CASE REPORT
(RRR 37/2) PREMISES LIABILITY--TENANT ALLEGEDLY HURT IN APARTMENT CEILING COLLAPSE (7) Candace Poland v Crater & Crater Enterprises LLC, James Dawson 20L-10133 Tried Jul. 28-Aug. 3, 2023
VERDICT: Not Guilty
Adam K. Hanna Adam graduated from the University of Michigan in 1993 with a B.A. in Psycholo - gy. He graduated from the Indiana Univer - sity School of Law in 1996 with a J.D. Adam worked for Taylor Miller LLC from 1997 to 2012 representing defendants in motor vehi - cle accident personal injury lawsuits. Adam began working for Bruce Farrel Dorn & As - sociates in 2012 (now Michael D. Gallo & Associates) where he continues to practice today. He primarily represents defendants in motor vehicle accident and premises liabil - ity personal injury lawsuits. Adam has tried over 100 jury trials, successfully argued be - fore the Illinois Appellate Court, and is an Art of Litigation trial skills instructor.
JUDGE: John P. Kirby (IL Cook-Law)
PLTF ATTY(S) : Elise M. Blandin of Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates (Chicago, IL) DEMAND: none ASKED: $2,550,000 DEFT ATTY(S) : Adam K. Hanna of Yvonne M. Kaminski & Associates (Chicago, IL) for both defts (State Farm) OFFER: $14,000
PLTF MEDL: Dr. Chantal Tinfang (Family Practice)
DEFT EXPERT(S): Dr. Brian S. Clay (Rehab/Physical Medicine) for both defts
Pltf F-50 was a tenant at deft’s’ building located at 9678 S. Oglesby in Chicago. On October 31, 2018, the ceiling in her apartment collapsed and fell onto her, resulting in aggravation of her pre-existing lumbar disc disease. Pltf contended she had complained about water damage in the ceiling to deft landlord for sev- eral months prior to the occurrence, but the condition was not repaired until afterwards. The defense argued pltf failed to prove that she was struck by the collapsing ceiling and failed to prove her pre-existing condition was aggravated as a result of the collapse.resulting in aggravation of her pre-existing lumbar disc disease. Pltf contended she had complained about water damage in the ceiling to deft landlord for several months prior to the occurrence, but the condi- tion was not repaired until afterwards. The defense argued pltf failed to prove that she was struck by the collapsing ceiling and failed to prove her pre-existing condition was aggravated as a result of the collapse.
Michael D. Gallo & Associates is a part of the Employees of the Law Department for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.
JURY VERDICT REPORTER • 2024 ANNUAL TRIAL LAWYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS 19
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