Chicago Injury Lawyers Blog

Chicago Now is reporting that a lawsuit has been filed in Cook County Circuit Court against the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) for the death of a Cabrini-Green resident who fell to his death in an elevator shaft on Monday night.

The man, Clarence Allan Walker, lived at 365 W. Oak Street-- one of the two remaining Cabrini-Green Red buildings still standing. According to court documents, when he tried to use the elevator on Monday night, he "was caused to slip and fall to his death onto the bottom of the elevator shaft.” His wrongful death suit claims that the elevator failed to give service and had a history of poor maintenance and poor performance and that the CHA failed to inspect the elevator in accordance with the American National Elevator Safety Code

The lawsuit alleges two causes of action against the Housing Authority, and is asking for an amount in excess $50,000 for each.

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The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that on Friday, the Illinois Senate passed a bill protecting bowling alley owners from lawsuits by people who slip and fall because of going outside in their bowling shoes.

The bill, which is awaiting Gov. Quinn's approval, would allow owners to warn people through posted signs that bowling shoes should be worn only inside the bowling alley. That way, if bowlers venture outside and accumulate rain or snow on their shoes and then slip while bowling, alley owners wouldn't be held responsible.

According to lawmakers, the bill protects bowling alley owners from lawsuits from patrons who leave the alley to and return with wet feet, creating a hazard that could result in slips or falls. The bill doesn’t legislate away plaintiffs' rights to sue when a property owner is negligent though. Chicago store owners still must inspect their property for potential dangers and either fix a problem within a reasonable time period or warn the public of those defects.

Continue reading "Bill would make it harder for bowlers to sue for Chicago slip and falls " »