Services
Civil Defense Litigation
Steve represents a variety of self-insureds, governmental entities and insurance companies with heavy emphasis on trial, appellate and coverage practice. He defends clients in all phases of litigation with dispositive motions, depositions and trials. Steve has had successful trial results in State and Federal court in Illinois and Indiana, defending Police Departments, Highway Commissioners, Townships and other insured/self-insured entities.
Recent Favorable Results
NOT GUILTY JURY VERDICT IN FAVOR OF CASEY'S GENERAL STORES, INC.
Case: Golab v. Casey’s General Stores, Inc.
Lake County, Indiana File No.: 45DO1-1905-CT-000540
Trial Attorneys for Defendant Town of Highland: Steve Judge (Judge Law) and Steve Polick (Steven P. Polick & Assoc.)
Medical Damages: $52,000 ($19,000 out of pocket)
Pre-Trial Settlement Offer: $100,000
Plaintiff’s Trial Demand: $350,000+
Result: Not Guilty (no award)
Plaintiff sued Defendant Casey’s General Stores, Inc. claiming that Casey’s was negligent in maintaining, operating, inspecting, and warning those on their premises so as to create an unsafe condition to Plaintiff. Plaintiff claimed that she slipped and fell on gasoline overflowing from her vehicle while utilizing the hold-open latch on the pump handle. Plaintiff fractured her left wrist, incurring medical expenses, economic loss and future pain and suffering.
Casey’s General Store had no notice of any defective condition with the hold-open latch prior to the incident, and Plaintiff was unsure where the gasoline was coming from, the pump handle or the nozzle. She did not notify any employee of a defect with the hold-open latch or any handle leak after the incident. The mechanism was operating appropriately prior to and on the date of the Plaintiff’s incident with no apparent leak. The conduct of the Plaintiff was found to be the sole, proximate cause of her injuries and damages. The jury ruled in favor of Casey’s General Stores, Inc., awarding no damages to Plaintiff.
NOT GUILTY JURY VERDICT IN FAVOR OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND
Case: Pasyk v. Town of Highland
Lake County, Indiana File No.: 45D11-1805-CT-000101
Trial Attorneys for Defendant Town of Highland: Steve Judge (Judge Law) and Steve Polick (Steven P. Polick & Assoc.)
Medical Damages: $14,000
Pre-Trial Settlement Offer: $40,000
Plaintiff’s Demand: $200,000
Result: Not Guilty (no award)
Plaintiff alleged negligence against Highland for an accident involving a Highland motorcycle police officer and a down-syndrome young man under his mother’s care, as he was attempting to ride an adult tricycle northbound across a five-lane highway in a crosswalk. Due to his special needs, he is incapable of exercising reasonable and ordinary care for his own safety. His mother acknowledged that she was solely responsible for facilitating his safe operation of the tricycle under the prevailing traffic conditions. There were alternative routes available that would have provided a safer means of crossing a five-lane highway during rush hour, including utilization of the stoplight crosswalk 630 feet to the west. The young man did not know how to operate the hand brakes on the tricycle and did not appreciate the risk of navigating traffic on his own. The mother nonetheless insisted on allowing him to lead in advance of her bicycle, thereby extinguishing any potential chance of her physically stopping him from advancing into the approaching traffic. Despite seeing the advance of the approaching motorcycle, the mother advised her son to proceed on the tricycle across the road and into the path of the police officer, who tilted the motorcycle to lessen the point of contact by the tricycle to the the rear left saddlebag of the motorcycle. The young man still lost his balance and fell from his tricycle, suffering a hairline fracture to his arm. The facts supported a finding that the motorcycle officer did not act recklessly or negligently. The jury ruled in favor of the Town of Highland, awarding no damages to Plaintiff.
EARLY VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL FOR DOWNERS GROVE TOWNSHIP
Case: Camiliere v. Downers Grove Township, et al.
DuPage Co. File No.: 2021L000593
Attorney for Downers Grove Township: Steve Judge
Plaintiff filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Downers Grove Township among other defendants, claiming that the Township owned, controlled, maintained and/or possessed the intersection and traffic control devices where a fatal traffic accident occurred. Rather than file an appearance, motions or participate in discovery, Steve worked quickly to obtain an affidavit and supporting documentation from the Township Highway Commissioner proving the Township did not own or maintain the intersection or traffic control devices located at the intersection, and convincing Plaintiff’s counsel to voluntarily dismiss the Township. This early dismissal saved the Township the time and expense that would have normally been spent on motion practice and was an overall favorable outcome for Downers Grove Township.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT GRANTED FOR PARK DISTRICT
Case: Fiske v. Wheaton Park District
DuPage Co. File No.: 2019L000817
Attorney for Wheaton Park District: Steve Judge
Plaintiff claimed a level change between two sidewalk slabs outside of an entrance at the Wheaton Park District Community Center was unreasonably dangerous and caused her to fall. The deviation was found to be a de minimis condition, and there was no evidence of willful and wanton conduct on behalf of the Park District. There is no evidence that the Park District had actual or constructive notice of any unreasonably dangerous condition. After oral argument, Judge Schwartz found that the evidence presented merited summary judgment in favor of the Wheaton Park District.