Chicago Injury Blog

We at Romanucci & Blandin were shocked to read in the Chicago Sun-Times that two-thirds of the state's same-day surgery centers inspected this past year were cited for violations which could expose patients to deadly bacteria and viruses.

Dangling masks, exposed hair and sinks with no hot water to clean medical instruments were among numerous situations recorded by inspectors at 14 of 21 centers that were inspected. All of the centers cited have subsequently corrected their problems, say state health officials. Thirty-six surgical centers still haven't been inspected since Illinois enacted in 2008 a tougher new approach.

It's a concern because same-day surgery centers are growing in number. The lower cost for some procedures compared to hospitals is a primary reason. But turnaround times between surgeries are often shorter, and that can lead to carelessness. Among situations that Illinois inspectors found were multi-dose vials of medication that were unlabeled, failing to ensure proper testing of sterilizers and contaminated instruments between placed on a table next to clean instruments. In one instance, state regulators closed down an eye surgery center for 45 minutes until unsafe instruments could be pulled from use.

Illinois state regulators are continuing to crack down since a 2008 hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas that was thought to have been caused by unsafe practices. The Sun-Times article, written by an Associated Press reporter, noted that a surgical center nurse, who has many other duties, often heads up infection control. At hospitals, there is typically one person in charge of infection control.

It is recommended that person using surgical centers check to make sure that the center is accredited. They can also contact the Illinois health department to see if any violations have been reported. Another option is to ask a nurse for his or her opinion about a specific center.

Stephan Blandin, a name partner in our personal injury law firm, has joined the Motorcycle Injury Trial Lawyers Association (MITLA).

The national association offers member-attorneys, who concentrate in working with motorcycle injury victims, with continuing legal education and networking opportunities. It also provides consumers with information about motorcycle riding and motorcycle injuries on its website, www.mitla.org.

Blandin joined the association because of his commitment to help better educate the public about the dangers of motorcycle riding. Our firm has a strong practice area representing the victims of motorcycle accidents.

Motorcycle injuries and deaths have increased each year since 1997, according to a nationwide study by an East Coast urban hospital. The research showed that head injuries were more likely in traffic accidents compared to non-traffic accidents and that broken legs were the most common injury sustained among hospitalized riders.

“The study proves that motorcycles are a risky ride,” said Blandin. “An earlier study showed that motorcyclists were 16 times more likely to die and four times more likely to be injured in a traffic crash than were passenger car occupants.”

Our firm provides fierce advocacy for clients who have suffered catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and workplace-related injuries. We have recovered more than $200 million for our clients, including a record $23 million medical malpractice verdict against a hospital and a record $17 million verdict against the city of Chicago.  Dozens of those verdicts and settlements were $1 million or higher.

Further information about our firm is available at www.rblaw.net or by calling 312-458-1000.

We agree with child safety advocates who have called for a stronger federal law to make agriculture jobs for youths safer.  But sadly, strengthened laws are too late to protect the two Whiteside County 14-year-old girls who suffered a wrongful death in a Whiteside County, Illinois, cornfield last week when they were electrocuted while detasseling corn. 

The Child Labor Coalition based in Washington, D.C., announced in June 2011 that it supported a bill introduced in the House to amend the Children’s Act for Responsible Employment (CARE Act).  Currently, the law permits young teens to work in cornfield at a younger age and for longer hours than other youths, though they are unable to work at jobs deemed “hazardous” such as driving a combine or working around stud horses.

The Fair Labor Standards Act became law in 1938, yet relatively few changes have been made since then. It is unconscionable to think that children in the U.S. can work in cornfields in unsafe conditions. The proposed law would require the U.S. secretary of labor to determine if specific farm tasks like detasseling corn are too dangerous for children as young as 14.

Detasseling corn is big business in Illinois. Each summer, thousands of teens go into the cornfields to perform a task which essentially prepares corn plants for cross pollination. The greatest threats typically are the heat and allergies, but last week’s tragic accident proves that serious injuries and even death can occur. Agriculture jobs are ranked as one of the three most dangerous industries in the U.S.

The accident is being investigated by OSHA, ComEd and the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department. The 81-year-old farmer who owns the land where the accident occurred believes that the deaths are related to a recent lighting strike to part of the electrical system linked to the irrigation equipment.

In the wake of the accident, Monsanto, which leases the cornfield where the teens worked, has issued new guidelines calling for such irrigation systems to be de-energized before the detasseling process begins.

Antonio Romanucci, of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, moderated a seminar at the invitation of Law Bulletin Publishing at the organization’s Juror Deliberation & Jury Management Conference on June 7 at the Swissotel Chicago.

Titled “The Value of Mock Trials, Deliberations and Focus Groups,” Romanucci moderated the discussion of panelists who included John Gilleland, PhdD, Kroll Ontrack/Trial Graphix; Hon. Thomas Hogan, a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County; and Edward McCambridge, Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney.

The sold-out event also included sessions on Taped Mock Deliberations with Expert Commentary, Taped Focus Groups with Expert Commentary, The Benefits and Risks of Post-Trial Juror Interviews, and Your Ethical Boundaries for Juror Background Investigation.

It's not surprising to us that youth are still being injured on the baseball field by balls hit off a metal bat. The latest injury happened to a 12-year-old boy in South Dakota in late April, when 11-year-old Trey Brown suffered a brain injury after being hit in the head by a ball hit off an aluminum bat.

We're not surprised because, even though Little League International banned the use of composite bats, they didn't rule out other metal bats. They should have!

Trey Brown came home from a local baseball game complaining of a headache and soon began vomiting. His parents took him to the hospital where x-rays showed he had a 1-1/2 inch brain bleed. When he started having seizures, the hospital put him in a medically induced coma.

Though he's out of the coma now and started making improvements, the hospital plans to keep him there for three weeks to three months for rehabilitation and recovery. Trey would have been on a baseball team this summer. Now he can't play for at least a year. His family says there's no doubt that alumninum bats should be abolished.

"If it had been a wooden bat, we probably wouldn't even be here," his dad was quoted as saying. "I would rather see aluminum bats just completely banned from baseball."

Our firm has joined with co-counsel Jack C. Carey, of Law Office of Jack C. Carey, of Belleville, Ill., in filing a wrongful death lawsuit (docket no. 11 L 14) in the Circuit Court of Monroe County in southern Illinois against Joyce Meyer Ministries for its failure to recognize that accused family murderer Christopher Coleman was a threat to his wife and two sons.

Christopher Coleman, 33, is on trial for the strangulation murder of his wife Sheri Coleman, 31, and sons Garett, 11, and Gavin, 9. Coleman worked as the security chief at Joyce Meyer Ministries based in Jefferson County and sought marital counseling from his own employer.

The lawsuit claims that the Ministries should have known Coleman was a threat to his family because he was sending threatening messages to his family from his employee issued laptop computer and cell phone. He was also travelling extensively for his job and was being accompanied by a woman not his wife with the knowledge of the Ministries.

Coleman was having an extramarital affair with this woman who was his wife’s friend, and he wanted a divorce from his wife. He developed a ruse through the Ministries to murder his family so that he could be with his girlfriend permanently.

“This tragic murder would have been preventable if Joyce Meyer Ministries had responded to the threats and the extramarital affair and warned Sheri appropriately,” said Romanucci. “As a result, the surviving kin, including Sheri Coleman’s mother, Angela DeCicco, and other close family members, have been permanently deprived of their love, companionship, society, support, guidance and affection during and for the remainder of their lives, and have incurred and become liable for large sums of money in funeral and burial expenses.”

We at Romanucci & Blandin are extremely disappointed in and disturbed by a U.S. Supreme Court decision on April 28 that upheld consumer contracts banning class-action arbitration. It is pro-business and severely limits class-action litigation.

In its ruling, the court said that a California law, which invalidated contracts banning class-action arbitration with businesses, was pre-empted by the Federal Arbitration Action. What led up to the case being heard by the high court was a dispute between AT&T Mobility and a California couple who opposed being charged a $30 sales tax for a so-called "free" cell phone.

The contract with AT&T Mobility called for arbitration of disputes and prohibited class-action arbitration. In their lawsuit, the couple sought class-action arbitration on the grounds that California case law says arbitration agreements banning class actions could be considered unconscionable and thus not enforceable.

Many agree that the decision is likely to have a huge impact.

It's just another example, we believe, of justice weighted against consumers and "pro" those who have financial power. There is simply no level playing field, and it's very unfortunate.

This is a MUST read for anyone who has to be hospitalized. The operative quote -- "Every hospital should have a plaque at its entrance that reads, 'There are some patients whom we cannot help; there are none whom we cannot harm" -- should be remembered by all. Approximately 10 people die from preventable medical mistakes in local hospitals every day and another 100 are injured. Be aware. Very aware.

The back-story: the government released the first report of its type last week that lists errors and other adverse events among Medicare patients across the nation. Some say there could be inaccuracies in reporting, but it's a starting point as a way to improve patient care.

Here are some stats. Out of 129 hospitals in Illinois reporting, 106 had at least one incident of a patient falling, getting burned or another injury during their hospital stay. Some 83 hospitals had at least one incident of bloodstream infections associated with catheters placed in the hospital.

And all these mistakes were absolutely preventable! Scarey stuff.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned consumers to stop participating in water-walking balls, calling them unsafe with the possiblity they could lead to suffocation or drowning. We at Romanucci & Blandin not only underscore the dangers but don't believe the government went far enough. These dangerous recreational devices should be banned.

Commonly used at amusement parks, fairs and malls, the inflatable spheres are often used by children. A rider climbs into the ball which is then zipped up. It rolls along the top of the water as the rider walks, much like a hampster on a wheel.

At least three states -- Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersy -- have issued denials of a permit to use the balls.

A big concern is the lack of an emergency exit. The balls can be opened only from outside, not inside. Manufacturers say the balls are safe, with hundreds of thousands of them in use worldwide. The owner of a company that distributes the balls in the U.S. says he responded to the government's concerns by proposing the manufacturers install a handle inside so riders can open the ball.

The balls contain about 90 minutes worth of oxygen. A ride typically lasts five to seven minutes.

CHICAGO, IL – Stephan D. Blandin, a partner in the Chicago personal injury law firm of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, has been reappointed as a member of the Hearing Board of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC).

The Commission has administrative responsibility for the registration and discipline of Illinois lawyers. Members of its Hearing Board, who are appointed for a one-year term, sit in panels of three and preside over the hearing of disciplinary, disability, and reinstatement cases.

Blandin, who has been practicing law for nearly 25 years, received his law degree from DePaul University College of Law in 1986 and his undergraduate degree from DePaul in 1983.

If you’re ever injured in a car accident, you have a better chance of receiving restitution for your injuries, thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling late last week, and Chicago personal injury firm Romanucci & Blandin applauds the ruling.

The court held that a federal regulation, giving carmakers the option of installing either lap belts or lap belt/shoulder harnesses in rear-inner seats, does not preempt state law.

In reaching this result, and by correcting the misreading of a previous case, the court has deprived car manufacturers of one of their most readily used defenses to avoid liability. At the same time, the court handed car accident victims a chance to hold wrongdoers accountable, while simultaneously showing the important rule that the tort system plays in promoting public safety.

The ruling grew out of a case, Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc., in which a California family sued for the death of Thanh Williamson, who died eight and a half years ago in a car crash. The unanimous Supreme Court ruling held that the family of accident victims, in this case her husband and daughter, had the right to seek compensation from auto makers for personal injuries caused by their vehicles’ lack of shoulder harnesses.

The case stems from an accident on August 14, 2002, in which the Williamson family was traveling in a Mazda minivan. The mother, Thanh, was seated in the middle row. Coming in the opposite direction was an RV, towing a Jeep Wrangler. The Jeep came loose from the RV, crossed over into the Williamsons’ lane, and crashed into them. Ms. Williamson’s body jack-knived around the seatbelt, which had only a lap belt. She sustained severe abdominal injuries and internal bleeding, which later proved to be fatal.

Public Justice has been involved in the case for many years. The organization submitted an amicus brief that emphasized how lower courts had badly misapplied a previous case. They urged the high court to resolve the massive confusion it had caused. The Supreme Court did so.

Our Chicago law firm has learned that the Illinois House of Representatives is considering legislation that would increase awareness of football-related head trauma and provide concussion safeguards for high school student athletes. Bravo to them for trying to pass a law that is long overdue.

Former Chicago Bears offensive lineman Kurt Becker urged a House panel yesterday to back the legislation, citing the suicide just days ago of his former teammate Dave Duerson. Prior to his death, Duerson made arrangements to have his brain donated for trauma research with the hope that more than be done to prevent brain injuries, especially among youth.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross sponsored the legislation, which was unaninously passed by the House and is now positioned for a full House vote. The proposed legislation would require all Illinois school boards to adhere to the Illinois High School Association concussion guidelines that affect all high school-sponsored sports. Under the rules, an in-game referee must pull a student from a game if he has concussion symptoms.

We applaud the fast action by the Illinois House, which by its actions, has demonstrated a clear understanding of how serious concussions can be.

Chicago personal injury law firm Romanucci & Blandin strongly disagrees with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on February 22 that bars lawsuits against drugmakers over the serious side effects from childhood vaccines.

Antonio Romanucci, a partner in the firm, expressed extreme disappointment over the ruling, stating that families of victims now have no legal remedy for their injuries.

By a vote of 6-2, the court ruled against the parents of a child who sued the drug maker Wyeth for the health problems they say their daughter, now 19, suffered from a vaccine she received when she was an infant.

Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the court, said the idea was to create a no-fault system that spares the drug companies the costs of defending against parents' lawsuits. Scalia said that when a vaccine is properly prepared and is accompanied by proper directions and warnings, lawsuits over its side effects are not allowed. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayer dissented.

The opinion was a terrible defeat for families who found their award from the vaccine court insufficient.

It's a frightening statistic. As Chicago medical malpractice attorneys, we were surprised when we read about a new study by the Archives of Surgery, noting that one in 16 surgeons have considered killing themselves within the past year because of burnout and stress over past medical errors.

The study also shows that surgeons, ages 55-64, had stress levels triple the national average.

Researchers reported that it wasn't the thought of suicide that endangered patient health but that burnout did appear to affect the quality of care. The survey also showed that only a fourth of the surgeons reached out for professional help. The reason why most avoid counseling? Their fear of losing their medical license.

For the complete study, visit the Archives of Surgery web site.

CHICAGO, IL – Antonio M. Romanucci, a founding principal and partner in the Chicago personal injury law firm of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, has been selected for the 2011 Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers® list.

Super Lawyers® is a nationwide rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

ok folks... this is getting to be big news. metal bats are out at little league world series! they have been deemed to be dangerous for world little leaguers so now how about banning them for kids who do not have all star stats?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/31/sports/baseball/31sportsbriefs-bats.html?scp=1&sq=composite&st=cse

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Media Advisory
September 22, 10 a.m. News Conference

Carmella Lash-Cross, mother of George Lash, the 19-year-old Chicago resident who was shot and killed by unknown police officers at the Garfield CTA station on Saturday, September 18, will announce she has filed a wrongful death lawsuit (case no. 2010 L 010769) against the City of Chicago for unspecified damages…

WHERE: at the office of her attorney, Antonio M. Romanucci, Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, 33 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, 20th Floor…

WHEN: on Wednesday, September 22, at 10:00 a.m.

The lawsuit contends that unknown police officers, with “utter indifference and conscious disregard,” used deadly force against the victim, despite the fact that he had been subdued and posed no immediate threat to any police officer or bystanders.

A big high-five to the California Interscholastic Federation for its surprise announcement on Wednesday to require high school baseball teams to follow new safety standards for the metal bats they use!

The Federation made the announcement in the wake of serious accidents that brought national attention to the issue of the bats’ safety. The state legislature had been considering a law that would have placed a two-year moratorium on the use of metal bats. Assemblyman Jared Huffman, who introduced the bill, said he postponed a vote for months as he worked with the CIF to make safety changes. The CIF also will encourage member high schools to require protective headgear for players.

This new development in one of the nation’s largest states is significant for all of us who have advocated against the use of metal bats. I will renew my efforts in Illinois to make the game of baseball safer. No child should have to suffer a head injury, or worse, over the lack of adequate safety measures.

CHICAGO – Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, has filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of its client, a Chicago teenager, against The Jesse White Tumbling Team, Inc., for failing to properly supervise the tumblers and provide proper medical care at a Fourth of July parade in Wheeling in 2008. As a result, the plaintiff, a former team member, suffered permanent paralysis of the lower half of his body.

For the front page story, “A daring stunt gone wrong,” which appeared in the July 20, 2010 Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-paralyzed-tumbler-20100719,0,1126862.story

CHICAGO – A Cook County jury late yesterday awarded the parents of a now ten-year-old boy with a $22.3 million verdict in a medical negligence case arising out of the care and treatment on May 29, 1999 at Advocate Christ Medical Center/Hope Children’s Hospital, in the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn, which resulted in the loss of the boy’s left leg.

After a three week trial, the jury returned the verdict after closing arguments were presented by attorneys Antonio M. Romanucci and Stephan D. Blandin, of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, who represented the plaintiffs, and Edward H. Nielsen, of Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered, representing the defendant, Tarek Husayni, M.D., a cardiologist, and Rudy Schade, of CassidaySchade, LLC, representing the remaining defendants.

Continue reading "Romanucci & Blandin Wins a $22.3 Million Verdict For Client in Medical Negligence Lawsuit" »

This video is incredible. It demonstartes how a safely designed parking lot and a conscientious owner of the mall saved the life of a young girl. This out of control vehicle was actually stopped by parking bollards and wound up being impaled on top of them. The young girl and the building were protected from any harm whatsoever by the bollards:

CHICAGO, October 8, 2009 – Stephan Blandin, a partner in the Chicago personal injury law firm of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, participated in a news conference this morning at Operation PUSH headquarters at the invitation of Rev. Jesse Jackson, to discuss ways that lawyers can mentor students in the wake of the fatal beating of a teenager at Fenger High School by the boy’s peers.

Yesterday, President Obama sent Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Chicago to meet with Mayor Daley, local leaders, and Fenger students.

During a press conference at City Hall, officials announced a $500,000 grant to help make Fenger and the schools that feed into it safer. Daley, Holder and Duncan had breakfast at the Four Seasons Hotel off Michigan Avenue with religious and community leaders to discuss youth violence.

Romanucci & Blandin has a program in place to support and encourage more youths to consider a career in law. Visit www.lawfirmbound.com.

Antonio Romanucci, board member of Public Justice, today announced that Chrysler will cover future claims. Public Justice has been working closely on this issue. Consumer Attorneys of California president Christine D. Spagnoli today lauded New Chrysler for accepting responsibility for vehicles produced by Chrysler prior to its bankruptcy.

"On behalf of all consumers, we are heartened that Chrysler understands the need to accept responsibility for defective products. We look forward to resolving legitimate cases in a way that provides justice for victims and their families," Spagnoli said.

Continue reading "Public Justice announces Chrysler Will Cover Future Crash Victims!" »

In its continuing investigation of the Southwest Airlines 737-300 (N387SW) that experienced a rapid decompression during a flight from Nashville to Baltimore on July 13, 2009, NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker has authorized the release of two photographs showing the compromised section of the area of the fuselage that failed in flight. Romanucci & Blandin will continue to monitor the progress of the investigation.

The damaged aircraft skin section was visually examined in the NTSB's Materials Laboratory. The damage left a hole measuring approximately 17 inches by 8 inches. The skin in this area of the fuselage is 0.032 inches thick with an additional 0.032 inch thick layer bonded to the interior surface in selected areas.

This weekend, a bankruptcy judge approved the sale of GM – leaving those currently injured by defective vehicles in the dust. Last week, the courts provided a partial win for GM vehicle owners by saying those injured in a defective vehicle from the date of sale forward can pursue a claim. However, all pending cases are wiped out by the bankruptcy agreement, including current and future asbestos cases.

AAJ is working with Members of Congress in the House and Senate to restore the rights of people injured by GM and Chrysler. Because legislation will be the only way to ensure everyone has the right to bring a case against Chrysler or GM, HR 3088, the Jeremy Warriner Consumer Protection Act of 2009 has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Jeremy Warriner lost his legs when he was in a tragic auto accident. Investigators discovered the plastic brake fluid container was defective, and caused a major explosion. Jeremy would have walked away from the accident had it not been for this defect. This bill will require an automobile manufacturer that the Federal Government has an ownership interest in or that has an outstanding loan from the Federal Government to purchase liability insurance from an insurance company, and we will be working hard to get this bill passed. We will keep bringing you progress updates.

PLEASE CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND SENATORS AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT THIS BILL. IT IS VITAL TO THE PROTECTION OF CONSUMER RIGHTS.

Antonio Romanucci is proud to announce he has been nominated to a 3 year term to Public Justice Foundation, America's largest public interest law firm dedicated to civil rights, consumer rights, the environment, and access to justice.

I’m writing to share breaking news regarding a landmark achievement that was announced today in Washington D.C. From now on, the regulatory preemption of state common law will be strictly limited. Even regulations issued within the past 10 years will have to be reviewed and in some cases amended.

This is a major victory for the rights of all Americans under state law and is the culmination of years of tireless and dedicated effort by AAJ’s Regulatory Affairs team, headed by Gerie Voss.
Today, President Obama issued a Directive to the Heads of all Executive Branch Departments and Agencies stating it is the policy of his Administration that “preemption of State law by executive departments and agencies should be undertaken only with full consideration of the legitimate prerogatives of the States and with a sufficient legal basis for preemption.” Preemption of state common law will no longer be presumed or asserted by regulatory agencies absent “explicit preemption by Congress or an otherwise sufficient basis under applicable legal principles.”

Continue reading "AAJ Reports Breaking News -- Major Victory for all Consumers!" »

The worst earthquake in three decades in the area of Ambruzzo, Italy, has left 283 dead with many injured and homeless. In this time of tragedy, Romanucci & Blandin urges you to make a financial contribution to show compassion and support. Please send checks made payable to the JCCIA Earthquake Relief Fund 2009 to the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, 3800 Division Street, Stone Park, IL 60165.

March 31, 2009 – Antonio M. Romanucci, a partner at the Chicago personal injury firm of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, and a board member of the Public Justice Foundation, hailed today’s U.S. Supreme Court against tobacco giant Philip Morris as a victory for consumers. The Court issued a one-sentence order today in Philip Morris USA v. Williams saying, "The writ of certiorari is dismissed as improvidently granted."

The order rejects the tobacco company's latest challenge to the jury's $79.5 million punitive damages award in that case. This is exactly what the Court should have done. Public Justice had filed an amici brief explaining that Philip Morris had not legally preserved the challenge it was trying to make.

Continue reading "Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, in Chicago, Hails Supreme Court Ruling " »

March 5, 2009 – The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday voted 6-3 to uphold the traditional right of consumers to sue a manufacturer if they are harmed by a defective product. Attorneys at Romanucci & Blandin in Chicago hailed the decision as a victory for consumers.

The ruling affirmed a nearly $7 million jury verdict in favor of Diana Levine, a Vermont musician whose right arm was amputated after she was injected with an anti-nausea drug. The ruling applies to more than 11,000 drugs on the market in the U.S., including over-the-counter drugs and prescription drugs.

Tony Romanucci, a partner in the law firm, said the decision will not only lead to compensating individuals fairly but will uncover drug hazards and provide incentives for drug manufacturers to promptly disclose safety risks.

Tony Romanucci, who has extensive experience in traumatic brain injury (TBI) litigation, has thrown his support behind an Ordinance introduced by Chicago Alderman Bob Fioretti on Sept. 10 at a Chicago City Council meeting to ban the use of metal baseball bats by organized youth leagues.

Tony, who helped organize a news conference preceding the Council meeting, spoke about the dangers of using metal bats. Other speakers were Christina Russo, the mother of a teenage son whose face was shattered when he was struck by a baseball hit by a metal bat, and Dr. Ricardo Senno, M.D., a specialist in the rehabilitation of TBI patients.

Tony also distributed copies of a letter of support from New York City Councilman James Oddo, who introduced similar legislation which was passed and upheld earlier this year by the New York Appellate Court. A photo of the news conference participants is posted in the Romanucci & Blandin Firm News, under Press Releases, 2008.

The Chicago Tribune deserves praise for its front page story, “More safety gear urged for young ballplayers” (June 2, 2008), for calling the public’s attention to the need for greater safety on the baseball diamond.

As parents, we encourage our children to excel at sports, often compromising safety for a winning pennant. This is a mindset in our nation that must change. Where does it say that our children should accept and face the risk of a life threatening injury, such as a traumatic brain injury, simply because they play baseball? Serious injuries inflicted as a result of the lack of proper equipment are simply unacceptable.

The biggest contributor to serious injuries is metal baseball bats because they propel the ball farther and faster than baseballs hit with a wooden bat. Yet, a bill introduced this spring by state Rep. Robert S. Molaro to ban their use in all organized games involving children under age 13, failed to make it out of committee and onto the House floor. It’s unfortunate: more injuries could easily be prevented by the use of a wooden bat

This issue could still be resolved if all local baseball leagues simply chose to ban the use of metal bats. They should do so – for the sake of our children and their parents.

This has to be one of the most dramatic saves a pilot has made on a landing. As the wheels touched down a nearly 100 mph crosswind blew the jet off the runway causing one of the wings to scrape the runway. The pilot cooly steers the jet from the side of the runway to put it in position for a full engine thrust and manages to circle the jet for a second landing which was successful. Watch the video and look at the serious yaw the plane is experiencing before the wheels touch the runway. Kudos to Lufthansa and its pilot.

Romanucci & Blandin has been actively involved in the Ford City Mall natural gas explosion for quite some time now. In that occurrence, many people were injured when a natural gas pipeline ruptured in the Ford City Mall parking lot. As having personally inspected the scene several times after the explosion -- it looked nothing short of a war zone. Quite frankly, it appeared as if a bomb had been dropped into the parking lot. as the cause and origin of that explosion is yet to be determined and the litigants are deep into discovery, it would be inappropriate to comment at this time what we feel is the cause of that particular explosion.

However, this most recent incident underscores that this State and this country is facing a crisis in its aging infrastructure. in the Waukegan incident it has been reported that a main ruptured. Mains are not supposed to rupture unless they are so old that they cannot handle he pressure of the gas in the main or they are being ill-maintained. Either way, we have a problem and it will not be fixed unless we get our butt out of Iraq and stop spending the money on a war we will never win and spend that money here at home fixing our infrastructure and education system. OK. Enough said. Thanks for listening.

Romanucci & Blandin has reported that we have been the major proponent behind the ban of metal baseball bats in little league play. We are now one step closer to achieving that life saving reality. Rep. Robert Molaro of Illinois has introduced HB4140 which would ban non wood bats for organizational use for children under 13 years of age. We hope that Committee Hearings will be held soon and then on to Springfield for a vote. In the near future we will be publishing all of the known data inherent in the risks of metal bat use in baseball. This blog entry is to advise our readers of the introduction of the bill.

In the lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court by Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, Plaintiff Jim Srodon says the Blue Man actors used the "esophagus cam" to project an image of Srodon's mouth and throat onto a large screen for the audience's amusement.

The lawsuit alleges the Blue Man actors circled him, held his neck and arms and "forced his head back" to insert the camera. It claims he was restrained from removing the camera from his mouth.

"At the time the 'esophagus cam' was inserted into plaintiff's mouth, it was covered in food, liquid and grime from the Briar Street Theatre floor, including the thick blue paint used to cover the actors' faces," the lawsuit said.

Reaction to this lawsuit has been mixed. There have been very many negative responses, partly due to the wild popularity the Blue Man Group enjoys. R&B recognizes that there are two sides to the story whick is why we are publishing BMG's responses and those of their supporters. One Chicago Tribune reader said:

I was disappointed by your recent article about the Mr. Srodon suing Blue Man Group. It was the most ridiculous thing I've read in the Tribune since the last ridiculous thing I read there. We can only hope the judge throws out the case as the most absurd, senseless, pointless and nonsensical lawsuit in the history of frivolous lawsuits. With any luck, the judge will also jail Mr. Srodon and his lawyer for sheer stupidity.

The R&B response was as follows:

Continue reading "Blue Man Group named in Lawsuit -- Unnecessary Roughness" »

A Petition was filed today in the Circuit Court of Cook County against the Chicago Police Department by the eldest son of the late rapper Freddie Wilson, who was shot and killed by police on November 13, 2007 (case no. 2007 P 008169).

The plaintiff ― Wilson’s eldest child, a 13-year-old son who resides with his mother in Madison, Wis. ― is represented by the Chicago law firm of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC. Antonio M. Romanucci, a principal in the firm, said that his client is seeking unnamed monetary damages which may include punitive damages.

Continue reading "Lawsuit Filed Against Chicago Police Department" »

The Illinois 1st District Appellate Court on Friday affirmed a $17.68 million verdict in favor of Romanucci & Blandin client, Vernon Hudson, who was left paralyzed when his vehicle was struck by a Chicago police car involved in a chase of a homicide suspect.

Hudson was on his way home from his job as a truck mechanic at the time of the May 2001 collision on the Eisenhower Expressway. He sued the city and Officer Sung Joo Lee, who later was dismissed from the suit. Hudson brought both negligence and willful and wanton conduct counts against the city.

A Cook County jury ruled in favor of Hudson on both counts after a March 2005 trial before Cook County Circuit Judge Irwin J. Solganick. Solganick denied the city's motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or a new trial.

Among the city's arguments on appeal was that it was immune against the negligence count pursuant to the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, 745 ILCS 10/1-101 et seq. The city also argued that Lee's conduct was not willful and wanton.

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