General Negligence

Johnson & Bell’s General Negligence group represents a diverse group of property owners and occupiers including hotel chains, food and drug retailers, and commercial lessors and owners of shopping centers. We defend land owners and occupiers and have a broad range of experience in complex medical issues, products liability, construction, workers compensation and third-party practice.

We educate our clients in avoiding litigation. This includes on-site seminars for our insurance company clients on effective interviewing during the claims evaluation process. We have advised clients on the theory of "spoliation of evidence." We have conducted seminars designed for establishments serving alcoholic beverages, avoiding dram shop liability by implementing more effective age identification procedures and documentation of patrons. In each of these situations, we have been able to dispose of potential litigation against our clients.

Finally, we assist our clients in meeting the challenges of new state and federal legislation. Our lawyers monitor legislation to advise clients on plaintiffs’ theories of liability, limitations on causes of action, increases in statutory damages (Dram Shop Act), and building code requirements of the state and its municipalities.

Representative Cases

Successfully defended newspaper publisher and distributor at trial in suit alleging fractured ankle as a result of a fall while collecting newspaper delivered to the home.

Represented a company providing private medical services to stock trading floor. Trader claimed that paramedic failed to provide Basic Life Support (BLS) pursuant to Illinois Emergency Medical Services Act and Chicago EMS System Standing Medical Orders.

Represents an owner of nursing homes in Illinois against claims of abuse, neglect and other violations of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Received a summary judgment on behalf of gun manufacturer in suit alleging inadvertent discharge of gun resulting in injury to bystander. Suit claimed gun lacked safety device to prevent accidental discharge if the gun was dropped, however plaintiff could not demonstrate that client distributed gun in Illinois.

Represents individuals and company employees in motor vehicle accident claims. Also represents motor vehicle insurance companies in underinsured and uninsured motorist claims.

Represented national department store chain in litigation involving customers injured from escalator and elevator malfunctions.

Represented retailer/product distributor in a wrongful death case where product allegedly caused a home fire and represented the product distributor in other flammable fabrics and cosmetic actions involving severe burns.

Received a not guilty award in a Cook County mandatory arbitration on behalf of a national retailer where plaintiff alleged a chair on display was defective and the chair broke underneath a customer on the premises resulting in permanent injuries.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a national retailer client that operated a store in a strip mall where a customer was struck by a car walking out of the store. The customer claimed the store did not properly define ingress and egress area for patrons.

Represented national retailer in premises liability slip and fall. Obtained summary judgment over plaintiff’s allegations of excessive floor polishing.