All Defendants Settle 69 West Washington Fire Case Including City of Chicago as Jury Selection Set to Begin; Total for All 22 Victims: $100 Million
Press Release, 04/28/2008Click here to view the Statement on Behalf of the Victims
Robert A. Clifford, lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the fire that killed six and injured 16 others at the Cook County Administration Building, announced a $100 million settlement today just moments before jury selection was scheduled to begin against the City of Chicago and the other two remaining defendants. The case was to start today against the city as well as 69 West Washington Management Company, managers of the building, and UBM, general contractors of the faulty construction on the 12th floor that had taken place just two years before the smokey fire on Oct. 17, 2003.
“We are gratified that the City of Chicago and the others decided to settle the matter so that it can focus on other city business,” Clifford said. At the same time this settlement will allow the families to try to move on with their broken lives and try to put the pieces back together.”
Jury selection was expected to get underway Monday morning for a trial that was expected to last at least two months before Judge William Maddux at the Daley Center.
