Improper Lane Usage, No Insurance and Illegal Transportation of Alcohol.
Client was also facing a 3 year suspension of his driver's license.
Motion to grant the client's Petition to Rescind Statutory Summary Suspension was granted and the client's driver's license was not suspended for 3 years or at all.
Client was found not guilty of DUI after a bench trial.
People of the State of Illinois v. Doe - Not Guilty on DUI charges
Client was charged with Speeding and two counts of DUI, one for blowing over the legal limit, .08.
Client was found not guilty on both counts of DUI after a bench trial.
People of the State of Illinois v. Doe - Removed DUI conviction
Client plead guilty to DUI in 2008 and received a conviction which revoked his driver's license.
Client's abstract showed an incorrect prior supervision for DUI out of Cook County which was corrected.
Client's DUI conviction was lifted and the client was resentenced to supervision which lifted the license revocation.
People of the State of Illinois v. Doe - Removed DUI conviction
Client's driving record showed a conviction for a DUI in 1998 which was not correct.
Motioned the matter up and the conviction was removed from his record.
Client's driver's license was reinstated shortly thereafter.
People of the State of Illinois v. Doe - Removed 3 year suspension of DL
Client picked up a second DUI within the past 5 years which would have suspended his driver's license for 3 years.
Client's Petition to Rescind the Statutory Summary Suspension of his license was granted and the client's license was only suspended for a few days as opposed to 3 years.
Village of Bolingbrook v, Doe - Retail Theft case dismissed
Client was charged with retail theft from Meijer.
After discussing the matter with the Village prosecutor, the case was dismissed.
Village of Mokena v. Doe - Retail Theft case dismissed
Client was charged with retail theft from JC Penney.
Village was not able to meet their burden so the matter was dismissed.
People of the State of Illinois v. Doe - DUI prosecution dropped
Client was pulled over for improper lane usage.
Ticketed for DUI and for having an open container of alcohol.
**The cases cited above are just a recent sample of the legal work we have performed.