On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, Clifford Law Offices obtained a $21.5 million verdict on behalf of a south suburban family whose son drowned on a weekly trip to the Bridgeview Park District Pool four years ago.
The verdict is the highest for a drowning in the state of Illinois. It is also the highest in the state for the death of a minor excluding medical malpractice and child abuse cases.
The jury deliberated less than 90 minutes following the month-long trial.
“This is a terrible tragedy for the entire Duda family,” said Bradley M. Cosgrove, partner at Clifford Law Offices who led the trial before Cook County Circuit Court Judge Marguerite Quinn at the Daley Center. “Although no amount of money will bring back their little boy, the parents and his two siblings, including his twin sister, needed to have accountability. They needed justice and the jury found that here today.”
The parents of the boy emigrated from Poland to Chicago where they met, married and had three children. “These wonderful, hard-working people came to America to find a better life for their future children,” Cosgrove said. “Now they will have to live with this tragedy for the rest of their lives. They will never be the same.”
Charles R. Haskins and Tracy A. Brammeier, associates at Clifford Law Offices, assisted at trial at the Daley Center. The seven-man five- woman jury deliberated one hour and 20 minutes before reaching its verdict.
To read the full press release, click here.
For further information, please contact Clifford Law Offices Communications Partner Pamela Sakowicz Menaker at 847-721-0909.