We are pleased to share that Todd A. Smith has received the 2025 Trial Lawyer Lifetime Achievement Award. His outstanding career and successes have been captured in this special issue of the Jury Verdict Reporter. Todd is recognized for his exceptional advocacy, high-dollar verdicts, and ethical standards throughout his passionate career as a personal injury trial attorney….
A Cook County jury has delivered a $51 million verdict in a medical malpractice case involving a failure to diagnose a metabolic crisis. The case, which centered on a 2022 emergency room visit, highlights the devastating consequences that can occur when basic medical screenings are overlooked. A Missed Opportunity for Life-Saving Care In 2022, John…
In a recent appearance on the Be That Lawyer podcast with Steve Fretzin, Smith LaCien LLP co-founder Brian LaCien shared insights on the trial profession and the philosophy behind his firm’s approach to catastrophic injury cases. The Jury as the “Great Equalizer” Brian emphasized that the civil jury system remains one of the few places…
A Cook County jury awarded a $51 million verdict to the estate of John Reinke, finding OSF Healthcare System and Dr. Fredrick Burke liable for failing to properly diagnose and treat a metabolic condition that led to a catastrophic cardiac arrest and anoxic brain injury after his 2022 emergency room discharge. Attorneys at Smith LaCien…
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