Alongside partner Michael Sorich and attorney Christopher Dietmann, Tim recently secured a $50 million settlement in a FELA railroad injury case for a young man who underwent more than 30 surgeries fol...lowing a devastating accident in a Chicago rail yard. “It is professionally gratifying to secure a $50 Million settlement for our client,” stated Cavanagh. “He will never be able to walk or work again but will now have the money to live with dignity.”
Trucking accident
Truck Crash
Jan 01, 2023
OUTCOME: $27 million
Partners Tim Cavanagh and Michael Sorich obtained a $27 Million settlement for the families of two young adults who were killed in a semi-tractor trailer crash. The trial was weeks away when the confid...ential settlement was reached.
Aviation
Bruce v. CAV International
Feb 14, 2014
OUTCOME: $6.55 Million Verdict
On October 9, 2009, John Bruce, a United Air Lines employee, exited the front cargo pit of a Boeing 747 intending to walk down a belt loader at Al Mubarak Air Base in Kuwait. An employee of CAV Intern...ational suddenly and without any warning collapsed the handrail on the beltloader causing John to fall 12 feet to the tarmac below. The employee claimed he was paying attention but eyewitnesses contradicted his testimony. John suffered a brain injury and he died six days later. CAV International denied responsibility and blamed John Bruce for his injuries and death.
Wrongful death
Szynalik v. CTA, et al.
Nov 15, 2012
OUTCOME: $5.55 Million Settlement
Cavanagh Law Group has obtained a $5.55 million settlement for the family of a woman killed in Chicago on December 31, 2007. Ludwika Szynalik was a passenger on Chicago Transit Authority bus No. 152 tr...aveling west on Addison Street near its intersection with Natchez Avenue. When the bus stopped, Ludwika exited the bus and went to retrieve her bicycle that she had previously placed on the bus' front bicycle rack. As Ludwika attempted to remove her bicycle, the CTA's bus driver accelerated, ran her over and dragged her approximately 100 feet down the street. Motorists and pedestrians had to alert the bus driver to stop the bus. Ludwika was rushed by ambulance to Lutheran General Hospital where she passed away a few hours later.
Cameras installed on the CTA bus caught the horrible incident. The video, produced pursuant to court order, clearly shows Szynalik walking in front of the stopped bus to remove her bicycle. The video then goes on to show the bus accelerating and running over Szynalik while she is in clear view of the bus driver.
The CTA Board approved a $5.45 million settlement on November 14, 2012. The case had previously settled with the other involved parties for an additional $100,000.00.
Tim Cavanagh, founding partner of Cavanagh Law Group, stated, "For five years the CTA has denied liability on this case. They have now finally done the right thing."
Motorcycle accident
Egbert v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet, et al.
Oct 09, 2012
OUTCOME: $1.9 Million Settlement
On October 8, 2012, Cavanagh Law Group partners Tim Cavanagh and Matt Rundio obtained a $1.9 Million Settlement for a 38 year old man injured in a car crash in Romeoville, Illinois. On November 5, 2006..., Bill Egbert was on his motorcycle stopped at a red light when he was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Raymond Garbin.
The impact threw Bill onto the hood of Garbin's car and his motorcycle was catapulted 150 feet down the road. The car's windshield was shattered by Bill's motorcycle helmet. Bill sustained multiple injuries including a closed head injury. The matter was on trial at the time of the settlement.
Cavanagh and Rundio were prepared to call 27 witnesses and introduce 159 exhibits at trial. Experts hired by CLG from North Dakota, Michigan and New York were prepared to testify as to the effects of the head injury on Bill and his family. The case was pending before Trial Judge Susan O'Leary in the Circuit Court of Will County at the time of settlement. The case is titled William Egbert, Jr. and Rosalia Egbert v. Raymond Garbin and Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Court No. 07 L 307.
Personal injury
Kuk v. Metra
Sep 14, 2012
OUTCOME: $1.8 Million Settlement
On Sunday, October 12, 2003, Kathryn Kuk, Steven Kuk and Megan Kuk were passengers on a Metra train (2 locomotives and 5 passenger cars) that was transporting passengers from Chicago to Joliet, Illinoi...s. Steve had just run the marathon that day and his wife, Kathryn and daughter, Megan were there to help Steve celebrate the achievement. They boarded Metra train 519 and headed home.
As the Metra train approached the intersection of Federal Street and 47th Street in Chicago, the train's engineer missed a red stop light. The train derailed at a speed of 68 mph, where the maximum speed was 10 mph. As a result of the derailment, Kathryn Kuk suffered multiple injuries, including severe lower back injuries resulting in Grade II spondylolisthesis at L-5, S-1. The injury required two fusion surgeries to her low back.
Due to the debilitating nature of her back pain, Ms. Kuk has also had to have a permanent spinal cord pain stimulator implanted. To this day, Ms. Kuk continues to suffer debilitating pain in her low back. Megan and Steve had minor injuries that required only a few doctor appointments.
In 2005, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a Final Report finding that the derailment was caused by "human error" when the Metra engineer was distracted. Metra admitted liability for the crash.
On August 13, 2012, nearly nine years after the train derailment, Cavanagh Law Group partners, Tim Cavanagh and Matt Rundio, went to trial in front of Judge Michael Panter in the Circuit Court of Cook County. While Metra admitted liability it contested the nature and extent of Kathryn Kuk's injuries.
After a jury was selected, Kuk's attorney presented numerous doctors who testified about the injuries, surgeries and debilitating condition. On the 5th day of trial the parties settled for $1.8 million. Cavanagh and Rundio were prepared to present 198 exhibits detailing the derailment and the injuries Ms. Kuk suffered.
On September 14, 2012, the Metra Board approved the settlement amount. This settlement concludes all litigation resulting from the 2003 derailment.
The case is titled Kathryn Kuk, Steven Kuk and Megan Kuk v. Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Authority d/b/a Metra, Court No. 03 L 12503. Metra was represented by Mike Kujawa and Tom Osran of Judge, James & Kujawa. Mr. Cavanagh stated: "The Kuk's are pleased that this matter has been resolved."
Medical malpractice
Imhof v. Loyola University Medical Center
Sep 16, 2009
OUTCOME: $1.45 Million Settlement
This wrongful death case arises after a man was brought to Loyola for burn injuries but died when the doctors failed to treat him correctly.
Wrongful death
Santillana v. City of Chicago
Dec 22, 2003
OUTCOME: $2 Million Verdict
On December 12, 2003, Cook County Circuit Court Jury awarded Elizabeth Santillana $2 million in a hotly disputed wrongful death case. The case arose out of a “police pursuit” on July 18, 2000 that res...ulted in Dalia Santillana’s death when her vehicle was struck by a car driven by a man fleeing a Chicago Police Department squad car engaged in a "police pursuit." Evidence was presented by Tim Cavanagh that the police officers “rammed” the Gomez vehicle causing it to lose control and cross the center line. City of Chicago rules on “police pursuits” outlined in General Order 97-3 specifically prohibit “ramming” by squad cars. A Cook County jury rejected the City of Chicago's position that it was not engaged in the pursuit at the time of the fatal collision. Because the City was found 25% at fault, it is responsible for the entire verdict amount. The City declined to make a settlement offer prior to trial.
Transportation
Velarde v Illinois Central Railroad
Jan 09, 2001
OUTCOME: $55.7 million
A Cook County Circuit Court jury awarded Fidel and Francisca Velarde, and their daughter, a total of $55,715,406.65 for injuries suffered in a January 9, 2001 car train collision. Fidel, age 73, and Fr...ancisca, age 73, were passengers of an SUV driven by their daughter that was struck by an 8 million pound train at 50 miles per hour. The crossing gates and lights were not working and the dispatcher erroneously told the train crew that the crossing was protected. The plaintiffs suffered traumatic brain injuries in the collision. The total award to the Velardes and their daughter, who was the driver of the car, totaled $55.7 million–a state record in Illinois for a railroad crossing collision case.
Personal injury
Ajmeri v. Canadian National Railroad
Nov 22, 2000
OUTCOME: $9.1 Million Settlement
Passenger of car injured when train and car collided on March 9, 1998. Case settled on third day of trial for state record amount according to the Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter.
