LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST CTA IN DEADLY CRASH
Our attorneyof Smith & Smith 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. Take a look at this law firm social media marketing during COVID-19 for more information.
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.
Smith & Smith 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.