In another Smith LaCien success, Brian LaCien obtained a verdict of $600,000 against the city of Chicago on behalf of a 73-year-old retired patrolman who fell on a broken sidewalk. The man sustained a spine injury that required surgery.
The case was heard in front of the Honorable Bridget J. Hughes, Cook County Law Division, Circuit Court of Cook County, and the verdict was reached on October 24, 2024, after only 75 minutes of deliberations. The evidence demonstrated that the sidewalk was broken for at least 12 years.
At trial, the Plaintiff maintained that, although he was aware of the existence of the defect near his home, he was distracted by a speeding vehicle at the time of his fall. The City of Chicago maintained that they received no notice of the broken sidewalk.
The Plaintiff sustained a spine injury as a result of the fall that required surgery. There was no formal settlement offer prior to nor during the trial. The City of Chicago wins a large majority of the sidewalk cases it tries. Smith LaCien is proud to have obtained justice for another deserving client.
