Trial Magazine
Failure to Secure Outdoor Shelter
November 2017While Tierney Darden, 24, was waiting for a ride near an outdoor pedestrian shelter at O’Hare International Airport, a storm came through the area. This caused the 750-pound shelter to topple over onto Darden, knocking her to the ground. She suffered a severed spinal cord at T11-12, resulting in paraplegia. Darden had been a dancer and college student. Her medical expenses were more than $985,400.
Darden sued the city of Chicago, alleging it failed to properly maintain the shelter by ensuring it was bolted down and had sufficient non-corroded brackets, among other things. The defendant admitted to wrongful conduct before trial.
The jury awarded $148.19 million in a trial on damages.
Citation: Darden v. City of Chicago, No. 15 L 8311 (Ill. Cir. Ct. Cook Cnty. Aug. 23, 2017).
Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Patrick A. Salvi, Jeffrey J. Kroll, Tara R. Devine, Patrick A. Salvi II, and Eirene N. Salvi, all of Chicago.
