Tierney Darden v. City of Chicago

Tierney Darden v. City of Chicago was a civil court case in Cook County, Illinois. In August 2017, a jury awarded Tierney Darden $148 million for damages after a pedestrian shelter at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport collapsed, leaving Darden partially paralyzed.[1] The case resulted in the highest compensatory verdict awarded to an individual in the state of Illinois, and one of the top five in the United States, excluding punitive damages, wrongful death claims, and imprisoned defendants.[2][3]

Tierney Darden v. City of Chicago
CourtCircuit Court of Cook County
Full case nameTierney Darden v. City of Chicago et al.
DecidedAugust 24, 2017 (2017-08-24)
VerdictPlaintiff to be awarded $148,190,997
Court membership
Judge(s) sittingClare McWilliams

Background

In August 2015, Darden, then a 24-year-old Truman College student from Mundelein, Illinois, was standing with her mother and sister outside O'Hare's Terminal 2 waiting for transportation. A sudden storm enveloped the airport and the family sought shelter behind a pedestrian shelter.[4] High winds toppled the 750-pound glass and steel structure onto Darden, severing her spine and leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Her mother, Trudy Darden, and sister, Tayah Minniefeld, were also injured.[5] Darden's injuries resulted in the permanent loss of leg use, chronic neuropathic pain, 24-hour care requirements, and 20 prescription medications. Her initial medical bills totaled $985,411.[6]

The lawsuit prompted an investigation by CBS Chicago, which determined excessive rust had weakened the shelter support posts and bolts were missing. The investigation also revealed other shelters at the airport had missing bolts, corroded parts, or broken brackets.[7]

Case

Darden, with her mother and sister, filed a negligence lawsuit in the Illinois Circuit Court for Cook County against the City of Chicago and the City of Chicago Aviation Department. The case went to trial on August 10, 2017, with Judge Clare McWilliams presiding. Darden was represented by attorneys Patrick A. Salvi, Jeffrey J. Kroll, Tara R Devine, Patrick Salvi II, and Eirene N. Salvi from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. "The City of Chicago's wrongful conduct forever changed the course of Tierney's life. She will never walk or dance again," said Kroll during opening statements.[8] Chicago officials admitted wrongdoing prior to the trial, and their legal team, from the firms of Williams & Gundlach LLC and Dentons US LLP, offered $30 million in compensation.[9]

Darden's counsel team asked the jury to award $174,934,582. After four hours of deliberation on August 23, the jury returned a verdict awarding $148,190,997.[2][3][10] The city appealed, then settled for $115 million, still the highest personal injury payment in Illinois history.

References
  1. Hope, Leah (2017-08-24). "Paralyzed dancer is "very thankful" for $148M award". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  2. staff, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (August 24, 2017). "$148M verdict for airport shelter collapse". Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  3. "Illinois Jury Awards Record $ 148 Million To College Student Paralyzed When Airport Pedestrian Shelter Collapsed". LexisNexis. August 31, 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  4. "Jury awards $148M to Chicago woman paralyzed after airport accident". CBS News. August 23, 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  5. "$148 million awarded to woman paralyzed in shelter collapse". Associated Press. August 24, 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-01-14. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  6. Cherone, Heather (August 24, 2017). "$148M Award 'Gives Me Hope,' Says Dancer Paralyzed By Fallen Bus Shelter". DNAinfo. Archived from the original on 2018-01-14. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  7. "Jury Awards Record $148M To Woman Paralyzed At O'Hare". CBS Chicago. 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  8. "Dancer left paralyzed by windblown pedestrian shelter at O'Hare awarded $148M verdict". The Cook County Record. August 25, 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  9. Harmon, Dwayne (August 25, 2017). "Woman awarded over $100 million after suing Chicago for freak storm accident". Newburgh Gazette. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  10. Daniels, Melissa (August 23, 2017). "Jury Awards $148M To Woman Paralyzed At O'Hare Airport". Law360. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
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