CONFIDENTIAL

Outcome: 3.25 Million Dollars Settlement

Description: Stephen Phillips gets justice for the family of a 13 year old boy who died as a result of a police officer who interfered with the provision of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the child. Steve Phillips recovered 3.25 million dollars for the family of 13 year old boy who suddenly collapsed while playing on the lawn of one of his neighbors. Immediately after he collapsed, a neighbor started CPR. When the police arrived in response to a 911 call the neighbor stepped aside expecting the police officer to continue CPR. Not only did the police officer fail to perform CPR but also prevented the neighbor from resuming CPR. As a result the child went without oxygen until the paramedics arrived. The lack of CPR also made it more difficult for the paramedics to shock the boys heart and regain a normal heart rate. The laws in Illinois immunize police officers for a wide variety of conduct and this case presented an enormous challenge to bring a claim that would not be precluded by those laws. Stephen Phillips was able to frame the case in a manner in which the parents claim for this terrible tragedy would be heard by a jury under a standard of conscious indifference for the life of the child----a much higher standard for Steve to prove other than simple negligence but nonetheless something which would get this case before a jury. Stephen was able to convince the defendants that this case would not be immunized by the Laws in the state of Illinois and was able to procure this settlement just prior to trial.