Clifford Law Offices Files Two Wrongful Death Lawsuits; Attorneys and Experts Examine Stairwell
Press Release, 10/24/2003On October 24, Clifford Law Offices filed wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of Sara Chapman and John Slater III, attorneys with the Cook County Public Guardian's Office, who died in the blaze at the County Arbitration Building a week ago.
Robert A. Clifford and Kevin P. Durkin of Clifford Law Offices filed the suit this afternoon against the building managers which also named two new defendants: 69 West Washington Management Company, L.L.C., a corporation that allegedly was responsible for evacuation procedures in the building as well as Aargus Security Systems, Inc., the Chicago company in charge of the building's security.
Chapman, 38, of Winnetka, and Slater, 39, of Chicago, were killed when they were instructed over the building's intercom to exit to the stairwell. Upon doing so, the doors locked, trapping them and others in intense smoke.
Clifford Law Offices also filed a personal injury case earlier this week on behalf of Christine Konopka who was injured in the stairwell. She spent several days in the intensive care for smoke inhalation.
Experts hired by Clifford Law Offices have been inspecting the building yesterday and today.
