Prominent Verdicts & Settlements

$12,000,000 — Mother Given Excessive Pitocin During Labor, Causing Brain Damage To Her Newborn Child

Chicago-area mom, expecting her first child, was admitted to a suburban Chicago hospital. During labor, the doctor ordered Pitocin, which is a drug used to stimulate contractions in order to move the labor process along. Excessive amounts of Pitocin, administered contrary to the hospital’s own policies, were administered by the nurses. It was alleged that the doctor failed to monitor the amount of Pitocin given to the mother. The baby was born brain damaged and requires lifelong 24-hour care. Shortly after filing the lawsuit, the hospital and doctor offered $12 million to settle the case. This money will be used to take care of the child and give her as full a life as possible under the circumstances.

$10,000,000 — Misread Ultrasound Results In Brain Injury To Newborn

First-time mom was ecstatic to learn she was having twins. A routine ultrasound taken just prior to her due date showed that the twins were in fetal distress and emergency procedures needed to be undertaken. The radiologist misread the ultrasound noting it was normal. One of the infants was stillborn at birth and the other infant suffered profound brain damage until the time of his death at the age of 7. The hospital and doctor settled the case for $10 million.

$8,325,000 — Carpenter Falls At Construction Site

Carpenter was installing panels at a local jobsite and fell from a hydraulic lift resulting in serious injuries.

$8,000,000 — Woman Mistakenly Given Death Penalty Drug In Emergency Room

A 46-year-old woman with a stomach ache goes to the emergency room. The doctor ordered Pepcid, which is a common drug prescribed to relieve minor stomach ailments. Instead, the nurse on duty gave the woman one of the three drugs previously used in Illinois for lethal injection. This drug, which is a paralytic agent, caused the woman to stop breathing. She went into cardiac arrest and although she was rescued by the emergency room doctor, she suffered brain damage.

$7,000,000 — Stolen Semi-Truck Seriously Injures 10 Year Old Boy

a Semi Truck was stolen from Ruan Trucking Corporation at the Central Steel and Wire Facility on the south side and crashed into a 10 year old boy causing serious injuries and disfigurement. The thief fled the scene and was never caught. After taking nearly 50 depositions and securing police experts and crime prevention experts, Trapp & Geller were able to prove that Ruan had left the keys in the ignition of their trucks and Ruan negligently failed to secure their trucks and negligently failed to secure their parking lots which greatly increased the likelihood that a truck would be stolen and that injuries would occur. The case settled just before jury selection.

$3,750,000 — Plumber Falls Through Floor Of Trump Tower

An apprentice plumber fell through the floor of Trump Tower landing on the concrete below. He sustained injuries to his back, shoulder and ankle. He was able to return to work following the accident.

$3,500,000. — Against Driver And Hospital For Injuries In Misdiagnosis Of Blood Clots

A 52-year old woman was injured in a car accident with a broken leg. She developed blood clots. The radiologist claimed he reported to the patient’s treating doctors that the blood clot was in danger of moving to her lungs, resulting in high risk of death. Doctors claim they never received the report. The parties settled after a jury was picked.

$3,500,000 — Trump Tower Beam Falls On Worker’s Head

In 2012, Trapp & Geller settled a case against the general contractor and others in the amount of $3.5 million for negligence in allowing a support beam to fall and strike a laborer’s head. The laborer suffered herniated discs in the neck.

$2,500,000 — Truck Driver Struck And Killed While Standing On A Roadway

A truck driver was standing on a roadway waiting for assistance when his truck broke down. A passing truck struck him resulting in his death.

$2,300,000 — Woman Injured In 3 MPH Car Accident

A 26-year-old woman, while waiting in the drive-through line at a fast food restaurant, was struck from behind injuring her shoulder. The injury developed into a rare nerve disorder called reflex sympathetic dystrophy or complex regional pain syndrome. She was unable to continue working as a result of her injuries. Jamie M. Trapp recovered $2.4 million at trial.

$2,250,000 — Misplaced Intravenous Line

A 55-year old man, who was hospitalized due to complications arising from organ failure, had an intravenous line administered while in the intensive care unit. The intravenous line came out of the vein but the IV solution continued to infuse the medication into the surrounding tissue. As a result, the patient underwent several surgeries and lost much of the use of his arm.

$2,000,000 — Mason Falls Through A Car Dealership

A 55-year old bricklayer fell through a concealed hole in a roof of a car dealership suffering injuries to his elbow, shoulder and knee. Although he returned to work five months later, a Cook County jury awarded him $2,000,000.

$2,000,000 — Worker Cleaning Railroad Tracks Gets Hit By Train

An 18-year-old man, on his first day working as a laborer for a construction company, was struck by a train while cleaning debris from an overhead construction project on an interstate which stands over the railroad tracks. The railway complained to the construction company of the debris falling on the tracks and ordered the construction company to clean the debris on a daily basis. Despite the fact that the railroad knew there were workers in the vicinity, it issued no warnings to its conductors to slow down or to take precautions when approaching the vicinity. The case settled for $2 million.

$2,000,000 — Chain Falls From Crane Striking Construction Worker

A carpenter was injured during construction of a local hospital when a chain attached to a crane fell, striking a carpenter as he was cleaning his worksite. The man received a herniated disc to his neck and $2 million in settlement of his case.

$1,910,000 — Settlement For Construction Worker Who Fell Off A Ladder

48 Year old client was on his first day on a new job. Client was connecting chains from a gas tanker to a John Deere Excavator so the tanker could be lifted and placed in the ground. The Excavator operator failed to use appropriate procedures and lifted the tanker while client was still on ladder connected to tanker causing client to fall 10 feet. Client suffered a fractured calcaneus bone and rotator cuff injury and required surgery.

$1,700,000 — Rotted Scaffold Board Breaks Resulting In Close Head Injury

A 47-year old man fell while working on a scaffold. He was unaware that the scaffold was defective in that it was not capable to support his weight. Other employees erected the scaffold. He suffered a close head injury with partial loss of taste and smell.

$1,500,000 — Settlement For Young Woman Injured When A Fight Broke Out At A Local Music Venue

There were no eye witnesses to the fight, but Trapp & Geller were able to prove that venue was negligent in their failure to provide adequate security for the event.

$1,300,000 — Wrongful Death Settlement For Car Accident

Client was an 80 year old grandmother who was driving from New Jersey to Illinois for her granddaughters graduation. The crash occurred in Indiana. Client’s vehicle was struck by a traveling nurse that worked in Illinois and Indiana for a large health provider. Client suffered a subdural hematoma and required brain surgery at Loyola Hospital but never recovered from her injuries and died in the hospital. Trapp & Geller were able to establish that Illinois applied to the case overcome the harsh effect of Indiana caps on personal injury cases.

$1,240,000 — Settlement For Construction Work Roofer Injured By Falling Drywall

37 year old client was injured at a Power Construction jobsite when materials fell of a Laddervator Hoist. The client suffered a fractured vertebrae in his neck and a fractured ankle and required surgery. Trapp & Geller filed a lawsuit against Power Construction and against the manufacturer of the hoist and the company that rented the hoist. After numerous depositions and tireless investigations, the case was mediated and settled for a total amount of $1,240,000 and a waiver of the worker’s compensation lien. The client was back to work 6 months after the accident.

$1,220,000 — Clients Were Driving On A Country Road When A Construction Truck Failed To Stop At Posted Stop Sign And Crashed Into Clients Vehicle

25 year old driver in vehicle suffered head injury and 22 year old passenger in vehicle suffered lumber herniated disc and required fusion surgery. Clients had previous attorney that recommended a significantly lower amount to settle case, and then Trapp & Geller took over and secured a 7 figure settlement for clients and their family.

$1,200,000 — Youth Killed By A Train

A family of a youth killed by a train filed suit against the railroad for failing to take precautions when the railroad knew the children frequently played on the tracks in the area. In fact, the railroad tracks were adjacent to a park where a big hole had been cut into a fence which the children would use to cut across the railroad tracks. On the day of the occurrence, other trains had warned the dispatcher of the presence of youngsters in the vicinity of the railroad tracks. The dispatcher failed to alert the trains and two children were killed. Jamie M. Trapp represented the estate of one of the children and received $1.2 million.

$1,122,487 — Verdict For Rotator Cuff Injury

Jeremy Geller received this verdict on behalf of his 54 year old client who was injured when another driver crossed over the center line and struck the client head on. Client had shoulder pain but waited 12 days to seek any medical treatment. Client ultimately was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum and had arthroscopic surgery. Client had $72,000.00 in medical bills. Jeremy made a “Bad Faith Demand” to the insurance company to tender their policy limits, which were only $20,000.00, but the insurance company failed to make an offer. Jeremy filed a lawsuit and prosecuted the case all the way to verdict. At trial, the defendant’s lawyer recommended a verdict of $5,000.00, but the jury found in the client’s favor for a tremendous verdict of $1,122,487.48. This verdict was on the front page of the Cook County Law Bulletin for the extraordinary result.

$1,100,000 — 30 Year Old Construction Work Was At Construction Site And Creating Forms When A Concrete Wall Fell On Him Causing Knee And Shoulder Injuries

Suit was filed against masonry company and general contractor and case settled for $1,100,000 a month before trial.

$1,000,000 — 90-year-old Bus Driver Injured By A Boom Of A Crane

A school bus driver, with an impeccable safety record, was injured when a boom of a crane on the back of a truck swung, striking the front of the bus and causing head and brain injuries to the bus driver. This case settled at trial for $1 million.

$1,000,000 — FELA Railroad Employee Injures Back On The Job

A Metra carman was pulling a heavy tarp at work and the tarp snagged on a bent and dangerous piece of railroad track which caused the worker to suffer a herniated disc and annular tear in the L5-S1 disc in his lower back. The worker required a disc replacement surgery but was returned back to work. Metra and its supervisors denied any wrongdoing and denied that the worker’s injuries were related to the incident and made no offers to settle the case. Jeremy Geller from Trapp & Geller prepared the case for trial and four days before trial was set to begin, Metra offered $1 million to settle the case.

$1,000,000 — 76-year Old Woman Dies Of Lithium Overdose

76-year old patient suffering from manic depression was prescribed lithium by her physicians. They failed to monitor her lithium levels, which was required. She suffered lithium toxicity which occurred due to a doctor prescribing other drugs.

$1,000,000 — Late Diagnosis And Treatment Of A Herniated Disc

Chicago police captain presented to hospital where he admitted due to low back pain. He was unable to urinate and complained to the nurses who advised the doctor. He suffered a compression of his spinal cord resulting in a $1,000,000 settlement.

$980,000 — Chicago Police Officer Driving In The Wrong Direction Collides Head On With Motorist

A janitor working for the city of Chicago was injured when a Chicago police officer operating her patrol car in the wrong direction on a busy Chicago street collided head on with the janitor’s vehicle resulting in a herniated disc. The city of Chicago refused to make an offer on the case. A jury found in favor of the janitor in the amount of $980,000.

$950,000 — An Environmental Technician Was Hired To Perform Cleanup At A Train Derailment

While at derailment site he fell 3 feet onto a metal rod and was impaled. 27 year old client suffered serious internal injuries but returned to work with no restrictions within a year.

$875,000 — Settlement For Construction Worker Injured When He Fell 2 Feet Off A Step Ladder

Client was a mason and was doing stone work at a new construction site. Trapp & Geller were able to prove that the ground that ladder was on was uneven and unsafe and that General Contractor on site was responsible for safety and should have provided flat surface to work upon. Client suffered a neck injury and required a cervical fusion surgery.

$800,000 — Woman Trips Over A Parking Barrier

A woman on her way to church tripped over a parking barrier, which had been pushed onto the sidewalk by vehicles using a nearby parking lot. The parking lot had been cited on previous occasions for obstructing traffic on the sidewalk. Despite the fact that the property owner had received numerous complaints, warnings and citations regarding these parking barriers, nothing was done to prevent the parking barriers from being moved. The woman suffered injuries to both shoulders and her neck. Just before trial, the woman received $800,000.

$750,000 — FELA Metra Railroad Worker Injured In Unsafe Elevator Accident

A Metra railroad employee was injured when he was using the freight elevator at the Metra Building located at 547 W. Jackson in Chicago. As the Metra employee was making deliveries, the elevator stopped short, jolting the client’s back and caused a herniated disc. The client ultimately required a laminectomy surgery to his lumbar spine and was placed on restrictions from returning to his normal work as a railroad employee. Trapp & Geller were able to uncover a longstanding history of history of entrapments and unsafe elevator operations by Schindler Elevator Company and Metra Railroad in the manner in which they maintained and repaired the elevator.

$750,000 — Mom Hit In The Head By Basketball At Toy Store

A young mother was shopping for her child at a Chicago-area toy store where youngsters, in the adjacent aisle, were shooting baskets when an errant shot attempt struck her in the head causing a herniated disc. This case settled for $750,000.

$750,000 — Slip And Fall At Meijer Super Market

A 65 year old woman tripped and fell entering a Meijer Super Market in Homer Glen and suffered wrist and back injuries. The woman tripped entering the shopping cart area where Meijer had failed to barricade an extension cord that was being used in the area.

$650,000 — Pressure Cooker Explosion

A woman suffered burns to her shoulders when a pressure cooker she was using to can beans exploded resulting in burns to her shoulders.

$590,000 — 75 Year Old Woman Struck By FedEx Delivery Truck

A 75 year old woman was struck by a FedEx Delivery Truck that was going in reverse at 1 mile per hour. As a result of the impact, the client suffered injuries to her knees and lower back and had surgery.  The client had severe pre-existing arthritis in her knees, but Trapp & Geller were able prove that the accident severely aggravated the client’s knee problems and caused her need for surgery.  

$550,000 — Verdict For 33 Year Old Client Who Was Hit By A Mack Truck And Suffered Shoulder Injury

Client required arthroscopic surgery for biceps tenodesis and torn rotator cuff. Insurance company made multiple offers before trial, but offers were rejected and Trapp & Geller got more than double the final offer.

$550,000 — Settlement For 52 Year Old Carpenter Who Was Struck By A Commercial Delivery Vehicle

Client suffered neck injury and required a laminectomy but returned to work 2 months later. Case settled at mediation without any depositions.

$530,000 — 56 Year Old Woman Was Walking Into Local Super Market After Church And Slipped On Wet Floor

Client suffered a torn meniscus and fractured patella and required surgery.

$525,000 — Bicyclist Gets “Clotheslined” By Rope At Shopping Mall

A civil engineer riding his bicycle to work was “clotheslined” by a rope in a shopping mall which was not flagged or otherwise marked. The bicyclist did not see the rope, which had been placed by mall employees so that they would have choice parking spots at the mall. The engineer suffered a herniated disc to his neck. He recovered $525,000.

$500,000 — Blown Stop Sign Causes Major Accident

A 45 year old woman suffered a broken wrist and shoulder injury when another driver went through a stop sign and crashed into the client. State Farm insured the responsible driver and they paid the applicable insurance policy limits to settle the case.

$500,000 — Woman Slips On Black Ice In Dupage County Driveway

A 44-year-old woman was on her way to go shopping with her sister in December when she slipped on black ice on her sister’s driveway. The woman suffered a fracture to her tibia and fibula and required surgery for her injuries. Although it had snowed and rained for days before the fall, Jeremy Geller from Trapp & Geller was able to demonstrate that the ice was an “unnatural accumulation” which developed as a result of a faulty downspout on the house property. The insurance company tendered their policy limits to settle the case for $500,000.

$500,000 — Fireman Injured In Porch Collapse

A Chicago fireman responding to a fire in the Chicago area was seriously injured as he was climbing the rear porch of a multi-unit building when it collapsed, fracturing his ankle. The fireman was a captain for the Chicago Fire Department. The fireman recovered $500,000 for his injuries.

$500,000 — Adults Playing With Fireworks Injure A Child

A neighborhood Fourth of July party ended badly when various adults at the party lit dangerous fireworks. One of the fireworks exploded and injured an 8-year old girl 100 feet away. The child received $500,000 for her injuries.

$490,000 — Settlement For Husband And Wife Injured When Their Vehicle Was Struck By Semi Truck On Interstate 80

Clients were injured when a semi-truck improperly shifted lanes and side-swiped a car causing shoulder and neck injuries.  The case settled a month before trial. 

$475,000 — Store Display Falls Onto Customer

While shopping at a local big box retailer, a 26-year-old man suffered serious injuries to his back when part of a display fell on to him, which required back surgery. Investigation of the case showed that the display was set up contrary to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The client received $475,000.

475,000 — Client Was A Carpenter Working At A Local Home Doing Drywall And Painting Work

Client slipped off ladder and fell 20 feet and suffered concussion. There was no treatment or complaints for 8 months and then no treatment for an additional 16 months, and then client had neck fusion surgery. Trapp & Geller defeated numerous motions to dismiss the case, and the case settled a month before trial.

$466,000 — 52 Year Old Client Was T-boned While Driving To Work In Will County

Client had previous problems with her neck and was already seeing a chiropractor for neck problems, but accident made her neck worse and Trapp & Geller were able to prove that client’s surgery was caused by the car accident.

$450,000 — 87 Year Old Unmarried Resident Of A Nursing Home With No Children Choked On Food In Nursing Home Dining Hall And Ultimately Died From Injuries

Nursing home initially denied liability, but Trapp & Geller filed suit to ensure recovery for the Estate.

$450,000 — 88 Year Old Nursing Home Resident Choked & Died On Food

The nursing home staff failed to properly cut up the food and failed to provide client with a proper liquid diet.

$448,000 — Verdict For 68 Year Old Disabled Woman Who Was Wheelchair Bound And Unable To Walk And Slipped In Her Bathroom And Suffered Burns On Her Knee From A Defective Heating System In Her Bathroom Floor

Landlord’s insurance never made offer and Trapp & Geller secured significant verdict for client and her family.

$400,000 — 72 Year Old Passenger On Cta Bus Suffered Shoulder Injury When Bus Short Stopped At A Railroad Crossing

Trapp & Geller filed suit immediately to secure video that showed the accident and proved that CTA Bus driver was negligent. Client suffered a torn rotator cuff and had surgery.

$350,000 — Woman Steps Into Hole Hidden By Garbage In Front Of Medical Center

A 54-year-old woman stepped into a concealed hole in front of defendant’s medical center and injuring her knee, which required surgery. The offer at trial was $8,000. A jury awarded $350,000.

$348,000 — Verdict For Truck Driver Who Was Driving Tractor Trailer And Was Struck By Defendants Car

Client suffered shoulder injury and had surgery. Defendants insurance company never offered a penny to settle and proceeded to trial. After a 1 week trial, Trapp & Geller secured a verdict in excess of $100,000 insurance policy limits. After trial, State Farm paid the entire verdict.

$345,000 — 58 Year Old Unemployed Artist Was Walking Down Street When He Was Struck By A Chicago Taxi And Suffered A Torn Rotator Cuff And Had Surgery

Client had a great recovery and was released from treatment within 6 months. Case settled without filing a lawsuit.

$303,000 — Client Was A Passenger In A Vehicle Being Driving By A Drunk Driver Who Had State Minimum In Insurance

Drunk driver made a turn and was struck by an oncoming semi-truck. Trapp & Geller were able to prove that semi was driving too fast for conditions and secured recovery from commercial insurance policy.

$300,000 — Policy Limits Settlement 

Pedestrian was walking against the light, at night and was struck by a vehicle and suffered a fractured tibia requiring open reduction with internal fixation surgery.

$300,000 — Semi Truck Accident On Interstate 80

3 cousins were traveling when they were rear-ended by a semi-truck on Interstate 80. The truck failed to reduce speed and one of the cousins was knocked unconscious in the accident. Each of the clients required physical therapy and fully recovered from their injuries.

$275,000 — Semi Truck Makes Wide Turn And Injures Mother

A Semi Truck was making a turn on the south side and made a wide turn and side swiped the client causing neck and back injuries. The client required physical therapy and then underwent a sequence of pain management injections..

$260,000 — Nursing Home Slip and Fall With Head Injury

A 85 year old client was at a nursing home when they slipped and fell and suffered a subdural hematoma and were hospitalized. Trapp Geller were able to prove that the Nursing Home failed to provide proper fall protection and failed to properly supervise the client in violation of the Nursing Home Care Act.

$255,000 — 48 Year Old Client Was Rear-ended And Suffered Elbow And Shoulder Injuries

Client did not receive treatment for 18 months and then had surgery. Trapp & Geller were able to prove that the injury and surgery for an ulnar neuropathy were related to the accident to secure settlement.

$230,000 — Vending Machine Employee Attacked By A Janitorial Supervisor

A part-time employee of a vending machine company was filling the candy machine at a rest area. An employee working at the rest area allegedly became insane for no reason and beat the 62-year old, 5’4″, 150-pound man into unconsciousness. Although the toll-way employee was found criminally insane at the time of the hearing, there were sufficient warnings to his employer that the toll-way employee was delusional and violent. The case settled for $230,000.

$130,000 — 3 Year Old Suffers Dog Bite On Nose

A 3 year old was nipped on the nose by a neighbor’s dog and had a 1 cm laceration on the nostril. The client went to the Emergency Room and had stitches and had 2 follow up visits and was discharged from treatment and has made and excellent recovery. Trapp & Geller were able to structure the client’s settlement to provide for college tuition payments.