CASE REPORT
(SLLL g/18) (3A) 15L-10163
SETTLEMENT: $35,000,000
PLTF ATTY(S): Robert A. Clifford, Kevin P. Durkin, Tracy A. Brammeier of Clifford Law Offices (Chicago, IL) On September 15, 2015, Caelen (22) was at the corner of South Ashland Avenue and West Roosevelt Road when a truck made a tight right turn and ran Caelen over and dragged her for 60 feet until a UIC security guard came to her aid. She suffered multiple pelvic fractures, a severely fractured ankle which requires her to use a walking boot and crutches and will likely require fusion, and deglov- ing of both legs resulting in severe disfigurement. Great West Casualty paid $1,000,000,National Interstate paid $4,000,000, Axis paid $5,000,000, American Guarantee and Liability paid $10,000,000, and North River paid $15,000,000 for Hub Group Trucking and driver. This settlement was featured in the February 27, 2018 edition of the CDLB. It is the highest Illinois pedestrian verdict or settle- ment reported.
Robert A. Clifford Robert A. Clifford is the founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices in Chicago, an internationally recognized plaintiffs’ trial firm that concentrates in aviation, transpor - tation, personal injury, medical negligence, product liability law, mass torts and class actions. Bob has represented those injured or killed in every major commercial airline crash in the U.S. in the last four decades. He is cur- rently Lead Counsel on behalf of families of the victims onboard the tragic Boeing crash of a 737 MAX-8 in Ethiopia in 2019, repre- senting 70 people on board. Bob served as the liaison counsel for the subrogation and business property damage claims that re- sulted from the tragic September 11, 2001 crashes at the World Trade Center in New York. He served as lead counsel in the nego- tiation and settlement of those claims that settled for $1.2 billion. In addition to practicing law, Bob is dedi- cated to the furtherance of the legal profes- sion and has been actively involved and held leadership roles with the American Bar As- sociation (Chair of the Section of Litigation and Chair of the ABA’s charitable arm, the Fund for Justice and Education), Chicago Bar Association (President), Chicago Inn of Court (President), American College of Trial Lawyers and Illinois Trial Lawyers Associa- tion (President).
Together, the lawyers at Clifford Law Offices represent hundreds of years of practice in the area of personal injury and wrongful death law, par- ticularly aviation and transportation litigation. Every member of the firm upholds the highest principles of the legal profession in placing the indi- vidual client first. The firm sets the standard for professional excellence. As a result of the litigation handled by Clifford Law Offices, many defec - tive products and dangerous practices have been changed or abandoned altogether.
JURY VERDICT REPORTER • 2022 ANNUAL TRIAL LAWYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS 69
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