Lawsuit Filed Against Chicago Cubs In Death of Wrigleyville Resident

Clifford Law Offices today (Friday, Aug. 21, 2009) filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Cubs for the death of a 21-year-old Wrigleyville man who died when a structure owned by the Cubs collapsed and fell on him, killing him, about 50 feet from the confines of Wrigley Field.

Alec Drews of Chicago was walking to get a hamburger on an off-game day when a storm suddenly kicked up.  He took cover next to the wall of a car wash/bicycle storage facility that was reportedly slated for demolition in an open walkway area on Cubs’ property.  The building at Waveland Avenue and Clark Street,  though, was not publicly marked for demolition. Despite the dilapidated condition of the property, the area was not cordoned off.  It was an area where thousands of people pass each day.

Drews lived not far from the ball park and was on his way to the nearby McDonald’s on Clark Street on Aug. 23, 2007.  The wall collapsed on top of Drews, causing catastrophic skull, brain, cervical, spinal and chest injuries.  He was hospitalized at Illinois Masonic Hospital for eight days before passing away on Aug. 31, 2007.  The Cubs were unaware that Drews was lying beneath the rubble until sometime later when he was discovered by workers during a routine clean up of the debris.

The negligence lawsuit was filed today in the Cook County Circuit Court.  It alleges wrongful death, negligence, public nuisance and premises liability on the part of the Chicago Cubs, owner of the property.  It seeks an unspecified amount of damages but alleges the minimum $50,000 amount that is required for filing in the Law Division of the Circuit Court.

Attorney for the family, Timothy S. Tomasik, partner at Clifford Law Offices, and the mother of Alec Drews, Vicki Drews, are available to speak to the press at noon today, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, at 120 N. LaSalle St., 31st Floor, Chicago, IL.

For further information, please call Timothy S. Tomasik, partner at Clifford Law Offices, at 312-899-9090, who was the key attorney in the $72 million settlement of the collapse of the scaffolding structure on the John Hancock Building during high winds in 2002 which involved several wrongful death and serious injuries cases.  Or please contact Clifford Law Offices’ Communications Partner Pamela Menaker at 847-251-4877 or 847-721-0909.  Please follow the links below to see a copy of the complaint and photos of the structure as well as of Alec Drews.

Statement of Vicki Drews (PDF)

Photos:

Alec Drews

Alec Drews Windsurfing

Alec Drews Sitting With His Family

Carwash/Bike Storage Facility Before Collapse

Carwash/Bike Storage Facility After Collapse