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Pfaff, Gill & Ports News – Archive 1

Pfaff and Gill Settle Landmark Seat Failure Case for $27M

Posted on June 16, 2010

In a landmark Illinois case, Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers and Michael Gill successfully settled the claims of an south suburban man who died because the seat on his 1996 Ford Escort failed during a rear impact collision. Because of the seat failure, our client was thrown into the rear seat/rear window area of his car and he suffered a fatal head injury.

Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers and Michael Gill tried the case to a record $27,000,000 jury verdict in 2005 against the rear ending motorist, Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Company. After two trips to the Illinois Appellate Court and the Illinois Supreme Court, the judgment against the manufacturers was reversed because the high court changed the law concerning defective products and required a new trial. During the third day of trial proceedings in the Circuit Court Cook County, Illinois, the case settled.

The case highlighted the dangers that exist in front seats of cars and light trucks that are weak. The seat is the main safety device to protect a person in a rear impact collision and if it fails to stay upright, the seat occupant will be accelerated toward the back of the car where he can hit rear seat occupants or structures in the vehicle, causing severe injuries or death.

This is the second seat defect case the office has tried against Ford Motor Company with success. Pfaff, Gill & Ports has also successfully represented plaintiffs in seat defect cases against other manufacturers.

$9M Product Liability Settlement Reached by Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers

Posted on January 13, 2010

Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers recently reached a $9,000,000 settlement in a product liability case with the manufacturer of a garage door that catastrophically failed and trapped a 4-year-old boy under the door.

Scholarly Article by Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers Published in Chicago Bar Association

Posted on May 7, 2009

In May 2009, Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers, co-authored a scholarly article for the Chicago Bar Association publication, the CBA Record, entitled, “The Right to Submit Questions to Jurors.” Read more.

Pfaff, Gill & Ports Launch Firm Blog

Posted on April 15, 2009

The attorneys and staff of Pfaff, Gill & Ports, Ltd. would like to announce the launch of the firm’s blog. The blog is a place for us to share information and news with our colleagues, clients, and friends about the legal system and our current activities.

Family Awarded $7.9 M in Chicago Birth Injury Case

Posted on April 10, 2009

Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers settled a Chicago birth injury case with a suburban physician’s group for $7.9 million on behalf of a four-year-old child with moderate cerebral palsy due to a physician’s neglect in delaying delivery.

The doctor should have understood that the fetal heart tracings showed an ominous pattern indicative of hypoxia and ischemia and that a cesarean delivery was necessary to protect the baby. Instead, he proceeded to a vaginal delivery, delaying the birth and increasing the baby’s exposure to harm.

Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers Named One of Top 100 Lawyers in Illinois

Posted on April 1, 2009

The 2009 Super Lawyer ratings are out. All firm members achieved high recognition among their peers. Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers has again been named as one of the top 100 lawyers in Illinois (one of only 16 plaintiff’s Illinois personal injury lawyers on the statewide list. Michael Gill and Matthew Ports have been named “Rising Stars” among Illinois Super Lawyers.

Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers Serves a Faculty Member for Chicago Bar Association Seminar

Posted on March 6, 2009

Pfaff & Gill, Ltd. Trial Lawyers served as a faculty member for a Chicago Bar Association seminar “Creative Insights for the Tort Trial Lawyer” on March 5, 2009. He discussed the topics of Closing Argument and Direct Examination.

Settlement Reached for Paraplegic Teen Girl

Posted on January 15, 2009

On January 14, 2009, attorneys Robert Slattery (Wisconsin) and Michael Gill obtained a confidential settlement for a 15-year-old young man who suffered fractures at C5-6 and was rendered paraplegic due to a defectively designed and maintained snowboard jump at Cascade Mountain in Portage, Wisconsin.

Matthew Ports Moderated Motions Seminar at Chicago Bar Association

Posted on January 9, 2009

Matthew Ports moderated the annual Motions seminar at the Chicago Bar Association on January 8, 2009. Speakers included Judge Kathy Flanagan, Judge Diane Larsen, Judge Clare McWilliams and Judge Tom Hogan.

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