April
21, 2004
LAWSUIT
FILED AGAINST CTA IN DEADLY CRASH
Timothy
J. Cavanagh of Lloyd & Cavanagh has filed a wrongful
death lawsuit against the Chicago Transit Authority arising
out of a crash between a Jeep Cherokee and a CTA bus last
week. On April 13, 2004 at 11:08 p.m., Shawn C. Siedlecki,
age 42, was driving his Jeep Cherokee northbound on Milwaukee
Ave. across from the CTA's Jefferson Park Terminal. A CTA
bus attempting to turn left into the CTA terminal, pulled
directly into the path of Siedlecki's vehicle causing the
deadly collision. Shawn was rushed via ambulance to Illinois
Masonic Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Shawn, who
was divorced, is survived by his 10 year old son, Maxwell.
The
bus was driven by Richard M. Lewis, an employee of the CTA
for only eight months. The Chicago Police Department issued
Lewis a citation for failing to yield the right-of-way to
a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. His court
date is May 7, 2004 at 9:00 a.m.
The
lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, names
the Chicago Transit Authority and Richard M. Lewis as defendants.
The complaint alleges that Lewis and the CTA were negligent
for turning left in front of the Jeep Cherokee in violation
of the Illinois Vehicle Code. The case is entitled Victoria
Laughlin Smith, Mother and Next Friend of Maxwell Siedlecki,
Special Administrator of the Estate of Shawn C. Siedlecki
v. The Chicago Transit Authority and Richard M. Lewis, Case
No. 04 L 4527.
On
April 21, 2004, Mr. Cavanagh filed an Emergency Motion for
a Protective Order requesting that the vehicles and all
pertinent evidence be preserved. The Motion is set to be
heard on April 22, 2004 at 9:00 before Honorable Judge Diane
Larsen. The purpose of the Motion is to ensure that the
court retains jurisdiction of all pertinent evidence so
that it is preserved for the civil trial.
Lloyd
& Cavanagh has successfully prosecuted numerous cases
arising from intersection and highway collisions. Mr. Cavanagh
represents two persons injured in the horrific crash on
I-90 on October 1, 2003 when a semi struck a van full of
passengers from International Women's Associates. In addition,
Mr. Cavanagh has obtained several recent significant multi-million
dollar results for passengers injured in vehicle collisions.
In December, 2003, Mr. Cavanagh obtained a $2 Million verdict
for the daughter of a woman killed in an automobile collision.
In 2003, Mr. Cavanagh obtained a $4.5 million settlement
for the passenger of a van killed in a collision with a
semi-tractor trailer. In 2002, Mr. Cavanagh obtained a verdict
of $21.3 million for two passengers of a SUV injured in
a collision with a freight train. In 2000, Mr. Cavanagh
obtained a $9.1 million settlement for the passenger of
a car struck by a train.
