According to the amended complaint, the plaintiffs, Tierney Darden, Trudy Darden and Tayah Minniefield were waiting on the outer lane of the lower level street outside Terminal 2 at O’Hare on August 2, 2015, when a pedestrian shelter fell on them. The plaintiffs allege that the defendants, City of Chicago and Chicago Department of Aviation, were negligent in failing to inspect, maintain and repair the shelter. They also allege that the defendants are guilty of willful and wanton conduct in that they allowed the shelter anchors to deteriorate, knowingly replaced original anchors with inadequate anchors, failed to consult with structural engineers and architects regarding alterations to the anchors, allowed only 2 out of 7 anchors to secure the structure, and knowingly allowed the …show more content…
Defendants are to disclose their 213(f)(3) witnesses by 5/1/17 and their deps are to go by 6/15/17. The case has a CMC on 4/20/17 CMC for “status on defendants’ 213(f)(3) witnesses” and a trial date of 8/10/17. Tierney Darden is to undergo a physical examination by Dr. Thomas Hedge on 3/31/17 at her house in Vernon Hills. (Quick internet search reveals that Thomas L. Hedge, MD, specialty is Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in Northridge, CA. He graduated from Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California in 1976. Dr. Hedge currently practices at Northridge Hospital Medical Center in California. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, brain injury medicine, and spinal cord injury medicine.) Tierney Darden is also to be interviewed by Tom Grzesik, vocational rehab expert, sometime this month. (Research shows only defense work. A friend of mine, a defense attorney that tries catastrophic cases, used him once, liked him and said he would use him again.) Plaintiffs’ counsel will have the examination and interview videotaped and is allowed to have an observer present at