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As more details emerge from the investigation into the duck boat that sank near Branson, Missouri, Thursday (July 19, 2018), experts are more carefully examining the weather conditions that day and any safety procedures that might have been followed on the amphibious vessel before leaving on its tourist run. The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Table Rock Lake area from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and about a…

A duck boat carrying 31 people sank in a storm while they were on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri, on the evening of Thursday, July 19th. The boat capsized then sunk to the bottom of the lake, killing 17 people on board, reportedly even small children. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating whether life jackets were on board and used. Investigators also are looking into whether warnings about the weather were ignored…

With summer upon us, that means that amusement park rides are in full swing. But with that sometimes comes word of horrible incidents that injure or even kill unsuspecting ride goers who went to the park for some fun. That just occurred in mid-June when a roller coaster derailed in Daytona Beach, Florida, leaving six people injured. Two riders reportedly fell about 34 feet and four more who were dangling following the malfunction were sent…

The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF) has been dedicated for the last 70 years to bringing Chicago’s legal community together to improve access to justice for people in need and to make the legal system more fair for everyone. The CBF is the charitable arm of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA). Last week, more than 700 people gathered at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago to honor those who have worked hard to bridging the gap in…

A medical helicopter reportedly crashed on Chicago’s South Side Saturday (July 7, 2018) about 9:15 p.m., injuring four people, including a patient in critical condition who was on board. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are looking into the crash that occurred in a grassy area just off where Interstate 94 and Interstate 57 merge near Chicago’s Fernwood neighborhood. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified. Chicago Fire Deputy District Chief Walter…

A sobering statistic recently was released by the International Transport Forum: the United States leads the world in increased traffic deaths with a primary cause believed to be distracted driving. According to the new study of 29 nations, only five of the countries saw an increase between 2010-2016. The U.S., which jumped 13.5 percent in this period, was ahead of Argentina that experienced a 9 percent increase, followed by Chile that experienced a 5 percent…

Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices, along with Patrick Fitzgerald of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Zachary Fardon, Managing Partner at King & Spalding, and Emily Nicklin of Kirkland & Ellis, have been selected as co-chairs of the 200th Anniversary Fundraising Committee of the Northern District of Illinois. Sponsored by the not-for-profit Northern District of Illinois Court Historical Association, the festivities are expected to take place in March, 2019,…

Charles Haskins’ favorite fictional legal character is lawyer and former district attorney Paul Biegler (played by James Stewart) from the movie Anatomy of a Murder. Charles’ favorite line from the movie came from Paul Biegler’s colleague, Parnell Emmett McCarthy, who drunkenly states on juries: “Twelve people go off into a room: twelve different minds, twelve different hearts, from twelve different walks of life; twelve sets of eyes, ears, shapes, and sizes. And these twelve people…

“Drones are here to stay,” Robert A. Clifford says in his July Chicago Lawyer column. In examining the law on drones, Clifford looks at what the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Congress have been doing to try to control hazardous incidents involving these popular devices. To learn more, read his column here.