Verdicts and Settlements
Representative Settlements and Verdicts:
$13.73 Million — Laborer. Suffered extensive burns over 80% of his body. An ensuing legal battle continued for more than five years against one of the country’s largest utilities.
Amount Confidential between public demand of $13 Million and rejected offer of $6 Million — Foster mother of nine was killed and her niece incurred a partial paraplegia injury when a van they were riding in rolled over multiple times. Vehicle stability testing conducted by the auto manufacturer and supporting documents became the proof that was necessary to secure a landmark “confidential” settlement against one of the largest automakers in the world.
$10 Million — Ironworker. Fell from a one-story roof and was rendered a partial quadriplegic. The case ultimately proceeded to trial after over 50 depositions were taken around the country in order to establish liability upon the two manufacturers of the pre-fabricated metal building that contained excessive amounts of oil on the decking sheets and were responsible for his slip and fall off of the roof iron.
$5.8 Million — Mother. Sole survivor of van crash succumbed to catastrophic injuries. While the tragic loss of a mother can never be replaced, GWC was able to provide her young child with financial security to protect her, educate her, and give her financial independence for the rest of her life.
$5.5 Million — Mother and Daughter. Suffered multiple injuries in an auto accident when another car disobeyed a stop sign. Record time to settle the case gave the women and their family peace of mind concerning their finances and the necessary medical care that is critical for their rehabilitation needs.
$5.5 Million - Surveyor. Suffered multiple fractures when 100’ boom on a concrete pump truck that was improperly set up shifted and struck client.
$5.29 Million — Electrical Lineman. Suffered severe electrical burns at a construction site accident. Insurance company’s final offer before trial was $90,000.00.
$4.65 Million — Laborer. Fatal accident when an improperly braced 28-foot wall at a construction site collapsed on him and his brother at a construction site during a violent storm. It was determined that despite the U.S. weather warnings, work at the construction site continued until it was too late to evacuate the work site.
$4.5 Million - Sheetmetal Worker. Suffered multiple leg and facial fractures in a 20-foot fall off of an iron beam when he stepped on a bolt left by another contractor.
$4.4 Million — Male Driver. Fatal accident as a result of a semi-truck driver swerving his truck into west bound traffic and striking head-on the car of the victim. Due to the truck driver’s record and past history his employer immediately paid cash settlement plus an annuity to his estate. This is the largest death case settlement in Kane County.
$4.35 Million — Laborer. Suffered serious head injuries from eleven foot fall off of a job-built ladder on construction project. Extensive pre-trial preparation including numerous graphic exhibits and models paved the way for this substantial settlement.
$4.1 Million — Electrician. Suffered a serious knee injury when a piece of construction equipment became dislodged in a trailer and fell onto his leg. The jury returned one of the largest knee injury verdicts in Illinois history.
$4.1 Million — Electrician. Fatal fall through the ceiling of a hotel ballroom. Insurance company appealed case to the Appellate and Supreme Courts. GWC won both appeals and secured this verdict for victim’s estate.
$3.9 Million — Ironworker. Suffered multiple fractures from 35-foot fall out of a lift-truck while not using his safety lanyard. Settlement paid when it was proved that there was no enforcement of the safety program on the job site.
$3.7 Million — Infant Boy. Suffered an above the knee amputation due to the negligent acts of the hospital and a number of doctors. GWC retained over eight (8) medical, vocational, and economic experts. They were able to document the malpractice itself and then to document the consequences the injuries will have on his life, both from an economic standpoint and from a personal one.
$3.6 Million - Carpenter. Fatal fall through metal decking due to other contractor partially cutting decking and leaving area without barricades or warning.
$3.6 Million— Sheet Metal Worker. Suffered a mild, disputed brain injury from a fall from a 12-foot stepladder while connecting pieces of overhead ductwork. Final offer of settlement before trial was $250,000.
$3.5 Million- Male Adult. Suffered severe infection that went undiagnosed for over a week resulting in paralysis. Orthopedic surgeon in charge of care, and both transferring hospital and care-giving hospital failed to recognize serious nature of an infection that developed in the location where a surgical anesthesia needle had been inserted.
$4.05 Million— Electrician. Suffered severe electrical burns when an aluminum street light pole that his employer was installing hit a power line.
$3 Million — Ironworker. Suffered fractures to his ankle, knee, thumb and three of the vertebrae in his lower back when he fell 22-feet through an unmarked hole at a construction site. GWC demonstrated that the contractor had failed to comply with hole covering safety standards and had improperly used loose scrap wood to cover the opening.
$2.9 Million — Sales Manager. A manager for an auto dealership was killed in an auto accident after attending a sales meeting
$2.66 Million — Electrician. Suffered a fatal accident in which a 26,000-lb generator fell and killed him at a construction site. It was determined that the generator was being hoisted by a 30-ton crane using only four nylon straps and one of the straps tore in contact with a steel beam
$2.62 Million — Ironworker. Suffered multiple injuries.
$2.6 Million — Ironworker. Suffered an ankle injury.
$2.42 Million — Carpenter. Suffered significant facial fractures and other injuries due to wall collapse.
$2.4 Million — Operating Engineer. Suffered a spine injury.
$2.03 Million — Immigrant's family receive award as a result of a fatal car crash. A Lake County jury placed the blame for the crash on a Waukegan policeman.
$2 Million — GWC partner, Lawrence Ruder, secured a $2,000,000 Will County settlement for a 20 year old that lost his arm in an automobile crash.
$2 Million — Carpenter. Suffered a leg injury.
$1.5 Million — Carpenter. Suffered a hip fracture and psychological injury after a 15-foot fall when both the ladder and scaffold he was using on a job flipped over.
$1.5 Million — Female Office Worker. Suffered initial hip and lower back injuries and developed a debilitating muscle disease (fibromyalgia) over a seven-year period after she fell off an improperly assembled chair at work.
$1.35 Million — Retired Man. Fatal accident as defendant was waiting in the middle of a street for traffic to clear and a truck, which had been parked, backed over him. This was one of the largest settlements of its kind considering the defendant’s advanced age, that he was retired and that there was no probable conscious pain or suffering.
$1.28 Million — Plumber. Suffered a knee fracture and artery damage in his leg when he was struck by a 500-pound steel duct that came loose from its bracing. A suit was filed against the general contractor alleging that the steel duct had been inadequately braced.
$1.22 Million — Female Pipe fitter. Suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and physical injury to her knee when a 32-foot-high brick wall collapsed. Arriving on-site within one day of the collapse before the debris could be disturbed was key to GWC developing the case that resulted in this settlement.
$1.2 Million — Ironworker. Suffered an ankle fracture when he fell from a ladder that was too short for the job. Initially offered only $40,000 to settle, GWC prepared its legal forces and went to trial to secure this settlement.
$1.14 Million — Carpenter. Suffered fractures to his heels and was off work for more than a year after a 30-foot fall when temporary wooden planking broke. A lab study revealed that powder post beetles had weakened the planking.
$1.2 Million — Sprinkler Fitter. Suffered a 30-foot fall on a job site that result in serious injury. The defendant and his legal team rejected a pre-trial settlement offer of $25,000. A third-party civil action against the contractors at the site for negligence was successfully tried.
$1.11 Million — Pipe Fitter. Suffered a back injury.
$1 Million — Iron Worker. Suffered serious injury when the platform of a scissors lift detached from its support arm and fell, crashing into him.
$1 Million — Operating Engineer. Lost his hand while attempting to clean the rollers on a mobile conveyor. The manufacturer was sued for designing the equipment without a safe means for cleaning the rollers.
$1 Million — Woman. Fatal accident occurred when she encountered a gap at the edge of the road due to faulty road construction and barricading, causing two of her tires to blow out and her car to flip over.
$1 Million — Mother. Suffered neck and shoulder injuries requiring a series of surgeries after being rear-ended by an uninsured motorist. Lengthy arbitration was required to secure this settlement.
This list consists of numerous cases where GWC lawyers represented clients for the injuries briefly described. There is no guarantee that similar injuries or similar incidents will produce the same type of results as referenced herein. Every case must be evaluated and handled based upon its own facts, evidence and injuries.
Some of the listed case results include post-judgment interest that was paid to our clients after GWC successfully prevailed on appeals that were filed by insurance company lawyers following jury trial awards that we won for our injury clients.
Competent legal representation from an experienced trial attorney is the best way to maximize the value of your case.
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