Clifford Law Offices Files Civil Lawsuits in E2 Tragedy

Clifford Law Offices filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago, E2 nightclub and its owners in the tragedy that killed 21 people and injured dozens of others seven months ago.

Clifford Law Offices alleged negligence against the Clique nightclub, its owners, Dwain Kyles and Calvin Holllins, and alleged wilful and wanton misconduct against the city of Chicago in allowing the club to remain open despite violations of city ordinances. It has been estimated more than 1,000 people occupied the club when the exits allowed for far less.

The lawsuits filed Tuesday afternoon in Cook County Circuit Court are on behalf of David M. Jones, 21, of Chicago’s South Side who died in the stampede as well as Lisa M. Johnson, 37, of the South Side who suffered injuries when pepper spray was used by security personnel which allegedly precipitated the event at the club located at 2347 S. Michigan Av.

Jones was a father of two young children. He was employed at Bank One at the time of his death.

"This terrible tragedy was avoidable had the city enforced the court order to shut down the club and had the owners followed safe business practices in seeing that care was taken for its patrons," said Michael S. Krzak, attorney at Clifford Law Offices, in the filing of the complaint. "It had been established that the second floor of the building posed a danger for its occupants yet the owners clearly were negligent in allowing the occupancy limit to be exceeded, in failing to train its security personnel, in obstructing the exits and having an insufficient number of exits in what appears to be their focus on turning a profit over people’s safety."