$2.9 Million Verdict – Birth Injury

Attorneys Daniel E. O’Brien and Timothy M. Richardson - A Cook County jury awarded parents a $2.9 million verdict following the intrauterine death of their baby girl. The defendant nurses failed to alert a doctor even though the mother showed signs and symptoms of a uterine rupture while in the hospital. The mother’s condition progressively worsened for eight hours, but the nurses did not take action and did not check the mother’s vital signs for three of those hours. When the nurses finally alerted a doctor, the doctor initiated an emergency C-section within five minutes but found the mother’s uterus had ruptured, and the baby girl had passed away.

Report Of Settlement—nursing Home Neglect: $3,475,000.00

Daniel E. O’Brien and Timothy M. Richardson finalized a $3,475,000.00 settlement for nursing home neglect

Cook County - June 2, 2021

On June 2, 2021, Daniel E. O’Brien and Timothy M. Richardson finalized a $3,475,000.00 settlement on behalf of the Estate of a twenty-nine year old female disabled resident who died as a result of hanging by per purse strap that was negligently wrapped around her wheelchair handle. Daniel O’Brien, who took the majority of depositions in the matter, stated that the case clearly involved an avoidable tragedy that would not have happened if proper supervision and safety checks were implemented in accordance with Illinois Rules, Regulations and Administrative Codes. The case was settled against a confidential suburban developmental disability housing facility for adults.

On April 18, 2017, 29 year old mentally disabled female resident was found by staff hanging by her purse strap from her wheelchair. The records indicated that the resident had three prior episodes of sliding out of her wheelchair and falling on the floor. The nursing home failed to provide her the wheelchair that was specifically fitted to her to compensate for her disabilities. On the date of the incident, the disabled resident was allowed to remain in her room for hours after being placed there by a staff member without proper supervision and adequate safety checks. Additionally, staff allowed resident to keep her purse around her shoulder when she was wheeled into her room after dinner and left her unsupervised. Allegedly, resident slid out of her wheelchair again as her purse strap was caught around the wheelchair handle and her neck. This resulted in acute asphyxiation and death by hanging. The resident was survived by her 69 year old mother. Mr. Richardson advised that the treating pathologist testified that the disabled resident likely suffered one minute of conscious pain and suffering based on physical bruises and laboratory studies.

$11 Million Settlement - Birth Injury

Cook County - November 2003

Attorneys Timothy Richardson and Paul Salzetta - In November of 2003, a 38-week-old baby girl was born at Chicago area hospital with neonatal depression (Apgars of 3 and 5). No arterial cord gas was obtained. The plaintiff alleged the labor and delivery team negligently monitored the fetal heart tracings, failed to properly interpret the fetal heart tracings, and improperly continued with the administration of Pitocin in the presence of non-reassuring tracings and uterine hyperstimulation.

Winters Salzetta O'Brien & Richardson, LLC Obtains $750,000 Settlement for Spine Injuries

Cook County - January 17, 2020

Attorney Timothy Richardson recently obtained a large settlement for a woman who suffered a serious spine injury in a car accident. Our client, a 43-year-old part-time teacher, was T-boned by an employee of a telecommunications company who failed to stop at a stop sign. The collision, which took place in September 2016 in Will County, resulted in an aggravation of her pre-existing spondylosis, a degenerative spinal condition involving bone spurs, degenerative discs between spinal vertebrae, and osteoarthritis. Due to these injuries, she required spinal surgery (anterior discectomy with fusion) nearly two years later in August 2018.

Mr. Richardson sought to hold the telecommunications company responsible for the injuries caused by their employee. While the defendant claimed that our client's surgery was unrelated to the accident, since she had seen a doctor for her cervical spine condition in the week before the accident, and surgery was recommended before the accident took place, they agreed to pay a settlement of $750,000.

About Winters Salzetta O’Brien & Richardson, LLC:

The Chicago law firm of Winters Salzetta O'Brien & Richardson, LLC is one of the premier personal injury firms in Illinois. Our attorneys have been recognized by our peers for providing outstanding legal representation for clients injured by car accidents, medical negligence, workplace accidents, premises liability, nursing home abuse or neglect, and wrongful death. To learn more about our services or to arrange a complimentary consultation, call our office at 312-236-6324 or contact us online.