Clifford Law Offices Settles Case Against Metra for $2 Million
Press Release, 06/28/2010Robert A.Clifford settled a case today (Monday, June 28, 2010) on the eve of jury selection against Metra for $2 million on behalf of a Chicago man who was injured in the 2005 derailment of the Rock Island line.
Kevin Hurley, now 55, of Chicago’s South side, suffered shoulder, hip and leg injuries as he headed into work in the Cook County Tax Department on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. The speeding train derailed near 47th Street, as it traveled 69 m.p.h. in a 10 m.p.h. track crossing. It killed two and injured dozens more.
The case settled as jury selection was about to get underway before Circuit Court of Cook County Judge Thomas Hogan at the Daley Center.
“Mr. Hurley has had a number of surgeries and faces several more as a result of admitted negligence,” Clifford said following the settlement. “Metra needs to keep in mind the safety of all of their passengers whose lives are in their hands.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) blamed engineer Michael Smith for failing to heed signals and slow down.
Sean P. Driscoll, associate at Clifford Law Offices, assisted on the case and was to second chair the trial.
