Dixon Law Office Gets $3.9 Million Verdict Against Drunk Driver

La Grange, IL – (June 23, 2015) – G. Grant Dixon III of the Dixon Law Office in La Grange and his associate, Catherine D. Cavenagh, obtained a $3.9 million verdict in a personal injury case on June 17, 2015. After a six-day trial before Judge Jeffrey Lawrence at The Richard J. Daley Center in Chicago, it took the jury five hours to reach the verdict.

On November 12, 2011, Jose Rodriguez drank 15 beers while sitting in a parking lot in Hinsdale. At about 8:30 p.m., he drove just ¾ of a mile north on York Road before he crossed the centerline and slammed into a car in the opposite lane. In that car was the driver, Margaret Bennett, and her 6-year-old daughter and her daughter’s 6-year-old best friend. All three were seriously injured in the crash. Mr. Rodriguez’s blood-alcohol level was estimated to be up to .197 at the time of the crash.

Earlier that evening, Mrs. Bennett and the girls had gone to see The Sound of Music at Drury Lane Theater in Oak Brook and then to have ice cream in Elmhurst. They were traveling south on York Road to take the friend home.

“We immediately sought to settle this claim with Mr. Rodriguez’s insurance company. They failed to make ANY offer and forced the families to file a lawsuit just to get the claims resolved,” said G. Grant Dixon III, founder of the Dixon Law Office. “Insurance companies have a responsibility to negotiate in good faith. When they don’t, they cause additional harm to victims. It’s like running them over again.”

Dixon continued that claims like this, called “bad faith,” are rarely brought because of the time and effort involved. “Here, my clients want these tactics to stop,” he says. “They want insurance companies to settle claims when they are asked and not to force years of litigation.”

Dixon adds that he anticipates there will be additional litigation by the families against Rodriguez’s insurance company, Unique Insurance in Niles, Illinois.

In the accident, Bennett’s vehicle was severely damaged and destroyed. She was trapped in the car and suffered catastrophic injuries, including the crushing of her right leg and ankle. She has had six surgeries to date. The two girls both suffered numerous injuries, one suffering a skull fracture and bleeding in the brain.

Plaintiffs contended the driver was reckless. Not only did he later admit to consuming 15 beers the night of the crash, he had no driver’s license and was illegally in the U.S. Still, Unique Insurance gave him a policy. Rodriguez is currently serving a seven-year jail sentence related to the crash.

Jose Rodriguez was represented by Clifford Panek and Kathleen McHugh of Parrillo, Weiss & O’Halloran in Chicago. Parrillo, Weiss & O’Halloran contended Mr. Rodriguez was drunk and responsible for the accident, but that the victim’s injuries were not as serious as the plaintiffs contended.

Bennett, Margaret v. Rodriguez
Cook County Court Number: 12 L 3207

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About Dixon Law Office
Dixon Law Office is a personal injury law firm dedicated to representing victims of serious personal injury accidents including car accidents, truck crashes, slip and fall injuries, medical malpractice, work injuries, and many others. The firm was founded by G. Grant Dixon III on Christian principles of honesty, fairness and justice. The firm represents clients from Chicago, throughout Illinois, and around the country with offices in La Grange and Oakbrook Terrace. As a trial lawyer for more than 20 years, Grant and his team have obtained millions of dollars in compensation for their clients. If you or a loved one is in need of aggressive, tough legal representation or just have questions, call Dixon Law Office at (708)354-9880 or toll free at (888)354-9880 or visit www.attorneysmakingitright.com.