Cook County Jury Awards $6.65 Million in Air Base Death

Chicago, IL (Law Firm Newswire) April 23, 2014 – After a 10-day trial, a Cook County jury awarded $6.65 million to the family of a man who died from a fall at a Kuwait air base.

The award in the wrongful death case against CAV International Inc., a government contractor, came over four years after the death of John Bruce, a Chicago-area resident.

“When negligence is involved, a wrongful death lawsuit is often appropriate to gain compensation for the family of the victim after a horrible accident like this,” says Paul Greenberg, a Chicago wrongful death attorney not involved in the case.

When the accident occurred, Bruce was working for United Airlines as a ramp serviceman at Al-Mubarak Air Base in Kuwait. According to the lawsuit, Bruce was handling cargo from a Boeing 747 on a raised belt loader when an employee of CAV moved it, causing Bruce to fall approximately 12 feet.

Bruce suffered serious injuries to his brain that required surgery and ultimately led to his death. He was declared brain-dead by doctors overseas and flown home. His life support was discontinued at a hospital six days later.

The lawsuit alleged that the CAV employee was distracted by a conversation with others when he moved the loader with Bruce still on it. It further claimed that the company negligently failed to provide proper training and supervision to that employee. The family’s attorney said that CAV was responsible for the actions and inaction of the employee.

His widow, Patty Bruce, told news sources that Bruce had worked for United for years as a liaison on charter flights — both for the military and for a number of Chicago sports teams, including the Bears, Cubs and White Sox. At the time of her husband’s death, she said that the tragedy never should have occurred and that the family wanted justice. Her attorney has stated that CAV failed to reach out to the family to provide information or closure after the accident, but that the family believed that justice has been served with the jury’s award.

Bruce is survived by his wife and two sons. He was 64 years old at the time of his death.

Learn more at http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/practice-areas/wrongful-death/

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg
351 West Hubbard Street, Ste 810
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312.222.0010
Facebook: Like Us!
Google Places: Contact a Chicago personal injury lawyer from Briskman Briskman & Greenberg on Google Places!

• Birth injury lawsuit settles for six and a half million dollars
  A lawsuit against the U.S. government, filed by the parents of a child who was born severely brain-damaged, has been settled for $6.5 million. Kasie and Hignio Rivera of Austin, Texas filed the lawsuit in federal court against Darnall Army Medical Center after the birth of their son in 2008. The lawsuit alleged that doctors […]
• Vietnam veteran wins twelve million dollars in medical malpractice settlement
  A Vietnam veteran and Chicago-area resident will receive a $12 million settlement from the federal government in a medical malpractice case. John Johnson is a Vietnam combat veteran who served in the Army from 1970 to 1971. In 2007, Johnson was admitted to Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, Illinois for oral surgery. […]
• Transit districts claim immunity in bicyclist’s wrongful death lawsuit
  Two Illinois transit districts have claimed immunity in a wrongful death case filed by a woman whose husband was killed while riding his bicycle along a trail. The Agency for Community Transit in Edwardsville and the Madison County Mass Transit District have claimed immunity under the Tort Immunity Act. According to the lawsuit, William Beltz […]
• Federal judge has entered a judgment against the United States in a brain injury case
  A federal judge has entered a $28 million judgment against the United States in a brain injury case. U.S. District Judge David Herndon entered the judgment in favor of Sean Cobbs — who suffered a severe brain injury when doctors allegedly did not perform a timely cesarean section — and of his parents, Sean Cobbs […]
• Fast-food worker wins benefits in court after altercation with coworker
  Recently, a fast-food chain employee won workers’ compensation benefits in a case that came before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission on appeal. After a workers’ compensation case is decided in court, either the worker or the employer may appeal the decision to the commission. The case involved an altercation with a coworker, and it hinged […]

The Chicago Injury Alert Podcast

• Claims of Illinois Personal Injury Lawsuit Abuse Are False – Podcast
  Claims of lawsuit abuse in Illinois are false. This and other topics discussed in this month’s Chicago Injury Alert. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg351 West Hubbard Street #810 Chicago, IL, 60654 USA contact@briskmanandbriskman.com • (312) 222-0010
• Esurance Tries to Stop Teen Texting and Chicago Bike Lanes Get National Recognition – Podcast
  Esurance launches a program to stop teen texting and drive. Plus, Chicago’s bike lane network is getting national recognition.
• Dangerous Car Seat Mistakes and How a Police Shooting has Become a Wrongful Death Case – Podcast
  Don’t make these common car seat mistakes plus learn about the police shooting that is now at the center of a wrongful death case on this month’s Chicago Injury Alert.
• Trying to Reduce Diagnosis Errors and Workplace Violence is Cause for Most Fatal Work Injuries – Podcast
  The Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine is seeking to reduce diagnosis errors and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released preliminary data from 2011 showing that nearly 17 percent of fatal injuries in the workplace are caused by workplace violence this month on the Chicago Injury Alert.
• Wi-fi and Care Safety plus New Government Requirements for Car Manufacturers – Podcast
  The federal government is pushing for automobile safety systems that are expected to aid in the prevention of car accidents plus a auto executive warns congress of the possible danger of wi-fi interfering with crash prevention systems on this month’s Chicago Injury Alert.