The family of Rekia Boyd, a 22-year old woman who was shot and killed by an off-duty officer with the Chicago Police, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city.

Boyd was shot in the head by a detective and died the next day from her injuries. Her family claims that the off-duty police detective had no reason to fire at Boyd, who was unarmed.

The detective, Dante Servin, said he lowered his window to investigate a disturbance in the neighborhood of Lawndale in Chicago. He said a man named Anthony Cross approached his car holding a handgun. Police said Cross pointed the handgun at Servin and the detective fired in self defense, hitting Boyd in the head and Cross in the hand.

According to the wrongful death lawsuit against the city, neither Boyd nor any of her companions that night were armed and Boyd herself posed no threat to the officer.

Servin, on the other hand, had a bad reputation in the neighborhood for being unnecessarily aggressive in dealing with the community’s residents, according to the suit.

Cross told WGN News that he was talking on his mobile phone and walking near the car when the officer began to fire out the window. Cross maintains he was unarmed and an Independent Police Review Authority investigation found no weapon at the scene. Cross told WGN it is unlikely that Servin thought his phone was a gun since he was holding it to his ear and talking.

Boyd’s family members have talked freely to media outlets about the suit. One of her brothers told a Huffington Post reporter that Servin also lives in the community and had been overheard speculating that he may have to shoot someone in order to command the respect he thought he was due in the neighborhood.

Family members and other witnesses also have been telling the media they believe Servin, who was off duty when the shooting occurred, may have been intoxicated at the time.

The review authority investigating the incident is led by Ilana Rosenzweig. Rosenzweig told the Huffington Post that the investigation is ongoing.

Contact a Chicago wrongful death attorney and Chicago wrongful death lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878.

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As recent tragic train accidents fade from memory and passenger rail enjoys an upswing in popularity, some groups are trying to delay regulations that are meant to increase rail travel safety.

Amtrak’s passenger numbers are up, for example, between Chicago and Milwaukee. Across the country, Amtrak carried a record 30.2 million passengers in 2011. Railroad companies are expected to spend billions of dollars in 2012 to expand and upgrade the country’s network of tracks, according to the Association of American Railroads.

However, the implementation of key safety measures, which were passed into law four years ago after a train accident killed 25 in California, could be delayed. Railroads are required to install Positive Train Control by 2015. The track technology forces trains to slow when human error has them on a collision course. Crash investigators believe PTC would have prevented more than 20 train accidents since 2001.

PTC supporters say it saves lives and protects passengers and communities. PTC critics are generally opposed to regulation of a private industry and consider much of this mandate to be legislative overreach. The railroad industry is pushing to scale back the provisions of the 2015 mandate.

Chicago accident attorney Robert Briskman upholds the rights of those who are hurt from train accidents. To learn more, call 877-595-HURT (4878) or visit more of http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com.

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Carl Bonner Sr. went to the Granite Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in January of 2010 with a brain injury that caused him to lose his balance and fall. When he died eight months later of head injuries he sustained from repeated falls at the nursing home, his family filed a wrongful death suit with the Madison County Circuit Court against his caregivers.

The complaint accuses the Granite City nursing home of failing to properly care for Bonner Sr. by allowing him to fall multiple times. Meredith Bonner is the executor of Bonner Sr.’s estate and she filed the wrongful death lawsuit. She claims the staff was made aware of Bonner Sr.’s falling issues since he sustained brain trauma in a fall. Following his initial injury, Bonner Sr. fell frequently.

In the claim, Meredith Bonner asserts that the staff and management at the nursing home knew Bonner Sr. had a high likelihood of falling again, but did not provide him proper assistance and supervision. As a result, Bonner Sr. fell repeatedly while at the nursing home, according to the complaint. In July of 2010, just six months after arriving at Granite Nursing Home, Bonner Sr. suffered a severe head injury in a fall and was taken to Gateway Regional Medical Center.

Blunt force trauma to Bonner Sr.’s head while in the care of the nursing home led to swelling and bleeding in his brain, according to the complaint. He died in the hospital in early August. Meredith Bonner asserts in the complaint that it was the nursing home’s carelessness and negligence that led to Bonner Sr.’s death.

She claims the nursing home did not keep close enough watch on Bonner Sr. and failed to notice his injuries or treat them in a timely manner. Meredith Bonner expected more from the Granite City Nursing Home. She expected the staff would listen to her family as they explained Bonner Sr.’s abilities and challenges. She expected the staff to do their own analysis of Bonner Sr.’s needs and then meet those needs. She expected the home to care for Bonner Sr. and instead she claims their negligence led to his death.

Medical and legal professionals suggest thoroughly understanding what the nursing home offers and to set expectations in writing. Different elder care companies offer various levels of health care and observation of clients. Families leaving loved ones in the care of a professional elder care home need to understand the nursing home option they have chosen and what it offers.

Families with loved ones who have been injured or neglected have a right to seek compensation for health care costs and lost wages because of time spent addressing the home’s neglect.

Paul Greenberg is a Chicago wrongful death attorney and Chicago wrongful death lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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There is evidence that shows the pain medication Dilaudid is being prescribed incorrectly and leading to overdoses and even addiction problems.

If physicians and medical professionals are getting the dosage wrong on Dilaudid, it might be because it is three to five times more potent than morphine. Dosing guidelines changed about eight years ago, but the drug is still being prescribed at the wrong dosage, according to Outpatient Surgery Magazine.

Pain management has become one of the more challenging aspects of the medical field and getting it wrong can create a host of new problems. “Overdosing has been complicated by an apparent lack of understanding by some physicians and nurses of what represents a safe dose,” wrote Dr. Howard Marcus in the December 2011 issue of the magazine. The drug also can create problems for people using other central nervous system depressants or alcohol, he wrote.

Patients with other health issues could also be at risk if they are given Dilaudid for pain management. Patients with sleep apnea, kidney disease or congestive heart failure all can have unintended reactions with Dilaudid, he noted.

A woman in New Mexico is suing a hospital because she had a dangerous reaction to DIlaudid while being treated for severe abdominal pain. The woman was obese and suffered from sleep apnea. She had a seizure during her sleep in the hospital and nurses barely made it in time to save her, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. The complaint alleged that the hospital did not adequately train its staff to monitor patients taking Dilaudid.

The drug is a hydromorphone painkiller used for moderate to severe pain. Dilaudid is a semi-synthetic derivative of morphine and is classified as both a narcotic and an opiate, according to the Promises Treatment Centers website. Doctors prescribe it as an alternative to morphine because it has fewer side-effects, but since it is considerably stronger, there is a potential for abuse.

Doctors commonly order a Dilaudid at a rate of one to four milligram IV, according to Dr. Marcus. That order is similar to eight to 32 milligrams of morphine. After dosing recommendations changed, the new Dilaudid dosages should be 0.2 to 0.6 milligrams every two to three hours.

One large hospital group stopped using other narcotics and started using Dilaudid exclusively with tight controls. By removing meperidine/promethazine, which is no longer a first-line analgesic, the hospital’s staff was required to keep track of fewer types of drugs, dosages, side effects and uses, according to Dr. Marcus. This resulted in lowering the risk of respiratory depression as a result of narcotics.

Families of patients who suspect they have been injured or killed as a result of getting the wrong dose of Dilaudid can contact an attorney who specializes in personal injury and wrongful death.

Robert Briskman is a Chicago wrongful death attorney and Chicago wrongful death lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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Big rig truckers often feel the pressure to get to their destination ahead of time with the goods and supplies they are entrusted with. It takes quite a bit of teamwork for each driver to accomplish their daily goals. Staying in touch with trucking headquarters for any dispatches and changes, accounting for traffic or road concerns, and keeping their semi-trailers in working order takes constant effort and awareness of everything going on around them.

Truckers might view their cell phones as essential to keep them on track and entertained, but drivers should know that distracted driving – especially in a big rig – can cause a deadly accident. The latest data from the Department of Transportation shows that distracted driving killed 9,000 people and injured 500,000 other individuals. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and its Operation Safe Driver initiative want big rig drivers to remember that, “At 55 miles per hour, a three-second glance at a cell phone, messaging device, or instrument panel will result in the vehicle moving nearly 250 feet down the road – almost the length of a football field.”

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg’s team of Chicago truck accident attorneys represents big rig drivers and passenger car drivers and their riders in Illinois collisions. To learn more, call 877-595-HURT (4878) or visit more of http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com.

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A roofer working on a building on West Superior Street became tangled in ropes as he was being lowered. Authorities said his chest was crushed, and he passed away at Northwestern Memorial Hospital within a few hours. Construction workers, especially roofers, encounter many serious hazards that can cause an injury or death. Improper safety systems and lack of training means that roofers must be mindful of the risk of falling when they go to the jobsite.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) notes that the number one cause of death for construction workers are falls. Unprotected edges should have either a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest system. Roofs with hazardous surfaces, such as those with skylights, must be roped off. An average of 540 workers dies every year from falling off buildings, ladders, or scaffolds. Employers must maintain safe hoists, ropes, and auxiliary equipment and have guidelines to conduct periodic inspections of equipment.

At a minimum, employers must address each of these potential hazards:
- Do hoists have limit devices to ensure safety?
- Are weight loads for hoists marked for the operator?
- Are hoist controls visibly marked?
- Do hoists have working warning devices?
- Are hoist ropes maintained at proper length for full range of movement?
- Are contact points between ropes guarded?
- Are kinked ropes or substitutes discarded?
- Are only trained employees allowed to use hazardous equipment?

NIOSH also recommends that employers train workers to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions and have a safety supervisor inspect equipment before use. Checking for wear and tear and other conditions that could make the items faulty is crucial. With safety training, each worker should understand their role in monitoring for hazards as they complete their work. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) mandates that employers provide safety training and keep a log of the dates that workers are certified. Retraining is highly advised. In late August the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hosted a “Prevention Through Design” conference to address workplace safety and design methods to prevent worker injuries and death.

An individual has a right to seek legal action if their employer or a third party causes the workplace accident. An employer who is negligent or careless or a manufacturer who sells a faulty part or piece of equipment can be charged with the injury or death. The Chicago wrongful death lawyer Robert I. Briskman, Esq. will take action to pursue compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and other costs. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is a respected law firm known for getting their clients results. Their team of Chicago wrongful death attorneys will help your family with all the legal challenges so you can focus on spending time with your loved ones. To learn more, visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com or call 877-595-HURT (4878).

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg
351 West Hubbard Street, Ste 810
Chicago, IL 60654

Robert Briskman is a Chicago wrongful death attorney and Chicago wrongful death lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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A defective aircraft and wrongful death lawsuit will continue court proceedings in Illinois, ruled the Appellate Court of Illinois, First Judicial District, Sixth Division. Michael Russell flew an emergency medical service helicopter for Air Angels, Inc. throughout Cook County.

He died when the aircraft he was piloting crashed. His family subsequently discovered that one of the helicopter’s drive-shaft bearings fractured, causing the tail rotor not to work. A French company, SNFA, made the allegedly defective part, and unsuccessfully tried to keep the case out of Illinois courts.

SNFA makes custom tail rotor and aerospace bearings, and in America supplies aerospace parts to companies such as Hamilton Sundstrand, Honeywell, and the jet-engine division of Rolls Royce. The helicopter Russell flew was an A 109 helicopter by Agusta S.p.A made in 1989 and owned by the Air Angels since April of 2002. The original bearings were replaced in 1998 and again in 2002, with SNFA supplying the replacement parts.

Air Angels’ crew of pilots, nurses, and paramedics transported thousands of patients to healthcare centers throughout Illinois and Indiana. Over the last few years, they have experienced financial and other legal troubles that have caused them to cease operations in Illinois. Russell’s deadly flight was to be his last day on the job due to maintenance concerns he had with the helicopters. Over the years, he expressed concerns to his wife Gloria that “his radio had quit several times during flights, forcing him to use a cell phone instead. The heater frequently didn’t work, either. He also had found nuts and bolts lying around the helicopter,” she recalled.

Russell was an experienced pilot, with close to 12,000 logged hours in planes and helicopters, and was awarded a Purple Heart from the Army after being shot down several times in the Vietnam War in a helicopter. The crash with Air Angels seemed odd to his wife as he crashed after a routine refueling at DuPage Airport.

“He told me that if anyone ever called me and told me that he had died in a helicopter crash, to make sure it was investigated fully, because there was no way he would ever die in a helicopter crash unless it was mechanical failure and something he couldn’t control,” his wife said.

“It is so tragic for a family to lose a loved one due to someone’s carelessness, especially when it’s possible that the accident could have been avoided,” said Chicago wrongful death attorney and SuperLawyer Paul A. Greenberg, Esq. “A victim has the right to take legal action to determine who was careless or negligent.”

The experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg help families get fair compensation after a loved one has wrongfully died. They are experts at guiding their clients to recover financial losses, funeral expenses, and other costs incurred. All wrongful death cases are handled on a contingency basis, so there are no fees unless the case is successful.

To learn more, visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com or call 877-595-HURT (4878).

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In May, a charter bus driver struck and killed Justyna Palka, a young woman who was walking in a downtown Chicago crosswalk and had the right of way. She was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Palka, who previously graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2009, contributed to the Chicago area while working as a graphic designer at Ogilvy & Mather.

The charter bus driver had no passengers in the bus when he hit her but had cocaine and alcohol in his system. David Soto, the 47-year-old bus driver, was arrested. During their investigation, the police found that Soto was being investigated for sexual assault and had two previous prison convictions for attempted rape and aggravated battery.

Added to that, he had 20 driving infractions from the 1988 to 2008. Also, his commercial driver’s license was suspended in August 2008 for speeding and driving without insurance. As a result, he had to get high-risk insurance to drive.

Pontarelli Group Charter, the bus charter company, alleges that they did not know of Soto’s criminal history or his cocaine and alcohol use. Palka’s parents are pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against the charter bus company, alleging they should have done routine criminal and background checks as well as drug and alcohol tests.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that charter bus companies should have a driver drug and alcohol testing policy that meets their regulations. Per the DOT’s SAFER website, Pontarelli Group Charter has nine vehicles and 10 employed drivers. The DOT advises that an employer must at least test 10 percent of its drivers randomly for alcohol and 50 percent of drivers for drugs. The employer must also have a drug and alcohol misuse prevention program, and the FMCSA can inspect this program and the testing results.

In 2009, the latest year that statistics can be obtained, more than 4,000 pedestrians were killed by an automobile nationally. In Illinois, 111 pedestrians were killed. In dense, urban areas such as Chicago, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists need to be extra cautious because of all the distractions happening.

When a life is taken, families have the right to seek justice and pursue a wrongful death lawsuit for their loved one. A Chicago wrongful death lawyer can help a family get compensation for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and other costs. They can focus on handling the legal issues so that the family can spend time with their relatives and friends as they get through this tough time. Chicago wrongful death attorney and SuperLawyer Paul A. Greenberg, Esq. has years of experience handling these complex lawsuits. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is a family-oriented law firm that is successful in representing families against those who are careless and negligent.

Paul Greenberg is a Chicago wrongful death attorney and Chicago wrongful death lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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Chicago, Ill. – The death of a Chicago ironworker has affected his family and the International Ironworkers Union. In February, Kenneth Puplava was hit by a metal beam while working at the site of a new medical building at Glenbrook Hospital. The construction project is a part of the hospital’s $100 million expansion that includes a new emergency room, and expanded radiology and cancer treatment facilities.

Pepper Construction Company and the LeJeune steel company have been charged with maintaining unsafe working conditions and defective welds, and causing the collapse that killed the worker. Puplava worked as a subcontractor for Pepper Construction and had been a part of Ironworkers Union at the Local 1 division in Chicago for 12 years.

Three months ago, Pepper Construction was also charged with the death of a hospital housekeeping worker in Libertyville, Ill. The employee died after drywall collapsed on her, pinning her to the ground. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Chicago has begun investigating both incidences involving Pepper Construction.

“Even though construction and steelwork can be a very demanding job, employers are still obligated to provide safe conditions, proper equipment and parts,” said Chicago wrongful death attorney Paul A. Greenberg, of Briskman Briskman & Greenberg.

Companies have a duty to their workers to provide jobsite safety, warnings about inclement weather conditions, and proper supervision to prevent accidents and fatalities. When these important obligations are ignored or dismissed, individuals and their loved ones can take legal action. In a wrongful death lawsuit, they can seek to get adequate compensation for loss of companionship, direct expenses such as medical bills and funeral costs, and loss of benefits and future earnings. In addition to seeking compensatory damages, a wrongful death lawsuit can also assert a claim for punitive damages. These damages, which are meant to punish a defendant, can be effective in preventing future injuries and deaths by forcing a construction company to correct its unsafe practices.

The law firm of Briskman Briskman & Greenberg has decades of experience fighting big businesses and construction firms in wrongful death lawsuits. Their leading Chicago wrongful death lawyer Paul Greenberg recently was named a 2011 SuperLawyer for his professional achievements, high ethical standards, and peer recognition. The firm is accomplished in negotiations and lawsuits involving scaffolding, ladder, and crane accidents as well as falling from roofs and falling objects.

“We are not afraid to take on complex cases and fight for your rights,” Greenberg said. “We treat you like a part of our family, and give your case the attention it deserves.”

To learn more, visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com or call 877-595-HURT (4878)

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg
351 West Hubbard Street, Ste 810
Chicago, IL 60654

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