SBH Partner Patrick O’Connor Defends City of Chicago

SBH partner Patrick O’Connor, alongside Shilpa Patel and Adam Rodriguez from the City of Chicago’s Corporation Counsel, successfully defended a claim made on behalf of a 22-year-old man who died when the vehicle he was riding in drove off an access road, resulting in him drowning in Lake Michigan.  The plaintiff claimed the City of Chicago failed to maintain yellow bollards to mark the end of the roadway before it terminated.  Plaintiff claimed that the City knew the bollards were in disrepair for at least 10 years and it did nothing to maintain them.  Plaintiff claimed that the bollards were part of the curbline and the City of Chicago was responsible for maintaining its curbs.  The defense argued that it was not responsible for maintaining the bollards and that the roadway design, with or without bollards, was reasonably safe.   The City also did not concede that the decedent was a passenger in the vehicle and even if he was, the defense argued he should not have gotten in the car with someone he knew to be impaired.  The plaintiff asked the jury to award over $89 million.  Patrick O’Connor was not involved in the workup of the case, and he was brought in to provide assistance with experts and trial.  The jury found the City of Chicago not guilty.  The case was tried in Cook County Circuit Court before The Honorable Maura Slattery Boyle.