Fighting Hate Since 1970: Morris Dees is Honored by Chicago’s Decalogue Society of Lawyers

Morris Dees, the co-founder and lawyer of the Southern Poverty Law Center, was honored at the Union League Club of Chicago by the Decalogue Society of Lawyers. The event held on March 2, 2010 at the Union League Club of Chicago was attended by Cook County judges, elected officials and members of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, the Union League Club of Chicago and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The Decalogue Merit Award was awarded to Mr. Dees for his tireless work in fighting hate groups ranging from the Klu Klux Klan to the White Aryan Resistance. Mr. Dees was responsible for numerous victories against hate groups, including a $6 million judgment that bankrupt the Aryan nations, a $12.5 million jury verdict against the California-based White Aryan Resistance for the death of a black student, and a $26 million verdict against the Carolina Klan for burning black churches.

However, these victories did not come without a price. In 1983, the Klansman burned the Southern Poverty Law Center's offices. And while the arsonists were convicted, their leader almost successfully fulfilled a plot to kill Mr. Dees. Over the years, more than 30 men have been imprisoned for plots to harm Morris Dees or destroy the Southern Poverty Law Center property. This continued threat requires a high degree of security during public appearances.

Wyeth v. Levine Used to Reverse Pre-Emption of Chicago Pharmaceutical Litigation Case Against Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK)

An Illinois prescription drug case that originally had been dismissed due to issues of federal preemption, has been reinstated by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. This case, Mason v. SmithKline Beecham Corp. d/b/a Glaxo SmithKline, No. 08-2265, may be the first decision that addresses preemption with respect to prescription drugs.

The original Illinois prescription drug lawsuit was brought by the parents of 23 year-old Tricia Mason after she committed suicide just two days after being started on the prescription drug Paxil. The Illinois prescription drug lawsuit alleged that Paxil increases the risk in suicide in children and young adult, which the manufacturer should have known and therefore had a duty to warn its users.

The lawsuit alleged that GSK violated Illinois law by choosing not to warn Tricia Mason on its label that Paxil increases the risk of suicide for children and young adults. Two years after the decedent's suicide, Paxil added a label warning of an increased risk of suicide among children taking the drug.

Fatal Chicago Bus Accident Reaches Settlement in Wrongful Death Case

While crossing a Chicago west side intersection with her sister, an 18-year-old woman was struck by a bus. The woman’s estate filed suit against the bus driver and the private bus company for the wrongful death of the decedent.

In any wrongful death case certain criteria must be met. Negligence must be established on behalf of the defendant and the death must be determined to be the result of the defendant’s actions. Furthermore, if the decedent left behind dependents and the dependents suffered monetary damages as a result of the death, then a wrongful death case may be filed.

After the Chicago bus accident, the decedent required life support for about five months before her death. She was survived by six siblings.

Fatal Chicago Bus Accident Reaches Settlement in Wrongful Death Case

While crossing a Chicago west side intersection with her sister, an 18-year-old woman was struck by a bus. The woman’s estate filed suit against the bus driver and the private bus company for the wrongful death of the decedent. It is the driver of any vehicle to exercise due care while crossing an intersection and to be cautious and mindful of any pedestrians attempting to cross the street.

In any wrongful death case certain criteria must be met. Negligence must be established on behalf of the defendant and the death must be determined to be the result of the defendant’s actions. Furthermore, if the decedent left behind dependents and the dependents suffered monetary damages as a result of the death, then a wrongful death case may be filed.

After the Chicago bus accident, the decedent required life support for about five months before her death. She was survived by six siblings.

Fatal Chicago Bus Accident Reaches Settlement in Wrongful Death Case

While crossing a Chicago west side intersection with her sister, an 18-year-old woman was struck by a bus. The woman’s estate filed suit against the bus driver and the private bus company for the wrongful death of the decedent.

In any wrongful death case certain criteria must be met. Negligence must be established on behalf of the defendant and the death must be determined to be the result of the defendant’s actions. Furthermore, if the decedent left behind dependents and the dependents suffered monetary damages as a result of the death, then a wrongful death case may be filed.

In Illinois, and in many other states, a pedestrian in the crosswalk always has the right of way. This means that drivers must always stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, even if the light is red and the pedestrian is walking against the light. Therefore, it is important that the driver of any vehicle exercise due care while crossing an intersection and be cautious and mindful of any pedestrians attempting to cross the street.

Illinois Chemical Accident at Construction Site Leads to Worker’s Death: Illinois Jury Finds For Worker’s Estate

Illinois construction companies have an obligation to provide a safe work environment for their employees and do what they can to avoid Illinois construction site accidents. Because of this duty on the part of construction companies, Illinois construction workers can generally assume that the equipment and materials at a construction site are safe and hazard-free.

However, sometimes this is not the reality, in which case an Illinois construction site injury can result from the failure of a construction company to provide a safe and healthy work environment. Consider the case of Diaz v. Archer Daniels Midland Company, 07 L 142 (Ill., Macon County), in which a 26 year-old construction worker was fatally injured as a result of an Illinois construction site accident.

At the time of his Illinois construction site injury, Francisco Garcia was working for a contractor who had been hired to perform work at the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Bioproducts plant. Garcia was busy insulating pipes 15 feet in the air while harnessed to a scissors lift. While Garcia was working, a nearby waste compression system over-pressurized, spraying him with scalding steam, toxic chemicals and boiling water.

Union League Club of Chicago’s Civic & Arts Foundation Hosts 2010 Jazz Competition at Buddy Guy’s Legends

The Union League Club of Chicago’s Civic & Arts Foundation hosted the 2010 jazz improvisation competition at Buddy Guy's Legends on February 17, 2010. From high school kids to semi-professionals beginning to make a splash on the Chicago jazz scene, the breadth of talent exhibited at Buddy Guy's Legends was incredible.

At the competition, twelve performers ranging in age from 14-27 competed for a total of $17,000 in prize money. And although this was a competition for a cash prize, it was also a safe venue for emerging young musicians to showcase their unbelievable talents.

The competing performers were divided into three divisions according to their age. The first division included the 14 to 17 year-old musicians, second the 18 to 22 year-olds, and the last the 23 to 27 year-old musicians. One of the divisions' first place winners received a Grand Prize, while two other winners received People's Choice Awards that the live audience voted on by submitting ballots.

Union League Club of Chicago’s Civic & Arts Foundation Hosts 2010 Jazz Competition at Buddy Guy’s Legends

The Union League Club of Chicago’s Civic & Arts Foundation hosted the 2010 jazz improvisation competition at Buddy Guy's Legends on February 17, 2010. From high school kids to semi-professionals beginning to make a splash on the Chicago jazz scene, the breadth of talent exhibited at Buddy Guy's Legends was incredible.

At the competition, twelve performers ranging in age from 14 to 27 competed for a total of $17,000 in prize money. And although this was a competition for a cash prize, it was also a safe venue for emerging young musicians to showcase their unbelievable talents.

The competing performers were divided into three divisions according to their age. The first division included the 14 to 17 year-old musicians, second the 18 to 22 year-olds, and the last the 23 to 27 year-old musicians. One of the divisions' first place winners received a Grand Prize, while two other winners received People's Choice Awards that the live audience voted on by submitting ballots.

Kane County, Illinois Nursing Home Resident Settles After a Below the Knee Leg Amputation

A recent Illinois nursing home negligence settlement highlights one of the biggest problems plaguing nursing home residents - inadequate skin care. Many nursing home residents are bedridden and require careful monitoring and stringent skin care plans in order to avoid developing skin ulcers, which if untreated can lead to infection or even death.

This case involved an Illinois nursing home resident at Provena Senior Services Nursing Home in Kane County, Illinois. In this Illinois nursing home abuse lawsuit, the nursing home resident was a diabetic patient, which left him even more at risk for potential skin breakdown if inadequate nursing care was provided. A diabetic patient is also more at risk for having a poor outcome if skin ulcers develop, which is also shown in this case where the skin ulcer worsened to the point that the nursing home resident required a below the knee amputation.

The Illinois nursing home negligence lawsuit alleged that the nursing staff had failed to maintain adequate skin care, which resulted in the development of a skin ulcer. However, the defendant nursing home denied that it had caused the skin ulcer to develop.

Kane County, Illinois Nursing Home Resident Settles After a Below the Knee Leg Amputation

A recent Illinois nursing home negligence settlement highlights one of the biggest problems plaguing nursing home residents - inadequate skin care. Many nursing home residents are bedridden and require careful monitoring and stringent skin care plans in order to avoid developing skin ulcers, which if untreated can lead to infection or even death.

This case involved an Illinois nursing home resident at Provena Senior Services Nursing Home in Kane County, Illinois. In this Illinois nursing home abuse lawsuit, the nursing home resident was a diabetic patient, which left him even more at risk for potential skin breakdown if inadequate nursing care was provided. A diabetic patient is also more at risk for having a poor outcome if skin ulcers develop, which is also shown in this case where the skin ulcer worsened to the point that the nursing home resident required a below the knee amputation.

The Illinois nursing home negligence lawsuit alleged that the nursing staff had failed to maintain adequate skin care, which resulted in the development of a skin ulcer. However, the defendant nursing home denied that it had caused the skin ulcer to develop.

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