General Liability

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A cornerstone of Williams Montgomery & John’s practice is the defense of complex tort and personal injury claims. We are proud to have received a “Metropolitan First Tier” ranking for personal injury law (defense) in the inaugural edition of “Best Law Firms” released by U.S. News & World Report in 2010. Our reputation is the result of an aggressive litigation approach and a proven track record of success for our clients.

The firm’s seasoned trial lawyers regularly represent companies in high-exposure liability actions involving an array of claims for personal injuries, property damage and economic losses. Our experience extends to all classifications of tort cases, including catastrophic injury, wrongful death, negligence and strict liability actions. We currently are defending several motion picture companies in the highly publicized litigation arising from an accident that occurred during the filming of Transformers 3. Additional examples of our work in this area include:

  • Defending tire manufacturers such as Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Cooper Tire & Rubber in catastrophic injury and death cases. 
  • Litigating multiple cases in several states for commercial transportation companies, both large and small, involving catastrophic injuries and death.
  • Defending Lycoming Engines in a multiple-death aviation case.
  • Defending numerous clients, including Archer Daniels Midland and TruGreen ChemLawn, in wrongful death and personal injury litigation arising from vehicular traffic accidents.
  • Defending Ragnar Benson, Inc., Pasquinelli, Inc., Walsh Construction Company of Illinois and numerous other construction contractors and subcontractors in catastrophic injury and wrongful death lawsuits.
  • Handling numerous premises liability matters on behalf of hotels, casinos and retailers such as Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel, Majestic Star Casino, Inc., Trump Indiana, Inc., Peninsula Chicago Hotel Management, Inc., Estee Lauder Companies and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
  • Representing building owners, product manufacturers, installers of automatic fire protection systems and security companies in wrongful death, personal injury and property damage litigation arising from fires and explosions.

A more descriptive list of representative matters can be found by clicking on the "Representative Matters" link above.

The firm’s general liability practice is led by partner Thomas Neuckranz, who was selected by his peers for inclusion in Illinois Leading Lawyers for commercial litigation, class action/mass torts, product liability and toxic torts.

For more information about the firm’s commercial litigation practice, please contact Mr. Neuckranz at 312.443.3223 or thn@willmont.com.

   

Representative Matters

  • Adolfo Romo v. Paramount Pictures Corporation, DW Studios Productions LLC et al.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill., removed to U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Currently defending several motion picture companies in the highly publicized litigation arising from an accident that occurred during the filming of Transformers 3. Case pending.
  • Anita Rinaldi v. Otis Elevator Company
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained reasonable settlement for product manufacturer defendant in personal injury lawsuit alleging exposure to asbestos-containing elevator products.
  • Arlington Park-Washington Park Race Track Corporation, et al. v. F.E. Moran Inc., Fire Protection, et al.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Defended sprinkler installation contractor F.E. Moran in lawsuit arising from a fire at Arlington Park Race Track that destroyed the racetrack/grandstand structure. Plaintiffs sought more than $100 million for property damage. Case settled shortly before trial.
  • Baclawski v. Superior Ambulance
    Circuit Court of Wayne County, Michigan
    Represented ambulance company and driver in lawsuit brought by 14-year-old female psychiatric patient alleging she was raped by ambulance attendant during transport. Jury found in favor of driver; verdict against company was less than plaintiff’s pre-trial settlement demand.
  • Baldridge v. Dallas & Mavis Specialized Carrier Co.
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
    Defended oversize hauler in wrongful death lawsuit arising from vehicular accident. Plaintiff also claimed negligent infliction of emotional distress. Case confidentially resolved.
  • Barber v. Kansas Propane of Topeka, Inc., et al.
    Tribal District Court of the Potawatomi Nation, Mayetta, Kan.
    Defended Kansas Propane of Topeka in lawsuit arising from residential propane gas explosion on the Potawatomi reservation. Plaintiffs sustained serious personal injuries and sought damages based on negligence, strict liability and breach of implied warranty claims. Case settled at mediation.
  • Boulevard Bank, et al. v. Acorn Electric
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained summary judgment for Acorn Electric in lawsuit arising from industrial building fire. Plaintiff, the building owner, alleged negligence in connection with re-wiring project performed by defendant and sought more than $1 million in damages. Decision affirmed on appeal.
  • Bown v. Taoramina
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained summary judgment for defendant landlord in lawsuit brought by tenant claiming she was sexually assaulted inside her apartment. Plaintiff alleged inadequate lighting, inadequate security and inadequate security devices.
  • Cairns v. Ty Walk Liquid Sales, Inc. and Elam v. Ty Walk Liquid Sales, Inc.
    Circuit Court of Will County, Ill.
    Won defense verdict for trucking company and tractor-trailer driver in lawsuit arising from truck-automobile accident. Plaintiffs sought $10.5 million in damages for deaths of automobile driver and passenger.
  • Choi v. L.G. Greenview, et al.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained favorable settlement for apartment complex owner and manager in lawsuit brought by female tenant who was sexually assaulted and stabbed in her apartment. Plaintiff alleged failure to maintain the premises and to provide adequate security and sought $1.25 million in damages. Case settled for $120,000 after mistrial.
  • Cooling Tower Collapse
    West Virginia State Court
    Obtained reasonable settlements on behalf of insurer of construction engineer Research-Cottrell in wrongful death lawsuits arising from collapse of nuclear reactor cooling tower that was under construction.
  • Debra Dowe, et al. v. National Passenger Railroad Corp., et al.
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Obtained dismissal of product liability lawsuit against General Signal Corporation involving railroad crossing signal device manufactured by defendant. Plaintiffs alleged defective device resulted in train-truck collision that caused multiple deaths and personal injuries.
  • Dinon v. Shoup Buses
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Achieved verdict for tour bus operator Shoup Buses in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuit arising from a collision and rollover accident involving 46 passengers.
  • Est. of Shields v. Lake Park Rentals
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Achieved defense verdict for Lake Park Rentals in wrongful death lawsuit arising from rollover accident. Plaintiff alleged defendant rented trailer with inadequate hitch.
  • Estate of Lichaw, et al. v. 69 West Washington Management Company LLC, et al.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Defended Aargus Security Systems and BGK Security Services in six wrongful death and 16 personal injury lawsuits arising from a high-rise office building fire. Multiple governmental investigations followed, including one by an ad hoc commission appointed by the Cook County, Ill., Board. Cases settled on eve of trial.
  • Estate of Phillipart v. Archer Daniels Midland
    Circuit Court of Sangamon County, Ill.
    Won reversal of $550,000 verdict against Archer Daniels Midland in lawsuit arising from vehicular traffic accident that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old foreign exchange student. Verdict for plaintiff reversed by Illinois Supreme Court with judgment entered for defendant without remand.
  • Estates of John and Donna Kathleen Swan, deceased, et al. v. Lycoming Engines, a Division of Avco Corporation
    U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
    Favorably settled lawsuit against Lycoming Engines arising from single-engine plane crash in Wabash, Ind., involving four deaths. Plaintiffs alleged that vibration characteristics of Lycoming six-cylinder engine caused in-flight fire.
  • Fears v. Yellow Freight
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Won jury verdict for Yellow Freight in lawsuit arising from truck-automobile accident. Plaintiff sustained serious personal injuries and sought $45 million in damages.
  • Flores, et al. v. CNA & Cushman and Wakefield of Illinois
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Represented Cushman and Wakefield of Illinois in premises liability lawsuit arising from death of plaintiff, who was killed while walking with her daughter in downtown Chicago. Case settled by CNA for $18 million.
  • Hall v. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Obtained favorable settlement for defendant hotel operator in premises liability lawsuit for wrongful death of successful English attorney.
  • Haney v. Dywidag Systems International, USA, et al.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained summary judgment for jack manufacturer in lawsuit brought by worker on construction project. Plaintiff alleged jack supplied by defendant detached from cable and struck him, causing serious personal injuries.
  • Helgesen v. Jewel Food Stores, Inc.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained decision of “not guilty” for defendant Jewel Food Stores in premises liability lawsuit. Plaintiff alleged personal injury as a result of slip and fall accident inside a Jewel store. Case settled for nuisance value following arbitration decision.
  • Holmes v. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Achieved defense verdict for Goodyear in lawsuit arising from the unloading of Goodyear tires from a tractor trailer. Plaintiff alleged serious personal injuries and sought $1.5 million in damages. Decision reported inNational Jury Verdict Review & Analysis Reporter, Vol. 13:3, pp. 36-37, March 1998.
  • Hyatt Hotel Skywalk Collapse
    Circuit Court of Jackson County, Mo., and U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
    Settled personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of insurer arising from collapse of skywalk at Kansas City, Mo., Hyatt Hotel. Plaintiffs alleged defective design resulted in skywalk collapse.
  • Jewel Foods v. Trailwood Transportation, et al.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Defended Trailwood Transportation in lawsuit brought by Jewel Foods arising from a fire in a warehouse leased by plaintiff seeking $30 million for property damage and lost profits/business interruption. Fire allegedly was caused by heat from marker lights affixed to rear of Trailwood trailer. Case settled shortly before trial.
  • Jones v. Mid States Concrete Products Co., et al. and Beemsterboer v. Joseph J. Duffy, et al.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained reasonable settlement of two lawsuits against steel erection contractor arising from construction of new senior housing facility. Plaintiffs alleged debris that fell during partial collapse of structure caused death of two workers at the project.
  • Kooyenga v. Hertz Equipment Rentals
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Achieved directed verdict for scaffold supplier in personal injury lawsuit arising from accident at construction site. Plaintiff, a worker at the site, alleged serious personal injuries caused by a scaffold that fell.
  • Louis Wagner et al. v. International Business Machines Corporation et al.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained voluntary dismissal of personal injury lawsuit against property owner alleging premises exposure to asbestos.
  • Marilyn Bryan v. Terminix
    District Court of Sedgwick County, Kan.
    Achieved favorable verdict in lawsuit against Terminix arising from motor vehicle accident. Plaintiff, who alleged serious personal injuries, was awarded nuisance value damages by jury.
  • Martinez v. Ergonomics and Safety Services, Inc.
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Achieved defense verdict for Ergonomics and Safety Services, a company hired by general contractor to oversee safety, in lawsuit arising from furnace demolition project. Plaintiff alleged serious personal injuries due to unsafe work practices and sought more than $4 million in damages.
  • Meckley v. TruGreen ChemLawn
    Circuit Court of Duvall County, Fla.
    Favorably resolved lawsuit against TruGreen ChemLawn arising from vehicular traffic accident. Jury awarded plaintiff $5,000, finding that plaintiff’s injuries were not permanent.
  • Mildred v. Mayson
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Won dismissal for defendant in wrongful death lawsuit arising from vehicular accident. Case dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction.
  • Peterson v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Achieved verdict in product liability lawsuit against Goodyear seeking $21 million in damages. Plaintiff alleged tread separation of Goodyear tires resulted in vehicle rollover accident causing serious personal injuries. Case cited by The National Law Journal as one of the “Outstanding Defense Verdicts” in the United States. Decision reported in BNA’s Product Safety and Liability Reporter, Vol. 23:23, pp. 614-615, June 16, 1995.
  • Rachel Barton v. Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Authority (METRA) and Union Pacific Railroad Co.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Represented defendants Metra and Union Pacific in lawsuit brought by celebrity violinist Rachel Barton. Plaintiff sustained serious personal injuries when she was caught in door and dragged by commuter train. Case decided for plaintiff.
  • Reipsa v. Trump Indiana, Inc.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Won motion to dismiss premises liability lawsuit against Indiana casino. Plaintiff claimed negligence and dram shop liability based on serious personal injuries sustained during fist fight on casino’s premises.
  • Salazar v. Technistone USA, Inc.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Achieved favorable settlement for countertop materials seller in wrongful death lawsuit alleging bulk delivery of materials was improperly secured for transport.
  • Sanchez v. Dedicated Transport, Inc.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Successfully resolved lawsuit against trucking company arising from truck-automobile accident. Plaintiff sought damages for emotional distress suffered by eight-year-old passenger. Jury award to plaintiff reduced to zero damages.
  • Sochacki v. Gurtz Electric

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Represented electrical contractor defendant in lawsuit arising from Skybridge project in Chicago. Plaintiff, a concrete carpenter, alleged serious personal injuries due to unsafe worksite conditions. Case settled on eve of trial.

  • Tazoe v. IAE International Aero Engines, et al.
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
    Achieved dismissal of more than 70 individual wrongful death lawsuits against IAE International Aero Engines arising from the 2007 crash of a Tam Linhas Aeras flight in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Plaintiffs claimed failure of defendant’s V2500 engines caused the crash and sought more than $200 million in damages. Dismissal upheld on appeal by Eleventh Circuit.
  • Thomas Guarnieri v. Scenic Trails Bus Transportation Company
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.: Achieved favorable verdict for Scenic Trails in lawsuit arising from bus accident. Plaintiff, a commodity broker, sought damages for serious personal injuries and loss of income. Jury awarded plaintiff $42,500, which was reduced by 75 percent for plaintiff’s contributory fault. Decision affirmed on appeal.
  • Wagner v. City of Chicago
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Obtained summary judgment for defendant Gateway Construction Company in personal injury lawsuit alleging failure to provide safe working environment and supervision at construction worksite.
  • White v. Durr Environmental
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
    Obtained voluntary dismissal, with prejudice, of lawsuit against Durr Environmental arising from explosion at printing facility. Plaintiff, who sustained serious personal injuries, alleged explosion was caused by malfunction of thermal oxidizer manufactured by defendant.
  • Williams v. Illinois Central Gulf Railroad
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Successfully resolved Federal Employee Liability Act claims against Illinois Central Gulf Railroad seeking more than $1 million in damages. Plaintiff allegedly sustained permanent injuries rendering him unemployable.
  • Yoder v. Roundy's Inc.
    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Defended Roundy’s in lawsuit arising from traffic accident involving 15 vehicles. Plaintiffs sought $110 million for multiple serious personal injuries and death; jury awarded $10.3 million to plaintiffs.