Recently in Negligence / Other Torts Category

CNN reported that sports reporter Erin Andrews, who was pursued by stalker Michael David Barrett and eventually taped with a tiny "keyhole" camera, has sued at least two Chicago hotels for negligence.

She also has sued Michael Barrett, who pleaded guilty to stalking, claiming invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Named defendants include Marriott International Inc. and Radisson Hotels International Inc., both of which Erin Andrews claims gave Michael Barrett privileged information about her whereabouts. Her lawsuit claims negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy by the hotels.

An unnamed Chicago father wants to know just how friendly the skies where Southwest Airlines flies really are, as he claims in a lawsuit that an older female passenger offered his 14-year-old son sex and drugs on the plane, according to the Chicago Tribune.

According to the lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court earlier this week, the incident happened two years ago while the plane was somewhere between Chicago and Orlando, Florida. The teenager allegedly asked for a different seat several times but "was emphatically told no."

A man claiming he was molested numerous times while in elementary and high school by convicted sexual predator Daniel McCormick filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Daniel McCormack was defrocked by the Roman Catholic Church after his conviction on multiple counts of sexual abuse. Now his former employer, the Archdiocese of Chicago, will face the anonymous alleged victim and his Illinois injury attorney.

Claiming negligence, Goodyear and Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America Ltd. sued two Chicago injury attorneys, according to Rubber News. They claim that negligence on the part of the two lawyers cost them what they believed would be an easy victory in a product liability case.

In that case, Michael and Darla Green were riding their Harley-Davidson motorcycle from Illinois to Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 2007. A friend warned the couple that their rear tire looked low on air and that she could smell burning rubber from their bike, according to undisputed facts related to the case.

However, the couple reportedly kept on riding until the tire suddenly deflated in Missouri and resulted in a crash.

Always a tough defender during his stint on the legendary Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls team, Scottie Pippen held his own against opposing counsel as the trial for his legal malpractice suit continued, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. 

After opposing counsel for defendant Pedersen & Houpt grilled Scottie Pippen, asking him if he feels responsible for reading contracts before signing them, he offered this curt reply:

"Yes, I do now that I realize I can't trust the people who were working for me."

Ouch. Looks like the retired NBA Hall of Fame inductee can still bring it.

When the topic of sports injuries comes up, most people think of NFL quarterbacks' concussions, torn rotator cuffs on major league pitchers and the ravaged knees of professional basketball players. But those little people who straddle the backs of thoroughbreds? Not so much.

An injury that left horse-racing jockey Rene Douglas paralyzed and unable to walk may change that perception. The jockey filed a negligence suit against Arlington Park for what he claims was a dangerous track surface, the Chicago Daily Herald reported.

The Chicago accident attorney representing veteran jockey Rene Douglas was not quoted or named in the article. The Cook County suit names Arlington Park, corporate owner Churchill Downs and the makers of its Polytrack surface, Martin Collins Surfaces, as defendants. 

Even the king sometimes has his grievances.

Frank Kaszycki, a Deer Park man who was hired to play King Philippe at Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament Show in Schaumberg, is aiming his litigious lance at the company after the horse he was riding allegedly threw him, according to the Chicago Tribune.

His job was to ride a horse and speak in character during the Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament Show, which features actors who play various medieval characters. Paying customers feast on a four-course meal while watching choreographed combat, jousting, horsemanship and other medieval activities.

Rhom & Haas and Dow Chemical are the targets of a class action cancer lawsuit brought by at least 31 plaintiffs who acquired brain cancer they claim is the fault of the companies' operations at McCullom Lake, according to a press release by the Pennsylvania law firm Layser & Freiwald, P.C. The lawyers claim it is the largest brain cancer cluster case in the United States.

While the incidents of brain cancer allegedly developed in Illinois, the corporate defendants are headquartered in Philadelphia; which means the Illinois-based plaintiffs will not be represented by Illinois injury attorneys.

The Northwest Herald provides extensive coverage of the brain cancer cases thought to be linked to the chemical plant at its website; along with videos of the victims, investigations, court documents pertaining to the lawsuit and other information.

A physician identified only as "Janice Doe" is suing the owners of a Lake View hospital for a serious breach of duty she claims led to a vicious attack and attempted rape last summer, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. 

The woman regularly worked late-night shifts and claims the facility did not provide adequate security. In fact, video footage was used to identify the attacker but there were no security guards on duty at the time. The attacker reportedly wandered around the hospital before attacking the physician.

Janice Doe's Illinois injury attorney was not cited or named by the media and it's also not clear how much the victim is seeking in damages.

Sandra Castrejon filed a negligence lawsuit against her son's 7th grade teacher for leaving her students attended, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Her junior high school son allegedly broke his right femur on Feb. 22 at Chappell Elementary School while the teacher was absent.

The negligence suit, which seeks more than $50,000 in damages, was filed against Chicago Public Schools and the teacher, who was not named in the article.

The teacher left her classroom unattended for "a long period of time" and a fight erupted, eventually leading to her son's broken leg, Sandra Castrejon claims:

"During the fight, someone pushed [the boy] from behind and he fell to the ground with great force and violence, causing the injuries."