Cases
Representative Cases: Verdicts: Obtained a defense verdict for a public transit operator where a plaintiff claimed he suffered injury while a passenger on a bus. The pretrial dem
was $800,000,
plaintiff asked the jury for over $1 million.
Represented a public transit operator sued when its bus rear-ended plaintiff's vehicle. The transit company admitted fault. Plaintiff
his counsel insisted that they would never accept less than $1 million to settle the case. At trial, asked the jury for over $7.5 million. The jury returned a verdict of $500,000.
Obtained a defense verdict when plaintiff broke his leg,
sued claiming defective design
manufacture of a ladder. Plaintiff's counsel
his expert traveled the country trying cases against ladder manufacturers.
Obtained a defense verdict for a driver involved in a motor vehicle accident where each party claimed to have had the green light.
Secured a plaintiff's verdict in motor vehicle accident involving a dispute over the color
timing of the traffic signal.
Summary Judgments: Obtained summary judgment for a l
scaping
snow removal contractor client,
recovered costs
fees related to the defense of the case from a codefendant subcontractor. Plaintiff slipped
fell outside of a bank, breaking her leg.
Plaintiff claims to have been injured in the course of breaking down a trade show. Represented a party responsible for maintenance of the premises,
obtained summary judgment for our client on negligence, indemnity
contract claims.
Obtained summary judgment for a hospital where a construction worker suffered serious injury during the course of construction at the hospital.
Obtained summary judgment for a product manufacturer where plaintiff claimed that the accident (wherein she lost both legs) occurred as a result of a failure of the products.
Obtained summary judgment for the manufacturer of a hot water dispenser that was alleged to have caused flooding in a residential kitchen.
Obtained summary judgment for l
scaping company. Plaintiff slipped
fell on rocks in a restaurant parking lot fracturing both elbows.
Plaintiff slipped
fell on flag stone steps, suffering multiple spinal fractures, disc herniations with related neurologic injury. Obtained summary judgment for l
scaping contractor that designed
installed the steps
maintained the property.
Obtained summary judgment for a l
scaping/ snow removal contractor. Plaintiff slipped
fell on snow
ice fracturing his leg.
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a property owner
manager where plaintiff was claiming fraud, conspiracy
wrongful eviction.
Obtained summary judgment for a l
scaping contractor whose back hoe was struck by a moving car. Plaintiff's car was a total loss
plaintiff had multiple leg fractures.
Obtained summary judgment for a hotel
its general manager in a case where plaintiff was claiming malicious prosecution relating to a trespass arrest
bomb threat.
Obtained summary judgment for a table saw operator sued by a user who suffered the loss of multiple fingers while operating the product.
Plaintiff was injured while working on a production line. Obtained summary judgment for client based on Illinois' 'Loaned Servant' doctrine.
Obtained summary judgment for a pump manufacturer where plaintiff sued after being sprayed with molten asphalt product used in road paving.
Obtained summary judgment for a telecommunications company sued when plaintiff suffered serious injury related to a utility pole. Took over defense of case after prior defense counsel was previously denied summary judgment.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of a fast-food restaurant where plaintiff alleged he was injured in a slip
fall accident at the restaurant.
Dismissals (Plaintiff elected to dismiss): Obtained a voluntary dismissal with prejudice in a product liability lawsuit in which Johnson & Bell defended a global electronics
home appliance manufacturer. In this case, a family's home was destroyed in a fire. The insurer alleged that a wet/dry vacuum - our client's product -- was the cause of the fire. The insurance company paid the family $540,000
the family claimed another $280,000 in uninsured losses, for a total verdict exposure of $825,000. Johnson & Bell developed a very strong defense to the product liability allegations
several theories of spoliation against both the insurance company
the family. When it became clear that the product manufacturer would not offer any money to settle the case, the insurance company chose to take a dismissal with prejudice, instead of trying the case against Johnson & Bell
our client.
Plaintiff suffered a severe traumatic brain injury
3rd degree burns when his stopped car was rear-ended by a truck traveling at highway speed. Along with suing the involved driver
trucking entities, plaintiff sued the manufacturer of his vehicle alleging insufficient crash worthiness. After discovery,
forensic inspection, Johnson & Bell represented the automobile manufacturer. Plaintiff chose to dismiss his case against their client instead of proceeding to trial against Johnson & Bell
our client. Codefendants eventually reached an eight-figure settlement with plaintiff.
Plaintiff claimed that the motorcycle he was operating on an 'adventure tour' in a South American desert was defective, causing a catastrophic accident in which he suffered multiple spinal fractures. Johnson & Bell represented the motorcycle manufacturer. When, during the initial days of trial plaintiff took a voluntary dismissal to avoid adverse rulings on pretrial motions, Johnson & Bell secured an award for their client of $181,000 in costs. After re-filing, the case again went to trial. Before the trial court, instead of trying the case, plaintiff agreed to settle for $20,000. Because the liens on the file were over 10 times greater than the settlement amount, neither plaintiff nor his counsel ever sought to collect the money.
Johnson & Bell represented a vehicle fleet leasing company where plaintiff sued, claiming that he suffered facial
brain injury as a result of allege improperly vehicle maintenance by the client
its chosen car-maintenance vendors. After discovery, plaintiff chose to dismiss his claim against Johnson & Bell
our client instead of proceeding to trial against them.
Johnson & Bell represented the manufacturer of an electronic airbag module. Plaintiffs sued related to a motor vehicle accident where one individual was killed
a second suffered multiple fractures when a vehicle airbag allegedly failed to properly inflate. Plaintiff chose to dismiss the case instead of proceeding to trial against Johnson & Bell
our client.
Obtained dismissal of Park District
l
scaping contractor where plaintiff was injured during a charity walk-a-thon.
Obtained dismissal for l
scaping
snow removal contractor sued related to an alleged slip
fall on stairs. This dismissal included recovery of costs
fees for the client.
Obtained dismissal for hotel where Plaintiff claimed injury involving his use of the hotel's revolving door.
Plaintiff's grocery store suffered a fire that originated in the HVAC system, causing damages of over $1 million. Johnson & Bell's client, the manufacturer of a furnace safety shut off switch, was the target defendant. After discovery
forensic testing, plaintiff chose to dismiss Johnson & Bell's client.
Plaintiff suffered a flooded kitchen
sued the manufacturer of his refrigerator's ice maker. At trial, plaintiff chose to dismiss the case instead of proceeding to trial against Johnson & Bell
our client.
Plaintiff's private school flooded allegedly as a result of a product manufactured by Johnson & Bell's client. After discovery, plaintiff chose to dismiss the case against our client instead of proceeding to trial instead of proceeding to trial.
Johnson & Bell represented HVAC safety device sued related to a residential gas explosion killing two occupants
sending debris blocks away. Plaintiff dismissed the case instead of proceeding to trial instead of proceeding to trial against Johnson & Bell
our client.
An explosion in a chemical processing plan killed one employee
severely injured another. Johnson & Bell represented the manufacturer of processing equipment used at the plant, the 'target defendant'. After plaintiffs settled with all other defendants, plaintiff chose to dismiss the case instead of proceeding to trial against Johnson & Bell
our client.
Plaintiff alleged that steering system of the automobile he was driving failed so as to cause an accident in which he suffered serious injury, including multiple fractures. Johnson & Bell represented the vehicle manufacturer. Plaintiff chose to dismiss the vehicle manufacturer instead of proceeding to trial.
Plaintiff was injured during an automobile test drive. On the day of trial, plaintiff chose to dismiss our client (second driver in accident) instead of proceeding to trial against Johnson & Bell
our client.
Plaintiff suffered a fire destroying a garage
its contents. Plaintiff asserted that the fire occurred due to a defect in an automobile present in the garage, claiming over $100,000 in damages. Johnson & Bell represented the vehicle manufacturer. After plaintiff's experts were deposed, plaintiff agreed to settle the case for less than $5000.
