On Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, Clifford Law Offices filed two more lawsuits against the CTA, now totaling four, in the crash of a commuter train on the Yellow Line on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 16.
Joseph T. Murphy, partner at Clifford Law Offices, filed the cases on behalf of Alishan Zaidi, 19, seated in the first car, and Zubair Hussain, who struck his head and was rendered unconscious at the scene and remained in the hospital for three days. Both are from the Chicago area and were taken by ambulance to local hospitals.
Early National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports stated that a “design flaw” may have caused the tragedy that left 38 people injured. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters at the scene that the train in question was using an old braking system that was designed to stop, but it failed.
“This type of crash was completely preventable,” Murphy said. “This is a catastrophic failure on the part of the CTA to crash into a snow plow on the same tracks going in the same direction on a sunny, warm day. Many questions need to be answered so commuter passengers know that it won’t happen again.”
The complaints were filed in Cook County Circuit Court and allege that the commuter train was operated negligently. The firm has filed numerous lawsuits in the past against the CTA for various injuries and deaths due to the CTA’s negligent or reckless conduct, including two other passengers injured in this collision.
For further information or to speak to Joseph Murphy, contact Communications Partner Pamela Sakowicz Menaker at 847-721-0909 (cell).